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Gabriel Seth Rodgers was caught in Mexico and sent back to Wyoming to face drug-related charges. His eyes were blocked out in these photos by Mexican authorities.

Wyoming Drug Cartel Suspect Who Hid Out In Mexico Gets Plea Deal

A Wyoming man suspected in a sprawling cartel conspiracy accepted a plea deal last week, according to his court file. Authorities say the suspect was hiding out in Mexico after years on the run.

Clair McFarlandJuly 08, 2025

A proposal to raise the amount of land Wyomingites must own to qualify for landowner hunting tags is apparently off the table. But hunters worry it could come back for consideration by the Legislature.

Game And Fish Backs Off Unpopular Changes To Landowner Hunting Tags

A proposal to raise the amount of land Wyomingites must own to qualify for landowner hunting tags is apparently off the table. But hunters worry it could come back for consideration by the Legislature.

Mark HeinzJuly 08, 2025

Kay Pope's 7-year-old Palomino Blondie shortly before it disappeared from her pasture near Wheatland. Given how horses behave and the fact nobody's seen her missing horse, she believes someone stole the horse and its newborn colt.

Wheatland Woman Says Very Pregnant Palomino Stolen From Pasture

A very pregnant palomino in a Wheatland pasture may have already given birth when she vanished from her 46-acre pasture. The horse’s owner is convinced the horse didn’t just run off, it — and possibly the foal — were stolen.

Andrew RossiJuly 08, 2025

Work at the Eagle Buttle mine near Gillette.

Trump Opens Floodgate For Wyoming Coal, But Will Producers Buy New Leases?

Trump’s budget bill opens a floodgate for federal coal leases in Wyoming, but will producers buy them? Experts are mixed. Some say a decade of decline can’t be solved by leasing more area for mining and others that it can spark new activity.

David MadisonJuly 08, 2025

Larry the camel during one of his many appearances in the Fourth of July parade in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.

Colorado’s Famous Larry The Camel Hit And Killed By Lightning

Larry the camel is a celebrity around northern Colorado, appearing in parades and at local schools and senior centers. Two days after visiting a group of seniors on the Fourth of July, Larry was hit by lightning and killed.

Andrew RossiJuly 08, 2025

Lucas Goodeill and Skyler Tomlinson

Mystery Man Saves Two Cody Teens From Drowning In Beck Lake

Cody resident Jeanne Goodeill doesn't know the name of the man who saved the lives of her 18-year-old son and nephew from drowning in Beck Lake on Friday. She wants him to know he’s a hero for swimming to their rescue during a thunderstorm.

Andrew RossiJuly 07, 2025

Michael Vigil

Lander Man Gets 25-50 Years For Bludgeoning House Guest To Death

A 40-year-old Lander man was sentenced Monday to 25-50 years in prison for bludgeoning a house guest to death last April. One of the victim’s daughters said deeper societal issues are partly to blame in this case. 

Clair McFarlandJuly 08, 2025

Elon Musk’s plan to form a new political party — the America Party — is drawing mixed reaction in Wyoming. Republicans are lukewarm to the idea so far, while a leading Democrat says it’s “the last thing we need.” President Trump reacted to the announcement on Truth Social, saying mnusk has gone "completely off the rails, essentially becoming a TRAIN WRECK."

Wyoming GOP Lukewarm On Musk’s New Party, Dems Say It’s ‘The Last Thing We Need’

Elon Musk’s plan to form a new political party — the America Party — is drawing mixed reaction in Wyoming. Republicans are lukewarm to the idea so far, while a leading Democrat says it’s “the last thing we need.”

Matthew ChristianJuly 07, 2025

A federal bill calling for a nationwide ban of cloud seeding and other weather modification could end Wyoming’s controversial program for good. Some Wyoming legislators like Rep. Mike Schmid, left, support the ban, while Sen. Tara Nethercott, right, calls it a “knee-jerk reaction.”

Feds Could End Wyoming’s Controversial Cloud Seeding Program For Good

A federal bill calling for a nationwide ban of cloud seeding and other weather modification could end Wyoming’s controversial program for good. Some Wyoming legislators support the ban, while others call it a “knee-jerk reaction.”

Matthew ChristianJuly 07, 2025

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Billings Man Suspected Of Killing Girlfriend Arrested On Riverton Roadside

A Billings, Montana, man suspected of killing his girlfriend was arrested along a road in Riverton on the Fourth of July. He reportedly was lying in front of an RV “yelling” that he had killed his girlfriend, and asking people to call 911.  

Clair McFarlandJuly 07, 2025

Gene Leath, a civil engineer and backcountry outfitter from Sheridan and his wife Katie Taylor struggled through tears and a crash landing at the finish line to place second. In their heat, the couple surged out of the mud bog feature to race ahead, only to stumble at the end

Sheridan Couple Qualifies For North American Wife-Carrying Championships

Isaac and Mary Hayward of Sheridan not only won a seven-couple wife-carrying race in Ranchester on the Fourth of July, they also qualified for the North American Championships.

David MadisonJuly 07, 2025

An elusive rodeo bull named Sauce Boss — or maybe Twinkle Toes — was caught Sunday after running away from a Colorado rodeo. He enjoyed five days of freedom in the rugged brush and woods of an upscale neighborhood before finally being corralled.

Escaped Colorado Rodeo Bull Finally Caught After 5 Days Of Freedom

An elusive rodeo bull named Sauce Boss — or maybe Twinkle Toes — was caught Sunday after running away from a Colorado rodeo. He enjoyed five days of freedom in the rugged brush and woods of an upscale neighborhood before finally being corralled.

David MadisonJuly 07, 2025

Brandon Kidgell

Former Police Chief Who Tipped Off Girlfriend To Drug Search Gets 9 Days In Jail

The former police chief of Manderson, Wyoming, convicted of interfering with police and shirking his duty will spend nine days in jail and a year on probation, a judge ruled Monday. He was accused of alerting his girlfriend to a drug search.  

Clair McFarlandJuly 07, 2025

The Natrona County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a shooting in a camping area between Black Beach Campground and Cottonwood Campground at Alcova Reservoir that sent two Colorado residents to the hospital on Saturday night.

Drunk Colorado Man Allegedly Pulls Rifle At Alcova Reservoir, He And Woman Get Shot

Trying to keep a drunk Colorado man from driving led to the man and a woman getting shot in their legs Saturday at Alcova Reservoir. The Natrona County Sheriff’s Office says the drunk man pointed a rifle at a Casper man, who responded by firing a handgun.

Dale KillingbeckJuly 07, 2025

Jared Koenig, the director of recreation with the Sheridan Community Land Trust, demonstrates a “floater-friendly fence” that could help curb conflicts between ranchers and river recreationalists.

Floater-Friendly Fences Could Cool Fighting Between Wyoming Boaters And Ranchers

Steel cables with rope “danglers” that allow boaters to pass through could help cool fighting between floaters and ranchers in Wyoming. One such fight is brewing on Pine Creek near Pinedale.

Mark HeinzJuly 06, 2025

Everett Spackman of Laramie, Wyoming, has seen a lot over his 100 years of life. He served in two wars, and remembers the Great Depression, the moon landing and paying $6 for a beat-up Model T Ford when he turned 16.

Laramie 100-Year-Old Bought His First Car At 16 — A Model T Ford For $6

Everett Spackman of Laramie, Wyoming, has seen a lot over his 100 years of life. He served in two wars, and remembers the Great Depression, the moon landing and paying $6 for a beat-up Model T Ford when he turned 16.

Greg JohnsonJuly 06, 2025

Old Cheyenne Airport terminal 2 7 6 25

Group On A Mission To Save Cheyenne’s Iconic, Now Abandoned, 1960s Airport

The Wyoming Aviation Heritage League is on a mission to save the iconic, and now abandoned, 1960s air terminal at Cheyenne Regional Airport. It wants to turn the building and its hyperbolic roof into a space for artists, retail shops, and an aviation museum.

Dale KillingbeckJuly 06, 2025

Shoshoni’s former Town Hall is at one of Wyoming’s busiest crossroads for travelers, now it’s for sale to spur economic development. A cardiology clinic wants to buy the property for an operation that can serve a wide region of the state.

Town Of Shoshoni In Talks For State-Of-The-Art Cardiology Clinic

The town of Shoshoni has a population of less than 500 people but its town hall sits on one of the state's busiest crossroads. To attract economic development, the city offered it for sale. A cardiology clinic has proposed building a 7,620-square-foot clinic there.

Renée JeanJuly 06, 2025

Ashley Trudo feeds the chickens.

Modern Homesteading: Self-Sufficiency Doesn’t Mean Being A Loner

Homesteading doesn’t mean living like folks on “Little House on the Prairie.” A Cody woman teaches how homesteaders in Wyoming use technology and innovation to achieve self-sufficiency, and it doesn’t mean you have to be a loner.

Dale KillingbeckJuly 06, 2025

Laramie County Sheriff Brian Kozak and his deputies spent a week bring back the mounted patrol for parades and events on the streets of Cheyenne.

Laramie County Sheriff Brings Horse Patrol Back To Cheyenne

Laramie County Sheriff Brian Kozak said he hopes reinstating the mounted patrol will bring back authentic Western hospitality and law-and-order during major events in the state capital. “We value our Western culture and heritage in Cheyenne and Laramie County," he said.

Andrew RossiJuly 06, 2025

Wyoming sheep baron J.B. Okie, bottom, was throwing an opulent high-society party when it was crashed by Sheriff Frank K. Webb, above, and his prisoner. That prisoner was Otto Chenoweth, an outlaw horse thief who escaped and charmed the ladies as a dashing gentleman.

Wyoming History: Otto Chenoweth, The Gentleman Outlaw Of Lost Cabin

Sheep baron J.B. Okie was throwing a high-society party at his opulent mansion in Lost Cabin, Wyoming, when it was crashed by the sheriff and his prisoner. That prisoner was Otto Chenoweth, an outlaw horse thief who escaped and charmed the ladies as a dashing gentleman.

Jackie DorothyJuly 06, 2025

Kamari Barth, 12, is the first girl from Wyoming to participate in the Susan Polgar Girls' Chess Tournament Invitational, a national tournament recently held in St. Louis, Missouri.

12-Year-Old Chess Master Is First Wyoming Girl Invited To National Tournament

Kamari Barth is like most 12-year-old girls in Sheridan, Wyoming, but in one way she isn’t. Barth also is a chess master, and recently was the first Wyoming girl to compete in the national invitation-only Susan Polgar tournament.

Amber SteinmetzJuly 06, 2025

Broken Water fires at a target that is a thin silver chain, swinging in the wind.

You Can Walk In Jim Bridger’s Footsteps At 1838 Rendezvous In Riverton

The 1838 Mountain Man Rendezvous in Riverton isn’t just held near a historic rendezvous site, it’s the actual site. It's where Jim Bridger and Kit Carson walked when they met in 1838 for the annual end-of-season blowout.

Renée JeanJuly 06, 2025

State Sen. Ed Cooper (left), Nashville musician Bobby Randall (right)

Nashville Musician Bobby Randall Grateful For Wyoming Hospitality During Storm

State Sen. Ed Cooper opened his garage to a group of Harley riders seeking shelter from a severe thunderstorm on Friday. One of the bikers was a very grateful Bobby Randall, a longtime Nashville musician who was a founding member of country group Sawyer Brown and guitarist for Confederate Railroad.

Wendy CorrJuly 06, 2025

Mix Collage 05 Jul 2025 11 43 AM 9634

Her Parents Fled Vietnam. These Veterans Fought There. Now They Eat Together

People have told V Cafe Owner KimChi Vu that her Vietnamese restaurant inside the Dubois VFW post is surprising or ironic. This short documentary explores how the cafe owners, veterans, and the community forge strong bonds over delicious food.

Reilly Strand & Hannah BrockJuly 05, 2025

A stoat, or small member of the weasel family, invaded Warren Meyer’s garage north of Cheyenne. It was loose inside for about 20 hours before Meyer caught it and then set it free outside, unharmed.

Rural Cheyenne Garage Invaded By Stoat With Active Anal Glands

When Warren Meyer briefly opened his garage door this week, a stoat — or small weasel — darted-in unbeknownst to him. Meyer quickly found out that stoats have active and powerful anal glands.

Mark HeinzJuly 05, 2025

A mare named Barmaid escaped from its corral near Jenny Lake in Grand Teton National Park and ran loose in the park for about two weeks before finally being captured, safe and sound.

Trail Horse Named Barmaid Escapes, Runs Free in Grand Teton For Two Weeks

A trail riding mare named Barmaid escaped from a corral and ran free in Grand Teton National Park for about two weeks. She was finally rounded up last weekend without having suffered a single scratch.

Mark HeinzJuly 05, 2025

A Park County, Colorado, search and rescue team went 11 miles and spent 10 hours rescuing a dog that was overcome with exhaustion during a hike on June 24. Wyoming search and rescue teams aren’t willing to do that, you’d have to carry your dog out yourself here.

Colorado Search And Rescue Saves Dog, Something Wyoming Teams Can't Do

A Colorado search and rescue team spent 10 hours last week rescuing an exhausted dog from the backcountry. But in Wyoming, dogs are on their own as humans are the only priority. "We don't have the resources," one rescuer said.

Mark HeinzJuly 05, 2025

Kid Nichols with a horse in Cody during his early years in town taken from the book “The Candy Kid” written by his daughter, Lucille Patrick.

Wyoming History: The Fascinating Life Of James Calvin ‘Kid’ Nichols

James Calvin “Kid” Nichols was a champion wrestler who was befriended by Buffalo Bill Cody, did boxing exhibitions with Milward Simpson and was a one-time outlaw. He also was a successful businessman who hobnobbed with Admiral Nimitz and Arthur Godfrey.

Dale KillingbeckJuly 05, 2025

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Gillette Woman In Jail After Allegedly Running Over Boyfriend With SUV

A woman who was trying to drive away from the scene of a verbal argument in Gillette early Saturday ran over her boyfriend in the process, police say. The man was taken to an out-of-state hospital with critical injuries.

Clair McFarlandJuly 05, 2025

It may be great to fantasize about “Ranching Rich,” but that’s not real ranching in Wyoming, says Cody singer-songwriter Kalyn Beasley. Buddy Ned LeDoux is featured in his new song, an ode to real ranching in the West.

Ned LeDoux Featured On Wyoming Singer-Songwriter’s Ode To Real Ranching

It may be great to fantasize about “Ranching Rich,” but that’s not real ranching in Wyoming, says Cody singer-songwriter Kalyn Beasley. His friend Ned LeDoux is featured in the new song, an ode to real ranching in the West.

Jackie DorothyJuly 05, 2025

When an 18-year-old Joe Meek arrived in the wilderness of Wyoming in 1829, the greenhorn had to toughen up fast to survive bears and hostile tribes. When he fell asleep on guard duty, he also survived the wrath of Capt. William Sublette.

Wyoming History: Mountain Man Joe Meek Survived Bears And Blackfeet Raids

When an 18-year-old Joe Meek arrived in the wilderness of Wyoming in 1829, the greenhorn had to toughen up fast to survive bears and hostile tribes. When he fell asleep on guard duty, he also survived the wrath of Capt. William Sublette.

Jackie DorothyJuly 05, 2025

Valerie Hovland just misses a connection with Steve Tobi in a practice session. She was wearing a safety line.

Can't Run Off To Join The Circus? You Can Still Join Wyoming's Only Trapeze Club.

A couple in Big Horn, Wyoming, gives those seeking adventure and thrills an option beyond running off to join a circus. Trained by a Circus Ring of Fame trapeze artist, they now run Wyoming’s only trapeze club.

Dale KillingbeckJuly 05, 2025

Sweetwater Memorial Hospital Medical Imaging Director Tracie Soller says the challenges in the radiology field today include finding technologists to work the imaging devices.

As Medical Imaging Tech Advances, Wyoming Has A Shortage Of People To Operate It

Technology for medical imaging is advancing at a frantic pace, but there aren’t qualified experts to put them to use in Wyoming. A new study shows Wyoming has 9 radiologists per 100,000 people, well below the national average of 13.

Dale KillingbeckJuly 05, 2025

Chef Petrina Peart talks about her journey on the "Yes Chef!" reality cooking series which featured Chef Jose Andres and Martha Stewart, during a Monday night watch party at Brownie's Tasting Bar in Cheyenne.

Wyoming Chef Petrina Peart Celebrates ‘Yes, Chef!’ Finale With Celebrity Chef T

Chef Petrina Peart celebrated the end of her “Yes, Chef!” television culinary competition with fellow contestant and celebrity, Chef T. The collaborative cook-off featuring Martha Stewart showcased Appalachian and Wyoming foods.

Renée JeanJuly 05, 2025

Grizzlies are a common sight out on the prairie flatlands near Augusta, in north-central Montana.

Tiny Montana Towns Adjust To Prairie Grizzlies And Attacks On Livestock

Grizzly bears continue to move back into prairie country in Montana. Near tiny rural communities, they’ve been attacking livestock and eating deer fawns. They've become so prevalent that "the cows didn't even seem to notice" them.

Mark HeinzJuly 04, 2025

This yellow tank is a tiger tank, used in the Korean War, playing off of superstitions about such powerful symbols.

Dubois Cheers As 24 Vintage Military Tanks Rumble Through On The Fourth Of July

Dubois triples in size for the Fourth of July as thousands fill the tiny Wyoming town to celebrate. The main attraction is 24 vintage military tanks that rumble through, anchoring the annual parade as monuments to freedom in America.

Renée JeanJuly 05, 2025

President Donald Trump celebrates signing the Big Beautiful Bill at the White House on the Fourth of July. Wyoming Sen. Cynthia Lummis says there are plenty of "Wyoming wins" in the massive budget bill.

Lummis: Wyoming Wins Big With Trump's Big, Beautiful Bill

Amidst a huge ceremony at the White House, complete with a soaring B-2 bomber overhead, President Trump signed the Big, Beautiful Bill into law on Friday. U.S. Cynthia Lummis says the bill is a huge win for Wyoming.

Sean BarryJuly 04, 2025

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Appearing In A C.J. Box Book Is Dicey, You Could End Up Dead Or A Serial Killer

Bestselling author C.J. Box is well-known for putting names of real Wyoming people in his novels, but many end up dead, a serial killer — or both. Meteorologist Don Day, who appeared as himself in Joe Pickett book is safe, for now. Box says he has no immediate plans to kill him off.

Renée JeanJuly 04, 2025

Andrew Rossi, right, giving a thumbs-up with Mack Frost atop the Irma Hotel during the 2025 Cody Stampede Parade.

Reporter's Notebook: What It's Like To Announce Cody's Famous Stampede Parade

Reporter Andrew Rossi writes, "Announcing the Cody Stampede from the rooftop porch of the Irma Hotel is a rare honor. It’s amazing a nerd like me gets to be one of the voices of the famous parade. How’d that happen? I wondered."

Andrew RossiJuly 05, 2025

A young bull that escaped the Snowmass Village, Colorado, rodeo grounds Wednesday is still free and independent on the Fourth of July. He ran into an upscale residential neighborhood, where he’s eluded searchers for two days.

Independence Day: Bull Still On The Run 2 Days After Escaping Colorado Rodeo

A young bull that escaped the Snowmass Village, Colorado, rodeo grounds Wednesday is still free and independent on the Fourth of July. He ran into an upscale residential neighborhood, where he’s eluded searchers for two days.

David MadisonJuly 04, 2025

The Historic Cato Ranch is a working Black Angus cattle ranch.

Historic Sheridan Rodeo Ranch, Now A Working Angus Operation, For Sale

The P.K. Ranch hosted a rodeo that went head-to-head with Cheyenne Frontier Days in 1928 and still attracted 17,000 people from 28 states. The historic property, today known as the Cato Ranch, is going up for sale.

Renée JeanJuly 04, 2025

Daily Features

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PinYour Wyoming Sunrise: Wednesday, July 9, 2025

Today's Wyoming sunrise was captured by Eric Patterson in Esterbrook, Wyoming.

Photo by Eric Patterson

Today's question to Don Day

Mark James Mullins of Douglas
In regard to your thunderstorm season article, can you reassess the data on a per-capita basis, especially when considering population of the states? It could affect me as I own a hill on my property which I plan a communications tower and likely will have a lightning rod installed when it goes in.
Don Day
FEMA has a good lightning database that takes into account lightning risk, potential property loss, etc. based on population and lightning frequency. Data is available on a county by county basis. Lots and lots of lightning data available here which may help in quest for more lightning information. https://hazards.fema.gov/nri/lightning
DD

Opinion

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Lange at chic fil a

Jonathan Lange: Posterity Will Judge Us By Principles, Not Pragmatism

Columnist Jonathan Lange writes, “The deleted paragraph demonstrates how kicking the can down the road never solves the problem. More often, it makes the problem worse and its solution more costly.”

Jonathan LangeJuly 04, 2025

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Bill Sniffin: If You Had Your Life To Live Over, What Would You Change?

Columnist Bill Sniffin writes: “Folks a certain age start looking back on their lives and wonder just how much differences they could have made. What if you could live your life over?”

Bill SniffinJuly 01, 2025

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Tom Lubnau: Tour Of Sunrise Should Be On Your Bucket List.

Columnist Tom Lubnau writes, "Last Saturday, the Sunrise Historic and Prehistoric Preservation Society offered a sample of Wyoming’s rich, diverse and amazing history. Put next year’s annual tour of Sunrise on your bucket list."

Tom LubnauJuly 02, 2025

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