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Cowboy State Daily - Wyoming News

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A rash of graffiti and vandalism on the Cheyenne Frontier Days grounds has prompted the organization to ban the public from the area except during regular events.

Vandalism Forces Cheyenne Frontier Days To Close Grounds To Public

A rash of vandalism at the Cheyenne Frontier Days grounds has caused an estimated $15,000 to $20,000 worth of damage and prompted the organization to close the area to the public.

Greg JohnsonNovember 14, 2024

Secretary of State Chuck Gray, left, and Gov. Mark Gordon.

Chuck Gray Says Animosity Toward Mark Gordon Not Personal

Secretary of State Chuck Gray on Thursday said his longstanding feud with Gov. Mark Gordon is nothing personal. He says it dates back to the governor’s vetoing one of his bills five years ago and a series of actions since then that he disagrees with.

Leo WolfsonNovember 14, 2024

The rugged and remote Green Mountain area in the Laramie Range in Albany County is prized for its elk and bighorn sheep hunting. The proposed Britania Land Exchange would trade rugged Forest Service Land in Albany for two parchels farther to the north.

Fight Over Prime Wyoming Hunting Land Exchange Headed To Federal Court

A legal fight is brewing over a U.S. Forest Service land exchange that would take a "hunter's paradise" parcel in Wyoming's Laramie Range out of public use. Opponents of the swap filed a court petition to stop it this week and are threatening a lawsuit.

Mark HeinzNovember 14, 2024

A pair of pronghorn graze near a southeastern Wyoming solar farm in this file photo. Natrona County officials are considering a 2,000-acre solar farm and battery storage facility.

Natrona County Planners OK 2,000-Acre Solar Farm West Of Casper

A proposal to put a 2,000-acre solar farm and battery storage facility west of Casper was OK’d by Natrona County Planners on Tuesday. The 199 MW facility with 100 MW of storage would be on private ranch land.

Dale KillingbeckNovember 14, 2024

Nicholas Boschetti

Utah Man Says He Was Hired To Cash $13K In Fake Checks In Wyoming

A Utah man is the Lincoln County, Wyoming, jail on claims that he drained the Alpine Standard gas station's bank account of $13,000. He’s accused of cashing fake checks, but claims he was hired to cash them and had no idea they were fake.

Clair McFarlandNovember 14, 2024

U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, gives his concession speech after losing to Republican Tim Sheehy in the Nov. 5, 2024, election.

Jon Tester Lost Senate Race And They’re Still Running Negative Ads Against Him

Although incumbent Montana Sen. Jon Tester lost his race for U.S. Senate, that hasn’t stopped a barrage of attack ads running against him. No one seems to know why they’re continuing, but they are.

David MadisonNovember 14, 2024

Highway 287 crash on Feb 22, 2024, that killed three members of the University of Wyoming swimming and diving team.

Wyoming, Colorado DUI Patrols Will Be Watching Highway 287 For Border War

Wyoming and Colorado will increase DUI patrols for Friday’s annual Border War football game between Wyoming and Colorado State universities. Highway 287 between Laramie and Fort Collins has been nicknamed the "highway of death."

Justin GeorgeNovember 14, 2024

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Multiple Law Agencies Investigate Homemade Explosives Found At Home Near Cody

The discovery of homemade explosive devices at a home on Musser Road in Park County east of Cody has prompted a multiagency response from local, state and federal law enforcement Thursday morning. The investigation remains active.

November 14, 2024

An elk hunt near Sybille Canyon in southeast Wyoming became a mountain lion hunt for Matt Rivord of Laramie. He said more and more mountain lions have been showing up there.

Having A Mountain Lion Tag, Just In Case, Pays Off For Wyoming Elk Hunting Guide

Hunters keeping just-in-case mountain lion tags in their pocket when they’re out after elk and deer is increasingly common. It paid off for a Wyoming elk hunting guide.

Mark HeinzNovember 13, 2024

Secretary of State Chuck Gray at the Wyoming State Canvassing Board Meeting to certify the results of the 2024 election at the Wyoming Capitol Auditorium in Cheyenne, Wyoming, on Nov. 13, 2024.

Canvassing Board Certifies Wyoming Election Despite Weston County Miscount

A miscount in Weston County during last week’s general election had the Wyoming Canvassing Board considering Wednesday to not certify the election. The results were certified despite the controversy.

Leo WolfsonNovember 13, 2024

If a deer jumps out in front of your vehicle on the road, Colorado officials say it could be best to just hit it.

Colorado Says If You See A Deer In The Road, Hit It. Don’t Try To “Save Bambi”

If a deer jumps out in front of your vehicle on the road, Colorado officials say it could be best to just hit it. Swerving to try and “save Bambi” could lead to even more tragic results.

Mark HeinzNovember 14, 2024

Marquis Hayman pleaded not guilty to shooting five bullets into a North Durbin Street mobile home in August.

“I Hope I Killed One”: Casper Teen Accused Of Shooting Into Homes Pleads Not Guilty

A 15-year-old Casper, Wyoming, boy pleaded not guilty Wednesday to allegations he shot into two homes on the city’s north side. He allegedly told friends, “I hope I killed one” after an Aug. 12 shooting.

Dale KillingbeckNovember 13, 2024

The new Swinging Bridge over the Snake River near Jackson, Wyoming, is open to traffic nine months early.

Jackson's New Swinging Bridge Open 9 Months Early, Still Doesn’t Really Swing

A new replacement of the historic Swinging Bridge crossing the Snake River south of Jackson, Wyoming, is finished nine months early. And like the original, the bridge doesn’t actually swing.

Andrew RossiNovember 13, 2024

Hockey sticks put up along a fence near Sheridan in memory of Patrick Mudd, a longtime coach who was killed in an altercation this past summer.

Sheridan Man Accused Of Punching And Killing Hockey Coach Claims Self-Defense

A Sheridan man accused of punching a longtime hockey coach so hard it killed him is arguing that he acted in self-defense. He claims the hockey coach first repeatedly punched and attacked him outside a rodeo this past summer.

Clair McFarlandNovember 14, 2024

U.S. Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyoming, arrives Wendesday for the Senate leadership vote. He was elected Senate whip, the No. 2 position in the chamber.

It’s Official — Barrasso Elected To No. 2 Leadership Role In U.S. Senate

Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso was elected Senate whip on Wednesday, the No. 2 leadership position in the U.S. Senate.

Leo WolfsonNovember 13, 2024

A supermoon hovers low to the horizon with Devils Tower in the foreground in this file photo.

Last Of Rare 4 Straight Supermoons In 2024 To Hover Over Wyoming

Friday night's beaver moon will be the last of four consecutive supermoons to loom over Wyoming in 2024. There won't be another for nearly a year, so see it while it's still bigger and brighter.

Andrew RossiNovember 13, 2024

A group of southeast Wyoming ranchers are exploring a plan to store carbon dioxide emissions underneath their land.

Carbon Storage Planned Under Wyoming’s Historic C.B. Irwin Ranch, And Others

A group of Wyoming ranchers, including the historic C.B. Irwin Ranch where Steamboat once lived, have joined forces to attract companies to store carbon dioxide emissions under their ranches. Collectively, they have 102,000 acres available.

Renée JeanNovember 13, 2024

Troy Bray

Powell Man Who Sent Vulgar Email To State Legislator Elected To City Council

Troy Bray became a political pariah around Wyoming in 2021 when he sent a vulgar email to a state legislator urging her to kill herself. Last week, he was elected to Powell City Council.

Leo WolfsonNovember 13, 2024

The egg section at the Cheyenne Walmart store is almost bare in late 2022 and early 2023 because of avian flu shortages in this file photo. Now the same disease is being tagged as contributing to a shortage in Colorado, along with impacts from a new cage-free law in that state.

Eggs Harder To Come By In Colorado, Some Blame New Cage-Free Law

Many Coloradans have noticed an egg shortage, and some are blaming a new state law requiring big egg producers to go cage-free by Jan. 1. 

Clair McFarlandNovember 13, 2024

Wildlife biologist Cat Wood studied and photographed wolverines in Alaska, like in this file photo. She says a video taken Tuesday morning near Yellowstone National Park, though blurry, shows a wolverine.

Blurry Video Near Yellowstone May Be Extremely Rare Wolverine Sighting

A blurry video taken early Tuesday shows a creature bounding across a highway near Yellowstone National Park. Though the footage is blurry, the man who took it says it was a wolverine, and a wildlife biologist agrees.

Mark HeinzNovember 12, 2024

State Rep. Chip Neiman, R-Hulett, and state Sen. Larry Hicks, R-Baggs.

Who’s Going To Lead The Wyoming Legislature? Lawmakers Lobby For Support

A clearer vision of what the leadership for the upcoming 68th Wyoming Legislature will look like is starting to emerge as legislators lobby for support. It’s also possible Democrats will be held off a few critical committees.

Leo WolfsonNovember 12, 2024

Students walk on the University of Wyoming campus in this file photo.

UW Eyes Change Of Campus Gun Policy To Allow Concealed Carry

The University of Wyoming might change its policy regarding carrying guns on campus. Now, it's essentially banned, but allowing concealed carry may be in a draft rule expected to be announced Wednesday.

Mark HeinzNovember 12, 2024

President-elect Donald Trump has selected South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem to be the next Homeland Security secretary when he takes office in January.

Trump Picks South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem To Head Homeland Security

President-elect Donald Trump has picked South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem to run the Department of Homeland Security, according to multiple reports Tuesday. She’ll be tasked with securing the southern border.

David MadisonNovember 12, 2024

Hunter DeVries, right, walks down the steps of the Fremont County District Court moments after pleading guilty Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, to molesting a child at least four times this past year.

Riverton School Board Candidate Pleads Guilty To Molesting Child For Months

A recent candidate for the Riverton, Wyoming, school board, Hunter DeVries pleaded guilty Tuesday to molesting a child for months. He faces up to 30 years in prison if the judge accepts his plea agreement.

Clair McFarlandNovember 12, 2024

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No More Funky, Worn-Out Mattresses Allowed In The Rock Springs Landfill

The trashman in Rock Springs, Wyoming, won’t pick up old, worn-out and funkified mattresses anymore, and the local landfill won’t take them. People now have to drop them off for recycling.

Andrew RossiNovember 13, 2024

Andrew Atkinson

Torrington Man Accused Of Throwing Ex’s Guns And Computers In Canal

A Torrington man already accused of brutally pistol-whipping and disfiguring his ex-girlfriend has been charged with yet another felony. He’s accused of throwing his victim’s phone, laptop and guns in a canal.

Clair McFarlandNovember 13, 2024

The intersection of 13th Street and McKinley now has one less house for drivers to hit. Now there's a vacant lot to the right where a house had been that was hit several times with vehicles.

Casper House That Kept Getting Hit By Cars Is Gone

A Casper, Wyoming, house at a T-intersection that kept getting hit by vehicles is gone. Now errant drivers will have to drive through the lot and into the back yard when they misjudge the road.

Dale KillingbeckNovember 13, 2024

U.S. Sen. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyoming

Lummis Uncommitted For Senate Majority Leader, Calls Report She's Backing Thune "Fake News"

With the U.S. Senate leadership elections coming up Wednesday, Wyoming Sen. Cynthia Lummis says she’s uncommitted on who she’ll support for majority leader. She says a report that she's backing John Thune is "fake news."

Leo WolfsonNovember 12, 2024

Custodia Bank CEO Caitln Long, left, and President-elect Donald Trump.

Trump Presidency Gives Hope To Crypto Community In Wyoming

Wyoming’s digital asset laws have been praised as innovative and ground-breaking, but have faced difficulties under the Biden Administration. President-elect Donald Trump has promised to be friendlier to digital assets.

Renée JeanNovember 12, 2024

Luke Talich of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish returns an interception for a touchdown against the Florida State Seminoles during the second half at Notre Dame Stadium on Nov. 9, 2024, in South Bend, Indiana.

Wyoming Walk-On Scores On Pick-Six For No. 8-Ranked Notre Dame Football

A former Wyoming high school standout football player made national highlight reels Saturday. Cody’s Luke Talich, a walk-on for No. 8-ranked Notre Dame, returned an interception for a touchdown.

Leo WolfsonNovember 12, 2024

Daily Features

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PinYour Wyoming Sunrise: Friday, November 15, 2024

Today's Wyoming sunrise was captured by Brenda Harrison. Brenda writes, "Beam me up Scotty! No idea what caused this, but was an amazing sunrise."

Photo by Brenda Harrison

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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Sally Ann Shurmur: Wyoming vs CSU -- It Won't Ever Be Just Another Game

Columnist Sally Ann Shurmur writes, “Conferences may realign, playoffs may expand, but there will never be another rivalry like Wyoming and the sheep. Here’s why.”

Sally Ann ShurmurNovember 14, 2024

Rod miller headshot scaled

Rod Miller: In Praise Of Tricksters And The Free Press

Columnist Rod Miller writes, "If you read something that offends you or calls into question your basic beliefs – say, in a column in Cowboy State Daily – feel free to read no further, and go back to your pep rally."

Rod MillerNovember 14, 2024

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Tom Lubnau:  A  Statue Of A Barn Owl Sits On Law Books And the Bible in Cheyenne

Tom Lubnau writes: "The sculpture depicts a barn owl in flight, representing wisdom and the rural roots of these five legislators, the active role they played in Wyoming government, and their foundational belief in the Bible."

Tom LubnauNovember 14, 2024

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