Andrew Rossi
Andrew Rossi is a features reporter for Cowboy State Daily based in northwest Wyoming. He covers everything from horrible weather and giant pumpkins to dinosaurs, astronomy, and the eccentricities of Yellowstone National Park.
Previously, Rossi was the News Director for Big Horn Basin Media in Cody. He earned several awards from the Wyoming Association of Broadcasters, including multiple awards for Best News Reporter and Best News Talk Show.
A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Rossi previously worked at the Wyoming Dinosaur Center in Thermopolis. He has collaborated with Disney/Pixar, the BBC, The Washington Post, the Wyoming Office of Tourism, and several other national and international media outlets. He is also a cofounder of The Cody Theatre Company in Cody.
Latest from Andrew Rossi
The Man Who Chauffeured Spock Around Yellowstone For 'Star Trek' Movie Shoot
When Leonard Nimoy flew to Yellowstone in August 1978 to shoot a scene for "Star Trek: The Motion Picture, " Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel worker Eric Ostensen got the job of being Mr. Spock's chauffeur. He recalls it being a "weird" and surreal experience.
Andrew RossiJanuary 04, 2026
After A Year, Rock Springs Restaurant Finds Source Of Mysterious Putrid Odor
The Wild Mustang Restaurant in Rock Springs is celebrating because they found the source of a horrible odor that has stunk up the place for the last year. “We found the source of the unwanted smell and fixed it once and for all," the manager said.
Andrew RossiJanuary 02, 2026
Human Remains Found At Well Site On BLM Land In Carbon County
The Carbon County sheriff said Wednesday that human remains have been discovered near a well site. Just who those remains are hasn’t been determined, but a leading missing persons advocate wonders if it may be David Williams, who disappeared 45 years ago.
Andrew RossiDecember 31, 2025
Skiers Caught In Two Of 32 Teton Avalanches In 11 Days
The Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center has logged reports of 32 avalanches in the Tetons since Dec. 19. In those, two skiers were caught in them, including one Sunday in No Name Bowl who avoided getting buried by wearing an airbag pack.
Andrew RossiDecember 30, 2025
Yellowstone’s Old Faithful Plunges To -27, Coldest Spot In Lower 48
December was dominated by record-highs, but Yellowstone's Old Faithful plunged to -27 Sunday, the coldest spot in the Lower 48. That won’t last, however, with the weather expected to rebound with highs in the 40s, 50s, and maybe even 60s this week.
Andrew RossiDecember 29, 2025
Warm Winter Is Faking Out Fruit Trees, Forcing Blooms Like It’s Spring
Pear and cherry trees in Utah are covered with blossoms while lilacs in Colorado are blooming like it's spring in late December. Arborists are concerned that the warm, dry days are tricking trees and stressing them out.
Andrew RossiDecember 28, 2025
Little America Wyoming’s Plan To Keep A Living Penguin Was Doomed From The Start
Back in the 1930s, an ill-advised plan was hatched to keep a living penguin at the Little America hotel in southwest Wyoming. The emperor penguin started its journey from Antarctica alive but died during transport. The stuffed penguin is still on display there and another at the Little America hotel in Cheyenne.
Andrew RossiDecember 28, 2025
Eastern Wyoming Is Hot And Dry, But Western Part Of State Is Buried In Snow
While much of Wyoming has record warmth and dryness, the mountains in western Wyoming are buried in snow. The snowpack is between 90% and 143% of average in what meteorologists say is a pattern where record-breaking warmth is building a huge snowpack.
Andrew RossiDecember 27, 2025
Wyoming Breaks 150-Year-Old High Temperature Records
Meteorologists are still analyzing Wyoming's Christmas temperatures, but it seems this was the warmest Christmas on record going back over 150 years. Temperatures on Christmas Day were up to 36 degrees higher than seasonal averages.
Andrew RossiDecember 26, 2025
Andrew Rossi: "Wyoming's Dinosaur Mummies" Was My Favorite Story Of 2025
Andrew Rossi writes, "I immediately knew that this story was special. I wanted to do a story on "Wyoming's dinosaur mummies" since I started at Cowboy State Daily, and here was an exciting new discovery from Lusk, published by Paul Sereno and his colleagues in Chicago. I had to cover this one."
Andrew RossiDecember 24, 2025
Yellowstone’s Unpredictable Black Diamond Pool Erupts Twice In Two Days
Black Diamond Pool in Yellowstone National Park has been active since its massive hydrothermal explosion in July 2024. It’s also “decidedly unpredictable,” erupting twice in two days last week, spewing mud and water 40 feet into the air.
Andrew RossiDecember 23, 2025
Crew Clears 100+ Derailed Freight Cars From Track Near Cheyenne In 18 Hours
After a massive derailment near Cheyenne on Friday, the BNSF Railway was left with an enormous task — clearing more than 100 blown-over freight cars and getting trains moving again.
Andrew RossiDecember 23, 2025
Avalanche Buries Teton Pass Under 30-Foot-Tall, 500-Foot-Long Wall Of Snow
Teton Pass was closed all day Monday as the Wyoming Department of Transportation used bulldozers to clear a wall of wet, heavy snow 30 feet tall and 500 feet long from Highway 22. It took crews about 14 hours to reopen the pass, but work continues Tuesday.
Andrew RossiDecember 22, 2025
Study Reveals How Yellowstone Earthquakes Might Have Given Earth Life
New research in Yellowstone National Park has found a connection between earthquake swarms and the chemical reactions needed to sustain subsurface microbial systems. It's an insight into the possible origins of life on Earth.
Andrew RossiDecember 21, 2025
Lander's Historic Grand Theater For Sale, But Locals Worried It May Be Torn Down
The Grand Theater in Lander is for sale, listing for $1 million. Locals hope the historic theater, built in 1929, will remain a community space for movies and performances, but they're worried a new owner might see more value in the land it sits on.
Andrew RossiDecember 21, 2025
Most Of Wyoming Will Have A Gross, Dry, Brown Christmas This Year
After a month of above-average temperatures, below-average precipitation and intense windstorms, the same weather patterns that prevented snow from reaching Wyoming will continue through Christmas. Forecasters say, expect a brown Christmas.
Andrew RossiDecember 20, 2025
Massive Train Derailment Occurs 17 Miles Northwest Of Cheyenne
A BNSF train carrying dozens of double-stacked freight cars derailed early Friday morning northwest of Cheyenne. Although no cause has been given, residents blame the wind. "This is the worst wind we've ever seen, and it’s been blowing for days now."
Andrew Rossi & Jimmy OrrDecember 19, 2025
144 MPH Wind Gust On Wednesday One Of The Strongest Ever Recorded in Wyoming
The 144 mph wind guest on Mount Coffin in Lincoln County on Wednesday was one of the strongest wind gusts ever recorded in Wyoming, but not a record. The highest, according to the National Weather Service, was 165 mph set in 2017, also on Mount Coffin.
Andrew RossiDecember 18, 2025
Why Scientists Are So Intrigued By 33-Billion-Ton Comet 3I/ATLAS
Comet 3I/ATLAS, a 33-billion-ton object that's older than our solar system, will make its closest approach to Earth on Friday. Scientists are captivated by its unusual "anti-tail." It's a phenomenon that indicates there's a lot more to this object than meets the eye
Andrew RossiDecember 17, 2025
Wyoming Blasted By 123 Mph Winds On Wednesday And More Wind To Come
Wyoming was hammered Wednesday by hurricane-force winds up to 123 mph. Highways closed, semis blew over, and forecasters are calling for more wind and higher than average temperatures heading into Christmas.
Andrew RossiDecember 17, 2025
Arctic Logjam Means Wyoming Temps In The 60s, Below Zero In Montana
While Wyoming is experiencing record high temperatures, it’s snowing and below zero in parts of Montana. Meteorologist Don Day says an “arctic logjam” is to blame.
Andrew RossiDecember 16, 2025