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Anna-Louise Jackson

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Tyler and Stephanie Spear of Laramie say they not only love Josh Allen for what he's done for University of Wyoming football and the state, but that he's a good role model for their kids.

He Didn’t Grow Up Here, But Wyoming Loves Josh Allen Because He’s ‘A Cowboy’

Decked out in full Josh Allen gear, the Spear family made attending Saturday’s University of Wyoming football game a mini vacation. “Josh’s character is really good for these kids to look up to,” said mom, Stephanie Spear.

Anna-Louise JacksonNovember 23, 2025

Former University of Wyoming quarterback Josh Allen at midfield during halftime of Saturday's Nov. 22, 2025, game against Nevada to have his No. 17 retired. He got a huge ovation from the crowd, especially when he concluded his remarks with, "And it will always suck to be a CSU Ram!"

‘I Love You Guys’: Josh Allen Gets Huge Ovation As His No. 17 Retired By UW

“I love you guys,” Josh Allen proclaimed as nearly 30,000 fans exploded at War Memorial Stadium on Saturday as the University of Wyoming retired his No. 17 jersey. It was almost as big a pop as when he concluded with, “And it will always suck to be a CSU Ram!”

Anna-Louise JacksonNovember 22, 2025

Former University of Wyoming quarterback, and reigning NFL MVP, Josh Allen visits with current UW football players Friday night after arriving in Laramie ahead of Saturday's halftime ceremony to retire his No. 17 jersey.

Josh Allen Is In Laramie, And Fans Are Going Nuts For His UW Return

From buying thousands of bobbleheads to chugging beers, fans in Laramie are going nuts for Josh Allen’s celebrated return to the University of Wyoming. He arrived in Laramie on Friday, and one fan compared Allen’s return to the second coming of Christ.

Anna-Louise JacksonNovember 22, 2025

Here's How Laramie Is Preparing For Josh Allen's Return To Wyoming On Saturday

The town of Laramie is all abuzz as it prepares for Josh Allen's return for the retirement of his Wyoming Cowboys' football jersey on Saturday. Things will start getting busy in downtown Laramie on Friday and carry through late Saturday night.

Anna-Louise JacksonNovember 20, 2025

Over the course of about four hours, Brooke Foth estimates that she plucked more than 1,000 quills from a dead porcupine, which is more than enough to keep her busy for the next year.

Montana Woman Plucks Her Own Quills From Porcupines To Make Unique Jewelry

When a porcupine became a farm pest, Montana jeweler Brooke Foth turned its quills into art. It took about four hours to pluck 1,000 quills from the dead rodent to craft her unique jewelry creations.

Anna-Louise JacksonNovember 16, 2025

When He Went Out To Eat, Dick Cheney Was A ‘Meat-and-Potatoes Type of Guy’

Dick Cheney was a familiar face at the Snake River Grill in Jackson over the years. Katie Cooper, managing partner of the restaurant said he'd sit at Table 10 and always order a New York strip steak and potatoes.

Anna-Louise JacksonNovember 09, 2025

The Parrot has occupied the same storefront since the 1920s and employees even joke that it's haunted by the first owners.

Willy Wonka Has Nothing On This Over-The-Top Montana Candymaker

Willy Wonka has nothing on the Parrot Confectionary in Helena, Montana. It’s been making over-the-top candies for more than 100 years, and still does it all by hand.

Anna-Louise JacksonNovember 02, 2025

Helen Janssen, from left, Elizabeth "Betty" Stimac, Richard Blossom and Virginia Toews are four of 20 centenarians honored by Montana last week.

How To Make It To 100 Years Old? "Don't Even Think About Retirement"

The state of Montana recently celebrated 20 living centenarians, and four of them revealed what everyone wants to know: what’s their secret? It’s simple, they agreed: walk a mile a day and “don’t even think about retirement."

Anna-Louise JacksonOctober 05, 2025

Wildly popular in Canada all the time — and a passing interest in the U.S. every four years because of the Olympics — curling is migrating south. In Montana, fans of the sport say that “this weird Scottish game” is growing fast.

Can Curling Actually Catch On In The U.S.? Rocky Mountain Fans Say Yes

Wildly popular in Canada all the time — and a passing interest in the U.S. every four years because of the Olympics — the sport of curling is migrating south. In Montana, fans of the sport say that “this weird Scottish game” is growing fast.

Anna-Louise JacksonOctober 04, 2025

Charles and Kay Bohlen said one final goodbye to their summer mountain home in the Snowy Range and the state they’ve called home for 33 years and headed south to Mesa, Arizona, where they’ve been snowbirding for nearly two decades.

Goodbye Wyoming: A Couple's Love Letter To The Cowboy State

Charles and Kay Bohlen fell in love with Wyoming over 30 years of living, working and raising family here, developing a deep emotional bond with the people, places and spirit of the Cowboy State. That's why it was so hard last week to say goodbye.

Anna-Louise JacksonSeptember 20, 2025

Drinking Montana: The Talking Bird At The Talking Bird Can Curse Like A Sailor

If you’re easily offended, just keep driving by the Talking Bird in tiny St. Regis, Montana, on Interstate 90. That’s because George, the talking bird at the Talking Bird, can curse like a sailor when the mood hits him.

Anna-Louise JacksonSeptember 15, 2025

Wyoming native Mark Valenzuela and friends at a Buffalo Bills game in Buffalo, New York

Reporter's Notebook: The Very Real Bond Between Wyoming And Buffalo, New York

Reporter Anna-Louise Jackson writes, “Something special has happened in Buffalo over the past several years that’s fostered a sense of kinship between Wyoming and Buffalo, New York, thanks to Josh Allen and an award-winning wing-maker."

Anna-Louise JacksonSeptember 13, 2025

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A group of Josh Allen fans in Buffalo for a game, including 7220 Sports founder and Wyomingite Cody Tucker, second from right. The sign shows Buffalo appreciates Wyoming as much as the Cowboy State has embraced the Bills.

Buffalo To Wyoming: Thanks For Josh Allen, And Welcome To The 'Bills Mafia'

Since former University of Wyoming quarterback Josh Allen was the No. 1 draft pick of the Buffalo Bills in 2018, many Wyomingites have adopted the team as their own. In return, Buffalo has bonded with Wyoming, welcoming its fans into their rabid “Bills Mafia."

Anna-Louise JacksonSeptember 06, 2025

The Double Dub's crew celebrates another successful festival with a total of four awards this year. (Anna-Louise Jackson for Cowboy State Daily)

Four-Peat: Wyoming’s Double Dub’s Wins Top Award At Buffalo Wing Fest — Again

Laramie, Wyoming’s Trent Weitzel and his Double Dub’s chicken wing crew are in a class by themselves. On Sunday, they won the top award at the National Buffalo Wing Festival for an unprecedented fourth straight time.

Anna-Louise JacksonSeptember 01, 2025

Richard Zawistowski, left, and Michael Lonergan bought VIP tickets to this year's festival which included some perks like those wing-shaped koozies they're holding.

Laramie's Trent Weitzel Defending Title At 2025 National Buffalo Wing Festival

Laramie’s Trent Weitzel is back in Buffalo, New York, at the most prestigious chicken wing festival in the U.S. to defend his title. He’s the three-time defending Festival Favorite winner — not to mention Josh Allen’s favorite.

Anna-Louise JacksonAugust 31, 2025

Now that Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce have announced their engagement, the rumors are thick the pop culture power couple is moving to Montana. They’ve been spotted at the uber-exclusive Yellowstone Club, and it’s No. 1 on the Bozeman gossip hit parade.

Taylor Swift - Travis Kelce Engagement Fuels Rumors Their Next Move Is To Montana

Now that Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce have announced their engagement, the rumors are thick the couple is moving to Montana. They’ve been spotted at the uber-exclusive Yellowstone Club and people say they’ve been shopping for real estate in Bozeman.

Anna-Louise JacksonAugust 30, 2025

Bullfrogs will eat anything they can fit in their mouths. Here, a bullfrog feeds on anogther frog.

Invasive — And Cannibalistic — Bullfrogs Are Taking Over The West

States across the U.S. West are declaring war on invasive bullfrogs that eat everything in their path — including other bullfrogs. In Wyoming, officials say they’re a problem, but prefer the public doesn’t hunt them.

Anna-Louise JacksonAugust 24, 2025

The Bureau of Land Management has identified more than 790,000 acres of federal land in Wyoming as eligible for potential sale or disposal. A new interactive map from onX shows where those parcels are, along with 6 million acres across 17 states.

Interactive Map Shows 790,000 Acres Of Public Land Eligible For Sale In Wyoming

The Bureau of Land Management has identified more than 790,000 acres of federal land in Wyoming as potentially eligible for sale or disposal. A new interactive map from onX shows where those parcels are, along with 6 million acres across 17 states.

Anna-Louise JacksonAugust 18, 2025

If you’re traveling along I-90 east of Butte, take exit 241 and a 30-minute drive north on a dirt road to a unique geological formation with a Whitehall address. There you’ll find a big pile of rocks, aptly known as Ringing Rocks, which chime if you tap them lightly with a hammer.

Explore Montana: Stunning Views, Rocks That Chime Like Bells And Bathing In Radon Gas

From quirky cabin signs to historic landmarks, there are a number of off-the-beaten-path destinations around Montana. They include rocks that chime like bells when hit with a hammer to radon bathing to stunning views from Beartooth Pass.

Anna-Louise JacksonAugust 17, 2025

In 100 pounds of sapphire gravel from the Gem Mountain Sapphire Mine in Phillipsburg, Montana, they found a total of 26 sapphires that were 1 carat or larger.

Who Needs Diamonds When You Can Propose With 100 Pounds Of Sapphire Gravel?

It may not have been the marriage proposal she dreamed of as a child, but Melissa Absher said yes nonetheless. Her boyfriend proposed with a 100-pound bag of gravel and this romantic overture: “Let’s go find your sapphire.”

Anna-Louise JacksonAugust 09, 2025

On a recent outing in Mount Spokane State Park, northeast of the city in Washington state, Jon Gelder and his wife, Heather, found bountiful berry bushes.

It’s Huckleberry Season, But Don’t Ask A Picker Where To Find Them

Throngs of huckleberry hunters are out as the season for picking the wild-growing fruit is hitting its peak in Wyoming. But don’t you dare ask a picker where to find them, as they protect their prime patches the way anglers do a favorite fishing hole.

Anna-Louise JacksonJuly 20, 2025