Features Reporter

David Madison

David Madison is an award-winning journalist and documentary producer based in Bozeman, Montana. He’s also reported for Wyoming PBS. He studied journalism at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and has worked at news outlets throughout Wyoming, Utah, Idaho and Montana.

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Latest from David Madison

Jeff Garnett started as a customer looking to erase tattoos and replace them with new ones. Then he co-founded Inkless and continues to clear his personal skin slate, making room for new, better tattoos.

People Are Getting Tattoos Removed — Just To Replace Them With New Tattoos

For many people, erasing a tattoo isn't about giving up on body art — it's about clearing space for something better. A national tattoo removal brand opened its first Wyoming location in Casper, bringing cutting-edge laser technology to the state.

David MadisonMarch 07, 2026

"Hands On Everything": Clerk Warns Of Tampering Risk As Voting Machine Bill Passes

Fremont County Clerk Julie Freese warned lawmakers of tampering risks after observers mishandled records during a past voting machine test. The bill, clarifying public access to election equipment checks, was subsequently advanced.

David MadisonMarch 05, 2026

WYDOT Auditing Wyoming Highway Patrol After Overtime Spending Surges 226%

The Wyoming Highway Patrol is being audited after the agency blew past its annual overtime budget by more than $2.4 million last year. "We used more than 50,000 hours of overtime, which was a cost of over $4 million," patrol chief Col. Tim Cameron said.

David MadisonMarch 05, 2026

Gov. Mark Godon, left, and state Sen. Gary Crum, R-Laramie.

Gordon Signs Bill To Keep NIL Money Out Of Wyoming High School Sports

A Wyoming bill to keep name, image, and likeness payouts out of high school sports is now law after Gov. Mark Gordon signed it Tuesday. Gordon said it's a commonsense measure after what's happened to college sports.

Clair McFarland & David MadisonMarch 04, 2026

State Sens. Cheri Steinmetz, R-Torrington, and Chris Rothfull, D-Laramie, sparred Tuesday, March 3, 2026, over a bill that increasses the pentalties for ignoring a legislative subpoena.

"Authoritarian" Bill Making Defiance Of Legislative Subpoena A Felony Heads To Gov.

A bill elevating the penalty for dodging a legislative subpoena from a misdemeanor to a felony carrying up to one year in prison passed both chambers this week. It drew sharp criticism from senators who said they handed themselves "authoritarian power"

David MadisonMarch 03, 2026

"We need $6 billion for housing in the next 15 years, and that doesn't include your infrastructure," Wyoming State Treasurer Curt Meier told Republicans.

Meier: Wyoming Needs $6 Billion For Housing And That Doesn't Count Infrastructure

State Treasurer Curt Meier said Wyoming needs $6 billion for housing in the next 15 years and that doesn't count infrastructure. Legislators considered housing legislation this year, but nothing passed. One noteworthy bill died due to "CheckGate."

David MadisonMarch 03, 2026

Attempt To Repeal Carbon Capture Mandate Fails As Wyoming Lawmakers Run Out Of Time

Rep. Chris Knapp’s effort to repeal Wyoming's carbon capture mandate failed on Monday as it was the final day for bills to advance out of committee. The bill’s death extends the debate over whether carbon capture helps or hurts Wyoming’s coal industry.

David MadisonMarch 02, 2026

In Wake Of Weston Election Scandal, Bill Advanced Criminalizing False Election Audits

Wyoming lawmakers advanced a bill Monday that criminalizes filing false election audits, despite such actions already being illegal. “I still think just to make it even clearer — why would we not do this?” Secretary of State Chuck Gray said.

David MadisonMarch 02, 2026

The Teton County Republican Party Chair Kat Rueckert and Rebecca Bextel at the Wyoming Republican Party's quarterly Central Committee meeting Saturday at Little America in Cheyenne. At one point during the meeting, Rueckert turned to the media and suggested they cover Wyoming’s connection to the Epstein files instead of CheckGate.

No CheckGate Reckoning At Wyoming GOP Meeting As Leaders Blast Media, Gordon

There was no dealing with the so-called “CheckGate” controversy at Saturday’s state GOP Central Committee meeting. Instead, party leaders blamed the media for its coverage and redirected attention on Gov. Mark Gordon’s campaign spending.

David MadisonFebruary 28, 2026

Legislator’s Bill Would Push Wyoming Hydrogen Past California To World Markets

A Glenrock legislator pitched California on using Wyoming natural gas to make virtually CO2-free hydrogen, but was shot down. So, he’s pushing a bill that would allow the state to go past California to world markets.

David MadisonFebruary 27, 2026

"You tell us what you need, and we'll do it," Sen. Bo Biteman said, describing the administration's posture toward energy. "And if you have any issues or bottlenecks, we need to know, and we'll get rid of those in 24 hours' notice."

"We're Sitting On A Gold Mine": Energy Optimism Overflows At Wyoming Capitol

Lawmakers advanced two bills Friday designed to position Wyoming at the center of America's energy future. Sen. Bo Biteman said the time to act is now as the administration is listening to Wyoming on energy and will get rid of any "issues or bottlenecks."

David MadisonFebruary 27, 2026

Sen. Larry Hicks, R-Baggs, presented the bill and walked the committee through a new approach to property tax relief. "It's been a journey, ladies and gentlemen," Hicks said. "And I think we've refined what we're trying to do."

House Panel Advances Major Property Tax Cut For Homeowners 

A House committee Thursday advanced a bill that would lower the tax rate on homes people live in and stop collecting school taxes on those properties, with the state picking up the tab instead of local governments. The bill passed 7-2.

David MadisonFebruary 27, 2026

Other Authors

Sen. Tara Nethercott, R-Cheyenne, stood on the Wyoming Senate floor Thursday morning and told her colleagues that the state's county clerks were afraid — not of election fraud, but of overblown calls for election reform.

Another Election Reform Bill Dies As Lawmaker Rejects National “Populism”

In speaking against an election audit reform bill Thursday, Sen. Tara Nethercott said the state's county clerks don't support the measure and that lawmakers should stop "pandering" to fears manufactured by national rhetoric. The legislation failed 21-9.

David MadisonFebruary 26, 2026

Entrance to the grounds at the Veterans Home of Wyoming in Buffalo.

Wyoming Lawmakers Bet Big On $87 Million Veterans Home Remodel

Wyoming lawmakers approved an $87 million remodel of the Veterans Home in Buffalo after years of delay and rising estimates. Supporters argued action can’t wait, while skeptics warned the state’s construction spending is “adding up.”

David MadisonFebruary 26, 2026

Senate Committee Forwards Firefighting Bills Over Fear Of Brutal Fire Season

A lone monitoring station on the Laramie Range is reading just 3% of its normal snowpack. That's a number that explains why, 40 miles down the road in Cheyenne, lawmakers were advancing legislation to put more firefighters in the field before fire season.

David MadisonFebruary 25, 2026

Senator Wendy Schuler at the Senate Education Committee Meeting discussing Tim Tebow rule

Wyoming Lawmakers Advance Version Of “Tim Tebow Law” For Homeschool Athletes

Wyoming lawmakers on Wednesday advanced a bill expanding homeschoolers’ access to public school activities from grades 6-12 to all K-12. The move mirrors “Tim Tebow Laws” in other states allowing equal participation for homeschooled athletes.

David MadisonFebruary 25, 2026

So Far, The Wyoming Business Council Remains Alive

After a Senate bill to reform the Wyoming Business Council stalled on Tuesday, the agency continues to remain alive in both chambers. "The question is, how much money will they have," Sen. Chris Rothfuss told Cowboy State Daily.

David MadisonFebruary 24, 2026

Committee Passes $3 Million Forest Health Bill Program To Help Reduce Wildfire Risk

Sen. Larry Hicks on Tuesday argued that now is the time to pass a $3 million forest health bill because the Trump administration has created favorable conditions that haven’t existed in his three decades working in forestry and natural resources.

David MadisonFebruary 24, 2026

Wyoming lawmakers advanced a resolution Monday seeking state control over federal mineral leasing after removing language affirming federal land ownership. Sen. Bob Ide said the ownership language was the “biggest burr under the saddle."

In Push For Federal Mineral Leasing Control, Who Owns The Land?

What started Monday as a straightforward hearing on letting Wyoming run the federal mineral leasing program turned into a debate over something far bigger — whether the state should formally acknowledge that the federal government owns the land beneath its feet.

David MadisonFebruary 24, 2026

Secretary of State Chuck Gray and Sen. Cale Case, R-Lander clashed Monday over whether a bill born from a prolonged election controversy was a necessary reform or a product of personal politics — and Case had the votes to kill it.

Gray’s Election Bill Dies Amid Clash Over Accountability, ‘Personality Conflicts'

Sec. Chuck Gray told a Senate committee that a 15-month pursuit of a county clerk proved the system was broken. Sen. Cale Case said the bill was feeding a political dispute between the state's top officials and called the animosity “very disappointing.”

David MadisonFebruary 23, 2026

Photo from a Wyoming Highway Patrol Association first-person story called "The Thinning Blue Line"

“I Want My Husband To Quit”: Highway Patrol Families Say Low Pay Creating Crisis

Wyoming troopers and their families say low pay, lost overtime and short staffing are driving burnout and resignations. The Wyoming Highway Patrol Association's first-ever social media blitz — run by a 25-year veteran who doesn't use Facebook — has gone viral.

David MadisonFebruary 23, 2026