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

Banks in Montana and Wyoming were targeted by fraudsters Decoriss Darnell Smith, left, and Stanford Wilvin Lightfoot, who forged phony paychecks, then recruited homeless people to cash them at local “country” banks. The homeless were also left to take the blame if caught.

National Crime Ring Recruited Homeless To Take The Blame In Check Cashing Scheme

Banks in Montana and Wyoming were targeted by fraudsters who forged phony paychecks, then recruited homeless people to cash them at local “country” banks. The homeless were also left to take the blame if caught.

David MadisonApril 08, 2025

Riggin Schaffer, 18, was killed March 23 when he stopped to help a driver hurt in a highway crash and was hit by another vehicle that came upon the scene.

No Charges For Driver Who Hit Good Samaritan, DUI For Teen He Stopped To Help

The Wyoming Highway Patrol released its report Monday on the Highway 130 crash that killed good Samaritan Riggin Schaffer, 18, on March 23. The driver who hit Schaffer wasn’t drunk or ticketed, but the crashed driver Schaffer stopped to help got a DUI.

David MadisonApril 07, 2025

Report: Wyoming Leads Coal-Burning States With Lowest Power Rates In The U.S.

Wyoming and other coal-friendly energy states have low power rates, with Wyoming ranking as the lowest in the nation. That’s what the American Legislative Exchange Council says in its annual report.

David MadisonApril 03, 2025

A drilling rig near Pinedale, Wyoming, in this file photo.

Microbes Used To ‘Supercharge’ Gas Production From Powder River Basin Coal Seams

Recent USGS research shows naturally occurring underground microbes can “supercharge” natural gas production from Powder River Basin coal seams.

David MadisonApril 03, 2025

Wyoming ranchers, farmers and small business owners can still get money for their solar energy projects. It’s there if they revise them to align with President Trump’s Unleashing American Energy Executive Order.

Trump’s Energy Order Includes Solar Money For Ranchers, Small Businesses

Wyoming ranchers, farmers and small business owners can still get federal money for their solar energy projects. It’s there if they revise them to align with President Trump’s Unleashing American Energy Executive Order.

David MadisonApril 02, 2025

If Riggin Schaffer went after something, ‘It was with his whole soul,” said his mother Stephanie Schaffer.

Family Remembers 18-Year-Old Good Samaritan As Hero Who Died Helping Another

Family and friends of Riggin Schaffer say they’re remembering the 18-year-old as a hero who died helping another. Schaffer was assisting a crash victim on a Wyoming highway March 23 when another car struck them.

David MadisonMarch 31, 2025

Interest In Community Solar Power Projects Grows In Wyoming And Montana

As legislators in Wyoming and Montana debate solar power in their states, more homeowners are installing panels. They’re also considering community solar projects where people can subscribe to get power, like they would for Netflix or other services.

David MadisonMarch 31, 2025

Riggin Schaffer, an 18-year-old WyoTech student with dreams of building muscle cars stopped to help the injured driver of a one-car rollover Sunday on Highway 130 near Laramie. While doing that, he was hit by another driver and killed.

18-Year-Old Good Samaritan Hit, Killed While Helping Injured Driver Near Laramie

An 18-year-old WyoTech student from Montana with dreams of building muscle cars stopped to help the injured driver of a one-car rollover Sunday on Highway 130 near Laramie. While doing that, he was hit by another driver and killed.

David MadisonMarch 28, 2025

A plan to store carbon dioxide in underground voids deep within a huge swath of southwest Wyoming was approved Wednesday by the Bureau of Land Management.

BLM OKs Plan To Store CO2 Under 600,000 Acres Of Southwest Wyoming

The Bureau of Land Management has approved a plan to store carbon dioxide under 605,100 acres of land in southwest Wyoming. Over 30 years, it could store 600 million metric tons of carbon dioxide.

David MadisonMarch 27, 2025

Power Plants Burning More Wyoming Coal So Far In 2025

Despite the layoffs of 28 Kemmerer coal mine workers last week, there’s evidence of an uptick in demand for thermal coal from Wyoming. So far in 2025, power plants are burning more coal.

David MadisonMarch 27, 2025

Rare Element Resources has already started operations at its rare earths demonstration plant in Upton, Wyoming.

With Rare Earths In Trump’s Fast Lane, Wyoming Projects Get Cash Infusions

As the Trump administration continues to put domestic development of rare earth mining and processing in the fast lane, Wyoming’s big projects benefit. The push means huge infusions of cash to develop them.

David MadisonMarch 26, 2025

The exterior of the famous Bedford Castle in Wyoming is every bit a fairy tale, including appropriate architecture around the 40-acre grounds.

Need A Mansion? More Than 50 Wyoming Homes On The Market For At Least $10 Million

A collection of luxury properties are for sale just in time for the spring real estate buying season in Wyoming. Here’s a look at three unique homes that span the spectrum from a legacy Western spread to full-blown castle.

David MadisonMarch 26, 2025

Other Authors

Trump Order Further Tees Up Wyoming To Become Leader In Rare Earth Elements

Trump’s executive order last week to boost production of rare earth elements tees up Wyoming become a focus for that. Breaking China’s stranglehold on the world’s supply “is an emergency,” says Holly Krutka, who heads UW’s School of Energy Resources.

David MadisonMarch 24, 2025

Carson, a 120-pounds Saint Bernard, touched down in Ennis, Montana, on March 11 as part of a grassroots effort to rescue dogs from large urban animal shelters and deliver them to remote areas in states like Montana.

More Groups In Rural States Rescuing Big Dogs From Urban High-Kill Shelters

More large breed dogs are winding up in urban animal shelters with high kill rates. But rural shelters thousands of miles away, are rescuing them and saving their lives. Like Carson, a 120-pound Saint Bernard who just escaped death row in Los Angeles.

David MadisonMarch 23, 2025

First seen in 2022, the “Make Bozeman Montana Again” billboard is back, igniting debate on social media about the soul of Bozeman.

The Local Man Behind The “Make Bozeman Montana Again” Billboard

Derek Aspinwall told Cowboy State Daily that Bozeman, Montana, is changing to be more like an Aspen or Vail, Colorado. So he put up a billboard pleading with the community to slow the development and get back to its roots before it's too late

David MadisonMarch 22, 2025

The Flat Creek Apartments have 48 affordable housing units built on public land under an agreement with developers to keep rents at a level local workers can afford.

Trump Administration Calls For More Affordable Homes On Public Land

The Trump administration has called for more affordable homes to be built on public lands. Some builders say using free or low-cost public land would lower the cost of building more homes, and could help ease a longtime crunch for Teton County, Wyoming.

David MadisonMarch 22, 2025

The aftermath of months of camping protesters over the Dakota Access Pipeline in 2017.

Greenpeace Ordered To Pay $667M In Protest Damages Over Dakota Access Pipeline

Greenpeace was ordered by a judge Wednesday to pay $667 million related to a 10-month violent protest over building the Dakota Access Pipeline. Protesters camping at the North Dakota site damaged the land and created a policing and cleanup nightmare.

David MadisonMarch 20, 2025

The Laramie River Station power plant near Wheatland, Wyoming.

Trump Promises Comeback For U.S. Coal, To Reopen “Hundreds” Of Coal-Fired Plants

President Trump promised this week to reopen “hundreds” of coal-fired power plants and spark a comeback for the industry. Wyoming experts say that’s refreshing to hear, but it won’t happen as long as coal costs more than gas and renewables.

David MadisonMarch 20, 2025

Excess gas is flared off at the Sinclair oil refinery in southern Wyoming.

New Report Says There’s Still 'Substantial' Oil And Gas Under Wyoming

A U.S. Geological Survey report released last week says there’s still "substantial" oil and gas underneath Wyoming. The Powder River, Wind River and Bighorn basins still have nearly 50 million barrels of oil and close to 1 billion cubic feet of gas.

David MadisonMarch 19, 2025

Jack Gilmore is thrown from a bull during Professional Bull Riders action at the 2023 Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo in this file photo.

Bull Riding Border War Brewing After Frontier Days Switches From PBR To PRCA

The Professional Bull Riders circuit will not return to Cheyenne Frontier Days this year after the Daddy of ’em All decided to go with PRCA Xtreme Bulls. So, PBR has set up its own competing event in Fort Collins for the same days in July.

David MadisonMarch 18, 2025

Pawnee City, Nebraska, where in addition to helping new homebuyers, a new grant program also provides money to those looking to invest in businesses in its charming downtown.

Nebraska Town Offers $50,000 House Down Payment If People Move There

To stem the stream of locals and businesses leaving town, Pawnee City, Nebraska, is offering a $50,000 incentive to move to the hometown of Larry The Cable Guy. The money is a down payment on a house for people who move there.

David MadisonMarch 17, 2025

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