Energy 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.

Follow David Madison

Envelope

Latest from David Madison

Thirteen Bozeman police officers were caught playing games of “Crime Bingo,” the department reported. The customized bingo cards included incidents to check off during traffic stops, like “arrest 2 people” or “butt-ass naked.”

‘Crime Bingo’ Results In 9 Montana Felony Cases Being Thrown Out

Nine felony cases connected to Bozeman, Montana, police officers playing “Crime Bingo” have been tossed by the local county attorney. The arrests could be tainted by the potential for officers to make them based on the game.

David MadisonMay 12, 2025

A West Yellowstone, Montana, thrill-shooting specialist keeps clients safe while making their machine gun dreams come true at Big Gun Fun.

Find Your "Inner Rambo" At Big Gun Fun In West Yellowstone

Want to shoot an MP5, AK-47, M16, M4, a KRISS Vector or a Thompson submachine gun like the one toted by Bonnie and Clyde? No problem. At Big Gun Fun in West Yellowstone, you can fire weapons most people only see in news footage and action films.

David MadisonMay 11, 2025

Smoking pot may be legal in some states, but it’s not in Yellowstone National Park. When asked by customers the best way to spark up in the park, a West Yellowstone cannabis seller advises don’t — getting stoned in Yellowstone invites a federal charge.

Cannabis Sellers Warn Against Taking Marijuana Into Yellowstone

Smoking pot is legal in some states, but it’s not in Yellowstone. That's why West Yellowstone cannabis sellers warn against taking marijuana into the park as it becomes a federal crime -- and the charges can be harsh.

David MadisonMay 11, 2025

Paul Dey, official and certified beer judge, enjoying a Jeremiah Johnson Brewing Co. beer at The Safari Club restaurant in Thermopolis in a file photo.

Wyoming Is The Second Most Expensive State For Beer Lovers

Beer in Wyoming isn’t as expensive as it is in Alaska, but buying a brew in the Cowboy State is the second highest in the country. Behind the high prices, several factors are at play: tourism, the cost of shipping and a bartender’s sensitivity to locals’ pricing.

David MadisonMay 10, 2025

An amendment attached to sweeping legislation moving its way through the U.S. House has ignited a debate over the sale of federally owned public land. Wyoming’s Harriet Hageman supports the move, while Republicans in other Western states oppose it.

Hageman And House Committee Open Up Sale Of Federally Owned Public Land

An amendment attached to legislation moving its way through the U.S. House this week opens federal land for sale in Utah and Nevada. Wyoming’s Harriet Hageman supports the move, while Republicans in other Western states oppose it.

David MadisonMay 09, 2025

Men Accused Of Dumping Wyoming Oil Field Waste In Utah Face Multiple Felonies

A pair of oil field waste haulers are accused of trying to cut corners and pocket more money by dumping Wyoming oil field waste near a town in Utah. They face multiple felony charges.

David MadisonMay 08, 2025

A coalition of 18 attorneys general from mostly blue states is suing the Trump administration over its directive to pump the brakes on wind energy permitting. Wyoming has plenty of wind turbines, but isn’t part of the lawsuit.

Group Of Mostly Blue States Sue Trump Over Halt Of Federal Wind Energy Permits

A coalition of 18 attorneys general from mostly blue states is suing the Trump administration over its directive to pump the brakes on federal wind energy permitting. Wyoming has plenty of wind turbines, but isn’t part of the lawsuit.

David MadisonMay 07, 2025

The site about 20 miles southwest of Green River could produce 6 million tons of soda ash and sodium bicarbonate a year.

BLM Approves New $5 Billion Pacific Soda Trona Mine Near Green River

The Bureau of Land Management announced Friday it's approved Pacific Soda’s proposed $5 billion Dry Creek Trona Mine Project south of Green River. The project promises hundreds of full-time jobs.

David MadisonMay 05, 2025

Expect More E-Bikes Than Ever On Wyoming Trails This Summer

From a new trail system in the Bighorns to a revised e-bike policy for U.S. Forest Service trails around Jackson, summer in Wyoming appears poised to bring out more e-bikers than ever.

David MadisonMay 04, 2025

The hit HBO MAX series "The Last of Us" has much of its dystopian future set in Jackson, Wyoming, is actually filmed in Albert, Canada.

Sheridan Filmmaker Couldn’t Push Incentives Through In Wyoming, So He Went North

Sheridan filmmaker Sen Patrick Higgins tried to help push Wyoming to give incentives for his industry to film more in Wyoming. When that didn’t work, he went to Montana and lobbied for them there.

David MadisonMay 03, 2025

Wyoming Star Ian Munsick Declares He Has ‘The Greatest Hair In Country Music’

Wyoming native Ian Munsick has real cowboy roots and talent fueling his career as a rising star in Nashville. He also boasts having something else no other artist can claim — the “greatest hair in country music.”

David MadisonMay 02, 2025

A mound of dirt dug out of the ground for water storage sits next to a drilling site at the Lost Creek project in south-central Wyoming. The water is needed to cool down the drill bit when digging for uranium.

Former Wyoming Legislator Now In EPA Approves Long-Delayed Uranium Project

Former Sheridan state legislator Cyrus Western, put in charge of the EPA’s Denver office by the Trump administration, has approved a long-delayed Wyoming uranium mining project. Western says it was past time for “getting government out of the way.”

David MadisonMay 02, 2025

Other Authors

Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon, left, signs a three-state nuclear power compact with Utah Gov. Spencer Cox and Idaho Gov. Brad Little.

Wyoming A Lynchpin In New Three-State Nuclear Compact With Utah, Idaho

Wyoming has emerged as a lynchpin of a three-state compact with Utah and Idaho signed this week to form a nuclear energy partnership. The TerraPower project near Kemmerer could be just the beginning of a small, modular nuclear reactor revolution.

David MadisonMay 02, 2025

Ethics Probe: Wyoming BLM Chief Accepted Gifts, Gave Girlfriend Travel Perks

Wyoming BLM Director Andrew Archuleta is on leave after an ethics probe by the Office of Inspector General, which alleges he accepted a gift dinner and drinks from a private company, and treated his girlfriend to travel perks on the BLM’s dime.

David MadisonMay 01, 2025

Seminoe Dam on the North Platte River southwest of Casper is one of Wyoming's hydropower-producing dams.

Hageman Says Wyoming Can Be Part Of Hydropower Boom Across West

Harriet Hageman says there needs to be more investment in hydropower projects across the West, including Wyoming. She says hydropower can be “the backbone of our region’s energy future.”

David MadisonApril 30, 2025

The American Lung Association has named Fremont County and Casper as having the cleanest air in the United States for year-round particles. At the same time, some Wyoming cities and counties received failing grades for certain types of air pollution.

Fremont County, Casper Have Cleanest Air In The U.S., Lung Association Says

The American Lung Association has named Fremont County and Casper as having the cleanest air in the United States for year-round particles. Casper tied with Honolulu for the No. 1 ranking on the list of cleanest cities for year-round particle pollution.

David MadisonApril 29, 2025

A pair of Wyoming Department of Corrections officers move an inmate.

Homeless Montana Man Awarded $27.75 Million For Vicious Prison Beating

A homeless Montana man whose conviction for sex assault was overturned won a $27.75 million judgment for a vicious beating he took in prison. A private prison company, which also does business with Wyoming, didn’t do enough to protect him, a jury found.

David MadisonApril 28, 2025

Rail cars roll into the Black Thunder mine empty and roll out full of Wyoming coal.

State Wants To Know How Much Coal Is Left In Wyoming, And Who Will Buy It

The Wyoming Energy Authority is preparing a first-of-its-kind analysis of Wyoming’s coal industry. It will determine just how much coal is left in Wyoming, and who will buy it if it’s mined.

David MadisonApril 28, 2025

The Wyoming/Gillette Mustangs had a timultuous three-season run as an indoor football team in northeast Wyoming from 2021-2023. The team folded in 2024, but now Gillette has a new indoor football team, the Wyoming Cavalry.

Wyoming Cavalry Will Return To Arena Football — In Gillette With A New Owner

New owners of the Wyoming Cavalry arena football team, formerly based in Casper, say they’re resurrecting the indoor football squad. It will play out of Gillette, where another team folded last year after three seasons.

David MadisonApril 27, 2025

Defense Contractor With Wyoming Ties Sues Firm Over Explosives Deal For Ukraine

Bizzell Corp., a defense contractor registered in Wyoming, is suing a Pennsylvania firm claiming it defrauded the company of $3.9 million in an explosives deal. The explosives were meant to help supply Ukraine and Israel with munitions.

David MadisonApril 27, 2025

Yucca glauca photographed in Central Wyoming.

Overlooked And All Over Wyoming, Yucca Can Be Your New Prickly Landscaping Choice

Rita Lovell didn’t plant the yucca that stole her heart. It volunteered, showing up on its own in the dry, rocky soil just outside her home. Often overlooked, yucca is all over Wyoming and is gaining popularity as a prickly choice in landscaping.

David MadisonApril 26, 2025

Oil And Gas Producers Want To Chill Despite Push To Drill, Baby, Drill

The Trump administration is pulling out all the stops to “drill, baby, drill” in a push for more oil and gas drilling on public land. But low oil prices have producers in Wyoming wanting to instead "chill, baby, chill” to boost the market.

David MadisonApril 26, 2025

A truck hauling sand drives through Yoder, Wyoming. It's one of up to 150 a day that haul sand through the town.

Mayor Says Company’s Fracking Sand Continues To “Drift Like Snow” Across Yoder

A local company’s fracking sand continues to “drift like snow” across Yoder in eastern Wyoming, resulting in another round of clean air violations. The mayor says it’s causing him to cough and pushed a neighbor out of town.

David MadisonApril 25, 2025

Dave Johnston Power Plant aerial 4 24 25

Wyoming Power Plant May Be Proving Ground For Emissions-Free Coal Burning

The Dave Johnston Power Plant near Glenrock is where PacifiCorp is trying to prove new tech that can achieve emissions-free coal burning. Some experts are optimistic about the prospect, while others wonder if it can be done and at what cost.

David MadisonApril 24, 2025

Screenshot from graphic body camera video that shows the Pocatello, Idaho, Police Department's lethal response to a disabled teen brandishing a long knife and threatening family members.

Body Cam Video Shows Shooting Death Of Autistic Idaho Teen By Police

Body camera video has been released showing the shooting death by Pocatello, Idaho, police of a non-verbal autistic teen brandishing a large knife. The incident has sparked protests of the local police.

David MadisonApril 23, 2025

The Dave Johnston power plant's four units were built between 1959 and 1972. It's owned by PacifiCorp.

Clean Energy Company Says Its Tech Could Eliminate Smokestacks On Coal Plants

The smokestacks towering above the Dave Johnston power plant are a fixture on the skyline outside of Glenrock. A group of engineering and technology experts are meeting there this week with the goal of making them obsolete.

David MadisonApril 22, 2025

Former West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin Joins Board of Ramaco Resources.

Former West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin Joins Ramaco Resources Board

The company developing a rare earth element mine in Ranchester added former West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin to its team. While in office, Manchin was a leading advocate for the mining industry.

David MadisonApril 22, 2025

Montana Cops Caught On Duty Playing ‘Crime Bingo’ With Traffic Stops

Thirteen Bozeman police officers were caught playing games of “Crime Bingo,” the department reported. The customized bingo cards included incidents to check off during traffic stops, like “arrest 2 people” or “butt-ass naked.”

David MadisonApril 21, 2025

Montana Measles Outbreak Triggers Emergency Response Near Wyoming Border

Five cases of the measles confirmed Thursday are the first in Montana since 1990. They’ve prompted an emergency response in Gallatin County near the Wyoming border and Yellowstone's West Entrance.

David MadisonApril 19, 2025

Bozeman Tenants United, one in a growing number of groups organizing in the face of rising rents in places like Bozeman, Montana.

Residential Rents Skyrocket In Idaho And Montana, Remain Stable In Wyoming

While residential rents for people in Wyoming remain relatively stable, they’re skyrocketing by more than 30% in neighboring Montana and Idaho.

David MadisonApril 18, 2025

PacifiCorps owns two-thirds of the Jim Bridger coal-fired power plant in Sweetwater County, Wyoming.

Politically Red Wyoming, Utah And Idaho Talk Break From Power Giant PacifiCorp

Officials in politically red states Wyoming and Utah are talking about teaming up with Idaho to rely more on fossil fuels to meet future electricity demands. They could break from PacifiCorps and its base in politically blue West Coast states.

David MadisonApril 18, 2025

Assailant Gets More Than 7 Years In Prison In “Kill The White Guy” Burglary Case

A Montana man was sentenced to just over seven years in prison for a botched home invasion that could’ve been worse if he had killed “the white guy,” as an accomplice urged.

David MadisonApril 16, 2025

Wyoming Rare Earths Could Be Processed At Retooled Plant In Utah

A uranium mill in Utah with ties to operations stretching from Wyoming to Madagascar is retooling to process rare earths. That could be good news for Wyoming mines, which are accelerating their production plans.

David MadisonApril 16, 2025

A giant coal shovel fills a huge haul truck at Peabody Energy's North Antelope Rochelle mine in Wyoming's Powder River Basin.

Peabody Closes ‘Substantial’ Deal For Coal From Its Flagship Wyoming Coal Mine

Peabody Energy, which operates the world’s most productive coal mine, announced Tuesday it has a “substantial” contract to supply Associated Electric Cooperative for “at least the next seven years.”

David MadisonApril 16, 2025

Gas rigs work on BLM land near Pinedale, Wyoming, in this file photo.

Wyoming Oil And Gas Producers Cheer No More Environmental Review For Federal Leases

Wyoming oil and gas producers are cheering a new directive lifting requirements for environmental reviews for federal leases. The move affects more than 3,200 leases across seven Western states, including Wyoming.

David MadisonApril 15, 2025

Escaped Human Smuggler Nabbed Again Near Montana U.S.-Canada Border

A woman previously convicted of human smuggling who later escaped from federal custody has been arrested again. She’s now accused of harboring illegal immigrants near the U.S.-Canada border in Montana.

David MadisonApril 14, 2025

Visitors Hold Spontaneous Cleanup Of Trashed Idaho Hot Spring

Piles of trash are the last thing anyone wants to see when visiting a hot spring. When it happened recently at Carey Hot Springs in Idaho, random hot springers banded together for a spontaneous cleanup.

David MadisonApril 13, 2025

The Frontier Town Bar was constructed from a single 50-foot log of Douglas fir and in its heyday, it was the king of rustic Montana bars. And now a new generation hopes to see the bar and its diorama reopen to the public.

Montana’s Historic Frontier Town Bar Made From A Single Giant 50-Foot Log

A California couple bought Frontier Town, the inspiration for Disney’s Frontierland. It’s also home to one of the largest bars ever made from a single giant 50-foot, and the new owners hope to reopen it.

David MadisonApril 12, 2025

Research Shows Solar Panels Can Also Generate Electricity At Night

New research shows there’s a process that offers the promise of around-the-clock electricity generation with solar panels. But the technology is not yet available for people to use to power their homes.

David MadisonApril 12, 2025

Wyoming Housing Market ‘Overpriced,’ With 11% Of Buyers Paying Over List Price

Wyoming’s chief economist is reporting that it’s still tough for homebuyers in the state with an “overpriced” market. And Zillow reports a lack of available homes to buy also has about 11% of homebuyers paying more than list price.

David MadisonApril 10, 2025

A uranium project around Pine Ridge, about 20 miles north of Glenrock, recently received a $30 million investment to advance deeper exploration of the area.

$30 Million Investment Bets On Glenrock Being Wyoming’s Next Uranium Hot Spot

Could an area north of Glenrock become Wyoming’s next uranium hot spot? A $30 million investment from a Canada mining venture is betting it will.

David MadisonApril 09, 2025

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

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

A video posted on Facebook introduced the world to Delores “Dee” Baker, one of the few 100-year-old South Dakotans to do a shotski in a crash helmet.

100-Year-Old Dee Baker Wears A Crash Helmet When She Takes Shots Of Liquor

A viral video introduced the world to the oldest bar hopper in the Black Hills of South Dakota, 100-year-old Dee Baker. Baker wears a crash helmet when she takes shots of liquor. The centenarian is known as the life of the party in Lewie's Burgers and Brews.

David MadisonMarch 15, 2025

While Wyoming hasn’t passed a state ban, cities and towns like Thermopolis have enacted their own bans against adding fluoride to tap water. Utah voted this month to ban fluoride in drinking water statewide.

Utah To Become First State To Ban Fluoride In Drinking Water

While Wyoming hasn’t passed a statewide ban on adding fluoride to tap water, some communities like Casper, Evanston, and Thermopolis have enacted their own. Utah voted this month to eliminate fluoride in drinking water, the first statewide ban in the nation.

David MadisonMarch 15, 2025

Massive Alaskan Avalanche Claims Three On Mountains Wyomingite Helped Popularize

An enormous avalanche killed three men on Alaska’s Chugach Range early this month, a popular ski region for heli-skiiers. A Jackson guide was among the pioneers to develop the region’s thriving helicopter-skiing industry.

David MadisonMarch 13, 2025

Bison move through the facility at Stephens Creek.

Bison Burgers And Steaks Are Part Of Yellowstone Herd Management Plan

The annual buffalo harvest is underway just outside Yellowstone National Park. The controversial program delivers organic meat to Montana tribes and draws critics calling for an end to thinning the park’s bison herd.

David MadisonMarch 11, 2025

Ryan Pasborg ran into this burning house to save a Green River woman and her son.

Story Of Green River Heroism Takes Bizarre Turn With Phony AI Court Cases

A Wyoming judge has sanctioned a lawyer for citing fake AI cases in a lawsuit over what caused a nearly fatal house fire in Green River. A woman and her son were saved by Ryan Pasborg, who was given the nation's highest honor for heroism for his actions.

David MadisonMarch 10, 2025

Natrona County High School grads turned playwrights Matthew Spangler and Nina McConigley.

"Cowboys And East Indians" Play To Premiere At Denver Center For Performing Arts

Former Casper author Nina McConigley teamed-up with two other Natrona County High graduates to turn a pair of short stories into a Wyoming-inspired play. It will premiere January 2026 on stage at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts.

David MadisonMarch 09, 2025

A photo exhibit submitted by the Flathead Conservation District supporting its call for the demolition of this home built by John and Stacy Ambler, a couple from San Diego.

Judge: Couple Can Keep House Built Without Permits In Glacier National Park

A judge has spared a home built by a California couple inside of Glacier National Park in Montana. Critics of the ruling say Glacier National Park allowed a couple from San Diego to build whatever they wanted, however they wanted.

David MadisonMarch 09, 2025

Wyoming Remains A Sea Of Political Red, But There’s A Little More Blue Creeping In

While Republican voters continue to move to Wyoming and help make this famously red state even more red, data reveals that at the same time, there are a few more blips of blue. But they aren't enough to come close to challenging the GOP.

David MadisonMarch 08, 2025

A loaded coal train rolls past the Dry Fork Station power plant about 10 miles north of Gillette, Wyoming.

Lawmaker Announces Plan To Build Next-Generation Coal-Fired Plant In Wyoming

A new coal-fired power plant hasn’t opened in the U.S. since 2013, but that’s about to change. A leading state legislator tells Cowboy State Daily that plans are in the works to build a next-generation coal and CO2 plant in Wyoming.

David MadisonMarch 06, 2025

The Frontier Bar, Montana’s unofficial hub of cold beer diplomacy.

Along Montana-Canada Border, Tariffs Could Spike Prices For Beer, Fishing Lures

A lot of commerce flows across the 545 miles of border between Montana and Canada. With promised 25% tariffs going into effect Tuesday, locals expect prices for all kinds of things to spike, including beer and fishing lures.

David MadisonMarch 04, 2025

Valan Anthos, an attorney and "drag king," testifies against a bill that would allow parents to sue if their children are exposd to "hyper sexualized" shows. Anthos appeared in make-up and said his drag act was inspured by the boy band 'NSYNC.

Bill Moving Through Montana Legislature Would Let Parents Sue Over Drag Shows

Wyoming lawmakers recently chose not to advance a bill outlawing the use of public money for drag shows. Across the border in Montana, a bill is moving through the Legislature that would let parents sue over "hypersexualized" shows.

David MadisonMarch 03, 2025

An illustration showing what the front of the Field and Stream Lodge could look like.

New Field & Stream Branded Hotel To Launch In Montana

A new Field & Stream-themed lodge is being launched in the middle of hotel boom in Bozeman, Montana. It promises guests a throwback summer camp experience filled with the magazine’s outdoors nostalgia.

David MadisonMarch 02, 2025

A home for sale in Cheyenne in this file photo.

Montana, Wyoming Top List Of Fastest-Selling Real Estate Markets

A new real estate report shows Wyoming, Montana, and Alaska are the fastest-selling real estate markets in the nation. Inventory in Wyoming is very low -- ranging from 1.79% in Natrona County to 2.05% in Sweetwater County to 5.63% in Park County.

David MadisonMarch 02, 2025

A Montana state agency is moving ahead with restoring passenger service to southern Montana, and rail advocates in Laramie sees promise in a new report from the Federal Rail Administration. This Union Pacific train hauls people from Denver to Cheyenne Frontier Days in this file photo.

New Study Adds Momentum To Return Of Passenger Rail To Wyoming, Montana

A January report from the Federal Railroad Administration recommends restoring Amtrak routes across the West, including through Cheyenne. It specifically recommended passenger train travel across southern Wyoming and a north-south route to Billings.

David MadisonMarch 01, 2025

Girl Scouts Push Back On Claim That Cookies Have Unsafe Levels Of Weed-Killer Chemical

Going up against Joe Rogan is no easy task, but that's what the Girl Scouts are doing after he discussed a study that called its cookies "toxic." The Girl Scouts of Wyoming and Montana told Cowboy State Daily the cookies are "very safe to eat."

David MadisonMarch 01, 2025

Edward “Ean” Nurse worked at the Great Northern branch of Park Side Credit Union in Missoula, Montana. On Feb. 25, Nurse was ordered to pay $389,000 in restitution for the cash he stole by removing it from the bank’s vault. He then replaced the real cash with fake prop money, according to court documents.

Montana Credit Union Worker Replaced $340,000 In Vault With Fake Money

When a credit union employee needed cash to feed his gambling habit, he bought fake cash from an online prop money company and swapped it with real bills in the vault. He pleaded guilty Tuesday to replacing $340,000 over seven months.

David MadisonFebruary 27, 2025

Montana Bill Would Charge Women With 'Abortion Trafficking' For Going Out Of State

A Montana bill would charge women with abortion trafficking for seeking abortions in other states. Opponents flooded a Wednesday hearing claiming overreach, supporters say it's needed to keep minors from being taken for secret abortions.

David MadisonFebruary 26, 2025

Legislature Making It Harder For Power Companies To Take Land For Power Lines

A bill landed on Gov. Mark Gordon's desk Tuesday that makes it harder for power companies to use eminent domain in Wyoming to take land to build power lines. Legislators say the goal is to protect property rights while preserving energy production.

David MadisonFebruary 25, 2025

Paul Ailport, left, was sentenced Feb. 13, 2025, to 110 year in prison for attempted murder of his neighbor. Top right, a screengrab from home security video captures Ailport’s pickup on fire and speeding toward his neighbor’s home. Bottom right, the aftermath of Paul Ailport’s fiery truck assault on his neighbor’s home.

Montana Man Gets 110 Years For Crashing Homemade Truck Bomb Into Neighbor’s House

A neighborhood feud turned into a scene from “Mad Max” when a Montana man transformed his truck into a firebomb on wheels and sent it crashing into a neighbor’s house. He was sentenced earlier this month to 110 years in prison for attempted murder.

David MadisonFebruary 25, 2025

Sun Valley Resort in Idaho is recognized as a world-class ski area. A recent Idaho Supreme Court ruling against Sun Valley stopped ski industry watchers in their tracks and raised concerns about an avalanche of liability lawsuits.

‘Nuclear Verdicts’ Against Big Ski Resorts Could Price Mom-And-Pop Areas Out Of Business

A widow suing the world-famous Sun Valley Resort in Idaho over the death of her husband could end with a “nuclear verdict” that could spike insurance rates across the industry. That could price mom-and-pop areas like those in Wyoming out of business.

David MadisonFebruary 23, 2025

Strange on the Range creator Ella Bishop-Heil.

Strange On The Range: Wyoming Comic Artists Create Eclectic Compilation Of Wild & Weird

Strange on the Range is a new underground publication that features an eclectic mix of Wyoming comic artists. The hard-copy magazine is dedicated to the work of Wyoming comic illustrators.

David MadisonFebruary 23, 2025

Jerry Valentine, Montana’s Cinderella pinball wizard, headed to the North American Championships after only 18 months of competitive pinball.

Wyoming Only State Not Sending A Pinball Wizard To North American Championships

A budding pinball scene fizzled out a few years ago in Cheyenne, which means Wyoming will be the only state without someone competing at the North American Championships. But a Cinderella pinball wizard from Montana is going full-tilt to earn a title.

David MadisonFebruary 23, 2025

A group of self-described tree-hugging hunters are trying to influence a lawsuit between the state of Montana and Yellowstone National Park about how bison are managed.

Environmentalists Known As “Tree-Hugging Hunters” Want More Yellowstone Bison Hunted

A group of environmentalists who describe themselves as “tree-huggers who hunt," are uniting around a message that might surprise some: They say it’s time to hunt and kill more bison outside Yellowstone National Park.

David MadisonFebruary 23, 2025

Montana State University researchers are testing immune-boosting supplements on honeybees. They’re also strapping the bees into machines for live flight tests and other scientific study.

To Boost Bee Immune Systems, Researchers Strap In Honeybees For Live Test Flights

Viruses spread through honeybee hives like the flu virus in a crowded waiting room. Looking to boost bee immune systems, researchers are examining the impact of viruses on honeybee flight performance and testing supplements.

David MadisonFebruary 22, 2025

The gymnasium errupts after Sophomore shooting guard Ari Fowler nailed a 3-pointer with 5 seconds left against Riverton on Feb. 20, 2025, to snap Jackson Hole High School’s 79-game, four-year girls’ basketball losing streak.

Jackson Hole Girls Basketball Snaps 79-Game Losing Streak With Last Second 3-Pointer

In a home game against Riverton, four seniors for Jackson Hole High School had never won a high school basketball game until a sophomore sharpshooter sunk a clutch 3-pointer Thursday. The 35-32 win snapped the Broncs’ 79-game losing streak.

David MadisonFebruary 22, 2025

The micro-nuclear plants Radiant Industries wants to build will weigh 60 tons, but be small enough to be transported by semitrailer or air. They'll produce 1 megawatt of power, enough for industrial use or to power a 750-home development.

House Committee Kills Bill To Store Radioactive Waste In Wyoming

A House committee rejected a proposal Wednesday to build small nuclear power plants. Assurances that the legislation would not bring radioactive “green slime” to Wyoming weren’t enough to convince committee members.

David MadisonFebruary 19, 2025

Wyoming And Montana Legislators Seek To Ban Lab-Grown Meat

Allusions to “Frankenstein” and “The Matrix” punctuate discussion of bills designed to protect “food traditions” and ban the sale of meat created in a laboratory. Wyoming and Montana are among states trying to ban it.

David MadisonFebruary 17, 2025

The Fools’ End Club was founded in 2016 to provide Missoula’s cigar aficionados with discriminating tastes and a wish for exclusivity a private club where they can come to enjoy camaraderie and a good leaf of tobacco,” according to promotional materials. Recent proposed legislation wafting through the Montana Capitol Building currently aspires to make it easier to open public cigar bars.

Cigar Bars Making A Comeback In A Post-Smoking World

Rocky Mountain states see stogie smoke rising around a growing trend of opening more cigar bars and protecting local cigar shops with tax breaks. Wyoming and Montana both are pushing forward to promote the industry.

David MadisonFebruary 16, 2025

Since 2008, Wyoming Catholic College has required its students to complete a winter expedition.

Subzero Camping 101 Required For All At Small Wyoming College

The Wyoming backcountry offers a snowy campus for instructor-led expeditions into the Tetons at Wyoming Catholic College. Students are required to complete a course in subzero camping, and some even have fun.

David MadisonFebruary 15, 2025

In Montana, If You Kill Someone In A Duel, You Have To Provide For His Family

Montana legislators are taking aim at an antiquated law that says if you kill or maim someone in a duel, you have to then provide for his family. That it’s still on the books elicited laughter from the Legislature when the bill to repeal the law was introduced.

David MadisonFebruary 15, 2025

Montana state Sen. John Fuller, R-Kalispell, pushed Montana’s new bathroom rules across the finish line in the Montana Senate on Monday, Feb. 10.

Montana Legislature Requires Public Bathroom Use Determined By Birth Sex

A law requiring bathroom use to correspond with a person’s sex organs at birth passed the Montana Legislature on Monday. Supporters say it will protect women and girls, while detractors worry it will only cause confusion.

David MadisonFebruary 13, 2025