Greg Johnson
Greg Johnson is managing editor for Cowboy State Daily at the headquarters in Cheyenne.
A veteran journalist of more than 31 years covering Western issues and politics, Greg spent stints in Wyoming as managing editor for the Gillette News Record and Laramie Boomerang. Greg's produced award-winning journalism, and has built a national reputation for his extensive coverage of Wyoming energy -- especially coal.
He previously spent seven years editing and reporting in Alaska, and was managing editor for Sarah Palin's hometown paper when she was tapped as John McCain's running mate in 2008. Greg studied music and English at the University of Colorado, Boulder.
Outside the office, Greg likes photography, reading and all things sports.
Latest from Greg Johnson
Wyoming Man Shot By Nebraska Cops After Chase In Critical Condition
A 42-year-old Torrington man remains in critical condition in a Denver hospital Tuesday after a chase through two Nebraska counties ended with him being shot by pursuing law enforcement officers.
Greg JohnsonJanuary 20, 2026
Cheyenne Standoff Suspect Accused Of Shooting Homeless Man Over $30 Debt
After arguing with a homeless man named Earl over a $30 debt at a long-term stay motel, a 69-year-old man reportedly told Earl to “die, bitch,” then shot him in the chest Friday. A court affidavit available Wednesday says the encounter was caught on video.
Greg JohnsonJanuary 14, 2026
Gillette Coach Fired After Profanity-Laced Outburst At Player Cleared By State Board
The former Campbell County High football coach fired in November for a profanity-laced outburst aimed at a player has been cleared by the state board that licenses teachers and coaches. Orah Garst says he’s grateful and wants to coach again.
Greg JohnsonJanuary 14, 2026
‘This Is Textbook Overreach’: Cheyenne Council Blasted Over Inspection Warrants
Cheyenne City Council on Monday sat through hours of residents blasting them over administrative warrants to inspect homes and businesses. “This is textbook overreach” one local said before the council voted 6-3 to approve the ordinance’s second reading.
Greg JohnsonJanuary 14, 2026
Agitated Man With Hatchet Forced Out Of Wheatland Basement With Pepper Gas
After reportedly threatening a woman in a Wheatland home Monday evening, an agitated man with a hatchet locked himself in the basement and made threats toward police. A pepper gas grenade brought a quick end to the standoff.
Greg JohnsonJanuary 13, 2026
Cheyenne Motel Standoff Suspect Faces Attempted First-Degree Murder Charge
The man involved in a four-hour standoff at a Cheyenne motel with police Friday is facing an attempted first-degree murder charge. Surveillance video at the motel shows the men arguing, then the suspect shooting the other man, police say.
Greg JohnsonJanuary 12, 2026
Evanston To Utah’s ‘Extreme’ Drunk Drivers: Don’t Try To Buy Your Booze Here
Utahns who are banned from buying alcohol due to “extreme” DUIs won’t find sympathetic liquor dealers in Wyoming. “If Utah says you can’t buy alcohol because you’re too bad of a drunk driver, then we’re not going to sell to you either,” one dealer said.
Greg JohnsonJanuary 11, 2026
Cheyenne Man Pleads Guilty To Shooting Friend In Head, Child Sex Charge Dropped
A 20-year-old has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for shooting an 18-year-old friend in the head. A charge of having sex with a junior high student was dropped as part of his plea deal, which calls for 25-40 years in prison.
Greg JohnsonJanuary 08, 2026
Small, Loosely Organized Group Of Capitol Protesters Slam Trump On Jan. 6, Venezuela
An small, loosely organized “86/47” demonstration at the Wyoming Capitol against President Donald Trump on the anniversary of Jan. 6, 2021, turned into a buffet-style protest Tuesday. Also targeted were Republicans and the U.S. incursion into Venezuela.
Greg JohnsonJanuary 06, 2026
Cheyenne Restaurant Turns Heads With Money-Making Idea: Open Minnesota Day Care
Espi’s Restaurant in Cheyenne is famous for its green chili, breakfast burritos, and irreverent roadside messages. On Monday, people were stopping to take photos of its latest: “I am so broke, moving to Minn. and opening a daycare.”
Greg JohnsonJanuary 05, 2026
Wyoming Officials Say World Depends On America Winning AI Race With China
America’s arms race over artificial intelligence with China is about more than technology and gaining economic advantage, say Wyoming lawmakers and an industry watchdog. It’s about which nation's values will guide the rest of the world.
Greg JohnsonDecember 31, 2025
Gordon Says Revoke National Adoption Award For Casper Man Who Abused Kids
Years of sexual and physical abuse of multiple adopted children in Casper should be enough for a federal agency to rescind a Wyoming couple’s National Adoption Excellence Award, Gov. Mark Gordon said Monday.
Greg JohnsonDecember 29, 2025
Mom Says She Doesn’t Know Why She Shot 11-Month-Old, Was Too Slow To Kill Herself
A woman who fled Wyoming with her baby boy more than a month ago told authorities she doesn’t know why she shot and killed him Tuesday. She also said she “wasn’t fast enough” to kill herself before officers got to her.
Greg JohnsonDecember 26, 2025
Greg Johnson: Shutdown Of Lexington Beef Processing Plant Similar To Coal Mine Shutdown In Gillette
Greg Johnson writes, "Just like when the Eagle Butte and Belle Ayr coal mines were shut down abruptly in Gillette, the same thing happened in Lexington, Nebraska. "Less than a week before Thanksgiving, Tyson Foods showed up and informed the 3,200 workers there that as of Jan. 20, they’re out of jobs. The company is closing the huge beef processing plant."
Greg JohnsonDecember 24, 2025
Nebraska Hospital CEO: Tyson’s “Spreadsheet Decision” Will Devastate Health Care
In a scathing letter to Tyson CEO Donnie King, Lexington hospital CEO Jason Douglas said the company’s decision to leave will devastate health care in the area. “You made a spreadsheet decision … and 3,200 families became nothing more than a line item.”
Greg JohnsonDecember 21, 2025
‘A Gut Punch’: Nebraska Town Shell-Shocked By Tyson Closing Huge Beef Plant
About 3,200 of Lexington, Nebraska’s 11,000 residents work at a huge Tyson Foods beef processing plant — for another month. News that the plant will close next month was an unexpected “gut punch” many fear will devastate this rural cow town.
Greg JohnsonDecember 20, 2025
Delegation Says Lifting Biden-Era Plan That Would Kill Coal Is Huge For Wyoming
Wyoming’s congressional delegation says President Trump took the state’s coal industry out from under an economic guillotine Thursday by killing rules that would have ended coal after 2041. They say the Biden-era plan was “asinine” and lifting it is huge for the state.
Greg JohnsonDecember 12, 2025
Man Dead, 8-Year-Old Girl Shot At Rural Lincoln County Home
A domestic violence incident at a home in rural western Wyoming on Tuesday left a man dead and an 8-year-old child with a gunshot wound, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office reported Thursday.
Greg JohnsonDecember 11, 2025
Why Does Gas Cost 70-80 Cents A Gallon Less In Denver Than Cheyenne?
An aggressive gas price war in the Denver metro area has prices there as low as $1.67 a gallon, while in Cheyenne the average is $2.45. Industry experts say there are several reason why motorists there are paying so much less.
Scott Schwebke & Greg JohnsonDecember 05, 2025
Popular Cheyenne Honky-Tonk Outlaw Saloon To Close, Owes Bank $1.7 Million
Cheyenne’s Outlaw Saloon is part dive bar, part honky-tonk and known for hosting music, boxing and even little people wrestling. That ends this weekend when the Outlaw closes after the bank foreclosed on it to recover $1.7 million owed.
Greg JohnsonDecember 04, 2025
Cheyenne Man Hits Deputy With Car During Wild Traffic Stop
A 64-year-old Cheyenne man faces an attempted aggravated vehicular homicide charge, accused of striking and injuring a Laramie County Sheriff’s Office deputy with his vehicle during a wild Monday evening traffic stop.
Scott Schwebke & Greg JohnsonDecember 02, 2025