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
At Lusk Town Meeting, Locals Say Wind Projects Have Ended Friendships
At a town hall meeting in Lusk hosted by Secretary of State Chuck Gray on Wednesday, locals said wind projects on 180,000 acres of land in eastern Wyoming has stirred up anger and resentment.
Greg JohnsonMay 22, 2025
Cheyenne Man Caught On Call From Jail Trying To Arrange To Move His Meth Stash
A Cheyenne man learned the hard way last week that jailhouse calls are monitored when he was caught trying to arrange to have his meth stash moved. It’s an example of “meth around and find out,” said Sheriff Brian Kozak.
Greg JohnsonMay 20, 2025
Peabody And Arch/Core Mines Dominate PRB Coal, But Are Shells Of What They Were
The Powder River Basin’s two largest producers continue to be the canary in Wyoming’s coal mining industry. The 2025 first quarter earnings reports were released last week and show Peabody and Arch/Core mines still dominate, but are only shells of what they once were.
Greg JohnsonMay 18, 2025
Eating Wyoming: Tony’s Mexican Grill In Wamsutter Is A Spectacular Dive
It’s lunch time, and the parking lot at Tony’s Mexican Grill in Wamsutter is lined with dirt-covered pickups drawn in from the oil field. It’s the go-to spot for workers, who say it’s a spectacular dive with equally authentic food.
Greg JohnsonMay 17, 2025
Chuck Gray Blasts ‘Outrageous’ Attempt By Retired Lawyer To Oust Him From Office
Wyoming Secretary of State Chuck Gray says an attempt by a retired lawyer to have him removed from office is “outrageous.” The lawyer says Gray’s a bully who riled up “his MAGA goons” against him.
Greg JohnsonMay 15, 2025
170 Pregnant Ewes Burn In Devastating Ranch Fire Near Wright
A large barn with 170 pregnant ewes inside burned early Monday morning on a ranch near Wright, Wyoming. The rancher said the barn was fine at 4:30 a.m., then by 5:15 was fully engulfed and too hot to approach.
Greg JohnsonMay 06, 2025
Cheers, Challenges And Some Boos As Hageman Resumes In-Person Town Halls
Wyoming Republican U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman returned to hosting in-person town halls around the state Thursday. A split crowd in Buffalo was both rowdy and receptive.
Greg JohnsonApril 25, 2025
Wanted Riverton Man Tear-Gassed, Arrested To End 11-Hour Armed Standoff
A Riverton man wanted on a warrant for allegedly threatening to "shoot up" a hospital barricaded himself inside a house for about 11 hours before being tear-gassed and arrested just before 4 a.m. Thursday. He was armed with a knife and gun, police report.
Clair McFarland & Greg JohnsonApril 17, 2025
Two Men Accused Of Drunken Rampage That Left Kinnear Post Office ‘Trashed’
Two Fremont County men in their 20s are accused of trashing the post office of tiny Kinnear, Wyoming, early Monday morning. They were found afterward, passed out in a running truck, court documents say.
Clair McFarland & Greg JohnsonApril 11, 2025
Oops! Devils Tower Says Overnight Closure Temporary, Not Permanent
Devils Tower admits to having an oops moment last week when it announced the national monument would no longer be open 24/7. The overnight closure is temporary though March 30, not permanent.
Greg JohnsonMarch 17, 2025
Westbound Green River Tunnel May Not Reopen Until Next Winter
It’s been more than a month since a devastating 26-vehicle Valentine’s Day crash killed three people in the Green River Tunnel on westbound Interstate 80. The Wyoming Department of Transportation says it will take months to repair and hopes to have it open by next winter.
Greg JohnsonMarch 15, 2025
Hageman Town Hall In Afton Turns Aggressively Feisty Over DOGE, Postal Service
U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman was cheered, applauded, heckled and questioned during an aggressively feisty Thursday night town hall meeting at the Afton Civic Center. The loudest reactions were for Elon Musk's Dept. of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and the Postal Service.
Greg JohnsonMarch 14, 2025
Trump’s Promise Of Death For Cop Killers Resonates With Wyoming Officers
Law enforcement officers in Wyoming say President Donald Trump’s promise to make the death penalty mandatory for people who kill police and first responders is appreciated and overdue. They also want those sentences to be carried out.
Greg JohnsonMarch 07, 2025
Wyoming Collectors Can’t Believe Someone Paid $88,000 For A Cheeto
Collectors and Pokémon fans in Cheyenne say they can’t believe someone paid almost $88,000 at an auction for a Cheeto. The anonymous buyer was among 60 bidders in an online sale of the Cheeto offered by Goldin Auctions.
Greg JohnsonMarch 06, 2025
Scammer Selling Bogus Cheyenne Frontier Days Food Truck Applications
Wyoming food truck vendors are being scammed into paying bogus application fees in hopes of having a coveted spot at Cheyenne Frontier Days, the Cheyenne Police Department warns.
Greg JohnsonFebruary 27, 2025
Man Calls In 6 Bomb Threats To Evanston Horse Palace
A man forced the Evanston Horse Palace to close Wednesday night when he called six times in a row to say he planted a bomb inside. After a sweep with a bomb-sniffing dog, the threats are believed to be a hoax that could’ve come from anywhere.
Greg JohnsonFebruary 20, 2025
Third Fatality Confirmed In Green River Tunnel Crash, 26 Vehicles Involved
A third person has been confirmed dead in Friday’s devastating multivehicle crash in the westbound lane of the Green River Tunnel, officials reported Sunday. It’s believed 26 vehicles were involved.
Zakary Sonntag & Greg JohnsonFebruary 16, 2025
Trucker In Deadly Green River Tunnel Crash Describes Harrowing Escape
A trucker who narrowly escaped Friday’s explosive pileup in the Green River Tunnel described the horror inside and shared video footage of him kicking out the window of his truck to escape.
Greg JohnsonFebruary 15, 2025
Truck Takes Out $95,000 Sculpture In Yard Of Cheyenne Art Gallery
A collision at a busy downtown Cheyenne, Wyoming, intersection caused a truck to crash into a $95,000 bronze sculpture Thursday. It also nearly took out another large bronze worth $165,000.
Greg JohnsonJanuary 17, 2025
Firetrucks, Other Equipment Burn Up In Blaze At Cheyenne Fire Station
Cheyenne firefighters were dispatched to one of their own fire stations that was gutted by a fire Saturday night. The building was severely damaged, and several firetrucks and other equipment burned up.
Greg JohnsonJanuary 12, 2025
Ticket Sales Explode As $1.15B Lotto Jackpot Has Wyomingites Feeling Lucky
There’s nothing like a jackpot pushing past $1 billion to make people start feeling lucky — or at least greedy. Ticket sales for Friday’s $1.15 billion Mega Millions jackpot are exploding around Wyoming.
Greg JohnsonDecember 27, 2024