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
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 for Cowboy State Daily & 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
Cheyenne Teen’s Christmas High Speed Chase In Stolen Car Ends With Crash Into Tree
A 16-year-old Cheyenne teen offender on furlough from jail is accused of stealing his mother’s car and leading police on a high-speed chase. After covering more than 100 miles, the chase ended when the teen crashed into a tree near Wheatland, Wyoming.
Greg JohnsonDecember 26, 2024
Upton Man Arrested And Charged With Planting Homemade Bomb At Oil Field Company
A 39-year-old Upton, Wyoming, man had his first court appearance Friday, accused of planting a homemade propane bomb in the tool shed of an oil field company. The bomb didn’t go off, but was “the real deal,” the local sheriff has said.
Greg JohnsonDecember 14, 2024
Made In Afton, Pilots Say The Husky Is The Best Bush Plane On The Planet
The Husky, a small bulldog of an aircraft coveted for its ability to land and take off anywhere, is made in Afton, Wyoming. It’s considered by many pilots to be the best bush plane on the planet.
Greg JohnsonDecember 08, 2024
What The Heck … Are Those Giant Snowballs That Seem To Roll Themselves?
Those giant snowballs that seem to roll themselves are a rare weather phenomenon called snow rollers, meteorologist Don Day says. Basically, wind and gravity roll them up the same way you would when making a snowman.
Greg JohnsonDecember 07, 2024
Suspect Leads Casper Police On High-Speed Chase After Pepper-Spraying Clerk
A man is in jail after allegedly pepper-spraying a liquor store attendant and grabbing about 30 cartons of cigarettes. He then led Casper police on a high-speed late Tuesday.
Greg JohnsonDecember 05, 2024
Homemade Propane Bomb Found In Wyoming Oil Field Equipment Shed
A homemade propane bomb was found Saturday in the tool shed of a Weston County, Wyoming, oil field equipment company. It was “the real deal,” the sheriff says, adding it’s lucky the device didn’t go off.
Greg JohnsonDecember 02, 2024
Yellowstone Outlaw E.C. Waters Ripped Off Rich Visitors, Ran A Zoo Of Horrors
One of Wyoming’s most notorious and ruthless outlaws was E.C. Waters, who fleeced rich Yellowstone visitors and abused animals. At one point, the animals in his Dot Island “zoo” were so hungry they were eating each other.
Greg JohnsonDecember 01, 2024
Josh Allen Announces Engagement To Actress Hailee Steinfeld
Former University of Wyoming and current NFL superstar Josh Allen has proposed to actress and pop singer Hailee Steinfeld. He announced their engagement Friday in an Instagram post of the proposal.
Greg JohnsonNovember 30, 2024
Greg Johnson: Time To Carve Up The Thanksgiving Swineapple
Greg Johnson writes, “One of the most challenging Johnson family Thanksgiving traditions was pretending whatever Grandma made was delicious, when in fact it rarely was edible.”
Greg JohnsonNovember 27, 2024
For 15th Year, Trucker Returns To Decorate Lonely Tree In The Middle Of Nowhere
For 15 years and counting, a Texas long-haul trucker has decorated a lonely tree in the middle of nowhere north of Sheridan, Wyoming. The locals on the Crow Reservation say the tree holds his soul.
Greg JohnsonNovember 25, 2024
Wyoming Coal Jobs Down Nearly 8% Over Last Nine Months, 25% Since 2017
Wyoming’s coal workforce is down nearly 8% over the last nine months. And since 2017, there are 25% fewer people working coal jobs.
Greg JohnsonNovember 20, 2024
Barring “A Miracle,” Wyoming Coal Will Miss 200M Tons For First Time Since 1992
Wyoming is on track to miss producing 200 million tons of coal for the first time since 1992. “Short of a miracle,” that’s what’s going to happen, says one of the nation’s leading energy economists.
Greg JohnsonNovember 17, 2024
After 7 Weeks And 100,000 Acres Burned, Elk Fire Is 100% Contained
After more than seven weeks, the Elk Fire is officially 100% contained. The late-season wildfire scorched nearly 100,000 acres in the Bighorn Mountains and came close to burning the rural towns of Dayton and Parkman.
Greg JohnsonNovember 15, 2024
Vandalism Forces Cheyenne Frontier Days To Close Grounds To Public
A rash of vandalism at the Cheyenne Frontier Days grounds has caused an estimated $15,000 to $20,000 worth of damage and prompted the organization to close the area to the public.
Greg JohnsonNovember 14, 2024
With Huge Late-Season Wildfires Under Control, Fire Crews Now Starting Fires
With two huge late-season wildfires under control, U.S. Forest Service crews are now busy catching up on the controlled burns they start on purpose.
Greg JohnsonNovember 07, 2024