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GJ
Managing Editor

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.

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Latest from Greg Johnson

A massive search effort continues for a Minnesota man missing for nearly two weeks in the rugged Cloud Peak Wilderness of northern Wyoming. Grant Gardner, 38, was last heard from after summiting Cloud Peak on July 29.

Family Still Holds Out Hope For Minnesota Hiker Missing Since July 29

The wife of missing Cloud Peak Wilderness hiker Grant Gardner on Monday told Cowboy State Daily that she's hopeful his skills and abilities that "he's been honing over the last decade-plus will help him come home to us."

Greg JohnsonAugust 11, 2025

Staff at the Platte County Record-Times and Guensey Gazette spent part of Friday retrieving the bound newspaper archives in the wake of their parent company shutting the papers down.

Potential Buyers Emerge For Closed Wyoming Newspapers

In the wake of the shutdown of eight Wyoming newspapers, potential buyers are emerging for at least some of them. The former Pinedale Roundup editor says she’s already secured money to buy the paper, and there’s reportedly interest in at least two others.

Greg JohnsonAugust 08, 2025

The parent company of eight Wyoming hometown newspapers closed them with no notice Wednesday after a deal to sell fell through. That’s no excuse for the “unconscionable” way employees were suddenly fired, longtime journalism industry leaders say.

Shutdown Of Wyoming Newspapers Triggered By Missed Deadline To Sell Company

The parent company of eight Wyoming hometown newspapers shut them down with no notice Wednesday after a deal to sell them fell through. Industry leaders say that’s no excuse for the “unconscionable” way employees were treated.

Greg JohnsonAugust 08, 2025

A search continues for Grant Gardner of Minnesota, who hasn't been heard from since he got to the top of Cloud Peak on July 29. The route up and down the peak is challenging.

Man Found Dead In Montana River Wrongly Reported As Hiker Missing In Wyoming

Officials are trying to squash wrong reports that a body found in the Bighorn River in Montana was a Minnesota man who went missing July 29 in Big Horn County, Wyoming. It isn’t, but the reports have rubbed at already raw emotions.

Greg JohnsonAugust 07, 2025

Eight rural communities across Wyoming are without their legacy hometown newspapers after parent company News Media Corp. abruptly closed them without notice Wednesday morning. Employees said they were blindsided, and the move is “devastating.”

Blindsided: 8 Wyoming Towns Lose Their Newspapers After Abrupt Shutdown

Eight rural communities across Wyoming are without their legacy hometown newspapers after parent company News Media Corp. abruptly closed them without notice Wednesday morning. Employees said they were blindsided and call the move “devastating.”

Greg JohnsonAugust 06, 2025

If anyone could survive a week alone in the rugged Cloud Peak Wilderness of Wyoming’s Bighorn Mountains, it’s Grant Gardner. His wife Lauren said she’s still “in shock” over his disappearance, but holds out hope that her husband is still alive.

Family, Sheriff Hold Out Hope For Minnesota Man Missing A Week On Cloud Peak

If anyone could survive a week alone in the rugged Cloud Peak Wilderness of Wyoming’s Bighorn Mountains, it’s Grant Gardner. His wife Lauren said she’s still “in shock” over his disappearance, but holds out hope that her husband is still alive.

Greg JohnsonAugust 05, 2025

Multiple agencies haven’t given up searching for a Minnesota hiker missing for nearly a week in Wyoming’s rugged Cloud Peak Wilderness. Grant Gardner texted his wife when he got to the summit of Cloud Peak, and hasn’t been heard from since.

Minnesota Man Got To Top Of Cloud Peak A Week Ago, Hasn’t Been Heard From Since

Multiple agencies haven’t given up searching for a Minnesota hiker missing for nearly a week in Wyoming’s rugged Cloud Peak Wilderness. Grant Gardner texted his wife when he got to the summit of Cloud Peak on July 29, and hasn’t been heard from since.

Greg JohnsonAugust 05, 2025

Wyoming Republican U.S. Sen. John Barrasso on the floor of the senate Thursday, July 31, 2025, where he chastized Democrats for holding up the nomination of Brian Nesvik as director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Barrasso: Holding Up Trump Nominees Part Of Democrat Tantrum Over Losing Election

Wyoming U.S. Sen. John Barrasso said Friday that Senate Republicans aren’t losing patience with what he calls deliberate “obstructionist” tactics by Democrats. He said they’ve lost it entirely as 160 Trump nominees await confirmation.

Greg JohnsonAugust 01, 2025

The Vees Fire burning in steep, rugged terrain about 13 miles southeast of Ten Sleep, Wyoming.

With 2 Wildfires Burning Near Ten Sleep, Town Becomes Ground Zero For Responders

With a pair of wildfires less than 15 miles from the town, Ten Sleep has become ground zero for wildland firefighting crews. Residents can see the smoke, and “at night you can see the orange glow,” the mayor says.

Greg JohnsonJuly 30, 2025

While tens of thousands of out-of-state visitors flock to Cheyenne Frontier Days every year, locals love it too. And one of the more popular things they do is play CFD Bingo, a light-hearted game of spot the stereotype.

What Do Locals Do At Cheyenne Frontier Days? Play CFD Bingo

Cheyenne's Harvey Deselms shares the Cheyenne Frontier Days Bingo card every year. He says the most entertaining part is seeing how many of the squares you can check off by looking in a mirror. "I had the coolest mullet," he said.

Greg JohnsonJuly 26, 2025

Wyoming is eager to exercise more control over educating its own kids. Gov. Mark Gordon told Cowboy State Daily’s Jake Nichols on Thursday that Wyoming can do better educating its kids than federal “talking heads” in Washington, D.C.

Gov. Gordon Says Wyoming Can Educate Kids Better Than Federal ‘Talking Heads’

Wyoming is eager to exercise more control over educating its own kids. Gov. Mark Gordon told Cowboy State Daily’s Jake Nichols on Thursday that Wyoming can educate its kids better than federal “talking heads” in Washington, D.C.

Greg JohnsonJuly 24, 2025

The mayor of Cody, Wyoming, spent the weekend in the Park County Detention Center. Lee Ann Reiter was arrested early Saturday morning on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol and pleaded not guilty to the charge Monday.

Cody Mayor Arrested On Suspicion Of DUI, Spends Weekend In Jail

The mayor of Cody, Wyoming, spent the weekend in the Park County Detention Center. Lee Ann Reiter was arrested early Saturday morning on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol and pleaded not guilty Monday.

Greg JohnsonJuly 21, 2025

Other Authors

Bryan Pedersen and Gracie, a Cheyenne high school student who slid through an intersection on ice and crashed into Pedersen's Escalade. Instead of getting mad, he raised nearly $15,000 to buy her a new car.

A Teen Driver Hit His Car, So Cheyenne Man Bought Her A New One

Someone slides through an icy intersection and collides with your car, what do you do? If you’re Bryan Pedersen, a Cheyenne financial advisor, you buy the other driver — who was at fault — a new car.

Greg JohnsonJuly 13, 2025

Douglas Smith faces two counts of first-degree murder for the July 20, 2015, killing of two men at The Coin Shop in downtown Cheyenne.

10 Years After Cheyenne Coin Shop Double Murder, Trial To Begin

Trial begins with jury selection on Monday a decade after the brutal July 20, 2015, murder of two men at The Coin Shop in Cheyenne. The suspect, Douglas Smith, called 911 that day and wasn’t initially a suspect.

Greg JohnsonJuly 11, 2025

Everett Spackman of Laramie, Wyoming, has seen a lot over his 100 years of life. He served in two wars, and remembers the Great Depression, the moon landing and paying $6 for a beat-up Model T Ford when he turned 16.

Laramie 100-Year-Old Bought His First Car At 16 — A Model T Ford For $6

Everett Spackman of Laramie, Wyoming, has seen a lot over his 100 years of life. He served in two wars, and remembers the Great Depression, the moon landing and paying $6 for a beat-up Model T Ford when he turned 16.

Greg JohnsonJuly 06, 2025

Nathan Pfaff, 19, is accused of shooting 18-year-old Ryan Snow in the head with a .45-caliber handgun. He's being held on $250,000 bond.

Cheyenne Murder A Web Of Conflicting Statements And Admitted Lies

Investigators are trying to piece together how an 18-year-old was murdered just after midnight Friday at a Cheyenne mobile home park. The suspect and witnesses have given a convoluted web of conflicting statements and admitted lies.

Greg JohnsonJune 19, 2025

The Horse Fire burning in the Bridger-Teton National Forest on Tuesday has come within 2 miles of a historic fire lookout post on Prospect Peak. The outpost has been covered in an aluminum-based wrap as a precaution.

Western Wyoming Wildfire Burns Close To Historic Lookout Post

The Horse Fire burning in the Bridger-Teton National Forest in western Wyoming on Tuesday has come within 2 miles of a historic fire lookout post on Prospect Peak. The outpost has been covered in an aluminum-based wrap as a precaution.

Greg JohnsonJune 17, 2025

Nathan Pfaff

19-Year-Old Cheyenne Man Allegedly Argued With 18-Year-Old Before Killing Him

A second-degree murder charge was announced Monday for a 19-year-old Cheyenne man. He’s accused of shooting an 18-year-old when they “had a disagreement” around midnight Friday.

Greg JohnsonJune 16, 2025

The Topher's Bricks Emporium booth was popular at Saturday's Lego Brick Convention at the Cheyenne Ice and Events Center.

Thousands Of Lego Addicts Find Fix At Cheyenne Convention

Thousands of Lego addicts packed into the Cheyenne Ice and Events Center this weekend to get their fix. From $1 bargain bins to a $750 chrome Darth Vader, it was nirvana for serious collectors and those who just like to play with Legos.

Greg JohnsonJune 15, 2025

Aerial efforts to fight a nearly 800-acre wildfire burning in a rugged area of western Wyoming’s Bridger-Teton National Forest were grounded Saturday when someone flew a drone over the fire.

Aircraft Fighting Wyoming Wildfire Grounded By Someone Flying A Drone

Aerial efforts to fight a nearly 800-acre wildfire burning in a rugged area of western Wyoming’s Bridger-Teton National Forest were grounded Saturday because someone flew a drone over the fire.

Greg JohnsonJune 15, 2025

The Laramie County Sheriff’s Office is piecing together what happened in the early morning hours Friday, June 13, 2025, that left a person dead just south of Cheyenne at a mobile home park at 505 Williams St. Sheriff Brian Kozak said two people have been detained and that “this is a homicide investigation.”

Two In Custody After Fatal Shooting South Of Cheyenne

The Laramie County Sheriff’s Office is piecing together what happened in the early morning hours Friday that left a person dead just south of Cheyenne. Sheriff Brian Kozak said two people have been detained and that “this is a homicide investigation.”

Greg JohnsonJune 13, 2025

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