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 Woman To Stand Trial For Telling Neighbor To ‘Get The F Off My Lawn’
Melissa Harris can’t believe she’s about to go to trial for standing on her own property and stating what’s basically the unofficial Wyoming state motto: “Get the f*** off my lawn.” The Wright-area woman has been charged with breach of peace.
Greg JohnsonSeptember 16, 2026
Cheyenne Mom Agrees To Plead Guilty To Starving 50-Pound, 13-Year-Old Son
Facing up to 50 years in prison on accusations she starved her then-50-pound, 13-year-old adopted son, a Cheyenne woman has agreed to plead guilty in return for a sentence of 15-17 years. A trial for her husband is still set to begin Tuesday.
Greg JohnsonSeptember 16, 2026
Green River Man Accused Of Abusing Nonverbal Wheelchair-Bound Boy, Flashing Kids
A Green River man was in court Monday, accused of repeatedly choking and roughing up a nonverbal, wheelchair-bound Rock Springs boy, then dropping his pants and flashing the boy’s siblings. “Oh, life is so hard,” he also allegedly mocked the disabled boy.
Greg JohnsonSeptember 15, 2026
Wyoming Woman Charged With Putting Signs On Pole Calling Sheriff's Office 'Lazy'
A Campbell County woman accused of attaching signs to a utility pole on her property — including one stating “Campbell County Sheriff’s Office is Lazy" — faces a rarely-prosecuted charge. “I haven’t seen that one ever,” said a retired law officer.
Greg JohnsonSeptember 14, 2026
Lander Man Accused Of Putting Gun To Woman’s Head And Yelling, ‘Pull The Trigger’
A 72-year-old Lander man is accused of holding a gun to the head of a terrified woman and shouting at her to “pull the trigger,” then later telling police he wasn’t really going to shoot her because “it would make a mess of his house.”
Greg JohnsonSeptember 14, 2026
Cheyenne Man Accused Of Stealing German Shepherd, Chasing Man With Pickaxe
A Cheyenne man is accused of stealing a German shepherd from the yard of one local resident, then chasing and threatening another man with a pickaxe after pelting him with rocks and a cinder block. His felony case was filed in district court Thursday.
Greg JohnsonSeptember 11, 2026
‘All We Can Do Is Pray And Hope’ Say Ranchers In Path Of Fast-Growing 'Moonshine Fire'
Ranchers in the path of the fast-growing "Moonshine Fire" that, as of Friday afternoon, has churned through more than 5,600 acres of land about southwest of Wheatland are more than worried. ‘All we can do is pray and hope,’ said one lifetime area rancher.
Greg JohnsonSeptember 11, 2026
It Took 6 Officers To Take Down Man With Knife At Rock Springs Pizza Place
It took six Rock Springs police officers to subdue a 6-foot, 260-pound man who threatened to stab them at a local Pizza Hut restaurant, claiming he’d been in prison, that the “cartel” wanted him for being a “snitch” and daring police to “kill me, bitch!”
Greg JohnsonSeptember 10, 2026
Argument At Notorious Cheyenne Motel Escalates To Death Threats With Knife
An argument at a notorious Cheyenne motel Tuesday escalated when a resident barged into a neighboring room and threatened to kill people with a knife. It’s not the first violent episode at the Big Horn Motel, following a SWAT standoff earlier this year.
Greg JohnsonSeptember 10, 2026
Douglas Father Accused Of Attacking One Son With Hammer, Punching Another
A Douglas man is accused of attacking one of his sons with a hammer and punching another son during a domestic argument that escalated out of control. He could get up to 10 years in prison if convicted of aggravated assault and battery.
Greg JohnsonSeptember 09, 2026
Casper Woman Accused Of Trying To Outrun Police With 5-Year-Old In Car
A Casper woman stopped for not having a 5-year-old child in a car seat faces a laundry list of charges, accused of trying to outrun police with the kid in the car. She told police she took off because she was afraid her daughter would be taken from her.
Greg JohnsonSeptember 08, 2026
Gillette Man Who Blew Most Of Hand Off With Firework Hit With Felony Arson Charge
A Gillette carpenter and musician who lost most of his right hand when a firework exploded in it outside a bar July 4 now also faces the potential of having to do his rehab from prison. He’s now been charged with arson and is due in court next week.
Greg JohnsonSeptember 08, 2026
License Plate Readers Take An Hour To Locate Iowa Murder Suspect Near Cheyenne
Within an hour of identifying a vehicle believed to be connected to the murder of a 28-year-old woman in Sioux City, Iowa, license plate reader technology last week led the Wyoming Highway Patrol to arrest a suspect on suspicion of first-degree murder.
Greg JohnsonSeptember 08, 2026
New York Trucker Faces Homicide Charge For Fatal 2025 I-80 Chain-Reaction Crash
Nearly 17 months after a New York trucker allegedly killed one person and hurt five others when he reportedly “plowed through” a line of vehicles on an icy Interstate 80 in Sweetwater County, he now faces an aggravated homicide charge in Wyoming.
Greg JohnsonSeptember 04, 2026
Cheyenne Man Faces Felony For Slashing 52 Tires At Low-Income Apartment Complex
A Cheyenne man said Thursday he went out of his mind when he allegedly slashed 52 tires on 22 vehicles parked in front of their homes at a low-income apartment complex. "It’s like taking food out of (my son's) mouth,” said one victim.
Greg JohnsonSeptember 03, 2026
Trial Near For Fire Chief, Wife Accused Of Abusing 50-Pound, 13-Year-Old Son
More than a year after pleading not guilty to starving their then-50-pound, 13-year-old son, a jury will hear the child abuse case of a former Laramie County fire chief and his wife. "I’m only allowed to eat one meal a day," the boy told investigators.
Greg JohnsonSeptember 03, 2026
Gillette Woman Denies Scheme To Pocket $8,000 Worth Of Liquor Store Returns
A Gillette woman accused of pocketing more than $8,000 worth of fraudulent returns from a local liquor store denies stealing from her former employer, saying it was another worker. Store video shows some of the alleged thefts.
Greg JohnsonSeptember 02, 2026
Dump Truck Driver Could Get 2 Years For Causing Double-Fatal Teton Pass Crash
The driver of a runaway dump truck on Teton Pass that killed two people July 7 faces a pair of homicide by vehicle charges and could get him up to two years, say court documents filed Tuesday. Troopers say he bypassed a runaway truck escape.
Greg JohnsonSeptember 02, 2026
Woman Flips Off Weston County Deputy At 112 MPH, Then Tells Cops To ‘Shoot Me’
A South Dakota woman who gave a Weston County deputy on a traffic stop the finger while blowing by him at 112 mph faces the potential of more than 50 years in prison. She’s also accused of telling cops to “shoot me” after getting caught.
Greg JohnsonAugust 28, 2026
Douglas Man Who Skipped Out On Child Porn Charges Fights Not To Lose $250K Bond
A Douglas man facing dozens of child exploitation and porn charges who was caught twice allegedly trying to flee Wyoming is fighting not to lose the $250,000 in cash someone posted for his bond. The cash was put up by an elderly woman from Colorado.
Greg JohnsonAugust 27, 2026
Wyoming Woman Pleads Guilty To Killing Infant Son In New Mexico, To Get 30 Years
A Wyoming woman who killed her 11-month-old boy during a brief standoff with law enforcement last December after allegedly kidnapping him and fleeing to New Mexico has pleaded guilty to first-degree murder. In New Mexico, life in prison is 30 years.
Greg JohnsonAugust 27, 2026