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

Miniature horses are bred to look like normal horses, just smaller.

Hit-And-Run Driver Kills Miniature Horse Near Gillette

The owner of a miniature horse in Campbell County made a sad discovery Saturday when he came upon the animal dead on the side of a road, killed by a hit-and-run driver.

Greg JohnsonNovember 13, 2023

One of the signs greeting people visiting the Greater Green River Intergalactic Spaceport.

Why The Heck … Does Green River, Wyoming, Have An Intergalactic Spaceport?

The Greater Green River Intergalactic Spaceport began nearly 30 years ago as a joke. But the FAA actually approved the name change to the city's backup airstrip, and the town became home to the nation’s only official intergalactic spaceport.

Greg JohnsonNovember 13, 2023

Black smoke billows from a large fire that broke out Saturday afternoon at the Rawlins Landfill.

‘Fire Of Significant Size’ Closes Rawlins City Landfill

What city officials report is a “fire of significant size” in the construction and demolition section of the Rawlins Landfill closed the facility hours early Saturday afternoon.

Greg JohnsonNovember 12, 2023

Someone painted "UW" brands on these bronze bighorn sheep outside the stadium on the Colorado State University campus.

‘UW’ Painted On Pair Of Bronze Rams On CSU Campus Ahead Of Border War Game

A prankster used paint to brand a life-sized bronze sculpture of a pair of rams on the Colorado State University campus with “UW” ahead of Friday’s Border War rivalry football game between CSU and UW.

Greg JohnsonNovember 03, 2023

Holy City was named because visitors from other countries thought it resembled the skyline of Jerusalem.

What The Heck … Is That Apocalyptic Ruined City On The Way To Yellowstone?

What appears to be an apocalyptic ruined city on the ridge of Shoshone Canyon between Cody and Yellowstone’s East entrance is Wyoming’s Holy City.

Greg JohnsonOctober 30, 2023

What The Heck … Is That 400-Foot Snaggle Tooth Rock North Of Rock Springs?

Boar’s Tusk is what’s left of a long dormant volcano that now looks like a 400-foot snaggle tooth-looking rock formation in the middle of nowhere north of Rock Springs.

Greg JohnsonOctober 22, 2023

The Wyoming Toad is an endangered species unique to the Laramie area.

Feds Spend $2 Million On Land Near Laramie To Save Rare Wyoming Toad

The federal government recently bought roughly 1,000 acres near Laramie as a preserve for the rare and endangered Wyoming Toad, in hopes of helping the toad population recover.

Greg JohnsonOctober 20, 2023

‘Please Stop’: Hanna Market Pleads With Anonymous Toilet Paper Thief

People have been stealing the extra rolls of toilet paper from the Hanna Hometown Market women’s bathroom, prompting the manager to make a public plea: “Please stop.”

Greg JohnsonOctober 20, 2023

A fire that burned up a bus carrying the South Dakota School of Mines football team's defense appears to have started in the engine.

Town Of Lusk Steps Up For College Football Team When Bus Burns Up

The town of Lusk, Wyoming, was quick to muster help for the South Dakota School of Mines football team Saturday night when one of its buses burned up south of town.

Greg JohnsonOctober 15, 2023

Teepee Fountain in Hot Springs State Park in Wyoming is the most photographed spot in the park, says Superintendent Chris Delay.

What The Heck … Is That Giant Mineral Dome In Thermopolis?

It looks like something from a science fiction movie. The giant mineral dome in Thermopolis is called Teepee Fountain, and it’s been growing there for nearly 115 years.

Greg JohnsonOctober 15, 2023

Wyoming applied for $1.25 billion in federal money to build a hub that will produce "green" and "blue" hydrogen.

Biden’s DOE Denies Wyoming’s Pitch For $1.25 Billion Hydrogen Hub

Wyoming officials said Friday they’re “disappointed” that a $1.25 billion Western region hydrogen hub isn’t included in a $7 billion Biden administration hydrogen network.

Greg JohnsonOctober 13, 2023

A sign, marker and flag memorialize Wyoming Highway Patrol Trooper Chris Logsdon, who was killed Oct. 13, 1998, in a crash while responding to a wrong-way driver on Interstate 25 near Wheatland, Wyoming.

What The Heck Is … That Flagpole And Marker Off I-25 North Of Wheatland?

That memorial at mile marker 91 of Interstate 25 north of Wheatland is for Wyoming Highway Patrol Trooper Chris Logsdon, who was killed in the line of duty Oct. 13, 1998.

Greg JohnsonOctober 09, 2023

Other Authors

The camel is the mascot for Campbell County High School in Gillette, and the school's "Camel pride" is emphasized with the large camel sculpture in front of the school. Called Humphrey, the sculpture is painted by student classes and clubs multiple times a year, including the Hope Squad.

Why The Heck … Is A Camel The Mascot For A Wyoming High School?

For more than 100 years, a camel has been the mascot for Campbell County High School in Gillette. And for more than a century, people have been asking why?

Greg JohnsonSeptember 24, 2023

Centurylink Outage Leaves Thousands In Wyoming Without 911 Service

Thousands of Centurylink customers on Tuesday, including 911 service for people in Casper and northeast Wyoming, were left without phone service after a fiber break.

Greg JohnsonSeptember 19, 2023

This stone marker shows the Granger Stage Station, first known as the Old South Bend Stage Station built in 1850, was on the Oregon Trail and a Pony Express stop.

What The Heck Is … That Old Stagecoach Stop Off I-80 Near Green River?

Anyone driving through southwestern Wyoming on I- 80 may have seen the signs for the historic Granger Stage Station. The small, simple stone building was a nexus point for one of the most important periods of U.S. history.

Greg JohnsonSeptember 17, 2023

University of Wyoming fans cheer the Cowboys during a double overtime win over Texas Tech to open the 2023 season.

UW Football Will Get $1.85 Million For Playing No. 4-Ranked Texas

The University of Wyoming football team is a 28.5-point underdog going into Saturday’s game at the University of Texas, but the Cowboys will get $1.85 million for the effort.

Greg JohnsonSeptember 14, 2023

The Quaal Windsock is a 1950s Beechcraft Twin Bonanza on top of a 70-foot pole outside Sundance, Wyoming, along Interstate 90.

What The Heck Is … That Airplane On A 70-Foot Pole Along I-90 In Wyoming?

An early 1950s Beechcraft Twin Bonanza perched on a 70-foot pole just off Interstate 90 near exit 189 at Sundance, Wyoming, swivels to show which way the wind’s blowing.

Greg JohnsonSeptember 12, 2023

Laramie church elder Todd Schmidt had been banned by the University of Wyoming from being in the Wyoming Union because he posted a sign calling out a transgender student by name. The ban was lifted by a judge, and he has since settled his First Amendment lawsuit over the ban.

Laramie Church Elder Who Called Out Transgender Student Back On UW Campus

Todd Schmidt, a Laramie church elder who called out a transgender student by name on a sign, is back presenting in the University of Wyoming student union after a recent injunction lifted a ban on him being there.

Greg JohnsonSeptember 08, 2023

Chewy, a 5-year-old border collie mix, seems to like being scratched by Kayla Hahn at the Cheyenne Animal Shelter on Wednesday morning. He also was eager to scarf down chunks of cheese from Cal Drudge, right.

Cheyenne Animal Control Catches ‘Escape Artist’ Pup On The Loose Since 2019

Chewy is a 5-year-old border collie mix that’s been on the radar of Cheyenne Animal Control since 2019. They’ve dubbed him an “escape artist,” but finally caught him last week.

Greg JohnsonSeptember 06, 2023

At 30 feet tall, the Our Lady of Peace shrine stands tall alongside Interstate 80 in Pine Bluffs, Wyoming.

What The Heck Is … That 30-Foot Virgin Mary Statue On I-80 At The Nebraska Border?

Drivers on Interstate 80 going though Pine Bluffs on the Wyoming-Nebraska border can’t miss the Our Lady of Peace shrine, a 30-foot, 180-ton statue of the Virgin Mary.

Greg JohnsonSeptember 03, 2023

Weitzels Wings owner and founder Trent Weitzel with his back-to-back Festival Favorite trophies for 2022 and 2023 at the National Buffalo Wing Festival in Buffalo, New York.

Wyoming’s ‘Double Dubs’ Repeats As Festival Favorite At Buffalo Wing Fest

Trent Weitzel, aka Wyoming’s Wing King, and his Double Dubs crew repeated as Festival Favorite at the 2023 National Buffalo Wing Festival on Sunday in Buffalo, New York.

Greg JohnsonSeptember 02, 2023

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