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

Standing 42.5 feet tall from base to top, the Abraham Lincoln Memorial Monument seems to be looking down at travelers as they drive along Interstate 80 between Laramie and Cheyenne, Wyoming. The monument is in recognition of the Lincoln Highway, which in 1913 became the first transcontinental road across the U.S., following the railroad route.

What The Heck Is … That Giant Abraham Lincoln Head Overlooking I-80 At The Top Of Sherman Hill?

That gigantic Abraham Lincoln head at the highest point on Interstate 80 in the country represents an important milestone in U.S. transportation, recognizing the importance of the Lincoln Highway, America's first east-west cross-country stretch of road.

Greg JohnsonJuly 16, 2023

Former UW star and Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen has bought a Southern California home for $7.2 million.

Former University Of Wyoming QB Josh Allen Buys $7.2 Million Home In California

Former University of Wyoming quarterback Josh Allen has bought a $7.2 million home in Southern California close to the ocean and a private golf club.

Greg JohnsonJuly 13, 2023

Wyoming’s Big Boy 4014 Locomotive Rescues Freight Train Stuck In Nebraska

During a break in its recent tour of the tracks between Cheyenne and the College World Series in Omaha, Big Boy 4014, the heaviest locomotive of all time, powered up to help move a stuck freight train.

Greg JohnsonJuly 10, 2023

Passengers on a mine transport bus exit through a window after a head-on crash on Highway 59 on Sunday morning.

One Dead, Another Life-Flighted After Head-On With Wyoming Mine Transport Bus

A Sunday morning head-on collision between a pickup and a mine transport bus south of Wright on Highway 59 killed the driver of the truck and sent the driver of the bus to the hospital in a helicopter.

Greg JohnsonJuly 10, 2023

The grave of Clement S. Bengough sits on a hill overlooking Interstate 80 between Laramie and Rawlins.

What The Heck Is … That Lonely Grave On A Hill Overlooking Interstate 80?

Ever wonder who’s buried in that lonely grave on a hill overlooking Interstate 80 between Laramie and Rawlins? It’s Clement S. Bengough, born into English nobility and died a recluse in Albany County, Wyoming.

Greg JohnsonJuly 09, 2023

Capt. Scott Montefusco is in full gear after pulling into Laramie recently. He's driving his 1952 Willys Jeep across the United States.

Former Marine Driving Vintage Army Jeep Across America Says Wyoming ‘Full Of Patriots’

Capt. Scott Montefusco, a retired U.S. Marine and FBI agent, made several stops in Wyoming on his way from San Francisco to New York City. He says he loves Wyoming because “it’s full of patriots.”

Greg JohnsonJuly 03, 2023

Tree Rock is a limber pine discovered growing out of a boulder in 1868 when the Union Pacific Railroad build the railroad 50 feet from it. It's now in the middle of Interstate 80 about 30 miles west of Cheyenne.

What the heck is … That Lonely Tree Growing Out Of A Rock In The Middle Of I-80?

That weird little tree growing out of a rock in the middle of Interstate 80 is more than a curiosity, it’s Wyoming history. And it could be old — very, very old.

Greg JohnsonJuly 02, 2023

Double Dub's at the 2022 National Buffalo Wing Festival.

Weitzels Wings A Month Away From World Record Try At Selling 42,000 Buffalo Wings In 24 Hours

Wyoming's Weitzels Wings aims to sell nearly 50,000 buffalo wings over 24 hours next month to set a new world record.

Greg JohnsonJune 30, 2023

Pro Rodeo Cowboy Was On His Horse With Rope In Hand When Lightning Struck And Killed Him

The rodeo community is stunned in the wake of the death of Nebraska pro roper Terrel Vineyard, 27, who was on horseback with a rope in his hand when lightning struck him. Vineyard and his horse were killed.

Greg JohnsonJune 28, 2023

Gillette Man Uses Fake $100 Bill To Pay For Court-Ordered Drug Testing

A 36-year-old participant in Campbell County’s 24/7 drug program may face more charges after he paid for his court-ordered twice-daily drug testing with a fake $100 bill.

Greg JohnsonJune 28, 2023

Lori Townsend shared dramatic photos of a giant supercell thunderhead that moved over southeast Wyoming on Monday to the Wyoming Through The Lens Facebook page.

Giant Supercell That Dropped Tornadoes, 2.5-Inch Hail On Wyoming Was Visible From Denver

A pair of supercell thunderheads created dramatic thunderstorms across much of eastern Wyoming on Monday, dropping tornadoes and 2.5-inch hail.

Greg JohnsonJune 27, 2023

Vehicles and railcars were flipped during Friday's tornado at North Antelope Rochelle mine.

It's ‘Miraculous’ Tornado That Hit Wyoming Coal Mine Wasn’t A ‘Mass-Casualty Event’

There were an estimated 400-600 workers at the North Antelope Rochelle coal mine in northeast Wyoming when an EF2 tornado with wind speeds estimated at 120-130 mph hit it Friday.

Greg JohnsonJune 26, 2023

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Images showing the aftermath of Friday evening's tornado at the North Antelope Rochelle coal mine are being shared widely on Facebook.

Wyoming Coal Mine Hit By Tornado To Resume Operations By Tuesday

About 36 hours after a large tornado ripped through part of the North Antelope Rochelle coal mine 60 miles south of Gillette, nobody remains hospitalized and operations at the mine are expected to resume by Tuesday, says mine owner Peabody Energy.

Greg JohnsonJune 25, 2023

Samuel De Leon shared this dramatic photo of the storm cell and tornado that swept through southern Campbell and northern Converse counties Friday evening.

Tornado Blasts Coal Mine In Northeastern Wyoming; Eight Hospitalized, Trains Flipped

Update: Eight people were hospitalized Friday evening when a tornado made a 'direct hit' on the North Antelope Rochelle Mine which straddles Campbell and Converse counties. The twister flipped train cars, destroyed vehicles, and hit at least one building.

Greg JohnsonJune 24, 2023

In a dramatic video he posted to Twitter, Brad Wilson captured a large tornado that hit North Antelope Rochelle mine about 60 miles south of Gillette on Friday evening.

Tornado Flips Trains, Levels Building At Wyoming Coal Mine; Responders Assume ‘Mass-Casualty Event’

The North Antelope Rochelle coal mine south of Gillette took a “direct hit” from a tornado Friday evening, flipping trains and destroying a building. No word on the extent of the impact, but responders “treating this as a mass-casualty event.”

Greg JohnsonJune 24, 2023

Jimmy and Antonio Mora with their 1984 Chevy Monte Carlo, aka the "Nightmare Monte," at the recent WyoTech Car Show in Laramie.

Building ‘Nightmare Monte’ Lowrider A Dream Come True For Wyoming Father And Son

When nobody would buy his rusted-out 1984 Chevy Monte Carlo, Jimmy Mora said he decided to rebuild it himself out of “spite.” A decade later, he and son Antonio have created a championship lowrider they call the “Nightmare Monte.”

Greg JohnsonJune 18, 2023

What The Heck Is … That Lonely Big Boy Statue In the Middle Of A Field In Wapiti, Wyoming?

The Wapiti Big Boy may seem like it’s been randomly abandoned in a Wyoming field on the highway to Yellowstone National Park. Truth is, it’s well cared-for and Big Boy’s owner put him there on purpose.

Greg JohnsonJune 11, 2023

A Laramie Fire Department crew responded to a call to rescue some ducklings from a storm drain Tuesday evening. In the end, they pulled three scared, but healthy, ducklings out. Laura Levin holds one.

Laramie Firefighters Pull Three Ducklings From Storm Drain — A Big Relief For Worried Mom

Laramie firefighters rescued three dirty, stressed-out ducklings from a storm drain Tuesday and reunited them with their worried mom, who was waddling and flying around quacking the whole time.

Greg JohnsonJune 08, 2023

This giant head in West Laramie, Wyoming, has been looking out over Snowy Range Road since 2021. It's titled "Exhaling Dissolution" and is part of a rotating public art display.

What The Heck Is … That Giant 13.5-Foot-Tall Head On A Corner In Laramie, Wyoming?

What the heck is that giant 13.5-foot-tall head at the intersection of Clark Street and Snowy Range Road in Laramie? Well, Cowboy State Daily can confirm that it’s NOT President Joe Biden.

Greg JohnsonMay 27, 2023

This house in a rural subdivision about 14 miles north of Cheyenne was hit by lightning Wednesday evening.

Of 352 Lightning Strikes In Laramie County In An Hour Wednesday Evening, One Damaged Rural Home

A brief, but powerful, thunderstorm dumped inches of hail across much of Laramie County on Wednesday evening while lightning played whack-a-mole with area buildings. Of the 352 recorded lightning strikes, one damaged a home in a rural subdivision.

Greg JohnsonMay 25, 2023

This image from a video showing a traffic stop shows Cody Police Officer Blake Stinson grabbing a 17-year-old driver by the neck to get him out of his vehicle.

Cody Police Investigate Video Showing ‘Aggressive’ And ‘Outrageous’ Traffic Stop Of Teen

A viral video of a traffic stop in Cody, Wyoming, uploaded Monday shows an officer being overly “aggressive” and displaying “outrageous” behavior, says Gillette defense attorney Steven Titus. As an attorney who has reviewed "thousands of traffic stops," Titus said the video shows the officer lied about the incident.

Greg JohnsonMay 24, 2023

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