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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Laramie Russell Street Roadside Toilet Returns For Second Movement
Less than a month from finally hauling off an old, discarded toilet that had been at the side of a busy Laramie street for at least two years, city Code Enforcement Officer Brian Forster said the commode returned over the weekend for a second movement.
Greg JohnsonMay 22, 2023
'Beautiful But Practically Harmless' Tornado Touches Down Northeast Of Laramie
There’s a reason David De Pastina keeps his eyes to the sky, and Thursday his fascination for weather watching paid off when he captured a series of sharp images of a skinny, snake-like funnel cloud that touched down northeast of Laramie.
Greg JohnsonMay 18, 2023
‘People Suck’: Laramie Woman Says Karma Will Catch Up With Whoever Stole Her Garden Gnome
When Laramie resident Melissa Desiervo vented on Facebook about someone stealing Mr. Gnome, her garden ornament, she didn’t expect a flood of support — or a new gnome.
Greg JohnsonMay 10, 2023
Another Gillette School Threat: 12-Year-Old Talked About Shooting Up School Dance
Last week’s ticketing of a 12-year-old suspected of threatening to shoot people at a school dance is the latest in a long string of violent threats made by Gillette students.
Greg JohnsonMay 09, 2023
After More Than Two Years, Laramie Removes Historic Russell Street Roadside Toilet
It had been on his radar for awhile, but Laramie Code Enforcement Officer Brian Forster said a Cowboy State Daily call asking about an old toilet that had been on the side of the road for more than two years was “the push to get rid of it.”
Greg JohnsonMay 06, 2023
Titus Swen, UW Featured Running Back Dismissed From Team In November, Signs With NFL’s Colts
Titus Swen, who was the University of Wyoming’s featured running back last season before being dismissed from the team by coach Craig Bohl, has signed as an undrafted free agent with the Indianapolis Colts.
Greg JohnsonMay 01, 2023
Cheyenne Teen Girl Critical After Being Shot In Head At Lincoln Park
A teenage girl is in critical condition at Cheyenne Regional Medical Center after being shot in the head at Lincoln Park in the early morning hours Sunday.
Greg JohnsonApril 30, 2023
Meandering Moose Breaches Security At Sinclair Oil Refinery
An unauthorized visitor breached security at the Sinclair oil refinery east of Rawlins in the early morning hours Monday – a young bull moose. A security guard who has worked there since 1966, said it's the first time a moose broken into the facility.
Greg JohnsonMarch 27, 2023
Colorado Lawmaker Warns Wyoming: Beware The ‘Bleed-Over Effect’ Of Gun Restrictions
A Colorado legislator became so impassioned over gun control proposals in his state he tweeted it could spark “civil war.” He warns Wyoming to be wary of similar efforts here.
Greg JohnsonMarch 15, 2023
Wyoming Ranchers Say Knickers, The Humungous Holstein, Has Nothing On Cowboy State Cattle
A humongous Holstein named Knickers stands head and shoulders above the rest of his herd at his home in western Australia. Cattle growers in the Cowboy State say that while the steer is impressive, Wyoming’s home-grown cattle have an edge.
Greg JohnsonMarch 15, 2023
With 511 inches Of Snow, Jackson Doesn't Have Any Place To Put The Snow; New Record Possible
Snowmageddon has hit much of Wyoming, and in Jackson it’s piled so high there’s nowhere left to put it. It’s great for skiers, though, with 511 inches so far and a chance to break the all-time record.
Greg JohnsonMarch 15, 2023
Lawsuit Claims “Boneless” Chicken Wings Are A Fraud, And Wyoming’s Wing King Agrees
A federal lawsuit claims Buffalo Wild Wings is deliberately defrauding customers by passing off deep-fried and sauced up chunks of chicken breast as boneless wings. Laramie's Trent Weitzel, reigning National Buffalo Wing Festival champ, agrees that boneless wings are ridiculous.
Greg JohnsonMarch 14, 2023