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
Cheyenne Coin Shop Killer Dies In Prison 8 Months After Getting 2 Life Sentences
Eight months after drawing two life sentences for killing two men at a Cheyenne coin shop in 2015, Douglas Smith died in a Wyoming prison Thursday. Smith claimed he walked in on the killings, but was arrested in 2023 when his stories didn’t add up.
Greg JohnsonApril 17, 2026
Suspicious Package Left At F.E. Warren Gate Prompts Evacuation, Including Capitol
A suspicious package left near Gate 1 at F.E. Warren Air Force Base on Thursday prompted an evacuation of nearby homes and the Wyoming State Capitol. “They came in and whispered in the governor’s ear,” then cleared the building, said a meeting attendee at the Capitol.
Greg JohnsonApril 16, 2026
Cheyenne 14-Year-Old Pleads ‘Not Guilty’ To First-Degree Murder In Mom’s Shooting
A Cheyenne 14-year-old charged as an adult with first-degree murder, accused of shooting his mother in the head after she called him derogatory names, pleaded not guilty Monday. The judge also denied an attempt to slash his bond from $500,000 to $50,000.
Greg JohnsonApril 13, 2026
Gillette Junior High Worker Charged With Felony In Alleged Assault Of Student
An IT worker at a Gillette junior high school has been charged with felony child abuse for allegedly roughing up a student who was being “flippant” with him. Police say he admitted losing his temper, and had his first court appearance Friday.
Greg JohnsonApril 13, 2026
Greybull Woman Charged With Stealing $155,000 From Elderly Parents
A Greybull woman made her first court appearance Friday, accused of stealing about $155,000 from her parents over 10 years, and could get up to 40 years in prison. Authorities say she paid back $62,000, and she feels that’s “fair.”
Greg JohnsonApril 10, 2026
Gillette Woman Says She Tried To Burn Down Shed To Kill ‘Black Panthers’ Inside
When trying to burn down a stranger’s shed because there are “black panthers” inside, it may be less incriminating to not use mail addressed to yourself to start the fire. Instead, a Gillette woman was bound over Wednesday to face a felony arson charge.
Greg JohnsonApril 09, 2026
Mother Charged With First-Degree Murder In Death Of 4-Month-Old Had 58 Missing Texts
The parents of a 4-month-old Cheyenne boy who died of severe brain injuries made their first court appearances Thursday on first-degree murder charges. Police say 58 texts from before the boy was taken to the hospital were missing from the mother’s phone.
Greg JohnsonApril 09, 2026
Big Piney Man Facing 20 Child Porn Felonies Could Get 240 Years In Prison
A Sublette County man charged with 20 felony counts of sexual exploitation of children for allegedly distributing child pornography could face up to 240 years in prison if convicted.
Greg JohnsonApril 09, 2026
Cheyenne Parents Charged With First-Degree Murder In Death Of 4-Month-Old Son
The parents of a 4-month-old accused of causing the "extensive injuries" that led to his death were arrested Wednesday on suspicion of first-degree murder. Cheyenne police say the boy died after a month on life support.
Greg JohnsonApril 09, 2026
Cheyenne Teens With Toy Guns Trigger ‘Shots-Fired’ Report, Heavy Police Response
A car full of Cheyenne teenagers trying to shoot each other with realistic-looking toy guns touched off a “shots-fired” report and a heavy police response Tuesday evening. Police say they’re lucky they, or others, weren’t shot for real.
Greg JohnsonApril 08, 2026
Campbell County Firefighters Rescue Bow-Tie-Wearing Baby Goat From Drain Pipe
Campbell County firefighters rescued a bow-tie-wearing baby goat after it fell into an 8-foot-deep sump drain over the weekend. The goat was dressed up to celebrate Easter. “I don’t recall we ever rescued a goat before,” the fire department said.
Greg JohnsonApril 08, 2026
Cheyenne Man With 101 Neglected And 22 Dead Animals Pleads To Four Misdemeanors
A Cheyenne man who had a hoard of 101 neglected and 22 dead animals pleaded guilty last week to four misdemeanors. The director of the Cheyenne Animal Shelter said that's an example of "virtually nonexistent" animal cruelty laws in Wyoming.
Greg JohnsonApril 07, 2026
Gillette Man Who Shot Half-Sister In The Face Gets 25-45 Years In Prison
A Gillette man who shot his half-sister in the face, then turned to his mother and told her to “give me a hug, because I am going to jail,” will spend the next 25-45 years in prison. The mother of both pleaded with the court for leniency for her son.
Greg JohnsonApril 06, 2026
Landlord Takes $100K In Tools While Tenant On Vacation, Claims It Was Abandoned
Police say a Gillette landlord admitted taking about $100,000 worth of tools from his tenants while they were on vacation. He also took guns and cash, claiming the tenants abandoned the property and their stuff was “his to do with as he saw fit.”
Greg JohnsonApril 06, 2026
Cheyenne Teacher Charged With Unlawful Contact For Altercation With Student
Nearly a month after an alleged physical altercation with a female student, a McCormick Junior High School teacher was charged Thursday in Laramie County Circuit Court with unlawful contact.
Greg JohnsonApril 03, 2026
Cheyenne Fans Of The King Don’t Care That Elvis Never Performed In Wyoming
Nearly 50 years after his death, Elvis remains forever 25 and the King of Rock ‘N’ Roll on East Lincolnway in Cheyenne — despite never performing in Wyoming. A new mural there features Elvis, stampeding bison and Devils Tower.
Greg JohnsonApril 03, 2026
Laramie Serial Flasher Accused Of Exposing Himself To Teen Girl
A Laramie man with at least three convictions for flashing girls and women has been charged with exposing himself to a 14-year-old girl. He was bound over to felony-level court Monday, and could get 5-12 years in prison if convicted.
Greg JohnsonApril 01, 2026
‘Mommy’s Dead’: Man Charged With Killing Woman With Daughter In Room To Face Trial
“Mommy’s dead” is one of the statements a young girl made after a woman was found shot in a Riverton motel room. Her father has been bound over to felony court to face trial on a charge of second-degree murder.
Greg JohnsonMarch 31, 2026
Former Cheyenne Teacher Could Get 395 Years In Back-To-Back Child Sex Trials
A former Cheyenne fifth grade teacher will have back-to-back trials in April on charges of sexually touching young girls and possessing 4,000 child pornography images. He could get up to 285 years in his first trial, and up to 110 in the second.
Greg JohnsonMarch 30, 2026
Cheyenne Thief Steals Trailer Packed With $50,000 Worth Of Military Medals
Retired Navy Master Chief Mike Archer has a message for whoever stole a trailer holding a $50,000 collection of thousands of military medals from in front of a Cheyenne VFW Post: “Don’t piss off a bunch of old veterans and guys with guns.”
Greg JohnsonMarch 30, 2026
Former Rock Springs Hotel Manager Accused Of $200,000 Fraud By Making Up Guests
A 49-year-old Green River woman is accused of defrauding the hotel she managed out of $200,000 by pocketing cash for hundreds of zeroed-out invoices. She’s also accused of using made-up names and addresses to cover up the bogus transactions.
Greg JohnsonMarch 27, 2026