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

Drivers In Cheyenne Navigate Traffic, Crashes And The ‘Crazy White Honda Lady’

A woman driving a white Honda sedan has become infamous on Cheyenne’s roads. Known simply as the “Crazy White Honda Lady,” the unknown driver frequently stops in the middle of traffic to yell curses out her window and prolifically flip people off.

Greg JohnsonJune 07, 2025

Wyoming Entrepreneur In Final Push Of $47.45B Bid To Buy TikTok Before Deadline

Wyoming entrepreneur Reid Rasner says he’s optimistic his $47.45 billion bid to buy TikTok will be successful. The countdown is on, with two weeks left before a deadline for the Chinese-owned platform sell to a U.S. buyer or go dark.

Greg JohnsonJune 05, 2025

Bitcoin Depot has 45 bitcoin ATMs across Wyoming, including 11 in Cheyenne. This one is in a Loaf 'N Jug store on East Lincolnway.

Scammers Using Bitcoin ATMs To Steal Thousands From Wyomingites

A Jackson man scammed out of $7,500 wasn’t as lucky as a 78-year-old Gillette woman who narrowly avoided being taken for $22,000 at a bitcoin ATM on Saturday. Bitcoin is as easy to steal as cash, an expert says.

Greg JohnsonJune 04, 2025

Wyoming’s congressional delegation expressed outrage over an illegal Egyptian national attacking a group of people in Boulder, Colorado, with a flamethrower and Molotov cocktails. They say he was helped by Biden’s disastrous immigration policy.

Biden Immigration Policy Enabled Boulder Terror Attack, Wyoming Delegation Says

U.S. Sens. John Barrasso, Cynthia Lummis and Rep. Harriet Hageman on Monday expressed outrage over an illegal Egyptian national who attacked people in Boulder with a flamethrower and Molotov cocktails. They say Biden’s immigration policy is to blame.

Greg JohnsonJune 02, 2025

‘Fearless’ Laramie Girl, 10, Dies A Week After Hit By Truck

Sawyer Costa loved animals and playing hockey with boys twice her size. The 10-year-old Laramie girl died Saturday, a week after she was hit by a truck. Those who knew her say that most of all, Sawyer was “fearless.”

Greg JohnsonJune 02, 2025

A group of veterans salute during Monday's Memorial Day ceremony at the Cheyenne National Cemetery.

‘At Least This Time They Showed Up’: 200 Turn Out For Cheyenne Memorial Day Ceremony

About 200 people turned out at the Cheyenne National Cemetery on Monday to remember America’s fallen heroes. “At least this time they showed up,” said one veteran, referencing last year's ceremony where the VA didn't show up.

Greg JohnsonMay 26, 2025

Secretary of State Chuck Gray speaks to a crowd of more than 100 people Wednesday,May 21, 2025, at the Niobrara County Fairgrounds in Lusk. Most there indicated they are against a pair of large wind projects proposed for the area.

At Lusk Town Meeting, Locals Say Wind Projects Have Ended Friendships

At a town hall meeting in Lusk hosted by Secretary of State Chuck Gray on Wednesday, locals said wind projects on 180,000 acres of land in eastern Wyoming has stirred up anger and resentment.

Greg JohnsonMay 22, 2025

Laramie County Sheriff with the mugshot of Vance Aulis, 60, of Cheyenne, who got himself into more trouble when he was overheard on a jail phone arranging to have a stash of meth taken out of his car.

Cheyenne Man Caught On Call From Jail Trying To Arrange To Move His Meth Stash

A Cheyenne man learned the hard way last week that jailhouse calls are monitored when he was caught trying to arrange to have his meth stash moved. It’s an example of “meth around and find out,” said Sheriff Brian Kozak.

Greg JohnsonMay 20, 2025

Peabody Energy Corp.'s North Antelope Rochelle mine in Wyoming's Powder River Basin is the world's largest and most productive coal mine.

Peabody And Arch/Core Mines Dominate PRB Coal, But Are Shells Of What They Were

The Powder River Basin’s two largest producers continue to be the canary in Wyoming’s coal mining industry. The 2025 first quarter earnings reports were released last week and show Peabody and Arch/Core mines still dominate, but are only shells of what they once were.

Greg JohnsonMay 18, 2025

Tony’s Mexican Grill in Wamsutter is the go-to spot for oil field workers, who say it’s a spectacular dive with equally authentic food.

Eating Wyoming: Tony’s Mexican Grill In Wamsutter Is A Spectacular Dive

It’s lunch time, and the parking lot at Tony’s Mexican Grill in Wamsutter is lined with dirt-covered pickups drawn in from the oil field. It’s the go-to spot for workers, who say it’s a spectacular dive with equally authentic food.

Greg JohnsonMay 17, 2025

Wyoming Secretary of State Chuck Gray, left, says an attempt by a retired lawyer to have him removed from office is “outrageous.” The lawyer, Tim Newcomb (inset), says Gray’s a bully who riled up “his MAGA goons” against him.

Chuck Gray Blasts ‘Outrageous’ Attempt By Retired Lawyer To Oust Him From Office

Wyoming Secretary of State Chuck Gray says an attempt by a retired lawyer to have him removed from office is “outrageous.” The lawyer says Gray’s a bully who riled up “his MAGA goons” against him.

Greg JohnsonMay 15, 2025

A large barn with 170 pregnant ewes burned early Monday morning on a ranch near Wright, Wyoming. The rancher said the barn was fine at 4:30, then by 5:15 was fully engulfed and too hot to approach.

170 Pregnant Ewes Burn In Devastating Ranch Fire Near Wright

A large barn with 170 pregnant ewes inside burned early Monday morning on a ranch near Wright, Wyoming. The rancher said the barn was fine at 4:30 a.m., then by 5:15 was fully engulfed and too hot to approach.

Greg JohnsonMay 06, 2025

Other Authors

U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman, R-Wyoming, held an in-person town hall meeting in Buffalo on Thursday, April 24, 2024. It was much less contentious and disruptive than previous town halls she's recently held, but still feisty.

Cheers, Challenges And Some Boos As Hageman Resumes In-Person Town Halls

Wyoming Republican U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman returned to hosting in-person town halls around the state Thursday. A split crowd in Buffalo was both rowdy and receptive.

Greg JohnsonApril 25, 2025

Wanted Riverton Man Tear-Gassed, Arrested To End 11-Hour Armed Standoff

A Riverton man wanted on a warrant for allegedly threatening to "shoot up" a hospital barricaded himself inside a house for about 11 hours before being tear-gassed and arrested just before 4 a.m. Thursday. He was armed with a knife and gun, police report.

Clair McFarland & Greg JohnsonApril 17, 2025

Two Men Accused Of Drunken Rampage That Left Kinnear Post Office ‘Trashed’

Two Fremont County men in their 20s are accused of trashing the post office of tiny Kinnear, Wyoming, early Monday morning. They were found afterward, passed out in a running truck, court documents say.

Clair McFarland & Greg JohnsonApril 11, 2025

Oops! Devils Tower Says Overnight Closure Temporary, Not Permanent

Devils Tower admits to having an oops moment last week when it announced the national monument would no longer be open 24/7. The overnight closure is temporary though March 30, not permanent.

Greg JohnsonMarch 17, 2025

More than a month after a devastating 26-vehicle crash and fire inside the westbound Green River Tunnel, cleanup is still underway.

Westbound Green River Tunnel May Not Reopen Until Next Winter

It’s been more than a month since a devastating 26-vehicle Valentine’s Day crash killed three people in the Green River Tunnel on westbound Interstate 80. The Wyoming Department of Transportation says it will take months to repair and hopes to have it open by next winter.

Greg JohnsonMarch 15, 2025

Harriet Hageman was cheered, applauded, heckled and questioned during an aggressively feisty Thursday night town hall meeting at the Afton Civic Center. The loudest reactions were for DOGE and the Postal Service.

Hageman Town Hall In Afton Turns Aggressively Feisty Over DOGE, Postal Service

U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman was cheered, applauded, heckled and questioned during an aggressively feisty Thursday night town hall meeting at the Afton Civic Center. The loudest reactions were for Elon Musk's Dept. of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and the Postal Service.

Greg JohnsonMarch 14, 2025

Laramie County Sheriff Brian Kozak said President Donald Trump's promise to make the death penalty mandatory for people who kill cops is a welcome show of support for law enforcement.

Trump’s Promise Of Death For Cop Killers Resonates With Wyoming Officers

Law enforcement officers in Wyoming say President Donald Trump’s promise to make the death penalty mandatory for people who kill police and first responders is appreciated and overdue. They also want those sentences to be carried out.

Greg JohnsonMarch 07, 2025

Megan Giatroudakis owns Collector's Hub in downtown Cheyenne. Although she has some pretty pricey Pokémon cards — including one for $400 — they don't hold a candle to the Charizard Cheeto that sold for $88,000 Sunday.

Wyoming Collectors Can’t Believe Someone Paid $88,000 For A Cheeto

Collectors and Pokémon fans in Cheyenne say they can’t believe someone paid almost $88,000 at an auction for a Cheeto. The anonymous buyer was among 60 bidders in an online sale of the Cheeto offered by Goldin Auctions.

Greg JohnsonMarch 06, 2025

Scammer Selling Bogus Cheyenne Frontier Days Food Truck Applications

Wyoming food truck vendors are being scammed into paying bogus application fees in hopes of having a coveted spot at Cheyenne Frontier Days, the Cheyenne Police Department warns.

Greg JohnsonFebruary 27, 2025

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