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Kate Meadows

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A snowmobiler in the Wyoming backcountry died Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, after he and another rider triggered an avalanche southeast of Afton that buried him about 2 feet below the surface and under his snowmobile.

Snowmobiler Dies In Avalanche Triggered In Wyoming Backcountry

A snowmobiler in the Wyoming backcountry southeast of Afton died Sunday after he and another rider triggered an avalanche that buried him about 2 feet below the surface and under his snowmobile.

Kate MeadowsJanuary 12, 2026

Al Ellis is a Navy veteran and former commercial abalone diver who built a successful pack llama business in Western Wyoming. He’s donated his 207-acre Boulder llama ranch as a sanctuary for veterans and first responders.

Wyoming Man Donates Llama Ranch As Sanctuary For Veterans, First Responders

Right before Christmas, Navy veteran Al Ellis donated his 207-acre llama ranch in Sublette County as a sanctuary for veterans and first responders. “We want other people to enjoy this — people who deserve it, people who we owe something to,” Ellis said.

Kate MeadowsJanuary 11, 2026

The $350 million, 260-mile Ready Wyoming transmission project represents the largest electrical infrastructure investment in Black Hills Energy's history. The company claims it will provide long-term price stability and link Wyoming and South Dakotas power grids.

$350 Million Transmission Project Links Wyoming, South Dakota Power Grids

The $350 million Ready Wyoming transmission project represents the largest electrical infrastructure investment in Black Hills Energy's history. The company claims it will provide long-term price stability and link Wyoming's and South Dakota's power grids.

Kate MeadowsJanuary 09, 2026

A herd of cows lingers around a watering hole in Albany County.

Wyoming Cattle Ranchers Cheer New Protein-First National Dietary Guidelines

Wyoming cattle ranchers are applauding the new federal dietary guidelines that prioritize protein like red meat and real foods over processed options. “We’ve been vindicated,” Wyoming cattle rancher Mark Eisele said. “We raise a wholesome, non-processed product.”

Kate MeadowsJanuary 08, 2026

Proposed Seminoe Power Plant Aims To Cut Water Use 95% And Slash Emissions

The proposed 2-gigawatt Seminoe Generating Station near Rawlins would pair natural gas and wind power to boost Wyoming’s energy supply. The project aims to cut water use by up to 95% and reduce emissions while creating hundreds of jobs.

Kate MeadowsJanuary 08, 2026

A drilling rig near Pinedale, Wyoming, in this file photo.

Wyoming’s Last Oil And Gas Sale Of 2025 Draws A Meager Two Bids

Wyoming’s Dec. 30 oil and gas lease sale got bids on just two parcels out of 34 available from out-of-state firms. The BLM awaits federal guidance on re-listing the properties under the requirements of the Big Beautiful Bill Act.

Kate MeadowsJanuary 06, 2026

Billionaire Joe Ricketts’ white bison herd thrives at Jackson Fork Ranch in Wyoming’s Upper Hoback Valley. Started in 2004, the 17-head herd roam the property and can be seen by guests.

17 White Bison Thrive At Billionaire Joe Ricketts’ Jackson Fork Ranch

Billionaire Joe Ricketts’ herd of 17 white bison thrive at Jackson Fork Ranch in Wyoming’s Upper Hoback Valley. To him, the white bison represent a piece of American West history, a spiritual connection to the land and a feature he's proud to share with guests

Kate MeadowsJanuary 03, 2026

Sublette County opened its first hospital in September, a $73.8 million complex, in September and has been “burning” through cash since. It hopes to get some of the $205 million in federal health care money Wyoming was given this week.

Sublette County’s New Hospital Hopes To Get Some Of $205 Million From Feds

Sublette County opened its first hospital, a $73.8 million complex, in September and has been “burning” through cash since. It hopes to get some of the $205 million in federal health care money Wyoming was given this week.

Kate MeadowsJanuary 01, 2026

A large coal shovel fills a haul truck at Peabody Energy's North Antelope Rochelle Mine in the Powder River Basin of northeast Wyoming.

U.S. Breaks 15-Year Run Of Coal Declines With Increased Demand

The International Energy Agency reports global coal demand is expected to hit a new record high in 2025. In the U.S. and Wyoming, it’s expected to increase 8%, breaking a 15-year run of 6% annual declines.

Kate MeadowsDecember 26, 2025

Sally Gallop with her foster dogs in Cody.

Wyoming Animal Shelters Scramble To Find Foster Homes For Holidays

Animals shelters across Wyoming are scrambling to find foster homes for homeless pets for the holiday season. They say dogs who are fostered typically get adopted more quickly because they often behave differently in homes than they do in the shelters.

Kate MeadowsDecember 23, 2025

Sweetwater County School District No. 1 leadership is under fire after parents and community members on social media accused a Rock Springs High School administrator of wearing an orange wristband that includes acronyms that stand for vulgar phrases.

Rock Springs Parents Blast School District Over Vulgar Wristband

Parents and community members are outraged over reports a wristband reading “Follow Policy + FAFO + GFY” was worn by a school official. The district is reviewing the complaint but won’t discuss specific personnel.

Kate MeadowsDecember 18, 2025

High Winds, Dry Conditions Could Trigger Wildfire Power Shutoffs In Colorado

Colorado’s Front Range faces potential wildfire-related power shutoffs Wednesday amid high winds and dry conditions, but Wyoming utilities say they don’t expect outages. Officials will keep monitoring in case the weather worsens.

Kate MeadowsDecember 16, 2025

Other Authors

Wyoming Oil And Gas Lease Sales Surge As Biden-Era Rules Cloud Future

Wyoming oil and gas lease sales have rebounded in 2025, with a sixth sale set for Dec. 30 after years of record lows. But industry leaders say Biden-era rules and higher minimum bids still cloud investment and leave key questions unanswered.

Kate MeadowsDecember 15, 2025

Denver’s growth is slowing as fewer people move there, driven in part by high housing costs and changing migration trends. Wyoming hopes to benefit, but still struggles keeping young professionals from leaving the Cowboy State.

Denver's Real Estate Market Has Cooled Down Dramatically And That's Not Good For Wyoming

For years, Denver's real estate market was one of the hottest in the country but that's no longer. The Denver metro area has seen a 70% decline in net migration and that's not good for Wyoming. “We need businesses and people to be interested in the Front Range,” Cheyenne Chamber CEO Dale Steenbergen said.

Kate MeadowsDecember 07, 2025

Scientists at Idaho National Laboratory, from left, Bill Phillips, Jacob Yingling, and Michael Woods, conducting research for the Molten Chloride Reactor Experiment.

Breakthrough: Idaho Lab Produces World’s First Molten Salt Fuel For Nuclear Reactors

Idaho National Laboratory announced a breakthrough this week that it’s created the world’s first molten salt fuel for nuclear reactors. That has Wyoming’s growing nuclear industry excited for its potential use in advanced nuclear power plants.

Kate MeadowsDecember 05, 2025

Rare Element Resources has already started operations at its rare earths demonstration plant in Upton, Wyoming.

$60 Million Wyoming Rare Earth Plant To Challenge China Nears Full Operation

Construction of a $60 million state-of-the-art rare earth processing and separation demonstration plant is complete in Upton, Wyoming. It’s expected to be game-changing in America’s efforts to break China’s rare earth stranglehold.

Kate MeadowsDecember 03, 2025

Survey Sparks Division In Evanston Over Four-Day School Week

A survey has sparked division in Evanston over whether the local school district should adopt a four-day school week. Some district leaders and parents don't like the idea, while supporters says it's not the job of public schools to babysit kids.

Kate MeadowsNovember 28, 2025

An off-duty Carbon County Deputy Jason Black is being praised for his quick action to help a pair of Wyoming Highway Patrol troopers fighting with suspects on a Casper roadside. He was on his way to the store when he ran to help with the chaotic scene.

Hero Cop: Off-Duty Deputy Helps Subdue Suspects Fighting With Troopers

An off-duty Carbon County deputy is being praised for his quick action to help a pair of Wyoming Highway Patrol troopers fighting with suspects on a Casper roadside. He was on his way to the store when he ran to help with the chaotic scene.

Kate MeadowsNovember 25, 2025

Wyoming ranchers say allowing some of their meat to bypass federal inspectors and sell state-inspected product online would be “the best thing that can happen to them.” That’s what the federal DIRECT Act recently reintroduced to the Senate would do.

Wyoming Ranchers Say Bypassing Some Meat Inspectors Would Be Game-Changing

Wyoming ranchers say allowing some meat to bypass federal inspectors and sell limited state-inspected product online would be “the best thing that can happen to them.” That’s what the federal DIRECT Act recently reintroduced to the Senate would do.

Kate MeadowsNovember 21, 2025

After a five-year hiatus, pig wrestling is set for a return at the Teton County Fair in 2026, but now county commissioners are reconsidering the event after activists have raised concerns that the tradition could be curel to the animal.

Pig Wrestling Returns To 2026 Teton County Fair — But Only For Kids And Women

After a six-year hiatus, pig wrestling will return for the 2026 Teton County Fair, but only for kids and women — and all must complete animal care training. The decision follows heated debate over tradition versus animal welfare concerns.

Kate MeadowsNovember 20, 2025

Shayne Patrick Burke, a 35-year-old military veteran from Massachusetts, says he's lucky to survive an attack by an angry momma grizzly in Wyoming's Grand Teton National Park. In an Instagram post detailing the attack, he says it was the most violent experience of his life and he has no ill feelings toward the bear.

Wyoming Wants A Health Plan For Bear Attacks And Other ‘Catastrophic’ Events

The odds of getting hit by a bus or attacked by an angry grizzly bear are astronomically low, but they do happen. Wyoming health officials want to create what they call “BearCare,” a health plan for those and other “catastrophic” events.

Kate MeadowsNovember 19, 2025