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Kate Meadows

Kate Meadows is a journalist, creative nonfiction author and book editor who focuses on agriculture and city/county government issues.  She grew up in Pinedale, Wyo., as a fourth-generation Sublette County resident and got her start as a journalist at The Pinedale Roundup and Sublette Examiner. She earned an MFA in Professional Writing with concentrations in journalism and creative nonfiction from Western Connecticut State University.

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Latest from Kate Meadows

Laramie doesn’t have any plans for data centers, but that didn't stop locals Tuesday calling for a permanent moratorium on them.  The city could be “run over by billion-dollar corporations who promise the sun and moon and the stars,” said one resident.

Laramie Has No Data Center Plans, But That Doesn’t Stop Locals From Opposing Them

Laramie doesn’t have any plans for data centers, but that didn't stop locals Tuesday calling for a permanent moratorium on them.  The city could be “run over by billion-dollar corporations who promise the sun and moon and the stars,” said one resident.

Kate MeadowsJune 03, 2026

Presley Whitaker during her recovery in a Salt Lake City hospital after having her hand taken off in an accident with a rodeo horse.

Montana Woman Loses Hand In Rodeo Accident: 'I Thought She Was Going To Die'

A Bozeman woman is home following a 24-day hospital stay after her hand was ripped off in a terrifying horse accident at the Montana State University rodeo practice arena. “The boys, they had to go find her hand,” said her husband and MSU rodeo coach.

Kate MeadowsJune 02, 2026

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Wyoming Hikers Unable To Resuscitate Centennial Man Who Died After Fall Into River

A 56-year-old Centennial man died Friday after slipping on steep terrain and falling into Mullen Creek in Albany County. He is believed to have suffered a head injury in the fall and then became trapped in the fast-flowing water.

Kate MeadowsJune 01, 2026

Six years after a huge sinkhole opened up in a subdivision near Black Hawk, South Dakota, victims still waiting for relief. The disaster highlights the difference between Wyoming’s abandoned mine safeguards and South Dakota’s limited protections.

Six Years Later, Black Hills Sinkhole Victims Still Waiting For Relief

Six years after a massive 85-foot-deep sinkhole opened in a residential neighborhood in the Black Hills, homeowners live in financial limbo. Dozens of homes have sat abandoned and deteriorating while property owners wait for answers, compensation and accountability.

Kate MeadowsMay 31, 2026

For decades, motorists speeding down Interstate 90 in west-central South Dakota have done double takes at a towering human skeleton leading a T. rex on a leash. It’s a quirky prairie creation born from one man’s lifelong dream to build his own dinosaur.

Near Wyoming: The Skeleton Who Walks A Giant T-Rex On A Leash In South Dakota

For decades, motorists speeding down Interstate 90 in west-central South Dakota have done double takes at a towering human skeleton leading a T. rex on a leash. It’s a quirky prairie creation born from one man’s lifelong dream to build his own dinosaur.

Kate MeadowsMay 30, 2026

Work is underway on the TerraPower nuclear power plant and its other facilities near Kemmerer, Wyoming.

Kemmerer Plans For Man Camp To House 1,600 TerraPower Nuclear Plant Workers

Developers are making proposals to build a man camp for the up to 1,600 workers who will build the TerraPower nuclear power plant near Kemmerer. “It’s more than just a man camp. It’s like a little city within a city,” said the mayor.

Kate MeadowsMay 29, 2026

A Nebraska man told Cowboy State Daily he suffered a spine fracture in a fall climbing into the cab of the Big Boy 4014 locomotive on Thursday. “A boyhood dream got dashed as I fell 8 feet off of Big Boy 4014 before I got the ride of a lifetime,” he said.

Nebraska Man Fractures Spine After Falling Off Big Boy Locomotive At Whistle-Stop

A Nebraska man told Cowboy State Daily he suffered a spine fracture in a fall climbing into the cab of the Big Boy 4014 locomotive on Thursday. “A boyhood dream got dashed as I fell 8 feet off of Big Boy 4014 before I got the ride of a lifetime,” he said.

Kate MeadowsMay 29, 2026

Marcie Kindred, representing Wyoming’s AFLCIO, talks during the Tuesday, May 26, 2026, Cheyenne City Council meeting about a proposed data center moratorium.

Full Speed Ahead For Cheyenne Data Centers As Council Rejects Moratorium

A 12-month moratorium on data centers in Cheyenne was rejected on a 9-1 City Council vote after hours of emotional, and at times angry, testimony Tuesday night. “The people who put you in your position are terrified,” one resident told the council. 

Kate MeadowsMay 27, 2026

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"We Need People Working": Wyoming Waits On BLM Reinforcements As Permits Back Up

As new BLM Director Steve Pearce begins work, energy leaders say staffing shortages are top priority. “We need people working on permits,” Wyoming mining honcho Travis Deti said. Without renewed leases, coal companies can lose access to federally leased reserves.

Kate MeadowsMay 25, 2026

After rejected by mom and tossed aside by a jealous bull, a newborn bison named Koa found an unlikely family at a Wyoming ranch, where rescuers work around the clock to keep the tiny bison alive. “Koa has a very strong spirit,” said one of her rescuers. Above, Jannette Hienert hugs a baby bison figthing for life away from her herd.

Rejected By Herd, Newborn Bison Named Koa Rescued By Family At Wyoming Ranch

After rejected by mom and tossed aside by a jealous bull, a newborn bison named Koa found an unlikely family at a Wyoming ranch, where rescuers work around the clock to keep the tiny bison alive. “Koa has a very strong spirit,” said one of her rescuers.

Kate MeadowsMay 24, 2026

A 70-year-old tourist was killed this week when attacked twice by a bull bison on a popular hiking route in Custer State Park. “As they got closer to the bulls, one of them turned around and came at her,” the sheriff told Cowboy State Daily.

Bison Attacks And Kills Hiker On Trail In Custer State Park

A 70-year-old tourist was killed after being thrown six feet in the air by a bull bison on a popular hiking route in Custer State Park. “As they got closer to the bulls, one of them turned around and came at her,” the sheriff told Cowboy State Daily.

Kate MeadowsMay 22, 2026

A former BLM director says Steve Pearce’s confirmation to lead agency is good news for Wyoming’s energy industries, ranchers and land use. “It’s supposed to be used for all sorts of things,” William Perry Pendley said about federal public lands.

Former BLM Director Says Steve Pearce’s Confirmation Is Good News For Wyoming

A former BLM director says Steve Pearce’s confirmation to lead agency is good news for Wyoming’s energy industries, ranchers and land use. “It’s supposed to be used for all sorts of things,” William Perry Pendley said about federal public lands.

Kate MeadowsMay 21, 2026

Other Authors

Emotions were mixed for the 450-MW Chugwater Energy Project before getting its final unanimous approval from Platte County on Wednesday, May 20. 2026. “If people really didn’t want wind turbines they should have bought” the land, one of the 30 project landowners said.

Huge Chugwater Wind And Solar Project Gets Final Unanimous OK From Platte County

Emotions were mixed for the 450-MW Chugwater Energy Project before getting its final unanimous approval from Platte County on Wednesday. “If people really didn’t want wind turbines they should have bought” the land, one of the 30 project landowners said.

Kate MeadowsMay 21, 2026

Rumors of a data center development in Lincoln County has provoked fear as locals get more vocal against them. “Everybody’s talking about them,” a county commissioner said — and jumping the gun, because there are now no data center projects on the table.

Data Center Rumors Provoke Fear, Concern In Lincoln County

Rumors of a data center development in Lincoln County has provoked fear as locals get more vocal against them. “Everybody’s talking about them,” a county commissioner said — and jumping the gun, because there are now no data center projects on the table.

Kate MeadowsMay 20, 2026

Opposition to Cheyenne data centers is growing as residents become more vocal and sign petitions against them. One councilman says development has happened so fast, it’s "completely outstripped the ability of the county and the city to plan."

Two More Data Centers Possible As Laramie County Planners OK Massive Man Camp

Two more possible data center projects are on the horizon even as Laramie County planners have recommended approval of a massive 5,600-person man camp to house workers. “I did not feel like our voices were considered or heard," said one local resident.

Kate MeadowsMay 18, 2026

Anna Kobza is a young ag influencer who didn’t grow up on a ranch is becoming one of the beef industry’s most recognizable faces. She says she’s trying to narrow the widening gap between ranchers and the people who eat what they raise.

From Feedlots To TikTok, Young Ag Influencer Tries To Bridge Beef Divide

A young ag influencer who didn’t grow up on a ranch is becoming one of the beef industry’s most recognizable faces. She says she’s trying to narrow the widening gap between ranchers and the people who eat what they raise.

Kate MeadowsMay 17, 2026

Brittany Cole Bush with a herd of goats on the Arambel Ranch. The shepherdess who grew up near the beach in San Diego got her first goats from a Wyoming ranch. Now her goats are gobbling down unwanted weeds and vegetation across California.

"Sheep Are In My Blood": San Diego Woman Fell In Love With Ranching With Wyoming Help

Brittany Cole Bush’s path to an agriculture-based life as a shepherdess isn’t typical. Growing up in San Diego, Bush was more in tune with the surfer culture than leading a next-generation shepherding revolution that has its roots at a Wyoming ranch.

Kate MeadowsMay 17, 2026

A rally at the Wyoming Capitol on Saturday, May 16, 2026, calling for the Legislature to plug holes the Wyoming Food Freedom Act.

Author Of Wyoming’s Food Freedom Act Says He Will Fix Law To Fight Overreach

The author of Wyoming’s Food Freedom Act says recent decisions by the state Dept. of Ag. to shut down sales of locally produced food are government overreach. “They’ve managed to find their way around our laws and intent," Tyler Lindholm said.

Kate MeadowsMay 17, 2026

Workers erect a tower to string power transmission lines in this image from Rocky Mountain Power.

Rocky Mountain Power Says 8.8% Rate Hike Request Not Because Of Data Centers

Rocky Mountain Power is asking Wyoming regulators for another rate hike prompted by rising costs, this time for 8.8%, the company announced Wednesday. “None of the increases ... have anything to do with data centers,” the company says.

Kate MeadowsMay 14, 2026

Paul Norfleet, a sheep rancher who recently moved to Chugwater, spoke about the challenges of farming and said NextEra's Chugwater Energy Project would allow his ranch to make some money. That revenue, he said, would go toward regenerating the land.

450-MW Chugwater Wind And Solar Project Gets Unanimous OK From County Planners

A huge wind and solar project near Chugwater to generate 450 megawatts of wind and solar power was unanimously approved Wednesday by Platte County planners. "I want to be able to earn some money off my land,” said one rancher in support of the plan.

Kate MeadowsMay 13, 2026

Wyoming’s largest livestock marketing company sold 9,000 head of cattle in a special drought sale on Wednesday when it typically sells 400-700 head a week. “Guys are selling because they’re droughted out,” said the owner of Torrington Livestock Markets.

Wyoming Ranchers Selling Off Cattle As Drought Tightens Grip Across State

Wyoming’s largest livestock marketing company sold 9,000 head of cattle in a special drought sale on Wednesday when it typically sells 400-700 head a week. “Guys are selling because they’re droughted out,” said the owner of Torrington Livestock Markets.

Kate MeadowsMay 13, 2026

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