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Writer

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

Sugar Beet harvest 7 31 26

Historic Drought Ends Irrigation Season Early For Eastern Wyoming Farmers

Pathfinder Irrigation District will shut off its main canal next week after record-low snowpack and historic drought have left too little water to finish the growing season in eastern Wyoming. Around Wheatland, users had just 14 days of water.

Kate MeadowsJuly 31, 2026

Driving cattle to winter pasture near Hulett, Wyoming.

Federal Judge OKs Cattle And Beef Price-Fixing Suit Against 'Big Four' Meatpackers

A federal judge has OK'd a class-action price-fixing lawsuit against the nation’s four largest meatpackers. "The packers have controlled the destiny of beef for decades," Crook County rancher Tyler Lindholm said. "People are starting to push back."

Kate MeadowsJuly 30, 2026

Peabody coal haul truck Peabody Energy Public Domain 7 29 26

Wyoming Congressional Delegation Silent On Peabody's Move To Cut Retirement Benefit

As Peabody Energy has slashed the health benefits for retired Wyoming coal mine workers, the state’s congressional delegation has so far been silent. Retirees wonder why it can afford to pay its CEO $9 million last year but not their promised benefits.

Kate MeadowsJuly 30, 2026

Park County commissioners say geography and other factors mean data centers aren't imminent, but they want to have regulations in place if or when the industry does arrive. Meanwhile, Park residents are telling them they are "100% no" on data centers.

Park County Commission Says Data Centers Not Imminent And Residents Are '100% No'

Park County commissioners say geography and other factors mean data centers aren't imminent, but they want to have regulations in place if or when the industry does arrive. Meanwhile, Park residents are telling them they are "100% no" on data centers.

Kate MeadowsJuly 30, 2026

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

Man Camps Moving Forward As Uinta And Lincoln Counties Build, Build, Build

Potential man camps in neighboring Uinta and Lincoln counties are moving forward. Kemmerer cleared zoning for a workforce housing site for a nuclear power plant, while Uinta County is a step closer to a 3,400-bed camp for a hyperscale data center.

Kate MeadowsJuly 28, 2026

Retired Peabody Energy employee Jim Allington says he feels betrayed by the company's decision to end the Retiree Medical Allowance worth roughly $260,000 that could help pay health insurance premiums and medical expenses throughout retirement.

Retired Peabody Energy Employees Feel Betrayed By Cancellation Of Medical Benefits

Retired Wyoming employees of Peabody Energy say they feel betrayed by its decision to end a medical retirement benefits program. "I never missed a day," said Douglas' Jim Allington. The company says the program no longer fits "market competitive practices."

Kate MeadowsJuly 27, 2026

As Wyoming legislators continue debating whether EMS is an essential service, rural communities aren't waiting for their answer. With shrinking budgets and volunteer pools, some are asking for local taxes while others have police pull double duty.

No One-Size-Fits-All Fix For Wyoming's Rural Ambulance Crisis

As Wyoming legislators continue debating whether ambulance service is an essential government function, some communities aren't waiting. With shrinking budgets and volunteer pools, some are asking for local taxes while others have police pull double duty.

Kate MeadowsJuly 20, 2026

Protesters will gather on the Wyoming Capitol steps Saturday as Cheyenne joins a nationwide day of demonstrations opposing the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence data centers.

Cheyenne To Join National Protest Against Data Centers; Detractors Laugh

Protesters will gather on the Wyoming Capitol steps Saturday as Cheyenne joins a nationwide day of demonstrations opposing data centers. Organizers say it's a way to protect "our way of life" while detractors lampoon them as "modern-day Luddites."

Kate MeadowsJuly 17, 2026

A road sign reads, "STOP Private Road No Trespassing. A Cheyenne man contends the sign is on a public county road.

Wyoming Hunter Wants To Clear Up Confusion Over Public Lands Marked ‘Private’

A Wyoming hunter is on a mission to undo confusion after repeatedly encountering "Private Property" and "No Trespassing" signs where the public should legally be allowed. "Knowing which roads are actually public is really challenging,” said a landowner.

Kate MeadowsJuly 16, 2026

Meta is appealing Cheyenne's notice of violation, saying the city's Board of Public Utilities hasn't provided the testing data supporting its findings and argues its contractor—not Meta's corporate entity—held the discharge permit.

Meta Appeals Cheyenne Notice Of Violation Over Sewer Contamination

Meta told Cowboy State Daily on Tuesday that it is appealing a violation notice issued by Cheyenne's Board of Public Utilities arguing the city has not provided evidence that the company's construction project contaminated the city's sewer reuse system.

Kate MeadowsJuly 15, 2026

An aerial view of the Meta data center being built in south Cheyenne. A water retention pond is shown near the edge of the development.

On Second Thought, No Press Conference On Cheyenne Meta Data Center Contamination

Despite promising a press conference this week to address the Meta data center contamination of Cheyenne’s wastewater system, the Board of Public Utilities now says it won’t, opting instead to release a statement addressing questions.

Kate Meadows & Clair McFarlandJuly 14, 2026

University of Nebraska graduate research assistant Taylor Cross, left, and graduate student Ian Tempelmeyer walk behind the Flex-Ro autonomous planting robot as it starts a row at Rogers Memorial Farm, east of Lincoln. Santosh Pitla, associate professor of advanced machinery systems at UN, has managed the project since the robot’s inception in 2015.

Here Come The Robots: Robotic Weed-Pullers, Sprayers, Cattle Herders Coming Our Way

From autonomous machines that pull weeds instead of spraying herbicides to robotic platforms that can herd cattle and ultraviolet-light systems that fight crop diseases without chemicals, agricultural robotics are coming to Wyoming, one UW prof says.

Kate MeadowsJuly 11, 2026

Other Authors

He was homeless and in despair when he built a popular theater program in Green River. Now Bradlee Skinner performs before sold-out crowds in his dream job with baseball's Savannah Bananas, one of the hottest tickets in sports. Above, Skinner with choreographer Mandy Moore in Savannah. Moore choreographed Taylor Swift's Eras tour.

Homeless To Home Plate: Wyoming Man's Fantastic Journey To The Savannah Bananas

Green River's Bradlee Skinner was homeless, delivering pizzas and wondering how his life had unraveled. Now he performs before sold-out crowds with the Savannah Bananas, baseball's wildly popular entertainment phenomenon. And it all started with a selfie.

Kate MeadowsJuly 11, 2026

With Pathfinder Reservoir less than 24% full, some farmers and ranchers in eastern Wyoming and western Nebraska are being warned they could be out of irrigation water by the first week of August. Drought has left reservoirs drained and canals low.

Eastern Wyoming Irrigation District Warns Water Could Vanish By Early August

With Pathfinder Reservoir less than 24% full, some farmers and ranchers in eastern Wyoming and western Nebraska are being warned they could be out of irrigation water by the first week of August. Drought has left reservoirs drained and canals low.

Kate MeadowsJuly 09, 2026

The Guernsey, Wyoming, Town Hall.

State Audit Finds $1.3 Million Deficit In Guernsey, Town Official Says No Money Is Missing

A state audit of the Town of Guernsey's finances flagged a $1.3 million deficit and identified multiple issues with the town's accounting practices. Treasurer Hillary Dawson said the large negative number does not mean the town is missing money.

Kate MeadowsJuly 09, 2026

Water collins 7 7 26

Cheyenne Mayor Says Wastewater Contamination 'Regrettable' But Lauds BOPU Response

As questions mount of the Cheyenne Board of Public Utilities' handling of data center contamination of the city's sewer reuse system, Mayor Patrick Collins said BOPU handled the incident "efficiently." "People are caught up in the emotion of this," he said.

Kate MeadowsJuly 07, 2026

After spending about $200,000 in goat grazing for flood mitigation since 2025, the town of Rock Springs is putting an end to it for now. One council member said residents say it’s too expensive. "This will be the last we see goats,” Dan Pedri said.

Rock Springs Ends Controversial Goat Grazing Program After Spending $200,000

After spending about $200,000 in goat grazing for flood mitigation since 2025, the town of Rock Springs is putting an end to it for now. One council member said residents say it’s too expensive. "This will be the last we see goats,” he said.

Kate MeadowsJuly 06, 2026

Instead of selling the century-old Flat Creek Ranch for millions, a Jackson couple gave the property to its longtime managers. "We didn't want it to fall in the hands of someone who would destroy the land, the wildlife or the buildings," they said.

Jackson Couple Gives Historic Flat Creek Ranch To Longtime Caretakers To Save It

Instead of selling the century-old 140-acre Flat Creek Ranch for millions, a Jackson couple gave the property to its longtime managers. "We didn't want it to fall in the hands of someone who would destroy the land, the wildlife or the buildings," they said.

Kate MeadowsJuly 05, 2026

Maelie Teuscher, 6, is one of the Sweetwater County kids getting some brisk business from thirsty Sweetwater County Sheriff's Office deputies this summer.

Why Sweetwater County Sheriff's Deputies Make It A Point To Support Lemonade Stands

The Sweetwater County Sheriff's Office is making it a point to support lemonade stands in the community. Deputy Zach Otte said that children assume a patrol car means someone is in trouble. The lemonade patrol is about changing perceptions, he said.

Kate MeadowsJuly 04, 2026

Rob Piotter's signature red, white and blue buffalo art piece, which he made out of Wyoming centennial license plates representing all 23 Wyoming counties, is for sale.

Casper Man Turns Wyoming Centennial License Plates Into One-Of-A-Kind Buffalo

After spending decades collecting license plates from all 23 Wyoming counties, Rob Piotter of Casper turns them into one-of-a-kind buffalo sculptures. His red, white, and blue patriotic buffalo is made all from Wyoming Centennial plates.

Kate MeadowsJuly 03, 2026

Cheyenne announced Thursday it isn’t accepting wastewater associated with data center systems after Meta company contaminated the city’s wastewater system, prompting months of cleanup. "It's a very, very unpleasant surprise,” said a city councilman.

Cheyenne Won’t Take Data Center Wastewater After Meta Contractor Contaminated System

Cheyenne announced Thursday it's suspended taking wastewater associated with data center systems after a Meta contractor contaminated the city’s wastewater system, prompting months of cleanup. "It's a very, very unpleasant surprise,” said a city councilman.

Kate MeadowsJuly 02, 2026

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