Writer

Kerry Drake

Latest from Kerry Drake

Baby Murder Trial, Day 3: Jury Takes 90 Minutes To Find Father Not Guilty

A Laramie County jury deliberated only 90 minutes Wednesday before finding a Cheyene man not guilty of the first-degree murder of his 4-month-old son in 2025. Hanson blames his wife, Juliette Martinez, who is still charged with first-degree murder.

Kerry DrakeOctober 29, 2026

Joseph Hanson admitted he didn't turn his wife in to police despite knowing she killed their 4-month-old son, according to testimony during the second day of his first-degree murder trial on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026.

Baby Murder Trial, Day 2: Cheyenne Man 'Ashamed' He Didn't Tell Police Wife Killed Their Baby

TRIAL COVERAGE, DAY 2: A Cheyenne man said he’s “ashamed” he didn't turn his wife in despite knowing she killed their 4-month-old, according to testimony on the second day of his first-degree murder trial Tuesday. “I hate that I chose my wife over my kids,” said Joseph Hanson.

Kerry DrakeOctober 28, 2026

Cheyenne Man Accused Of Killing 4-Month-Old Blames Wife On First Day Of Trial

On the first day of Joseph Hanson's first-degree murder trial for the death of his 4-month-old son, the Cheyenne man's attorney blamed the mother, who's also charged with murder. “We are pointing the finger” at the child’s mother, his attorney said.

Kerry DrakeOctober 27, 2026

It’s Been 35 Years Since Wallop Wondered If A Monorail Would Work In Yellowstone

It’s been 35 years since former U.S. Sen. Malcolm Wallop wondered if a Disney World-like monorail could be a solution to the increasing crowds of tourists flocking to Yellowstone. It never got past the study stage and traffic has nearly doubled since then.

Kerry DrakeOctober 25, 2026

As Cheyenne sleeps, it's easy to see why the 126-year-old Hynds Building on the corner of Lincolnway and Capital Avenue in the city's historic downtown district has for decades convinced even skeptics that it's haunted.

'Holy Crap!’: Skeptic Can’t Explain Voice In Cheyenne’s Cursed Hynds Building

Videographer John Ferrara didn’t go looking for a ghost at the Hynds Building in Cheyenne. But he found one anyway. The building is cursed. Or people say it is. It's bad history includes an electrocution to fires to one person who was crushed to death.

Kerry DrakeOctober 24, 2026

Gov. Mark Gordon thanks U.S. Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming, left, at a Friday news conference at the Capitol for his help in passing the Rural Health Transformation Program, which will distribute $205 million to improve rural healthcare services in the state in the next year. At right is Stefan Johansson, director of the Wyoming Department of Health.

Gordon Will Direct $92 Million In Fed Money For Rural Emergency & Maternity Care

Gov. Mark Gordon announced Friday that rural emergency and maternity care will get $92 million out of $205 million in the Rural Health Transformation Program. He said states, rather than feds, can better decide where that money goes.

Kerry DrakeOctober 23, 2026

U.S. Attorney for Wyoming Darin Smith, left, announced Friday that all of the persons arrested in 2025 in a major drug trafficking ring in Wyoming and Colorado have been convicted. Also speaking at the news conference were Department of Criminal Investigation Director Ron Cox, center, and Carbon County Sheriff Alex Bakken, right.

Rawlins Man, Six Others, Get Prison After Bust Of Major Wyoming Drug Ring

Seven members of a major drug ring, including a man from Rawlins who was its leader, have received prison sentences ranging from eight to 18 years. Thirty more were prosecuted at the state level. The drug ring was spread across five Wyoming counties.

Kerry DrakeOctober 02, 2026

Humans First, a national grassroots group opposed to artificial intelligence, parked its rally bus in front of Cheyenne City Hall on Monday ahead of a council meeting where another annexation for a data center was approved.

National Group Rallies Against Data Centers Outside Cheyenne City Hall

A national group opposed to artificial intelligence parked its rally bus in front of Cheyenne’s city hall on Monday to rally against data centers. “Americans are not going to take these data centers being shoved down our throats,” said an organizer.

Kerry DrakeSeptember 29, 2026

University of Wyoming linguists are trying to save the Lakota language with a video game that takes players through the Black Hills, with a dog. It'ss estimated that the Lakota language is spoken by only about 2,000 people, most older than 70.

University Of Wyoming Trying To Save Lost Lakota Language Through Video Game

University of Wyoming developers and their Standing Rock Sioux tribal partners are trying to save the Lakota language, now spoken fluently by only about 2,000 people in North America. They hope a video game guided by a canine character will help.

Kerry DrakeSeptember 27, 2026

Former Cheyenne Fire Chief Found Guilty Of Starving His Adopted Teenage Son

A jury deliberated for less than 90 minutes before convicting Darrick Mittlestadt, former fire chief of Laramie County Fire District No.1, on two counts of aggravated child abuse for starving his adopted 13-year-old son to near death.

Kerry DrakeSeptember 25, 2026

Day 3 Of Cheyenne Starvation Trial: Husband Blames Wife, Says He Was Deceived

On Day 3 of a Cheyenne man's trial for allegedly starving his son almost to death last year, Darrick Mittlestadt testified Thursday that the 13-year-old’s severe condition was his wife’s fault. “I know I was deceived, misled and lied to,” he said.

Kerry DrakeSeptember 24, 2026

Cheyenne Man On Trial For Starving Son Says, ‘I’m Not A Good Dad’

Accused of starving his adopted teenage son almost to death last year, Darrick Mittlestadt of Cheyenne testified Wednesday that he didn’t see or talk to the boy for “three or four months” despite living in the same house. “I’m not a good Dad," he said.

Kerry DrakeSeptember 24, 2026

Other Authors

Doctor Says 50-Pound Cheyenne Teen Looked Like A ‘Concentration Camp Survivor’

A doctor testifying on the first day of Darrick Mittlestadt’s aggravated child abuse trial Tuesday said the 50-pound 13-year-old boy looked like a “concentration camp survivor” when he examined him. Mittlestadt claims his wife was the abuser, not him.

Kerry DrakeSeptember 23, 2026

42,000 Pounds Of Food To Cheyenne Hunger-Relief Agencies 'Won't Last Us The Week'

42,000 pounds of food was delivered to Cheyenne hunger-relief agencies Wednesday, but the organizations that will distribute it say demand is so great the food will all be gone within a week. "We’ve never seen hunger this severe," said one official.

Kerry DrakeSeptember 17, 2026

Wyoming Hasn't Forgotten 8 Cross-Country Runners Killed By Drunk Driver 25 Years Ago

Twenty-five years ago, a drunk driver killed eight members of the University of Wyoming cross-country team on U.S. Highway 287, rocking the state five days after 9/11. Families, friends and the university are making sure the eight are always remembered.

Kerry DrakeSeptember 16, 2026

Chuck Harter of the McCarty & Sons construction firm in Denver finishes knocking down the twin chimneys at the historic Twin Chimneys Motor Court built in the 1950s in Cheyenne on Tuesday. A 7 Brew Coffee stand will be built on the site.

Once-Iconic Twin Chimneys Motel In Cheyenne Torn Down To Make Way For Coffee Shop

The once-iconic Twin Chimneys Motor Court that marked a once-popular Cheyenne motel on the historic Lincoln Highway lasted for almost 90 years, but the chimneys came tumbling down in about 30 seconds this week to make way for a coffee shop.

Kerry DrakeSeptember 12, 2026

In 1886, Cheyenne cattle baron Alexander Swan started construction of a mansion on Millionaires Row as a wedding gift to his daughter. When a blizzard wiped out Swan's business, Cheyenne banker David Dare took over and finished the building, which was known as "Castle Dare" until it was razed for a parking lot in 1963.

Wyoming History: Cheyenne Con Man David Dare Was The Bernie Madoff Of His Time

David Dare was known as the architect of Castle Dare, a mansion on Cheyenne's Millionaires Row built in 1887, and a con man who was the Bernie Madoff of his time. He swindled people out of hundreds of thousands of dollars, leading to two suicides.

Kerry DrakeSeptember 07, 2026

With federal troops standing guard, members of Coxey's Army board a train in Green River for Idaho, where they were all found guilty of stealing a train and given minor sentences.

Wyoming History: 250 Labor Protesters Stole A Train, Then Arrested In Green River

A group of 250 unemployed protesters hijacked a train in Idaho in spring 1894 and were arrested in Green River, Wyoming. The first major march on the nation’s capital included many Wyomingites who had lost their jobs and were fighting for survival.

Kerry DrakeSeptember 06, 2026

New University of Wyoming President Shane Reeves claims in a series of videos smack-talking Saturday's 118th Border War football game against Colorado State University that he's going to suit up for the game.

New UW President Shane Reeves Says He's Going To Suit Up And Play Against CSU

As a dean at West Point, new University of Wyoming President Shane Reeves starred in a popular series of videos to pump up the Cadets' football fans. He’s continuing the tradition in Laramie, and says he's going to suit up and play on Saturday.

Kerry DrakeSeptember 04, 2026

The “307” mile marker on Interstate 80 west of Laramie was routinely stolen, so the Wyoming Department of Transportation has replaced it with "306.99."

Wyoming's Only '307' Mile Marker Was Stolen So Often On I-80 It Is Now '306.99'

The iconic “307” mile marker on Interstate 80 west of Laramie was the only one in the state — and stolen so often the Wyoming Department of Transportation changed it to "306.99." The sign is one of more than 80,000 signs WYDOT maintains statewide.

Kerry DrakeAugust 29, 2026

Suzi Taylor, reference archivist at the Wyoming State Archives in Cheyenne, examines a photograph of cowboys that Charles Kirkland took at the Diamond Ranch near Chugwater.

How 50,000 Glass Photo Negatives Of Cheyenne's Early History Landed In The Dump

As many as 50,000 glass negatives that captured Cheyenne's early history landed in the city dump in 1935 when nobody was willing to pay $10,000 for the massive collection of photos. About 60 years of Cheyenne history chronicled in those images were lost.

Kerry DrakeAugust 29, 2026