Leo Wolfson
Leo Wolfson is the State Government and Politics Reporter for Cowboy State Daily and is based in Cheyenne. He is responsible for covering Wyoming politics on a federal and statewide level.
Leo led Cowboy State Daily's coverage of the 2022 Wyoming primary election, including the highly contentious race between former congresswoman Liz Cheney and her successor U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman. He also managed CSD's coverage of the 2023 State Legislature, which was by far the most extensive and timely media coverage of a legislative session in the state's history.
Before joining Cowboy State Daily, Leo was a general assignment reporter for the Cody Enterprise Newspaper in Cody from 2018-2022. Prior to that, he reported for a suburban newspaper outside Denver.
Latest from Leo Wolfson
Explore Wyoming: Deep Into Spirit Mountain Cave Above Cody
Not only is Spirit Mountain Cave above Cody full of history, it’s a passageway into a mysterious and dark underworld where even night goggles won't work. Only a few hundred people explore these caves every year.
Leo WolfsonMay 11, 2025
Drinking Wyoming: Laramie Locals Believe Bud’s Bar Inspired Moe’s Tavern In ‘The Simpsons’
Bud’s Bar is a local joint, a Wyoming dive bar on the west side of Laramie that’s been serving beer and gossip for more than 80 years. Many locals also believe in a legend that says it was the inspiration for Moe’s Tavern in “The Simpsons.”
Leo WolfsonMay 11, 2025
Wyoming Businesses Expand To Asia Markets That Can’t Get Enough Cowboy Culture
More Wyoming businesses are finding eager buyers for their products in Asia markets that can’t get enough cowboy culture. That success has the state exploring more ways to bolster Wyoming trade with countries in Asia.
Leo WolfsonMay 06, 2025
Hot Springs County Keeps Getting Sued Over Controversial Tipi Retreat
Hot Springs County is being sued for a second time in four years over a controversial teepee resort and a private road used by multiple landowners. The dispute has divided officials, with a commissioner testifying against the county in court.
Leo WolfsonMay 06, 2025
State GOP Wants Federal ICE Detention Center Opened In Wyoming
The Wyoming Republican Party passed a resolution at its meeting Saturday calling for the opening of a federally funded Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility in Wyoming.
Leo WolfsonMay 05, 2025
Wyoming Allows, But Doesn’t Regulate, Self-Driving Cars — Yet
As more self-driving cars are on roads across the country, more states are regulating the use of them. Wyoming hasn’t regulated self-driving vehicles, but legislators say it’s only a matter of when that will happen, not if.
Leo WolfsonMay 04, 2025
Wyoming GOP Stands Firm On Not Letting Hot Springs County Members Vote
The Wyoming Republican Party firmly stood behind its lawsuit with four members of the Hot Springs County Republican Party on Saturday. Two members from that party who say they were fairly elected weren’t allowed to vote for state party officers.
Leo WolfsonMay 04, 2025
Wyoming Republicans Elect Sheridan's Bryan Miller As New Party Chairman
Sheridan resident Bryan Miller was elected the new chairman of the Wyoming Republican Party on Saturday, beating out Jackson resident Rebecca Bextel by a 42-32 vote.
Leo WolfsonMay 03, 2025
Failure That Caused Teton Pass To Slide Off Mountain Was Unavoidable, WYDOT Says
Wyoming Department of Transportation officials told legislators on Thursday the mudslide that wiped out Highway 22 on Teton Pass last year was an unavoidable event, caused by extreme, fast-changing weather conditions.
Leo WolfsonMay 03, 2025
Wyoming Airmen Make Extraordinary Cardiac Evacuation From Antarctica
Two members of the Wyoming Air National Guard played critical roles in successfully evacuating a patient in cardiac arrest from McMurdo Station in Antarctica. “This was more than a mission — it was a life saved against all odds,” Brig. Gen. Michelle Mulberry said.
Leo WolfsonMay 03, 2025
Commissioner Says Hot Springs County To Break From ‘Socialist’ State Association
A Hot Springs County Commissioner promises to break from the Wyoming County Commissioners Association because it’s a “socialist” group that opposes tax cuts. If that happens, Hot Springs would be the only one of Wyoming’s 23 counties to not be a member.
Leo WolfsonMay 02, 2025
Industry Expert Says Shipping Wyoming Coal Through Gulf Not Far-Fetched
Jackson resident Jim Manley has spent more than 40 years operating barges on the Mississippi River. Transporting Wyoming coal to Asia via barges from the Gulf Coast instead of the West Coast is not far-fetched at all, he said.
Leo WolfsonMay 01, 2025
Wyoming GOP May Let Hot Springs Members Vote In State Election Despite Lawsuit
The Wyoming GOP is considering letting members of the Hot Springs Republican Party it says were illegally elected to county positions vote in the state party elections Saturday. A lawsuit filed against the state party by the contested members is ongoing.
Leo WolfsonMay 01, 2025
Freedom Caucus Says Wyoming’s Budget Needs Some ‘DOGE-ing’
The Wyoming Freedom Caucus has set goals for the upcoming interim legislative session, including “DOGE-ing Wyoming’s Budget.” Inspired by the Trump administration’s cost-cutting moves, the conservative lawmakers say Wyoming also has too much waste.
Leo WolfsonMay 01, 2025
Gordon Wants To Use Gulf Coast Ports To Export Wyoming Coal, Gas To Asia
Gov. Mark Gordon said Wednesday he wants to use Gulf Coast ports to ship more Wyoming coal to Japan and Taiwan and beat out Alaska as a main trade partner.
Leo WolfsonApril 30, 2025
Led By Wyoming Chairwoman, Corporation for Public Broadcasting Sues Trump
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting Board, led by Riverton resident and Chairwoman Ruby Calvert, sued President Donald Trump’s administration Tuesday for firing three Democratic members from the group’s board.
Leo WolfsonApril 30, 2025
25% Property Tax Cut Has Cities And Counties Expecting To Cut Budgets
A 25% residential property tax cut approved earlier this year by the Legislature has cities and counties across Wyoming crunching numbers. Many tell Cowboy State Daily they’re already contemplating where to cut their budgets.
Leo WolfsonApril 28, 2025
UW Confirms Six Students Who Had Visas Revoked Are Reinstated
The University of Wyoming confirmed to Cowboy State Daily on Monday that six international students who had their visa registrations revoked have had them reinstated.
Leo WolfsonApril 28, 2025
Hageman, House Committee Staff Visit Sheridan VA To Investigate Complaints
U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman and Republican staff from the House Committee on Veterans Affairs visited the Sheridan VA on Thursday after receiving multiple concerning reports about the facility.
Leo WolfsonApril 25, 2025
Twice-Deported Man Accused Of Smuggling 18,000 Rounds Of Ammo Skips Court
A twice-deported Mexican immigrant with suspected cartel-ties accused of smuggling 18,000 rounds of ammunition through Wyoming skipped federal court Friday. A judge issued a warrant for his arrest.
Leo WolfsonApril 25, 2025
Charlie Kirk Tells UW Students To Reject Woke Ideologies, Traditional College Education
Conservative political activist Charlie Kirk implored an audience at the University of Wyoming on Thursday night to cast away traditional liberal beliefs and woke ideologies
Leo WolfsonApril 25, 2025