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
Park City Ski Patrol Strike Has Divided Ski Industry In Western States
Striking ski patrol workers at the upscale Park City Mountain Resort in Utah have skiers who want to pay big bucks for a luxury experience crossing a picket line. It’s also divided the ski industry in Western states, including Wyoming.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 07, 2025
Carbon Dioxide Can’t Be Labeled A “Pollutant” Under Proposed Wyoming Legislation
State Sen. Cheri Steinmetz’s “Make Carbon Dioxide Great Again” bill would force Wyoming to no longer recognize carbon dioxide as a “pollutant.” It also would repeal low requirements that coal plants retrofit with carbon capture technology by 2030.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 06, 2025
Wyoming Voters Will Decide On Slashing Property Taxes By 50%
A petition for a ballot initiative to slash Wyoming property taxes by 50% was certified Friday by the secretary of state’s office. That means Wyoming voters will decide the issue in 2026.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 03, 2025
Lummis Blasts Biden For Rewarding Cheney’s “Vendetta Against Donald Trump”
Wyoming Republican Cynthia Lummis blasted President Joe Biden on Friday for giving Liz Cheney the Presidential Citizens Medal. She said the move was a reward for Cheney pursuing “her vendetta against Donald Trump.”
Leo WolfsonJanuary 03, 2025
Bringing A Gun To School Could Mean More Than A Year Expulsion Under Proposal
Veteran Wyoming legislator Steve Harshman says expelling students who bring guns to school for a year often isn’t enough. A bill he’s proposing for the upcoming session would allow school boards to expel gun violators for longer than a year.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 03, 2025
Wyoming AARP Says Photo IDs To Vote Would Alienate Many Senior Voters
Wyoming AARP and voting rights groups are concerned about a proposal Secretary of State Chuck Gray is pushing to require photo identification to vote. They say that could alienate many seniors who no longer drive or have photo IDs.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 02, 2025
Barrasso Slams Biden's Giving Liz Cheney Second Highest Civilian Honor
Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso slammed President Joe Biden’s awarding Liz Cheney the Presidential Citizens Medal on Thursday, the second highest civilian honor. Barrasso said Cheney doesn’t deserve an award for her “partisanship and divisiveness.”
Leo WolfsonJanuary 02, 2025
Teton County Legislator Wants River Otters Off Wyoming’s Protected List
A state legislator from Teton County wants to take river otters off Wyoming’s protected species list, where it’s been for about 70 years. While he says otters have bounced back from being extinct outside Yellowstone, biologists aren’t sold on delisting.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 01, 2025
Carbon County Ranchers Claim Sinclair Is Taking Their Water To Run Refinery
A group of Carbon County ranchers are appealing the state’s decision to allow a water exchange for the Sinclair refinery. They claim the refinery is taking their water from the North Platte River and ignoring more than 100 years of Wyoming water law.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 01, 2025
Rod Miller Gets Drunk & Drives Thru Obstacle Course To Show Dangers Of DUI
In a “WKRP In Cincinnati”-inspired test, Cowboy State Daily columnist Rod Miller demonstrated the dangers of drunk driving. On a closed-course demonstration hosted by the Laramie County Sheriff’s Office, he took many shots of Wyoming Whiskey and drove a riding lawnmower through an obstacle course.
Leo Wolfson & Reilly StrandJanuary 01, 2025
Hageman Picked As Chairwoman For House Anti-Woke Caucus
Wyoming Congresswoman Harriet Hageman was named chairwoman of the House Anti-Woke Caucus on Monday. The caucus is dedicated to fighting the growing influence of "woke" ideologies in government, business and society.
Leo WolfsonDecember 31, 2024
Cheyenne Woman Recalls Grilling Jimmy Carter With Questions When She Was 12
Cheyenne resident Susan Allen will likely never forget the moment when then-President Jimmy Carter picked up the phone and talked to her. It was 1977, she was 12 and asked the president what he does to unwind and his thoughts on solar power.
Leo WolfsonDecember 31, 2024
$100M Kelly Parcel Sale One Of The Largest Of Its Kind In American History
The sale of the Kelly Parcel in Teton County to Grand Teton National Park for $100 million became official Monday. It’s one of the largest federal government purchased from the Land and Water Conservation Fund in its nearly 60 year history.
Leo WolfsonDecember 30, 2024
Wyoming Leaders Remember Former President Jimmy Carter
Although not regarded as an effective president, Wyoming leaders who interacted with Jimmy Carter said he had an affable spirit and a kind heart. "He was a marvelous human being," former U.S. Sen. Al Simpson told Cowboy State Daily.
Leo WolfsonDecember 29, 2024
After Decades Of Debate, $100 Million Sale Of Kelly Parcel Is Final
The controversial Kelly Parcel land transfer in Teton County is finally complete after decades of negotiations and debate between Wyoming officials and the federal government. Gov. Mark Gordon announced Friday that he’s officially certified the sale.
Leo WolfsonDecember 28, 2024
Extension Keeps Rural Wyoming Connected For Remote Health Care
Tucked into the government spending bill that averted a shutdown this past weekend is something important for rural Wyomingites. It’s an extension of remote health care.
Leo WolfsonDecember 25, 2024
It Didn't Help U.S. Sen. Craig Thomas' Fear Of Flying When A Door Flew Off Mid-Flight
Late U.S. Sen. Craig Thomas didn’t like heights and really didn't like flying -- especially after after experiencing a door flying off mid-flight. But that didn't stop him from flying back to Wyoming almost every week while serving in Washington.
Leo WolfsonDecember 25, 2024
Casper Legislator Wants Special Elections, Not Appointments, To Fill Vacancies
Casper Republican Steve Harshman wants to change how Wyoming fills its top elected seats when there are vacancies. He says there should be special elections, not appointments from political parties.
Leo WolfsonDecember 23, 2024
Wyoming’s State Planes Get Some Criticism; Others Say They Pay For Themselves
Wyoming’s two current state planes were purchased during former Gov. Jim Geringer’s administration. He recalled the time when the door flew off mid-flight while he and U.S. Sen. Craig Thomas were onboard. “He about lost it,” Geringer laughed. “I don’t blame him.”
Leo WolfsonDecember 23, 2024
Cody Native Living Dream As Notre Dame Makes Run For College Football Title
Cody native Luke Talich was on the field Friday as Notre Dame beat Indiana to advance in the College Football Playoffs. He told Cowboy State Daily that the playoffs are another chapter of an incredible season for the walk-on from Wyoming.
Leo WolfsonDecember 21, 2024
Wyoming Delegation Votes To Avoid Shutdown, Praises Trump And Musk’s Leadership
Wyoming’s congressional delegation voted to pass a temporary spending measure Friday night that will keep the federal government from shutting down. Cynthia Lummis praised Donald Trump and Elon Musk for exhibiting leadership while Biden didn’t.
Leo WolfsonDecember 21, 2024