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
Chip Neiman Plans To Support Freedom Caucus Agenda As Wyoming House Speaker
Although he was rather vague about the details, state Rep. Chip Neiman on Wednesday outlined his vision if elected Wyoming House Speaker. He said he’d support a more conservative agenda favored by the Freedom Caucus.
Leo WolfsonSeptember 26, 2024
Where’s The Line Between Free Speech And Hate Crime In Wyoming?
Separating protected free speech from hate crimes can be tricky, Wyoming federal prosecutors say. Where the line is between them isn’t clear, and the impacts can be devastating if they get it wrong.
Leo WolfsonSeptember 25, 2024
Utah State Ditches Mountain West, Leaving UW Athletics In Limbo
The future of University of Wyoming athletics became more uncertain Monday when Utah State University left the Mountain West Conference. Meanwhile, UW has few options.
Leo WolfsonSeptember 24, 2024
Wheatland Legislator Wants To Green-Light Hand-Counting Ballots In Wyoming
State Rep. Jeremy Haroldson, R-Wheatland, said he’ll propose a bill to clarify and green-light hand counting ballots as fully legal in Wyoming.
Leo WolfsonSeptember 24, 2024
Cody Group To Repair And Restore Beat Up Statue Honoring Buffalo Bill
A buffalo that stands on Cedar Mountain overlooking Cody, Wyoming, honors the town’s famous founder, Buffalo Bill Cody. It’s also in bad shape, having been shot up and vandalized over the years, but a local group is going to restore it.
Leo WolfsonSeptember 24, 2024
No Death Penalty For Accused Coin Shop Killer, $500,000 Bond Set
The man accused of gunning down two people in a Cheyenne coin shop in 2015 won’t face the death penalty if convicted. That makes him eligible for bond, which a judge on Monday set at $500,000.
Leo WolfsonSeptember 24, 2024
What Will The Wyoming House Look Like With A Freedom Caucus Majority?
After an aggressive primary election season promising drastic change, the Freedom Caucus will have a House majority. Rep. Rachel Rodriguez-Williams, new chairman of the caucus, said pushing back against Gov. Mark Gordon’s policies will be the top priority.
Leo WolfsonSeptember 23, 2024
New Teton Pass Won’t Be Done In November, Pushed Out To Next Summer
A permanent fix and rebuild of a section of Teton Pass that fell off the mountain in June won’t be done by November as hoped. WYDOT is now pushing it out until next summer.
Leo WolfsonSeptember 23, 2024
Tulsi Gabbard Urges Wyoming To Throw Political Labels Aside And Vote For Trump
Former Democratic congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, now a leading member of former President Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, spoke in Cheyenne on Friday night. She urged voters to not dismiss the importance of their role in the upcoming election.
Leo WolfsonSeptember 21, 2024
Wyoming Sheriff Bursts Out Laughing At "Venezuela Ahead" Billboard At Colorado Border
Laramie County Sheriff Brian Kozak told Cowboy State Daily he burst out laughing when he saw the "Venezuela Ahead" billboard at the Wyoming-Colorado border.
Leo WolfsonSeptember 20, 2024
Gordon Issues Order To Stop Voting By Non-Citizens, Chuck Gray Says It’s Not Enough
Gov. Mark Gordon issued an executive order Thursday reiterating that non-U.S. citizens can’t vote in Wyoming elections. Secretary of State Chuck Gray has been pushing for election security reforms, and says Gordon’s order isn’t enough.
Leo WolfsonSeptember 20, 2024
Proposed Laws Could Allow Immediate Removal Of Squatters In Wyoming
Legislators advanced proposed laws Thursday that would tighten up Wyoming’s squatting laws. They include allowing law enforcement to immediately remove squatters from a property.
Leo WolfsonSeptember 20, 2024
Law Enforcement Physically Removes Woman From Board Of Pharmacy Meeting
At a highly contentious meeting on Wednesday, law enforcement had to physically remove a yelling woman from a Wyoming Board of Pharmacy meeting. On Thursday, the board met in a private meeting room because they felt threatened.
Leo WolfsonSeptember 19, 2024
Lummis Co-Authors Book On Why People Should Vote For Trump
Cynthia Lummis and nine other U.S. senators released a book Wednesday detailing why former President Donald Trump should be elected. Each wrote a chapter detailing why Republicans must control the White House and U.S. Senate.
Leo WolfsonSeptember 19, 2024
Larry Hicks Wants To Be Next Wyoming Senate President, Restore Order
Wyoming state Sen. Larry Hicks of Baggs, Wyoming, announced Tuesday he’s running to be the next president of the state Senate. If elected, Hicks said restoring order to the chamber is one of his main goals.
Leo WolfsonSeptember 19, 2024
Gordon “Sick And Tired” Of Criticism For Harvard Visit, Carbon Negative Comments
Nearly a year after making comments at Harvard University that Wyoming should go carbon negative, Gov. Mark Gordon says he's "sick and tired" of taking criticism for it.
Leo WolfsonSeptember 18, 2024
Gordon: Wyoming Can Make Carbon Capture Work If Feds Would Get Out Of The Way
Gov. Mark Gordon and a Campbell County commissioner in the heart of Wyoming coal country said Tuesday that local industry can make carbon capture work. But that won’t happen unless the federal government gets out of the way.
Leo WolfsonSeptember 18, 2024
Box Of Yellowstone Animal Cookies Comes With A Disclaimer, Threat Of $30K Fine
At a store in Yellowstone National Park, buying a box of animal cookies comes with a verbal disclaimer from a cashier. Not only are people told not to feed the cookies to wildlife, they’re threatened with a $30,000 fine.
Leo WolfsonSeptember 17, 2024
Montana U.S. Senate Race: Tester, Sheehy Have Raised $57 Million, And They're Spending It
Montana incumbent Sen. Jon Tester and Republican challenger Tim Sheehy have raised $57 million so far in the most pivotal senate race in the country. It's the third most expensive race in the nation.
Leo WolfsonSeptember 17, 2024
Building Next To State Capitol Evacuated Because Of Letter With White Powder
The Herschler building next to the Wyoming Capitol was evacuated Monday after a letter containing a white powder was found in the Secretary of State’s Office. Similar threats were made to the secretaries of state of Iowa and Nebraska.
Leo WolfsonSeptember 16, 2024
Barrasso, Lummis “Deeply Disturbed” By Second Assassination Attempt On Trump
Wyoming U.S. Sens. John Barrasso and Cynthia Lummis expressed relief that former President Donald Trump is safe after a second assassination attempt Sunday. They’re also “deeply disturbed” by this second attempt on Trump’s life.
Leo WolfsonSeptember 16, 2024