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
Freedom Caucus Blasts 19 Republicans For Killing Bill To Define Genders
The Wyoming Freedom Caucus went on the offensive Thursday after 19 Republicans voted to kill a bill that officially defines what it is to be “female” and “male” in Wyoming as a person’s biological sex at birth.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 16, 2024
$40 Million For Suicide Hotline Trust Fund Bill Advances By 1 Vote
A proposal to put $40 million into a trust fund for Wyoming’s two 988 suicide hotline centers squeaked through the House for introduction Thursday, just barely meeting the two-thirds threshold to advance.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 16, 2024
Laramie Democrat Introduces Bill To Decriminalize Marijuana
State Rep. Karlee Provenza, D-Laramie, has introduced a bill to decriminalize marijuana in Wyoming. The likelihood of it passing is about zero for political reasons and the much higher threshold of getting a non-budget bill through a budget session.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 15, 2024
Freedom Caucus, House Dems Team Up To Kill Bill Outlawing Child Sex Changes
The Wyoming Freedom Caucus and five House Democrats formed an unexpected alliance Wednesday to torpedo a bill that would have prevented minors from receiving transgender surgeries in most scenarios in Wyoming.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 15, 2024
With Abortion In Wyoming Already In Court, New Bills Aim To Restrict It More
A handful of bills being considered in the 2024 legislative session aim to restrict, regulate or continue access to abortions in Wyoming, while its legal status continues to be fought in the courts.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 15, 2024
Gordon Orders Flags At Half-Staff For Slain Sheridan Police Officer
Gov. Mark Gordon on Wednesday ordered all U.S. and Wyoming flags be lowered to half-staff in honor Sheridan Police Sgt. Nevada Krinkee, who was shot and killed in the line of duty Tuesday.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 14, 2024
Wyoming Senate Committee Passes Bill Requiring Parents To Opt-In For Kids' School Health Services
A bill that instructs Wyoming public schools to notify parents about changes to the health status of their children, including help in gender-transitioning, passed the Senate Education Committee on Wednesday morning.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 14, 2024
Legislature Wastes No Time Debating Property Tax Reform
After tackling Gov. Mark Gordon’s $10.8 billion budget, the largest issue for Wyoming legislators this session is property tax reform, and they wasted no time Tuesday getting into more than a dozen proposed bills.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 14, 2024
Hageman Chosen As Impeachment Manager For Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas
Shortly after the U.S. House voted to impeach Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, it was announced Wyoming congresswoman Harriet Hageman will be a Senate trial manager, if needed.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 14, 2024
Down The Tubes: Wyoming House Kills Record 13 Committee Bills On Introduction
Some state lawmakers are upset that 13 committee bills were killed on the first day of the 2024 Wyoming Legislature on Monday, calling it a waste of state resources and potential money for communities.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 14, 2024
‘Incredibly Saddening’: Wyoming Reacts To Killing Of Sheridan Police Officer
Gov. Mark Gordon and area legislators expressed shock and sadness about the fatal shooting of a Sheridan police officer on Tuesday.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 13, 2024
Some Wyoming Republicans Say Gordon’s State Of State Full Of ‘Hypocrisy’
Gov. Mark Gordon said all the right things in his State of the State speech Monday, which has some Wyoming Republicans calling out as “hypocrisy” and inconsistent with his recent energy stances.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 13, 2024
‘Free Palestine’ Protesters At Wyoming Capitol Accuse Gordon, Hageman Of Genocide
About 40 people gathered outside the Wyoming Capitol on Monday to accuse Gov. Mark Gordon and U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman of committing genocide by supporting Israel’s war with Hamas.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 13, 2024
Wyoming Senate Overturns Driskill, Reinstalls Kinskey As Appropriations Chair
Despite an emotional plea from Senate President Ogden Driskill not to overturn a decision he made to remove Dave Kinskey as chairman of the Appropriations Committee, they voted 17 - 14 to reinstall him on Monday.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 13, 2024
Gordon State Of The State Address: Biden Threatening Wyoming's "Very Way Of Life"
In his State of the State address on Monday, Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon criticized President Biden's energy polices as “warped,” “unwise” and — borrowing from Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf — “unadulterated bovine scatology.”
Leo WolfsonFebruary 12, 2024
Freedom Caucus Questions If State Agency Is Pushing Property Tax Bill
Leading members of the Wyoming Freedom Caucus are concerned the Wyoming Department of Revenue may be lobbying county assessors to support a property tax that will be considered in the upcoming legislative session.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 11, 2024
$10.8 Billion Budget, 205 Bills To Start 2024 Wyoming Legislature Session On Monday
When Wyoming legislators begin their 2024 session Monday, they’ll start with Gov. Mark Gordon’s proposed $10.8 billion budget and 205 bills already introduced.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 10, 2024
Park County Citizens Push To Ditch Voting Machines In Favor Of Hand-Count Ballots
With the 2024 elections coming up fast in Wyoming, a group of Park County residents and state senator are reviving an effort there to replace electronic vote tabulators with the human hand-counts.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 09, 2024
Gordon Says Freedom Caucus Criticism Of Him Is ‘Misleading’ And ‘Vague’
A spokesperson for Gov. Mark Gordon says a Wednesday guest column by four members of the Wyoming Freedom Caucus about Gordon’s proposed budget is inaccurate, “misleading” and “vague.”
Leo WolfsonFebruary 09, 2024
Al Simpson’s 1986 Bill Was Last Bipartisan Immigration Law Passed By Congress
The Simpson-Mazzoli Act championed by former Wyoming Sen. Al Simpson in 1986 is the last major immigration reform bill passed by Congress. He says the only way to get meaningful immigration reform is for it to be bipartisan.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 08, 2024
Wyoming Legislator Wants All COVID-Vaccinated Blood Labeled
Rep. Sarah Penn is proposing a bill that would require all blood donated from someone who has received a COVID-19 vaccine to be labeled so blood recipients could then reject it if they want in non-emergency situations.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 08, 2024