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
Wyoming Judge Kelly Rankin Faces Senate Committee For Federal Judgeship
Wyoming’s Kelly Rankin, nominated for a U.S. District Court judgeship, breezed through his nomination hearing on Wednesday having to only answer one question. Other nominees were blasted by Sens. John Kennedy and Josh Hawley.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 24, 2024
Lawsuit Claims Sheridan County Commissioners Conspired To Rig Nomination
The Sheridan County Republican Party has sued four of five local county commissioners for allegedly conspiring against the nomination process to fill a vacant seat on the commission.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 24, 2024
Change In Law Would Mean No More 7-Year-Olds Starting Kindergarten In Wyoming
Evanston Republican state Sen. Wendy Schuler wants to lower the required age for children to start attending kindergarten in Wyoming from 7 to 6, which she says will set them up for greater success in their public school years.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 24, 2024
Riverton Lawmaker Wants To Crack Down On Internet Porn In Wyoming
State Rep. Sarah Penn is proposing a bill that would specifically add “visual depictions of rape or sexual abuse” to what is considered “obscene material” under the law.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 24, 2024
Natrona Republican Central Committee Hasn’t Met In Nearly A Year
The Natrona County GOP hasn’t had a meeting of its central committee in nearly a year. One disgruntled committeeman said at a recent executive meeting, they preferred to talk about a Casper mountaineer's latest climbing exploits instead of party business.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 23, 2024
Vastly Outnumbered, Wyoming House Dems Still Bring Back Bill To Protect Abortion
Despite the Legislature passing by an overwhelming margin last year two bills that prohibit most forms of abortion in Wyoming and being outnumbered 57-5, House Democrats are bringing back a bill to protect abortion.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 23, 2024
Legislature To Take Second Swing At Outlawing Transgender Surgeries For Kids
After the failure of Chloe’s Law last year, the Wyoming Legislature will consider another bill when it convenes Feb. 12 that would outlaw transgender surgeries for children.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 22, 2024
Wyoming Homeowners Want Property Tax Relief, But Disagree On How To Do It
A controversial property tax ballot initiative to cut assessed values by 50% is sparking a lot of debate about how to best address property tax relief in Wyoming without unintentionally paving the way for a state income tax.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 22, 2024
No Charges In Embezzlement Scandal In Guernsey, Wyoming
Although the Guernsey parks district was cleared of criminal embezzlement allegations by a Platte County Sheriff’s Office investigation over missing dance team money, the town is still abandoning the program.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 20, 2024
Gordon Picks Cheyenne Attorney Robert Jarosh For Wyoming Supreme Court
Gov. Mark Gordon on Friday selected Cheyenne attorney Robert Jarosh for the Wyoming Supreme Court. He'll fill the seat being vacated with the retirement of Justice Keith Kautz.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 20, 2024
Degenfelder: I Will Not Let Biden Weaponize School Lunch Programs For A New Welfare Program
In rejecting new federal funds from the Biden administration, Wyoming's education chief Megan Degenfelder said an expansion of food stamp options amounts to a weaponization of "summer school lunch programs to justify a new welfare program."
Leo WolfsonJanuary 19, 2024
No More "Snow Days" In Wyoming Schools? Technology Is All But Killing Them.
Snow days may be a thing of the past for Wyoming schools as 75% of Wyoming’s school districts now participate in temporary virtual education days. It allows school districts to forgo calling snow days and hold classes virtually instead.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 19, 2024
Legislative Committee: Kelly Parcel Is Worth At Least $100 Million
The Joint Appropriation Committee passed an amendment Thursday that urged the State Land Board to accept no less than $100 million from the feds to purchase the pristine 640 acres of land in Teton County known as the Kelly Parcel.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 19, 2024
Wyoming Legislators Used To Park Free Around Capitol, Now They’re Getting Tickets
Wyoming lawmakers used to get a special pass from the city of Cheyenne to park free around the Capitol complex and elsewhere in the community. Now, they’re getting tickets, but want their free passes back.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 18, 2024
With Trump’s Huge Iowa Win, Lummis Says GOP Primary Is Over
Sen. Cynthia Lummis believes former President Donald Trump’s historic margin of victory in the Iowa Republican caucus shows the race for the Republican nomination for the 2024 presidential election “is over.”
Leo WolfsonJanuary 18, 2024
Lummis, Hageman Cheer Defeat Of SEC ‘Land Grab Attempt’
U.S. Sen. Cynthia Lummis and Rep. Harriet Hageman are declaring victory after the New York Stock Exchange announced it’s dropping a controversial proposal to sell shares of land that both lawmakers vehemently opposed as potentially disastrous for land management in the West.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 17, 2024
Wyoming Schools Will Get $200,000 From Robinhood Stock Scandal Settlement
Wyoming schools will get a $200,000 slice of a $10.2 million national settlement with investment app Robinhood over its long-term practice of promoting risky stock trading that harmed investors.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 17, 2024
Governor's Task Force Says BLM May Listen To Wyoming About Rock Springs Plan
A Governor’s Task Force charged with representing Wyoming interests on the controversial BLM Rock Springs Resource Management Plan finished its work last week and says it’s optimistic the BLM may be willing to change direction.
Mark Heinz & Leo WolfsonJanuary 17, 2024
Crook County Mailbox Nudist Prompts Lawmaker To Draft Genitals Intimidation Bill
Rep. Chip Neiman has drafted legislation that would make it illegal to intimidate others with their genitals. The bill is in response to a nudist who, when asked to put on clothes at a public mailbox center, responded by bending over and spreading his buttocks.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 16, 2024
Barrasso Out Of Hospital After Unexpected Surgery For Stomach Obstruction
U.S. Sen. John Barrasso is out of a Casper hospital and will stay in Wyoming this week as he recovers from unexpected surgery on Sunday to clear a painful stomach obstruction.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 16, 2024
Lummis Co-Sponsors Bill To Keep States From Banning Presidential Candidates From Ballots
In response to efforts in some states to remove former President Trump from the 2024 ballots, Sen. Cynthia Lummis has co-sponsored legislation that would prevent states from removing presidential candidates from their election ballots.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 16, 2024