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
After 32 Years In Prison, Cheyenne Man Making Up For Lost Time
Clarence Fisher hasn’t wasted a minute making up for lost time, and he has a lot to make up for. Fisher was released from the Wyoming State Penitentiary in Rawlins in 2020 after spending 32 years there. Now he owns his own business just bought his own home.
Leo WolfsonNovember 25, 2023
Wyoming Lawmakers Target Creating Digitally Altered, ‘Deepfake’ Media A Crime
A state legislative committee advanced a bill Tuesday that will make the production of digitally altered, “deepfake” media a real criminal offense in Wyoming.
Leo WolfsonNovember 22, 2023
Wyoming Writer Speculates How Democrats Could Expel Wyoming From The US
Author and Wyoming native Dallas Jones wants readers to consider an unlikely fictional scenario where a Democratic supermajority in Congress gets Wyoming kicked out of the U.S. because it has too few people.
Leo WolfsonNovember 22, 2023
Wyoming Bitcoin Miner Accuses Legislative Committee Member Of Chinese Ties
Things got a little testy during a legislative committee meeting this week when a Wyoming bitcoin miner accused a member of the committee of representing interests of the Chinese Communist Party.
Leo WolfsonNovember 22, 2023
Husband Of Woman Who Burned In Clark Wildfire Says Her Death Not An ‘Act Of God’
A man who lost his wife in a 2021 wildfire that ripped through the northwest Wyoming community of Clark asked a judge Tuesday to rule the fire wasn’t an “act of God” in his lawsuit against a pair of businesses for allegedly causing it.
Leo WolfsonNovember 21, 2023
Gordon Changes Mind: Will Not Debate Legislators On Climate Change
After initially saying he was open and willing to debate, Gov. Mark Gordon on Monday declined a challenge by 30 state legislators to debate his “carbon negative” policy for Wyoming and if climate change is real.
Leo WolfsonNovember 21, 2023
Wyoming Ski Season Off To Slow, Steady Start
It’s been a slower start so far to the winter season in Wyoming than last winter, but that doesn’t mean there won't be great skiing this Thanksgiving weekend and beyond.
Leo WolfsonNovember 20, 2023
Gordon Releases $9.9 Billion Budget; Calls For Putting $579 Million Into Savings
Gov. Mark Gordon on Friday released his biennial budget proposal which calls for socking away $579 million into savings and expanding Wyoming’s property tax rebate program by $20 million.
Leo WolfsonNovember 17, 2023
Uinta County GOP Haggles Over Unpaid $40,000 Legal Bill
A $40,000 legal bill incurred by the former leadership of the Uinta County Republican Party remains unpaid, and has hit the radar of the state party.
Leo WolfsonNovember 17, 2023
Jackson Abortion Clinic Closing Down
Inflation and a $9,400-a-month rent payment is forcing the Women’s Health and Family Care clinic in Jackson — one of Wyoming’s two abortion clinics — to close.
Leo WolfsonNovember 17, 2023
School Choice Or 'Crap Sandwich'? Education Savings Account Bill Passes Committee
A bill that would allow parents access to state money to pay for private education passed the Joint Education Committee this week. In the debate, however, one legislator called the bill a "crap sandwich."
Leo WolfsonNovember 16, 2023
It’s OK For Wyoming Grads To Leave — As Long As They Come Back, Sommers Says
Speaking at the Governor's Business Form on Wednesday, House Speaker Albert Sommers said, the trend of Wyoming’s graduates leaving the state to find jobs and build lives isn’t the big problem many make it out to be, as long as they come back.
Leo WolfsonNovember 16, 2023
Barrasso And Lummis Demand Biden Administration Stop Paying For Abortion Trips
John Barrasso and Cynthia Lummis signed a letter to President Biden's Secretary of Defense denouncing its policy of paying travel expenses for military and their dependents to get abortions.
Leo WolfsonNovember 16, 2023
Bill: Schools Must Notify Parents About Health, Including Gender Transitioning
The Joint Education Committee passed draft legislation Tuesday that, if passed, would require schools to inform parents about any changes made to their student’s health status, including gender transitioning.
Leo WolfsonNovember 15, 2023
Wyoming GOP Lawmaker Accused Of Disregarding God Censured By Party
Converse County Republican state Rep. Forrest Chadwick has been censured by his party, but says censures don’t hold much meaning anymore because the party is “handing them out like candy.”
Leo WolfsonNovember 15, 2023
New Transparent Political Site Rates Lawmakers Who Are ‘True Wyoming Conservatives’
A new political ranking website, which -- unlike most others -- is not run anonymously, was unveiled on Tuesday and with it is a political scorecard that rates lawmakers who are “true Wyoming conservatives.”
Leo WolfsonNovember 15, 2023
Gordon Says ‘Conservatism’ Key In Wyoming’s Fight Over Climate Change
In his message to open the 40th annual Governor’s Business Forum on Tuesday, Gov. Gordon said he believes that traditional “conservatism,” like growing the economy and embracing new technologies, is key in Wyoming’s fight over climate change.
Leo WolfsonNovember 14, 2023
Lawmakers Kill Plan To Tax Property On Its Market Value, Not Assessed Valuation
The state Joint Revenue Committee killed a proposal Monday that would have taxed property on its market value instead of assessed valuation.
Leo WolfsonNovember 14, 2023
Wyoming AG Says State Will Sue BLM Over Controversial Rock Springs Plan
Wyoming Attorney General Bridget Hill told the state Federal Natural Resource Management Committee on Monday that she expects the state will sue the BLM over its controversial Rock Springs management plan.
Leo WolfsonNovember 13, 2023
Gunning For Senate President? Barrasso Has Raised More Than $2 Million This Year
U.S. Sen. John Barrasso has had a strong 2023 for fundraising, raising more than $2 million and setting the stage for what could be a push to lead the U.S. Senate in 2025.
Leo WolfsonNovember 13, 2023
Judge Blocks Effort To Stop 5,000 Converse County Oil Wells
A federal judge has blocked an effort to stop the drilling of 5,000 new oil wells in Converse County, Wyoming.
Leo WolfsonNovember 11, 2023