Business and Tourism Reporter

Renée Jean

Renée Jean is the business and tourism reporter for Cowboy State Daily and is based in Cheyenne. Previously, Renée spent seven years covering energy and agriculture in North Dakota and Montana. She has won many writing awards over a 30-year career, and has written magazine articles for Guideposts.

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Latest from Renée Jean

Rock Springs residents are used to apologizing for where they’re from when visitors came through its airport. Those days are over now that a new high-tech, $43 million terminal is operational at the Southwest Wyoming Regional Airport.

Inside The New High-Tech $43 Million Airport Terminal In Rock Springs

Rock Springs Chamber of Commerce CEO Rick Lee told Cowboy State Daily the brand-new $43 million terminal at Southwest Wyoming Regional Airport is all about showcasing what southwest Wyoming has to offer.

Renée JeanSeptember 01, 2025

Wyoming Lukewarm, So Far, On Buying Cars On Amazon

People already buy clothes, kitty litter, dog food and home appliances on Amazon, now you can add your next car to the list. Wyoming dealerships are on board, offering new Hyundai vehicles and used Hertz rental cars, but, so far, shoppers are skeptical.

Renée JeanSeptember 01, 2025

Harley Miller gives Cowboy State Daily a thumbs up. She's impressed with the Wyoming community in Cheyenne, which banded together to help her find the missing box of diapers she'd ordered for her son.

Cheyenne Couple Gets Help Solving Mystery Of Stolen Diapers

A box of diapers was stolen from a delivery order made by Friday a young mother newly moved to Cheyenne. She never expected to ever get the stolen diapers back, let alone have people rally to solve the caper.

Renée JeanSeptember 01, 2025

Eating Wyoming: Eve’s Brings Fine Dining Fusion To Rock Springs Golf Course

Eve Piza did everything in the culinary industry, then fell in love with Wyoming. Now she’s bringing fine dining fusion with a Cowboy State flair to the Rock Springs city golf course.

Renée JeanAugust 31, 2025

Kevin Meyer ropes a horse on an Idaho ranch north of Sinclair. Today, Meyer is a horse trainer in Douglas, Wyoming, on his ranch Mantz Creek Horses He got his start as a wrangler.

Wyoming Jobs: What Exactly Does A Wrangler Do?

Want a job that will put you back in the Old West? Try working on a ranch as a wrangler. You'll have to manage manage horses and people, both of which can be pretty ornery. There are also bears to contend with and lots of beer. That makes wrangling a job like no other.

Renée JeanAugust 31, 2025

Historic downtown districts in rural towns across America are dying. Not in tiny Meeteetse, Wyoming, which is doubling down on small-town charm to make a Main Street comeback.

As Rural Downtowns Across The U.S. Are Dying, Meeteetse’s Makes A Comeback

It doesn’t take long for a passerby on Wyoming Highway 120 to realize that something wonderful is happening in the tiny town of Meeteetse. Cars are parked every which way along the highway, as people casually stroll up and down the wooden boardwalks.

Renée JeanAugust 30, 2025

Opening Up Logging Could Be Too Little, Too Late For Wyoming’s Timber Industry

Recent steps by the Trump administration and Wyoming are a lifeline for Wyoming’s shrinking timber industry. But they may be too little, too late for what remains of the state’s family-owned businesses.

Renée JeanAugust 27, 2025

Paint crew members and their famlies pose in front of Cheyenne's water tank murals as they near completion.

Huge Mural Of Wild Horses On Cheyenne Water Tank Nearly Done And Turning Heads

What seems like a herd of wild horses cresting the hill over Storey Boulevard in Cheyenne is turning heads as people drive along one of the city’s major east-west roads. The huge mural on one of a pair of water tanks is nearly done.

Renée JeanAugust 26, 2025

Wyoming Ranchers On Guard Following Human Screwworm Case In Maryland

The nation’s first human case of screwworm was confirmed in Maryland on Sunday in a Central American traveler and it’s heightening vigilance among Wyoming ranchers. The flesh-eating parasite, which are known to infest cattle, could cost American ranchers billions if another outbreak occurs.

Renée JeanAugust 25, 2025

The historic Wagon Box in Story, Wyoming.

Wagon Box Owner Seeks Partner For Restaurant So He Can Focus On Retreats

Wagon Box owner Paul McNiel hopes to find a partner or investor to take over the restaurant side of his business. That way he can focus on the retreat side of his business at the historic Story, Wyoming location.

Renée JeanAugust 24, 2025

TerraPower has begun construction on portions of its Kemmerer nuclear facility that don't require approval from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Nuclear Training Center In Kemmerer To Finish Three Years Ahead Of New Plant

Turning on a nuclear plant is a little more complicated than flipping a few switches. That’s why TerraPower’s flagship training center — which will be in Kemmerer where its first small nuclear reactor is being built — is going to be finished a full three years before the plant, by the end of 2026.

Renée JeanAugust 24, 2025

Lt. Josh Williams, seated, listens while his crewmate Lt. Harrison Martin speaks inside the control room.

Inside An F.E. Warren Air Force Base Secret Underground Missile Bunker

Welcome to an F.E. Warren Air Force Base secret underground missile bunker, where the dry desert air tastes like old socks. It’s also where two-person teams man equipment old enough to be in a museum and are ready to press the nuclear button at any time.

Renée JeanAugust 23, 2025

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As rural museums tighten their belts during federal cutbacks, one tiny Wyoming museum says it’s saving big money. The new solar panels on the roof of the Meeteetse Museum has already saved enough to help pay for repairs to the building’s HVAC system.

Meeteetse Museums Say Its New Solar Roof Saves Big Money

As rural museums tighten their belts during federal cutbacks, one Wyoming museum says it’s saving big money. The new solar panels on the roof of the Meeteetse Museums has already saved enough to help pay for repairs to the building’s HVAC system.

Renée JeanAugust 22, 2025

Wyoming’s Office of Tourism Director Diane Shober has been named 2025 State Tourism Director of the Year. She says showing off how great Wyoming is makes it easy.

Wyoming’s Diane Shober Named Best Tourism Director In The Nation

Wyoming Office of Tourism Director Diane Shober has been named the national State Tourism Director of the Year for 2025. She says showing off how great Wyoming is makes it easy.

Renée JeanAugust 21, 2025

Zipline has a remote testing site in Wyoming, where the tech company is working out what drones need to fly in Wyoming’s unfriendly winter and windy skies. That could bring Walmart drone deliveries to the state sooner than you might think.

Delivery Drones Could Be Flying Wyoming’s Windy Skies Sooner Than You Think

A company named Zipline has a remote testing site in Wyoming where the tech company is working out how drones can fly in the state's harsh winters and windy skies. That could bring Walmart drone deliveries to the state sooner than you might think.

Renée JeanAugust 17, 2025

Drinking Wyoming: The Buckhorn Bar On The Northeastern Edge Of The Cowboy State

The walls of The Buckhorn, on the northeastern edge of Wyoming near the South Dakota Border, is 100% a classic dive bar. It’s lined with dollar bills, 1970s green shag carpet and longtime patrons say it hasn't changed in 50 years.

Renée JeanAugust 16, 2025

Scott Martin, from California, was initially thinking he'd go into WyoTech's ranching program. When it was canceled, he switched to diesel mechanics. He's already got multiple job offers, even though he's only about half-way through his program.

Diesel Mechanic Students To Benefit From WyoTech Partnership With Kenworth Trucks

A new collaboration gives WyoTech students in Laramie hands-on experience with a $2 million lineup of custom-built Kenworth Trucks. Working on them will prepare students for high-demand diesel mechanic jobs that can earn them six figures within two years.

Renée JeanAugust 16, 2025

Mountain Health Co-Op, One Of State’s Few Major Insurers, Pulling Out Of Wyoming

Mountain Health Co-Op told its members Wednesday that it won’t cover Wyoming residents anymore after the end of the year. The move follows the sunset of health care tax credits and leaves Wyoming with just two major providers.

Renée JeanAugust 14, 2025

Another huge Wyoming ranch is for sale. At 1.1 million acres, Midland Ranch is more than five times bigger than New York City and larger than the state of Delaware.

Another Huge Wyoming Ranch For Sale; More Than 5 Times Bigger Than New York City

Another huge Wyoming ranch is for sale, larger than the 900,000-acre Pathfinder Ranches that recently made international headlines. At 1.1 million acres, Midland Ranch is more than five times bigger than New York City and larger than the state of Delaware.

Renée JeanAugust 13, 2025

The owner of the company chosen by the state to operate the Star Plunge in Thermopolis — former Alaska U.S. Sen. Mark Begich, left — drew heat from locals Monday as the historic hot springs remains closed. In the meantime, the former operator and state remain embroiled in litigation.

New Operator Who Wants To Reopen Star Plunge Draws Heat From Locals

The owner of the company chosen by the state to operate the Star Plunge in Thermopolis drew heat from locals Monday as the historic hot springs remains closed. In the meantime, the former operator and state remain embroiled in litigation.

Renée JeanAugust 13, 2025

Evanston has worked on creating an attractive downtown to draw tourists from Utah. They're also drawing retirees, who decide they don't just want to visit, they want to live there.

Retirees From Utah Are Moving To Evanston Because Of Home Prices, Tax Advantages

Retirees from Utah are moving to Evanston, Wyoming, because of low home prices, tax advantages, and plenty of recreation. One broker said home prices in Salt Lake City are nearly double that of Evanston.

Renée JeanAugust 12, 2025