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.
Latest from Renée Jean
Drinking Wyoming: The Mint Bar Has Come To Life Every Night For 117 Years
If there's one bar in the Cowboy State that says "Wyoming," it might just be The Mint. The legendary neon bucking horse and cowboy has lit up Sheridan's Main Street since 1938 and has been a fixture in the state since 1907.
Renée JeanNovember 09, 2024
Following Wyoming Example, Feds Limit Foreign Crypto Mines Near Military Bases
The U.S. Department of Treasury has moved to limit businesses like foreign-owned crypto mines near sensitive locations. The change follows the forced closure of a Chinese-owned crypto mine near F.E. Warren Air Force Base.
Renée JeanNovember 08, 2024
$9M For Mesa Solutions Expansion Could Unlock $20M Annual Impact For Casper Area
A $9 million grant from the Wyoming Business Council will allow Mesa Solutions to expand its footprint in the energy sector. It also could unlock a $20 million annual impact for the Casper area.
Renée JeanNovember 07, 2024
More Details Emerge About Blockbuster Anschutz PRB Oil And Gas Deal
Occidental Petroleum has offered more details to Cowboy State Daily about the blockbuster oil and gas deal that has Anschutz acquiring Oxy/Anadarko assets in the PPB. Occidental says it’s keeping 150,000 acres it considers “core."
Renée JeanNovember 07, 2024
Trump Signals Huge Support For Oil & Gas During Victory Speech, Wyoming Industry Leaders Thrilled
It didn’t take long for former President Donald Trump to hype up America's oil and gas industry after he won the 2024 presidential election Tuesday. Wyoming industry leaders say Trump's victory is also a win for U.S. oil and gas.
Renée JeanNovember 06, 2024
House District 10: Eklund, R, Rolls To Easy Win To Retain Seat In Legislature
John Eklund, R-Cheyenne, won reelection to his House District 10 seat Tuesday with a huge margin of nearly 2,000 votes over his challenger, Timothy Forbis.
Renée JeanNovember 06, 2024
House District 7: Republican Incumbent Bob Nicholas Cruises To Win
Rep. Bob Nicholas, R-Cheyenne, easily won reelection to House District 7 in Tuesday’s general election.
Renée JeanNovember 06, 2024
Blockbuster Deal Has Anschutz Getting Oxy/Anadarko Oil And Gas Interests In PRB
The Powder River Basin’s largest private oil and gas operator is getting a lot bigger. In a blockbuster deal, Anschutz has sent notices to Powder River Basin operators that it’s acquired the working interests in Oxy/Anadarko in the PRB.
Renée JeanNovember 05, 2024
Wyoming’s Crystal Castle, Made Of Embalming Fluid Bottles, Is For Sale For $325K
Vicki Launer has decided to sell Wyoming’s Crystal Castle near Crystal Lake and Curt Gowdy State Park for $325,000. The one-bedroom, one-bath home was made using embalming fluid bottles as bricks.
Renée JeanNovember 04, 2024
$2.5 Million Black Hills Mansion In Northeast Wyoming Filled With Tech
Real Estate in the Black Hills of northeast Wyoming has started taking off, with people realizing that they can get more luxury for less. A $2.5 million five-bedroom, five-bath mansion is the latest example, filled with tech like a robot lawnmower and self-cleaning pool.
Renée JeanNovember 04, 2024
Scientists Map Out How Badly Elk Fire Damaged The 98,000 Acres It Ravaged
With the Elk Fire 88% contained and growing cooler, the problems are just beginning for the 98,000 acres of land ravaged by the wildfire. Scientists are now mapping out how badly the fire damaged the land and how to repair it.
Renée JeanNovember 03, 2024
Eating Wyoming: Sheridan’s Le Reve Brings French Fusion To Historic Western Spot
Sheridan has a hot new upscale dining spot called Le Reve, French for “The Dream.” It’s a one-of-a-kind journey of the senses, bringing French-Western fusion to one of Sheridan’s most historic buildings.
Renée JeanNovember 02, 2024
Deal To Move Dodgers From Brooklyn To LA Was Signed During Wyoming Antelope Hunt
The Los Angeles Dodgers are riding high off its World Series win over the Yankees this week. But the storied franchise has a secret Wyoming connection. The deal to move the Dodgers from Brooklyn to L.A. was signed during a Wyoming antelope hunt.
Renée JeanNovember 02, 2024
Upton’s China-Busting Rare Earths Demonstration Plant Is Officially Underway
Rare Element Resources has already started operations at its rare earths demonstration plant in Upton, Wyoming, with what’s known as a “shakedown.” The real shakedown will be perfecting a process that could help break China’s stranglehold on rare earths.
Renée JeanNovember 02, 2024
Wyoming Customers Getting Rate Fatigue Over Repeated RMP Increase Requests
Wyoming customers are getting rate fatigue over repeated Rocky Mountain Power increase requests. Secretary of State Chuck Gray says the company wants Wyoming to "foot the bill" for the "radical left-wing environmental policies of other states."
Renée JeanNovember 01, 2024
Wyoming Has A New Jobs Board With Higher Than Average Salaries And Unusual Opportunities
The Wyoming Venture Capital jobs board lists some unusual positions, like Generative AI Product Manager and Machine Learning Engineer. The jobs are part of a new stream of startups setting up shop in the Cowboy State.
Renée JeanNovember 01, 2024
TerraPower Strikes Deal With South African Company For Steady Uranium Source
A stable source of uranium has been a big question mark for the TerraPower nuclear plant in Kemmerer. The company appears to have answered that question with a new agreement with a South African company.
Renée JeanOctober 31, 2024
Haunted Wyoming: Even Skeptics Admit Strange Things Happen At CFD Museum
Flying hats, explosive glass and dolls that just won’t leave the Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum in Cheyenne. These are just a few of the strange things even skeptics admit they can’t quite explain.
Renée JeanOctober 30, 2024
Haunted Wyoming: Ghost Of China Mary Haunts Evanston Road Named For Her
The ghost of China Mary still haunts the road named after her in Evanston, Wyoming. But talking about her has been a taboo subject, and not many people know the real history behind Ah Yuen, who became known as China Mary.
Renée JeanOctober 30, 2024
$80 Million Bet Says Wyoming Can Unlock Secret To Getting More Oil From "Tight Rocks"
ThermoFisher Scientific is laying a $40 million bet, matched by $40 million from the Legislature, that Wyoming can get more oil from so-called "tight rocks." Squeezing even 1% more from those rocks is worth billions of dollars.
Renée JeanOctober 29, 2024
Wyoming Home Sales Strong Despite National Trend Approaching 30-Year Low
Wyoming overall is bucking a national trend that’s approaching a 30-year low for home sales. Casper and Jackson continue to see strong sales data, while cities like Cheyenne and Sheridan have seen some cooling in the marketplace.
Renée JeanOctober 28, 2024