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

Councilman Larry Wolfe questions annexing a 3,500-acre parcel into Cheyenne before completing an update to its planning documents.

In Emotional City Council Meeting, Cheyenne Weighs Record Microsoft Annexation

It was yet another data-center dominated night for the Cheyenne City Council on Monday, with intense, sometimes emotional public testimony on what would be the largest annexation in Cheyenne history. The annexation will support expansion of data centers.

Renée JeanJune 09, 2026

Mayor Patrick Collins talks about why Board of Public Utilities actually needs to sell more water.

Cheyenne Leaders, Industry Officials: Data Centers Could Lower Electricity Costs

At a panel discussion on Saturday, Cheyenne leaders and industry officials said data centers are already helping stabilize electric rates and are opening new land for housing. But skeptics still aren’t buying it.

Renée JeanJune 08, 2026

A “ridiculous" project digging through rabbit poop led Jack States — aka Lander's Mushroom Man — to discover a famous mold and 12 new species of truffles. His research has changed how scientists view wildlife diseases and has reshaped forest management.

How Lander's 'Mushroom Man’ Turned Rabbit Poop Project Into Big Science

A project digging through rabbit poop led mycologist Jack States — aka Lander's Mushroom Man — to discover a famous mold and 12 new species of truffles. His research has changed how scientists view wildlife diseases and has reshaped forest management.

Renée JeanJune 07, 2026

An East Coast auction house recently advertised a glass plate negative of Butch Cassidy’s Wyoming Territorial Prison mugshot as a one-of-a-kind “original." But a Wyoming state archivist says the original is safe in Wyoming — and she double-checked.

Wyoming Archives Has Butch Cassidy Negative, Despite ‘Original’ Offered At Auction

Despite an East Coast auction house advertising a glass plate negative of Butch Cassidy’s mugshot as a one-of-a-kind, the original is housed in the Wyoming State Archives. “I was certain we had it in our collection,” archivist Suzy Taylor said.

Renée JeanJune 07, 2026

Barrel racing legend Angela Ganter and her battle from near death to elite competition is highlighted in "Outriding the Devil." Here, she competes at Cheyenne Frontier Days in 2024.

Wyoming-Made Rodeo Documentary ‘Outriding The Devil’ Is A National Hit

“Outriding the Devil," the Wyoming-made film that shows the brutal side of "real" rodeo, has enjoyed a multi-week run as the No. 1-ranked Western documentary on IMDb and has earned major praise from national outlets like Sports Illustrated.

Renée JeanJune 07, 2026

Patricia Miller, with her husband Tim, unpacked new merchandise at the Twinkle, Twinkle Little Store at the Frontier Mall. Patricia recently had a customer try to pass of a counterfeit $100 bill.

Fake $100 Bills Making The Rounds In Wyoming, Counterfeit Pens Don't Detect Them

Counterfeit $100 bills are getting passed throughout Wyoming and store clerks say iodine counterfeit detector pens won't detect the fake bills. “The counterfeit pens are garbage,” said one store manager

Renée JeanJune 06, 2026

An oilman who operates in Wyoming says one BLM signature has stalled two of his Powder River Basin wells, costing him $2 million a day. Across the state, the signature has stalled more than 1,300 federal leases covering 1.2 million acres.

Oilman Says BLM Delay Stalls His Powder River Basin Oil Wells — And 1,323 Statewide

Oilman Howard Cooper says an unsigned BLM analysis is holding up his Powder River Basin oil wells. It's also stalled more than 1,300 other leases, says the Petroleum Association of Wyoming. "It’s always next week, and next week never comes,” Cooper said.

Renée JeanJune 06, 2026

Kids who attend the one-room Slack school near Parkman, Wyoming, still ride horses to their schoolhouse on the first and last days of class.

Kids Still Ride Horses To This One-Room Wyoming Schoolhouse

Kids who attend the one-room school near Parkman, Wyoming, still ride horses to their schoolhouse on the first and last days of class. “If you let one horse start trotting, then you’re going to have a horse race on your hands,” one ranch mom said.

Renée JeanJune 06, 2026

Kelsey Stephens was among ranching family members speaking out against a "wind wall" in southeastern Wyoming that stretches from Casper to Cheyenne and beyond.

Wyoming Ranchers Rally Against 'Wind Wall' Of Turbines Across The State

Wyoming ranchers rallied at the state Capitol on Thursday demanding action against what they call a “wind wall” of turbines across the state. “We’ve got surrounded by wind farms,” said one rancher about wind power and its impact on Wyoming’s rural future.

Renée JeanJune 04, 2026

A line formed of residents speaking against Microsoft's plans for expansion on the south side of Cheyenne.

Cheyenne Planners Recommend Denial For Most Of Microsoft’s Data Center Expansion

Cheyenne planners are recommending denial of most of the provisions in a huge 3,200-acre Microsoft data center expansion. “This is about 18% of the city’s current size. It overtakes the city,” said one resident during a marathon five-hour hearing Monday.

Renée JeanJune 02, 2026

A Cheyenne City Council committee on Monday advanced a measure that could put two multimillion-dollar Derby Club gaming establishments out of compliance with city rules. It would prohibit gaming centers from being within 500 feet of day care centers and schools.

Proposed Rules Could Block Two Cheyenne Gaming Locations From Renewing Permits

A Cheyenne City Council committee on Monday advanced a measure that could put two multimillion-dollar gaming establishments out of compliance with city rules. It would prohibit gaming centers from being within 500 feet of day care centers and schools.

Renée JeanJune 02, 2026

Tim Meadows tells Cowboy State Daily he’s about to do something he’s never done in 40 years as a comedian — perform in Wyoming. “I try to punch up,” Meadows said about his style. “I don’t really like to punch down at people or issues."

'Saturday Night Live' Legend Tim Meadows To Perform In Wyoming For First Time

Tim Meadows told Cowboy State Daily he’s about to do something he’s never done in 40 years as a comedian — perform in Wyoming. Meadows, who appeared on Saturday Night Live for 10 seasons as The Ladies Man and other comedic characters, will do four live sets in June.

Renée JeanMay 31, 2026

Other Authors

When HGTV’s “Rehab Addict” filmed a historic home renovation in Evanston, Wyoming, it was the over-the-top Halloween “Clown House” across the street that kept photobombing the episode. Now fans won’t leave the homeowner alone.

Evanston Man’s Clown House’ Photobombs HGTV's "Rehab Addict" TV Show

When an episode of HGTV’s “Rehab Addict” was being filmed in Evanston, Wyoming, the creepy “Clown House” across the street inadvertently photobombed the shoot and was all its viewers were talking about. Now fans won't leave the house alone.

Renée JeanMay 31, 2026

It’s been 50 years since “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” was filmed at Devils Tower. “It’s the longest-running movie in a single location ever,” says Ogden Driskill about the movie, which has been shown there every summer night for 40 years.

50 Years Later, Sci-Fi Fans Still Find Their ‘Close Encounters’ At Devils Tower

Fifty years ago, the cameras rolled on “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” at Devils Tower after a handshake between a then-unknown Steven Spielberg and rancher Jesse Thomas Driskill. It would go on to completely reshape tourism in northeast Wyoming.

Renée JeanMay 31, 2026

Saving and restoring the historic Evanston Roundhouse has been the most extensive reclamation project in the city's history.

Evanston Has Spent Decades, And $28M, Restoring Its Historic Railroad Roundhouse

A century after Union Pacific stopped using it, decades of work has saved and restored Evanston’s historic Roundhouse and Railyards. The $28 million spent so far has made it one of the rare roundhouses in the U.S. that’s still completely operational.

Renée JeanMay 31, 2026

Cheyenne’s Bouquets Unlimited is closing its doors after 44 years. Owner Shareen Brendle says the shop can’t compete with cheap grocery-store bouquets, online “order gatherers,” and big box chains undercutting wholesale prices. “I’m broken-hearted about it,” she said.

Cheyenne Florist To Close After 44 Years, Can't Compete With Online Giant Flower Stores

Cheyenne’s Bouquets Unlimited is closing its doors after 44 years because they can't compete with the online giants. In 1992, there were 27,000 florist storefronts in America. Today, they number 11,750. “I’m broken-hearted about it,” the owner said.

Renée JeanMay 30, 2026

A Tale Of Two Towns: Cheyenne Pushes Back On Data Centers, Evanston Not So Much

Cheyenne and Evanston are hearing the same pitch from data centers — closed-loop cooling, big megawatts, and even bigger paychecks. But while Cheyenne has a petition going for a moratorium on data centers, opposition in Evanston is much more muted.

Renée JeanMay 30, 2026

Microsoft built Cheyenne’s first data center.

Weeks After Unveiling 3,200-Acre Data Center Expansion, Microsoft Adds Another 420

Just weeks after unveiling a 3,200-acre data center expansion around Cheyenne, Microsoft is adding two more parcels totaling 420 acres. The move comes amid a deepening debate over data centers, growth, and water.

Renée JeanMay 29, 2026

Uinta County resident Keaunna Archuleta came to Wednesday's Planning and Zoning Commission meeting with five notebooks filled with questions about the proposed Prometheus Hyperscale data center.

Uinta County Planners Give Unanimous OK To 1.25-Gigawatt Prometheus Data Center

Uinta County planners voted unanimously Wednesday to recommend permit approvals for a huge 1.25-gigawatt data center. “Officials need to do their research on data centers,” said one of the few people from the standing-room-only crowd to speak out.

Renée JeanMay 28, 2026

A packed house turned out in Evanston's Roundhouse to hear answers about Prometheus Hyperscale's proposed data center in Uinta County.

Prometheus Faces Skeptical Crowd In Evanston Over Huge 1.2GW Data Center

Fifth-generation Wyoming rancher Trenton Thornock pitched a huge 1.2 gigawatt data center on family land to a skeptical Evanston crowd on Tuesday. The project is facing a rising tide of opposition against data centers locally and across Wyoming.

Renée JeanMay 27, 2026

Wyoming Company Uses High-Tech AI Sprinklers To Save Homes From Wildfire

As Wyoming faces another tinderbox fire season, high-tech home fire systems are starting to catch on across the West. One of the fastest growing is a Jackson Hole, Wyoming, company that makes AI sprinklers that are saving homes from wildfires.

Renée JeanMay 25, 2026