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

Wyoming Geologist Helps ID Oldest Rock In America At 3.5 Billion Years

Wyoming geologist Carol Frost and three of her colleagues have identified a new oldest rock in America. Found in Michigan, researchers estimate it’s more than 3.5 billion years old.

Renée JeanJune 07, 2025

The historic Sheridan Inn is considered one of Wyoming's most haunted hotels. Now that may have some science behind the claim, as it's part of a study of five of the state's most haunted hotels.

How A Huge Hail Mary Saved The Sheridan Inn From Caving In

Now a Wyoming showpiece, the historic Sheridan Inn was six months from caving in about 20 years ago. It took unusual resolve and a huge Hail Mary to save it — and some help from its ghosts.

Renée JeanJune 07, 2025

Wyoming’s historic Spear Ranch is where Ernest Hemingway found the solitude and seclusion he needed to finish “A Farewell to Arms.” It’s also near Wyoming’s oldest polo field, and can be had for $29 million.

Historic Spear Ranch, Where Hemingway Finished ‘A Farewell To Arms,’ Lists For $29 Million

Wyoming’s historic Spear Ranch is where Ernest Hemingway found the solitude and seclusion he needed to finish “A Farewell to Arms.” The Big Horn property is also near Wyoming’s oldest polo field, and can be had for $29 million.

Renée JeanJune 07, 2025

Despite widespread distaste for lab-grown meat in Wyoming, ranchers see problems with bans like the ones instituted in Montana and Nebraska. What they want instead are clear labels.

Why Wyoming Isn’t Joining The Ban On Lab-Grown Meat

Despite widespread distaste in Wyoming for lab-grown meat, ranchers see problems with bans like the ones instituted in Montana and Nebraska. Rancher Tyler Lindholm said of the ban, "It’s authoritarian as hell.” What they want instead are clear labels.

Renée JeanJune 06, 2025

Hoop dancing demo at Wyoming Historical Society's Summer Trek in Thermopolis

Delinquent Tax Paperwork Preceded Implosion Of Wyoming History Groups

More details are emerging over the rift that has grown in a decades-long partnership between three of Wyoming’s most prominent history groups. Records show problems leading to their split began much earlier than February.

Renée JeanJune 05, 2025

Social media meme (left). Newly installed Wyoming Historical Society Executive Director Aley Philp (right)

Wyoming Loves Its History But Its History Groups No Longer Love Each Other

A slow-motion blow-up is happening between three long-time history organizations. The resulting implosion is threatening to split Wyoming’s historical community in two.

Renée JeanJune 04, 2025

Wyoming-based Airloom Energy has developed novel wind energy technology that uses a "clothesline" model turbine to generate power. It's an example of a high-growth startup.

Figuring Out Why So Many High-Growth Business Startups Fail In Wyoming

Wyoming has an enviable overall success rate of up to 77% for startup businesses that are still active after one year. But that stat hides a big problem — high-impact, growth-oriented companies have a success rate that’s much lower

Renée JeanJune 01, 2025

F.E. Warren Air Force Base has a secret underground world full of soldier-created artwork that most people have never seen.

The Secret Underground World Of F.E. Warren Air Force Base Murals

F.E. Warren Air Force Base has a secret underground world full of airmen-created artwork that most people have never seen. Set to disappear after the Minuteman III missiles are replaced, former missileer Jim Warner is determined to save them.

Renée JeanJune 01, 2025

A barn at the JO Ranch in Carbon County.

Carbon County's JO Ranch A Throwback To An Untamed Wyoming

Only the hardiest of souls ever lived at the now-abandoned JO Ranch in southern Carbon County. The ranch’s stone buildings, built in 1890, are as old as the state and still standing, a throwback to an untamed Wyoming.

Renée JeanMay 31, 2025

A Laramie couple sold their home and bought a cabin on board a luxury cruise ship. Now they’re spending four years cruising around the world for the same cost as their lifestyle in Wyoming. Here they're on deck of The Odyssey in Acapulco, Mexico.

Wyoming Couple Trade Home In Laramie For Four Years On Luxury Cruise Ship

A Laramie couple sold their home and bought a cabin on the luxury cruise ship Odyssey. Now they’re spending four years cruising around the world for the same cost as their lifestyle in Wyoming.

Renée JeanMay 31, 2025

The CK Gold Project about 20 miles west of Cheyenne in Laramie County is close to securing permitting, which comes at a good time with high gold prices.

At $3,300 An Ounce, Prices Prime For Southeast Wyoming’s CK Gold Project

With gold prices trading high at $3,300 an ounce, timing may be prime for the CK Gold Project in Southeast Wyoming. It’s completed most of its state permitting, with a Laramie County hearing for local permits next month.

Renée JeanMay 28, 2025

The newly unveiled Lincoln Locomotive 1616 and Big Boy 4014 will meet up twice this summer in Greeley, Colorado, for a whistle stop.

Union Pacific’s Big Boy Has A Date With Newly Unveiled Lincoln Locomotive

The newly unveiled Abraham Lincoln commemorative locomotive No. 1616 and Cheyenne's Big Boy No. 4014 will meet up twice this summer in Greeley for a whistle stop. Four cab rides will also be auctioned for rides on Big Boy between Cheyenne and Denver.

Renée JeanMay 28, 2025

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Hot Springs County Rallies To Boost Tourism During Prolonged Star Plunge Closure

Hot Springs County is rallying to save its tourism season despite what’s become a prolonged closure of the popular Star Plunge hot springs pools. To do that, it’s putting the spotlight on attractions outside the park — fishing, new trails and more events.

Renée JeanMay 27, 2025

Former Sheridan broadcast pioneer and business owner Kim Love died Saturday. Friends and family recall him as outspoken, never afraid to say what was on his mind, and a stalwart economic and civic backer of Sheridan known as a “genius at” philanthropy.

Sheridan Mourns Kim Love, Broadcast Pioneer And Philanthropist

Sheridan broadcast pioneer and business owner Kim Love died Saturday. Friends and family recall him as outspoken, never afraid to say what was on his mind, and a stalwart economic and civic backer of Sheridan known as a “genius at” philanthropy.

Renée JeanMay 26, 2025

Chad Brown poses in front of a section of about 480 barrels in the backrooms of Pine Bluffs Distillery.

Pine Bluffs Distilling Wins International Award With Wyoming-Grown Whiskey

Pine Bluffs Distilling’s straight rye whiskey won a prestigious double-gold medal at an American Distilling Institute international competition. It’s a big win for a small-town craft distillery that makes whiskey with Wyoming-grown ingredients.

Renée JeanMay 26, 2025

Artifacts that date back to 16,000 years ago have been recently found in Sunrise, Wyoming, older than the site’s previous 14,000-year-old find. That’s the oldest yet evidence of people in the Western High Plains.

Wyoming Ghost Town Site Gives Up Evidence Of People From 16,000 Years Ago

Artifacts that date back to 16,000 years ago have been recently found at the ghost town site of Sunrise, Wyoming — older than the site’s previous 14,000-year-old find. That’s the oldest evidence yet of people in the Western High Plains.

Renée JeanMay 26, 2025

Kevin Deneen poses outside the Eishenhower Building in Washington, D.C., before a forum on artificial intelligence with Trump White House policymakers.

Wyoming Businessman Talks Artificial Intelligence Policy With Trump White House

Jackson businessman Kevin Deneen is cofounder of Moterra Campervans. He’s one of five small business owners from across America tapped to discuss artificial intelligence policy with Vice President JD Vance and the Trump White House.

Renée JeanMay 26, 2025

Rock Springs Teacher’s Crazy Costumes Make A Serious Point — Laughter Is Learning

Not all learning comes from a textbook — some of it comes from laughter. That’s inspired Rock Springs teacher Weston Lamb-Costantino to wear a lot of silly costumes to school, which his students love.

Renée JeanMay 25, 2025

An expanding greenhouse in Sublette County takes its name, Silver Stream Farm, from a Grateful Dead song written on a Wyoming ranch in Cora, just 15 miles away.

Huge Wyoming-Grown Greenhouse Embraces Grateful Dead Connection

The Grateful Dead and fresh produce might not sound like they go together, but they do at Silver Stream Farm northwest of Pinedale. The huge 25,000-square-foot greenhouse takes its name from a Grateful Dead song reportedly written in Wyoming.

Renée JeanMay 25, 2025

Cheyenne Botanic Gardens buys tulip bulbs by the thousands. They do well in Cheyenne, which has similar climate and geology as their ancestral region in Central Asia and the Mediterranean, where they typically grow on mountain slopes and steppes.

Cheyenne Botanic Gardens Buys Tulips By The Thousands, And They Last For Years

Holland may be famous for its tulips, but they’re all over Cheyenne as well each summer. The Cheyenne Botanic Gardens buys them by the thousands, and they thrive in southeast Wyoming, some lasting for a decade.

Renée JeanMay 25, 2025

Wyoming’s Popular Crazy Woman Canyon Unexpectedly Closed For The Summer

Crazy Woman Canyon is a draw for Wyomingites and visitors to Johnson County, but it’s been unexpectedly closed for the summer. It’s a blow for tourism and locals who count the canyon as a favorite outdoors getaway.

Renée JeanMay 25, 2025

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1.2-GW Wyoming Data Center To Help Pioneer New Battery Less Likely To Catch Fire

A new battery system could solve the runaway thermal problem that makes lithium batteries burst into flames. A 1.2-gigawatt data center near Evanston, Wyoming, is going to help a startup prove its new battery system.

Renée JeanMay 23, 2025

An email obtained by Cowboy State Daily confirms that Wyoming Office of Tourism Director Diane Shober plans to retire at the end of 2025. Former Gov. Dave Freudenthal says she was perfect for the job — an “unbearably happy human being.”

Longtime Wyoming Tourism Director Diane Shober To Retire After 22 Years

Longtime Wyoming Tourism Director Diane Shober announced she’s retiring at the end of 2025. Author CJ Box says she’s the best in the business and former Gov. Dave Freudenthal says she was perfect for the job — an “unbearably happy human being.”

Renée JeanMay 22, 2025

Sam, working a busy bar scene at Cheyenne's Uncle Charlie's Package Liquor, Grill & Tavern, is in wait and see mode on the No Tax on Tips bill that cleared the Senate unanimously on Tuesday.

Wyoming Service Workers Optimistic Over Senate Passage Of No Tax On Tips Bill

In a surprise move, the U.S. Senate passed the No Tax on Tips bill unanimously. The reaction from Wyoming service employees ranged from cautious optimism to elation. “The blue-collar worker, what’s left of us, needs their tips to help ends meet,” one barber said.

Renée JeanMay 22, 2025

The National Weather Service Office in Cheyenne.

Short-Staffed Cheyenne National Weather Service Office Ends 24/7 Monitoring

The National Weather Service forecast office in Cheyenne is short staffed and has killed its overnight shift, ending the office's 24/7 monitoring. Meteorologist Don Day says that could mean less accurate forecasts and less timely warnings for southeast Wyoming.

Renée JeanMay 19, 2025

Yavilet Saenz holds up a baby chick in the animal science class at Little Snake River Valley School District's newly completed Livestock Center.

Little Snake River Students Get Hands-On In New $1.7M Livestock Center

A new $1.7 million livestock center has opened a hands-on classroom for students interested in ag education at Little Snake River School in Baggs. It’s the realization of a dream by their teacher.

Renée JeanMay 19, 2025

Children try their hand at raking during Pioneer Day at at Little Snake River Valley Museum.

Pioneer Town At Little Snake River Museum In Savery Takes Students Back To Days Of Old

Snow still tops Baker Mountain looking down on Little Snake River Museum in this hamlet near the Wyoming - Colorado border east of Baggs, Wyoming. More than 100 children gathered at the museum to celebrate the annual Pioneer Day.

Renée JeanMay 18, 2025

America’s only ski resort that operates exclusively in summers, Beartooth Basin Summer Ski Area near Cody will be open for skiing this summer for the first time in three years. It’s also for sale.

Beartooth Basin Will Open For Summer Skiing For First Time In Three Years

Beartooth Basin near Cody is America’s only ski resort that operates exclusively in the summer. Unlike other ski resorts where summer skiing could happen, Beartooth Basin, which will open for the first time in three years, doesn’t open for the winter at all.

Renée JeanMay 18, 2025

Spectators gathered around Russell Ratti and an alpaca he calls Jay-Jay during a double header of alpaca shows in Cheyenne.

Why Alpacas Are So Popular In The Rocky Mountains

Alpacas are becoming more popular as a cash crop in Wyoming and the Rocky Mountain region. At the Great Western Alpaca Show in Cheyenne, producers said they prized for their soft, luxurious wool — and are great with kids.

Renée JeanMay 18, 2025

Brian Snyder looks over a set of rings to see how much they might be worth. That tiny pile of rings was worth about $500, according to a quick analysis of each items weight and gold purity, measured in karats.

Record Prices Have Triggered A New Kind Of Gold Rush — Jewelry Sales

Record gold prices have people around Wyoming cleaning out their jewelry drawers and hitting up gold buyers for cash in a new kind of gold rush. One gold buyer in Cheyenne estimates his traffic is up 50%.

Renée JeanMay 17, 2025

Duane Merz buys milk at the Lucky Buffalo Farm Stand, while Heidi Allman, front, and sister Katie Allman, back, look on.

Local Food Trend A Growing $24 Million Economic Force In Wyoming

The Lucky Buffalo Farm Stand near Burns is part of a growing local food trend in Wyoming. Already injecting $24 million a year into the state’s economy, local food venues have been a rising trend since Wyoming adopted the Food Freedom Act in 2015.

Renée JeanMay 17, 2025

In May 2010, Laszlo Hanyecz bought two pizzas with 10,000 bitcoin. At today's rate for the digital currency, those pies would be worth about $815 million now.

Two Pizzas Bought With Bitcoin In 2010 Would Be Worth $815 Million Today

In 2010, a Florida man bought two pizzas worth about $41 with 10,000 bitcoins. Today, those bitcoins would be worth $815 million. Wyoming crypto leaders say that demonstrates how far digital currency has come and, like it or not, is the future.

Renée JeanMay 17, 2025

The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado.

Stanley Hotel Sold In $400 Million Deal That Will See Huge Film Center Built

The historic Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado, has sold in a $400 million deal that will build on its cult horror fame as the setting for “The Shining.” The deal includes building a huge film center.

Renée JeanMay 16, 2025

Walt Longmire actor Robert Taylor is a fixture at Longmire Days.

Sheriff Longmire Actor Turns Down Paying Gigs To Be At Longmire Days

Fans of the hit television show “Longmire” will soon flood Buffalo for two days in author Craig Johnson’s fictional Absaroka County. Sheriff Longmire actor Robert Taylor loves the franchise so much he turns down paying gigs to be at Longmire Days.

Renée JeanMay 14, 2025

The ExxonMobil plant in La Barge, Wyoming, not only is a world leader in carbon capture, it also produces about 20% of the world's helium.

Second Major Helium Plant Planned For Southwest Wyoming

Wyoming already produces 20% of the world’s Grade A helium supply from one plant east of Kemmerer. Now it’s about to get another major helium plant in southwest Wyoming.

Renée JeanMay 12, 2025

A ramp was built for the annual Sundance Burnout in Crook County during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. It places riders up higher so the crowd could better see them.

More Tourists Discovering Small, Rural Wyoming Counties

Wyoming has long had a goal of encouraging tourism in other parts of the state other Teton County. In 2024, more tourists discovered small, rural Wyoming areas, with Crook and Sublette counties showing the biggest boost.

Renée JeanMay 11, 2025

Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody, Wyoming.

Federal Cuts Have Wyoming Museums Scrambling At Start Of Busy Summer Season

Several Wyoming museums say they were caught by surprise when federal grants were cut. That’s left some on the hook for thousands of dollars as they scramble at the start of the busy summer season.

Renée JeanMay 11, 2025

Emily Steele survived a bout with what she belives was food-borne illness. She got sick dspite of not being the one who ate anything spoiled.

Can You Catch ‘Food Poisoning?’ It’s Not Common, But, Yes, And Here’s How

Food-borne illnesses are among the most common in America, sickening more than 48 million each year. But can it be passed on to others? The answer is yes -- as a Cheyenne couple recently found out.

Renée JeanMay 10, 2025

Cheyenne Gunslingers has its own stage setup on 15 Street and Pioneer Avenue. But it will likely need a new home as the 15th Street Rail Experience is taking its location.

Famous Cheyenne Gunslingers To Be Homeless, Have To Move From Downtown Spot

The famous Cheyenne Gunslingers will have to find a new spot for its Wild West shootouts. The city has approved another historical attraction to take over their location and now the Gunslingers, who delight crowds every summer by shooting each other, have to find a new home.

Renée JeanMay 10, 2025

The Carissa Gold Mine in South Pass City.

Canadian Company Says There’s Still Plenty Of Gold Near Former Boom Town

"Thar's gold in them thar hills!" That's what a Canadian company is saying about the area near the old Carissa Mine near South Pass City. Thousands of miners went there in 1867 but never found the mother lode. This company says they have the technology to find it.

Renée JeanMay 10, 2025

A pair of the major U.S. players in nuclear power — Uranium Energy Corp. and Radiant Energy — announce a partnership to develop the industry across America — and Wyoming could be ground zero.

Wyoming Could Capture Bigger Piece Of US Nuclear Power Than Just Mining Uranium

A pair of the major U.S. players in nuclear power announce a partnership to develop the industry across America — and Wyoming could be ground zero. There's potential for the state do more than just mine uranium.

Renée JeanMay 07, 2025

Wyoming’s outdoor tourism is booming, and is now a $2.2 billion industry drawing adventure-seekers to all corners. It’s also stressing some smaller communities to provide amenities to support those visitors.

Wyoming’s Booming $2.2 Billion Outdoor Rec Tourism Stressing Some Communities

Pinedale is poised to double in size by 2040, growth that Town Councilman Scott Kosiba believes is due in no small part to the strength of a rapidly growing outdoor recreation economy. Call it a new economic model for boom towns, one driven in part by wealthy remote workers who can locate where they like to play, instead of just where they work.

Renée JeanMay 04, 2025

Lummis Behind Bill To Force U.S. Mint To Stop Making Pennies

With a $36 trillion national debt, wasteful government spending has to stop, says U.S. Sen. Cynthia Lummis. She said that’s why she’s behind a bill to make the U.S. Mint stop making pennies, which cost more than 3 cents per penny to make.

Renée JeanMay 04, 2025

It’s Taken 2 Years, But Revival Of Vintage Greybull K-Bar Motel Nearly Finished

Two years after starting a monumental DYI effort to restore and revive the vintage K-Bar Motel in Greybull, Amanda McGrew is nearly finished. And the kitschy vibe is already turning heads.

Renée JeanMay 03, 2025

How Will UPS Cutting 20,000 Jobs Impact Already Slow Wyoming Deliveries?

UPS is laying off 20,000 workers and closing 73 facilities. That has rural Wyoming residents wondering if the already slow-arriving deliveries they rely on are ever going to get through.

Renée JeanMay 03, 2025

An Amtrak passenger train runs through Colorado's souther Front Range. An effort is underway to connect the Front Range and Cheyenne with passenger rail.

Colorado Congresswoman Wants To De-Fund Front Range Passenger Rail Project

Colorado congresswoman Lauren Boebert wants DOGE to kill funding for a Front Range passenger rail project that has a potential to extend into Wyoming. That won’t happen, because the project is state-funded, not federal.

Renée JeanApril 30, 2025

Thunderbirds Continue 70-Plus-Year Run At Cheyenne Frontier Days On New Night

The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds’ popular Cheyenne Frontier Days air show is moving to Saturday, July 26, so more people can see it. The aerial demonstration has been held at CFD every year but two since 1953.

Renée JeanApril 29, 2025

Dalton Jones, left, works on homework with fellow students at WyoTech in Laramie. He arrived from Washington with 2 cents in his pocket hoping to change his future. He'll finish in nine months and job ready.

WyoTech Growth Spurt Continues With $48.2 Million, 137,000-Square-Foot Expansion

WyoTech’s waiting list is out to April 2026 for some programs. The demand is fueling yet another growth spurt for the Laramie trade school — a $48.2 million, 137,000-square-foot expansion set to open in 2027.

Renée JeanApril 29, 2025

Microsoft, Cheyenne’s first data center, also received a key, business-ready matching grant from the Wyoming Business Council that helped the city build the business park where Microsoft is located.

Wyoming Is Perfect For Data Centers, So Why Do They Cluster Only In Cheyenne?

Wyoming has the right climate for data centers, and the Interstate 80 corridor could be a magnet for attracting more of them. So why do data centers cluster in Cheyenne, but hardly anywhere else in Wyoming?

Renée JeanApril 28, 2025

A backward-driving pickup that’s been turning heads in Lander was something Albert Bertagnolli did just for the heck of it. He swapped the headlights and taillights, moved the engine and looks out over the bed driving the thing. He faces looking over the bed in the turned-around cab.

Lander Man Turns Heads Driving Pickup He’s Modified To Go Backwards

Lander resident Albert Bertagnolli modified his pickup to drive backwards. He swapped the headlights and taillights, moved the engine and looks out over the bed driving the thing. When he’s driving down the street, it looks like he’s going backwards.

Renée JeanApril 27, 2025

It’s less than two months until the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Bunker Hill, one of the most legendary battles of the American Revolution. The musket that fired the battle’s first shot is at the National Museum of Military Vehicles in Dubois.

Wyoming Home To Musket That Fired First Shot At Bunker Hill 250 Years Ago

It’s less than two months until the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Bunker Hill, one of the most important battles of the American Revolution. The musket that fired the battle’s first shot is at the National Museum of Military Vehicles in Dubois.

Renée JeanApril 27, 2025

he Bear Mountain Junction's malts are popular.

Drinking Wyoming: Bear Mountain Junction In La Grange Has Beer, Killer Cinnamon Rolls

Bear Mountain Junction is a tiny all-in-one stop in La Grange on U.S. Highway 85 between Cheyenne and Hawk Springs. It’s a store, gift shop and bar, where you can get a beer and killer homemade cinnamon rolls.

Renée JeanApril 26, 2025

Eating Wyoming: Lander’s Mulino Italian Bistro Is Hard To Find, But Worth It

In the heart of downtown Lander, hidden from all casual view, there’s a serious little slice of Italy, waiting to be discovered by the keenly observant. Mulino Italian Bistro is a little hard to find, but worth it.

Renée JeanApril 26, 2025

Pinedale’s World Famous Corral Bar For Sale For $1.5 Million

The World Famous Corral Bar in Pinedale may not actually be “world famous,” but it is a favorite spot for locals. The family that’s owned the bar for the last 25 years has decided it’s time to sell, listing it for about $1.5 million.

Renée JeanApril 25, 2025

A view of the terminal at the Sheridan County Airport.

Runaway Costs Have Wyoming’s Small Airports Facing Financial Turbulence

Small regional airports around Wyoming are being squeezed hard by inflation and runaway costs. Airports in Riverton, Rock Springs, Sheridan and Gillette in particular face a fight to keep airline service next year.

Renée JeanApril 23, 2025

Downtown Cheyenne Parking Garage A Nightmare, Nearby Business Owners Say

Cheyenne has taken steps to improve a problem downtown parking garage and make it safer. But business owners say there continue to be nightly noise violations, as well as vandalism.

Renée JeanApril 22, 2025

This U.S. Marine Corps C-130J is nicknamed "Fat Albert" and is assigned to the U.S. Navy Blue Angels flight demonstration team.

Wyoming National Guard Base To Be Home For Fleet Of C-130J Tankers

The Wyoming Air National Guard Base in Cheyenne is the latest base awarded top-flight C-130J air tankers. Starting in 2028, it will be home for a fleet of eight C-130Js, which will be a huge boost for fighting wildfires.

Renée JeanApril 22, 2025

Chef Petrina Peart, right, huddles with other chefs during the new NBC show "Yes, Chef!"

Cheyenne Celebrity Chef Is Part Of Martha Stewart’s New Cooking Competition

Cheyenne celebrity chef Petrina Peart came within one vote of beating Food Network star Bobby Flay on his hit cooking competition show. Now she’ll try to do the same against 12 other chefs on Martha Stewart’s new show on NBC, “Yes, Chef!”

Renée JeanApril 21, 2025

Raelee Warner was up early doing her usual daily chores feeding chicks and driving cattle. Then the seventh grader went to the state gymnastics meet and won two events. All in a day’s work for a true Wyoming cowgirl.

Wyoming Girl Gets Her Ranch Chores Done Before Winning Gymnastics Titles

Raelee Warner was up early doing her usual daily chores feeding chicks and driving cattle April 12. Then the seventh grader went to the state gymnastics meet and won two events. All in a day’s work for a true Wyoming cowgirl.

Renée JeanApril 21, 2025

John Horan accepts his weekly lottery tickets from Maverik Adventure's First Stop cashier Kyle Rutherford in Cheyenne.

Mega Millions Makes Odds Better, But They’re Still Not As Good As Winning WyoLotto

The multistate Mega Millions lottery is charging more to play, but promises bigger jackpots with better odds of winning. But state lotteries like WyoLotto still offer better chances.

Renée JeanApril 20, 2025

Man Promises To Pay Fines On Wyoming Library Book He Checked Out 31 Years Ago

Josiah Harlow checked out a Robin Hood novel from the Cheyenne Central High School library 31 years ago, and never returned it. It’s still a treasured part of his collection, and he promises to “swing by to pay my overdue fees” the next time he’s in town.

Renée JeanApril 20, 2025

Ronnie Gonzales of Dougas, Wyoming, is still searching for a missing emerald from Forest Fenn’s treasure chest that was found in Wyoming. If found, he plans to add it to his own treasure chest and challenge. He says it's hidden somewhere in Fremont Canyon.

Wyoming Man Starts Treasure Hunt Similar To One Now Featured On Netflix

A Douglas man is still searching for a missing emerald from Forest Fenn’s treasure chest that was found in Wyoming and is featured in a Netflix documentary. If found, he plans to add it to his own treasure chest.

Renée JeanApril 20, 2025

Alex Nichols demonstrates an automatic gate at Picasso Gate in Cheyenne.

Wyoming Company Builds Tough-As-Tank Security Gates For A-List Stars

Picasso Gate in Cheyenne may not be a household name, but its tough-as-a-tank security gates are coveted by A-list stars like Tom Cruise and Kevin Costner. It’s owned by a father-son duo who love Wyoming.

Renée JeanApril 20, 2025

Ethan Page shows off some of the kale and bib lettuces growing in Central Wyoming College's shipping container greenhouse.

Wyoming Students Turn Shipping Container Into High-Tech Greenhouse

Central Wyoming College has engineered a shipping container into a high-tech greenhouse that’s like something out of “The Jetsons." It creates its own sunshine and rain to grow all kinds of produce.

Renée JeanApril 19, 2025

Pushroot Brewing Company offers space for sitting indoors and out. The outside is dog and bike friendly, too.

Drinking Wyoming: At Lander’s Pushroot Brewing, It’s All About The Foam

Pushroot Brewing Company in Lander brings unique Czech pours to Wyoming that put a luxurious twist on beer. It’s all about big heads, and even a beer pour that’s all foam.

Renée JeanApril 19, 2025

A Whole Town Near Yellowstone Is For Sale For Less Than $3 Million

Located 45 minutes from Yellowstone’s north entrance, the entire town of Pray, Montana, is for sale for $2.6 million. That includes its 100-year-old general store, post office, home and cabins.

Renée JeanApril 19, 2025

Jurassic Fireworks is one of two Colorado-owned fireworks stands just north of the Wyoming-Colorado border in a dispute with Laramie County.

‘Obnoxious’ Fireworks Outlets Near Cheyenne Can Reopen, But Dad Has To Stay Away

The Laramie County Commission has finally approved fireworks permits for a pair of businesses near the Colorado border it had said were too “obnoxious.” But the owner’s father has to stay away from her businesses as part of the agreement.

Renée JeanApril 17, 2025

Snow King Mountain Resort Hotel in Jackson.

Jackson’s Snow King Hotel Sale A Boost For Ski Hill’s Revival

The Snow King Mountain Resort’s ongoing revival is getting a boost with Trailborn’s recent purchase of the Snow King Resort Hotel at the base of the ski hill.

Renée JeanApril 17, 2025

Naughton coal-fired plant along Highway 189 in Kemmerer, operated by Rockuy Mountain Power.

Another Double-Digit Rocky Mountain Power Rate Hike Approved, More Likely Ahead

Wyoming Public Service Commissioners reluctantly approved another double-digit rate increase for Rocky Mountain Power on Tuesday. That means another $14 a month on an average residential customer’s bill, and more rate increases are likely ahead.

Renée JeanApril 16, 2025

The prolonged closure of the Star Plunge hot springs venue is starting to impact the tourism industry in and around Thermopolis. There are fewer people staying in local hotels with the busy summer tourism season on the horizon.

Star Plunge Closure Hits Three Months, And Visitors Are Steering Clear

The Star Plunge hot springs venue has been closed for three months, which is starting to impact the tourism industry in and around Thermopolis. There are fewer people staying in local hotels with the busy summer tourism season on the horizon.

Renée JeanApril 15, 2025

Rising Wyoming Country Star Ian Munsick To Be On ‘The Kelly Clarkson Show'

Wyoming’s Ian Munsick is a rising country music star who’s about to find a huge audience. On Tuesday, he’ll perform his latest song, “God Bless the West,” on national television on “The Kelly Clarkson Show.”

Renée JeanApril 15, 2025

Tabatha Coffey, center, poses with Cosmetology students at Central Wyoming College. Students from left are Lexi Baumann, Ashley Gomez, Karina Frederick and Grayce Fike.

Riverton Students Get Dose Of Tough Love From Celebrity Stylist Tabatha Coffey

Central Wyoming College students got a dose of celebrity stylist Tabatha Coffey’s signature tough love Thursday. Her non-nonsense style drove home that it takes more than dreaming big to make it big.

Renée JeanApril 13, 2025

West of Dubois, 17 Rocking Chair Ranch has all the amenities of a ranch with thousands of acres, but it sits on just 22. That makes it a more affordable Western retreat for prospective buyers.

Dubois Property Offers Big Ranch Amenities In A Small Package For $3.5 Million

West of Dubois, 17 Rocking Chair Ranch has all the amenities of a ranch with thousands of acres, but it sits on just 22. That makes it a rare affordable Western retreat for prospective buyers at $3.5 million.

Renée JeanApril 12, 2025

Mike Wandler, President of L&H Industrial, Inc., in Gillette, talked about what he's been doing with AI to boost productivity at his company during the Central Wyoming College's Innovation and Entrepreneurship Conference.

Wyoming And AI: L&H Chief Says Business Must Get Onboard Now Or Get Left Behind

Mike Wandler, president of Gillette-based L&H Industrial, says now is the time for Wyoming businesses to get onboard with artificial intelligence. If they don’t, they’ll get left behind.

Renée JeanApril 12, 2025

Eating Wyoming: Innards Are ‘In’ With Foodies, Homesteaders And Health Nuts

What many consider throw-away cuts of meat like tongues, tails and innards are becoming “in” in a big way. Foodies, homesteaders and health nuts are driving a trend that’s helping small Wyoming butcheries and bringing more unusual cuts to dinner plates.

Renée JeanApril 12, 2025

Timber from a U.S. Forest Service sale in Wyoming in this file photo.

Opening More U.S. Logging May Not Save Wyoming’s Last Two Large Lumber Mills

The USDA wants to open 59% more forest area to logging in the United States. It may not come fast enough to save one of Wyoming’s two remaining large lumber mills.

Renée JeanApril 12, 2025

Longhorn cattle graze a pasture near Devils Tower in northeast Wyoming.

Australia Sells $29B In Beef In America, Won’t Allow ‘One Hamburger’ In From U.S.

A recent dust-up in the U.S. Senate over Australian tariffs opens a discussion about unfair trade practices. Sen. John Barrasso says that while $29 billion of Australian beef has been sold in the U.S., “not one hamburger” from America is allowed there.

Renée JeanApril 11, 2025

A rendering of what Prometheus Hyperscale's Wyoming campus could look like at build-out.

Member Of Legacy Ranch Family Plans Huge 1-Gigawatt AI Data Center Near Evanston

Trenton Thornock’s family has been ranching in southwest Wyoming for six generations. Now he plans another use for the land — a huge 1-gigawatt AI data center near Evanston.

Renée JeanApril 09, 2025

Wyoming Man Flies Around On Motorized Paraglider Dropping Toys To Kids

Adam Roadcap lives in Burns, Wyoming, and flies a motorized paraglider. Sometimes he drops parachute toys to surprised children below.

Renée JeanApril 06, 2025

From Ohio To Wyoming, Nearly 50 Years Of Working In And Around U.S. Coal

Paul Hughes started work in coal-burning industry as a teenager in Ohio in the late 1970s. That eventually brought him to Wyoming, which has turned into nearly 50 years working in and around the coal industry in the East and West.

Renée JeanApril 06, 2025

Drinking Wyoming: Drinking Like Butch Cassidy, From Rock Springs To Sheridan

When he wasn’t breaking the law, Butch Cassidy was always up for a drink, and was even cited for public drunkenness in Sheridan. Despite that, not many places have laid claim to a rather obvious marketing ploy: Butch Cassidy drank here.

Renée JeanApril 06, 2025

Wyoming Trade Schools Packed With Gen Z Students, AKA The Toolbelt Generation

Generation Z has grown up digital, and many aren’t choosing traditional colleges. They’re packing Wyoming’s trade schools, lured by shorter, cheaper programs and better job prospects. It’s earned these Gen Z’ers the nickname The Toolbelt Generation.

Renée JeanApril 05, 2025

Wyoming’s Eatons’ Ranch Is America’s Oldest — And No. 1-Ranked — Dude Ranch

Eatons’ Ranch in the Wyoming Bighorn Range is the nation’s oldest dude ranch, cowboying with folks since 1879. Now it’s also been named America’s No. 1 dude ranch in USA Today’s annual rankings.

Renée JeanApril 05, 2025

Eli Jerrigan uses a flash card system to study words for the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Maryland.

It’s No Accident Kemmerer Eighth Grader Is Wyoming’s Two-Time Best Speller

It’s not an accident that Kemmerer eighth grader Eli Jernigan is Wyoming’s two-time state spelling bee champion. He studies the 4,000-word list constantly, and doesn’t care if he’s an underdog at next month’s nationals.

Renée JeanApril 05, 2025

The Wildcat Creek Fire southeast of Wright, Wyoming, has burned thousands of acres last summer.

Last Summer’s Wildfires Still Devastating For Wyoming Ranchers

Wildfires burned up huge amounts of hay and forage for Wyoming ranches last year, and the aftermath is nearly as dire. Ranchers start a new season still devastated by the fires.

Renée JeanApril 04, 2025

Cheyenne Primed For More Huge Data Centers As Artificial Intelligence Explodes

A large data center logistics company is touting Cheyenne as the ideal home for the nation’s next major data center. That could position the city for an explosion of Artificial Intelligence and data centers.

Renée JeanApril 04, 2025

Tyrrell Chevrolet, located in Cheyenne, has seen an influx of customers due to auto tariffs that went into effect Wednesday.

Wyoming Auto Dealers Say Rush On To Buy Cars Ahead Of Price Jumps From Tariffs

Tariffs on cars and parts made in Canada and Mexico went into effect Wednesday, leaving a vanishing window to beat price jumps. Wyoming auto dealers say buyers are traveling across multiple states to find what they want now.

Renée JeanApril 02, 2025

David Belus is hoping for rain to help heal his ranch after 50,000 acres of it went up in smoke in Johnson County.

Wyoming Farmers Fear Potential For Devastation From Drought

Drought is hurting farmers in southeast and central Wyoming, and the USDA is offering emergency loans. Many farmers are hoping that more rain is ahead and that they won’t need the assistance.

Renée JeanApril 01, 2025

60,000-Square-Foot Vertical Farming Lab In Laramie On Hold Amid Bankruptcy

Plenty Unlimited is bankrupt, and its huge vertical farming research lab in Laramie is on hold. The company will keep a smaller, existing research station in Laramie. Most of the $20 million it was awarded in grant money will revert back to the state.

Renée JeanMarch 31, 2025

Race On To Save Mountain Man Jim Baker’s Rotting 152-Year-Old Wyoming Cabin

Mountain man Jim Baker’s 152-year-old cabin in Savery, Wyoming, is rotting and giving in to the ravages of time. But a cavalry of sorts is on the way, as a national preservation group races to save the historic cabin of the West’s last true mountain man.

Renée JeanMarch 30, 2025

Cheyenne resident Hannah Snitko and her fiance both took DNA tests with 23andMe.

Wyomingites Who Gave DNA To 23andMe Left In Limbo With Company’s Bankruptcy

Wyoming 23andMe users are scrambling to delete their DNA data in the wake of the company announcing bankruptcy. Others say they hope a future buyer will use their genetic information to help develop medical cures.

Renée JeanMarch 30, 2025

Why People Drive Hours For Chugwater Soda Fountain’s Upscale Supper

Chugwater Soda Fountain is already famous for being Wyoming’s oldest operating soda fountain. Now it’s becoming known for its upscale Supper at the Fountain — and people drive hours for a spot at a table.

Renée JeanMarch 29, 2025

A Colorado-owned fireworks business at the border south of Cheyenne has again been denied a permit because county commissioners say it’s “obnoxious.” The manager says he’s “never going to stop” fighting.

‘Obnoxious’ Cheyenne Fireworks Warehouse Again Denied Permit

A fireworks business at the Wyoming-Colorado border south of Cheyenne has again been denied a permit because county commissioners say it’s “obnoxious.” The manager says he’s “never going to stop” fighting.

Renée JeanMarch 27, 2025

Wyoming-based Custodia Bank, working with a Texas bank, has successfully sent U.S. dollars from an account into the digital realm and back again. The transaction is the first of its kind, says Caitlin Long, Custodia CEO.

Wyoming-Based Custodia Bank Is First To Send, Receive Digital U.S. Dollars

Wyoming-based Custodia Bank, working with a Texas bank, has successfully sent tokenized digital U.S. dollars from an account into the digital realm and back again. The transaction is the first of its kind.

Renée JeanMarch 26, 2025

A long line of people waits for service at the Cheyenne U.S. Post Office annex.

Starting April 1, Wyoming Post Offices May Lose Afternoon Mail Pickup

It's still not clear if afternoon pickup for Wyoming wyoming mail will be impacted under the Delivering for America plan, which starts April 1. It could mean Wyoming post offices will lose it.

Renée JeanMarch 25, 2025

Wyoming’s wild mustangs and many military veterans have something in common — they suffer from PTSD. A couple near Lusk is putting them together to help ease each others’ pain in a program called Operation Remount. Some of them form very strong bonds, like veteran Jerry and his mustang Chisum.

Wyoming's Wild Horses And Military Veterans Ease Each Others’ PTSD

Wyoming’s wild mustangs and many military veterans have something in common — they can suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. A couple near Lusk is putting them together to help ease each others’ pain in a program called Operation Remount.

Renée JeanMarch 23, 2025

This Aladdin Readi-Cut kit mail-order house was bought in 1919 and built on a lot in Wheatland, Wyoming. It's still there more than 100 years later.

Mail-Order Homes Used To Be All The Rage, Like This One From 1919 In Wheatland

Mail-order homes, also called kit houses, were all the rage in the early 1900s as people moved West. In Wyoming, Aladdin kit homes were more popular than Sears & Roebuck homes like this one in Wheatland, built in 1919.

Renée JeanMarch 22, 2025

Left, Chris LeDoux performs in Nashville in 1993. Right, his son Ned LeDoux points to heaven while performing on stage at the 2021 Watershed music fesival in Washington state.

Chris LeDoux Days Is Ending: After 15 Years Festival Will Hold Finale In June 2025

Chris LeDoux Days in Kaycee, Wyoming, is ending, and going out with a bang this year for its 15th and final run. Entertainer Kip Attaway and country band Sawyer Brown will play for final June festival.

Renée JeanMarch 16, 2025

CleanSpark is standing up a new Bitcoin mining facility on Venture Drive in Cheyenne. The site is in addition to the one the company is building at a site near F.E. Warren Air Force Base that was previously owned by a Chinese company.

Rural Cheyenne Residents Have A Noisy New Neighbor — A Bitcoin Miner

A noisy new bitcoin mining operation is disturbing its rural Cheyenne area neighbors who moved outside the city for peace and quiet. The company says it’s working on mitigating the issue.

Renée JeanMarch 16, 2025

Consumer Advocates Warn More Rate Increases Ahead For Rocky Mountain Power Customers

Both of Wyoming’s consumer advocate groups foresee more rate increases ahead for Rocky Mountain Power customers. If commissioners approve the latest rate increase, the overall rate increase in the past two years totals 30.4%.

Renée JeanMarch 13, 2025

Rocky Mountain Power says wildfires are a driving force behind its most recent request for a double-digit rate increase. The Elk Fire was one of the worst from last season, buring nearly 100,000 acres across the eastern face of the Bighorn Mountains, threatening the small town of Dayton.

Wildfires Big Driver Behind Rocky Mountain Power’s Double-Digit Rate Hike

Wyoming’s wildfires have spurred higher insurance costs so much, Rocky Mountain Power says it's proposing another double-digit rate increase. It’s also considering self-insurance.

Renée JeanMarch 12, 2025

The Wyoming Public Service Commission meets in Cheyenne on March 11, 2025, to hear testimony about a proposed electricity rate hike from Rocky Mountain Power.

Rocky Mountain Power Makes Case For Rate Hike, Says Large Users Will Pay More

At a Tuesday public hearing for Rocky Mountain Power’s latest double-digit rate increase request, the company said residential customers won’t pay as much. Large power users like data centers would pay more.

Renée JeanMarch 12, 2025