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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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