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
End Of USPS-UPS Deal Could Mean Faster Rural Delivery, But More Expensive
Rural packages are likely to get to where they’re going faster now that contract negotiations between the U.S. Postal Service and UPS have fallen apart for last-mile service. But it’s also likely to be more expensive.
Renée JeanJanuary 21, 2025
Committee Advances Measure To Ban Foreign Adversaries Owning Wyoming Property
The House Agriculture committee gave a thumbs up to a constitutional measure that will ban foreign adversaries from owning Wyoming property. Deciding who those foreign adversaries are will be debated on the House floor.
Renée JeanJanuary 21, 2025
State Caught 3 North Korean Companies Trying Set Up In Wyoming Last Year
The state caught three North Korean companies last year filing fraudulent paperwork to set up in Wyoming to raise money for weapons of mass destruction. A House committee passed a bill Monday that aims to keep foreign adversaries out of Wyoming.
Renée JeanJanuary 20, 2025
Despite Opposition, Anti-ESG Bill Sails Through Committee After Changes
An anti-ESG Bill sailed over a wall of opposition from Wyoming investment fund managers and the state treasurer. It passed out of committee Monday after significant changes to address the criticism.
Renée JeanJanuary 20, 2025
Historic One-Of-A-Kind Property For Sale Near Sunrise Once Home To Early Pioneer
A five-bedroom house near the abandoned company mining town of Sunrise, Wyoming, in the Hartville area is chock-full of history — and for sale, listing for $809,000. It was home to an early pioneer, and the sale includes the Guernsey Cabin.
Renée JeanJanuary 20, 2025
Drinking Wyoming: Absinthe, Spirit Of Murder And Madness, Is Back In Wyoming
Absinthe was illegal for nearly a century, branded by the wine industry as a spirit of murder and madness. But it’s making a comeback, and a handful of Wyoming venues serve this once-forbidden liquor.
Renée JeanJanuary 18, 2025
Why California Wildfires Could Spike Already-High Wyoming Insurance Rates
The wildfires devastating residential areas of Southern California aren’t only going to impact those homeowners. Wyoming residents also can expect to see a spike in their already-high insurance rates.
Renée JeanJanuary 18, 2025
Anti-ESG Bill Hits Wall Of Opposition, Debate Will Continue Monday
An anti-ESG bill that would block investment into companies that go against Wyoming’s oil and gas industries hit a wall of opposition Friday. That includes state Treasurer Curt Meier, who said half his staff could walk out if the bill passes.
Renée JeanJanuary 17, 2025
Bill Banning Foreign Adversaries Setting Up Shop Near Critical Areas Advances
The Senate Appropriations Committee gave a unanimous thumbs up Thursday to a bill that would ban foreign adversaries from setting up near critical infrastructure in Wyoming.
Renée JeanJanuary 17, 2025
Controversial Eminent Domain Bill Passes Over Protests From Ag, Energy Industries
Wyoming legislators passed a controversial eminent domain bill Thursday that would ban anyone except public utilities from using eminent domain to take land for electrical systems. Both the state’s ag and energy industries argued against it.
Renée JeanJanuary 16, 2025
Billionaire Joe Ricketts Plans Luxury Resort With Teton County Ranch He Bought
Billionaire Joe Ricketts has announced his plans for the Granite Ranch in Teton County, which he bought last fall. It will be a swanky luxury resort, echoing many of the same themes as his abandoned Homestead Resort project in Bondurant.
Renée JeanJanuary 15, 2025
Wyoming Doubles Down On Wind Blade Disposal In Coal Mines, Tabling Alternative
Wyoming legislators tabled a bill Wednesday that would have created landfill deposits at wind farm sites to dispose of their worn-out turbine blades. State agencies say coal mine disposal — just approved by federal government — is better.
Renée JeanJanuary 15, 2025
Soakers Show Up To Find World Famous Star Plunge Closed Sooner Than Expected
The world famous Star Plunge pool and hot springs in Thermopolis, Wyoming, has been on a legal collision course with the state. It had been expected to close Wednesday, but soakers showed up Tuesday to find it suddenly closed earlier.
Renée JeanJanuary 14, 2025
Wyoming's Powder River Basin Sitting On Untapped Oil And Gas Potential
The oil and gas industry has been talking up the potential of the Powder River Basin for 20 years. Even so, Wyoming’s busiest play still only has about 11 rigs running. It’s going to take more than an oil-friendly administration to increase production.
Renée JeanJanuary 14, 2025
Feds OK Wyoming Idea To Use Old Wind Turbines To Fill In Coal Mines
Wyoming’s innovative plan to allow coal mines to accept wind turbine blades as fill material has cleared the Biden administration, almost four years after the state approved it.
Renée JeanJanuary 14, 2025
Pedigree Stage Stop Sled Dog Race Returns To Dubois After 20-Year Hiatus
Dubois will once again host a leg of the world-famous Pedigree Stage Stop Dog Race after a 20-year hiatus. The town is planning an over-the-top weekend as the final stage for the event’s 30th year.
Renée JeanJanuary 12, 2025
Inside Sheridan's Java Moon Coffee Shop Where Mooncakes Are King
Somewhere over the Java Moon in Sheridan is where you’ll find Megan Cook. The former financial accountant took a moonshot leap of faith from a comfortable job to owning her own business. It’s been a roller coaster, but she has no regrets.
Renée JeanJanuary 12, 2025
No, Jimmy Carter’s Funeral Didn’t Delay Workers From Getting Their Paychecks
Some Blue Federal Credit Union customers in Cheyenne woke up Friday to shock that their paychecks hadn’t been deposited. Although told it was because the Federal Reserve was closed for Jimmy Carter’s funeral, it was an electronic transfer glitch.
Renée JeanJanuary 12, 2025
Grain Weevil Robot Aims To Keep Farmers From Risking Their Lives In Grain Bins
A Nebraska company has developed a pioneering robot called a Grain Weevil that can do everything in a grain bin a human with a shovel might need to do. Wyoming farmers say it could be a revolutionary development for safety.
Renée JeanJanuary 11, 2025
Wyomingites Pay More For Rural Postal Service Deliveries Through Sneaky Surcharge
The U.S. Postal Service has quietly initiated a surcharge on package deliveries to rural areas, which includes much of Wyoming. The up-charges have been quietly slipped into Postal Service agreements with merchants like eBay.
Renée JeanJanuary 10, 2025
Laramie County Residents Angry Over Proposed “Land Grab” Zoning Regs
Some Laramie County residents are angry over proposed zoning laws they call a local government “land grab.” Commissioners say tightening some rules is needed to help neighbors upset with businesses and other operations setting up in neighborhoods.
Renée JeanJanuary 09, 2025