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

‘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

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

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

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

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

‘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 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

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 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

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

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

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

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

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

Wyoming Egg-Eaters Say Investigation Into High Prices Can’t Come Soon Enough
Wyoming senior citizens say they’re giving up on eggs for breakfast, or in some cases skipping breakfast altogether. They say an investigation into what’s happening with egg prices can’t come soon enough.
Renée JeanMarch 11, 2025

Rocky Mountain Power Wants Another Double-Digit Rate Increase
The Wyoming Public Service Commission has a hearing Tuesday for another double-digit rate increase request for Rocky Mountain Power. If approved, RMP rates will have increased more than 30% since 2024.
Renée JeanMarch 11, 2025

Delegation Questions USPS Plan, With Wyoming Mail Handled In 4 Other States
Wyoming’s congressional delegation questions a USPS plan that would have Wyoming mail handled in four other states. The outgoing postmaster general appears set to roll it out despite advisories it will hurt rural areas, they say.
Renée JeanMarch 10, 2025

Cheyenne Medieval Weapons Club Trains With Swords
Members of a Cheyenne medieval weapons club aren’t just hobbyists, they seriously train with period-appropriate swords. “It’s about more than just sword fighting and being a nerd,” claims one member.
Renée JeanMarch 09, 2025

Another Craig Johnson Mystery — What The Heck Are These Obscure Utensils?
Wyoming New York Times best-selling author Craig Johnson has another mystery — what the heck are these obscure and weird-looking utensils in his mother-in-law’s collection? He shares one a week on Facebook and asks followers to ID them.
Renée JeanMarch 09, 2025

Illegal Dumps Cropping Up All Over In Some Of Wyoming’s Most Remote Places
Four drums of jet fuel found tucked away inside a crack in a rock face near Jeffrey City will cost taxpayers more than $35,000 to clean up. It's not an isolated case. Discarded cars, boats, appliances, and other junk are getting littered in remote places across the state.
Renée JeanMarch 09, 2025

Chad Madsen Of Afton Owns Wyoming's Largest Horse Herd — And Knows Them All By Name
Chad Madsen runs a herd of 2,500 horses, the largest in Wyoming, on ranches in Pavilion and Afton. The horses end up at outfitters and dude ranches across the state as rentals for tourists and hunters. And Madsen says he knows them all by name.
Renée JeanMarch 08, 2025

No Exaggeration: Cheyenne Botanic Gardens Is Tropical Oasis In Middle Of Winter
Although it sounds like hyperbole, the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens really is a tropical oasis. There are lychee trees and mango, pineapple and banana, papaya, sugar cane, coffee, and cacao trees. They come from all over the world.
Renée JeanMarch 08, 2025

Uranium Energy Corp. Produces Its First Batch Of Wyoming Yellowcake Uranium
Uranium Energy Corp. has hit a milestone, producing its first batch of Wyoming yellowcake uranium. It’s a huge step for the company as it ramps up to 8.1 million pounds of production capacity in the Cowboy State.
Renée JeanMarch 08, 2025

Wyoming Author C.J. Box’s New Novel Is No. 1 On New York Times Bestsellers List
“Battle Mountain,” the latest novel in Wyoming author C.J. Box’s popular Joe Pickett series, debuts as No. 1 on The New York Times bestsellers list.
Renée JeanMarch 07, 2025

Night Show Lineup: Wyoming’s Ian Munsick To Headline At Cheyenne Frontier Days
Sheridan’s Ian Munsick will be the first Wyoming native to headline a night show at Cheyenne Frontier Days, it was announced Thursday. Chancey Williams also returns, along with country stars Luke Bryan, Brooks & Dunn and Travis Tritt.
Renée JeanMarch 07, 2025

Longmire Author Craig Johnson Wins Wister Award, Highest Western Writing Honor
Wyoming's Craig Johnson, author of the "Longmire" series, is the 2025 winner of the Owen Wister Award. It's the highest honor given by Western Writers of America in recognition of lifetime contributions to the genre.
Renée JeanMarch 06, 2025

Meier, Gray Believe Land Purchase In Washington Could Open Way For Coal Exports
In an effort to export Wyoming coal to the Pacific Rim, Treasurer Curt Meier and Secretary of State Chuck Gray believe purchasing land in Washington state could give Wyoming the legal standing to make it happen.
Renée JeanMarch 05, 2025

Wyoming Businesses Wait To See Impact Of Tariffs, Going Into Effect Tuesday
President Trump on Monday said there’s no more delaying 25% tariffs that will go into effect on Canada and Mexico on Tuesday. That’s expected to impact Wyoming, which does more business with Canada than any other foreign country.
Renée JeanMarch 04, 2025

Two Wyoming Trona Mines Bought For $1.4B To Create World’s Largest Producer
London-based WE Soda has bought Genesis Alkali’s two trona mines in southwest Wyoming for $1.4 billion. It makes WE Soda the No. 1 producer of natural trona in the world.
Renée JeanMarch 03, 2025

The Woman Behind The Gigantic Sand Sculptures At Glendo
A Casper woman’s addiction to building intricate sand sculptures takes her all over America. But she practices in her home state at Glendo, where she built a 6-foot-tall cowboy boot (which is still standing). She says Wyoming sand is the best.
Renée JeanMarch 02, 2025

Drinking Wyoming: Frosty’s, A True Casper Dive Bar Proudly Serving Horrible Liquor
Frosty’s in Casper, is a typical dive bar in many ways — and proud to serve one of the most terrible tasting liquors. It’s one of the few places outside Chicago with Jeppson’s Malort, a rite-of-passage drink people say tastes like old socks.
Renée JeanMarch 01, 2025

Cheyenne Man Builds His Dream House: Throwback Medieval English Mead Hall
Cyning Meadowcroft built his dream home in Happy Valley near Cheyenne using a near-extinct construction method called a "cruck" to build it. The former Brit built the medieval English mead hall home by himself and trucked two old-growth oak trees 2,000 miles round-trip to begin the project.
Renée JeanMarch 01, 2025

Why Wyoming’s Oil And Gas Industry Isn’t Yet “Drill Baby Drilling”
Optimism is high in Wyoming’s oil and gas sector with President Donald Trump's promise to "drill, baby, drill." But there’s also uncertainty about how more drilling will impact prices.
Renée JeanMarch 01, 2025

Trump Says US Doesn’t Need Canada’s Timber, And Wyoming’s Lumber Industry Agrees
Wyoming’s lumber industry isn’t huge, but was heartened to hear President Trump say America doesn’t need timber from Canada. The industry says it needs more than tariffs to save it — like changes to forest management.
Renée JeanFebruary 28, 2025

Trump Says US Needs To Double Or Triple ‘Electrical Capacity,’ Wyoming Says It’s Ready
President Donald Trump held his first cabinet meeting Wednesday and suggested the country must double or triple its “electrical capacity.” Wyoming energy officials say they are ready to help make that happen.
Renée JeanFebruary 27, 2025

Wyoming Grows Lead In Race For Rare Earths Thanks To Bigger Haul From Huge Deposit
Wyoming Rare (USA) Inc. is reporting even better returns at its Halleck Creek rare earth mining site. That helps grow Wyoming’s lead in the race for domestic production — and processing — of critical rare earth minerals.
Renée JeanFebruary 26, 2025

Wyoming’s Oldest General Store In Aladdin Loses Its 127-Year-Old Post Office
The tiny outpost of Aladdin in northeast Wyoming is home to the state’s oldest general store, which has also served as a local post office since 1898. But no more. The Postal Service has discontinued its contract with the Aladdin General Store.
Renée JeanFebruary 25, 2025

Hageman Doesn’t Trust USPS, Wants More Protection For Rural Post Offices
U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman doesn’t trust the U.S. Postal Service’s latest promise to not take away as much mail processing from the Cheyenne and Casper post offices. She’s filed a bill that would protect rural post offices.
Renée JeanFebruary 25, 2025

Bill That Attempts To Stop Mystery Drones From Flying Over Sensitive Areas Moves Forward
A bill that would attempt to stop mystery drones from flying over sensitive areas around Wyoming is nearing the finish line. Meanwhile, a state House committee heard Monday that giant SUV-sized drones are still being spotted.
Renée JeanFebruary 24, 2025

Texas Red Chili Wins Popular Casper Chili Cook-Off For Fifth Time
A Texas red chili was voted No. 1 at the popular API Chili Cook-Off in Casper on Saturday. It’s the fifth time Norman Jackson’s secret recipe has won, as thousands of people packed the Ford Wyoming Center in Casper for the 32nd annual event.
Renée JeanFebruary 24, 2025

Not All Solar Panel Systems Are Nightmares For Their Owners
Several Cowboy State Daily readers wrote in to talk about their experiences with solar panels after a Happy Valley family living near Cheyenne shared their nightmare experience. They also shared tips on how to select the right system.
Renée JeanFebruary 23, 2025

Six Degrees And Snowing At 7:30 p.m. And Nate Ditto Is Cutting Down A 50-Foot Tree
Arborist Nate Ditto was trying to beat the clock by cutting down a 50-foot tree before a snowstorm hit Cheyenne last week. To make things more interesting, it was six-degrees and snowing at 7:30 p.m. and he was still at it. He says he likes the adrenaline he gets from his job.
Renée JeanFebruary 23, 2025

Where The Heck In Wyoming Is This One-Of-A-Kind Western Iron Art Fence?
Lela Emmons of tiny Savery, Wyoming, stumbled on an unusual artistic fence in the 1990s and took photos of it. But she forgot where it was and hasn’t been able to find it again in about 30 years. She hopes someone in Wyoming can solve the mystery.
Renée JeanFebruary 23, 2025

Drinking Wyoming: Whiskey Was The Go-To Medicinal Remedy Of The Wild West
Survival in Wild West Wyoming depended on treating illnesses without the help of modern medicine. Whiskey figured in a lot of treatments for all sorts of medical problems — some good and some quite insane.
Renée JeanFebruary 22, 2025

USPS Does About-Face, Now Won’t Move Mail Processing Out Of Cheyenne, Casper
The U.S. Post Office did an about-face Friday on its controversial plan to move local mail processing out of Wyoming’s main hubs. Cheyenne and Casper now won’t ship local mail to other states.
Renée JeanFebruary 21, 2025

Why Cheyenne Had To Give Up Putting Windshield Barnacles On Cars
With tens of thousands of dollars in unpaid parking tickets, Cheyenne started using the high-tech windshield Barnacle device on cars. Less than three years later, that’s been abandoned because too many Wyoming windshields are chipped or cracked.
Renée JeanFebruary 21, 2025

Clock Ticking Again For Small Businesses To Report Ownership
Small business owners now have until March 21 to file forms disclosing their ownership. But even the federal agency in charge isn’t firm on that deadline with legislation and a court case pending.
Renée JeanFebruary 20, 2025

Wyoming Native Reid Rasner Puts Together $47.45 Billion Offer To Buy TikTok
Casper native Reid Rasner has put together a $47.45 billion bid to bring the popular social media app TikTok to Wyoming, which he said would keep the app away from China and boost the state’s economy.
Renée JeanFebruary 20, 2025

Virginia Company Scouting Wyoming For Spot To Build Uranium Fuel Plant
Virginia-based BWX Technologies is not just looking to deploy small micro nuclear reactors in Wyoming. It’s scouting the state for possible sites to build a uranium fuel plant.
Renée JeanFebruary 19, 2025

Postmaster General, Who Gave Himself An “A” For Gutting Rural Mail Delivery, Is Quitting
Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, who gave himself an “A” for the controversial Delivery For America plan that gutted rural delivery, announced on Monday he is quitting. Wyoming leaders are thrilled.
Renée JeanFebruary 18, 2025

WHP Association May Be First Law Enforcement Group In Nation To Buy Into Bitcoin
The Wyoming Highway Patrol Association voted last week to buy bitcoin, which has exploded by 400% over the last five years. The association says it may be the first law enforcement group in the United States to invest in bitcoin.
Renée JeanFebruary 18, 2025

Why Are These Three Turkeys Endlessly Circling A Gravestone?
If you walk into a graveyard and see three turkeys endlessly circling one headstone, it could be offsetting -- even spooky. That was the scene at a cemetery in North Dakota last week. Although it may seem bizarre, turkey growers say it's no big deal.
Renée JeanFebruary 17, 2025

Former Metal Drummer Turned Singing Cupid Delivers Love — And Embarrassment
Casper has had a Cupid of sorts for the past 10 years in Joe Eason, a former heavy metal drummer who does singing telegrams as a side gig. On Valentine’s Day, he delivers up to 35 of the most embarrassing singing telegrams he can muster.
Renée JeanFebruary 16, 2025

Cheyenne Stargazers Love Space So Much They Built Their Own Observatory
Cheyenne’s Marcy Curran, the cofounder of the Cheyenne Astronomy Society and an editor of a major astronomy publication, has spent 40 years studying the sky. She and her husband recently built their own observatory.
Renée JeanFebruary 16, 2025

Yellowstone Has An Active Ancient Undersea Wasteland 7,300 Feet Above Sea Level
Monument Geyser Basin is one of the most unique areas of Yellowstone National Park. Its ancient undersea wasteland at 7,300 feet above sea level features formerly underwater cones that are still active.
Renée JeanFebruary 16, 2025

Wyoming Confirms First Human Case Of Bird Flu, 3rd Hospitalization In U.S.
Wyoming’s first human case of bird flu was caused by an infected poultry flock in Platte County. The person is hospitalized in another state, and is the nation’s third hospitalization.
Renée JeanFebruary 16, 2025

Egg Prices Have Restaurants Scrambling When It Comes To Breakfast
Wyoming restaurants are facing higher and higher egg prices amid an outbreak of the bird flu. Because of the huge increase in prices, some Wyoming restaurants say they are closing down temporarily.
Renée JeanFebruary 15, 2025

Hageman’s Postal Service Investigations Find Denver Mail Being Processed In Cheyenne
U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman has been investigating the U.S. Postal Service and found that Denver mail is being processed in Cheyenne. The Denver centers are so overwhelmed, they can’t keep up, yet plans are to transfer Wyoming mail there.
Renée JeanFebruary 13, 2025

Google Hired Yellowstone, Grand Teton Wildlife Guide For Super Bowl Ad
Google tapped a Wyoming outdoor wildlife guide for its Super Bowl ad campaign, showcasing all 50 states. The Cowboy State’s ad shows off wild Wyoming, as well as one of the state’s leading outdoor guide businesses.
Renée JeanFebruary 12, 2025
Already No. 1 For LLCs, Can Wyoming Attract The Huge Companies Leaving Delaware?
Tesla, Meta, Dropbox are a few of the huge tech companies leaving Delaware for other states like Texas and Nevada. Why not Wyoming, which has surpassed Delaware for No. 1 in business incorporations per capita?
Renée JeanFebruary 11, 2025

Postal Regulatory Commission Says Rural Populations Will Suffer Under ‘Delivering For America’ Plan
The Postal Regulatory Commission has issued an advisory opinion that is very critical of the Delivering for America Plan. Rural populations, in particular, won’t be receiving first-class mail for six or more days under the plan, the commission says.
Renée JeanFebruary 10, 2025

The Cabin That’s Almost A Mansion On Last Chance Road In Jackson Hole
For a mere $11.5 million, resort-style life awaits in a cabin that’s almost a mansion in Jackson Hole. With a 720 credit rating and a $2.7 million downpayment, financial calculators put your monthly payments at just $54,000, for a 30-year loan.
Renée JeanFebruary 10, 2025

Special Op Is Being Planned To Rescue An 1893 Tree That’s Part Of Wyoming History
Deep in the most remote area of the Shoshone National Forest is a unique piece of 1893 history, inscribed on a beetle-killed tree and it's is in danger of being lost. A rescue mission is being attempted, but some money might be needed for a helicopter to sling the artifact out.
Renée JeanFebruary 09, 2025

Despite Chilly Climate, It’s Business As Usual For Wind, Solar Energy In Wyoming
Wind and solar energy projects in Wyoming are moving ahead with their projects, despite the recent chill from both federal and state lawmakers. Most of the projects are on private property, project managers say, which helps de-risk the projects.
Renée JeanFebruary 09, 2025

After 100 Years, Cavalryman Steakhouse Closes, Moves To Special Events Model
If you've spent any time in Laramie, you know the Cavalryman Steakhouse. It just celebrated its 100th anniversary and is moving to a special events model. The historic restaurant will only be open for special occasions like holidays, weddings, football games and the like.
Renée JeanFebruary 09, 2025

Wyoming Family Learns Solar Panels Aren’t For The Faint Of Heart
A Happy Valley family who lives near Cheyenne found out the hard way that solar panels aren’t for the faint of heart. They do work, and they do defray energy costs, but there are a lot of headaches that go along with it. It helps if you have the patience of a saint.
Renée JeanFebruary 09, 2025

The Coffee Comes With Redemption At Pete’s Sake In Evanston
"For Pete's Sake" coffee shop in Evanston serves more than just coffee. For owner Pete Bass, it's a mission. That mission is to tell his story of redemption to anyone who feels like they need a second chance. Prison, he says, was God’s way of offering him another chance -- every time.
Renée JeanFebruary 08, 2025

Wyoming License Plates Would Be Mailed, Not Redone Every 8 Years Under Proposal
State legislators are considering a bill that would not require a redesign of license plates every eight years. That means you can keep your plates until they wear out. Also, people would get them via mail, not their county treasurers.
Renée JeanFebruary 05, 2025

TerraPower Nuclear Training Center In Kemmerer Will Be One-Of-A-Kind In The World
The 35,000-square-foot nuclear training center TerraPower is building in Kemmerer, Wyoming, will be the only one of its kind in the world. Plans are for it to train all the company’s nuclear techs wherever in the world their Natrium reactors are.
Renée JeanFebruary 04, 2025

Tariff Trade War On Hold With Mexico, Canada; Wyoming Lawmakers Declare Victory
Monday was a tumultuous day for the stock market, but Trump walked away with some big concessions from Canada and Mexico — just as Wyoming lawmakers predicted he would.
Renée JeanFebruary 04, 2025

Law Catches Up To Man Accused Of Scamming Saratoga’s $10,000 Ice Fishing Derby
The law has caught up to a man accused of scamming the Saratoga Ice Fishing Derby in 2018. He sold an insurance policy against the derby’s $10,000 prize, and when someone won, didn’t pay out. He’s accused of defrauding others of nearly $1 million.
Renée JeanFebruary 03, 2025

Casper Doctor Now Official Orthopedic Partner, Provider For Pro Motocross Racing
Dr. Joe McGinley has climbed the tallest mountains on six of seven continents and invents medical devices. But before that, he had a passion for motocross, giving it up for medical school. Now the Casper doctor is back as the official orthopedic partner and provider for Pro Motocross racing.
Renée JeanFebruary 02, 2025

Champion Thoroughbred Finnegans Wake To Make Wyoming Home In Retirement
Finnegans Wake, a racehorse with world-famous bloodlines, is a champion thoroughbred that’s making Wyoming home in retirement. Horse racing insiders say he won’t be the last, either, as the Cowboy State is attracting more industry stars.
Renée JeanFebruary 02, 2025

Nuclear Power Tech Poised To Explode As Wyoming’s Next Six-Figure “It” Job
The wages for nuclear power techs are expected to range into the six figures, and it’s a good thing because Wyoming will soon need hundreds of these techs. Western Wyoming Community College is training people for this emerging career.
Renée JeanFebruary 01, 2025

A Wyoming Cowgirl Is Australia’s Newest Breakaway Roping Champion
A cowgirl from Rozet, Wyoming, named Shawn Robin Chape is Australia’s newest breakaway roping champion. She lassoed the title in a blazing fast 1.69 seconds, setting a new arena record. She credits her Wyoming roots as a huge part of her success.
Renée JeanFebruary 01, 2025

Eating Wyoming: Buffalo Bill Was The World’s Original Galloping Gourmet
“The Galloping Gourmet” on PBS had nothing on Buffalo Bill Cody, who was the original foodie of the West. He brought Mexican food to New York, popcorn to Europe and gourmet dining experiences to the masses.
Renée JeanFebruary 01, 2025

Governors, Famous Author Fans Of 2025 BIG WYO Winner Diane Shober
Diane Shober is 2025’s BIG WYO winner after 21 years as the Wyoming Office of Tourism director. That had a long line of people, including governors and New York Times best-selling author C.J. Box saluting her drive to promote Wyoming.
Renée JeanJanuary 29, 2025

Even At Nearly $5B A Year, Wyoming Tourism Not Close To Potential, Industry Says
At nearly $5 billion a year, tourism is Wyoming’s second-leading economic driver. Even so, the state’s tourism industry says it’s just scratching the surface of Cowboy State tourism’s true potential.
Renée JeanJanuary 29, 2025

Bill Would Bolster Pumpkin Patches, Corn Mazes And Other Wyoming Agritourism
More Wyoming farmers and ranchers are turning to pumpkin patches, corn mazes and other agrotourism to bolster their bottom lines. The state Legislature is considering a bill that would extend tourism liability coverage for these attractions.
Renée JeanJanuary 28, 2025

Tourism Industry Is Gearing Up To Take On A New Legislature
With 28 lawmakers who are either new or in new roles, tourism is gearing up for a charm offensive. It started with a show of force at the Capitol on Monday, but the lobbying effort is going to continue throughout the year.
Renée JeanJanuary 28, 2025

Lummis To Lead Digital Asset Subcommittee, Will Work With Trump On Strategic Bitcoin Reserve
U.S. Sen. Cynthia Lummis has been named the nation's first chair of the Digital Asset Subcommittee. Known for her expertise in cryptocurrency, one of her first priorities is the passage of a bill to create a strategic bitcoin reserve.
Renée JeanJanuary 27, 2025

Can Bowling Become Cool Again? Cheyenne's Derby Lane Says "Absolutely."
Bowling has been in a decline since the ‘80s, but a high-tech video-game approach is changing that. The new style is what the recently opened Derby Lanes in Cheyenne is all about.
Renée JeanJanuary 26, 2025

How To Sell Jackson Hole Real Estate To Billionaires
If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to sell exclusive multimillion-dollar Jackson Hole properties to billionaires, Latham Jenkins can tell you. It’s next-level effort that goes far beyond just walking potential buyers through a building.
Renée JeanJanuary 25, 2025

“American Primeval” A Netflix Hit That Gets A Lot Of Wyoming History Wrong
Wyoming’s historic Fort Bridger is taking calls from “American Primeval” fans looking for its hanging spot. But there isn’t one, never has been. That’s just one of many things historians say “American Primeval” gets completely wrong.
Renée JeanJanuary 25, 2025

Sheridan’s Le Reve Makes Exclusive James Beard List Of Best New Restaurants
What happens when you hire filmmaker George Lucas' chef for your brand new restaurant? You get noticed. After just four months in operation, Le Reve Restaurant and Raw Bar in Sheridan has made the exclusive list of James Beard Award semifinalists for best new restaurant in the nation.
Renée JeanJanuary 25, 2025

Kemmerer Officials Hope TerraPower Deal Could Attract AI Data Center
As Bill Gates-backed TerraPower continues building a first-of-its-kind nuclear plant in Kemmerer, Wyoming, it has struck a deal with the nation’s largest independent data center provider. Local officials hope that could lead to an AI data center there.
Renée JeanJanuary 22, 2025

Wyoming Industries Applaud Trump’s “National Energy Emergency” Declaration
Wyoming’s energy industry is applauding President Donald Trump declaring a “national energy emergency.” They’re calling on Wyoming’s BLM office to immediately approve delayed permits and deferred lease sales.
Renée JeanJanuary 22, 2025

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

Cheyenne Cutting Down More Cottonwood Trees But Locals Say There's Nothing Wrong With Them
The City of Cheyenne is at it again -- cutting down more of its Cottonwood trees. The city says they’ve been identified as “a hazard to the public,” but locals say there was nothing wrong with them.
Renée JeanJanuary 08, 2025

Those Aren't Chinese Balloons Over Wyoming, They're Helping Firefighters And More
Some of the balloons people see floating over Wyoming aren’t Chinese spy efforts, they’re from South Dakota. One balloon was a floating cellphone tower for a demonstration project that could dramatically improve logistics for wildland firefighters.
Renée JeanJanuary 07, 2025

Two Multimillion-Dollar Wyoming Properties Are In Top 5 Most-Viewed Luxury Listings
Two multimillion-dollar Wyoming properties have made Mansion Global’s annual list of top five viewed luxury listings for 2024. The $9 million Granite Creek Ranch in Jackson Hole is No. 1, while the $85 million Antlers Ranch near Meeteetse is No. 4.
Renée JeanJanuary 06, 2025

Craig Johnson’s Next Novel Drops May 27, Was Inspired By Cowboy State Daily Story
Craig Johnson’s newest novel “Return to Sender” will drop May 27. The Ucross, Wyoming, writer said his latest mystery was inspired by a story he read in Cowboy State Daily about the mail carrier who has the most remote route in the United States.
Renée JeanJanuary 06, 2025

Bagels Are Temperamental, But That Hasn't Stopped Couple From Running Bagel Shop
Any cook who’s ever tried to make bagels can tell you just how temperamental they can be. A Cheyenne couple who purchased Mort's Bagels found that out the hard way. But they've learned that lesson and love running their own business.
Renée JeanJanuary 05, 2025

Wyoming Couple Sells Home To Sail Around The World Over Next 10 Years
Jim Bob and Marlie Schell have have traded their home in Hoback Junction for a sailboat. They're not only going to sail around the world over the next 10 years but they're homeschooling their son on the high seas.
Renée JeanJanuary 05, 2025

Margaret Lovato Has Been Serving Customers For 50 Years At Cheyenne's Diamond Horseshoe
Regulars at the Diamond Horseshoe Cafe describe it as Cheyenne’s Cheers, a place where everyone knows your name. At the center of that is Margaret Lovato, who’s been serving customers there for almost 50 years.
Renée JeanJanuary 04, 2025

Pocket Change Can Be Worth Big Money If You Know What to Look For
While many of the most valuable coins aren’t in circulation anymore, there are still millions of coins changing hands every day. A Wyoming coin dealer says there’s big money in pocket change if you know what to look for.
Renée JeanJanuary 04, 2025

“Landman” Not Always Realistic, But New Hit Taylor Sheridan Show Gets A Lot Right
Real-life Wyoming landmen say Taylor Sheridan’s new hit TV show “Landman” isn't always realistic, but the show does get a lot of the fundamentals right.
Renée JeanJanuary 04, 2025

Embattled Star Plunge Park Remains Open Ahead Of Jan. 14 Deadline
While many media outlets reported the historic Star Plunge would close Dec. 31, it remains open. While its lease expired then, the facility has an extension through Jan. 14 while negotiations for its sale and a court case continue.
Renée JeanJanuary 04, 2025

Industry: Court Ruling BLM Illegally Halted Oil And Gas Lease Sales Is Too Late
A judge ruled Tuesday that the BLM illegally suspended a 2022 Wyoming oil and gas lease. While pleased with the decision, the governor and industry officials said Friday it’s too little, too late to reverse the damage done by the Biden administration.
Renée JeanJanuary 03, 2025

Fans Say White Pine Unchanged So Far In First Season Under Billionaire Ricketts
When billionaire Joe Ricketts bought White Pine Resort near Pinedale, Wyoming, people speculated the goal was to turn it into an upscale Jackson Hole-like resort. So far, fans of the ski area say it hasn’t changed yet.
Renée JeanDecember 30, 2024

Even When I-80 Is Closed, Medical Couriers Still Allowed To Go Through
Interstate 80 is notorious for being impossible to get through at times during the winter. But even when closed, medical couriers are still allowed to go through. Lives depend on it.
Renée JeanDecember 29, 2024

Carmelite Monks Near Meeteetse Use Modern Tech To Build Gothic Monastery
A group of Carmelite monks in the mountains near Meeteetse, Wyoming, are building a Gothic monastery using cutting-edge technology. They’ve adapted high-tech computerized machines to carve stone that looks like it could’ve been sculpted 1,000 years ago.
Renée JeanDecember 29, 2024

Wyoming Businesses Don’t Have To Disclose Owners After Whiplash Court Ruling
The on-again, off-again mandate for small businesses to disclose their ownership is off again after a Thursday whiplash ruling by a federal court. It halts the Corporate Transparency Act, which calls for jail time, $10,000 fines for noncompliance.
Renée JeanDecember 27, 2024

Wyoming Mail Goes Hundreds Of Extra Miles Before Delivery
Wyoming mail is getting ping-ponged around the region, traveling hundreds of extra miles before finally being delivered. Tracking packages online is leaving customers beyond frustrated. Meanwhile, the U.S. Postal Service says it will look into the issue.
Renée JeanDecember 27, 2024

Wyoming Business Owners Could Get Jail, $10,000 Fine For Not Disclosing Ownership
Small business owners face jail time and fines of up to $10,000 for not reporting who their owners are. They have until Jan 13, but Chuck Gray wants Wyoming to fight the rule in court.
Renée JeanDecember 26, 2024

Popular Version Of “The Little Drummer Boy” Has A Silent Star — The Bighorns
The popular Christian rock duo for King + Country uses Wyoming as the backdrop for the music video of their remake of the Christmas classic “The Little Drummer Boy.” The majesty of the Bighorn Mountains helps make the video magical.
Renée JeanDecember 24, 2024

Party Like It’s Christmas 1924 At The Kendrick Mansion In Sheridan
The Kendrick Mansion in Sheridan comes to life for the holidays. The setting serves as the backdrop for a day in the life of the Kendricks at Christmas -- an intimate and cozy trip back into time.
Renée JeanDecember 24, 2024

Cheyenne Porch Pirate Caught On Camera Grinching A 5-Year-Old’s Christmas
Porch pirates just seem to keep getting more and more bold. But people are fighting back with door cameras, drop boxes and pranks like putting old junk in new boxes. That didn't stop one Grinch from stealing a Cheyenne 5-year-old's Christmas.
Renée JeanDecember 24, 2024

How Neighbors Teamed Up With Wyoming Sheriff To Get Drug House Demolished
Residents in a Laramie County subdivision said they felt terrorized by squatters who had moved into an abandoned home and turned it into a drug house. It took months of collaboration with local officials but got it successfully torn down.
Renée JeanDecember 23, 2024

Antique Firetrucks Decked Out For Christmas Draw Crowds In Cheyenne
Christmas is all about Santa and firetrucks at the Bartow family home in Cheyenne. His holiday decorations are centered two antique firetrucks -- a 1942 American LaFrance and a 1938 Studebaker.
Renée JeanDecember 22, 2024

Think Beef Wellington Is Too Hard To Make? Think Again, Says Wyoming Chef
There’s a reason Gordon Ramsay’s famous beef Wellington costs $119 dollars per person. it’s a complex dish that marries high-quality ingredients in a visually stunning way. But Wyoming chef Juan Coronado says with a few smart changes, it doesn’t really have to be such a chore.
Renée JeanDecember 22, 2024

Wyoming Project Gets Boost In Race To Be First For U.S. Rare Earths Production
What could be one of the world’s richest rare earths deposits announced Friday a partnership for a Wyoming pilot plant. It’s a boost for Wyoming to be first in the U.S. to help stand up domestic rare earths production sooner.
Renée JeanDecember 21, 2024

Outrage Over Daniel Wolf Abuse Didn’t Impact Wyoming Tourism In 2024
Global outrage and calls to boycott Wyoming over the abuse and killing of a wolf in Daniel in February didn’t impact Cowboy State tourism in 2024. Lodging tax collections are up almost across the board.
Renée JeanDecember 20, 2024

Innovative Short Wind Turbines Are In For A Tough Test — Wyoming Winter
Airloom Energy will test its innovative wind turbines in winter — the perfect shakedown for an 80- to 100-foot-tall invention born in Wyoming. The novel Bill Gates-backed concept could make today’s 500-foot-tall wind towers obsolete.
Renée JeanDecember 18, 2024

BNSF Railway To Eliminate Dozens Of Jobs Dec. 27
BNSF has pushed through an agreement in arbitration with its unions that will eliminate dozens of jobs on Dec. 27. As more people are cut, union reps say they worry for the safety of the workers who remain.
Renée JeanDecember 17, 2024

Amazon Opens Wyoming’s First Delivery Centers In Gillette And Casper
Amazon has opened its first Wyoming distribution centers in Gillette and Casper. That’s great for people within 60 miles of them, but delivery problems continue for many other rural areas.
Renée JeanDecember 16, 2024

Get Cussed Out, Belittled And Stiffed On Tips — Welcome To DoorDashing
Being a DoorDasher isn’t the cushy, easy job for lazy basement dwellers some imagine it to be. DoorDashers beat up their cars in the worst Wyoming weather and sometimes get cussed out, belittled and stiffed on tips.
Renée JeanDecember 15, 2024

Modular Home Company That Helped Maui After Wildfires Could Ease Kemmerer Housing Crunch
A modular home company that stepped up to help Hawaii residents after devastating wildfires is looking to bring in homes to help with Kemmerer's housing crunch. Up to 6,000 new workers on their way to the southwest Wyoming community.
Renée JeanDecember 15, 2024

What Are Economists Stocking Up On Ahead Of Possible Tariffs? Not Toilet Paper
Wyoming economists are not panicking about the potential for Trump’s promised tariffs. They also don’t think people need to hoard stuff ahead of time — especially toilet paper.
Renée JeanDecember 15, 2024

Cheyenne Celebrity Chef Puts Sprouts, Wyoming’s Newest Grocer, To The Test
Sprouts Farmers Market, the supermarket chain which focuses on natural and organic foods, has an ambitious growth plan and just opened its first store in Wyoming. Cheyenne celebrity chef Petrina Peart was among the first to put the market to the test.
Renée JeanDecember 14, 2024

Teton Pass Commuters Have To Navigate A Steeper, Curvier Drive This Winter
A steeper grade and sharper turns have some rethinking driving over Teton Pass between Idaho and Jackson, Wyoming, this winter. But most regulars say they feel the fix is good enough and they’re ready when the road turns icy.
Renée JeanDecember 13, 2024

Postmaster General Gives Himself An “A” For Gutting Wyoming Mail Delivery
Postmaster General Louis DeJoy is giving himself an “A” for his controversial plan that will gut Wyoming’s large mail processing centers and lengthen delivery times. While he’s proud of the plan, Harriet Hageman gives it and DeJoy an “F.”
Renée JeanDecember 12, 2024

Albertson’s Breaks Off $25B Grocery Merger, Now Wants Billions From Kroger
After two judges blocked a $25 billion merger between grocery giants Kroger and Albertsons, Albertsons has called it off. It's also pointing fingers at Kroger for the merger’s failure and wants billions of dollars in compensation.
Renée JeanDecember 11, 2024

Judges in Two States Block $25 Billion Kroger-Albertsons Merger
Judges in Washington and Oregon blocked the huge $25 billion Kroger-Albertsons grocery merger Tuesday. That bodes well for a lawsuit the Federal Trade Commission and Wyoming have against the merger.
Renée JeanDecember 11, 2024

Buying A Live Christmas Tree In Wyoming Won’t Cost Much More Despite Demand
Lower shipping costs have helped take the edge off a supply crunch for live Christmas trees in Wyoming, keeping prices lower than they might have been. That’s despite increased demand and Hurricane Helene devastating a huge supply of trees.
Renée JeanDecember 10, 2024

Uranium Energy Corp. Finalizes $175M Buyout Of Wyoming Processing Plant
Uranium Energy Corp. has finalized a $175 million buyout of Rio Tinto’s Wyoming assets, which includes its Sweetwater County processing plant. The sale gives Uranium Energy the nation’s largest production capacity of uranium.
Renée JeanDecember 09, 2024

Sheridan’s Famous Main Street A Bucket-List Item For Lovers Of All Things Western
Sheridan has a reputation as a Western tourism gem. And its famous Main Street has become a bucket-list destination for those who love all things Western.
Renée JeanDecember 08, 2024

At First, Wyoming Businessman Thought Invitation To Speak At United Nations Was Scam
Brian Deurloo of Sheridan will be in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to address the United Nations about artificial intelligence and water security. At first, the Wyoming businessman deleted the UN’s invitation, thinking it was a scam.
Renée JeanDecember 08, 2024

Get An Oil Change And Lunch At Gillette’s Expresso Lube, But Not A Beer
Expresso Lube in Gillette already has a unique business model operating an oil change shop on one side and a diner on the other. But you can’t get a beer there after its liquor license was denied this week.
Renée JeanDecember 07, 2024

Tiny Bone Needles From Wyoming’s La Prele Site A Prehistoric Breakthrough
Archaeologists say Wyoming’s La Prele Mammoth site near Douglas has given up another big prehistoric find. They say the discovery of early 13,000-year-old tiny bone needles could help rewrite the history of early man.
Renée JeanDecember 07, 2024

Why It's Against The Law To Decorate Your Vehicle With Christmas Lights
Although you may be tempted to string thousands of Christmas lights on your car to show off your holiday glee, it's against the law. The Wyoming Highway Patrol says it would even ticket Santa.
Renée JeanDecember 07, 2024
Wyoming Overtakes Delaware For Most Per Capita Incorporations In The Nation
Wyoming had 45,000 new business incorporations last year, a 45% jump that allowed it to overtake Delaware in the number of new registrations per capita. It continues a 10-year spike for the state as a popular place to register a business.
Renée JeanDecember 06, 2024

Big Horn Co-op Is Closing Five Stores Across Wyoming’s Bighorn Basin
Big Horn Co-op has a 101-year history in Wyoming, starting in 1923. But changes to the retail landscape have finally caught up with the cooperative, which will close five of its farm stores in small towns across the Bighorn Basin.
Renée JeanDecember 06, 2024

"Longmire's" Long Run On Netflix To End, Craig Johnson Wants A Network Revival
Netflix will stop its long run of the hit Western "Longmire" at the end of the month. Although it's alread been picked up by Paramount+, Wyoming author Craig Johnson hopes for a network TV revival of the series.
Renée JeanDecember 04, 2024

China’s Ban On Rare Earth Exports Good News For Huge Wyoming Projects
China issued a ban Tuesday on exporting to the U.S. critical rare earth minerals for semiconductors, infrared, fiber optics and military explosives. But representatives of Wyoming’s huge rare earths projects say the ban is good news for them.
Renée JeanDecember 04, 2024

Teton County Still Richest In The Nation; Wealth Hits New High
Teton County continues to be the nation’s wealthiest county with the mean household income at $1.13 miliion. The surge in wealth has contributed to a host of problems, including a lack of affordable housing.
Renée JeanDecember 03, 2024

Turkish Company Offers $285 Million To Buy Interest In Huge Wyoming Trona Mine
Sisecam, a Turkish company, is offering $285 million to buy out a minority stake in one of Wyoming’s huge new trona mines.
Renée JeanDecember 02, 2024

Tipping In Wyoming: Even Some Bartenders Are Saying It's Out Of Control
According to one poll, 72% of U.S. adults feel that tipping is expected in a lot more places today than five years ago. And while most are fine with tipping in a sit-down restaurant or a bar, only a fraction believe tipping in a coffee shop or a fast food joint is OK.
Renée JeanNovember 30, 2024

Life On The Farm: Raising Turkeys and Yaks In Albany County, Wyoming
When Michigan HOA rules wouldn't allow Corinna and Patrick Schade to grow at least some of their food, they moved to Wyoming. Now they've raised more than 350 heritage turkeys alongside a growing herd of yaks in Albany County.
Renée JeanNovember 30, 2024

Drinking Wyoming: Melvin Brewing, State’s Largest Brewery, Is About To Get Bigger
A merger between Melvin and Roadhouse Brewing in Jackson in 2022 has positioned Wyoming’s largest brewery to grow even more. The brewery is already beating national sales trends, and it’s looking to add more new products and keep growing.
Renée JeanNovember 29, 2024

Cheyenne Mom Has Turned Tragedy Into A Crusade For Safer Streets
Janelle Jones lost her son Mak when a distracted driver hit him in a Cheyenne crosswalk. Janelle has since been on a crusade for safer streets and stricter penalties for distracted drivers.
Renée JeanNovember 28, 2024

Wyoming Boy Born Without Complete Heart Finally Home After Successful Transplant
Ayden Skillman of Greybull was born without a complete heart and has spent much of his young life in hospitals. Now the 18-year-old is back home after a successful heart transplant and doctors say he's doing extremely well.
Renée JeanNovember 28, 2024

Rival Cheyenne Basketball Teams Donate 12 Truckloads Of Food To Local Shelter
The basketball coaches and players for Cheyenne East, South and Central high schools are rivals on the court. Off it, they teamed up to collect enough Thanksgiving food for a local shelter to fill 12 trucks.
Renée JeanNovember 27, 2024

BLM Outlaws Coal In Powder River Basin; Gordon Says Prepare For A Fight
The BLM has made it official Tuesday — it’s ending new coal leases in the Powder River Basin, with an eye to producing no more coal after 2041. Gov. Mark Gordon says those are fighting words.
Renée JeanNovember 27, 2024

Wyoming-Based Crypto Founder Slams State Over Stable Token Bid Process
Wyoming rancher Charles Hoskinson has one of the top 10 cryptocurrency platforms in the nation, but he’s not eligible to bid to be a vendor for Wyoming’s stable token. He’s blasting the state over its bidding process, calling it unfair.
Renée JeanNovember 26, 2024

Bill Gates-Backed TerraPower Strikes Deal To Get Laser-Enriched Uranium
Bill Gates-backed TerraPower and the nuclear plant it's building in southwest Wyoming have secured another potential source of uranium. It’s struck a deal to get laser-enriched uranium.
Renée JeanNovember 24, 2024

F.E. Warren Air Force Base Exploring Geothermal Power To Boost Resiliency Against Catastrophe
Cheyenne’s F.E. Warren Air Force Base, which houses the nation’s nuclear missiles, is exploring geothermal energy to build up the military base’s resiliency. Geothermal power could ensure the base is functional, even if the overall power grid goes down.
Renée JeanNovember 23, 2024

Meet The Baby Boomer Wyoming Grandma Who Breaks The Mold Of A Cybertruck Owner
The typical Tesla owner is an upper-middle-class man in his 50s. 75-year-old Karen Meister-Emerich, a grandma from Cheyenne, doesn't fit that demographic but loves her Cybertruck, which she bought because she missed out on buying a DeLorean.
Renée JeanNovember 23, 2024

Wyoming’s Only Gold Mine Gets Green Light From State
Wyoming’s only gold mine near Curt Gowdy State Park has gotten a green light from state regulators. It’s a step closer to actually pulling gold out of the ground. US Gold believes the site could hold 1 million ounces of gold.
Renée JeanNovember 20, 2024

Olympic Gold Medalist Bryan Clay Shares Playbook For Being A Champion In Life
Bryan Clay won the gold medal in decathlon at the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in China. He was in Wyoming this past week sharing his playbook for not only being a champion in athletics, but in life.
Renée JeanNovember 18, 2024

TikTok-Famous Jackson Dogsled Business Started With A Dog And A Dream
Call of the Wyld dogsled tours has become a popular destination for Jackson visitors, driven by its popular TikTok channel. Customers say her TikTok stream made them decide to book. They've since doubled the size of its operation more than once, and they own 75 sled dogs.
Renée JeanNovember 17, 2024

Food Freedom Act Saved Star Valley’s Last Remaining ‘Little Switzerland’ Dairy
Jody Shumway had grit, stubbornness and creativity. But it ultimately took the Food Freedom Act to save Star Valley’s last "Little Switzerland" dairy. Shumway Farms now sells premium products direct to consumer, saving their 5th-generation farm.
Renée JeanNovember 17, 2024

Modular Homes Could Be An Answer To Busting Wyoming’s Housing Crunch
One estimate shows Wyoming needs more than 38,000 homes. Economic developers say it's hampering efforts to attract new businesses and workforce to the state. Modular homes could be the solution if the stigma can be overcome.
Renée JeanNovember 16, 2024

Wyoming Has Lost 10,000 Mining, Oil And Gas Jobs Over Past Decade
Wyoming has lost 10,000 jobs in the natural resources and mining sector over the past decade, UW economist Anne Alexander said. Other job categories have stayed close to the same, or increased, but the mining category -- which includes oil and gas jobs — has dropped precipitously.
Renée JeanNovember 16, 2024

Carbon Storage Planned Under Wyoming’s Historic C.B. Irwin Ranch, And Others
A group of Wyoming ranchers, including the historic C.B. Irwin Ranch where Steamboat once lived, have joined forces to attract companies to store carbon dioxide emissions under their ranches. Collectively, they have 102,000 acres available.
Renée JeanNovember 13, 2024

Trump Presidency Gives Hope To Crypto Community In Wyoming
Wyoming’s digital asset laws have been praised as innovative and ground-breaking, but have faced difficulties under the Biden Administration. President-elect Donald Trump has promised to be friendlier to digital assets.
Renée JeanNovember 12, 2024

Enhanced Oil Recovery Is Coming To Wyoming To Unlock Trapped Oil and Gas
Oil and gas wells typically leave behind 85% or so of available resources. Enhanced oil and gas recovery is key to more economical wells, and several companies are eyeing field tests in Wyoming for that.
Renée JeanNovember 12, 2024

Worland’s Grant Ujifusa, Who Changed Reagan’s Mind And Was Knighted By Japan, Dies
Grant Ujifusa helped persuade President Ronald Reagan to support reparations for Japanese Americans interned at camps like Heart Mountain during World War II. Ujifusa, who grew up in Wyoming, has died and will be buried in Worland. He was 82.
Renée JeanNovember 11, 2024

Wheels Motel In Greybull Gets Modern Update For A New Generation Of Visitors
Since taking over his parents’ motel in Greybull, Chris Harwood and his wife Roxana have turned the Wheels Motel into a homey, modern stop. The young couple didn't think they would ever live in Greybull but now can't think of a better place to raise their family.
Renée JeanNovember 10, 2024

Drinking Wyoming: Sheridan’s Frackelton’s Is Back— Again — With Elevated Cocktails
Frackelton’s has struggled to find a footing in an ever-tighter market, but the Sheridan favorite appears to be well and truly back now. And its bar scene is stronger than ever with elevated cocktails.
Renée JeanNovember 10, 2024

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