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

Jackson Hole Real Estate Sales Soared To Near-Record $2.17 Billion In 2025

Fueled by luxury developments like the Hoback Club, Jackson Hole’s real estate market surged 52% in 2025 to a near-record $2.17 billion. The trend shows no signs of stopping, with limited supply meeting increased demand.

Renée JeanJanuary 23, 2026

Cody city leaders have invited the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association to visit the "Rodeo Capital of the World" as the PRCA considers moving its headquarters. The PRCA said it is taking the offer seriously, along with others, including one from Texas.

Cody Joins Bidding War For Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association

Cody city leaders have invited the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association to visit the "Rodeo Capital of the World" as the PRCA considers relocating its headquarters. The PRCA said it's taking the offer seriously, along with others, including one from Texas.

Renée JeanJanuary 22, 2026

Wyoming is No. 1 in the nation when it comes to sound money policy, a movement to return gold and silver as legal currency. Wyomingites also don’t have to pay sales tax when buying the precious metals.

Wyoming Quietly Completes $10 million Gold Buy Required By New State Law

The state of Wyoming quietly bought $10 million in gold in December as required by a new state law. Sponsors of the law hail it as a hedge against dollar devaluation while critics say there’s no good way to cash in on gold’s increasing value.

Renée JeanJanuary 21, 2026

Beef From New Rancher-Owned Packing Plant In Nebraska Hits Walmart Shelves

Trey Wasserburger, a cofounder of a new rancher-owned packing plant in western Nebraska, is celebrating as the company's prime steaks hit Walmart shelves — sourced partly from Wyoming cattle. “We hope to be in all Walmart stores fairly soon,” he said.

Renée JeanJanuary 20, 2026

The Hopkinson Health and Wellness Clinic in Gillette is cutting 40 jobs, with more cuts possible. The clinic also is dialing back on expenses as the family behind it admits the project grew too fast.

Hoskinson Clinic In Gillette Lays Off 40 As Family Says It Grew Too Fast

The Hoskinson Health and Wellness Clinic in Gillette is cutting 40 jobs, with more cuts possible. The clinic also is dialing back on expenses as the family behind it says the project grew too fast.

Renée JeanJanuary 19, 2026

The Natural Grocers store in Casper is one of two in Wyoming, with the other in Cheyenne. Rock Springs will get the grocery retailer's third Cowboy State store.

How Rock Springs Beat Out Larger Wyoming Cities For A Natural Grocers Store

Natural Grocers nixed a Jackson location and decided on Rock Springs, beating out Gillette and Laramie for the chain’s third Wyoming location. "We’re excited to become the neighborhood grocery store and opening our doors in Rock Springs," the company said.

Renée JeanJanuary 19, 2026

With Gold At Record Prices, Wyoming Mine Project Is ‘Shovel-Ready’

The CK Gold Project west of Cheyenne has all its permits and is “shovel-ready,” the company’s board chairman says. That’s perfect timing with gold selling at record prices and estimates that could add another 1 million ounces to the mine’s production.

Renée JeanJanuary 18, 2026

Montana Busche talks about the wines in Brush Creek Ranch's wine cellar.

Inside Brush Creek Ranch's Wine Cellar: Secret Rooms And Ultra-Expensive Spirits

The 94-yard-long underground wine cellar at the Brush Creek Ranch in Carbon County, which has more than 30,000 bottles of wine, is the 4th largest private collection in the U.S. and 7th largest in the world. It has some of the rarest bottles of wine anywhere.

Renée JeanJanuary 18, 2026

Wyoming Ranch With Historic Outlaw Hideaway Hits Market For $9.2 Million

Thieves Den Ranch, located in Bates Hole near Casper, has been listed for $9.2 million. The 8,481-acre ranch is located in an area Wild West outlaws like Butch Cassidy favored as a hideout.

Renée JeanJanuary 18, 2026

After UnitedHealth left Wyoming, Torrington resident Roger Huckfeldt found a new provider for his 85-year-old mother. That’s when his robocall nightmare really began, navigating 45 hours on hold and hangups to sign her up with the new company.

45 Hours On Hold: Torrington Man’s Insurance Nightmare Shows How Broken System Is

After UnitedHealth left Wyoming's Medicare Advantage insurance market, Torrington's Roger Huckfeldt tried to find a new provider for his 85-year-old mom. That's when a nightmare began, navigating weeks of robocalls, hangups, and 45 hours on hold. And he's still waiting.

Renée JeanJanuary 17, 2026

Wyoming’s expansive Pathfinder Ranches comes in at nearly 1 million acres — bigger than Rhode Island. And it’s on the market for $79.5 million.

New Owner Of Wyoming Ranch Larger Than Rhode Island Revealed (And It's Not Zelenskyy)

The new mystery owner of Wyoming’s massive 916,000-acre Pathfinder Ranches — larger than Rhode Island — has been revealed. Although there was erroneous speculation that Ukrainian President Zelensky bought it, the truth is it's a neighboring land owner.

Renée JeanJanuary 17, 2026

The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and ProRodeo Hall of Fame has been headquartered in Colorado Springs for the last 46 years. Now it’s considering a move to Cheyenne, Wyoming.

Wyoming vs Texas: JAC Approves $15 Million To Lure PRCA To State

The Joint Appropriations Committee approved $15 million to help lure the Pro Rodeo Cowboys Association to Wyoming. The PRCA is interested in Wyoming but other states, like Texas, are vying for it too.

Renée JeanJanuary 16, 2026

Other Authors

Wyoming vs China? JAC Advances $16M Rare Earths Loan In Budget To Counter China

In what he called a win over China, Sen. Ogden Driskill advanced a proposed $16 million state-backed loan to bolster a rare earths processing plant. One industry rep said, "This is truly Upton versus China — this is how Wyoming pushes back against China.”

Clair McFarland & Renée JeanJanuary 16, 2026

Cary Lambert poses with a set of his Happy Valley dog calendars, which have helped seniors on fixed incomes in 15 states afford vaccinations for their pets. At right is Doc Holliday, covered in dirt on a tractor.

Laramie County Dogs Are Helping Senior Citizens Pay For Pet Vaccinations In 15 States

To help senior citizens pay for pet vaccinations, a UPS driver who delivers in Laramie County put together a dog calendar. Proceeds will help senior citizens pay for pet vaccinations in 15 states.

Renée JeanJanuary 11, 2026

The Atlas Theatre in Cheyenne has been closed for structural repairs. It's hoped it will be ready for a Valentine's Day reopening.

Cheyenne's Atlas Theatre Hopes For Valentine’s Reopening After $700,000 Structural Repair

Cheyenne’s historic 139-year-old Atlas Theatre hopes to reopen by Valentine's Day. It had been sagging in on itself before $700,000 worth of extensive structural repairs began. Work on the downtown centerpiece is almost completed.

Renée JeanJanuary 11, 2026

Netflix tried to buy the rights to “Longmire" 10 years ago. If the streaming service buys Warner Bros., it will finally own those rights. Wyoming author Craig Johnson, creator of the wildly popular Western series, hopes for more seasons of the show.

Netflix Deal To Buy Warner Bros. Could Open Door To More “Longmire" Episodes

Netflix has a bid on the table to buy Warner Bros., which would give the company the rights to Longmire, which it tried to buy 10 years ago. Wyoming author Craig Johnson, creator of the series, is hopeful a Netflix purchase would mean a revival of the show.

Renée JeanJanuary 10, 2026

A proposed New York City law pushed by animal rights groups would ban calf roping, flanks, and electric prods — effectively banning all rodeo in the city. Misinformation that promotes anti-rodeo laws threatens the sport, Wyoming rodeo defenders say. Rodeo is a big part of Wyoming's cowboy culture, including the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo, knowns as the "Daddy of 'em All" and the largest outdoor rodeo in the world.

Wyoming Rodeo Defenders Say Proposed New York City Law Threatens Cowboy Culture

An anti-rodeo law that would all but ban the sport in New York City represents a trend Wyoming rodeo defenders hate to see and they hope will not spread. They say even though New York is 2,000 miles away, the misinformation threatens cowboy culture.

Renée JeanJanuary 10, 2026

Shooting At Cheyenne Motel Leads To Four-hour Standoff

A man suspected of shooting another man at a Cheyenne motel Friday afternoon was arrested after a four-hour standoff with law enforcement. The victim is in the hospital with a chest wound.

Renée JeanJanuary 10, 2026

Cody’s 75-hour 911 outage this week isn’t unique, with 15 outages in Torrington exposing how outdated Wyoming's emergency communications system is. It’s become more and more expensive to run and is losing $3 million a year, state officials say. Above is the Wyoming Highway Patrol dispatch center in Cheyenne.

Wyoming’s Outdated 911 System Faces Mounting Failures And Costly Shortfalls

Problems with Wyoming’s 911 system have been brewing for quite some time and didn’t just start to appear when a cable was cut in Cody, leaving the city without adequate 911 services for 75 hours. Problems have been occurring in other communities as well.

Renée JeanJanuary 09, 2026

Cheyenne has approved Project Jade, a Tallgrass–Crusoe AI data center using up to 2.7 GW of mostly self-generated power, nearly triple the entire state’s power demand. That’s 50% larger than the 1.8 GW the companies announced in August.

Huge Cheyenne Data Center Grows To 2.7 Gigawatts — Nearly Triple State Power Use

Cheyenne has approved Project Jade, a Tallgrass–Crusoe AI data center using up to 2.7 GW of self-generated power, nearly triple the entire state’s power demand. That’s 50% larger than the 1.8 GW the companies announced in August.

Renée JeanJanuary 08, 2026

A fiber cable cut in Park County left residents without 911 access for three hours. The situation was caused, in part, by the aging infrastructure that Wyoming’s emergency communication systems depend upon, officials said.

Broken Fiber Line In Park County Exposes Fragility In Wyoming's 911 System

A cut fiber cable caused issues with 911 service from Monday night through Wednesday in Park County. “We are working with 57-year-old technology to make 911 work in the state of Wyoming,” Park County 911 Manager Monte McClain said.

Renée JeanJanuary 07, 2026

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