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

Teton County has again been named the richest in the nation with the No.1 per capita income. That’s a huge turnaround for a county that once was listed as one of the nation’s neediest.

Teton County Continues As The Nation's Richest (And It's Not Even Close)

Teton County has again been named the richest county in the nation with a per capita income of $532,903. Not only is it six times greater than the national average of $73,204 but beats the second-highest county by more than $250,000.

Renée JeanFebruary 28, 2026

The Thunder Plains mile-long horse racing track will be located 10 miles east of Cheyenne.

Bally’s Corp. Eyes Regional Circuit With Thunder Plains, Wyoming’s First 1-Mile Track

International Bally’s Corporation is taking a majority ownership of Wyoming’s new 1-mile track, Thunder Plains, and aims to open this fall near Cheyenne with a $1.6 million racing purse. Long-term, their vision includes a regional horse-racing circuit.

Renée JeanFebruary 27, 2026

Dozens of whistle stops have been revealed for the western leg of Big Boy’s historic coast-to-coast tour. In Wyoming, that includes: Laramie, Medicine Bow, Wamsutter, Rock Springs, and Green River.

Dozens Of Wyoming Stops Announced For New Big Boy Train Western Tour

Dozens of whistle stops have been announced for the western leg of Big Boy’s historic coast-to-coast tour in 2026. In Wyoming, that includes: Laramie, Medicine Bow, Wamsutter, Rock Springs, and Green River.

Renée JeanFebruary 26, 2026

State Sen. Ogden Driskill, R-Devils Tower, has been a vocal supporter of the PRCA moving its headquarters to Wyoming.

PRCA Bill Stumbles, But $15M From State For Move To Cheyenne Not Dead

A House committee gave a surprise “no” vote Wednesday for $15 million to move the PRCA headquarters to Cheyenne. But the money for the move isn’t dead, supporters say.

Renée JeanFebruary 26, 2026

Debbie Pommel speaks with Gov. Mark Gordon after winning the BigWYO award.

From Hawaii Ranch To Wyoming Range: Casper’s Debbie Pummel Is Tourism Award Winner

Hawaii native Debbie Pummel, a Casper resident for 33 years, won Wyoming’s 2026 BigWYO tourism award for her three decades of leadership in the state’s hospitality industry and her dedication to mentoring future tourism professionals.

Renée JeanFebruary 25, 2026

Wyoming's new tourism chief Dominic Bravo lays out his vision for the Cowboy State's No. 2 industry during his first major public address in a forum moderated by Wyoming Hospitality and Travel Coalition Executive Director Chris Brown.

Wyoming Governor's Tourism Convention 2026: New Tourism Chief Outlines Vision

Wyoming's new tourism chief Dominic Bravo on Monday said the very idea that tourism is a "soft industry" doesn't work for him. Those are fighting words, he says. Tourism is the state’s No. 2 industry, generating nearly $5 billion in economic impact.

Renée JeanFebruary 24, 2026

Uinta County rancherJack Sims is seeing signs of new life in Evanston. New restaurants have opened, new businesses have opened, and he believes that is thanks, in no small part, to the growing role of the horse racing industry.

Horseracing Is Sparking An Equine Economic Boom In Evanston

Uinta County rancher Jack Sims says there are new signs of life in Evanston thanks to the horse racing industry. “There’s over 300 brood mares in the Wyoming breeding program around Evanston,” Sims said. “And it’s bringing a lot of money to this county.”

Renée JeanFebruary 23, 2026

Laramie’s 1937 Hitchcock House was once home to University of Wyoming presidents. Not quite a mansion, the nearly 5,000-square-foot house has hit the market, listing at $1.03 million.

Laramie Mini-Mansion, Former Home For UW Presidents, Hits The Market For $1 Million

Laramie’s 1937 Hitchcock House was once home to presidents at the University of Wyoming. Not quite a mansion, the nearly 5,000-square-foot house has hit the market, listing at $1.03 million.

Renée JeanFebruary 22, 2026

A pair of Wyoming college students were among the 300 extras cast in the sci-fi classic “Starship Troopers” 30 years ago. They recall hot days in Hell’s Half Acre doused with alien blood as dead bodies. “I want more blood!” the director would yell. Here, extra Melissa Parkinson poses for a photo in her suit during the filming.

30 Years Later: Looking Back On The Filming Of 'Starship Troopers'

30 years ago this summer, Melissa Parkinson and Tana Libolt landed the most unusual job they ever had. They were hired to be dead bodies at Hell’s Half Acre for the filming of 'Starship Troopers.' They were among 300 who answered a newspaper ad in Casper.

Renée JeanFebruary 22, 2026

If You Want To Live In A Fallout Shelter, This Cokeville 'Basement Home' Is It

If you ever wanted to live in a fallout shelter, there’s a “basement home” in Cokeville, Wyoming, that checks all the boxes. The idea behind these post-World War II 1950s starter homes was to grow upward when there was enough money to go above ground.

Renée JeanFebruary 21, 2026

Why The Same Milk Is Dated To Last A Week Longer In Wyoming Than Montana

The same milk sold in both Wyoming and Montana are sometimes tagged with different “sell by” and “best buy” dates, with Wyoming’s being a week longer. The Wyoming Department of Agriculture says It’s all about the bureaucracy of milk.

Renée JeanFebruary 21, 2026

Four Seasons Resort In Jackson Sells For An Estimated $350 Million

A private investment firm, backed by Michael Dell, has purchased the Four Seasons Resort and Residences in Jackson Hole for an estimated $350 million. Realtor David Yoder says it's among the largest, single real estate transactions in Jackson Hole history.

Renée JeanFebruary 20, 2026

Other Authors

Uh-Oh: Joe Pickett Shot In The Head In New C.J. Box Book "The Crossroads"

Wyoming author C.J. Box told Cowboy State Daily his new book "The Crossroads," starts off dark: Joe Pickett has been shot in the head and is clinging to life. Box's last five Pickett novels have all debuted at No. 1 on The New York Times bestseller list.

Renée JeanFebruary 20, 2026

Future Of Wyoming’s Derecho Supercomputer Uncertain Amid Management Change

The future of Wyoming’s Derecho supercomputer is uncertain after the National Science Foundation announced plans to shift operations to a third party, leaving state and university leaders seeking to preserve its local role.

Renée JeanFebruary 17, 2026

Malyna Si Hotel Jackson's executive chef Malyna Si is a contestant on Padma Lakshmis celebrity chef competition "America's Culinary Cup."

Jackson Hotel Chef Picked For $1 Million Competition On CBS

Hotel Jackson’s executive chef Malyna Si has been chosen to compete for a $1 million prize on Padma Lakshmi’s celebrity chef competition "America’s Culinary Cup" on CBS. Before coming to Jackson, she led a Michelin-starred restaurant in Florida.

Renée JeanFebruary 15, 2026

TerraPower is building a massive mechanic shop for its Natrium plant in Kemmerer, called the Test and Fill Facility. The crane behind the building is 200 feet tall, while the building is 167 feet tall.

Inside TerraPower’s World-First Nuclear Project Being Built Just Outside Kemmerer

Work is progressing fast just outside Kemmerer at TerraPower’s first-of-its-kind nuclear power project. Cowboy State Daily went on a tour to get an inside look at the 167-foot-tall facility that will stress-test massive Natrium reactor components.

Renée JeanFebruary 15, 2026

Trenton Thornock, Founder and CEO of Prometheus Hyperscale and Brady Thornock on their family’s ranch in Uinta County. In the background is Meta's huge data center under construction in Cheyenne.

1.2-Gigawatt Data Center Near Evanston In Talks With Meta And Microsoft

Uinta County is sending letters of support to Microsoft and Meta to move into the Prometheus Hyperscale 1.2-gigawatt data center being built near Evanston. “My optimism ... is for some more good-paying jobs,” said county commission chair Mark Anderson.

Renée JeanFebruary 14, 2026

The taste test arrives. One bowl are tallow fries, and one vegetable oil fries. A chocolate malt is on standby for the taste test, as well as a ranch-raised, grass-fed burger from the Chugwater Soda Fountain.

Chugwater Fry-Off: Are Beef Tallow French Fries Really Better?

The health debate over beef tallow and seed oil misses the most important point — which makes the most delicious french fry? It took a fry-off challenge at the historic Soda Fountain in Chugwater to find out.

Renée JeanFebruary 14, 2026

Cheyenne Leaders Say They Finally Have A Solution For Hynds Building And "The Hole"

Cheyenne LEADS CEO Betsey Hale says she has a solution for the Hynds Building, which has been empty for 40+ years, and the burnt-out area next to it known as "The Hole." Hale says she has the funding to turn the area into 69 units of workforce housing.

Renée JeanFebruary 12, 2026

Members of Team Wyoming were on hand to support the PRCA and Wyoming during a legislative reception hosted by Cheyenne LEADS. From left, 10X PRCA bull fighter Dusty Tuckness, veteran saddle bronc rider Chet Johnson, World Champion Team Roper and PRCA Hall of Famer Bobby Harris, and University of Wyoming Rodeo Coach, Seth Glause.

Cheyenne Leaders Announce Location Of New PRCA Headquarters and Museum

The Pro Rodeo Cowboy Association's proposed new 35-acre location in Cheyenne was revealed during a legislative reception on Tuesday. PRCA CEO Tom Glause spoke publicly for the first time about his vision for the PRCA in Wyoming.

Renée JeanFebruary 11, 2026

Sleeping Giant Ski Area Near Cody Has A Buyer But Not One Who Wants A Ski Resort

Sleeping Giant Ski Area near Cody has a buyer but they aren't interested in re-opening it as a ski resort. The Dallas-based company said they don't believe skiing can be economically feasible but they are interested in creating a summer adventure park.

Renée JeanFebruary 10, 2026

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