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RJ
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

Laramie County Community College is considering a name change. A name change would be costly, in the six figure range, but would better represent what the college offers, including bachelor's degrees, a residence hall, and cultural activities like community orchestra and theater.

Laramie County Community College In Cheyenne Is Getting Renamed

Laramie County Community College in Cheyenne says it’s time for a rebrand, which will include a new name that won’t have “community” in it. With a new name, perhaps the unofficial nickname "Last Chance Cowboy College" will be no more.

Renée JeanSeptember 25, 2025

Former legislator and retired railroad worker Stan Blake says continuing rail layoffs, like the ones last week in Green River, coupled with more automation will mean more train accidents in Wyoming.

Green River Railroad Layoffs And More Automation Raise Train Safety Questions

Former legislator and retired railroad worker Stan Blake says continuing rail layoffs, like the ones last week in Green River, coupled with more automation will mean more train accidents in Wyoming.

Renée JeanSeptember 24, 2025

The Triangle C Ranch near Dubois has been a working dude ranch for nearly a century. Now the Wyoming property surrounded by the Shoshone National Forest is on the market, listing for $4.95 million.

Nearly 100-Year-Old Triangle C Ranch Near Dubois Lists For $4.95 million

The Triangle C Ranch near Dubois has been a working dude ranch for nearly a century. Now the Wyoming property surrounded by the Shoshone National Forest is on the market, listing for $4.95 million.

Renée JeanSeptember 23, 2025

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Water-Efficient Data Center Model That Started In Wyoming Is Expanding To Texas

A low-water-use data center being developed in Evanston, Wyoming, by Prometheus Hyperscale is expanding to Texas. The data center in Evanston is still moving ahead as planned and will remain the company’s flagship.

Renée JeanSeptember 22, 2025

Clay Gibbons talks about the gangs that inhabited the Hole in the Wall during a 2024 tour. Wyoming’s infamous Wild West outlaw culture has inspired a documentary filmmaker to feature the Hole in the Wall hideout. He uses Wyoming voices to tell the story of the infamous outlaw outpost.

Hole In The Wall Film Uses Wyoming Voices To Tell Story Of Infamous Outlaw Hideout

Wyoming’s infamous Wild West outlaw culture has inspired a documentary filmmaker to feature the Hole in the Wall hideout. He uses Wyoming voices to tell the story of the infamous outlaw outpost.

Renée JeanSeptember 21, 2025

Shelby Means performs at the annual RockyGrass Festival in Colordo. She returned to her hometown of Laramie, Wyoming, this weekend to headline a local music festival.

Grammy Winner Shelby Means Headlines Laramie Music Fest In Homecoming

Laramie native Shelby Means is a Grammy winning bluegrass star who is playing stages around the world. This weekend, she returned to her hometown to headline the inaugural Snow Train Festival.

Renée JeanSeptember 21, 2025

The 116 miles of historic Lincoln Highway between Laramie and Sinclair, Wyoming, is as important as it way when it was built in 1913. Then, it was part of the first cross-country highway, and now packed with Wyoming and transportation history.

Driving From Laramie To Sinclair On Wyoming's Forgotten Lincoln Highway

The 116 miles of the historic Lincoln Highway between Laramie and Sinclair may be somewhat forgotten now but it's still important. Built in 1913, it was part of the first cross-country highway, and now it's packed with Wyoming and transportation history.

Renée JeanSeptember 20, 2025

The theater’s latest high-tech accessory is a move towared the future of theater in which most of the audience can easily cancel out their popcorn crunching, joke-telling and chatty neighbors.

Historic WYO Theater Is First In Wyoming With High-Tech Audio Filtering System

Tired of annoying people who talk through movies and performances? Then check out the historic WYO Theater in Sheridan. It's the first theater in Wyoming to install the custom Auri Bluetooth audio system.

Renée JeanSeptember 20, 2025

Tom Laycock with AARP Wyoming is calling for more regulations around Bitcoin ATMs and other cryptocurrency kiosks, saying that they are portals to fraud. In Cheyenne alone, people have dumped more than $645,000 into the machines, wrecking retirements.

Crypto Kiosks Have Become Portals To Fraud Across Wyoming

In Cheyenne alone, the police department said it has identified 50 instances of fraud involving Bitcoin ATMS, totaling more than $645,000 in cash that wasn’t rescued. AARP Wyoming says the fraud is destroying retirement accounts of vulnerable senior citizens.

Renée JeanSeptember 20, 2025

Jerry Ragsdale of Casper is on a roll. He got his first elk in four years, won $10,000 off a gaming machine, and then bagged a $2 million lottery ticket. He told Cowboy State Daily this was just the second time he played Powerball.

Casper Man Bags An Elk, A $10K Jackpot And $2 Million Lottery Ticket

Jerry Ragsdale of Casper is on a roll. He got his first elk in four years, won $10,000 off a gaming machine, and then bagged a $2 million lottery ticket. He told Cowboy State Daily this was just the second time he played Powerball.

Renée JeanSeptember 19, 2025

Matt Korda, a watchdog who tracks global nuclear weapons trends, was at F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne on Tuesday to highlight Wyoming’s lead role in the $141 billion replacement of aging Minuteman III missiles.

Nuclear Watchdog Visits Wyoming As State Prepares For Sentinel Missiles

A watchdog who tracks global nuclear weapons trends was in Wyoming on Tuesday to highlight Wyoming’s lead role in the $141 billion replacement of aging Minuteman III missiles at F.E. Warren Air Force Base.

Renée JeanSeptember 16, 2025

The Cheyenne YMCA has been serving people in Wyoming's capital city for nearly 70 years, but needs $8 million in repairs and is 800 members short of breaking even. Now the facility is in its last two weeks and will close its doors permanently Sept. 26.

After Nearly 70 Years, Cheyenne YMCA Will Close For Good Sept. 26

The Cheyenne YMCA has been serving people in Wyoming's capital city for nearly 70 years, but needs $8 million in repairs and is 800 members short of breaking even. Now the facility is in its last two weeks and will close its doors permanently Sept. 26.

Renée JeanSeptember 16, 2025

Other Authors

Researchers have confirmed the presence of "kissing bugs" that carry the Chagas disease in Wyoming. The CDC says the parasitic disease is often fatal if not treated, and can linger in a body for years.

Deadly Kissing Bug Spotted In Wheatland: What To Know About Chagas Disease

Researchers have confirmed the presence of "kissing bugs" that carry the Chagas disease in Wyoming. The CDC says the parasitic disease is often fatal if not treated, and can linger in a body for years.

Renée JeanSeptember 15, 2025

A worker connects each cow to milk tubes. In one turn around the carousel, each cow will give an average 3.5 gallons of milk.

Wyoming Ranch Family Builds A 6,200-Cow Mega-Dairy On Eastern Plains

The Burnett family has built a 6,200-cow mega dairy in Carpenter on Wyoming’s eastern plains that helps supply Pizza Hut’s cheese maker. The dairy says it’s pioneering innovations that could change the industry.

Renée JeanSeptember 14, 2025

Train enthusiast and vintage railcar expert Michael Pannell has rescued a 113-year-old boxcar from oblivion in Cheyenne. Inside, the car has signatures of workers, something Pannell intends to preserve.

Cheyenne Man Restoring 113-Year-Old Union Pacific Boxcar

Cheyenne train enthusiast Michael Pannell is restoring a 113-year-old Union Pacific boxcar. Although passersby may think the train car is ready for the junk heap, to Pannell, it can be a museum -- complete with signatures and dates from railroad workers.

Renée JeanSeptember 14, 2025

Former Wyoming Gov. Ed Hershcler's recipe for brown elk had quirky food blogger Bennett Rea skeptical, but he admitted it's "pretty tasty." I starts with a bath in 7Up and is finished with a package of brown mushroom gravy mix.

Internet Chef Unearths Wyoming Gov Ed Herschler’s Brown Elk In Beer Recipe

A quirky chef who has an Internet series called “Cookin' With Congress" has unearthed former Wyoming Gov. Ed Herschler’s brown elk recipe, made with beer and 7Up. He questioned putting powdered gravy on an expensive cut of elk, but admits it’s “pretty tasty.”

Renée JeanSeptember 13, 2025

Tons of timber cut fighting last year’s Elk Fire will be sold for lumber and firewood instead of being wasted, helping local contractors. The fire burned nearly 100,000 acres across the eastern face of Wyoming’s Bighorn Mountains.

Wyoming Timber Cut While Fighting 100,000-Acre Elk Fire Won’t Go To Waste

Tons of timber cut fighting last year’s Elk Fire won't be left to rot as it typically would. The timber left from battling the nearly 100,000-acre blaze across the eastern face of Wyoming's Bighorn Mountains will be sold for lumber and firewood instead.

Renée JeanSeptember 13, 2025

Staffing shortages and equipment failure have created a shortage of Wyoming’s new license plate design. It’s causing counties to scramble, while some Wyomingites, who don’t like the new design (seen in this file photo), are happy for a delay.

Shortage Of Wyoming’s New License Plates Has Counties Scrambling

Staffing shortages and equipment failure have created a shortage of Wyoming’s new license plate design. It’s causing counties to scramble, while some Wyomingites, who don’t like the new design, are happy for a delay.

Renée JeanSeptember 12, 2025

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Judge Rules Wyoming Customers Owe Rocky Mountain Power $23.5 Million

A judge has ruled that Wyoming customers owe up to $23.5 million to Rocky Mountain Power. How much each will have to pay and when remains uncertain.

Renée JeanSeptember 11, 2025

A Visionary Broadband technician climbs a communications tower in Wyoming.

Wyoming Set For $348M Broadband Expansion, But Some Aren’t Sold They’ll Get It

Count the Parkman Bar and Grill in northern Wyoming among those who aren't sold that a $348 million federal broadband expansion will actually reach rural areas like theirs. That’s OK for some, who say they’re fine without it.

Renée JeanSeptember 09, 2025

Rural hospitals across America are closing, but not in Riverton, Wyoming. Fed up with what they say is inadequate health care, a grassroots group of locals are building a new 71,000-square-foot, $57 million hospital.

As Rural Hospitals Close Across America, Riverton’s Building A New $57 Million One

Rural hospitals across America are closing, but not in Riverton, Wyoming. Fed up with what they say is inadequate health care, a grassroots group of locals are building a new 71,000-square-foot, $57 million hospital.

Renée JeanSeptember 08, 2025

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