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
At 10,450-Feet, Wyoming’s Highest-Altitude Restaurant Sells More Than 500 Waffles Per Day
At 10,450 ft. above sea level, Corbet's Cabin is Wyoming's highest-altitude restaurant. The eatery, which sits on top of Rendezvous Peak in Teton County, sells more than 500 waffles per day (400+ in the winter).
Renée JeanDecember 04, 2022
At 143 Inches, Jackson Hole Reports Best Powder In A Decade
The snow at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort has been so good this year, skiers tell Cowboy State Daily it feels like midseason even though the mountain resort only opened right after Thanksgiving.
Renée JeanDecember 03, 2022
After 10 Years, Wyoming Whiskey Is Expanding To International Markets
Like most cattle ranchers today, the Meads really needed to diversify their operation to remain profitable. They chose whiskey. Ten years later, Wyoming Whiskey is attracting international attention.
Renée JeanDecember 02, 2022
Autistic Wyoming Man’s Creative Business Opens Doors To A World That Doesn’t Understand Him
Jonathon DeVries, 32, has autism. He was not just dipped in autism, as one family member explained it, he was dunked. With his parents, Jonathon has become an entrepreneur.
Renée JeanDecember 01, 2022
As City Faces Housing Crisis, Future In Limbo For Row Of Empty Historic Cheyenne Homes
A row of historic homes in a picturesque Wyoming landscape sit perpetually empty on land leased to the city by the USDA near the High Plains Arboretum in Cheyenne even as the city is feeling the pinch of a severe housing shortage.
Renée JeanNovember 30, 2022
Kroger, Albertsons CEOs Grilled On Capitol Hill About Mega-Merger
Pointed questions were just what Wyoming union president Kim Cordova was hoping to hear during a congressional hearing into the merger deal between grocery giants Kroger and Albertsons, and she wasnt disappointed.
Renée JeanNovember 30, 2022
Report: Climbing Contributes Millions To Wyoming Economy, Could Bring In Millions More
Neighboring Colorado, California and Utah all have large climbing communities. Smart marketing to these nearby enthusiasts could bring thousands more climbers to Wyoming and millions more tourism dollars.
Renée JeanNovember 30, 2022
No “Smash And Grabs” But Shoplifting In Wyoming Is Increasing And Driving Prices Up
Although Wyoming hasn't been hit by roving gangs of criminals like other states, coordinated shoplifting efforts have increased which is driving the cost of goods up across the state.
Renée JeanNovember 29, 2022
Inflation Prompts Wyoming Shoppers To Go Smaller This Gift-Giving Season
Although some Wyoming communities reported record sales, crowds by and large felt thin at many stores in Wyoming for Black Friday, and even some Small Business Saturday shopping seemed to take a hit in some areas.
Renée JeanNovember 29, 2022
Despite Decades Of Neglect & Abandonment, Trees At Century-Old Cheyenne Arboretum Refuse To Die
100 years ago, plant explorers rode trains across places like Mongolia and Siberia and took seeds and cuttings from what they hoped would be the hardiest of plants to send to Cheyenne. Many of those plants and trees are still around despite the neglect.
Renée JeanNovember 26, 2022
Wyoming Stores Overstocked Because Of Supply Chain Concerns; Could Be Bargains Out There
Anticipating supply chain issues, many Wyoming stores are sitting on large inventories for the holiday season, which could mean some good bargains for shoppers.
Renée JeanNovember 25, 2022
Momentum Gathers On Capitol Hill To Scrutinize Albertsons-Kroger Mega Merger
A congressional subcommittee plans to hold hearings next week to investigate the super-sized merger of two grocery store chains that also has been criticized by Wyoming grocery workers.
Renée JeanNovember 25, 2022
Inflation Has Wyoming Families Watching – Or Breaking – Their Thanksgiving Budgets
Many Thanksgiving dinner shoppers in Wyoming this week have shrugged off inflated prices as they gather their favorite items for family celebrations, putting the higher-priced-than-expected items into carts anyway when they were available.
Renée JeanNovember 23, 2022
Another Wyoming Crypto Company Hits Brick Wall With SEC
Wyoming-based American CryptoFed has an ambitious plan to set up a frictionless payment system that will eliminate costly transaction fee. But its run aground against a federal SEC process.
Renée JeanNovember 22, 2022
Wyoming Car Repossessions Up 20% – 30%, Repo Man Blames “Free” Covid Money
One repo man told Cowboy State Daily that he believes the 30% increase in car repossession is due to stimulus checks the federal government distributed. He said people just went out and "bought stuff" they couldn't afford with the money.
Renée JeanNovember 22, 2022
Wyoming Could Be Global Crypto Leader, But Nobody’s Paying Attention
Wyoming has the worlds best regulatory framework for digital assets, but the large venture capitalists who decide where the largest blockchains and cryptocurrencies locate appear largely unaware of what the states regulatory framework can offer.
Renée JeanNovember 21, 2022
Wyoming Will Try Again To Be First State With Own ‘Holy Grail’ Stable Token
Wyoming legislators will try again to become the first state in the nation with its own stable token, along with a chance at billions in revenue if the Cowboy State can market itself successfully as a highly trusted first-mover.
Renée JeanNovember 21, 2022
Lack Of Affordable Housing In Wyoming Is Killing Employers’ Ability To Hire
According to a 2022 housing study, Cheyenne needs 5,000 more single-family housing units and an additional 8,401 rental units. The lack of housing is a problem all over the state.
Renée JeanNovember 18, 2022
Wyoming Number One For Business Start-Ups But Labor Shortages Are Severe
The hairy, 400-pound gorillas in the room Wednesday at the Governors Business Forum in Laramie were inflation and a 3-to-1 ratio of available jobs to workers in Wyoming.
Renée JeanNovember 17, 2022
Better Mental Health System Could Save More Wyoming Lives
Brad and Jan Cundy lost their son 11 years ago. The parents are painfully aware that Wyoming is ranked No. 1 in the nation per capita for suicide. For them, thats not just cold statistic.
Renée JeanNovember 17, 2022
Lummis: Wyoming Laws Would Have Prevented FTX Meltdown
The meltdown of cryptocurrency exchange FTX which has filed for bankruptcy and reports more than $ billion of clients money is missing, would not have happened if a bill U.S. Sen. Cynthia Lummis has been pushing in Washington, D.C., she says.
Renée JeanNovember 16, 2022