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

Texas-based Crusoe is teaming up with Wyoming-based Tallgrass to build a huge 1.8-giggawatt data center in Cheyenne. Pictured is a Crusoe data center in Abeline, Texas, that's expanding to 1.2 gigawatts.

Cheyenne To Get Massive AI Data Center Powered By Gas And Carbon Capture

Cheyenne is about to get its largest artificial intelligence data center yet, at 1.8 gigawatts. Wyoming company Tallgrass and Texas-based Crusoe say the center will be powered by Wyoming natural gas, along with carbon capture technology.

Renée JeanJuly 29, 2025

Cheyenne Man Pulls 9 Gs With Thunderbirds, Then Takes A Nap

Cheyenne’s Bryan “Alf” Grzegorczyk had planned a celebratory drink following his once-in-a-lifetime Thunderbirds flight to salute everyone who nominated him for the honor. But after flying at 9 Gs, all Alf could manage was a celebratory nap.

Renée JeanJuly 28, 2025

Dan Starks, left, and Iwo Jima Association Executive Director Shayne Jarosz at the memorial to the flag raising on the island earlier in 2025. Starks got a rare opportunity to visit Iwo Jima 80 years after his father fought in the World War II battle.

80 Years After His Dad Fought On Iwo Jima, Dan Starks Makes Rare Visit To Island

National Museum of Military Vehicles owner Dan Starks took a rare trip to Iwo Jima earlier this year. He has new respect for the soldiers who fought there 80 years ago during World War II — including his own father.

Renée JeanJuly 27, 2025

Couple Steals Show With Surprise Proposal During Cheyenne Frontier Days Concert

Romance wasn’t in the air when Brandon Boyer and Shilee Calhoun met, but they fell in love anyway. That led to a surprise proposal that stole the spotlight for a moment during Ian Munsick’s Cheyenne Frontier Days concert.

Renée JeanJuly 27, 2025

Moses J. Brings Plenty gave a message of hope and unity at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Indian Village for what will be its last year in this location.

‘Yellowstone’ Actor Mo Brings Plenty Advises On New Frontier Days Indian Village

“Yellowstone” television series actor Mo Brings Plenty is helping shape the new Morning Star Indian Village, a multimillion-dollar project at Cheyenne Frontier Days set for completion in 2026.

Renée JeanJuly 27, 2025

A couple of shoppers stroll down the streets in downtown Cheyenne.

Cheyenne’s Rodeo Week Inspires Huge Shopping Sprees, Millions In Economic Impact

Rodeo season in Cheyenne brings a surge of shoppers and record-breaking sales. Local businesses are projected to reap millions in economic benefits during the city’s iconic Cheyenne Frontier Days.

Renée JeanJuly 25, 2025

The famous Air Force Thunderbirds have touched down in Cheyenne ahead of their Saturday Wings Over Wyoming show. Its first civilian air show was the 1953 Cheyenne Frontier Days, and the Thunderbirds have been back every year since, but one.

Cheyenne Frontier Days Was First Civilian Show For Thunderbirds 72 Years Ago

The famous Air Force Thunderbirds have touched down in Cheyenne ahead of their Saturday Wings Over Wyoming show. The squad's first civilian air show was the 1953 Cheyenne Frontier Days, and the Thunderbirds have been back every year since but two.

Renée JeanJuly 25, 2025

Gap Pucci with Mother Marie Wendy McMenamy at his place in Jackson Hole.

Estate Of Legendary Wyoming Spaghetti Westerner Gap Pucci To Be Bought By Nuns

Gap Pucci befriended two nuns 25 years ago after they walked in sandals with no socks in knee-deep snow to see his crosses. Now the nuns say they will buy the legendary Wyoming spaghetti Westerner’s estate with a promise it won’t become a luxury mansion.

Renée JeanJuly 24, 2025

New Warner Bros. Streaming Service Fuels Hope For ‘Longmire’ Comeback

Warner Bros. Discovery is creating its own streaming service. That’s fueling hopes among die-hard fans that that the popular “Longmire” series, which Warner Bros. owns, could make a comeback.

Renée JeanJuly 23, 2025

Moses J. Brings Plenty atop a horse named Louie, right before the Cheyenne Frontier Days parade with the Cheyenne Capitol in the background.

“Yellowstone” Star Mo Brings Plenty Back In Wyoming As Cheyenne Frontier Days Parade Grand Marshal

“Yellowstone” star Mo Brings Plenty is back again for Cheyenne Frontier Days, this time as grand marshal of the parade. Growing up, the A-lister heard many stories about CFD, and says it’s the most prestigious rodeo in the world.

Renée JeanJuly 22, 2025

Robert Taylor and Craig Johnson pose together for Cowboy State Daily after their "Two Walts" presentation during Longmire Days in Buffalo.

Longmire Star Robert Taylor Comes To Buffalo Every Year Because He Loves Wyoming

If Longmire Days had to pay Australian actor Robert Taylor to attend, it would be far out of reach. The actor doesn’t come for the money. He comes to Longmire Days in Buffalo every year for something else. He loves Wyoming.

Renée JeanJuly 21, 2025

A huge bronze installation of 70 larger-than-life longhorn steers that was cast at Eagle Bronze Foundry in Lander, Wyoming.

Famous Sculptures Placed Around The World Come From Lander's Eagle Bronze

Outside the art world, few may recognize the name of Lander’s Eagle Bronze Foundry. But sculptures created there are prominent around the world, including 70 larger-than-life 6-foot-tall longhorn steers in Dallas, the longest continuous-themed bronze sculpture collection in the U.S.

Renée JeanJuly 20, 2025

Other Authors

Paul Knowles shows a recently discovered photo of Jim Douglas, left, founder of Dixon, Wyoming, riding with famous mountain man Jim Baker.

Wyoming History: New Photos Of Legendary Mountain Man Jim Baker Discovered

In what Western historians call an “extremely exciting” discovery, a trunk containing new photographs of the famous mountain man Jim Baker has been found. It also holds letters written to a lawman by Wild Bunch informants.

Renée JeanJuly 20, 2025

Terry Anderson looks for gold flakes during Gold Rush Days at South Pass City. He was one of several Wyoming Prospector Association members at the event, helping newcomers learn to pan for gold.

There’s An Art To Panning For Gold That’s Part Patience, Part Recklessness

Six tiny flakes of gold in one pan of pay dirt are a nice haul. Panning for gold takes patience and a bit of reckless abandon — then rinse and repeat. Finding those flakes sparks an annual Wyoming gold rush to South Pass City.

Renée JeanJuly 19, 2025

Ian Munsick performs at Cheyenne Frontier Days as the first Wyoming native to headline the CFD stage.

Ian Munsick Makes History As First Wyoming Native To Headline Cheyenne Frontier Days

Friday was an huge night for Sheridan's Ian Munsick, who fulfilled a dream by headlining Cheyenne Frontier Days. An emotional Munsick called being the first Wyoming native to headline CFD the biggest stage of his career so far.

Renée JeanJuly 19, 2025

Artist Chris Navarro, center, at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Western Art Show. In the foreground, his sculpture, Chasing Rainbows, one of four pieces he brought to this premier Western art show. Navarro said it's one of his favorite shows, one he doesn't miss.

Cheyenne Frontier Days Isn’t All Rodeo, There’s Also World-Class Western Art

One thing to know about the celebrated Western Art Show at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum is that it’s not a stereotypical stuffy art show. In fact, it’s considered by many as the signature social event of the Daddy of ’em All.

Renée JeanJuly 18, 2025

Wyoming Company Helps Develop Tech-Driven Early Alzheimer’s Detection Tool

Wyoming technology company Lunavi has helped develop a tech-driven digital tool to detect Alzheimer’s disease before most other tests can. It will make the tests inexpensive and available to anyone with an internet connection.

Renée JeanJuly 18, 2025

Riders taking off for Sinks Canyon, a couple of them with cowboy hat bike helmets they purchased online.

Cyclists Say Exclusive Tour De Wyoming One Of Best Bike Tours In The Nation

The Tour de Wyoming rolled out for a loop trail around Sinks Canyon at about 6 a.m. Tuesday as the cyclists hit the event’s halfway point. Camped in Lander, riders in the exclusive 250-bike event say it’s one of the best in the nation.

Renée JeanJuly 15, 2025

Avianna Frady demonstrates how the Domeco can be used to train for rock climbing during the International Climbers' Festival in Lander.

One Weekend A Year, Lander’s The Center Of The Rock Climbing World

Lander, Wyoming, is an international destination for rock climbers. This past weekend was the 32nd International Climbers’ Festival, which makes Lander the center of the rock-climbing world, drawing hundreds of rock climbers.

Renée JeanJuly 14, 2025

Harvey Deselms, and his dog Dot, with one of the bronze sculptures for the Capital Avenue Bronze Project

Cheyenne’s Capitol Avenue Bronze Project Closes In On 100 Sculptures

For Cheyenne art dealer Harvey Deselms, dreams really do come true. He dreamed of bronze sculptures lining every corner of Capitol Avenue, and now the Capitol Avenue Bronze Project is closing in on its 100th installation.

Renée JeanJuly 14, 2025

A giant 15-foot buffalo skull made by Vic Lemmon from fiberglass forms the entry of the Laundromat and Carwash in Dubois, Wyoming. It will also be a temporary art gallery when it hosts a unique exhibit.

Fluff And Fold With Culture: Dubois Buffalo Skull Laundromat To Host Art Exhibit

A pair of artists in Dubois are planning an art show in an unusual space. Instead of a gallery, their show is going inside the town’s famous laundromat, the one with the giant buffalo skull entrance.

Renée JeanJuly 13, 2025