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
Special Op Is Being Planned To Rescue An 1893 Tree That’s Part Of Wyoming History
Deep in the most remote area of the Shoshone National Forest is a unique piece of 1893 history, inscribed on a beetle-killed tree and it's is in danger of being lost. A rescue mission is being attempted, but some money might be needed for a helicopter to sling the artifact out.
Renée JeanFebruary 09, 2025
Despite Chilly Climate, It’s Business As Usual For Wind, Solar Energy In Wyoming
Wind and solar energy projects in Wyoming are moving ahead with their projects, despite the recent chill from both federal and state lawmakers. Most of the projects are on private property, project managers say, which helps de-risk the projects.
Renée JeanFebruary 09, 2025
After 100 Years, Cavalryman Steakhouse Closes, Moves To Special Events Model
If you've spent any time in Laramie, you know the Cavalryman Steakhouse. It just celebrated its 100th anniversary and is moving to a special events model. The historic restaurant will only be open for special occasions like holidays, weddings, football games and the like.
Renée JeanFebruary 09, 2025
Wyoming Family Learns Solar Panels Aren’t For The Faint Of Heart
A Happy Valley family who lives near Cheyenne found out the hard way that solar panels aren’t for the faint of heart. They do work, and they do defray energy costs, but there are a lot of headaches that go along with it. It helps if you have the patience of a saint.
Renée JeanFebruary 09, 2025
The Coffee Comes With Redemption At Pete’s Sake In Evanston
"For Pete's Sake" coffee shop in Evanston serves more than just coffee. For owner Pete Bass, it's a mission. That mission is to tell his story of redemption to anyone who feels like they need a second chance. Prison, he says, was God’s way of offering him another chance -- every time.
Renée JeanFebruary 08, 2025
Wyoming License Plates Would Be Mailed, Not Redone Every 8 Years Under Proposal
State legislators are considering a bill that would not require a redesign of license plates every eight years. That means you can keep your plates until they wear out. Also, people would get them via mail, not their county treasurers.
Renée JeanFebruary 05, 2025
TerraPower Nuclear Training Center In Kemmerer Will Be One-Of-A-Kind In The World
The 35,000-square-foot nuclear training center TerraPower is building in Kemmerer, Wyoming, will be the only one of its kind in the world. Plans are for it to train all the company’s nuclear techs wherever in the world their Natrium reactors are.
Renée JeanFebruary 04, 2025
Tariff Trade War On Hold With Mexico, Canada; Wyoming Lawmakers Declare Victory
Monday was a tumultuous day for the stock market, but Trump walked away with some big concessions from Canada and Mexico — just as Wyoming lawmakers predicted he would.
Renée JeanFebruary 04, 2025
Law Catches Up To Man Accused Of Scamming Saratoga’s $10,000 Ice Fishing Derby
The law has caught up to a man accused of scamming the Saratoga Ice Fishing Derby in 2018. He sold an insurance policy against the derby’s $10,000 prize, and when someone won, didn’t pay out. He’s accused of defrauding others of nearly $1 million.
Renée JeanFebruary 03, 2025
Casper Doctor Now Official Orthopedic Partner, Provider For Pro Motocross Racing
Dr. Joe McGinley has climbed the tallest mountains on six of seven continents and invents medical devices. But before that, he had a passion for motocross, giving it up for medical school. Now the Casper doctor is back as the official orthopedic partner and provider for Pro Motocross racing.
Renée JeanFebruary 02, 2025
Champion Thoroughbred Finnegans Wake To Make Wyoming Home In Retirement
Finnegans Wake, a racehorse with world-famous bloodlines, is a champion thoroughbred that’s making Wyoming home in retirement. Horse racing insiders say he won’t be the last, either, as the Cowboy State is attracting more industry stars.
Renée JeanFebruary 02, 2025
Nuclear Power Tech Poised To Explode As Wyoming’s Next Six-Figure “It” Job
The wages for nuclear power techs are expected to range into the six figures, and it’s a good thing because Wyoming will soon need hundreds of these techs. Western Wyoming Community College is training people for this emerging career.
Renée JeanFebruary 01, 2025
A Wyoming Cowgirl Is Australia’s Newest Breakaway Roping Champion
A cowgirl from Rozet, Wyoming, named Shawn Robin Chape is Australia’s newest breakaway roping champion. She lassoed the title in a blazing fast 1.69 seconds, setting a new arena record. She credits her Wyoming roots as a huge part of her success.
Renée JeanFebruary 01, 2025
Eating Wyoming: Buffalo Bill Was The World’s Original Galloping Gourmet
“The Galloping Gourmet” on PBS had nothing on Buffalo Bill Cody, who was the original foodie of the West. He brought Mexican food to New York, popcorn to Europe and gourmet dining experiences to the masses.
Renée JeanFebruary 01, 2025
Governors, Famous Author Fans Of 2025 BIG WYO Winner Diane Shober
Diane Shober is 2025’s BIG WYO winner after 21 years as the Wyoming Office of Tourism director. That had a long line of people, including governors and New York Times best-selling author C.J. Box saluting her drive to promote Wyoming.
Renée JeanJanuary 29, 2025
Even At Nearly $5B A Year, Wyoming Tourism Not Close To Potential, Industry Says
At nearly $5 billion a year, tourism is Wyoming’s second-leading economic driver. Even so, the state’s tourism industry says it’s just scratching the surface of Cowboy State tourism’s true potential.
Renée JeanJanuary 29, 2025
Bill Would Bolster Pumpkin Patches, Corn Mazes And Other Wyoming Agritourism
More Wyoming farmers and ranchers are turning to pumpkin patches, corn mazes and other agrotourism to bolster their bottom lines. The state Legislature is considering a bill that would extend tourism liability coverage for these attractions.
Renée JeanJanuary 28, 2025
Tourism Industry Is Gearing Up To Take On A New Legislature
With 28 lawmakers who are either new or in new roles, tourism is gearing up for a charm offensive. It started with a show of force at the Capitol on Monday, but the lobbying effort is going to continue throughout the year.
Renée JeanJanuary 28, 2025
Lummis To Lead Digital Asset Subcommittee, Will Work With Trump On Strategic Bitcoin Reserve
U.S. Sen. Cynthia Lummis has been named the nation's first chair of the Digital Asset Subcommittee. Known for her expertise in cryptocurrency, one of her first priorities is the passage of a bill to create a strategic bitcoin reserve.
Renée JeanJanuary 27, 2025
Can Bowling Become Cool Again? Cheyenne's Derby Lane Says "Absolutely."
Bowling has been in a decline since the ‘80s, but a high-tech video-game approach is changing that. The new style is what the recently opened Derby Lanes in Cheyenne is all about.
Renée JeanJanuary 26, 2025
How To Sell Jackson Hole Real Estate To Billionaires
If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to sell exclusive multimillion-dollar Jackson Hole properties to billionaires, Latham Jenkins can tell you. It’s next-level effort that goes far beyond just walking potential buyers through a building.
Renée JeanJanuary 25, 2025