Latest from Zakary Sonntag
Trucking Community Devastated By Fatal I-80 Hit-And-Run Near Rock Springs
Four days after a semitruck driver was killed while stopped on the shoulder of I-80 near Rock Springs, the Wyoming Highway Patrol is escalating its search for the hit-and-run driver. Industry insiders say they’re devastated by the “freak” incident.
Zakary SonntagApril 29, 2025
Wyoming Catholics React To Death Of Pope Francis With Eye To Future For Church
Wyoming Catholics are reacting to the death of Pope Francis with sorrow and hope. Even a self-described Casper “cafeteria Catholic” says it’s affected him emotionally, and he’s “excited to see who the new pope is” going to be.
Zakary SonntagApril 27, 2025
Tech Squeezes Millions More Barrels Of Oil From Wyoming Wells
Wyoming’s Enhanced Oil Recovery Institute is partnering with private companies to give aging oil fields a new lease on life. The technology is allowing millions more barrels of oil to be squeezed out of existing wells.
Zakary SonntagApril 13, 2025
Robot Horses Are Coming — Would A Real Wyoming Cowboy Ride One?
It’s not science fiction anymore — Kawasaki has unveiled it’s developing a futuristic, hydrogen-powered, fully-functional and rideable robot horse. Would Wyoming cowboys ever replace their real horses with robots?
Zakary SonntagApril 13, 2025
He Thought He Was Going To Die, Then He Killed Osama bin Laden
The man credited with killing the world’s most wanted terrorist tells Cowboy State Daily the May 2, 2011, mission to kill Osama bin Laden “went to hell” from the start. He thought he was going to die, then put three bullets into bin Laden’s head.
Zakary SonntagApril 12, 2025
With Wyoming Already The Least Populated State, Rural Counties In Decline
Rural populations in Wyoming are shrinking in more than half of the state's counties, recent Census data shows. Local officials and businesses in rural counties say fewer people makes it harder to thrive.
Zakary SonntagApril 07, 2025
Instantly More Collectible: No One Wants Pennies, Until They're Gone
President Donald Trump’s order in February to stop minting new pennies has many people saying good riddance. It’s also creating a buzz because pennies are now instantly more collectible.
Zakary SonntagApril 06, 2025
How Much Does It Cost To Die In Wyoming? It Can Be Nothing Or Tens Of Thousands
Dying in Wyoming can be expensive for those left behind, but how expensive depends on a wide range of choices. It could cost nothing, as it’s legal to bury someone in your backyard, or it could cost $7,000 to $12,000 — or more — through a funeral home.
Zakary SonntagMarch 30, 2025
Wyoming Tow Truck Crews Respond To All Calls On TV’s ‘Rocky Mountain Wreckers’
When a semi-trailer carrying 85,000 pounds of cow manure hit a patch of ice and went hurtling into a ditch, Cheyenne’s Big Al’s Towing was called — one of two Wyoming crews featured on the new TV show “Rocky Mountain Wreckers.”
Zakary SonntagMarch 23, 2025
Casper’s Invisible Couple: Homeless, Pregnant And Living In Abandoned Car
For much of their lives, Malachy Springer and Kayla Riley have been on and off the streets. They survive however they can, homeless, expecting a child and living in an abandoned car in a vacant lot.
Zakary SonntagMarch 22, 2025
The Saga Of Disposing Mattresses In Wyoming When "They Have A Zombie-Esque Will To Live”
In the world of waste disposal, mattresses are like retirement deniers — notoriously reluctant to accept their own end. “They’re a huge pain in the butt,” said one Wyoming landfill manager. He said mattresses have a personified and zombie-esque will to live.
Zakary SonntagMarch 22, 2025
Wyoming Trooper’s 2-Year-Old Son Slowly Recovering From Crash With Snowplow
Christian Smith, the 2-year-old son of Wyoming Highway Patrol Trooper Parker Smith, continues to recover in a Denver hospital more than a month after a devastating crash. He was hurt when a snowplow broadsided the family minivan, but is making progress.
Zakary SonntagMarch 19, 2025
Vibrant Faith Communities Still In Wyoming Despite Christianity Decline
A 30-year national trend says fewer Americans are identifying as Christians but the decline has leveled-off because of the country's youngest demographic of adults ages 18-24. Here in Wyoming, some communities have bucked broader trends and are seeing an increase in parishioners.
Zakary SonntagMarch 16, 2025
Too Young To Drive? Not If You’re A Wyoming Farm Kid
Wyoming is one of nine states that still issues “hardship” driver’s licenses to 14-year-old ranch kids. But in reality, growing up rural in the Cowboy State means most farm and ranch kids have already been driving for years by then.
Zakary SonntagMarch 15, 2025
Wyoming Fights Biden Rule Some Say Tries To Price Out Oil And Gas Operators
Wyoming legislators have fought back against a Biden administration effort some say tries to price out oil and gas producers by hiking bond rates 1,400% and more. A $45 million pool of money will help those operators with their bonding.
Zakary SonntagMarch 04, 2025
Snowmobilers About To Pay More To Ride Wyoming’s Premier Trials
A bill that hikes annual registration fees for snowmobilers to ride Wyoming’s premier trails has passed both the state House and Senate. Proponents say it’s needed to keep up with the growing costs of keeping those trails among the nation’s best.
Zakary SonntagFebruary 20, 2025
Wyoming Trooper Faces Worst Nightmare — Responding To His Own Family’s Crash
A Wyoming Highway Patrol trooper faced his worst nightmare last week — responding to a crash involving his own family. A witness tells Cowboy State Daily about the urgent rescue of the trooper’s 2-year-old son, who remains in serious condition.
Zakary SonntagFebruary 18, 2025
Green River Flooded With Semis With Tunnel Closed After Devastating Crash
The small city of Green River, Wyoming, lies next to Interstate 80, one of the busiest commercial truck routes in the U.S. After Friday’s devastating crash that closed the busy Green River Tunnel, thousands of vehicles are driving through town instead.
Zakary SonntagFebruary 17, 2025
Third Fatality Confirmed In Green River Tunnel Crash, 26 Vehicles Involved
A third person has been confirmed dead in Friday’s devastating multivehicle crash in the westbound lane of the Green River Tunnel, officials reported Sunday. It’s believed 26 vehicles were involved.
Zakary Sonntag & Greg JohnsonFebruary 16, 2025
Responders Still Putting Out Fires, Clearing Vehicles At Green River Tunnel
At a press conference on Saturday, officials said emergency responders were still working to extinguish fires and clear piled-up vehicles, after a wreck in the Green River tunnel killed at least two people and sparked a raging blaze.
Zakary SonntagFebruary 15, 2025
Massive Response To Green River Tunnel Crash, Death Toll May Rise
The Wyoming Highway Patrol on Saturday said fatalities could rise as the number of vehicles involved in a massive crash inside a tunnel on I-80 near Green River has not yet been confirmed. First responders worked through the night to fight the fire inside the tunnel.
Zakary SonntagFebruary 15, 2025