Business & Tourism

A Montana state agency is moving ahead with restoring passenger service to southern Montana, and rail advocates in Laramie sees promise in a new report from the Federal Rail Administration. This Union Pacific train hauls people from Denver to Cheyenne Frontier Days in this file photo.

New Study Adds Momentum To Return Of Passenger Rail To Wyoming, Montana

A January report from the Federal Railroad Administration recommends restoring Amtrak routes across the West, including through Cheyenne. It specifically recommended passenger train travel across southern Wyoming and a north-south route to Billings.

David MadisonMarch 01, 2025

A Cyclone Drilling crew working Rig 38 hit 6,000 feet in 24 hours, a new record at the time in July 2017.

Why Wyoming’s Oil And Gas Industry Isn’t Yet “Drill Baby Drilling”

Optimism is high in Wyoming’s oil and gas sector with President Donald Trump's promise to "drill, baby, drill." But there’s also uncertainty about how more drilling will impact prices.

Renée JeanMarch 01, 2025

Interstate 80 is one of the busiest — and most dangerous — east-west routes across Wyoming and the nation.

Trucking Fatalities Have Increased Since Feds Stopped Suspending Truckers Who Can’t Read English

Fatalities involving large commercial trucks have been on the rise since 2016. That was the year the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration issued a memorandum telling safety inspectors not to suspend commercial drivers for failing to communicate well in English.

Clair McFarlandFebruary 28, 2025

Wyoming’s lumber industry isn’t huge, but is heartened to hear Trump say America doesn’t need lumber from Canada. But the industry needs more than tariffs to save it — like changes to forest management. Here, logging trucks collect usable timber harvested while fighting the Elk Fire in the Bighorn National Forest in fall 2024.

Trump Says US Doesn’t Need Canada’s Timber, And Wyoming’s Lumber Industry Agrees

Wyoming’s lumber industry isn’t huge, but was heartened to hear President Trump say America doesn’t need timber from Canada. The industry says it needs more than tariffs to save it — like changes to forest management.

Renée JeanFebruary 28, 2025

American Rare Earths is reporting even better returns at its Halleck Creek rare earth mining site. That helps grow Wyoming’s lead in the race for domestic production — and processing — of critical rare earth minerals.

Wyoming Grows Lead In Race For Rare Earths Thanks To Bigger Haul From Huge Deposit

Wyoming Rare (USA) Inc. is reporting even better returns at its Halleck Creek rare earth mining site. That helps grow Wyoming’s lead in the race for domestic production — and processing — of critical rare earth minerals.

Renée JeanFebruary 26, 2025

Dr. McGinley and Lochie Hughes at an elite racer training facility, Pit Fit, in Indianapolis, IN. Dr. McGinley was there educating racers and their teams about common orthopedic injuries and the latest treatments.

Wyoming’s McGinley Clinic Gains National Spotlight with Indy NXT Sponsorship

A Wyoming-based medical clinic is making waves on the national and international stage, drawing top-tier professional athletes to Casper and Gillette for world-class orthopedic treatment.

Wyoming’s Oldest General Store In Aladdin Loses Its 127-Year-Old Post Office

The tiny outpost of Aladdin in northeast Wyoming is home to the state’s oldest general store, which has also served as a local post office since 1898. But no more. The Postal Service has discontinued its contract with the Aladdin General Store.

Renée JeanFebruary 25, 2025

For 50 years, Jerry Kintzler has been designing flower arrangements from his store, Jerry’s Flowers, in downtown Riverton, Wyoming.

Meet Jerry Kintzler: 55 Years Of Designing Flower Arrangements — And Saving Lives

Jerry Kintzler has been designing flower arrangements for 55 years in Riverton and has even saved lives with his flower knowledge. At least twice, he warned people that premature dead flowers were a sign they had gas leaks in their homes.

Jackie DorothyFebruary 23, 2025

Rooftop systems are less prone to breaking than ground-based systems, according to Creative Energies out of Lander a company thats been in Wyoming since 2001.

Not All Solar Panel Systems Are Nightmares For Their Owners

Several Cowboy State Daily readers wrote in to talk about their experiences with solar panels after a Happy Valley family living near Cheyenne shared their nightmare experience. They also shared tips on how to select the right system.

Renée JeanFebruary 23, 2025

Sun Valley Resort in Idaho is recognized as a world-class ski area. A recent Idaho Supreme Court ruling against Sun Valley stopped ski industry watchers in their tracks and raised concerns about an avalanche of liability lawsuits.

‘Nuclear Verdicts’ Against Big Ski Resorts Could Price Mom-And-Pop Areas Out Of Business

A widow suing the world-famous Sun Valley Resort in Idaho over the death of her husband could end with a “nuclear verdict” that could spike insurance rates across the industry. That could price mom-and-pop areas like those in Wyoming out of business.

David MadisonFebruary 23, 2025

Six Degrees And Snowing At 7:30 p.m. And Nate Ditto Is Cutting Down A 50-Foot Tree

Arborist Nate Ditto was trying to beat the clock by cutting down a 50-foot tree before a snowstorm hit Cheyenne last week. To make things more interesting, it was six-degrees and snowing at 7:30 p.m. and he was still at it. He says he likes the adrenaline he gets from his job.

Renée JeanFebruary 23, 2025

Clock Ticking Again For Small Businesses To Report Ownership

Small business owners now have until March 21 to file forms disclosing their ownership. But even the federal agency in charge isn’t firm on that deadline with legislation and a court case pending.

Renée JeanFebruary 20, 2025

Wyoming Native Reid Rasner Puts Together $47.45 Billion Offer To Buy TikTok

Casper native Reid Rasner has put together a $47.45 billion bid to bring the popular social media app TikTok to Wyoming, which he said would keep the app away from China and boost the state’s economy.

Renée JeanFebruary 20, 2025

The Wyoming Highway Patrol Association voted last week to buy bitcoin, which has exploded by 400% over the last five years. The association is the first law enforcement group in the United States to invest in bitcoin.

WHP Association May Be First Law Enforcement Group In Nation To Buy Into Bitcoin

The Wyoming Highway Patrol Association voted last week to buy bitcoin, which has exploded by 400% over the last five years. The association says it may be the first law enforcement group in the United States to invest in bitcoin.

Renée JeanFebruary 18, 2025

Wildfires Help Push 40,000 Head Drop To Wyoming’s 2024 Cattle Production

Despite a 3% decrease in cattle production in 2024, Wyoming ranchers expect 2025 will bring back a strong cattle market. The Wyoming Stock Growers Association says part of the reason for the 40,000-head decrease was the severe wildfire season.

Jackie DorothyFebruary 18, 2025

Despite widespread distaste for lab-grown meat in Wyoming, ranchers see problems with bans like the ones instituted in Montana and Nebraska. What they want instead are clear labels.

Wyoming And Montana Legislators Seek To Ban Lab-Grown Meat

Allusions to “Frankenstein” and “The Matrix” punctuate discussion of bills designed to protect “food traditions” and ban the sale of meat created in a laboratory. Wyoming and Montana are among states trying to ban it.

David MadisonFebruary 17, 2025

Are you ready for the zombie apocalypse? You could be with the help of Zombie Tools, a Montana business that makes custom weapons.

Montana Man Has Spent 20 Years Forging Weapons To Stave Off A Zombie Uprising

Joey Arbour has made as many as 10,000 custom blades and knives since he started his Montana-based company Zombie Tools. His blades have been featured in television and movies like “Dune.”

Anna-Louise JacksonFebruary 16, 2025

The Fools’ End Club was founded in 2016 to provide Missoula’s cigar aficionados with discriminating tastes and a wish for exclusivity a private club where they can come to enjoy camaraderie and a good leaf of tobacco,” according to promotional materials. Recent proposed legislation wafting through the Montana Capitol Building currently aspires to make it easier to open public cigar bars.

Cigar Bars Making A Comeback In A Post-Smoking World

Rocky Mountain states see stogie smoke rising around a growing trend of opening more cigar bars and protecting local cigar shops with tax breaks. Wyoming and Montana both are pushing forward to promote the industry.

David MadisonFebruary 16, 2025

Willie Banks preparfes eggs on the grill at Diamond Horseshoe Cafe in Cheyenne.

Egg Prices Have Restaurants Scrambling When It Comes To Breakfast

Wyoming restaurants are facing higher and higher egg prices amid an outbreak of the bird flu. Because of the huge increase in prices, some Wyoming restaurants say they are closing down temporarily.

Renée JeanFebruary 15, 2025

Google tapped Wyoming outdoor wildlife guide Adam Lackner for its Super Bowl ad campaign, showcasing all 50 states. The Cowboy State’s ad shows off wild Wyoming, as well as one of the state’s leading outdoor guide businesses.

Google Hired Yellowstone, Grand Teton Wildlife Guide For Super Bowl Ad

Google tapped a Wyoming outdoor wildlife guide for its Super Bowl ad campaign, showcasing all 50 states. The Cowboy State’s ad shows off wild Wyoming, as well as one of the state’s leading outdoor guide businesses.

Renée JeanFebruary 12, 2025

The University of Wyoming spent $2 million to run a 30-second ad during the Super Bowl featuring newly minted NFL MVP and UW alum Josh Allen created quite a buzz. But it’s still “too early to say” whether it will pay off in higher enrollments.

UW Says It's “Too Early To Say” Return On $2 Million Josh Allen Super Bowl Ad

The University of Wyoming spent $2 million to run a 30-second ad during the Super Bowl featuring newly minted NFL MVP and UW alum Josh Allen to create a buzz. The university says it's “too early to say” whether the strategy will pay off in higher enrollments.

Dale KillingbeckFebruary 11, 2025

This office building used by Registered Agents Inc. in Sheridan is the official address for about 120,000 LLCs registered in Wyoming, Fremont County Assessor Tara Berg estimates.

Already No. 1 For LLCs, Can Wyoming Attract The Huge Companies Leaving Delaware?

Tesla, Meta, Dropbox are a few of the huge tech companies leaving Delaware for other states like Texas and Nevada. Why not Wyoming, which has surpassed Delaware for No. 1 in business incorporations per capita?

Renée JeanFebruary 11, 2025

The Cabin That’s Almost A Mansion On Last Chance Road In Jackson Hole

For a mere $11.5 million, resort-style life awaits in a cabin that’s almost a mansion in Jackson Hole. With a 720 credit rating and a $2.7 million downpayment, financial calculators put your monthly payments at just $54,000, for a 30-year loan.

Renée JeanFebruary 10, 2025

Caitlin Youngquist (right) teaching a compost workshop for Wyoming Dept of Environmental Quality

The Art Of Turning Manure To Compost

Manure management is one of the biggest problems faced by feedlots. One soil scientist is helping a feedlot in Worland make better use of their manure by creating more compost for local farmers and gardeners.

Jackie DorothyFebruary 09, 2025

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