Opinion
News
Bill Sniffin: W. Edwards Deming, Wyoming Genius Who Taught World About Quality
Columnist Bill Sniffin writes: “Ed Deming grew up on a dry farm near Powell. And yet he changed the world. Those early tough years helped frame his business genius.”
Bill SniffinFebruary 14, 2026
Joan Barron: Budget Session Starts With A Stunner
Columnist Joan Barron writes, ''The defeat of the election reform bills and others supported by the hard-right-wing Freedom Cause was a surprise.”
Joan BarronFebruary 14, 2026
Jonathan Lange: Restoring Protections To Wyoming Women
Columnist Jonathan Lange writes, “Rep. Martha Lawley (R-Worland) has introduced legislation that restores to women protections that the Court stripped away. HB 117 will be heard by the House Judiciary Committee on Monday morning.”
Jonathan LangeFebruary 13, 2026
Dennis Sun: Cattle Numbers are Dropping
Ag columnist Dennis Sun writes, "Cattle producers who liked cattle prices in 2025 should be happy with the 2026 price predictions."
Dennis SunFebruary 13, 2026
Scott Clem: Checks On The House Floor? Absolutely Not.
Columnist Scott Clem writes, "Every lawmaker who accepted a check under those circumstances revealed something troubling: a lack of awareness of the Wyoming Constitution and a disregard for the moral obligations of public office."
Scott ClemFebruary 13, 2026
Tom Lubnau: Puppets, Phones, and Power — Inside Wyoming’s Shadow Legislature
Columnist Tom Lubnau writes, "We know money changed hands – on the house floor. And during floor debate, you can routinely watch legislators read directly from their phones. We do not know who is scripting the debate."
Tom LubnauFebruary 12, 2026
Ken Buck: Rising Gold Prices Underscore Uncle Sam's Spending Problem
Columnist Ken Buck writes, "Every U.S. resident is $115,000 in debt, and that number is rapidly climbing. The national debt is growing by $70,000 per second. Interest costs, which exceed national defense spending, are now the fastest-growing piece of the U.S. budget."
Ken BuckFebruary 10, 2026
Dave Simpson: These Lunatics Want Open Borders
Columnist Dave Simpson writes, “There was no country of the 11 we visited that didn't take its borders seriously. Unlike our country during the four disastrous years of the Biden presidency."
Dave SimpsonFebruary 09, 2026
Cassie Craven: Without Virtue There Will Be No Liberty
Columnist Cassie Craven writes, "Columns have come out kicking and screaming about ways to not let the Freedom Caucus get 'their way.' You aren’t attacking the Freedom Caucus when you say that. Instead, you are attacking the majority of voters who voted for them."
Cassie CravenFebruary 09, 2026
Gail Symons: Budget Session Land Mines
Columnist Gail Symons writes, "Watch your mailbox between now and the August Republican primary. You're going to see glossy mailers with bold claims about what your legislator 'voted for' or 'voted against.' The accusation fits. The truth won't.'"
Gail SymonsFebruary 09, 2026
Bill Sniffin: Hell Isn’t Freezing Over? Where Is Normal Wyoming Winter Hiding?
Columnist Bill Sniffin writes: “Wyoming has not seen a winter this mild in 50 years. It was 60 degrees this past week in Lander. Amazing.”
Bill SniffinFebruary 07, 2026
Joan Barron: Can Our Lawmakers Focus On The Budget?
Columnist Joan Barron writes, ''This should be a compelling, possibly volatile legislative session, with a bag of issues to wrangle over under the watchful control of the Freedom Caucus."
Joan BarronFebruary 07, 2026
Jonathan Lange: Pediatrics Academy Faces A Credibility Crisis
Columnist Jonathan Lange writes, "Wyoming’s chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics is facing a credibility crisis. For years it has testified in public hearings that so-called gender affirming care is safe and effective. Now, that narrative is crumbling."
Jonathan LangeFebruary 07, 2026
Dennis Sun: Consumers’ Buying Behavior Has Changed
Columnist Dennis Sun writes, "It is no surprise grocery shoppers’ behavior has changed in the last year, mostly driven by economic pressures. But, there is more to it than just the dollars, according to the latest Consumer Food Insights report."
Dennis SunFebruary 06, 2026
Scott Clem: The State Of Our State Is A Crisis Of Vision
Columnist Scott Clem writes, "Wyoming does not suffer from a budget crisis so much as a vision crisis. Leaders no longer speak about what we should build. They speak only about what must be torn down."
Scott ClemFebruary 06, 2026
Tom Lubnau: This Session, A Failed Budget Shuts Wyoming Down
Columnist Tom Lubnau writes, "Stop worrying about appeasement and start worrying about Wyoming. Vote against dumb bills. Vote against social engineering. Vote against unconstitutional stunts and time-wasters. Keep this session about the budget—and only the budget."
Tom LubnauFebruary 05, 2026
Ken Buck: Even Newsom Socialists Can't Support California's 'Billionaire Tax'
Columnist Ken Buck writes, "California already has the highest and most progressive tax rate in the country. What does it have to show for it? The state's own analysis forecasts an $18 billion budget deficit this year, which is estimated to grow to as much as $35 billion annually."
Ken BuckFebruary 03, 2026
Dave Simpson: Sen. Case Asks Democrats To Cross Over
Columnist Dave Simpson writes, “Republican Sen. Cale Case encouraged the large crowd at a Democrat-sponsored forum to vote in the GOP primary in August, to blunt recent advances by Wyoming Freedom Caucus Republicans.”
Dave SimpsonFebruary 02, 2026
Clair McFarland: Lander Lil Doesn't See Her Shadow, But Finds The Cougars On Groundhog Day
Clair McFarland writes, "My fellow Cowboy State Daily contributor Mark Heinz and I gathered on the southern slope of Lander this Groundhog Day, to see whether Lander Lil, Wyoming’s famed gargantuan prairie dog, would see her shadow."
Clair McFarlandFebruary 02, 2026
Cassie Craven: No, Wyomingites Aren't Falling Apart At The Ballot Box
Columnist Cassie Craven writes, “The deterioration of Wyoming politics is a fallacy. There are no big, dark money forces holding someone’s hand when they cast a vote. To argue otherwise is to say that Wyomingites are so incompetent that they take a spicy mailer at face value.”
Cassie CravenFebruary 02, 2026
Gail Symons: But Wyoming Business Council Does Build Infrastructure
Columnist Gail Symons writes: "Lawmakers are trying to to defund Wyoming's primary statewide economic development entity. No public comment. No in-depth discussion of consequences. They're flexing power because they can."
Gail SymonsFebruary 02, 2026
Clair McFarland: Firstborn's Out Here Lawyering For The Beastie Boys
Clair McFarland writes: "After successfully defending the Beastie Boys, my firstborn son is considering becoming a lawyer. I think it’s a bad idea to give a law license to someone who believes society should still allow pistol duels."
Clair McFarlandFebruary 01, 2026
Joan Barron: Freedom Caucus Takes Aim At Supreme Court
Columnist Joan Barron writes, “The Wyoming Freedom Caucus has the state’s high court in its sights, as the result of its recent ruling striking down anti-abortion laws as unconstitutional.”
Joan BarronJanuary 31, 2026
Bill Sniffin: Snowmobiling Is A Sport Perfect For Wyoming
Columnist Bill Sniffin writes: “Snowmobiling is a wonderful winter activity in the Cowboy State. There are trails everywhere. And you can stay toasty warm while doing it.”
Bill SniffinJanuary 31, 2026