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Today In Sports: Tuesday, June 23, 2026

Nothing brings a couple closer together than the magic of boating....

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You Still Here? Tuesday, June 23, 2026

Please keep your eye out for this man.....

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Today In Crime: Tuesday, June 23, 2026

Name the only state that ends with the letter K.....

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Today In Trivia: Tuesday, June 23, 2026

The perfect way to deal with SPAM phone calls......

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Bonus Video 2: Tuesday, January 23, 2026

They tried to jump him. They failed, as narrated by MMA announcer, Steve Inman.....

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Steve Inman: Tuesday, June 23, 2026

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Bonus Video 1: Tuesday, June 23, 2026

It's always the guy that gets physical can't take a hit, as narrated by MMA announcer, Steve Inman.... 

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Steve Inman: Monday, June 22, 2026

Now, let's all enjoy a Slinky on a treadmill to the music of the Bee Gees......

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You Still Here? Monday, June 22, 2026

Why it's a good idea to lock your doors in bear country.....

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Bonus Video 1: Monday, June 22, 2026

Getting carjacked but you're a midwesterner......

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Bonus Video 2: Monday, June 22, 2026

Play-by-play announcers love the beer for breakfast guy.....

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Today In Play-By-Play: Monday, June 22, 2026

Headshot of Cowboy State Daily's Feature Reporter, Andrew Rossi.

Andrew Rossi

Around Wyoming

Despite an influx of moisture-laden weather in June, data from the National Weather Service (NWS) show that the last three months have remained historically dry.

For many communities, the period between March 21 and June 20 was one of the driest in recorded history.

Riverton got 1.01 inches of total precipitation between March 21 and June 20, only 28% of its historical average. That’s officially Riverton’s driest spring since 1996.

Buffalo didn’t fare much better, with 1.91 of the 6.18 inches of precipitation it usually gets. It was Buffalo’s driest spring since 1998.

With the wettest months of Wyoming’s year in the past, meteorologists are anticipating an exceptionally dry summer.

“I'm not surprised,” Cowboy State Daily meteorologist Don Day said. “March was so bad, April was not great, May was really bad in places, and June has been a bust. Those months are so critical, and they didn’t come through for us.”

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Confirmation Bias"}]

None of Wyoming’s meteorologists were surprised the 2026 spring season was so dry. It’s comparable to confirming how a murder has been committed when the murderer has already been tried and convicted after a thorough confession.

“Weather systems have been going around the fringes of Wyoming all season,” meteorologist Joshua Rowe with the NWS office in Riverton said. “It affected every region differently, but it was dry across the board.”

The reason for the dry season was the same phenomenon that made the 2025-2026 winter season historically dry. A series of stubborn high-pressure ridges set up in the Arctic Circle, funneling cold, wet weather away from the western U.S.

“The same story is pretty much true everywhere you look,” Day said. “There’s no getting around that this has been a severe drought across Wyoming.”

However, even this bleak outlook has a brighter perspective. Both Day and Rowe noted that spring precipitation wasn’t that bad when looking at communities with older records.

For instance, Lander got 3.25 of the 6.21 inches it typically receives between March 21 and June 20. That’s only 52% of their seasonal average, but it's only the 19th driest spring since 1891.

Casper had its 17th-driest spring since 1939, receiving 2.99 of its average 4.93 inches.

“This is ranking high on the list of driest winters for many places, but we’ve been down this road before,” Day said. “We’ve had some very dry years in the past, and people don't necessarily realize how prone we are to drought.”

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Prognosis Not Positive"}]

If the wettest months of Wyoming’s year were a bust, that doesn’t bode well for the hotter, drier summer ahead. Drought begets drought, as Day described it.

“It's really, really hard to erase or take big chunks out of drought as you get into early summer,” he said. “It’s already a dry climate, and the drier the ground gets, the harder it is to get rain. It takes a while for anything to bust that cycle.”

, most of Wyoming is experiencing Severe or Extreme drought. That’s actually an improvement from a few months ago, but isn’t saying much.

Rowe sees the possibility of drought relief on the horizon, but not for a few more months.

“There is the potential for the upcoming monsoonal season to be active, but it's not a certainty and won’t happen until late summer and early fall,” he said. “We would need a prolonged period of that moisture, with thunderstorms and rain showers developing every day for several weeks, for most of Wyoming to see any real improvements.”

 can change the game in a big way, in either direction. Unfortunately, that won’t have any impact in the short term.

“The Climate Prediction Center is calling for slightly above-average moisture for the next three months,” Rowe said. “That could give us more monsoonal moisture as we get into late July, August, and September, but it would take quite a lot to make a significant change.”

[{"type":"text","text":"Day was aware of that outlook, but “wouldn’t put any money on it.\""}]

“I’ve seen years where active tropical storms in the eastern Pacific Ocean during an El Niño summer drift into the Rockies and create some really wet weather in July, August and September,” he said. “I don't want to give any impression that it's coming or that this would end the drought conditions, but there’s a historical precedent for it.”

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"It’s On Josh Allen"}]

Astronomical summer started with the summer solstice at 4:24 a.m. Sunday. Meteorological summer, however, started June 1.

Either way you look at it, it’s summer in Wyoming. That’s when people must be careful about what they wish for regarding moisture.

Even if there isn’t much precipitation over Wyoming, even a small amount can be enough to generate thunderstorms in the atmosphere. And with the thunder comes the lightning.

“If we're going to get rain, it's going to be likely coming from a thunderstorm,” Day said. “But thunderstorms could also cause lightning-induced fires. If you have wind coming in behind those storms, it’s a real concern.”

Day called summer thunderstorms “Catch 22s.” They’re the best chance for moisture but come with a higher risk of turning a drought-stricken landscape into an inferno.

“Do you want it to stay dry with no lightning, or do you want to take the chance to get wet and have lightning? I don’t have an answer for that, because thunderstorms are a blessing and a curse at the same time,” he said.

Now that summer’s here, the best course of action is to assume, and behave as if, the ongoing situation isn’t going to improve.

“Drought conditions are probably not going to improve much through the rest of June and into July,” Rowe said. “It'll really all depends on the monsoon as it develops later this summer. If it really sets up favorably for us, that would be very beneficial. We’ll have to see how that plays out.”

That said, there’s been a lot of active weather in Wyoming in the latter half of June. While the odds are low, Day said it's possible for June to make a noticeable dent in Wyoming’s drought.

“Getting that tropical storm activity in the Pacific and above-average precipitation in late July would be like 4th and 25 in a football game,” he said. “If you know we're going to go for it on fourth down, you have to hope Josh Allen’s our quarterback.”

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Cowboy State Daily is Wyoming’s largest newspaper with Wyoming’s most experienced journalists. 

<title>Wyoming Records Driest Spring In Decades, Forecasters Expect Exceptionally Dry Summer | Cowboy State Daily</title>

Data from the National Weather Service reveals the last three months have been the driest spring on record for most of Wyoming. That's following one of the driest winters on record. And now meteorologists say they are expecting an exceptionally dry summer.

Wyoming Records Driest Spring In Decades, Forecasters Expect Exceptionally Dry Summer

Employee kate meadows cropped

Kate Meadows

Public Lands

With the nation's 250th birthday celebration fast approaching, excitement is building in the Black Hills.

Thousands of people vied for a chance to watch fireworks burst over Mount Rushmore for the 

. Nearly 103,000 ticket requests poured in for 4,800 spots at the July 3 celebration.

Fireworks are scheduled at the national monument for July 3 rather than July 4 to keep Independence Day accessible and safe for everyone and ease traffic congestion on the holiday, according to Travel South Dakota, the state's tourism agency.

That enthusiasm is already translating into more visitors for nearby Keystone, where businesses are preparing for crowds expected to swell. 

Keystone, a town of about 300 residents less than four miles from Mount Rushmore, has seen a 124% increase in visitors this year compared to 2025, along with a 32% jump in daily visitors, according to Emma Groninger, tourism director for the Keystone Visitors Center.

"We've definitely seen a very large uptick in visitors," Groninger told Cowboy State Daily. "Everyone's excited."

On average, more than 2 million people visit Mount Rushmore annually, according to the National Park Service, with June, July and August drawing the largest crowds.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Fireworks Return Amid Dry Conditions"}]

The July 3 celebration marks the return of fireworks to Mount Rushmore after a six-year absence, although the display has drawn criticism because of western South Dakota's dry conditions and elevated wildfire risk.

Katlyn Svendsen, global public relations and content services senior director for Travel South Dakota, said 30 pyrotechnicians and high-line operators will install fireworks and lighting at designated locations around the memorial.

The state contracted with Pyro Spectaculars, the same company that produced the 2020 Mount Rushmore fireworks display.

Svendsen said the 2026 contract also includes lighting elements that can be used if conditions make fireworks inadvisable.

The fireworks display is a joint effort between the National Park Service and the State of South Dakota.

Festivities are scheduled from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. The memorial grounds will be closed to the general public that day. Attendance was limited to the 4,800 winners of the ticket lottery, which closed April 12.

Temporary road closures near Mount Rushmore will be in effect from 11 p.m. July 2 through 11 p.m. July 3 to accommodate security needs, according to South Dakota tourism officials.

No reservations or tickets are required for activities planned July 2 and July 4. Those events include military concerts, historical reenactments and other patriotic programming.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Trump Visit Still Unconfirmed"}]

Speculation continues about whether President Donald Trump will attend the fireworks display, but no official announcement has been made.

Cowboy State Daily reached out to Gov. Larry Rhoden's office seeking information about official state participation at Mount Rushmore and had not received a response by publication time.

Trump is scheduled to visit North Dakota on July 1 for the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library, according to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum.

NBC News reported earlier this month that Trump had considered traveling to the Mount Rushmore fireworks display as part of an inaugural trip aboard the new Air Force One jet gifted by Qatar.

The governor's office confirmed with Cowboy State Daily on Monday that Rhoden has invited Trump to be at Mount Rushmore for the Fourth of July.

"Governor Rhoden will indeed be in attendance at the historic America 250th fireworks celebration at Mount Rushmore," says an email from his office. "The governor personally invited President Trump to join him at this historic event, and we are optimistic he'll attend. 

"Any announcements regarding presidential travel or attendance would come from the appropriate federal offices."

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Keystone Readies For Crowds"}]

Even though a limited number of people are allowed at Mount Rushmore for the fireworks, Groninger said visitors continue asking about places in Keystone to watch the show.

"We do have alternatives," she said. "People can still come to Keystone and see the fireworks."

Keystone businesses are embracing the celebration with a decorating contest and preparations aimed at handling larger crowds. The town has added trash receptacles, expanded public restroom areas, updated signage and produced additional visitor maps.

Many businesses also have increased inventory in anticipation of a busy holiday week.

Groninger described the festivities as "a nice, classic small-town America celebration."

Those unable to secure tickets to Mount Rushmore can also watch the fireworks in Rapid City, where a viewing party begins at 7:30 p.m. July 3 at Main Street Square. Wyoming country singer Chancey Williams is scheduled to perform, and the fireworks display will be broadcast live.

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<title>Mount Rushmore Expects Huge Turnout For 250th With Return Of Fireworks, Maybe Trump | Cowboy State Daily</title>

Mount Rushmore expects a huge turnout for the nation's 250th Independence Day celebration that will feature fireworks return for the first time in six years. There's also speculation that Trump might attend, but the White House hasn't confirmed.

Mount Rushmore Expects Huge Turnout For 250th With Return Of Fireworks, Maybe Trump

Kolby fedore

Kolby Fedore

Wyoming Life

Sports

Somewhere around mile 80, strange things start happening in the mountains. 

[{"type":"text","text":"Trees become people."}]

[{"type":"text","text":"Shadows turn into horses."}]

[{"type":"text","text":"Voices seem to drift through the darkness."}]

[{"type":"text","text":"One runner spent miles convinced mice were scurrying across her feet."}]

Another knows that if he's awake long enough, he'll start hearing conversations that aren't really there.

That's before the stomach problems, swollen feet and the little voice that starts begging runners to quit.

This weekend, hundreds of runners descended on Sheridan for the annual Bighorn Trail Run, one of the West's most respected ultramarathons. 

Some tackle 18 miles. Others run 32 or 52. A smaller group attempts the full 100-mile course — a physical and mental journey that keeps many of them moving through Wyoming's backcountry for more than 24 hours.

For people who have never run farther than a half or even full marathon — or perhaps never wanted to — the obvious question for these ultrarunners remains: 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"The Drive"}]

[{"type":"text","text":"Ask 40-year-old Daniel Orr and he'll tell you every runner has one."}]

The Wyoming native grew up in Cody and Powell before eventually settling in Maine, where he now works as a freelance photojournalist for The Wall Street Journal.

This year, he returned to the West to take on the Bighorn 100, an ultrarunning event that starts near Dayton in northern Wyoming and travels over the Bighorn mountains. It’s considered one of the most challenging ultramarathons in the United States.

Orr's answer to why anyone would want to run extreme distances in extreme conditions isn't about competition.

[{"type":"text","text":"It's about grief."}]

"A lot of it is dealing with childhood stuff," Orr said. "I lost my mom in 2023, and that was a huge jump start to me seeking out endurance sports."

The races, he said, provided something unexpected for such an individual sport: community. Spending a day and a night suffering alongside strangers has a way of creating connections.

"This isn't my story, but there's a lot of people who come from addiction recovery and stuff," Orr said. "The community aspect is a really unexpected but very tangible thing you find in these races."

[{"type":"text","text":"For Anne Hinman, the answer is different."}]

A former University of Wyoming soccer player who now works as a marketing director and recently moved from Wyoming to Montana, Hinman ran her first ultramarathon at Bighorn in 2021. She's now completed the race five times.

[{"type":"text","text":"Her motivation is overcoming fear."}]

Hinman describes herself as naturally cautious and anxious. Moving to Wyoming forced her outside her comfort zone.

"There are moose and bear in Wyoming," she said with a laugh. "I was so afraid. So, the only reason I'm able to do what I do is because I push past my fear."

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Digestive Mutiny"}]

[{"type":"text","text":"Running 100 miles requires a shocking amount of fuel."}]

Forget energy bars. Ultrarunners often survive on all the things that would raise a mother's eyebrows.

Hinman's race menu includes Nerds Gummy Clusters, Rice Krispies Treats, potato chips and liquid sugar.

"Pretty much any junk food that you can think of is something that someone would eat during ultramarathons," she said.

[{"type":"text","text":"Orr has his own nutritional strategy."}]

The goal is consuming at least 80 grams of carbohydrates every hour while taking in fluids consistently throughout the race.

[{"type":"text","text":"At aid stations, however, dignity often disappears."}]

"You'll mix quesadilla with some Sour Patch Kids or something," Orr said. "Just kind of muscle through it."

The digestive system doesn't always cooperate. Both runners described stomach issues as one of the most common challenges in ultrarunning.

Another offered perhaps the most concise summary of the sport ever recorded: "Never trust a fart."

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Hallucinations"}]

The strangest part of ultrarunning often arrives after dark. By then, runners have been awake for nearly a full day.

They're exhausted, alone and deep in the mountains. Sleep deprivation begins to distort reality.

[{"type":"text","text":"For Orr, the hallucinations are subtle."}]

"You'll think you're seeing a human figure, or hearing voices," he said.

[{"type":"text","text":"For Hinman, they're harder to ignore."}]

During one nighttime section of a race, she became convinced mice were running across the trail and over her feet for nearly two miles.

[{"type":"text","text":"\"All of the trees became people,\" she said. \"Or horses.\""}]

Orr says the experience of how your mind deals with those ultimate challenges can be unsettling at first.

When he completed an overnight crossing of California's Joshua Tree National Park, he said the isolation became overwhelming.

[{"type":"text","text":"\"It's truly terrifying when you realize how alone you are,\" he said."}]

[{"type":"text","text":"Eventually, however, something changes."}]

"The mind just kind of accepts it after a while," Orr said. "And it's really quite peaceful after that acceptance."

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"The Voice"}]

[{"type":"text","text":"At some point, every ultrarunner hears a voice that says “stop.\""}]

It’s the voice that says you've gone far enough and starts pointing out the absurdity of voluntarily running 100 miles through the mountains.

[{"type":"text","text":"Hinman hears it every race."}]

"Please stop," she remembers the voice telling her. "This is dumb. You shouldn't be out here."

Her solution is simple — make it to the next aid station, then reassess.

[{"type":"text","text":"Nine times out of 10, she keeps going."}]

[{"type":"text","text":"The physical pain, though, is impossible to avoid."}]

[{"type":"text","text":"\"Every step hurts,\" she said."}]

Orr broke a toe during a 47-mile Grand Canyon effort and severely damaged a hamstring tendon during his first 100-mile race. He finished anyway.

[{"type":"text","text":"That's part of the bargain, he said."}]

"It's not a matter of if," Orr said of injuries. "It's a matter of when."

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Finish Line"}]

Despite the image of solitary runners disappearing into the wilderness, ultrarunning is rarely a solo effort.

Orr's girlfriend flew from Maine to crew for him while studying for her nurse practitioner certification exam. His brother drove from Powell to help at later aid stations. A pacer he'd never met before joined him for the final 32 miles.

[{"type":"text","text":"\"It's a good way to get to know somebody,\" Orr joked."}]

For many runners, the support crew becomes just as important as the training. They hand over fresh shoes, refill water bottles, offer encouragement and, when things get dark, help convince exhausted runners to keep moving.

[{"type":"text","text":"Eventually, a 100-mile race stops being about running."}]

It becomes a test of what a person can endure through a sleepless night in remote terrain — through aching muscles, stomach troubles, phantom voices and trees that suddenly look like people.

[{"type":"text","text":"For reasons even many runners struggle to explain, they keep coming back."}]

[{"type":"text","text":"One painful step at a time."}]

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<title>When Trees Become People: The Strange Reality Of Running 100 Miles In Wyoming | Cowboy State Daily</title>

This weekend, runners descended on Sheridan for one of the West's most respected ultramarathons. They'll tell you the 100-mile race is a test of what a person can endure: aching muscles, phantom voices and trees that suddenly look like people.