Tom Lubnau: The Legislature's Odd Maneuvers Look Like Political Theater
Tom Lubnau writes, "It seems like the legislature is scrambling to create campaign issues on hot-button topics rather than solving problems for run of the mill folks."
Tom LubnauJanuary 22, 2025
Candy Moulton: This Wyoming Cold Is Nothing New
Columnist Candy Moulton writes, "We’ve all gotten a pretty good dose of frigid weather all across Wyoming in the last few days with temperatures plunging to 20 or 30 degrees below zero (without any wind)."
Candy MoultonJanuary 21, 2025
Dave Simpson: Trump’s Victory Belongs To The Scorned Underdogs
Columnist Dave Simpson writes, “For folks who consider themselves so much smarter than the rest of us, our liberal friends have failed. Spectacularly.”
Dave SimpsonJanuary 20, 2025
Cassie Craven: That Time A National LGBT Group Blasted A Wyoming One
Columnist Cassie Craven writes, “An interesting moment surfaced in the Labor and Health Committee this week when national group Gays Against Groomers lambasted the state’s most prominent LGBTQ advocacy group, Wyoming Equality, for its dystopian agenda."
Cassie CravenJanuary 19, 2025
Rod Miller: Planning The New Mount Rushmore Around The Ol’ Campfire
Rod Miller writes, "Sourdough forged onward. 'Vedauwoo has all them rocks right by the interstate. If someone carved Josh Allen’s face on one o’ them boulders, tourists would go nuts an’ Buford would be a boomtown again!'”
Rod MillerJanuary 19, 2025
Joan Barron: It Was Like A Religious Ceremony But No One Was Singing
Columnist Joan Barron writes, "So the juggernaut is off with the leaders promising to pass 20 bills in the first 20 days of the session including the five priority bills. The House Freedom Caucus has shown its muscle."
Joan BarronJanuary 19, 2025
Clair McFarland: That's What I Get For Bribing A Rock Star
Clair McFarland writes, "I like to pad barefoot into the guitar room (we used to call that a living room) and yell things like 'Turn that down!' Middleborn’s nose does a golly-shucks-wonder-what-went-wrong wrinkle, and he slams out an E-minor so loud it shoots up my sinuses."
Clair McFarlandJanuary 18, 2025
Tom Lubnau: Short-Sighted Bills Have Us Barreling Toward A Wyoming Income Tax
Tom Lubnau writes, "The Legislature is looking at 'backfilling' property tax cuts with state savings and funds from taxpayers. The reason it's 'backfilling' is because some lawmakers do not want to bear the consequences of their decisions."
Tom LubnauJanuary 18, 2025
Bill Sniffin: America’s Return To Common Sense A 21st Century “Sputnik Moment”
Bill Sniffin writes: “Sputnik moments are those critical moments in time when a society reacts to immense changes and takes a different direction.”
Bill SniffinJanuary 18, 2025
Jonathan Lange: It’s Time To End DEI
Columnist Jonathan Lange writes: By a sleight of hand, DEI substitutes vague notions of collective guilt for concrete accountability to clear moral principles It keeps us stuck in the past and makes present repentance and forgiveness impossible.
Jonathan LangeJanuary 18, 2025
Dennis Sun: The Needs of Agriculture
Columnist Dennis Sun writes, "I’m not sure how the new administration’s policies will shake out, but I hope some of the current barriers and restrictions will go away and make room for better policies."
Dennis SunJanuary 17, 2025
Sally Ann Shurmur: And While You’re At It, A To-Do List For 47
Columnist Sally Ann Shurmur writes, "As we all wait for Monday and the swearing-in of Donald John as our 47th president, some of us are also praying for a miracle from Touchdown Jesus later in the day."
Sally Ann ShurmurJanuary 17, 2025
Rod Miller: A Music Critic's Look At The Wyoming Freedom Caucus
Columnist Rod Miller writes, "Wyoming’s post-punk, neo-emo, proto-death-metal musical sensation, The Freedom Caucus, rocked the opening gig of their Five and Dime tour by slashing their way through every song on their freshman album, 'Mandate,' in Cheyenne last night.
Rod MillerJanuary 16, 2025
Tom Lubnau: Electing An Attorney General Is A Horrible Idea.
Columnist Tom Lubnau writes, "House Bill 102, sponsored by many members of the Freedom Caucus, proposes the attorney general become an elected official. This horrible piece of legislation should die an early death, never to be seen, again."
Tom LubnauJanuary 15, 2025
Candy Moulton: On the Dinosaur Trail
Which came first, the dinosaur or the dinosaur egg? I can’t answer that question but one of Montana’s greatest dinosaur discoveries: Egg Mountain, has the highest concentration of dinosaur eggs found in the world.
Candy MoultonJanuary 14, 2025
Dave Simpson: Wyoming Paid Us To Cut Dead Trees
Columnist Dave Simpson writes: “In the Snowy Range, we made our places less prone to fire. Too bad California didn't encourage landowners to do the same. What a price they're paying now.”
Dave SimpsonJanuary 13, 2025
Rod Miller: The Big Empty Needs One Good Lawless County
Rod Miller writes, “The legislature can set aside a few hundred-thousand acres in Wyoming for the malcontents and the ungovernable. Let them fend for themselves on their own little piece of heaven.”
Rod MillerJanuary 12, 2025
Joan Barron: Freedom Caucus Calling For Unity Is “The Big Switcheroo.”
Columnist Joan Barron writes, "The biggest surprise to me was the declaration that the Freedom Caucus will strive for unity this session. This is a real switcheroo for a group that banned traditional Republican lawmakers from their caucuses."
Joan BarronJanuary 11, 2025
Bill Sniffin: Wyoming Fans Love Josh Allen – Bills Play Broncos In Playoffs Sunday
Columnist Bill Sniffin writes: “Can you believe Josh Allen has been gone from UW for seven years? I never saw a player like him. He was super-human. He was our superman.”
Bill SniffinJanuary 11, 2025
Dennis Sun: With Greenhouse Gases, Nothing is Safe
Columnist Dennis Sun writes, "Americans are fed up with the climate change talk and people telling us what to eat and not to eat. When people go to the store and buy meat, milk and eggs, no one is thinking about climate change."
Dennis SunJanuary 10, 2025
Jonathan Lange: Don't Zone Out Now That The Legislature Looks Hopeful
Columnist Jonathan Lange writes, "Citizen involvement in the election brought radical change to Wyoming’s legislature. It shouldn‘t stop there. To convert electoral success into sound legislation, interested citizens need to stay engaged."
Jonathan LangeJanuary 10, 2025
Sally Ann Shurmur: The Final 15 Countdown To The End Of Football Is Here
Columnist Sally Ann Shurmur writes, “It seemed so far away in August, but we have finally arrived at the final 15 games for both college football and the NFL. And I hate it.”
Sally Ann ShurmurJanuary 09, 2025
Tom Lubnau: Legislative Leaders Must Race The Clock To Pass Good Laws
Tom Lubnau writes, "Estimated at a conservative figure of 300 bills introduced, one gets a grand total of 18.6 minutes per bill of time available for debate on each bill. That is precious little time to consider multi-page laws that will be placed on our books affecting our individual rights."
Tom LubnauJanuary 08, 2025
Candy Moulton: You Don’t See Those Cowboys From The Road
Columnist Candy Moulton writes, “The Wyoming Cowboy Hall of Fame mission is to preserve, perpetuate, and celebrate Wyoming’s working cowboy legacy and heritage. Since its founding a dozen years ago, more than 500 working cowboys have been inducted."
Candy MoultonJanuary 07, 2025
Rod Miller: Make (Fill In The Blank) Great Again - A Campfire Conversation
Columnist Rod Miller writes, "It was a dark and stormy night. Cowboys huddled in a miserable circle, as wind blew the sputtering campfire sideways, and blew snow down collars. The beans and coffee had been cold, and there was nothing but a blizzard for dessert."
Rod MillerJanuary 07, 2025
Dave Simpson: A Deep-State Ovation For Liz
Columnist Dave Simpson writes, "If you ever doubted the existence of the Deep State, you should have been watching Thursday as Liz Cheney – polling-booth poison here in Wyoming – received the Presidential Citizenship Medal in Washington."
Dave SimpsonJanuary 06, 2025
Cassie Craven: The Five and Dime Deserves a High Five
Columnist Cassie Craven writes, “In addition to the Freedom Caucus’ 'Five and Dime' plan, lawmakers in Wyoming should go on a regulatory rampage. They should engage with law-repealing with as aggressive force as they approach lawmaking."
Cassie CravenJanuary 05, 2025
Rod Miller: Let the First Amendment Free Your Mind
Columnist Rod Miller writes, "If a human mind finds the way to God, that is a result of its own freedom, and not the result of government. Here endeth the lesson."
Rod MillerJanuary 05, 2025
Joan Barron: Wyoming Secrecy LLC Laws Create Absolute Nightmare For Federal Courts
Columnist Joan Barron writes, "Why can’t the Legislature do more to lift the corporate veil on the identity of Limited Liability Companies who choose to register here? Or why can’t the state do a better job of enforcing the laws it has?"
Joan BarronJanuary 04, 2025
Bill Sniffin: Predicting 2025: Return To Normal In DC And Tilt To The Right Here At Home
Columnist Bill Sniffin writes, "With Donald Trump taking office, the country will become sane again. After four years of mind-bending craziness and goofy wokeness by the Biden - Harris Regime, orchestrated by puppeteer Barack Obama, the country has a chance to literally return to normal."
Bill SniffinJanuary 04, 2025
Jonathan Lange: Wyoming Needs To Know What Liz Cheney Did On The J-6 Commission.
Columnist Jonathan Lange writes, "How is it that Kevin Greeson, a man like me, could go to Washington for a political rally and come home in an urn? It’s a simple question that has enormous implications for the First Amendment."
Jonathan LangeJanuary 03, 2025
Dennis Sun: It's All About Food Security
Ag columnist Dennis Sun writes, "The public needs to understand ranchers pay for their livestock to graze public lands, whereas sportsmen and recreationists use the lands for free."
Dennis SunJanuary 03, 2025
Sally Ann Shurmur: Amid Tragedy, Great Memories Of New Orleans And Las Vegas
Columnist Sally Ann Shurmur writes, “Bourbon Street at night might not seem like a family destination…unless Peggy Jane the Mom is calling the shots.”
Sally Ann ShurmurJanuary 02, 2025
Rod Miller: Things Might Be Weird Enough Now
Columnist Rod Miller writes, "Dr. Hunter S. Thompson invented Gonzo Journalism by embedding with the Oakland Hells Angels and provoking them to stomp him into jelly. He would have been the perfect journalist to cover the MAGA movement."
Rod MillerJanuary 01, 2025
Tom Lubnau: I Predict The Uprising Of Straw Villains In 2025
Columnist Tom Lubnau writes, "To retain their power, the new folks will have to cast themselves as heroes trying to vanquish some feigned evil. I predict 2025 is going to be the year of the imaginary straw man villain."
Tom LubnauJanuary 01, 2025
Candy Moulton: Best Of The American West
Columnist Candy Moulton writes, "In less than a year, Cowboy State Daily has become one of the great publishers of history of the American West. I’m so proud and pleased to be a part of the crew that generates these stories of the West."
Candy MoultonDecember 31, 2024
Clair McFarland: Kids Are Cooler When No One’s Watching
Clair McFarland writes: “Firstborn cleared a bulkhead in one leap, side-jumped off a wall and somersaulted down the runway. ‘What the crap,’ I said. ‘Those are OUR kids. And they’re - COOL?’”
Clair McFarlandDecember 31, 2024
Dave Simpson: Who Thought THAT Was A Good Idea?
Columnist Dave Simpson writes, “Your typical American mom/dad/voter is NOT OK with their daughter suiting up next to a naked guy parading around like he's got a blue-ribbon entry in the county fair.”
Dave SimpsonDecember 30, 2024
Cassie Craven: The Great Mother’s Goodbye
Columnist Cassie Craven writes, “The Great Mother went out of her element to meet death on its own terms. Usually, the nearby den mother stayed with the pack’s pups, after hardened time and battle wore her bones."
Cassie CravenDecember 29, 2024
Rod Miller: That Day I Crashed My Airplane
Columnist Rod Miller writes: "Seminoe Reservoir was smooth as a mirror, and with the sun behind us, we chased our own shadow across the calm water. But something bad happened as soon as the tires touched the runway.”
Rod MillerDecember 29, 2024
Joan Barron: A New Years’s Eve Party to Remember
Columnist Joan Barron writes, "He got overly amorous and ended up falling in the bathtub. I maintained that I did not push him; he wasn’t hurt and behaved himself thereafter."
Joan BarronDecember 29, 2024
Bill Sniffin: Trump Win? Torturing A Wolf? Death Of A Famous Bear? What Were Top News Stories of 2024?
Columnist Bill Sniffin writes: “So, by consensus, were the top five stories: Wolf torture, cop killing, wildfires, girl scout cookie fine, and Trump’s big win? What were the other big stories?”
Bill SniffinDecember 29, 2024
Jonathan Lange: Governments Wield Powers Of Death, Not Life
Columnist Jonathan Lange writes: "Sunday morning, America woke to the horrific news that a New York criminal had set fire to a woman on the subway and watched her burn to death. If such sickening injustice does not justify the death penalty, what does?"
Jonathan LangeDecember 28, 2024
Dennis Sun: What Will Happen To Agriculture In 2025?
Columnist Dennis Sun writes, "I sure hope they don’t raise the debt limit again, but instead start limiting the debt. Currently, it takes $1 trillion to service the debt every four months. Luckily, we will have a president who will make America great again."
Dennis SunDecember 27, 2024
Sally Ann Shurmur: We Suffered Some Huge Losses In 2024, And Not All On The Football Field
Columnist Sally Ann Shurmur writes, “From the beginning of the year nearly to its end, 2024 has been marked by the loss of people worth remembering.”
Sally Ann ShurmurDecember 26, 2024
Rod Miller: Returning Power to Wyoming People, One Good Idea At a Time
Columnist Rod Miller writes, "Things should get pretty lively in Cheyenne during the upcoming legislative session. There’s a new posse in town and, according to them, their intent is to invest more political power in the hands of Wyoming’s citizens."
Rod MillerDecember 26, 2024
Tom Lubnau: Understanding Where Your Property Tax Dollars Go.
Columnist Tom Lubnau writes, "With property tax relief the centerpiece of political gamesmanship this year, we should all understand how the property tax system works."
Tom LubnauDecember 25, 2024
Mandy Fabel: Two Wyoming Kids Threw Their Rebellious Streak Into New Pool Business
Mandy Fabel writes: "It didn’t take long for Reed Merschat to be impressed by Colby Frontiero's boldness and indifference to authority figures. These qualities would serve both of them well as life’s story unfolded."
Mandy FabelDecember 25, 2024