Wyoming Life | Cowboy State Daily

Diya, a stray dog, sits at the Split Rock Rest Area near Jeffrey City, where she spent over a month outsmarting rescue traps before being walked 90 miles to safety.

How The Uncatchable Wyoming Rest Area Dog Was Secretly Walked 90 Miles Home To Safety

A Lander man was convinced traditional traps would never capture the celebrity stray dog Diya at Split Rock Rest Area near Jeffrey City, so he secretly coaxed her to walk 90 miles to his home. “She followed me and my dog every step of the way,” the hiker said.

Emma Jane JacksonOctober 23, 2026

Former state House District 58 Rep. Pat Sweeney speaks during Wendesday's Midwest town hall meeting.

‘It’ll Kill The Community’: Midwest Rallies To Save Grades 6-12 From Chopping Block

More than 100 people packed into the Midwest Recreation Center on Wednesday to begin a full-court press to save grades 6-12 of their school from the chopping block. “I think it’ll kill the community," said a student who could lose becoming valedictorian.

Greg JohnsonOctober 22, 2026

The story of a giant 28-foot inflatable pumpkin rampaging more than 60 miles across southeastern Wyoming is being reported by legitimate news outlets as “breaking news.” It’s fake, another Casper Planet satire story picked up and reported as “real” news.

It's Fake! Giant Inflatable Pumpkin Blown Across Wyoming Reported As ‘Real’ News

The story of a giant 28-foot inflatable pumpkin rampaging more than 60 miles across southeastern Wyoming is being reported by news outlets as “breaking news.” It’s fake, another Casper Planet satire story picked up and reported as “real” news.

Greg JohnsonOctober 21, 2026

David Rollingcloud Jackson, center, is pictured with family members in a photo shared by his daughter-in-law, Danni Wong.

Family Says Bus Driver For Popular Band Died Behind Wheel Before Rolling On I-25

The driver for a popular band died from a medical emergency before the tour bus he was operating crossed three lanes of Interstate 25 and rolled near Cheyenne, his family says. "It was a terrifying experience for everyone on board," said a band member.

Kolby FedoreOctober 20, 2026

Seven-year-old Octaveia “Tavey” Mindrum is cared for aboard an AirLife medical aircraft during her transfer from Gillette to Children’s Hospital Colorado after becoming severely ill with rhinovirus.

Common Cold Virus Leaves Healthy Gillette 7-Year-Old In Acute Respiratory Failure

An otherwise healthy 7-year-old Gillette girl was airlifted to Denver last week after a routine cold suddenly turned serious. Her blood-oxygen level had plummeted, her heart was racing above 150 beats per minute and needed continuous high-flow oxygen.

Kolby FedoreOctober 19, 2026

Park County Courthouse Isn’t Haunted — Unless You Count The Ghost Who Makes Toast

The 114-year-old Park County Courthouse in Cody doesn't seem to have any vengeful spirits, unless you count the ghost who makes toast on the second floor. “Whoever opens the courthouse will smell toast” when nobody’s there, said one staffer.

Andrew RossiOctober 18, 2026

Tosh Asano carries the ball during an inter-camp game.

Statistically, Heart Mountain Eagles Were Wyoming's Best High School Football Team

The Heart Mountain Eagles had an .857 winning percentage from 1943-1944, all of them inside a World War II internment camp. “The adversity these guys had to face is the kind of stuff that builds resilience, their accomplishments shouldn’t be forgotten," one historian said.

Leo Wolfson For Cowboy State DailyOctober 18, 2026

When a Pennsylvania couple saw photos of a big Bat-Signal lighting up a hillside over Afton, Wyoming, Emily and Justin Sweitzer drove 2,000 miles to see it. It was a tribute to their 7-year-old son Issac, a huge Batman fan, who died seven years ago in a car crash.

Grieving Parents Drive 2,000 Miles To See Afton Man's Bat-Signal On Hillside

When a Pennsylvania couple saw photos of a big Bat-Signal lighting up a hillside over Afton, Wyoming, they drove 2,000 miles to see it. It was a tribute to their 7-year-old son, a huge Batman fan, who died seven years ago in a car crash.

Renée JeanOctober 18, 2026

After fleeing the Chicago mafia, "Old Steve" Gorshum spent 20 years tending goats and living in a hand-built stone home in the Bighorns, telling his neighbors he was hiding from his past. Old Steve often shared tales of his mafia days with neighbors.

‘Old Steve’ Hid From Chicago Mob For 20 Years Raising Goats Near Buffalo, Wyoming

A former Chicago mobster known as “Old Steve” spent 20 years hiding out in a squat, home-built stone house outside of Buffalo raising goats. It was far removed from his former life in the mafia as a guy who knew where the bodies were buried — and didn’t want to join them.

Andrew RossiOctober 18, 2026

Bryan and Katie Mantle handle the daily operations at Mantle Ranch that involves meeting BLM requirements, hosting people who want to adopt horses, and all the spontaneity that 118 horses can deliver in a training process.

Meet The Wheatland Ranchers Who Tame Wild Mustangs Before They’re Adopted

A Wheatland ranch family has dedicated the past 30 years to taming about 2,000 wild Wyoming mustangs before they’re adopted. Getting them “gentled” and ready to ride requires a lot of patience and willingness to land in the dirt.

Dale KillingbeckOctober 18, 2026

In the mining camp of Hartville (pictured), men took the custom of sitting up all night next to a dead friend to the next level. While playing poker and enjoying a shot of whiskey, they’d make sure the dead man was included as part of his wake. Inset: Poker game from Wyoming State Archives

In Wyoming Mining Camps, Dead Men Would Play Poker And Smoke Cigars

In the event someone died at a mining camp — and out of fear that one could be buried alive — miners would stay up with their dead friend overnight. That included, sitting them up and playing poker. The corpse’s winnings would defray funeral expenses.

Jackie DorothyOctober 17, 2026

During his years as a Bureau of Indian Affairs officer on the Wind River Reservation, Leslie Shakespeare had encounters with strange lights, people that weren’t supposed to be there and sounds he couldn’t explain.

Apparitions, Lights And Ghost Soldier: Wind River Cop Says Rez Is Plenty Scary

Leslie Shakespeare saw some unexplainable things as a cop on the Wind River Reservation, including strange lights guiding him, apparitions and a ghost soldier. “I got a cold feeling that wasn’t from the temperature,” he said of his first case, a murder.

Jackie DorothyOctober 17, 2026

Wyoming History: Slim And Quick’s Terrifying Night Sleeping Under A Hanging Tree

A pair of Indian hunters named Slim and Quick weren’t afraid of much, but were terrified the night they unknowingly fell asleep under a hanging tree — and awoke to corpses dangling over them.

Jackie DorothyOctober 17, 2026

A Rock Springs man's curiosity about decades-old graffiti of "Carpe Diem" on a hillside sign revived memories of an 18-year-old who fell to her death nearby in 1979.

‘Carpe Diem’ Graffiti In Rock Springs Stirs Memories Of Teen’s Tragic 1979 Death

A Rock Springs man's curiosity about decades-old graffiti of "Carpe Diem" on a hillside sign revived memories of an 18-year-old who fell to her death on July 4, 1979. "I had no idea it had such a sad story attached to it," said resident Max Furman.

Kate MeadowsOctober 17, 2026

Selah, a 5-year-old horse owned by Luke and Clare Sheehan, is pictured on Oct. 14 after dogs attacked her in Gillette.

Roving Dogs In Gillette Attack Horse, Police Say It’s ‘Being Dealt With’

Gillette veterinarian Clare Sheehan had to treat her 5-year-old horse Selah at home after roving dogs attacked it Wednesday. Selah suffered bite wounds to the face, chest and front legs. The incident is "being dealt with," police said.

Emma Jane JacksonOctober 15, 2026

The tattoo Angelina Alvarado got from tattoo artist Ivan TwoBulls. Both individuals agree the tattoo is unfinished but are arguing over the details. Alvarado said TwoBulls never told her it was unfinished and refused to touch it up, while TwoBulls said Alvarado gave him an unrealistic deadline before making disparaging posts about him on social media.

Casper Woman Mad Over Tattoo She Claims Looks Like "A Penis On My Neck"

A Casper resident is upset because a tattoo she requested of an eagle and feather looks like a "penis on my neck." The tattoo artist says it's unfinished and he's being blackmailed. "She had the option to get this tattoo fixed and finished," he said.

Andrew RossiOctober 15, 2026

Steva and Rick Dooley have spent more than four decades together operating Valley Diesel and collecting vintage machinery in the Big Horn Basin.

Basin Couple Loses 43-Year Business In Fire Including 52-Year-Old Truck They Dated In

Eleven days after a fire destroyed a Big Horn County couple's shop, Steva Dooley says they are overwhelmed by community support. They say their 52-year-old truck with 400,000+ miles was the most painful to lose but "it's all stuff."

Kolby FedoreOctober 14, 2026

A raccoon peers over the edge of Abby Roich’s chimney at her Casper home.

Casper Woman Turns To Metallica When Steel Mesh Didn't Keep Raccoon Out Of Chimney

When even strong steel mesh didn’t work to keep an annoying racoon out of her chimney, a Casper woman turned to a more potent weapon — Metallica. “I put a speaker in my fireplace area and just turned on some Metallica as loud as I could,” she said.

Kolby FedoreOctober 14, 2026

Autumn weather has finally hit the state of Wyoming. Fall foliage in Grand Teton National Park.

Finally Wyoming Gets A Taste Of Autumn With More Cool Weather Ahead

Thanks to an influx of moisture from Hurricane Rachel and cold Canadian air, it's starting to feel like autumn in Wyoming. In fact, temperatures and precipitation haven't been this close to normal since last October, and more is on the way.

Andrew RossiOctober 13, 2026

An outdoor camera shows a postal carrier using a flashlight after 1:30 a.m. to deliver mail in a Cheyenne neighborhood.

You’ve Got Mail — At 1:39 A.M.: Cheyenne Postal Deliveries Stretch Past Midnight

A Cheyenne woman’s camera caught mail arriving at 1:39 a.m. one day last week, raising safety concerns for the carrier. The Postal Service says heavy volume and absences prompted management to help deliver, and some didn't finish up until 4:30 a.m.

Renée JeanOctober 13, 2026

Residents of a neighborhood in Rock Springs are struggling to get to their homes while workers pound and blast to fill abandoned coal mines under the streets.

Rock Springs Residents Fed Up With Pounding And Drilling To Fill Mines Under Homes

For the past five months, Kelly Lovell says she's been living in a war zone. Her street in Rock Springs has been overtaken by drilling rigs and heavy construction equipment in an effort to stabilize the ground built over abandoned underground coal mines.

Kate MeadowsOctober 13, 2026

Eleven-year-old Liam Cox died Wednesday, three days after he was hit by a vehicle while riding his bicycle near Burns. His 13-year-old sister was with him that Sunday afternoon, on what had begun as an ordinary bike ride toward Burns.

‘Everybody’s Friend’: Burns Mourns 11-Year-Old Boy Killed In Rural Bicycle Crash

Eleven-year-old Liam Cox's dad, Ryan, remembers an adventurous, animal-loving boy who “brought happiness wherever he was” and was “everybody’s friend.” Liam died last week after he was hit by a vehicle while riding his bike near Burns.

Kolby FedoreOctober 12, 2026

Cheyenne Couple Break Wyoming Pumpkin Growing Record With 2,224-Pound Whopper

Cheyenne's Andy and Amy Corbin have broken Wyoming’s state record for the fourth consecutive time with a pumpkin weighing in at 2,224 pounds. That's rarified air in the pumpkin growing world as less than 50 growers have ever topped 2,200 pounds.

Andrew RossiOctober 12, 2026

Ella Randol, an employee at the Cowboy Bar & Cafe, claims that the bar in Meeteetse is haunted by three spirits. The most dominant spirit is a woman that Randol believes is Sylvia Mikkelson, a founder of Meeteetse who once ran a dry goods store on the same block the Cowboy Bar & Cafe is on now.

Sylvia Came To Meeteetse In 1898, And Cowboy Bar Patrons Say She's Never Left

The ghost of Sylvia Mikkelsen, who ran the Meeteetse dry-goods store in the early 1900s has never left, say Cowboy Bar patrons. Bartender Ella Randol, who says she has spoken with Sylvia, says whenever anyone gets unruly, things get bone-chilling cold.

Jackie DorothyOctober 12, 2026