Wyoming Life
News
Wyoming Leaders Meet To Ensure State Has Important Role With Smithsonian Women’s Museum
Wyoming leaders gathered in Jackson last week to make sure Wyoming has a prominent voice in the forthcoming American Women’s History Museum. The Smithsonian has already raised more than $55 million to build it.
Jackie DorothyAugust 10, 2025
Rock Springs Chinatown Archaeology Dig Uncovers Untold History Of 1885 Massacre
Students from Grinnell College are doing an archaeological dig in the historic Chinatown district of Rock Springs, Wyoming. Their work is uncovering the untold history of the daily lives of immigrants who survived the 1885 Rock Springs massacre.
Renée JeanAugust 10, 2025
A Night In Sturgis Jail Isn't Pretty
When arrests at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally get too high, officials resort to an overflow jail, a quasi-retired 1950s era jailhouse. “When you have 50+ drunk individuals who aren’t happy to be there, haven’t showered in a few days, highly intoxicated, it gets thick back there,” a prison official said.
Zakary SonntagAugust 10, 2025
Wyoming Is Last Alphabetically, But First In New Series Of State Word Search Books
Nick Cranford has never been to Wyoming, but is fascinated by the Cowboy State. That's why he made Wyoming, the last alphabetically, the first in his new series of U.S. state word search books. He was inspired by his grandmother, who loved the puzzles.
Dale KillingbeckAugust 10, 2025
Who Needs Diamonds When You Can Propose With 100 Pounds Of Sapphire Gravel?
It may not have been the marriage proposal she dreamed of as a child, but Melissa Absher said yes nonetheless. Her boyfriend proposed with a 100-pound bag of gravel and this romantic overture: “Let’s go find your sapphire.”
Anna-Louise JacksonAugust 09, 2025
88-Year-Old Cheyenne Railroad Veteran Donates Entire Railroading Collection To UW
Like many boys when he was growing up, Jim Ehernberger loved playing with trains. Unlike most, he never stopped. The now 88-year-old retired Cheyenne Union Pacific worker has donated his massive railroading collection to the University of Wyoming.
Dale KillingbeckAugust 09, 2025
Crews Work To Save Mountain Man Jim Baker’s 152-Year-Old Wyoming Cabin
Legendary Mountain Man Jim Baker built his historic two-story cabin 152 years ago, and it’s still standing in tiny Savery, Wyoming. Now crews are working with the same materials and techniques to preserve the cabin.
Renée JeanAugust 09, 2025
Chocolate Lab Named Belle Saves Wyoming Man From Burning Trailer
John Lea of Powell was fast asleep after working a graveyard shift when his trailer home caught fire last week. He likely would have died in the blaze if not for his chocolate Lab Belle, who woke him up just in time to escape the growing flames.
David MadisonAugust 09, 2025
‘The Boneman’ Is Assembling A Bison Skeleton On The Floor Of Cody Museum
Lee “The Boneman” Post has put together animal skeletons for more than 30 years. Now the Alaska man is at the Draper Museum in Cody assembling a bison skeleton for America’s 250th birthday.
Amber SteinmetzAugust 09, 2025
Sturgis At 85: Does The Legendary Motorcycle Rally Still Have Its Edge?
As the 85th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally winds up this weekend, one biker said he misses the old days. He laments the presence of khaki shorts and tennis shoes. He bemoans the rally’s turn toward family friendliness, evidenced by the declining numbers of topless women.
Zakary SonntagAugust 09, 2025
After Son Dies In ATV Crash, Cheyenne Family Pleads: ‘Always Wear A Helmet’
The family of a 16-year-old Cheyenne boy who died from brain injuries after a July 17 ATV crash on Elk Mountain will celebrate his life Saturday. His dad says he was someone who “always made everyone smile” and pleads for others to “always wear a helmet.”
Dale KillingbeckAugust 08, 2025
University Of Wyoming Open To Selling Naming Rights To Arena-Auditorium
The University of Wyoming is open to offers for naming rights to the Arena-Auditorium, the Cowboys’ college basketball arena. Known as the “Double A,” the Arena-Auditorium has been corporate-name free since it opened in 1982.
Justin GeorgeAugust 08, 2025
Wyoming Woman Bares All, Then Promptly Wins 50th Sundance Burnout Contest
The Sundance Burnout is a Wyoming tradition during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. A Gillette woman won the 50th Burnout this week, in part by boldly lifting her top to bare it all to win it.
Renée JeanAugust 07, 2025
25,000 Sturgis Rally Bikers Make Pit Stop In Hulett For Famous Ham And Jam
About 25,000 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally bikers made a pit stop in tiny Hulett, Wyoming, on Wednesday for the town’s famous Ham and Jam street party. Free barbecue and revving engines through the main drag are traditions some bikers have kept going for decades.
Renée JeanAugust 06, 2025
Kids On Speeding E-Bikes Making Jackson ‘Like A Literal Highway’
Before and after school in Jackson, traffic on pathways around town can play out like a scene from the apocalyptic road rage film “Mad Max” — if all the characters rode e-bikes. There are so many speeding e-bikes that the Town Council is concerned.
David MadisonAugust 05, 2025
Can’t Stop Sneezing? You’re Not Alone — Wyoming Among Worst Allergy States
Wyoming is not an easy state for allergy sufferers, and there’s a reason for that. Sagebrush is a huge contributor to the state’s overall pollen counts, which are the sixth highest in the nation.
Renée JeanAugust 05, 2025
A New COVID-19 Booster Is Coming Out; Don’t Expect Many Wyomingites To Get It
A new COVID-19 booster vaccine is coming out this fall, but don’t expect many people in Wyoming to get it. That falls in line with a new survey that says most Americans won’t either.
Jackson WalkerAugust 05, 2025
Douglas 18-Year-Old Turning Heads With Her Wildlife Art
From the days she could pick up a pencil and a piece of paper, Maggie Booth’s love for horses — and drawing them and other animals — has been a consuming passion. Her wildlife art is already turning heads and winning awards.
Dale KillingbeckAugust 04, 2025
Travel Wyoming: Old Faithful Inn Is Still Architectural Icon Of National Park Service
121 years after it opened in 1904, Old Faithful Inn in Yellowstone National Park is not only still standing, it’s an icon and model for National Park buildings across the nation. It even inspired a whole classification of building design—“parkitecture.”
Andrew RossiAugust 03, 2025
Growing Up Rodeo In Wyoming Means Riding In Miniature Roughstock Events
Generations of Wyoming kids have been raised by the Cowboy Code and a rodeo lifestyle. They’re also cutting their teeth competing in miniature roughstock rodeo — like the one this past week at the Weston County Fair in Newcastle.
Renée JeanAugust 03, 2025
Living In A Van Down By The River: Why Cody Woman Loves Living In A Van
Cody native Megan Anderson is up before sunrise Friday, researching the financial markets for her job as vice president of client relations for a real estate firm. Her office is a Ford Transit van she’s lived in for the better part of a year.
Zakary SonntagAugust 03, 2025
Wyoming Man Discovers Grandfather’s Colt .44 Is A Notorious Outlaw Gun
A Wyoming man has discovered a family heirloom — an ivory-handled Colt .44 revolver — is a part of Old West outlaw history thought to be lost. It was owned by a notorious horse thief who was killed in a shootout with his grandfather.
Jackie DorothyAugust 02, 2025
Newcastle Welcomes Bikers As Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Begins
Newcastle doesn’t go all out like some towns that are on the road to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. But it still gets plenty of motorcycle riders on their “hogs” exploring Wyoming’s Black Hills on their way to the rally.
Renée JeanAugust 02, 2025
Why Criminals At Fort Bridger Preferred A Jail Cell To The Punishment Horse
In the 1860s, the "punishment horse" at Fort Bridger was a brutal and feared form of discipline. Today, it's the most popular attraction because people quickly learn why prisoners preferred a jail cell to sitting on the wooden horse.
Andrew RossiAugust 02, 2025
Cheyenne Artist Uses 2 Booms, $400-A-Gallon Paint To Paint 80-Foot Water Tank Murals
Cheyenne artist Jordan Dean is painting giant 60-to-70-foot horses as the centerpiece of stunning murals on two water tank north of town. It takes two giant boom lifts, a projector and $400-a-gallon paint.
Renée JeanAugust 02, 2025
Wyoming Radio Legend Overcoming Disfiguring Surgeries From Battles With Cancer
A familiar voice across Cheyenne airwaves for decades, Larry Proietti is still overcoming numerous cancer surgeries that has left him disfigured. With resilience and grit, the veteran broadcaster continues to inspire on and off the mic.
Zakary SonntagAugust 02, 2025
Sudden Death Of Casper 21-Year-Old In Rollover Leaves Family Devastated
The sudden death of a 21-year-old Casper man has left his family devastated. Braeden Rayner was traveling on I-25 Sunday when the SUV he was in rolled. A year ago, he prophetically posted to Facebook how life can end “in the blink of an eye.”
Dale KillingbeckJuly 29, 2025
Cheyenne Man Pulls 9 Gs With Thunderbirds, Then Takes A Nap
Cheyenne’s Bryan “Alf” Grzegorczyk had planned a celebratory drink following his once-in-a-lifetime Thunderbirds flight to salute everyone who nominated him for the honor. But after flying at 9 Gs, all Alf could manage was a celebratory nap.
Renée JeanJuly 28, 2025
New Book On Deadwood By Accomplished Historian Will Dispel Myths, He Says
Accomplished historian Peter Cozzens latest book focuses on Deadwood, South Dakota between 1876 and 1879. He says those who watched the HBO series will “be surprised.” Spoiler alert: the HBO version wasn't exactly accurate when it came to Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane.
Dale KillingbeckJuly 27, 2025
At Camp Courage Wyoming, Kids Living With Cancer Can Just Be Kids
Kids living with cancer, tumors and other life-threatening ailments often have to grow up quickly to deal with some very adult things. At Camp Courage in Dubois, Wyoming, they get to put cancer on the back burner for awhile and just be kids.
Jackie DorothyJuly 27, 2025
Former Yellowstone Bus Driver Solves Mystery While Restoring 90-Year-Old Coach
Despite little evidence that the 90-year-old White 706 bus in David Swingle's driveway was a Yellowstone coach, he had a hunch it was authentic. He drove them back in the 1960s. Through tremendous amounts of sleuthing, he proved his hunch was right.
David MadisonJuly 27, 2025
80 Years After His Dad Fought On Iwo Jima, Dan Starks Makes Rare Visit To Island
National Museum of Military Vehicles owner Dan Starks took a rare trip to Iwo Jima earlier this year. He has new respect for the soldiers who fought there 80 years ago during World War II — including his own father.
Renée JeanJuly 27, 2025
Couple Steals Show With Surprise Proposal During Cheyenne Frontier Days Concert
Romance wasn’t in the air when Brandon Boyer and Shilee Calhoun met, but they fell in love anyway. That led to a surprise proposal that stole the spotlight for a moment during Ian Munsick’s Cheyenne Frontier Days concert.
Renée JeanJuly 27, 2025
Huge Milk Bottle Collection Traces 175 Years Of Wyoming’s Rich Dairy History
Steve Wallace grew up milking cows on a dairy farm, but now he’s milking Wyoming history for all it’s worth. The Casper man’s huge milk bottle collection traces 175 years of Wyoming’s rich dairy history.
Andrew RossiJuly 27, 2025
After A Decade-Long Closure, 29 Miles of Mormon Trail Through Wyoming Reopens
After a decade-long hiatus, a 29-mile section of the Mormon Trail through Wyoming was recently fully reopened. It means members of the LDS church can make the historic two-day trek along the trail in period clothing pulling handcarts.
Mark HeinzJuly 27, 2025
Yoder Cowgirl Says National High School Rodeo Title A Testament To Her Rodeo Family
Hadley Thompson of Yoder, Wyoming, won the National High School Finals Rodeo women’s all-around title last weekend. She said her passion for the sport comes from hours of practice and a family dedicated to rodeo .
Jackie DorothyJuly 27, 2025
The Oil Field Worker Behind Casper Planet, Wyoming’s Most Popular Fake News
When Casper Planet founder Justin Hathaway wrote a story about a semitruck spilling hundreds of king cobras on I-25, it made international headlines. His satirical page continues to outrage and fool people, which only fuels his desire to keep it going.
Andrew RossiJuly 27, 2025
Women Bronc Riders Break All The Rodeo Stereotypes
From bruised riders to seasoned champions, women ranch bronc riders are breaking all the rodeo stereotypes. They compete in a dangerous sport, challenge decades of exclusion and prove they’re not costume cowgirls.
Zakary SonntagJuly 27, 2025
‘Yellowstone’ Actor Mo Brings Plenty Advises On New Frontier Days Indian Village
“Yellowstone” television series actor Mo Brings Plenty is helping shape the new Morning Star Indian Village, a multimillion-dollar project at Cheyenne Frontier Days set for completion in 2026.
Renée JeanJuly 27, 2025
Gold Prospecting More Than Flash-In-The Pan Hobby For Worland Man
Steve Brazelton was 10 when he first panned for gold with a tin pan borrowed from his mom. But it wasn’t until he found his first nugget that he “was hooked." The Worland man says his favorite spot in Wyoming is South Pass but there are plenty of places to find "decent gold."
Amber SteinmetzJuly 26, 2025
Alan O'Hashi: My Days As A Carny At Cheyenne Frontier Days
Alan O'Hashi writes, "When I was a newspaper columnist in Lander, I wondered what it was like to work in a carnival, so I decided to give it a try at Cheyenne Frontier Days. It turned out, I’m pretty good at getting people to give me a dollar for nothing."
Alan O'HashiJuly 26, 2025
What Do Locals Do At Cheyenne Frontier Days? Play CFD Bingo
Cheyenne's Harvey Deselms shares the Cheyenne Frontier Days Bingo card every year. He says the most entertaining part is seeing how many of the squares you can check off by looking in a mirror. "I had the coolest mullet," he said.
Greg JohnsonJuly 26, 2025
Inside UW’s New $289 Million Gothic, State-Of-The-Art Dorms And Dining Hall
The finishing touches are being put on the University of Wyoming’s new $289 million dormitories and dining hall. Here’s an inside look at the classic Gothic, state-of-the-art buildings that will open for students next month.
Dale KillingbeckJuly 26, 2025
Small Armies Of Volunteers Dig Up Dinosaurs At Wyoming’s Famous Jurassic Mile
The famous Jurassic Mile in Wyoming’s Bighorn Basin has produced some of the world’s most important dinosaur discoveries. It takes small armies of volunteers to excavate the area, including the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis for its Family Dino Dig.
Andrew RossiJuly 26, 2025
Wacey Schalla: What It's Like To Be The World's Top-Ranked Bull Rider
Bull riders have been coming to Cheyenne Frontier Days rodeo for close to a century. But they arrived this year in a moment when rodeo, and the wider Western culture, has never been cooler, as the entire nation appears enthralled with anything to do with the American West.
Zakary SonntagJuly 26, 2025
Quadriplegic Photographer’s ‘Epic’ Slow Motion Bull Ride Video Is 21 Seconds Of Pain
A 49-year-old quadriplegic photographer from Cheyenne who typically focuses on wildlife and landscapes has been enjoying Cheyenne Frontier Days this week. He caught an “epic” bull ride in slow motion that’s 21 seconds of adrenaline and pain.
Dale KillingbeckJuly 25, 2025
Cheyenne Frontier Days Was First Civilian Show For Thunderbirds 72 Years Ago
The famous Air Force Thunderbirds have touched down in Cheyenne ahead of their Saturday Wings Over Wyoming show. The squad's first civilian air show was the 1953 Cheyenne Frontier Days, and the Thunderbirds have been back every year since but two.
Renée JeanJuly 25, 2025
Estate Of Legendary Wyoming Spaghetti Westerner Gap Pucci To Be Bought By Nuns
Gap Pucci befriended two nuns 25 years ago after they walked in sandals with no socks in knee-deep snow to see his crosses. Now the nuns say they will buy the legendary Wyoming spaghetti Westerner’s estate with a promise it won’t become a luxury mansion.
Renée JeanJuly 24, 2025
It’s True: Cheyenne Frontier Days Happens On The Rainiest Week Of The Year
More than an inch of rain fell on participants at Cheyenne Frontier Days on Wednesday. That's no surprise to meteorologist Don Day, who says the last week in July is the rainiest week of the year.
Andrew RossiJuly 24, 2025
Only U.S.-Owned Russian-Made MiG-29 Fighter Jet Lands At Casper Airport
Anyone who was around the Casper/Natrona International Airport on Wednesday afternoon witnessed a rare sight. The only U.S. privately-owned Russian-made MiG-29 flew in for some fuel.
Dale KillingbeckJuly 24, 2025
It Took Three Trucks Hours To Recover Semi Hanging Over Cliff On Wyoming Highway
It took three heavy-duty wrecker trucks hours to recover a semitrailer hanging over a cliff on Wyoming Highway 14-A on Tuesday. The driver wasn’t hurt, but it took much more than a regular tow truck to pull the semitrailer back over the highway barrier.
Andrew RossiJuly 23, 2025
New Warner Bros. Streaming Service Fuels Hope For ‘Longmire’ Comeback
Warner Bros. Discovery is creating its own streaming service. That’s fueling hopes among die-hard fans that that the popular “Longmire” series, which Warner Bros. owns, could make a comeback.
Renée JeanJuly 23, 2025
Whoa: 385-Ft Long, 1.4 Million-Pound Superload Plodding Along I-80 On Wednesday
A slow-moving "superload” will be traveling from Laramie to Arlington on I-80 between 9 a.m. and noon Wednesday. Anyone who doesn't want to spend four hours driving the 44-mile distance should seek alternate routes.
Andrew RossiJuly 22, 2025
Casper Humane Society Scrambles To Care For 42 Abandoned Guinea Pigs
After 42 guinea pigs were dumped at its doors on Friday, the Casper Humane Society has rallied to get cages and provide food, water, health checks and future homes for the pets. The little pigs had arrived in poor condition with no water or food.
Dale KillingbeckJuly 22, 2025
“Yellowstone” Star Mo Brings Plenty Back In Wyoming As Cheyenne Frontier Days Parade Grand Marshal
“Yellowstone” star Mo Brings Plenty is back again for Cheyenne Frontier Days, this time as grand marshal of the parade. Growing up, the A-lister heard many stories about CFD, and says it’s the most prestigious rodeo in the world.
Renée JeanJuly 22, 2025
Trucker Survives Accident Which Left Semi Dangling Off Of Cliff On Wyoming Highway
A semi driver is alive and well after his truck careened off U.S. Highway 14-A in northern Wyoming. Somehow the semi managed to hang on and remains dangling perilously over a cliff.
Andrew RossiJuly 22, 2025
One of a Kind Wyoming Ceratosaurus Sells for $30.5 Million at Sotheby's Auction
A juvenile Ceratosaurus, one of only four known specimens of the rare Jurassic carnivore, sold for $30.5 million at a Sotheby's auction. It was discovered in Bone Cabin Quarry, one of the most significant fossil sites in the world, located near Medicine Bow, Wyoming.
Andrew RossiJuly 22, 2025
Longmire Star Robert Taylor Comes To Buffalo Every Year Because He Loves Wyoming
If Longmire Days had to pay Australian actor Robert Taylor to attend, it would be far out of reach. The actor doesn’t come for the money. He comes to Longmire Days in Buffalo every year for something else. He loves Wyoming.
Renée JeanJuly 21, 2025
Historian Says Wyoming’s Ames Monument Is The Birthplace Of ‘Murphy’s Law’
The pessimistic belief that anything that can go wrong will likely predates modern history, but calling it “Murphy’s Law” began in Wyoming, a historian says. It dates back to the early 1880s and building the Ames Monument in the wrong place.
Jackie DorothyJuly 21, 2025
Emu Gets Loose In Evanston, Has Neck Broken While Police Try To Wrangle It
An emu named Gary that was wandering around Evanston on Sunday died when his neck was broken while police officers tried to wrangle the large bird. Gary’s owner says it was an accident but questions whether too much force was used.
Andrew RossiJuly 21, 2025
When His Wife Nearly Died, Lander Man Started Writing — And He Hasn’t Stopped
When Austin Hawkins' wife developed life-threatening brain hemorrhages, he realized he couldn’t waste any more time thinking about writing a book. The result was “Going Nowhere Slow,” a dark comedy he had been wanting to write for more than a decade.
Jackie DorothyJuly 20, 2025
How A Guy From Laramie Became A Sub Commander And Friend Of Admiral Nimitz
A young Laramie native left Wyoming in 1909 and returned in 1947. In the years between, he forged a career in the U.S. Navy that included becoming a submarine commander and a friendship with famed Admiral Chester Nimitz.
Dale KillingbeckJuly 20, 2025
What Is The "Nowood International Airport" In The Middle Of Nowhere, Wyoming?
Driving down a remote Washakie County dirt road is not the place one would expect to see an “international” airport. But there it is — a weathered little building with a metal roof and a large sign that declares it’s the “Nowood International Airport.”
Dale KillingbeckJuly 20, 2025
At Teton Raptor Center, Birds Are Encouraged To Chime In During Concerts
At the Teton Raptor Center in Wilson, Wyoming, visitors on Saturday were part of a unique marriage of music and wildlife. An avian-inspired concert of chamber music encouraged birds to chime in.
David MadisonJuly 20, 2025
Meet Maya, The Pint-Sized Wyoming Sheep Dog That Doesn’t Like Sheep
Maya is a border collie that was literally born to herd sheep. Born under a Wyoming sheep wagon, she’s undersized, doesn’t like sheep and is terrified of the barn cat. Even so, she’s living an enviable ranch dog life.
Mark HeinzJuly 20, 2025
Adrenaline Rush: New Record In Longest Downhill Mountain Bike Race In The Tetons
The Colter Cup is not just the longest downhill mountain bike race in the Tetons, it’s an insane adrenaline rush that pushes the stamina of racers. An 18-year-old from Victor, Idaho, set a new record in Saturday’s race.
David MadisonJuly 20, 2025
Ambitious Art Students Turn Powell High School Into A 3D Museum
Powell High School’s art program, taught by Jim Gilman, is turning Powell High School into a 3D museum. It’s an ambitious effort that makes even walking the halls an interactive learning exercise.
Amber SteinmetzJuly 20, 2025
There’s An Art To Panning For Gold That’s Part Patience, Part Recklessness
Six tiny flakes of gold in one pan of pay dirt are a nice haul. Panning for gold takes patience and a bit of reckless abandon — then rinse and repeat. Finding those flakes sparks an annual Wyoming gold rush to South Pass City.
Renée JeanJuly 19, 2025
One ‘Last Rodeo’ For Legendary Rock Springs Dive Bar’s Tipsy Cow
The upside-down cow that sat outside Joe's Drive-In Liquor Bar in Rock Springs is back. Property owner Angela Gaensslen said it's the “last rodeo” for the symbol of the dive bar that served Rock Springs for 64 years before closing in March.
Dale KillingbeckJuly 19, 2025
Cheyenne Man Survived The Devastating 1976 Big Thompson Flood In A Ford Pinto
Cheyenne native Alan O’Hashi vividly remembers being caught in the canyon when the Big Thompson Flood hit on July 31, 1976. He survived the deadliest flood in Colorado history when somehow a floating portable toilet snagged onto his Ford Pinto bumper and carried the car to the canyon wall instead of “over the edge.”
Dale KillingbeckJuly 19, 2025
New Yorkers Love The Western Culture Shock That Comes With Cheyenne Frontier Days
Cheyenne Frontier Days has officially busted out of the chute of its 129th year, bringing wall-to-wall cowboy culture to the masses. For city slickers from New York, they cite the cowboy fashion, the attention-deficit proof rodeo and western culture shock as reasons they keep coming back.
Zakary SonntagJuly 19, 2025
Eating Cheyenne Frontier Days: Bringing An Elevated Approach To So-Called Carnival Food
Rather than traffic in cheap thrills, Cheyenne Frontier Days' head concessionaire, Nate Janousek, brings an elevated approach to so-called carnival food. He's not above the traditions of fair food but seeks to marry gimmick with sophistication -- like his hot honey goat cheese pizza and his pineapple chicken bowl.
Zakary SonntagJuly 19, 2025
Ian Munsick Makes History As First Wyoming Native To Headline Cheyenne Frontier Days
Friday was an huge night for Sheridan's Ian Munsick, who fulfilled a dream by headlining Cheyenne Frontier Days. An emotional Munsick called being the first Wyoming native to headline CFD the biggest stage of his career so far.
Renée JeanJuly 19, 2025
Cheyenne Frontier Days Isn’t All Rodeo, There’s Also World-Class Western Art
One thing to know about the celebrated Western Art Show at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum is that it’s not a stereotypical stuffy art show. In fact, it’s considered by many as the signature social event of the Daddy of ’em All.
Renée JeanJuly 18, 2025
Wyoming’s Obsidian Trails A Roadmap Of Critical Ancient Trade Routes
Archaeologists use obsidian to determine how far people traveled on ancient trade routes across Wyoming. Each obsidian flake bears a unique volcanic fingerprint that points to its place of origin, which can be hundreds of miles away.
Jackie DorothyJuly 16, 2025
Mud And Rocks Washed From Elk Fire Area Close U.S. 14 Overnight, More Could Follow
It’s what WYDOT officials have expected since the Elk Fire burned nearly 100,000 acres in the Bighorn Mountains last fall. Heavy rain caused a mud and rockslide, closing a section of U.S. Highway 14 overnight Tuesday. More debris flows could follow.
Andrew RossiJuly 16, 2025
Pumpkin King Is So Serious His Greenhouse Has Air Conditioning — His Home Doesn’t
Worland’s “Pumpkin King” is serious about growing a 2,000-pound pumpkin. He’s pampering them with 500 gallons of water a day, sends his soil for lab testing and has installed air conditioning in his greenhouse, something his own house doesn’t have.
Andrew RossiJuly 15, 2025
Cyclists Say Exclusive Tour De Wyoming One Of Best Bike Tours In The Nation
The Tour de Wyoming rolled out for a loop trail around Sinks Canyon at about 6 a.m. Tuesday as the cyclists hit the event’s halfway point. Camped in Lander, riders in the exclusive 250-bike event say it’s one of the best in the nation.
Renée JeanJuly 15, 2025
Bear Spray Leaves 30 People On Jackson Tram ‘Choking, Coughing And Puking’
There were about 30 people on a Jackson Hole Mountain Resort enclosed tram Monday when a can of bear spray went off. A woman on the tram says it left people "choking, coughing, and puking.”
Andrew RossiJuly 15, 2025
Giant Utah ‘Fire Devil’ Is What Happens When Wildfire Makes Its Own Weather
Firefighters on the scene of the 10,000-acre Deer Creek Fire in southern Utah captured video of a massive vortex of fire and smoke swirling in the middle of the blaze. These dangerous "fire devils" are what can happen when wildfires make their own weather.
Andrew RossiJuly 15, 2025
Cheyenne’s Capitol Avenue Bronze Project Closes In On 100 Sculptures
For Cheyenne art dealer Harvey Deselms, dreams really do come true. He dreamed of bronze sculptures lining every corner of Capitol Avenue, and now the Capitol Avenue Bronze Project is closing in on its 100th installation.
Renée JeanJuly 14, 2025
Wyoming Rite Of Passage: 600 4-H Kids Show Out At State Shooting Competition
Learning to shoot is a Wyoming rite of passage and one of the fundamental programs of the state’s 4-H clubs. More than 600 4-H kids gathered in Douglas this past week to show out at the Wyoming State Shoot.
Jackie DorothyJuly 14, 2025
A Teen Driver Hit His Car, So Cheyenne Man Bought Her A New One
Someone slides through an icy intersection and collides with your car, what do you do? If you’re Bryan Pedersen, a Cheyenne financial advisor, you buy the other driver — who was at fault — a new car.
Greg JohnsonJuly 13, 2025
The Last Person To Explore The Hidden Tunnels In Ames Monument
The remote Ames Monument in southeastern Wyoming is a complete oddity. Although there are four levels of tunnels in the pyramidic structure, it's been sealed up for decades. It was unsealed, however, for one day in 2010 and a descendant of the Ames' family was allowed to explore it.
Zakary SonntagJuly 13, 2025
Kaboom! Since Explosion In 2020, Torrington Hasn’t Had Fourth Of July Fireworks
There were city fireworks displays all over Wyoming last week to celebrate the 4th of July. But not in Torrington. Ever since an accident set-off all the fireworks at once which blew the roof off a building, they've passed on an annual celebration.
Mark HeinzJuly 12, 2025
307 Safe As Wyoming’s Only Area Code For At Least Another 20 Years
Unlike Colorado, which just got its sixth area code, Wyoming's cherished 307 is safe as the state’s only area code for at least another 20 years. That’s good news for Wyomingites and the more than 900 businesses with names that start with “307.”
David MadisonJuly 12, 2025
Wyoming Ranch Chef Brings Cowboy Cookin’ To National Audience With New TV Show
Celebrity Chef Vincent Fiore, creator of the award-winning cooking shows “The Wiseguy Kitchen” and “Coast to Coast,” is coming to Cody to highlight cowboy cuisine for a new show he’s hosting this fall on Roku called “Cookin’ With Cowboys.”
Renée JeanJuly 12, 2025
160 Years After It Was Lost, Treasure Hunters Still Search For Lost Cabin Gold Mine
Hidden away in the Bighorns is a mysterious drawing carved on the surface of a massive granite boulder. Dubbed the “Boot Map,” old-timers have theorized for decades that the drawing, which resembles a Spanish boot, is a map leading to the Lost Cabin Gold Mine.
Jackie DorothyJuly 12, 2025
Now Retired, Wyoming Sheriff Still Haunted 28 Years After Camper Went Missing
David Crouch, 27, went missing while camping in the Bridger-Teton National Forest in August 1997. He was last seen on the banks of Island Lake with a fishing rod in hand. His disappearance has haunted retired Sublette County Sheriff Hank Ruland for nearly three decades.
Jen KocherJuly 12, 2025
Two Old Guys Build A Cabin By Hand In Wyoming’s Snowy Range
High up in Wyoming's Snowy Range Mountains – off grid, out of cell range and deep into black bear country at 9,500 feet – two old timers are building a cabin. They first built one 44 years ago. They made a promise to do it again and are "working like dogs" to get it finished.
Zakary SonntagJuly 12, 2025
Liberty Bell Rings Again In Wyoming Ahead of Nation’s 250th Anniversary
Wyoming rang its Liberty Bell and unveiled an amped-up tour of the restored state Capitol on Thursday. It was all part of a kickoff to the nation’s 250th anniversary next year — on the 135th for Wyoming statehood.
Renée JeanJuly 11, 2025
ESPN’s Striewski Will Anchor Local TV Sportscast During Cheyenne Frontier Days
ESPN SportsCenter anchor Gary Striewski will sit in his old seat at KGWN-TV during his visit to Cheyenne Frontier Days on July 24. The broadcaster will anchor the local evening sportscasts during his coverage of the rodeo for ESPN.
Jimmy OrrJuly 09, 2025
Fire Destroys Glenrock Family Shop — And 4-H Supplies For Kids Week Before Fair
The Glenrock, Wyoming, community has rallied around two 4-H families left stunned after a Saturday fire burned a family’s shed to the ground. Everything in the shed was lost, including the feed and supplies for another family’s 4-H kids.
Dale KillingbeckJuly 08, 2025
Colorado’s Famous Larry The Camel Hit And Killed By Lightning
Larry the camel is a celebrity around northern Colorado, appearing in parades and at local schools and senior centers. Two days after visiting a group of seniors on the Fourth of July, Larry was hit by lightning and killed.
Andrew RossiJuly 08, 2025
Sheridan Couple Qualifies For North American Wife-Carrying Championships
Isaac and Mary Hayward of Sheridan not only won a seven-couple wife-carrying race in Ranchester on the Fourth of July, they also qualified for the North American Championships.
David MadisonJuly 07, 2025
Laramie 100-Year-Old Bought His First Car At 16 — A Model T Ford For $6
Everett Spackman of Laramie, Wyoming, has seen a lot over his 100 years of life. He served in two wars, and remembers the Great Depression, the moon landing and paying $6 for a beat-up Model T Ford when he turned 16.
Greg JohnsonJuly 06, 2025
12-Year-Old Chess Master Is First Wyoming Girl Invited To National Tournament
Kamari Barth is like most 12-year-old girls in Sheridan, Wyoming, but in one way she isn’t. Barth also is a chess master, and recently was the first Wyoming girl to compete in the national invitation-only Susan Polgar tournament.
Amber SteinmetzJuly 06, 2025
Modern Homesteading: Self-Sufficiency Doesn’t Mean Being A Loner
Homesteading doesn’t mean living like folks on “Little House on the Prairie.” A Cody woman teaches how homesteaders in Wyoming use technology and innovation to achieve self-sufficiency, and it doesn’t mean you have to be a loner.
Dale KillingbeckJuly 06, 2025
You Can Walk In Jim Bridger’s Footsteps At 1838 Rendezvous In Riverton
The 1838 Mountain Man Rendezvous in Riverton isn’t just held near a historic rendezvous site, it’s the actual site. It's where Jim Bridger and Kit Carson walked when they met in 1838 for the annual end-of-season blowout.
Renée JeanJuly 06, 2025
Group On A Mission To Save Cheyenne’s Iconic, Now Abandoned, 1960s Airport
The Wyoming Aviation Heritage League is on a mission to save the iconic, and now abandoned, 1960s air terminal at Cheyenne Regional Airport. It wants to turn the building and its hyperbolic roof into a space for artists, retail shops, and an aviation museum.
Dale KillingbeckJuly 06, 2025
Nashville Musician Bobby Randall Grateful For Wyoming Hospitality During Storm
State Sen. Ed Cooper opened his garage to a group of Harley riders seeking shelter from a severe thunderstorm on Friday. One of the bikers was a very grateful Bobby Randall, a longtime Nashville musician who was a founding member of country group Sawyer Brown and guitarist for Confederate Railroad.
Wendy CorrJuly 06, 2025
Ned LeDoux Featured On Wyoming Singer-Songwriter’s Ode To Real Ranching
It may be great to fantasize about “Ranching Rich,” but that’s not real ranching in Wyoming, says Cody singer-songwriter Kalyn Beasley. His friend Ned LeDoux is featured in the new song, an ode to real ranching in the West.
Jackie DorothyJuly 05, 2025
Can't Run Off To Join The Circus? You Can Still Join Wyoming's Only Trapeze Club.
A couple in Big Horn, Wyoming, gives those seeking adventure and thrills an option beyond running off to join a circus. Trained by a Circus Ring of Fame trapeze artist, they now run Wyoming’s only trapeze club.
Dale KillingbeckJuly 05, 2025
Wyoming History: The Fascinating Life Of James Calvin ‘Kid’ Nichols
James Calvin “Kid” Nichols was a champion wrestler who was befriended by Buffalo Bill Cody, did boxing exhibitions with Milward Simpson and was a one-time outlaw. He also was a successful businessman who hobnobbed with Admiral Nimitz and Arthur Godfrey.
Dale KillingbeckJuly 05, 2025
Wyoming Chef Petrina Peart Celebrates ‘Yes, Chef!’ Finale With Celebrity Chef T
Chef Petrina Peart celebrated the end of her “Yes, Chef!” television culinary competition with fellow contestant and celebrity, Chef T. The collaborative cook-off featuring Martha Stewart showcased Appalachian and Wyoming foods.
Renée JeanJuly 05, 2025
Dubois Cheers As 24 Vintage Military Tanks Rumble Through On The Fourth Of July
Dubois triples in size for the Fourth of July as thousands fill the tiny Wyoming town to celebrate. The main attraction is 24 vintage military tanks that rumble through, anchoring the annual parade as monuments to freedom in America.
Renée JeanJuly 05, 2025
Underhanded Pitches, No Gloves And A Soft Ball: 1860s Baseball Nothing Like Today
America’s pastime and the Fourth of July go together like peanuts and Cracker Jacks, but the game in the 1860s was nothing like today. Vintage baseball was a highlight at Fort Laramie on Friday, where players didn’t have gloves and pitched underhanded.
Matthew ChristianJuly 05, 2025
Reporter's Notebook: What It's Like To Announce Cody's Famous Stampede Parade
Reporter Andrew Rossi writes, "Announcing the Cody Stampede from the rooftop porch of the Irma Hotel is a rare honor. It’s amazing a nerd like me gets to be one of the voices of the famous parade. How’d that happen? I wondered."
Andrew RossiJuly 05, 2025
Fort Laramie Rings In The 4th With Cannons, 38-Gun Salute
Historic Fort Laramie partied like it was 1876 on Friday, celebrating the Fourth of July as folks at the fort did nearly 150 years ago. The celebration was punctuated by cannon fire and a 38-gun salute, representing the 38 states in the Union then.
Matthew ChristianJuly 04, 2025
Xanax Helps, But No ‘Magic Bullet’ For Dogs Freaked Out Over Weekend Of Fireworks
While many people love the flash and fireworks that come with the Fourth of July, a lot of dogs don’t. For some of them, Xanax helps, but a veterinarian says drugs aren’t a “magic bullet” to ease their anxiety.
David MadisonJuly 04, 2025
There’s No Official Design For The Bison On The Wyoming State Flag
State statutes spell out many details about the Wyoming flag: colors, sizing, placement of the elements. But not for the large bison that dominates it. That’s why you’ll see many different bison depending on who makes the flag.
Anna-Louise JacksonJuly 04, 2025
Appearing In A C.J. Box Book Is Dicey, You Could End Up Dead Or A Serial Killer
Bestselling author C.J. Box is well-known for putting names of real Wyoming people in his novels, but many end up dead, a serial killer — or both. Meteorologist Don Day, who appeared as himself in Joe Pickett book is safe, for now. Box says he has no immediate plans to kill him off.
Renée JeanJuly 04, 2025
The Tradition Continues: Mark Heinz Plays ‘The Star Spangled Banner’ On A Chainsaw
In what’s become an Independence Day tradition, Cowboy State Daily outdoors writer Mark Heinz plays “The Star Spangled Banner” on a chainsaw. Happy Fourth of July!
Mark HeinzJuly 04, 2025
Happy Fourth Of July: Where To Watch Fireworks Across Wyoming
Dozens of Wyoming communities will celebrate America’s independence Friday — the Fourth of July — with parades, barbecues, concerts and fireworks. Here is a list of many of the celebrations. If we missed any, let us know!
Andrew RossiJuly 03, 2025
Wyoming’s July 4 Weekend Will Run Hot And Cold — Highs In the 90s, Lows In The 30s
Wyoming's Fourth of July weekend will run hot and cold, with a forecast that includes highs in the 90s and overnight lows in the 30s. Afternoon thunderstorms are also a safe bet.
Andrew RossiJuly 03, 2025
Wyoming’s First Child Measles Case Since 2010 Identified In Child At Casper ER
Wyoming’s first case of child measles since 2010 has been identified in Natrona County, the Wyoming Department of Health reported Tuesday. About 30 people have been identified as being in the same area of the child at the same times.
Dale KillingbeckJuly 03, 2025
Cody Celebrates Fourth Of July With Five Days Of Rodeos, Parades And Celebrities
If there was a competition for the best Fourth of July celebration in Wyoming, Cody might win by a country mile. That’s because it throws a five-day party filled with parades, rodeos, fireworks and celebrities that attract huge crowds.
Andrew RossiJuly 02, 2025
Storm Chasers Get Engaged In Front Of ‘Perfect Tornado’ in South Dakota
Bryce Shelton proposed to Paige Berdomas on Saturday while an EF-3 tornado raged behind them and across South Dakota and Minnesota. Both professional storm chasers called it "the most beautiful tornado" they'd ever seen.
Andrew RossiJuly 01, 2025
Flaming Gorge Days Makes Comeback After Embezzlement Scandal Nearly Killed It
Thousands of people turned out over the weekend for Flaming Gorge Days, a Green River party that’s been around for decades. But the event was almost killed two years ago when an embezzlement scandal canceled it in 2023 and threatened to end it forever.
Renée JeanJuly 01, 2025
ESPN’s SportsCenter To Broadcast From Cheyenne Frontier Days
ESPN’s SportsCenter program will broadcast from Cheyenne Frontier Days on July 24 as part of its 50 States in 50 Days event. It will be a homecoming for ESPN's Gary Striewski who got his start at KGWN-TV in Cheyenne.
Matthew ChristianJuly 01, 2025
Hundreds Mourn Jackson Photographer Killed By Suspected Drunk Driver
Hundreds of Jackson Hole residents turned out to remember beloved photographer Florence McCall-Phillips on Saturday, a week after she was killed by a suspected drunk driver.
Zakary SonntagJune 30, 2025
Discovery’s ‘Expedition Unknown’ To Take On Mystery Of Buffalo Bill's Grave
The Discovery Channel’s popular show “Expedition Unknown” is digging into the mystery about what happened to the body of Buffalo Bill Cody. “The Lost Grave Of Buffalo Bill” also features Cody residents reenacting the famous showman and Annie Oakley.
Andrew RossiJune 29, 2025
New Dental Research Shows What Dinosaurs Ate And Entire Food Chain
Teeth can tell a life’s story, even when they’re 150 million years old. One of the new frontiers in paleontological research is examining calcium isotopes to reveal details about dinosaurs' diets and environments. “With teeth, you can track an entire food chain,” paleontologist Liam Norris says.
Andrew RossiJune 29, 2025
‘Generation Warrior’: Lives Of 8 Wind River Youth An Open Book
The documentary “Generation Warrior," directed by two Emmy Award winning filmmakers, follows eight young adults from the Wind River Indian Reservation in Wyoming. The journey for young Native Americans comes with the added pressure of ensuring the survival of their culture.
Amber SteinmetzJune 29, 2025
Beloved Photographer Shares Beauty Of Wyoming Even As She Faces End Of Life
Lesleigh Ann Schaefer has put 100,000 miles on her 2019 Subaru photographing Wyoming from its rarely-traveled backroads. Now homebound with terminal cancer, she can only take photos from her backyard. Her adopted home of Thermopolis has rallied to make her final days special.
Jackie DorothyJune 29, 2025
Full Of Grizzlies, Wolves And Cougars, Yellowstone’s Top Apex Predator Is A Bug
Yellowstone National Park is full of grizzlies, wolves and elusive mountain lions. But the apex predators of the park might be those tiny tiger beetles that thrive around thermal pools — and hunt and kill everything else.
Andrew RossiJune 28, 2025
Army Vet Paralyzed By Iraq Blast Gets A New Life — And House — In Casper
U.S. Army veteran Bryan Price was paralyzed by an IED blast in Iraq in 2006. He found a new life as an international athlete training in Casper, representing the U.S. in two Paralympic Games. Now he and his family are getting a new accessible house.
Dale KillingbeckJune 28, 2025
Star Valley, UW Stunned By Sudden Death Of Equipment Manager In Lawn Mower Accident
Star Valley and the UW football program are stunned and saddened by the sudden death Thursday of a 21-year-old equipment manager. Kimberly Choma, who died in a lawn mower accident, “loved people” and led by example with her “Christ-like attitude.”
Dale KillingbeckJune 27, 2025
Laramie Firefighter Crushed And Paralyzed In House Fire Walks Out Of Hospital
Laramie firefighter Dylan Schilt was left temporarily paralyzed when a massive stone chimney chase collapsed on him and a colleague on Feb. 28. After four months of intense work, he walked out of a Denver inpatient physical therapy center last week.
Mark HeinzJune 26, 2025
Mid-June Winter Blast Brings Record Lows, 3-Foot Snowdrifts To Parts Of Wyoming
The Wyoming Department of Transportation is working Monday to clear 3-foot snowdrifts off the Beartooth Highway after a blast of mid-June winter blew through Wyoming over the weekend. Other parts of the state saw record-low temperatures.
Andrew RossiJune 23, 2025
You’ve Seen This Casper Man Wearing Rare 130-Year-Old Mule-Ear Boots In Movies
Jim Robinson of Casper found a pair of rare mule-ear cowboy boots from the 1890s in a dusty old cabin in Colorado. You’ve likely seen him wearing the boots in several movies, including “Rough Riders.”
Renée JeanJune 23, 2025
Majestic Andalusian War Horse Wows Wyoming Crowd
Watching the Spanish war horse Romano perform, one would never guess that this majestic Andalusian horse was thought to be untrainable. The beautiful stallion, who appeared at Chris LeDoux Days, danced in time to music like the spirit of some Spanish dancer lives inside him.
Renée JeanJune 22, 2025
Scientists Use Cutting-Edge Tech To Look Inside Spectacular Wyoming Allosaurus
The Children's Museum of Indianapolis took two big rocks containing a dinosaur skull to the hospital for a CT scan. The cutting-edge technology was used to learn more about a spectacular Allosaurus found at Wyoming’s famed Jurassic Mile fossil site.
Andrew RossiJune 22, 2025
Rockies Announcer Jack Corrigan Calling Games For What Could Be Worst Team Ever
Ever since losing out on a part to Superman (Christopher Reeve), Jack Corrigan has known how to handle defeat. The voice of the Colorado Rockies told Cowboy State Daily that although the team is struggling through one of the worst losing seasons in baseball history, things will get better.
Justin GeorgeJune 22, 2025
Popular Wyoming Facebook Group Decimated By Algorithm Revamp
Wyoming Through The Lens has nearly 465,000 members, making it one of the state’s largest Facebook communities. But a revamp of the platform’s algorithm has decimated its traffic, leaving its creator saddened. "It breaks my heart to see what’s happened to it,” Lorri Lang said.
Zakary SonntagJune 22, 2025
Wyoming Suicide: Rock Springs Teen Screamed He Wanted To Die, Then Made It Happen
The mother of a Rock Springs teen said she desperately tried to get help for her tormented son, even as he refused it. He would scream he wanted to die, until the day he made it happen.
Zakary SonntagJune 21, 2025
Where Research Animals Have A Future: Life At Kindness Ranch
At Hartville’s Kindness Ranch, former research animals get a rare second chance. But before healing can begin, labs must be convinced to release them into the ranch's care. This short documentary tells the stories of the animals learning to live life after the laboratory.
Reilly Strand & Hannah BrockJune 21, 2025
Another ‘Yellowstone’ Spinoff, ‘Y: Marshals’ Continues Story Of Kayce Dutton
The latest spinoff of the hit TV show Yellowstone has been announced and will begin filming in Utah this summer. Utah officials say the filming of Y Marshals -- which continues the story of Kevin Costner's son Kayce Dutton -- will generate 380 jobs and $57.4 million in revenue.
Andrew RossiJune 21, 2025
How Alan Roach Went From Being Called ‘Phyllis’ To ‘The Voice Of God’
Alan Roach’s legendary career includes being the public address announcer for the Denver Broncos, Olympics, Denver International Airport and 17 Super Bowls. He’s been called “The Voice of God,” but before that was called “Phyllis.”
Justin GeorgeJune 21, 2025
Miracle Cat With Half A Face Beats The Odds With Full Recovery
When Spalding walked into a Gillette home three months ago, he was near death — hypothermic and half his face had been destroyed by a huge abscess. Three months later, he’s beat the odds to make a full recovery.
Andrew RossiJune 21, 2025
Wyoming's Latest Sunset Of The Year Is Friday — It Just Gets Darker From There
When the sun sets Friday, Wyomingites will have enjoyed more than 15 hours of daylight on what's called the longest day of the year. It just gets darker from there until the shortest day on Dec. 21.
Andrew RossiJune 19, 2025
CU Home Football Opener Against Wyoming Is Fastest Sell-Out In Recent Memory
Wyoming Cowboy fans pondering making the drive to Boulder for the Sept. 20 Colorado Buffaloes home opener against UW may be out of luck. The game has already sold out — faster than any previous CU home game in recent history.
Justin GeorgeJune 19, 2025
Pony Express Carries Official US Mail Along Oregon Trail Route Through Wyoming
The annual Pony Express ride across the U.S. West crossed through central Wyoming on Tuesday. Rain and a little hail couldn’t slow the riders down along the Oregon Trail route through the Cowboy State.
Dale KillingbeckJune 18, 2025
Supercell Thunderstorms Pummel Wildlife, Bust Windows With Baseball-Sized Hail
June, July and August are “hailstorm season” in Wyoming, Montana and the rest of the Rocky Mountain region. A surge of supercell thunderstorms over the last week have pummeled wildlife and caused widespread destruction with up to baseball-sized hail.
Andrew RossiJune 17, 2025