Wyoming Life

Craig Johnson loaded up and motorcycling through the Rock Springs and Red Desert areas of southwest Wyoming while researching his latest Walt Longmire novel, "Return to Sender."

Craig Johnson’s Next Novel Drops May 27, Was Inspired By Cowboy State Daily Story

Craig Johnson’s newest novel “Return to Sender” will drop May 27. The Ucross, Wyoming, writer said his latest mystery was inspired by a story he read in Cowboy State Daily about the mail carrier who has the most remote route in the United States.

Renée JeanJanuary 06, 2025

The Perseids meteor shower is expected to be especially spectacular in 2025.

Total Eclipse, Meteors And Space Probes — A Lot’s Going On Over Wyoming In 2025

From a total lunar eclipse to meteor showers to space probes, 2025 will be stellar for celestial viewing. Those and more will keep Wyoming stargazers looking up this next year.

Andrew RossiJanuary 05, 2025

A 1968 half-ton cargo truck with an M274-A5 106 mm recoilless gun mounted on it at the Miracle of America Museum in Polson, Montana.

Montana Roadside Museum Is Packed With Rare, Cool Nuggets Of Americana

A roadside museum in northwest Montana has been dedicated to all things Americana for more than 40 years. It's packed to the rafters with rare, cool and eclectic collections, from vintage firearms, military artifacts and even Teddy Roosevelt's saddle.

Anna-Louise JacksonJanuary 05, 2025

The Schell family of Wyoming poses in front of Concord Waterfall on the island of Granada. After that, they went to the Jouvay chocolate factory and then explored a forest reserve where wild Mona monkeys roam.

Wyoming Couple Sells Home To Sail Around The World Over Next 10 Years

Jim Bob and Marlie Schell have have traded their home in Hoback Junction for a sailboat. They're not only going to sail around the world over the next 10 years but they're homeschooling their son on the high seas.

Renée JeanJanuary 05, 2025

David Henrikson and Toni Brown say they daily continue to grapple with the loss of their daughter, Lene’a Brown, who was gunned down in a Casper Park on May 14, 2024.

Parents Of Murdered Casper Teen Say She’s “Not The Only One That Died That Day”

It’s been nearly eight months since 17-year-old Lene’a Brown’s ex-boyfriend shot and killed her in a Casper park. Her parents tell Cowboy State Daily that the fear, pain and grief are as raw as the day it happened.

Dale KillingbeckJanuary 05, 2025

Western artist Karmel Timmons was recently named Best Western Artist in the 2024 Best Western Horseman Awards. While she is known best for her black and white drawings, in recent years, Timmons has begun working more in color like in this drawing called "The Best Day."

Wyoming Woman Was An Office Clerk, Now Is A World-Class Western Horse Artist

Karmel Timmons of Sheridan is recognized as a world-class Western horse artist. That’s far from where she was not too many years ago — working as an accounts receivables clerk for “some company.”

Amber SteinmetzJanuary 05, 2025

A young Ensign Jimmy Carter was less than enthused about drawing an aging USS Wyoming as his first assignment after graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1946.

A Young Jimmy Carter Wasn't Pleased His First Navy Assignment Was The USS Wyoming

In 1946, Ensign Jimmy Carter was assigned to serve on a by-then aging and broken-down USS Wyoming after graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy. The future president wasn't pleased to draw the Wyoming as his first posting.

Andrew RossiJanuary 05, 2025

Images from a 1951 reel featuring home movies of a Cheyenne, Wyoming, family.

Lost Home Videos From 1940s, ’50s And ’60s Coming Home To Wyoming

After a woman in Hayward, California, discovered a cache of old home videos in the attic of her newly purchased home, she's been on a mission to find family members connected to them. The videos were filmed in Cheyenne in the 40s, 50s, and 60s.

Jackie DorothyJanuary 05, 2025

Jason Harris and his sister, Madison, are pictured here during a break from one of Jason’s long-distance desert motorcycle races.

Wyoming Motorcycle Racer Recovers From Broken Back To Go Pro At 17

Jason Harris of Lyman, Wyoming, learned to ride a motorcycle at age 4. He broke his back in a 2023 crash, but recovered quickly and, at 17, is going pro as a long-distance racer.

Mark HeinzJanuary 05, 2025

For Sam Lightner Jr.'s 12th book “In The Valley of the Warm Winds” focuses on the story of Eastern Shoshone Chief Washakie, who demanded sovereignty and recognition for his tribe from the ever-encroaching U.S. settlers.

Lander Man's Book An Anthem To "Unsung" Shoshone Chief Washakie

Lander author Sam Lightner has released his 12th book “In The Valley of the Warm Winds” which focuses on the story of Eastern Shoshone Chief Washakie -- who demanded sovereignty and recognition for his tribe from the ever-encroaching U.S. settlers.

Clair McFarlandJanuary 04, 2025

Billy Bob Thornton plays the lead character of Tommy Norris in the new Paramount+ series "Landman." Real Wyoming landmen say the show isn't always realistic, but gets as lot of the details right.

“Landman” Not Always Realistic, But New Hit Taylor Sheridan Show Gets A Lot Right

Real-life Wyoming landmen say Taylor Sheridan’s new hit TV show “Landman” isn't always realistic, but the show does get a lot of the fundamentals right.

Renée JeanJanuary 04, 2025

Kenny Clabaugh was described as a man easy in the saddle who liked his horses big to match his own tall stature.

Wyoming Rodeo Legend Kenny Clabaugh Remembered As A Cowboy’s Cowboy

Wyoming hall-of-fame rodeo pick-up man Kenny Clabaugh, 78, died New Year’s Eve. The rodeo legend is being remembered as one of the best in the business and a cowboy’s cowboy.

Jackie DorothyJanuary 04, 2025

This pair of large water towers in north Cheyenne are set to have huge murals painted on them.

Giant $200,000 Murals On Cheyenne Water Tanks Will Show City’s Western Roots

A Cheyenne artist has been selected to paint 360-degree murals on two giant water tanks overlooking Wyoming's capital city. The $200,000 project will be visible from much of the city, giving tourists and longtimers a sense of the city’s Western roots.

Justin GeorgeJanuary 04, 2025

Al Addison, who died Dec. 28, 2024, is the longest serving Northern Arapaho Business Council member in tribal memory. He was elected in 1994 and served until 2020. Before that he served in the U.S. Air Force for 20 years.

Anthony “Al” Addison, Northern Arapaho Tribe's Longest-Serving Leader, Dies

Anthony “Al” Addison is remembered by friends and family as someone dedicated to his people and helping others. The longest-serving leader on the Northern Arapahoe Business Council, Addison died Dec. 28. He was 75.

Clair McFarlandJanuary 03, 2025

Goats eat Chrstimas trees Matt Stone Boston Herald via Getty 1 2 25

Want To Get Rid Of That Christmas Tree? Goats Will Gobble Them Up

Is it time to get rid of that wilting, drying out and browning Christmas tree? Goats will gobble them up as the gift that keeps on giving. They do a great job, says Wind River Pack Goat Adventures in Boulder, Wyoming.

Andrew RossiJanuary 03, 2025

Dalton and Rubi Van Pelt of Rawlins received the greatest anniversary gift ever, their first child, Emory Lenora at 2:38 a.m. on New Year’s Day.

Rawlins Couple Gets Great New Year’s Wedding Anniversary Gift — Their First Baby

A Rawlins couple got a very special gift on New Year’s Day, which was also their second wedding anniversary. Their first child, a daughter, arrived at 2:38 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2025.

Dale KillingbeckJanuary 02, 2025

Devils Tower from "Close Encounters of the Third Kind."

Cheyenne Reports More UFO Sightings Than Anywhere Else in Wyoming

Although Devils Tower gets all the attention, the National UFO Center reports Cheyenne is tops in the state for UFO sightings. A UFO investigator says that's not surprising as it is the home of F.E. Warren Air Force Base.

Andrew RossiJanuary 01, 2025

Rod Miller Gets Drunk & Drives Thru Obstacle Course To Show Dangers Of DUI

In a “WKRP In Cincinnati”-inspired test, Cowboy State Daily columnist Rod Miller demonstrated the dangers of drunk driving. On a closed-course demonstration hosted by the Laramie County Sheriff’s Office, he took many shots of Wyoming Whiskey and drove a riding lawnmower through an obstacle course.

Leo Wolfson & Reilly StrandJanuary 01, 2025

The semitruck parking lot off I-80 near Sinclair looks like a portal from hell has opened up through the lens of a WYDOT webcam covered in ice. The effect is caused by reflected taillghts.

No, Those Weren’t "Hell Portals" Opening Up On WYDOT's I-80 Webcams

WYDOT's webcams at Sinclair along Interstate 80 produced some strange, and potentially demonic, images during a Monday snowstorm. Light reflecting through ice buildup on the cameras made some people say the effect looked like “hell portals” opening.

Andrew RossiDecember 31, 2024

Wyoming Can Expect New Year To Begin Cold, Windy And Snowier

New Year's Day in Wyoming will be a cold, windy and snowier start to 2025 after a dry, relatively warm December. Don Day says all signs are that the first weeks of the new year will bring much-needed winter weather.

Andrew RossiDecember 30, 2024

Scene from the 1975 movie "Bite the Bullet," based on the 1908 534-mile endurance horse race between Evanston, Wyoming, and Denver.

Wyoming History: That Famous 1908 Horse Race From Evanston To Denver

A $1,250 prize purse lured more than two dozen men to race on horseback 534 miles from Evanston, Wyoming, to Denver. The famous 1908 race was big news across the country, with a controversial finish for a Cody man who won.

Dale KillingbeckDecember 29, 2024

Tow Truck Drivers Say Drivers, Not Weather, Can Make I-80 A Winter Nightmare

I-80 across southern Wyoming is known as being one of most dangerous stretches of highway in the nation during winter. But tow truck drivers says drivers, not weather, can make I-80 a winter nightmare.

Sydnee ChapmanDecember 29, 2024

Andre Bohren said one thing his dad did really well is evoke emotion out of an audience.

Wyoming People: Casper's Spencer Bohren, Master Of American Roots And The Blues

Casper native Spencer Bohren was a master of American roots music and the blues, opening for B.B. King and playing with other legends. His musical legacy continues to resonate five years after his death.