Wyoming Life

Shoshoni High Choir Sings Backup For ’80s Rockers Foreigner In Casper Concert

The newly formed Shoshoni High School choir had an epic gig for its first public performance. The group was on stage Tuesday in Casper, Wyoming, singing backup for 1980s rock band Foreigner on its smash power ballad “I Want to Know What Love Is.”

Dale KillingbeckOctober 02, 2024

Ralph and Juana Laub celebrate their Utah record 2,289-pound pumpkin.

Utah Couple Grow Record-Breaking 2,289-Pound Pumpkin From A Wyoming Seed

Ralph and Juana Laub set a new Utah record over the weekend with a giant 2,289-pound pumpkin. The humongous squash was grown from a Wyoming seed provided by Cheyenne’s Andy and Amy Corbin.

Andrew RossiSeptember 30, 2024

A host of people stopped to help Nathan Frederick when his truck caught on fire off I-25 near Casper on Sunday, Spet. 29, 2024. (Video by Renee Jean, Cowboy State Daily)

When Truck Catches Fire Off I-25, Wyomingites Stop To Help

When a DoorDash driver’s truck caught fire just off Interstate 25 just east of Casper on Sunday, he had all kinds of help. Truckers and other motorists were quick to stop to help, even before emergency responders could arrive.

Renée JeanSeptember 30, 2024

Note From The Editor: Cowboy State Daily To Launch Morning Talk Show

Based on the success of Cowboy State Daily’s morning video newscast with Wendy Corr, we are expanding our multimedia offerings to include a morning radio/video talk show which launches Tuesday.

Jimmy OrrSeptember 30, 2024

Dave Stewart owns and operates the historic Occidental Hotel in Buffalo, Wyoming, with wife Jackie. He’s also a musician, writing “God Already Has,” which won Gospel Song of the Year at Friday’s IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards. Here he's posing with the award.

Owner of Buffalo’s Occidental Hotel Wins 2024 Gospel Song Of The Year

Dave Stewart owns and operates the historic Occidental Hotel in Buffalo, Wyoming, with wife Jackie. He’s also a singer/songwriter, co-writing “God Already Has,” which won Gospel Song of the Year at Friday’s International Bluegrass Music Awards.

Renée JeanSeptember 30, 2024

Locals in Dubois, Wyoming, still tell how Butch Cassidy, left, rode into town the winter after his infamous Telluride bank robbery. That’s when the notorious outlaw is said to run into author Owen Wister before either were famous.

Butch Cassidy In Wyoming: Notorious Outlaw Meets Owen Wister Before Either Were Famous

Locals in Dubois, Wyoming, still tell how Butch Cassidy rode into town the winter after his infamous Telluride bank robbery. That’s when the notorious outlaw is said to run into author Owen Wister before either were famous.

Renée JeanSeptember 29, 2024

Nikko Mamallo and a friend perform a maneuver high in the sky in their wingsuits.

Wingsuit Flyers Get Adrenaline Overdose Hitting 120 MPH Jumping From 13,000 Feet

Wingsuit flyers and BASE jumpers get an adrenaline overdose hitting 120 mph jumping off of mountaintops and cliffs. In Wyoming, Squaretop Mountain in Sublette County is the top spot for these daredevils.

Dale KillingbeckSeptember 29, 2024

Left, the designer of the Wyoming State Flag, Verna Keays Keys, maintained the bison on the flag should face away from the pole. But prominent sufferagist, UW professor and head of the DAR at the time, Grace Raymond Hebard, right, insisted it face the pole, which became the preferred way to make the flag.

Is The Wyoming Flag Bison Facing The Wrong Way? Creator’s Granddaughter Says Yes

Verna Keays Keyes designed Wyoming's unique state flag, but is the bison facing the wrong way? Her granddaughter says yes, that Keyes originally made it looking away from the pole.

Renée JeanSeptember 29, 2024

Juan Laden of Lander, Wyoming, surveying a cave with a team in Mexico.

Wyoming Caver Has Spent 50 Years Exploring World’s Deepest, Darkest Places

It takes a certain kind of person to not only tolerate being in caves, but love it. Juan Laden of Lander is one, having spent 50 years exploring the world’s deepest, darkest places from Antarctica to Ukraine to New Zealand.

Jackie DorothySeptember 29, 2024

Balloons get ready to launch for the 2024 Gordon Bennett Cup in Munster, Germany.

Wyoming Weather Guru Don Day Helps Team USA At Europe’s Oldest Aviation Race

Cowboy State Daily meteorologist Don Day was part of Team USA in the oldest gas balloon race in the world. His job was to read and predict the weather so the balloonists could catch the best wind currents.

Andrew RossiSeptember 29, 2024

Dr. George Harrison, pictured inset standing near the first tee at Rolling Green Country Club in Green River, was for decades the quintessential hometown doctor for Rock Springs and Sweetwater County. He was known for making house calls and refusing payment.

The Kindest Doctor In Wyoming: Remembering Rock Springs' Dr. George Harrison

Dr. George Harrison never turned down anyone, for any reason. Even 35 years after his death, people tear-up remembering his kindness -- mentioning his house calls at any hour, $3 office visits and refusing payment when people couldn't afford it.

Jen KocherSeptember 29, 2024

Kevin Christopherson in his younger days was among the world’s best hang glider pilots for distance.

It’s Been 35 Years Since Casper Man Set 3 World Hang Gliding Distance Records

Casper’s Kevin Christopherson set three world records in 1989 for soaring hang gliders nearly 300 miles from Wyoming to South Dakota. At 63, he still enjoys taking off from Casper Mountain and landing at home.

Dale KillingbeckSeptember 28, 2024

Kayden, Janet and Jansen Curry all look for their Jae Boots at the Casper Boot Barn. Kayden is the Kelly Walsh senior class secretary and Jansen Curry said all three are supporters of the McMurry Foundation and the Jae Foundation and came to hear the Jae Foundation presentation. “We didn’t know we were getting boots,” Janen Curry said. “It’s kind of cool.”

Jae Bob Bing’s Legacy: Hope Through Free Cowboy Boots For High School Seniors

High school students in Natrona County and some others around the state are getting free cowboy boots and a conversation about hope from the Jae Foundation. The foundation wants the boots to trigger suicide prevention talks that otherwise may not happen.

Dale KillingbeckSeptember 28, 2024

The restored "Nifty Niner" diner on a private ranch near Cody. The diner sits among several pieces of automotive history collected and restored by Ken Quintiliani, a vintage vehicle enthusiast who spends his days repairing and restoring cars and collecting vintage signs.

Classic Cody Diner Had Become A Chicken Coop, Now Restored To Its 1950s Glory

A classic Cody, Wyoming, stainless steel diner spent decades feeding people under many owners and names. Now it’s been restored to its 1950s glory after it was rescued from being someone’s chicken coop.

Andrew RossiSeptember 28, 2024

The annual Wyoming Pumpkin Drop is Oct. 5, and this year's target isn't a vehicle. It's a giant 8-foot Wile E. Coyote.

This Year’s Wyoming Giant Pumpkin Drop To Obliterate 8-Foot Wile E. Coyote

The highlight of the annual Wyoming State Champion Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off is dropping 1,000-pound pumpkins from 200-feet up and watching them explode -- and destroy things like cars, RVs and pianos. At this year’s event on Oct. 5, an 8-foot Wile E. Coyote will be obliterated.

Andrew RossiSeptember 28, 2024

Abandoned tunnel in the Boysen State Park that the railroad refused to build higher. This resulted in decades of court battles against Asmus Boysen to demolish his dam in the Wind River Canyon. It's now crumbling.

Boysen State Park’s Abandoned Tunnel Is Last Reminder Of Fierce Railroad Fight

A crumbling abandoned tunnel in Boysen State Park is all that’s left of one man's fierce fight with the railroad in the early 1900s. It’s the last reminder a failed gold rush and a showdown with the railroad for ownership of Wyoming’s Wind River Canyon.

Jackie DorothySeptember 28, 2024

Cody Museum Gets One-Of-A-Kind Andy Warhol Custer Portrait

The museum in the Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody has acquired a one-of-a-kind portrait of Gen. George Armstrong Custer created by pop artist Andy Warhol. The colorful portrait is a huge get for the Whitney Western Art Museum.

Andrew RossiSeptember 26, 2024

UPS driver Cary Lambert found this suitcase along I-80 near Buford, Wyoming. He took it home and tracked down who lost it, a Colorado kid who got some of his prized possessions back.

UPS Driver Tracks Down Colorado Kid Who Lost Suitcase Along I-80 In Wyoming

When UPS driver Cary Lambert saw a suitcase along I-80 near Buford, Wyoming, on his daily route, he stopped to pick it up. When he saw it was full of a child's belongings including a shirt from an elementary school in Colorado, he was able to get in touch with the child's family and get it back to them.

Andrew RossiSeptember 26, 2024

The McDaniel family from Casper was told they're the first Wyoming family to be on "Family Feud."

The McDaniels From Casper A Rare Wyoming Family On “Family Feud”

The McDaniels from Casper is one of the rare Wyoming families to appear on the popular TV game show “Family Feud” on Wednesday. That they were from central Wyoming seemed to fascinate, and confuse, host Steve Harvey.

Dale KillingbeckSeptember 25, 2024

Along the Bighorn River, four miles north of Thermopolis.

Wyoming Simmering In September With Temps 20 Degrees Above Average

Most of Wyoming is flirting with record high temperatures in the 80s and 90s, as much as 20 degrees above average. Meteorologist Don Day says this weekend will be the "peak opportunity" to view fall foliage.

Andrew RossiSeptember 25, 2024

With Utah State also bolting for the Pac-12 Conference, Wyoming is left in the Mountian West with six other schools, which has the conference offering to pay the remaining seven schools to not leave.

Utah State Ditches Mountain West, Leaving UW Athletics In Limbo

The future of University of Wyoming athletics became more uncertain Monday when Utah State University left the Mountain West Conference. Meanwhile, UW has few options.

Leo WolfsonSeptember 24, 2024

The Buffalo on Cedar Mountain overlooking Cody in honor of Buffalo Bill Cody has been shot up and vandalized over the years.

Cody Group To Repair And Restore Beat Up Statue Honoring Buffalo Bill

A buffalo that stands on Cedar Mountain overlooking Cody, Wyoming, honors the town’s famous founder, Buffalo Bill Cody. It’s also in bad shape, having been shot up and vandalized over the years, but a local group is going to restore it.