Wyoming Life

Bryson Quinney, who received a heart transplant in 2020, is pictured with the new Donate Life license plate, which became available in Wyoming on Jan. 1. He was born with half a heart and had several surgeries early in life, including a heart transplant.

Wyoming Teen Born With Half A Heart Champions New ‘Donate Life’ License Plate

Lyman's Bryson Quinney was born with half a heart and was saved by a heart transplant in 2020, now he and his father are champions for organ donation, including pushing for Wyoming’s new “Donate Life” license plates.

Amber SteinmetzJanuary 28, 2024

Minerva Terrace at Yellowstone National Park became the iconic landscape of Vulcan in "Star Trek: The Motion Picture." Leonard Nimoy, aka Mr. Spock of Vulcan, filmed his first scenes as his beloved character there since the original Star Trek TV series was canceled a decade earlier.

Why Yellowstone Was Chosen To Be Planet Vulcan In First Star Trek Movie

Wanting to make a big splash with the first Star Trek movie, there was only one location otherworldly and alien enough to become Vulcan, the home planet of Mr. Spock — Minerva Terrace in Yellowstone National Park.

Andrew RossiJanuary 28, 2024

Robert Clark with the Department of Biological Resources at Marshall University in West Virginia poses with the skull of Unktaheela, the newest type of prehistoric marine reptile identified from the Late Cretaceous rocks of Wyoming. It's unique because of its small size and big eyes.

Wyoming's Loch Ness Monster Was A Short, Stumpy Sea Lizard From Niobrara County

Dinosaur researchers have “rediscovered” the newest fossils of an 80 million-year-old short, stumpy sea lizard found in Niobrara County, Wyoming, back in 1975. They say it was "little and cute, with big puppy dog eyes."

Andrew RossiJanuary 28, 2024

A blow up photo of William “Missou” Hines dominates one the rooms at the Salt Creek Museum in Midwest, Wyoming. He worked for the Midwest Oil Co. as “head teamster” and allegedly as an oil claim enforcer.

Wyoming History: Casper Cowboy, Prankster Inspired Baby Switch In ‘The Virginian’

A Wyoming character named William “Missou” Hines, had a colorful career as a cowboy and once pulled a baby-switching prank that inspired Owen Wister to include it in his famous novel of Wyoming, “The Virginian.”

Dale KillingbeckJanuary 27, 2024

Carbon County 16-year-old Madi Dunning won the junior division of the National Make It With Wool competition with her stunning green coat.

Forget Tik Tok, This Wyoming Girl Is Influencing With A Sewing Machine

When other teens spend most of their time on their smartphones and other devices, 16-year-old Madi Dunning from Encampment, Wyoming, has become a national champion with her sewing machine.

January 27, 2024

How Thermopolis, Wyoming, Got Its Name Is As Legendary As The Name Itself

History doesn’t record the exact conversation that led to the naming of Thermopolis but it does involve whiskey, outlaws, and a cowboy with a thick Irish brogue who convinced the townspeople it was the perfect name.

Renée JeanJanuary 27, 2024

Jess Moore runs the Canadian Open in Fort Nelson, British Columbia, last April. Now the Jackson rookie will run in one of the most prestigious sled dog races in North America.

Jackson Rookie Steps In For Mentor To Run Pedigree Stage Stop Sled Dog Race

“Promise me someone is going to run those dogs.” Those were Alix Crittenden’s last words before she went under the knife for a brain tumor less than two weeks before the start of the 2024 Pedigree Stage Stop Race. Her understudy is stepping in.

Jake NicholsJanuary 27, 2024

Wyoming bestselling author Craig Johnson is releasing the latest story in his Walt Longmire saga, "First Frost," in May.

Craig Johnson’s New Longmire Novel Takes Sheriff Walt Back To Summer 1964

Wyoming author Craig Johnson will release his 20th novel in May, “First Frost." Only this time, it’s 1964, and Walt Longmire is in his early 20s and has just been drafted into the Vietnam War.

Amber SteinmetzJanuary 27, 2024

Tai McBride is undefeated wrestling for Jackson Hole High School so far this season.

Jackson High Phenom Tai McBride Wrestles Like A Girl — And Can’t Be Beat

16-year-old Tai McBride is pretty much like any other Wyoming teenage girl, until the whistle blows. Then she becomes 120 pounds of, 'f*** around and find out.'

Jake NicholsJanuary 27, 2024

Since 2012, the Garvin family and Yellow Iron Excavating and Waste Removal in Jackson has built this humongous snowman near Teton Village.

Not Enough Snow This Season To Build Gigantic 25-Foot Wyoming Snowman

It was not a Christmas miracle for the Garvin Family in Jackson this year. Due to a lack of snow, they couldn't build their 25-foot snowman as they've done every year since 2012. Weather permitting, they vow it will return next year.

Andrew RossiJanuary 26, 2024

Austin Broderson, a Casper College rodeo rider and native of Canada, was released from a Denver hospital Thursday less than two weeks after being involved in a horrific wreck on a bareback ride at the National Western Stock Show.

Casper College Bareback Rider In Horrific Rodeo Wreck Out Of Hospital

Austin Broderson, the 19-year-old Casper College cowboy who survived being dragged and trampled by a horse Jan. 15 at the National Western Stock Show Rodeo in Denver, is out of the hospital and on his way back home.

Renée JeanJanuary 26, 2024

A Jekyll-and-Hyde El Niño system that's gripped Wyoming this winter is turning unseasonably warm again, with temperatures about 45 Thursday afternoon quickly melting the snow at Holiday Park in Cheyenne.

Wyoming’s Jekyll-And-Hyde Winter Swings 100 Degrees, From -50 To 50

Wyoming’s Jekyll-and-Hyde El Niño winter has seen 100-degree temperature swings in a matter of weeks, from minus 50 polar vortex wind chills to over 50 above to finish January.

Andrew RossiJanuary 25, 2024

Dustin Cox is the mayor of tiny Alton Utah, which – true to its ranching roots – has “Whoa” signs instead of stop signs.

Utah Town’s ‘WHOA’ Signs Show Cowboy Spirit, But Can't Happen In Wyoming

Alton, an ag/ranching community in Utah, has a lot of similarities to a Wyoming town, except for the stop signs. They have "WHOA" signs instead. It's a good idea but not allowed in Wyoming

Mark HeinzJanuary 23, 2024

Left, Austin Broderson, a 19-year-old Casper College student, comes out of the chute on Jack Dupp during a ride in the National Western Stock Show Rodeo in Denver on Jan. 15, 2023. After finishing his 8-second ride, Broderson's rigging slipped and he was drug and trampled by the horse. He survived and is recovering in a Denver hospital. Right, Broderson gives a thumbs up from a hospital bed in Denver

Casper College Bareback Rider Recovering, Still Can't Use Arm After Wreck

The family of Austin Broderson, the 19-year-old Casper College bareback rider trampled during a horrific wreck at the National Western Stock Show rodeo last week says he’s doing better every day, but still has no use of his left arm.

Renée JeanJanuary 22, 2024

Aftermath of the Sept. 27, 1923, Cole Creek train wreck that killed dozens of people traveling between Casper and Glenrock.

New Look At Wyoming’s Deadliest Train Wreck Reveals Potential Murder Plot

A Casper historian's investigation into Wyoming’s deadliest train wreck where a train plunged into a roaring creek bed between Casper and Glenrock in 1923, has unearthed many new details -- including a potential murder plot.

Dale KillingbeckJanuary 21, 2024

The legs of an Allosaurus found in Wyoming's Jurassic Mile are on display at The Children's Museum of Indianapolis.

Dinosaur World Thrilled Over Allosaurus Found In Wyoming’s Jurassic Mile

A rare discovery of an Allosaurus found in Wyoming’s famous Jurassic Mile has the dinosaur world excited over the bones which are mostly intact with evidence of injuries and even skin.

Andrew RossiJanuary 21, 2024

Peter Burgess is a fourth-generation Wyoming rancher who gives people a glimpse of his family's Western lifestyle through his YouTube channel, The Wyoming Way.

Sheridan Rancher Passes On The Wyoming Way One Subscriber At A Time

Peter Burgess, a fourth-generation rancher near Sheridan, showcases Wyoming values and the toil and fun of working a cattle ranch, one subscriber at a time through his YouTube channel "The Wyoming Way."

Clair McFarlandJanuary 20, 2024

Trey Warren stands on top of a mountain bike he bolted to the roof of the 75-foot-tall Lander Elevator.

Why Is There A Bike On Top Of The Historic Lander Grain Elevator?

Trey Warren is an unusual and outgoing person who, in his own eclectic way, saved the historic 75-foot-tall Lander grain elevator. He also bolted a mountain bike on top of it, and has even saddled up to ride it like a bull.

Renée JeanJanuary 20, 2024

Spaghetti Westerner Gap Pucci, 88, Is The Last Wyoming Mountain Man Of His Time

Spaghetti Westerner and modern-day Wyoming mountain man Gap Pucci is the last of his kind. The 88-year-old legendary outfitter still lives like he always has — straight-up cowboy. No phone, no internet, no modern amenities.

Jake NicholsJanuary 20, 2024

Casper College bareback rider Austin Broderson gives a thumbs up from a hospital bed in Denver after suffering a horrific crash riding in the National Western Stock Show Rodeo on Jan. 15, 2023.

Casper College Bareback Rider Survives Horrific Wreck At National Western Stock Show

Austin Broderson, a 19-year-old bareback rider and sophomore at Casper College, is recovering after enduring what many rodeo insiders are calling the worst wreck they’ve ever seen at the National Western Stock Show in Denver on Monday.

Renée JeanJanuary 19, 2024

Some of the homeless who sought shelter at True Vine Community Church this past weekend showed up with various levels of frostbite. The severe cases were taken for medical attention.

With Homeless Shelter At Capacity, Cheyenne Church Opened Doors During Severe Cold Snap

When temperatures plunged well below zero last weekend and the COMEA Shelter was overflowing, a Cheyenne church opened its doors to more than 30 homeless people, some of them with ashen frostbite already bubbling on their hands.

Clair McFarlandJanuary 17, 2024

West Yellowstone, Montana, resident Vanessa Lynn-Byerly caught images of “diamond dust," or tiny frozen crystals drifting through the air, at the Upper Falls in the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River.

Yellowstone Visitor Captures Video Of Rare Arctic Air ‘Diamond Dust’

“Diamond Dust” – or glittering, frozen precipitation lingering in the air – is a rare phenomenon that occurs under extremely cold conditions when water vapor in the air freezes and very small water crystals are the result.

Mark HeinzJanuary 17, 2024

The crystal-clear ice of Boysen Reservoir is covered with unique, large frost flowers.

Frosty Flowers Cover Boysen Reservoir Like A Sea Of ‘Sagebrush’

On an ice fishing trip to Wyoming’s Boysen Reservoir, Ed and Deanna Reish, along with grandson McCrae Puckett, stumbled on to a beautiful phenomenon -- the lake was covered with a field of large hoarfrost crystals that looked like a sea of frosty “sagebrush.”

Andrew RossiJanuary 17, 2024

Overview of the McMurry Mansion and surrounding property, including a pond and island in back.

Formerly Listed At $24.5 Million, Casper Mansion Back On Market At $7.9 Million

The McMurry Mansion in Casper is one of Wyoming’s largest homes at nearly 23,000 square feet. It boasts nine bedrooms, 13 full baths, commercial kitchen and banquet hall. The mansion once listed for $24.5 million and is now on the market for $7.9 million.

Renée JeanJanuary 16, 2024

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