Wyoming Life

Craig Johnson talks about his annual Christmas short story tour, which is celebrating its 20th year this season.

Wyoming Author Craig Johnson Releases 20th Annual Christmas Story And Tour Dates

It's that time of year again when Wyoming author Craig Johnson releases his annual Christmas story and goes on his annual tour to tell the story. This year, in a book named “Recidivism," Walt Longmire crosses paths with a Houdini dog named Harry.

Renée JeanDecember 09, 2023

A player moves through Yellowstone on the Trekking the National Parks board game layout.

A Snowy Hike In Yellowstone Inspired Million-Selling National Parks Board Game

Who knew board games were still popular? What started out as a bucket-list retirement journey to hike 40 national parks turned into the hit board game "Trekking the National Parks," which has since sold more than 1 million units.

Andrew RossiDecember 09, 2023

Amy Wroe Bechtel, husband Steve and their dog, Jonz.

Disappearance Of Amy Wroe Bechtel Still Haunting After 26 Years

The unsolved disappearance of Amy Wroe Bechtel in 1997 remains one of the more baffling cases in U.S. history. The massive search launched when she vanished was like no other in Wyoming then or since. Even the Russians were asked to assist.

Jake NicholsDecember 09, 2023

The Wyoming Department of Transportation's office in District 3, which covers the southwestern corner of the state, is read to deploy its newest weapon against winter — the tow plow.

Wyoming's New Transformer-Looking Snow Plow Can Clear 2 Lanes At Once

Interstate 80 through western Wyoming will be patrolled by a new snow plow that looks like a Transformer. The new $150,000 "tow plow" extends off the side of a typical plow truck to clear more than two lanes at once.

December 09, 2023

Chris Navarro's 13-foot-high, 28-foot-long T. rex not only is frightening, it lights up.

How World Famous Wyoming Sculptor Chris Navarro Got His Start

Famed Casper bronze sculptor Chris Navarro wasn't a 'natural' artist. But when he saw a bronze of famed rodeo bronc Steamboat on a hunting trip and couldn't afford the $35,000 price tag, he decided to teach himself how to sculpt. So he went to the library...

Dale KillingbeckDecember 09, 2023

Wyoming's Winter Winds Are Back! Drivers Warned Of Blowovers From 90 MPH Winds

Thar She Blows! The worst of this weekend's windy weather could mean gusts up to 90 mph Sunday, which means there's a higher chance of blowovers along Wyoming's highways.

Andrew RossiDecember 08, 2023

Members of the Jackson Jewish community celebrate lighting their menorahs in 2022.

Wyoming Holds Public Hanukkah Celebrations As Other US Cities Cancel Theirs

Jewish communities in Wyoming say they’re going ahead with their public celebrations of Hanukkah even as other cities around the U.S. are canceling theirs out of fear of conflicts with pro-Palestinian protesters.

Dale KillingbeckDecember 08, 2023

University of Wyoming football coach Craig Bohl.

Wyoming Cowboys Head Football Coach Craig Bohl To Retire After Bowl Game

University of Wyoming head football coach Craig Bohl announced his retirement on Wednesday. His final game will be at the Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl on Dec. 30 in Tucson. Defensive Coordinator Jay Sawvel will take over as the new head coach

Jake NicholsDecember 06, 2023

The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds perform in formation. The precision flying group has confirmed it will be back in Cheyenne this next summer.

Thunderbirds To Return To Cheyenne Frontier Days In 2024 After Canceling In 2023

The world-famous Thunderbirds announced on Tuesday that they are coming back to Cheyenne Frontier Days next summer. Although they have been a staple of Frontier Days since 1953, they canceled last year due to construction on the Cheyenne Airport runway.

Andrew RossiDecember 06, 2023

Could Giant El Niño ‘Blob Of Hot Water’ Wreak Havoc On Wyoming’s Winter Weather?

A giant “blob of hot water” associated with the seasonal El Niño weather pattern is warming up in the Pacific Ocean. Whether it will wreak havoc on Wyoming’s winter weather is difficult to forecast, says Don Day.

Andrew RossiDecember 05, 2023

The escalators in the main branch of Hilltop Bank in Casper. These escalators (the most recently built in Wyoming) were installed when the bank building opened in 1979.

Why There Are Only Two Escalators In All Of Wyoming

When it comes to escalators, Wyoming’s two — both in Casper — equal the number of the state’s U.S. senators and national parks, and are 255 times fewer than registered electric vehicles.

Andrew RossiDecember 04, 2023

An eastern Wyoming horse ranching family lost 11 horses in a barn fire early Sunday morning.

Wyoming Ranch Family Heartbroken After 11 Horses Die In Rural Barn Fire

A barn fire in Burns in eastern Laramie County early Sunday morning killed 11 horses, leaving a Wyoming ranching family devastated and heartbroken.

Leo WolfsonDecember 04, 2023

Wyoming native Amber Travsky was one of the state’s first women wildlife biologists, is a ninth-degree blackbelt in karate, is a founder of the Tour de Wyoming cycling event, served as mayor of Laramie and doesn’t plan to slow down anytime soon.

Wyoming People: Amber Travsky — Cycling Guru, Black Belt, Biologist, Mayor

Wyoming native Amber Travsky is one of the state's most senior wildlife biologists, is a ninth-degree blackbelt in karate, is a founder of the Tour de Wyoming cycling event, served as mayor of Laramie and doesn’t plan to slow down anytime soon.

Mark HeinzDecember 03, 2023

A group of 4-H participants decorate their snowmen for the Community Christmas Celebration.

Artist Makes 300 Wooden Snowmen, One For Every Family In 3 Big Horn County Towns

With none of her children and grandchildren living nearby, Pauline Parker wanted to do something for the area. So she painted 300 wooden snowmen — one for every family in Burlington, Otto and Emblem.

Amber SteinmetzDecember 03, 2023

Tumble Inn as seen in the John Margolies Roadside America photograph archive in the Library of Congress.

Wyoming’s Iconic 28-Foot Neon Tumble Inn Cowboy Will Have New Home In Casper

There’s still a lot to do, but the restoration of Wyoming’s iconic 28-foot Tumble Inn neon cowboy has hit overdrive, and when finished is expected to have a prominent new permanent home in Casper.

Dale KillingbeckDecember 03, 2023

The Dam Bar and Privy were famous — and infamous — Wyoming landmarks.

Wyoming’s Infamous Dam Bar With A Speaker In The Women’s Outhouse

The Dam Bar and Privy near Boysen Dam along U.S. Highway 20 was a relic of the Old West with a brief and colorful history in the 1940s and 1950s that included a speaker mounted in the women’s outhouse connected to the nearby bar.

Andrew RossiDecember 02, 2023

A pair of POWs work in a beet field near Wheatland in 1944.

How World War II POWs From Italy And Germany Saved Wyoming Harvests

Douglas author Lee Ann Siebken recalls how a Wyoming World War II prisoner of war camp with with soldiers from Italy and Germany grew to outnumber the small town it was in — and helped save the crops of local farmers.

Dale KillingbeckDecember 02, 2023

The Big Island Bridge over the Green River south of Fontenelle Reservoir.

Wyoming ‘Bridge Nerd’ On A Mission To Document State’s Historic Bridges

John Bernhisel of Cowley, Wyoming, is on a mission, spending his summers visiting, photographing and chronicling the stories of historic Wyoming bridges and crossings.

December 02, 2023

Sleeping Giant Ski Area is one of many around Wyoming excited for a big dump of snow this weekend.

Wyoming Ski Resorts Can Expect Up To 2 Feet Of Snow Over Weekend

Wyoming's ski areas could get up to 2 feet of over the weekend, and temperatures are finally cold enough start building a snowpack for the season.

Andrew RossiDecember 01, 2023

The photo is a piece of a painting on an elk hide showing Black Kettle with the American Flag and the military attack at Sand Creek. The hide was painted by Northern Arapaho Benjamin Ridgely Sr. The original is on display at the Northern Arapaho Experience Room in the Wind River Hotel and Casino just west of Riverton.

Sand Creek Massacre: The Most Dastardly Episode In American History Of Broken Promises

The Sand Creek massacre, which happened Nov. 29, 1864, was "really the most dastardly episode in American history of broken promises, followed by a massacre,” Indian Wars historian John Monnett told Cowboy State Daily.

Candy MoultonNovember 29, 2023

A snowplow that was hit from behind by a vehicle while clearing Interstate 80 near Baggs, Wyoming, during last weekend's storm.

WYDOT To Wyoming Drivers: Quit Running Into Our Snowplows!

The first major snowstorm of the season in Wyoming over the Thanksgiving weekend saw drivers plow into three snowplows, damaging two of them enough to put them out of commission.

Andrew RossiNovember 29, 2023

Rock Springs Mayor Max Mickelson discusses an online news report that he says unfairly targeted a city police officer and the department.

Rock Springs Mayor, Police Department Refute Online Attack Of Police Officer

Saying it’s been “frustrating” dealing with the unsubstantiated claims by an online report accusing a Rock Springs police officer of malfeasance, the city has released bodycam footage that doesn’t support the opinionated and inflammatory reports.

Clair McFarlandNovember 29, 2023

The Natrona County High School marching band performs Metallica's "Lux Aeterna."

For Whom The Band Tolls: Natrona County Marching Band Enters Metallica Competition

The 100-member Natrona High School marching band is the only Wyoming band entered in a nationwide contest to translate heavy metal group Metallica’s songs into an on-field performance.

Dale KillingbeckNovember 27, 2023

Nope, That Heart-Tugging New Chevrolet Ad Was Not Filmed In Wyoming

Readers reached out to Cowboy State Daily over the weekend to ask the location of the Wyoming drive-in theatre featured in a new heart-tugging Chevrolet ad which addresses Alzheimer's disease. It is a real theatre but it's located in Dearborn, Michigan.