Headlines

Explore a chronological display of Cowboy State Daily’s articles.

Wyoming Starts Rounding As Pennies Vanish From Cash Registers

Wyoming businesses and some city governments are phasing out pennies by rounding cash transactions to the nearest nickel. Customers mostly pay electronically, businesses say, so they aren't worried about small rounding losses.

Wendy CorrFebruary 14, 2026

Yellowstone's Valentine Geyser Lovingly Erupts For The First Time In 21 Years

Valentine Geyser in the Norris Geyser Basin in Yellowstone National Park unexpectedly sprang to life again with 13 documented eruptions in 2025. It's the first eruptions for the lovingly-named geyser in 21 years.

Andrew RossiFebruary 14, 2026

The taste test arrives. One bowl are tallow fries, and one vegetable oil fries. A chocolate malt is on standby for the taste test, as well as a ranch-raised, grass-fed burger from the Chugwater Soda Fountain.

Chugwater Fry-Off: Are Beef Tallow French Fries Really Better?

The health debate over beef tallow and seed oil misses the most important point — which makes the most delicious french fry? It took a fry-off challenge at the historic Soda Fountain in Chugwater to find out.

Renée JeanFebruary 14, 2026

16 Years After Heart Transplant, Couple Thanks Organ Donor For Another Valentine's Day

Casper couple Jason and Misty Wynia say they are forever grateful to the person who checked "yes" on their driver's license application to be an organ donor. This is their 16th Valentine's Day together since Jason received a new heart.

Wendy CorrFebruary 14, 2026

Nick Dodgson and his father after finding the headstone of his great, great, great-uncle in a cemetery of 60,000 gravestones.

Cheyenne Man's Quest To Find Gravestone Of Great, Great, Great-Uncle In England

During a trip to the U.K. last week, Cheyenne's Nick Dodgson went on a seemingly impossible quest. Find the gravestone of his great, great, great-uncle — who died in 1880 — in an ivy-filled cemetery with over 60,000 headstones.

Andrew RossiFebruary 14, 2026

The Wyoming Department of Transportation is now selling a specialty Search and Rescue license plate. The inital cost is $180 with $150 going to the state-wide SAR fund with a $50 annual renewal fee.

Search And Rescue Teams Cost A Lot Of Money In Wyoming, Especially With "Extreme Sports"

Just one search and rescue mission last year took nearly 1,800 manpower hours and 220 flights. Without volunteers, it would have cost $1.7 million. Now with nearly 9 million visitors coming to Wyoming, the cost of helping stranded people is breaking the bank.

Jen KocherFebruary 14, 2026

The Hitching Post Inn served as Wyoming’s unofficial second Capitol, where lawmakers, lobbyists and presidents mingled, cut deals and forged friendships before debt, bankruptcy and arson finally brought the legendary hotel down.

The Hitching Post: When Everyone Stayed At Wyoming’s Wildest Political Hotel

The Hitching Post Inn in Cheyenne wasn't just a hotel. For decades, it was the most powerful spot in Wyoming. Nearly every legislator stayed there and that's where deals were finalized. Communal martini fountains helped lubricate negotiations.

Zakary SonntagFebruary 14, 2026

Cowboy State Daily Show with Jeff - Saturday, February 14, 2026

Jeff in the 307. Saturday mornings 6-10 a.m.

Jake NicholsFebruary 14, 2026

Sen. Eric Barlow testifies for the Senate Labor Committee during a discussion about Senate File 48 on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026.

Wyoming Lawmakers Move To Bypass FDA On Stem Cell Treatments

Wyoming lawmakers advanced the Stem Cell Freedom Act on Friday, which would let doctors offer certain stem cell treatments without FDA approval. Bill sponsor Sen. Eric Barlow said, “We’ve got to press on the federal government because they’re not approving things fast enough."

Zakary SonntagFebruary 14, 2026

Aaron Dorr, policy advisor for Wyoming Gun Owners, testifies about Senate File 101 at the state Capitol on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026.

Chief Says Cop Killer’s Mom Would Have Escaped Justice Under Gun Rights Bill

Wyoming law officers say a gun rights bill headed for the House floor could let offenders slip through the cracks, including a cop killer's mom who would've escaped justice under the bill. Supporters say it will protect gun owners from federal overreach.

Mark HeinzFebruary 14, 2026

Jonathan Lange: Restoring Protections To Wyoming Women

Columnist Jonathan Lange writes, “Rep. Martha Lawley (R-Worland) has introduced legislation that restores to women protections that the Court stripped away. HB 117 will be heard by the House Judiciary Committee on Monday morning.”

Jonathan LangeFebruary 13, 2026

Wyoming Lawmakers Shoot Down Bill To Create Nation's First Hydrogen Tax

The House Minerals Committee shot down a bid Friday for Wyoming to become the first state in the nation with a hydrogen severance tax. Industry officials testified a tax would discourage investment in Cowboy State hydrogen projects.

David MadisonFebruary 13, 2026

Park County Man Accused Of Terrorizing Pregnant Woman, Two Young Kids With Hammer

A Park County man is accused of terrorizing his pregnant fiancée and her two young kids with a hammer during a three-day drinking binge. He was bound over to felony-level court on Wednesday.

Greg JohnsonFebruary 13, 2026

Bill To Purge Sexually-Explicit Library Books From Children's Section Heads To House

A bill seeking to remove sexually-explicit materials from children’s sections of public and school libraries is headed to the Wyoming House of Representatives, after the House Judiciary Committee advanced it Friday on a 6-1 approval vote.

Clair McFarlandFebruary 13, 2026

Dennis Sun: Cattle Numbers are Dropping

Ag columnist Dennis Sun writes, "Cattle producers who liked cattle prices in 2025 should be happy with the 2026 price predictions."

Dennis SunFebruary 13, 2026

“The appearance of vote-buying on the House floor or the Senate floor is absolutely unconscionable, and we cannot allow that to happen,” Senate President Bo Biteman said.

Wyoming Senate Formally Condemns GOP Activist For Passing Out Checks On House Floor

All 31 Wyoming senators Friday condemned a GOP activist for handing out campaign checks on the floor of the House. “The appearance of vote-buying on the House floor or the Senate floor is absolutely unconscionable," Sen. President Bo Biteman said.

Clair McFarlandFebruary 13, 2026

Parents Desperate To Find Missing Lovell Teen

The parents of 17-year-old girl Kourtnee Roper of Lovell are asking for the public’s help in locating her, and an anonymous donor is offering a $2,500 reward for information leading to her safe return.

Jen KocherFebruary 13, 2026

Sen. Tim Salazar, R-Riverton, (left) who co-chairs the Select Committee on School Finance Recalibration, voiced surprise Friday that some House committee members who had joined the committee’s unanimous and bipartisan vote to advance the bill helped to kill it Monday.

Senate Rescues Wyoming's Attempt To Rework Public School Funding

Under pressure to pay the schools in a way that satisfies Wyoming's courts, the state Senate on Friday rescued a bill attempting to do just that - moments after the House rejected its own school funding bill a second time.

Clair McFarlandFebruary 13, 2026

In the House, Joint Appropriations Committee Co-Chairman John Bear, R-Gillette, walked members through the budget before landing on the hot-button issue: a $40 million general fund reduction

In Full Debate On University of Wyoming Budget Cuts, Lawmakers Ask If It's Retaliation

The Wyoming House and Senate debated a $40 million cut to the University of Wyoming on Thursday, with the budget committee co-chair John Bear confirming the number was meant to "get their attention." He said legislative directives on DEI were ignored.

Clair McFarland & David MadisonFebruary 13, 2026

DoorDash Fires Sheridan Driver For Sending Sexually Explicit Texts

DoorDash has fired a driver after a Sheridan woman said she received sexually explicit text messages from him. Police have confirmed a complaint was filed and several other women have since said they also received inappropriate texts.

Mark HeinzFebruary 13, 2026

Cowboy State Daily Show with Jake - Friday, February 13, 2026

Jake in the 307. Weekday mornings 6-10 a.m.

Jake NicholsFebruary 13, 2026

Cowboy State Daily Video Newscast: Friday, February 13, 2026

Friday's headlines include: * Check Scandal Investigation * Nonbinary Outrage In Rock Springs * Wyo Cheers End Of Obama Climate Rules

Mac WatsonFebruary 13, 2026

Attorney Ryan Semerad testifies during a House Travel, Recreation, Wildlife and Cultural Resources Committee meeting listening to testimony about corner-crossing on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026.

Camo-Clad Hunters Show Up In Force To Support Legalizing Wyoming Corner-Crossing

In a room packed with camouflage-clad hunters, a legislative committee voted Thursday to forward a bill that would officially make corner-crossing legal in Wyoming.

Mark HeinzFebruary 13, 2026

U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman, W-Wyoming, with President Donald Trump on Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026, during a ceremony to sign an executive order designating coal-fired power generation as critical to national security.

Wyoming Cheers End Of Obama-Era EPA Climate Change Rule

Wyoming officials are universally cheering the Trump administration’s Thursday repeal of an Obama-era rule that was the linchpin for EPA climate regulations. Meanwhile, environmental groups say the move ignores science and invites legal challenges.

Greg JohnsonFebruary 13, 2026

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