Headlines

More Dark Money In Governor's Race, With New Attack Ad On Degenfelder

A new attack ad surfaced against gubernatorial candidate Megan Degenfelder this weekend, after independent groups attacked her opponent Eric Barlow for weeks. Rep. Harriet Hageman condemned the ad and said Barlow created it, which he denies.

Dave Simpson: The Caucus That Don't Get No Respect

Columnist Dave Simpson writes, “If Wyoming throws Freedom Caucus members out of office, we will deserve the bluer, more liberal state we become.”

Meteorologist Don Day Calls New Farmer's Almanac Winter Forecast 'Voodoo Magic'

The Farmer’s Almanac has released its winter forecast, and Cowboy State Daily meteorologist Don Day calls it "voodoo magic." However, he does believe a very strong El Niño is on the way but he's "not going to follow the herd into slaughter this time."

Colorado Woman Charged With Kicking Wyoming Highway Patrol Officer In Face

A Colorado woman faces up to 13 1/2 years in jail for allegedly kicking a Wyoming Highway Patrol officer in the face after a traffic stop in Laramie County last week. The woman was pulled over after reportedly punching her mother while driving.

Sublette 4-H, Equine Therapy Group Clash Over Sharing 34 Acres Donated To County

A 34-acre parcel of land donated to Sublette County more than a decade ago to benefit 4-H, FFA and youth agricultural education has become the center of a bitter dispute between two organizations that both work with local children.

Angi Bruce's Resignation As Game and Fish Director Catches Sportsmen By Surprise

Wyoming sportsmen said the sudden resignation of Game and Fish Director Angi Bruce came as a surprise despite some misgivings about the department's direction. Bruce, the department's first female director, now has a job in the governor's office. 

Guest Column: The Father Of Wyoming Football

Guest columnist Ray Hunkins writes, "My nomination for the 'father of Wyoming football' presided over football programs coached by four winning coaches over 23 years of unparalleled excellence. My nominee arrived at UW when its football program was at rock bottom."

Guest Column: Why I'm Voting For Megan Degenfelder

Guest columnist Sam Galeotos writes, "Megan Degenfelder offers conservatives something increasingly rare: a trustworthy candidate who shares our values, who has passion and drive to craft an even brighter future for our state..."

Jackson Woman On Track To Win 620-Mile Mongol Derby

Jackson's Lindsay Woods was one of the top three riders Monday and is poised to win the Mongol Derby 2026, the longest and most arduous multi-horse race in the world. If she wins the 620-mile marathon, she'll become the second woman from Wyoming to do so.

Kozak Says Lawsuit Against Him Looks Like CheckGate Backlash

Laramie County Sheriff Brian Kozak says the lawsuit two Cheyenne politicos are waging against him is at least partly political in nature, and tied to his investigation of the 'CheckGate' controversy. Recent search warrants have "stirred the hornets' nest," he said.

Scarce Food Sources Could Put Bears In A Bind As They Seek Protein For Hibernation

Grizzlies are stuffing themselves with moths at higher elevations, but once the moths are gone food supplies could get scarce as bears move to lower elevations seeking protein for hibernation, one ecologist says. A poor chokecherry crop is one concern.

Colorado-Wyoming Passenger Rail Can Happen If Cheyenne Provides Funding Support

Leaders of a project to provide passenger rail service between Colorado and Wyoming say it can happen if Cheyenne does its part with funding support approved by voters. “If we can go to Mars, we can go 45 miles from Cheyenne to Fort Collins,” said one supporter.

Sturgis 2026: Climbing Into A 3-Wheeler Called The Pantydropper Was Not A Good Idea

Climbing into a three-wheeler called "The Pantydropper" with a 50-year Sturgis veteran who boasted "it goes zero to 100 in a second," ended up with me at the wheel and the flashing lights of a South Dakota patrol car behind us.

Celebrate America 250 at the Wyoming State Fair with Fun for the Whole Family

Cowboy State Daily Show with Jake - Monday, August 10, 2026

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

Letter To The Editor: Peabody Energy Needs To Keep Their Promises

Dear editor: It’s hard to watch what’s happening to my fellow retired miners who gave more than just 12 hour shifts to Peabody Energy. The miners have kept their promises. It’s time for Peabody Energy to keep theirs.

Cowboy State Daily Video Newscast: Monday, August 10, 2026

Monday's headlines include: * How To Stay Alive In Sturgis * Wyoming's Very Real Fentanyl Crisis * That Wrecked SUV Ain't Going Anywhere

Small Casper Railroad's 18-Track Yard Is More Than A Parking Lot For Rail Cars

Wyoming Railroad’s 18-track rail yard in Casper used to deal with 500 rail cars a month on its 19,000 feet of track. Now it’s about 150. It’s an alternative for smaller companies that want to use rail instead of trucks.

Gail Symons: These Candidates Better Have More Than Fear And Blame To Give

Columnist Gail Symons writes: "If a candidate answers your questions, you’re learning something about governance. If the candidate only says who should be feared, blamed, defeated pr excluded, you’re getting pummeled with grievance politics."

Visiting The New High-Tech Teddy Roosevelt Library In Medora, North Dakota

Cowboy State Daily's Anna-Louise Jackson visited the new Theodore Roosevelt National Library in Medora, North Dakota. She highly recommends the journey as it offers a winding and interactive high-tech journey through the extraordinary life of America's 26th president.

Critics Say Proposed Seminoe Power Project Won’t Have Enough Water

Seminoe Reservoir in Carbon County is so low a proposed pumped-water storage project wouldn’t work and could devastate Wyoming's famous Miracle Mile trout fishery, critics say. Scientists say the drought won't end any time soon.

Wyoming's 'Gentleman Bandit' Was National Sensation For Polite Train Robberies

Newspapers dubbed Bill Carlisle the "Gentleman Bandit" after crime sprees in the early 1900s that earned him favor with Wyoming locals. “He was so good to the people that he was robbing," said an 82-year-old whose grandma was a friend of the bandit.

Cowboy Rides All 2,000 Miles Of Pony Express, Says Wyoming Weather Overwhelming

Cowboy and journalist Will Grant rode all 2,000 miles of the Pony Express trail on horseback. He said the trip gave him a newfound respect for Wyoming weather. Mosquitoes in Jeffrey City are bad, while South Pass can be freezing cold even in July. 

Alta Rancher Will Sue After Teton County Says He Can’t Build Huge Barn On His Land

An Alta-area ranch owner says he plans to sue after Teton County rejected his plan to build a huge 6,500-square-foot barn on his land. Some neighbors also don’t want it, calling it more of “an amusement park” than a working barn.