Headlines

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

Greybull Rancher Facing Trial For Sexual Assault of 13-Year-Old Ranch Hand In 2006

Greybull rancher Boyd Van Fleet is facing trial over allegations he sexually assaulted a 13-year-old ranch hand nearly 20 years ago. Van Fleet has a long criminal history including the receipt of stolen property and an illegally branded horse.

Kolby FedoreSeptember 01, 2026

A Laramie-based judge on Monday denied 28-year-old transgender activist Rihanna Kelver’s request to dismiss a felony case stemming from Kelver claiming self-defense, after pointing a gun at a man in the street outside the Crowbar & Grill.

Wyoming Trans Activist Loses Self-Defense Bid, Can Still Claim It At Trial

A judge declined Monday to drop charges against transgender activist Rihanna Kelver, after Kelver claimed self-defense for pointing a pistol at a man last September. Kelver wasn't "in danger of imminent death or serious bodily injury," the judge ruled.

Clair McFarlandSeptember 01, 2026

Maria Vargas styles hair at her salon on North Cache in Jackson. Vargas had to move out Monday because of a new hotel and residences project.

Jackson Hair Stylist Gets Booted For Gigantic 309,000-Square-Foot Hotel Project

Maria Vargas was exhausted and crying as she dismantled her hair salon stations in downtown Jackson on Monday. She was among a handful of remaining business owners who had a deadline to move out for an incoming 309,000 square-foot hotel project.

Renée JeanSeptember 01, 2026

Driskill Blasts Trump Meeting World's Largest Meatpacker Before Beef Import Deal

Crook County rancher Sen. Ogden Driskill is unhappy about President Trump's meeting with a Brazilian meatpacking billionaire a day before he announced 300,000 tons of beef imports. Driskill said it is costing Wyoming producers millions.

Kate MeadowsSeptember 01, 2026

Sheridan Man Accused Of Blackmailing Sister Over Their Dead Father's Ashes

A Sheridan County man faces two felony blackmail charges after police say he threatened to expose his half-sister over an alleged childhood sex act unless she gave him some of their dead father's ashes. The man said it was "just a joke."

Kolby FedoreSeptember 01, 2026

Hot Springs County had the highest voter turnout of Republicans and Democrats in the Aug. 18 primary election, totaling nearly 74% — compared to a statewide average nearly 20 points lower.

Hot Springs County Republicans, Democrats Have Highest Voter Turnout In State

Wyoming's Hot Springs County had the highest voter turnout of Republicans and Democrats in the primary election, nearly 20 points above the statewide average. Campbell County Democrats and Teton County Republicans were the least motivated groups.

Clair McFarlandSeptember 01, 2026

Jackson Gregory Slimak apparently fell in the rugged terrain surrounding Montana’s highest peak, the Park County, Montana, Sheriff’s Office reported. Searchers located him at about 11:45 a.m. Thursday.

Hiker Found Dead Near Montana's Highest Peak After Massive Two-State Search

A 21-year-old Connecticut hiker was found dead near Montana’s highest peak ending a three-day search that drew rescue crews, aircraft and military resources from Wyoming and Montana. The man's family says he died “doing what he loved, in a place he loved."

Kolby FedoreSeptember 01, 2026

Riverton Woman Tempted To Set Her Car On Fire After Snake Climbed Through Frame

After a 3-foot bull snake slithered into the frame of a Riverton woman's car at the bank drive-through Monday, she was tempted to just set her car on fire. "Anything that slithers and doesn’t have legs is the devil, in my book,” she said.

Clair McFarlandSeptember 01, 2026

Jackson-area photographer Tom Mangelsen displays some of the sleeves he's made to cover President Trump's face on "America The Beautiful" passes.

Photographer Mangelsen Makes Wildlife Sleeves To Cover Trump's Face On Park Pass

Jackson wildlife photographer Tom Mangelsen said he is sick of "Trump's narcissism" so he designed plastic sleeves with his wildlife images to cover the president's face on national park passes. The former BLM chief under Trump says it makes no sense.

Mark HeinzSeptember 01, 2026

Cowboy State Daily Show with Jake - Tuesday, September 1, 2026

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

Jake NicholsSeptember 01, 2026

Cowboy State Daily Video Newscast: Tuesday, September 1, 2026

Tuesday's headlines include: * Rock Springs School Bus Fiasco * No Body In Barrel From Fremont Lake * Ranch Manager Charged With Cattle Rustling

Mac WatsonSeptember 01, 2026

Dave Simpson: All Sam Wanted Was To Come Home

Columnist Dave Simpson writes, “I've been there more times than I want to remember. And left without a truly loved member of our family. All I could think of was hip dysplasia. Cancer. An enlarged spleen.”

Dave SimpsonSeptember 01, 2026

After Wyoming’s Republican governor called for the state attorney general to investigate legal issues around what he called “aggressive” federal agents monitoring the primary election, Laramie County Clerk Debra Lee praised the governor’s strong response.

Wyoming Clerk Warns Other Red States Of "Aggressive" DOJ Action At Elections

In the wake of reportedly “aggressive” federal agents monitoring Wyoming’s election, Laramie County Clerk Debra Lee warned other red state election officials, “Don’t think this won’t happen to you .” She praised the governor’s move to review the operation.

Clair McFarlandSeptember 01, 2026

A 5-year-old girl in Rock Springs got off at the wrong bus stop. She was found wandering behind a strip club.

5-Year-Old Gets Off At Wrong Rock Springs School Bus Stop, Found Behind Strip Club

A Rock Springs mom says her 5-year-old was let off her school bus several stops early and found wandering behind the Astro Lounge strip club. She said neither the bus driver nor the school district contacted her to say her daughter was missing from the bus.

Kolby FedoreSeptember 01, 2026

Aaron Vigil is an engineering student from University of Wyoming and grew up Worland. Although he was fascinated by space, he never thought he would work for NASA. Sunday morning, a telescope he has worked on for the past four years was launched into space.

Worland Engineer 'In Awe' Watching Sunday Launch Of NASA Telescope He Helped Build

Worland’s Aaron Vigil watched in awe Sunday as the powerful Roman telescope he helped build was launched successfully on a million-mile journey. The University of Wyoming grad spent four years helping to construct the telescope's Solar Array Sunshield.

Jackie DorothyAugust 31, 2026

Vandals Dump Five Gallon Paint Cans In Bighorn National Forest Creek

A Sheridan County family outing quickly turned into a cleanup effort after they found multiple five gallon cans of paint dumped in Porcupine Creek in the Bighorn National Forest on Sunday. The family cleaned-up what they could and then called authorities.

Andrew RossiAugust 31, 2026

Wyoming Ranchers Welcome Breaking-Up Meat Processor Monopoly But Want Details

Wyoming producers say they welcome President Trump's efforts to expand local processing and beef sales, but are critical over a lack of detail and say his advisors don't understand the cattle market. "They should talk to Wyoming ranchers," one says.

Kate MeadowsAugust 31, 2026

Police: Gillette Man Tried To Lure Undercover 14-Year-Old To Be His 'Sex Slave'

A Gillette sex offender allegedly sent an undercover cop posing as a 14-year-old a picture of his genitalia, offered $4,500 for sex and asked the “teen” to be his sex slave. Reports say he used the handle 'HugeD' when chatting with the presumed teen.

Kolby FedoreAugust 31, 2026

Search teams battled harsh conditions Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026, and used specialized equipment to raise a 55-gallon barrel off the bottom of Fremont Lake.

No Body! Barrel Retrieved From Fremont Lake Doesn't Contain Human Remains

The barrel pulled from Fremont Lake on Saturday didn't contain what searchers had hoped: the body of Virginia Uden. However, searchers say there’s still a trash can to be brought up that may contain the bodies of the two Uden boys killed with Virginia.

Jen KocherAugust 31, 2026

Gillette Man Denies Raping, Choking Woman He Allegedly Called His ‘Little Beat Victim’

A Gillette man pleaded not guilty Monday to eight felony charges stemming from alleged sexual assaults and attempted strangulation of a woman he characterized as his “little beat victim.” The incident allegedly started over lighting incense in a sink.

Dale KillingbeckAugust 31, 2026

After a hot summer, snow arrived on the Beartooth Highway early Sunday for the first time in more than two months.

It's That Time Of Year: Beartooth Highway Gets Snow

The first snow of the season was recorded on the highest points of Beartooth Highway on Sunday. September 1 is the first day of 'meteorological fall,' so snow isn't that unusual. Temperatures are dipping as well as Jackson recorded 31 degrees Monday morning.

Andrew RossiAugust 31, 2026

A longtime Sublette County ranch manager is accused in a sprawling theft case that includes cattle rustling and more than $300,000 allegedly siphoned from the ranch he managed.

Wyoming Ranch Manager Accused Of Cattle Rustling, Pocketing $300K From Ranch

A ranch manager faces up to 100 years in prison for rustling cattle and pocketing more than $300,000 from cattle grazing, elk hunts, gravel and equipment from the Twin Eagle Ranch in Sublette County. The alleged thefts took place from 2014-23.

Kolby FedoreAugust 31, 2026

Sheridan product Dane Steel celebrates with teammates after scoring defending national champion Montana State's first touchdown of the season Saturday night, in a 54-0 romp at Utah Tech.

Sheridan's Dane Steel Has Career Night In Defending Champ Montana State's Romp

Less than nine months after he helped propel Montana State to a national football championship, Sheridan's Dane Steele had a career night with eight catches for 174 yards in a 54-0 win. “I never had that many yards in high school,” he said afterward.

Jeff WelschAugust 31, 2026

Kevin Christensen of Casper says he won't run as a write-in candidate this fall but is looking instead at 2028.

Kevin Christensen No On Write-In Campaign, May Endorse But Not Chuck Gray

Kevin Christensen, who rocketed to third in a crowded U.S. House race while spending at least 50 times less than each top-two finisher, will not wage a write-in campaign but is looking at a 2028 run. He also said he won't endorse Chuck Gray.

Clair McFarlandAugust 31, 2026

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