Headlines

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

Researchers claim that wolves pulling on lines to steal bait from underwater crab traps is proof that they’re “using tools.” But some wolf experts dispute that idea.

Researchers Say Wolves Are Smart Enough To Use Tools

Wolves have been stealing bait from underwater crab traps in British Columbia which some researchers claim amounts to “tool use." Some Rocky Mountain wolf experts say it’s impressive behavior, but a stretch to call it that.

Mark HeinzNovember 23, 2025

Lawrence K. Lunt spent the last years of his life writing and traveling between Tucson, Belgium, and Saratoga, Wyoming.

Wyoming History: The CIA Informant Who Survived 14 Years In A Cuban Prison

Wyoming rancher Lawrence Kirby Lunt Jr. moved to Cuba, became a CIA informant, and was imprisoned for 14 years after being caught by Fidel Castro’s regime. He was freed in a 1979 prisoner swap brokered, in part, by Wyoming Gov. Ed Herschler.

Dale KillingbeckNovember 23, 2025

Big game carcasses are butchered at Yellowstone Wild Game Processing near Bozeman, Montana.

Fewer Wyoming Wild Game Butchers Struggle To Keep Up With Hunter Demand

Butcher shops that will process hunters’ wild game meat are getting fewer and farther between in Wyoming. That means this time of year the ones left are doing a booming business — and struggling to keep up with hunter demand.

Mark HeinzNovember 22, 2025

Clair McFarland: What I Want To Say Before The Bots Take Over

Clair McFarland writes: "Artificial intelligence is threatening to replace real human beings with the sum of our least complete thoughts. But for the space of this column, let me be an individual."

Clair McFarlandNovember 22, 2025

Former University of Wyoming quarterback Josh Allen at midfield during halftime of Saturday's Nov. 22, 2025, game against Nevada to have his No. 17 retired. He got a huge ovation from the crowd, especially when he concluded his remarks with, "And it will always suck to be a CSU Ram!"

‘I Love You Guys’: Josh Allen Gets Huge Ovation As His No. 17 Retired By UW

“I love you guys,” Josh Allen proclaimed as nearly 30,000 fans exploded at War Memorial Stadium on Saturday as the University of Wyoming retired his No. 17 jersey. It was almost as big a pop as when he concluded with, “And it will always suck to be a CSU Ram!”

Anna-Louise JacksonNovember 22, 2025

The TIV2 (Tornado Intercept Vehicle) was made famous by the Discovery television series "Storm Chasers." A Colorado man now owns the Mad Max-style weather chasing tank and uses it to pursue tornadoes across Wyoming and the High Plains.

Famous Mad Max Weather Tank Chases Tornadoes Across Wyoming And High Plains

A Colorado storm chaser was in Cheyenne last week to show off his TIV2 Mad Max-style weather tank made famous by the Discovery TV show “Storm Chasers.” He said he uses it to chase tornadoes in eastern Wyoming, Nebraska and northeast Colorado.

Renée JeanNovember 22, 2025

Sister Refuses To Give Up Search 6 Years After Casper Man Vanished

Jose Mendoza disappeared on a trip home to Casper six years ago after visiting his mother in Utah. He also left behind mysterious clues that his sister believes point to someone harming him, and she refuses to give up the search for him.

Jen KocherNovember 22, 2025

Utah Population To Explode To 5.6 Million People By 2065, Wyoming On Pace For 1 Million In 170 Years

A new research study says Utah's population will grow from 3.6 million people now to 5.6 million people by 2065. Neighboring Wyoming, however, won't hit 1 million people for 170 years at its current pace of 0.4% growth.

Andrew RossiNovember 22, 2025

Joan Barron: UW Tax Exemptions Have Laramie Steamed

Columnist Joan Barron writes, “The amount of property tax income lost to the City of Laramie and to Albany County from the University of Wyoming exemption totals about $4 million to more than $5 million a year. And the citizens would prefer the payments be in cash."

Joan BarronNovember 22, 2025

Mass-casualty training for volunteers sponsored by Campbell County Health in August in preparation for the Pathfinders Camporee in Gillette.

Rural Wyoming EMTs Struggle To Keep Ambulances Rolling — Even When Wheels Fall Off

Wyoming’s rural EMS crews are struggling to keep their ambulances rolling amid staff shortages, aging equipment, and a $30 million annual funding gap. They even have to adapt when the wheels literally fall off during an emergency transport.

Scott SchwebkeNovember 22, 2025

This year’s undefeated football championship run by the Sheridan Broncs was business as usual since former Head Coach Don Julian started a winning tradition current Head Coach Jeff Mowry continues. The secret to their success? Building leadership skills during retreats in the woods. A program describing the retreats includes photos of trust exercises and the team circled up for prayer.

The Secret To Sheridan High Football's 55-0 Dynasty: Blindfolds And Book Clubs

The Sheridan Broncs completed their fifth consecutive undefeated football season last week, extending their state record winning streak to 55 games. They say their success is built on trust exercises and exercising their minds through book clubs.

David MadisonNovember 22, 2025

Susan Denker of Cheyenne says she owes her life to her poodle Lily, who alerted a friend after Denker suffered a heart attack.

Hero Poodle Named Lily Saves Cheyenne Woman's Life After Heart Attack

A Cheyenne woman credits her poodle Lily for saving her life after having a heart attack. “If it hadn't been for Lily alerting my friend, I would not be talking to you, because they did pronounce me dead at one point,” she told Cowboy State Daily.

Zakary SonntagNovember 22, 2025

Former University of Wyoming quarterback, and reigning NFL MVP, Josh Allen visits with current UW football players Friday night after arriving in Laramie ahead of Saturday's halftime ceremony to retire his No. 17 jersey.

Josh Allen Is In Laramie, And Fans Are Going Nuts For His UW Return

From buying thousands of bobbleheads to chugging beers, fans in Laramie are going nuts for Josh Allen’s celebrated return to the University of Wyoming. He arrived in Laramie on Friday, and one fan compared Allen’s return to the second coming of Christ.

Anna-Louise JacksonNovember 22, 2025

Harriet Hageman says California has neglected its water infrastructure while demanding more Colorado River water from Wyoming. She says it and other Lower Basin states need to get in gear with that before going after more from Upper Basin states.

Hageman Says California Needs To Get In Gear, Stop Going After Wyoming’s Water

Harriet Hageman says California has neglected its water infrastructure while demanding more Colorado River water from Wyoming. She says California and other Lower Basin states need to get in gear with that before going after more from Upper Basin states.

Mark HeinzNovember 22, 2025

Guest Column: Dick Cheney's Checkered Conservation Legacy

Western Watersheds Project's Erik Molvar writes, "Cheney had one major conservation achievement: the Wyoming Wilderness Act of 1984. Otherwise, his record was dominated by environmental destruction."

Guest ColumnNovember 21, 2025

Jonathan Lange: Annoying Emails Are Not Exempt From The First Amendment

Columnist Jonathan Lange writes, "We still don’t know how many emails are being diverted. And we don’t know what percentage of them are constitutionally protected communications from Wyoming citizens to their elected officials."

Jonathan LangeNovember 21, 2025

Dennis Sun: It was a Good News Week

Columnist Dennis Sun writes, "It’s not often agriculture has a week where good news abounds, but this was the case last week."

Dennis SunNovember 21, 2025

Gillette Nurse Gets 1 Year In Jail For Freezing Death Of Dementia Patient

A Gillette CNA was sentenced Friday to a year in jail for negligent homicide in the death of an 88-year-old dementia patient who froze to death outside an assisted living center. Two jurors were removed during his trial for using racial slurs.

Jen KocherNovember 21, 2025

Wyoming ranchers say allowing some of their meat to bypass federal inspectors and sell state-inspected product online would be “the best thing that can happen to them.” That’s what the federal DIRECT Act recently reintroduced to the Senate would do.

Wyoming Ranchers Say Bypassing Some Meat Inspectors Would Be Game-Changing

Wyoming ranchers say allowing some meat to bypass federal inspectors and sell limited state-inspected product online would be “the best thing that can happen to them.” That’s what the federal DIRECT Act recently reintroduced to the Senate would do.

Kate MeadowsNovember 21, 2025

At the Storyteller and other businesses in Thermopolis, Wyoming, several different coffee groups meet each week. The table at the Storyteller is used each morning by a revolving group of women that includes retired teachers, Catholic ladies, a sewing group and yoga enthusiasts. Pictured are Tammy Redland, Joan LaFave, Trudy Brooks, Collette Anderson, Carol Biven, Meredith Russel.

Coffee Trumps Internet In Thermopolis, A Throwback To Old-School Social Networking

In Thermopolis, Wyoming, coffee groups meet all over town in person for old-school social networking rather than scrolling social media and the internet. Regular groups meet wherever coffee is served, even McDonald's.

Jackie DorothyNovember 21, 2025

A rancher runs a herd of horses in northeast Wyoming.

Wyoming Horses Have Been Exposed To Outbreak Of Deadly Equine Virus

Several cases of a potentially deadly equine virus have been confirmed in four states this week, including one in Colorado. That horse also was in Cheyenne, Casper, and Wheatland, which means Wyoming horses have been exposed to equine herpesvirus.

Andrew RossiNovember 21, 2025

A growing program pairs generous hunters who donate their kills to veterans no longer able to hunt for themselves. Hunters like Biran Monahan, inset, say it's gratifying to show appreciation for veterans like Joe Rose, pictured, who's no longer physically able to hunt big game.

Hunters, Game Processors Partner For Veterans Who Can’t Hunt Big Game Anymore

A growing program has hunters and game processors partnering to get fresh game meat to military veterans who can't hunt big game anymore. The effort started in Missouri and wants to expand into states like Wyoming and Montana.

Mark HeinzNovember 21, 2025

The National Historic Trails Interpretive Center parking lot became the scene of another act of teen violence in Casper on Halloween night 2024.

Casper Teen Gets 4-6 Years For Stabbing Girl With 2-Foot 'Tactical Machete’

An 18-year-old Casper woman got four to six years in prison Friday for stabbing another girl with what the prosecutor described as a 2-foot “tactical machete.” A dramatic video shown in court shows her sticking the machete into her victim, who survived.

Dale KillingbeckNovember 21, 2025

Wild Horse Basin Ranch, 92,000 Green Acres Near Casper, Lists For $45 Million

Wild Horse Basin, a 92,000-acre working cattle ranch with 50 ponds and five creeks is just 30 minutes from Casper. It also has potential for oil and gas development, and has hit the market for $45 million.

Renée JeanNovember 21, 2025

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