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

Trump’s EPA Rejects Closure Of Colorado Power Plant That Burns Wyoming Coal
The Trump administration’s EPA has finalized its rejection of closing a coal-fired power plant in Colorado, drawing sharp criticism from environmental and health groups. The decision extends the life of a plant that burns Wyoming coal.
David MadisonJanuary 12, 2026

Dave Simpson: Freedom Caucus Criticism Is All The Rage For Weaksauce Republicans
Columnist Dave Simpson writes, "Freedom Caucus critics have declared the votes we cast in 2024 - putting the Freedom Caucus in the driver's seat - were a big mistake, and we should be ashamed, apologize, and seek forgiveness from the all-knowing status quo."
Dave SimpsonJanuary 12, 2026

Snowmobiler Dies In Avalanche Triggered In Wyoming Backcountry
A snowmobiler in the Wyoming backcountry southeast of Afton died Sunday after he and another rider triggered an avalanche that buried him about 2 feet below the surface and under his snowmobile.
Kate MeadowsJanuary 12, 2026

Transient Accused Of Stabbing Cheyenne Man While Stealing Backpack, Sunglasses
A 25-year-old transient is accused of stabbing an older Cheyenne man in the back while trying to steal his backpack and sunglasses. The suspect, who faces an attempted murder charge, claims the stabbing was in self-defense.
Dale KillingbeckJanuary 12, 2026

Cheyenne Motel Standoff Suspect Faces Attempted First-Degree Murder Charge
The man involved in a four-hour standoff at a Cheyenne motel with police Friday is facing an attempted first-degree murder charge. Surveillance video at the motel shows the men arguing, then the suspect shooting the other man, police say.
Greg JohnsonJanuary 12, 2026

Degenfelder Officially Running For Governor After Trump Endorsement
Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder on Monday announced she is running for governor. Degenfelder had been "strongly considering" the move and had received an endorsement from President Trump urging her to run last week.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 12, 2026

Barrasso Endorses Hageman's Candidacy For U.S. Senate
Wyoming’s senior U.S. Senator announced Monday morning that he’s endorsing U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman to serve alongside him in the upper chamber. He said Hageman “is going to be terrific in the U.S. Senate.”
Clair McFarlandJanuary 12, 2026

Cowboy State Daily Show with Jake - Monday, January 12, 2026
Jake in the 307. Weekday mornings 6-10 a.m.
Jake NicholsJanuary 12, 2026

Gail Symons: Hopefully The Newbies In Cheyenne Can Pass A Budget
Columnist Gail Symons writes: "Wyoming has seen tense budget finishes before, but now it faces a compressed timeline, an inexperienced House appropriations bench, and an incentive structure that rewards conflict."
Gail SymonsJanuary 12, 2026

Cassie Craven: I Still Believe Life Is A Human Right
Columnist Cassie Craven writes, “If you watched someone attack a newborn with a hammer you’d do everything you could to stop it and protect that baby. But you say she has no value just moments prior?"
Cassie CravenJanuary 12, 2026
Cowboy State Daily Video Newscast: Monday, January 12, 2026
Monday's headlines include: * Utah, Wyoming Booze * Protecting Wyo’s Ranch Dogs * Wolf Sets Yellowstone Longevity Record
Mac WatsonJanuary 12, 2026

All-You-Can-Eat Buffets Are Back In Wyoming And Across The U.S.
Buffets are back in a big way after the COVID pandemic put a huge hurt on dining out around Wyoming and across the U.S. At Cody’s Irma Hotel and Restaurant, a record 13,000 people loaded up their plates in 2025.
Anna-Louise JacksonJanuary 12, 2026

Big Piney Teen To Donate Bone Marrow To Save Toddler Brother From Leukemia
Following up on a story we did last month, the medical verdict came in and 13-year-old Dayton of Big Piney is the perfect match to donate bone marrow to his 2-year-old brother Traxton, who is battling a rare form of leukemia.
Mark HeinzJanuary 11, 2026

'It's Bad Stuff': Aftermath Of Huge Wyoming Wildfires Threatens Wyoming Mule Deer
As if Wyoming’s mule deer aren’t facing enough problems, invasive cheatgrass moving into areas scorched by Wyoming's huge 2024 wildfires is ruining their habitat. "It's bad stuff," one Wyoming rancher said, "I can't emphasize that enough."
Mark HeinzJanuary 11, 2026

Laramie County Dogs Are Helping Senior Citizens Pay For Pet Vaccinations In 15 States
To help senior citizens pay for pet vaccinations, a UPS driver who delivers in Laramie County put together a dog calendar. Proceeds will help senior citizens pay for pet vaccinations in 15 states.
Renée JeanJanuary 11, 2026

Evanston To Utah’s ‘Extreme’ Drunk Drivers: Don’t Try To Buy Your Booze Here
Utahns who are banned from buying alcohol due to “extreme” DUIs won’t find sympathetic liquor dealers in Wyoming. “If Utah says you can’t buy alcohol because you’re too bad of a drunk driver, then we’re not going to sell to you either,” one dealer said.
Greg JohnsonJanuary 11, 2026

Wyoming Man Donates Llama Ranch As Sanctuary For Veterans, First Responders
Right before Christmas, Navy veteran Al Ellis donated his 207-acre llama ranch in Sublette County as a sanctuary for veterans and first responders. “We want other people to enjoy this — people who deserve it, people who we owe something to,” Ellis said.
Kate MeadowsJanuary 11, 2026

Wyoming People: Gene Baldwin Was The ‘Voice Of The Dogies’ For Newcastle Football
For decades, Gene Baldwin was known around Weston County as the “Voice of the Dogies” at Newcastle High School football games. He also was a rancher, teacher and cowboy poet. He died in December at age 99.
Jackie DorothyJanuary 11, 2026

Wyoming History: Ernest Hemingway Loved Wyoming
Author Ernest Hemingway, for about a decade in the late 1920s, enjoyed Wyoming as his summer retreat, where he found inspiration to write and recreate. In 1940, Wyoming was where he married his third wife at the Cheyenne Depot.
Dale KillingbeckJanuary 11, 2026

Cheyenne's Atlas Theatre Hopes For Valentine’s Reopening After $700,000 Structural Repair
Cheyenne’s historic 139-year-old Atlas Theatre hopes to reopen by Valentine's Day. It had been sagging in on itself before $700,000 worth of extensive structural repairs began. Work on the downtown centerpiece is almost completed.
Renée JeanJanuary 11, 2026
Giant Wyoming Dinosaurs Are The Stars Of New Abu Dhabi Natural History Museum
The first thing visitors see when they enter the newly opened Natural History Museum in Abu Dhabi are four massive long-necked dinosaurs. Three of these one-of-a-kind giants, and several other fossils in the world-class museum, are from Wyoming.
Andrew RossiJanuary 11, 2026

Wyoming History: Meet Thornburgh, The Hero Dog Of Fort Bridger
Thornburgh, an orphaned pup from a 1879 Ute battle, became Fort Bridger’s hero dog by stopping thieves, saving soldiers from knives, and alerting soldiers to Indian raids. Thornburgh was so well-loved he was buried in a fenced grave with a headstone.
Jackie DorothyJanuary 11, 2026
Nothing Better For Casper Man Than Taking Hospice Patients For Rides In Corvettes
Larry Kloster of Casper uses his museum-quality collection of Corvettes to connect with people. “I take hospice patients for rides, which is the coolest part,” he said. Kloster has been on the board of directors of Central Wyoming Hospice for 7 years.
Jackie DorothyJanuary 11, 2026

Wyoming Hunter Bags Coveted Big-Game Trifecta, Including Huge Moose
Nate Miller beat astronomical odds to draw Wyoming’s coveted three-species “trifecta" hunting tag, then bagged a bighorn sheep, mountain goat, and moose. He joked about selling his hunting rifles, because there’s no way to ever top this hunting season.
Mark HeinzJanuary 11, 2026
