Headlines

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

A herd of cows lingers around a watering hole in Albany County.

Wyoming Cattle Ranchers Cheer New Protein-First National Dietary Guidelines

Wyoming cattle ranchers are applauding the new federal dietary guidelines that prioritize protein like red meat and real foods over processed options. “We’ve been vindicated,” Wyoming cattle rancher Mark Eisele said. “We raise a wholesome, non-processed product.”

Kate MeadowsJanuary 08, 2026

Protesters Slap Stickers Over Trump's Image On National Park Passes, Voiding Them

The inclusion of President Donald Trump’s picture on 2026 “America The Beautiful” national park annual pass has made some people so livid, they’ve put stickers over the president’s image, which invalidates the passes.

Mark HeinzJanuary 08, 2026

A proposed ordinance expanding administrative warrants to access people’s property has rankled some Cheyenne residents who say it crosses the line into government overreach. Fire and building officials say they need them to do post-fire safety inspections.

Cheyenne Proposal To Expand Warrants To Inspect Homes Has Some Crying Overreach

A proposed ordinance expanding administrative warrants to access people’s property has upset some Cheyenne residents who say it crosses the line into government overreach. Fire and building officials say they need them to do post-fire safety inspections.

Scott SchwebkeJanuary 08, 2026

Cheyenne has approved Project Jade, a Tallgrass–Crusoe AI data center using up to 2.7 GW of mostly self-generated power, nearly triple the entire state’s power demand. That’s 50% larger than the 1.8 GW the companies announced in August.

Huge Cheyenne Data Center Grows To 2.7 Gigawatts — Nearly Triple State Power Use

Cheyenne has approved Project Jade, a Tallgrass–Crusoe AI data center using up to 2.7 GW of self-generated power, nearly triple the entire state’s power demand. That’s 50% larger than the 1.8 GW the companies announced in August.

Renée JeanJanuary 08, 2026

Nathan Pfaff, 20, has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for shooting an 18-year-old friend in the head. A charge of having sex with a junior high student was dropped as part of his plea deal, which calls for 25-40 years in prison.

Cheyenne Man Pleads Guilty To Shooting Friend In Head, Child Sex Charge Dropped

A 20-year-old has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for shooting an 18-year-old friend in the head. A charge of having sex with a junior high student was dropped as part of his plea deal, which calls for 25-40 years in prison.

Greg JohnsonJanuary 08, 2026

Orion Schlesinger, 18, has pleaded guilty a plea deal in the arrow killing case of a 23-year-old man.

Big Piney Teen Gets 54 Years To Life For Bow And Arrow Killing Of Autistic Friend

The teen who did not pull the trigger of the compound bow that killed his autistic friend last February, but who conspired to that end and watched the killing, was sentenced Thursday to between 54 years and life in prison.

Clair McFarlandJanuary 08, 2026

Proposed Seminoe Power Plant Aims To Cut Water Use 95% And Slash Emissions

The proposed 2-gigawatt Seminoe Generating Station near Rawlins would pair natural gas and wind power to boost Wyoming’s energy supply. The project aims to cut water use by up to 95% and reduce emissions while creating hundreds of jobs.

Kate MeadowsJanuary 08, 2026

Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani speaks to members of the media at a Brooklyn library to make a transition announcement for his administration on December 17, 2025 in New York City.

Letter To The Editor: Cassie Craven Doesn't Have To Worry About Zohran Mamdani In Wyoming

Dear editor: This is about three things. Why New York isn’t a threat to Wyoming and vice versa, where Craven’s argument doesn’t quite hold up, and what we actually mean when we use words like individualism and collectivism.

January 08, 2026

Letter to the Editor: Wyoming Can’t Afford Performative Economics

Dear editor: Let’s be blunt. Wyoming isn’t competing against a textbook free market. We’re competing against 49 other states, many of which use incentives, infrastructure investments, and innovation programs to land employers and keep local companies from leaving.

January 08, 2026

Cowboy State Daily Show with Jake - Thursday, January 8, 2026

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

Jake NicholsJanuary 08, 2026

Cowboy State Daily Video Newscast: Thursday, January 08, 2026

Thursday's headlines include: * 911 Chaos In Park Co. * Rasner Files For U.S. House * Gordon Wants Hadlock Booted

Mac WatsonJanuary 08, 2026

Former Colorado Parks and Wildlife Director Jeff Davis has been hired as the new deputy director of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. Davis was forced to resign in lieu of being terminated, according to a settlement agreement obtained by 9NEWS.

Wyoming’s New Deputy Game And Fish Director Is Former Controversial Colorado Chief

Former Colorado Parks and Wildlife Director Jeff Davis who was mired in controversy over its wolf program has been hired as the new deputy director of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. Davis resigned in Colorado instead of being terminated, according to a settlement agreement.

Mark HeinzJanuary 08, 2026

Tom Lubnau: Chuck Gray’s Professional Campaign Commercial for Congress

Columnist Tom Lubnau writes, "If Chuck Gray’s opening video for his campaign is any indication, Wyoming voters will be treated to a long season of glossy, high-dollar advertising characterized by slick packaging, careful curation, and designed less to inform than to sell."

Tom LubnauJanuary 08, 2026

Bo Nix of the Denver Broncos looks on before the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Empower Field At Mile High on Jan. 4, 2026, in Denver.

Broncos Playoff Mania Drives Tickets To More Than $17,000

Broncos playoff tickets hit more than $17,000 on StubHub for a potential AFC Championship. A Cheyenne season ticket holder said even the promise of a payday won’t entice him to sell his seats.

Justin GeorgeJanuary 08, 2026

As of Wednesday, Boysen Reservoir in Fremont County was still almost completely ice-free. That’s killed the ice fishing season so far this year.

Ice Fishing Season A Disaster So Far As Boysen Reservoir Still Isn’t Frozen

The ice-fishing season in Fremont County has been a disaster so far. Boysen Reservoir is nearly ice-free, and some recent days there have felt practically like summer.

Mark HeinzJanuary 07, 2026

Judge Reverses Denial Of Leases For Controversial Casper Mountain Gravel Mine

A Natrona County District Court judge on Tuesday reversed the Wyoming State Board of Land Commissioners’ denial of leases for a controversial gravel mining operation at the base of Casper Mountain. Opponents say they’ll keep fighting the plan.

Dale KillingbeckJanuary 07, 2026

A fiber cable cut in Park County left residents without 911 access for three hours. The situation was caused, in part, by the aging infrastructure that Wyoming’s emergency communication systems depend upon, officials said.

Broken Fiber Line In Park County Exposes Fragility In Wyoming's 911 System

A cut fiber cable caused issues with 911 service from Monday night through Wednesday in Park County. “We are working with 57-year-old technology to make 911 work in the state of Wyoming,” Park County 911 Manager Monte McClain said.

Renée JeanJanuary 07, 2026

Green River Woman Accused Of Murder Has Suspected ‘Intentional’ Fall In Jail

A Green River woman accused of killing her husband with a bottle of Baileys took what officials say appears to be an “intentional fall” last week from a second-level mezzanine in the jail. Linda Malone remains in a Salt Lake City hospital.

Clair McFarlandJanuary 07, 2026

Guest Column: In Abortion Ruling, The Judiciary Has Stepped Beyond Its Proper Role

Wyoming Family Alliance CEO Nathan Winters writes, "The decision by the Wyoming Supreme Court to allow abortion to continue in our state is a deeply painful blow to all who believe that every innocent human life is made in the image of God and worthy of protection."

Guest ColumnJanuary 07, 2026

Gov. Mark Gordon announced his recommendation Wednesday that Weston County Clerk Becky Hadlock be removed from office. This follows a second round of citizen complaints against her.

Governor Recommends Weston County Clerk Becky Hadlock Be Removed From Office

Gov. Mark Gordon on Wednesday recommended Weston County Clerk Becky Hadlock be removed from office. The announcement follows two different batches of complaints accusing Hadlock of misconduct after inaccuracies surfaced in two races in Weston County.

Clair McFarlandJanuary 07, 2026

Wyoming uranium pulled from facilities like Cameco’s Smith Ranch-Highland facility are on track to be enriched using laser technology to create fuel for the nation’s nuclear power plants.

Part Of $2.7 Billion From Feds Is For Laser Tech That Could Be Used On Wyoming Uranium

The U.S. Department of Energy announced $2.7 billion in contracts this week to strengthen domestic uranium enrichment. That includes $28.5 million to continue developing next-generation laser enrichment technology that could be used on Wyoming uranium.

David MadisonJanuary 07, 2026

Prairie dog advocates in Colorado say coyotes are gobbling up people's pets in Boulder County because prairie dogs are being relocated to make way for development. But officials say the area still has a healthy prairie dog population.

Group Says Colorado Coyotes Are Eating Pets Because There Are No Prairie Dogs

Prairie dog advocates in Colorado say coyotes are eating people's pets in Boulder County because prairie dogs are being relocated to make way for development. But officials say the area still has a healthy prairie dog population.

Mark HeinzJanuary 07, 2026

A vehicle is driving into the horizon along a straight dirt road from an overhead view.

Prometheus Hyperscale Launches "Build Wyoming" Initiative to Create Local Job Opportunities and Establish the State as a Leader Building America’s AI Future Infrastructure Development

Statewide campaign focuses on ensuring the next generation of critical national infrastructure is built by Wyoming workers for the benefit of Wyoming Communities.

January 07, 2026

Officials Say Human Remains Likely Those Of Sheridan Man Missing Nearly 9 Months

Authorities say human remains found Monday on the grounds of the Sheridan County Airport are likely a Sheridan man missing for nearly nine months. A DNA test is pending, but items found nearby, including a wallet, ID the body as James “Bo” Galloway.

Jen KocherJanuary 07, 2026

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