Headlines

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

"You tell us what you need, and we'll do it," Sen. Bo Biteman said, describing the administration's posture toward energy. "And if you have any issues or bottlenecks, we need to know, and we'll get rid of those in 24 hours' notice."

"We're Sitting On A Gold Mine": Energy Optimism Overflows At Wyoming Capitol

Lawmakers advanced two bills Friday designed to position Wyoming at the center of America's energy future. Sen. Bo Biteman said the time to act is now as the administration is listening to Wyoming on energy and will get rid of any "issues or bottlenecks."

David MadisonFebruary 27, 2026

Dennis Sun: Future Looks Bright for Dairy

Columnist Dennis Sun writes, "Higher beef prices and improved genetics are rewriting the dairy industry. Older dairy cows producing milk at higher numbers and producers using young cows to crossbreed with beef genetics, the business has really changed."

Dennis SunFebruary 27, 2026

Casper Woman Pleads Not Guilty To DUI, Homicide Charges In November Wrong-Way Crash

A 34-year-old Casper woman pleaded not guilty in Natrona County District Court on Friday to DUI and vehicular homicide charges that stem from a Nov. 7 wrong-way crash that killed a mother of two and severely injured the woman’s father.

Dale KillingbeckFebruary 27, 2026

Mobs Of Elk Leave National Elk Refuge Near Jackson With ‘False Sense Of Early Spring'

With what locals say is an unprecedentedly mild winter, elk are bailing out of the National Elk Refuge near Jackson, apparently thinking it's spring already. "Because the snowpack is so low, there is little reason to be there," said one photographer.

Mark HeinzFebruary 27, 2026

Cowboy State Daily Show with Jake - Friday, February 27, 2026

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

Jake NicholsFebruary 27, 2026

Tom Lubnau: Checkgate Stinks. An Investigation Won’t Clear the Air.

Columnist Tom Lubnau writes, "When Rebecca Bextel was escorted onto the Wyoming House floor by Rep. Nina Webber, R-Cody, to hand out checks to members of the House of Representatives, no one could have predicted the political wildfire that would follow."

Tom LubnauFebruary 27, 2026

Teton County GOP leader Rebecca Bextel testifies Thursday for the House investigative committee about checks she handed out to legislators on the House floor on Feb. 9, 2026.

CheckGate: Four Members Who Received Checks On House Floor Say It Wasn't Bribery

At the first CheckGate hearing in the Capitol on Thursday, the four members who received checks on the House floor said they never felt it was an act of bribery. Rebecca Bextel, who delivered the checks, said she just “wafted toward the House floor."

Clair McFarlandFebruary 27, 2026

Cowboy State Daily Video Newscast: Friday, February 27, 2026

Friday's headlines include: * CheckGate Hearing * Getting Banned From McD's * Another Election Reform Bill Killed

Mac WatsonFebruary 27, 2026

Guest Column: A Convention Of The States Is Wyoming’s Constitutional Lifeline

Guest columnist Sam Galeotos writes, "If legislators want to protect the Constitution and Wyoming, stop hoping Congress will tie its own hands, because that will never happen. Pass SJR5 in the House. Restore the republic the Founders entrusted to us."

Guest ColumnFebruary 27, 2026

Scott Clem: Wyoming's Poor Are Wyoming's Problem

Columnist Scott Clem writes, "As the Legislature worked through the state budget, one question rose above the rest for what it revealed about our values: Should Wyoming authorize administrative funding to draw down federally funded summer nutrition benefits for low-income children?"

Scott ClemFebruary 27, 2026

Sen. Larry Hicks, R-Baggs, presented the bill and walked the committee through a new approach to property tax relief. "It's been a journey, ladies and gentlemen," Hicks said. "And I think we've refined what we're trying to do."

House Panel Advances Major Property Tax Cut For Homeowners 

A House committee Thursday advanced a bill that would lower the tax rate on homes people live in and stop collecting school taxes on those properties, with the state picking up the tab instead of local governments. The bill passed 7-2.

David MadisonFebruary 27, 2026

Representative Andrew Byron, R-Jackson, corner crossing on Thursday, February 26, 2026

Hunters, Ranchers Say Corner Crossing Bill Isn’t Ready As It Heads To Wyoming Senate

A corner-crossing bill received pushback from both hunters and ranchers Thursday but the committee still forwarded it to the Senate. One hunter said, “let’s just go out and corner-cross,” then write a new bill to address any problems that come up.

Mark HeinzFebruary 27, 2026

Bobby Maher, 14, was stabbed to death outside the Eastridge Mall in Casper in April 2024. His death “shocked” Casper and the state, Natrona County District Attorney Dan Itzen said.

30-75 Years For Casper Teen Who Held 14-Year-Old Bobby Maher Down During Stabbing

The now-17-year-old who held 14-year-old Bobby Maher down while a friend stabbed him was sentenced Thursday to 30-75 years in prison. The teen said he’s “found God,” while the prosecutor argued the murder “shocked the conscience of the community.”

Dale KillingbeckFebruary 27, 2026

Dozens of whistle stops have been revealed for the western leg of Big Boy’s historic coast-to-coast tour. In Wyoming, that includes: Laramie, Medicine Bow, Wamsutter, Rock Springs, and Green River.

Dozens Of Wyoming Stops Announced For New Big Boy Train Western Tour

Dozens of whistle stops have been announced for the western leg of Big Boy’s historic coast-to-coast tour in 2026. In Wyoming, that includes: Laramie, Medicine Bow, Wamsutter, Rock Springs, and Green River.

Renée JeanFebruary 26, 2026

Wyoming Inmate Sues, Claims Botched Health Care Led To Leg Amputation

A Rawlins woman claims her leg was amputated because of negligence by the Wyoming Department of Corrections’ former health care contractor. She’s serving 10-15 years in prison for selling meth.

Greg JohnsonFebruary 26, 2026

Under a cloud of public questioning, Gillette Police Chief Chuck Deaton abruptly retired from the department on Thursday. Deaton’s reasoning for the retirement is that it was time “for me to move on.”

Details Scarce As Gillette Police Chief Abruptly Retires

Under a cloud of public questioning, Gillette Police Chief Chuck Deaton abruptly retired from the department on Thursday. Deaton said it a statement that it was time “for me to move on.”

Greg JohnsonFebruary 26, 2026

Wyoming Senate Committee Doesn’t Want State Collecting Union Dues

Wyoming senators advanced a bill to ban most state entities from collecting union and political group dues, while dropping new reporting rules for those groups. “The intent is to bust unions and bust associations,” alleged a Wyoming Education Association representative.

Clair McFarlandFebruary 26, 2026

Sen. Tara Nethercott, R-Cheyenne, stood on the Wyoming Senate floor Thursday morning and told her colleagues that the state's county clerks were afraid — not of election fraud, but of overblown calls for election reform.

Another Election Reform Bill Dies As Lawmaker Rejects National “Populism”

In speaking against an election audit reform bill Thursday, Sen. Tara Nethercott said the state's county clerks don't support the measure and that lawmakers should stop "pandering" to fears manufactured by national rhetoric. The legislation failed 21-9.

David MadisonFebruary 26, 2026

Powell Man Banned From McDonald's After Driving Horses Through Drive-Thru

Powell Man Banned From McDonald's After Driving Horses, Wagon Through Drive-Thru

Powell resident Allen Hatch was banned from McDonald's earlier this week for driving his draft horses and wagon through the drive-thru. Although employees were excited to see them, the manager reportedly was not. “We've been 86ed from McDonald's,” he said.

Andrew RossiFebruary 26, 2026

Omaha Public Works Officials Say Broken Water Main Likely Caused Sinkhole

The sinkhole that generated international attention earlier this week for swallowing up two vehicles in Omaha may have been caused by a broken water main. City officials say a water main was broken and actively running water at the time of the collapse.

Andrew RossiFebruary 26, 2026

The mother of a man who died in a workplace accident in 2024 has filed a lawsuit against the manufacturer of the woodchopper involved.

Mother Sues Manufacturer Over Wyoming Son's Woodchipper Death

A Kentucky mother is suing Bandit Industries, claiming a Bandit Intimidator 18XP woodchipper without key safety features caused her son’s fatal 2024 workplace accident near Alpine, Wyoming. The complaint said her son “frantically” tried to stop the machine but couldn’t.

Clair McFarlandFebruary 26, 2026

Sen. Bill Landen, R-Casper, testifies at the House Judiciary Committee Meeting on the kratom product regulation bill on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026, at the Capitol in Cheyenne.

Bill To Ban Kratom From People Younger Than 21 Passes Wyoming House Committee

A bill to ban the delivery of kratom to people younger than 21 is another step closer to becoming Wyoming law. Even so, some express concern over the unregulated substance and a coroner said it’s “highly addictive and at high doses, can cause death.”

Clair McFarlandFebruary 26, 2026

Ex-U.S. Army Ranger From Casper Jumps Into The U.S. House Race To Succeed Hageman

A former U.S. Army Ranger on Thursday formally entered Wyoming’s U.S. House race for the seat U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman is vacating to run for Senate. David Giralt said by necessity and desire, he will run a “grassroots” campaign.

Dale KillingbeckFebruary 26, 2026

Andrew Joannides (from left to right), Beth Blackwell, Hallee Crozier, Jonee Crozier and Mantha Phillips celebrate on Feb. 25 at the Wyoming Capitol after the Stem Cell Freedom Act was unanimously passed by the House, Labor and Social Services Committee.

The Stem Cell Freedom Act: Your Stem Cells, For Your Treatment

The Hoskinson Government and Policy Center proudly supports the Stem Cell Freedom Act, a bill expanding access to life-saving stem cell treatments in Wyoming. The bill is currently under consideration in the 2026 Wyoming Legislature.

February 26, 2026

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