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

Cody Woman Accused In Murder-For-Hire Claims Entrapment By Undercover Agent
A Cody woman accused of soliciting a man she thought was a hitman to kill her daughter’s boyfriend in late 2023 says in a Thursday court filing she plans to tell a jury that the “hitman” — an undercover law enforcement agent — entrapped her.
Clair McFarlandJuly 18, 2025

Letter To The Editor: Let’s Talk Honestly About PBS in Wyoming
Dear editor: A recent opinion column took aim at PBS, suggesting it has strayed from its mission and no longer reflects the values of Wyoming viewers. We should be skeptical of any effort to discredit PBS based on political perception rather than demonstrated harm.
July 18, 2025

Cheyenne Frontier Days Isn’t All Rodeo, There’s Also World-Class Western Art
One thing to know about the celebrated Western Art Show at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum is that it’s not a stereotypical stuffy art show. In fact, it’s considered by many as the signature social event of the Daddy of ’em All.
Renée JeanJuly 18, 2025

The Roundup: A Conversation With Megan Anderson
This week, host Wendy Corr chats with Cody native and entrepreneur Megan Anderson, an AI expert and public speaker who lives, works, and adventures full-time on the road in her conversion van - but always comes home to Wyoming.
Wendy CorrJuly 18, 2025

Guilty: Jury Says Douglas Smith Gunned Down 2 Men In Cheyenne Coin Shop In 2015
A 69-year-old California man is guilty of two counts of first-degree murder for killing two men in a Cheyenne coin shop 10 years ago, a jury decided Friday afternoon. Douglas Smith now faces two mandatory life sentences.
Clair McFarlandJuly 18, 2025

Dennis Sun: Quit Blaming Cows
Columnist Dennis Sun writes, "For years now people have been blaming cattle for playing a large part in global warming by producing methane. While cattle do produce methane, the truth is they don’t produce near the amount some people think."
Dennis SunJuly 18, 2025

Jonathan Lange: Attorney General Kautz Came Out Swinging
Columnist Jonathan Lange writes, "Kudos to our new attorney general, Keith Kautz. On Thursday, he hit the ground running by swiftly appealing the outrageous preliminary injunction against Wyoming’s Steamboat Legacy Scholarship program."
Jonathan LangeJuly 18, 2025

Mouth-Ripping Barbed Hooks Banned On North Platte Blue-Ribbon Trout Fisheries
Barbed fishing hooks inflict ghastly injuries to prized trout in the North Platte River near Casper. The Wyoming Game and Fish Commission this week banned barbed hooks along sections of the river, a move fishing guides say is overdue.
Mark HeinzJuly 18, 2025

One Of Wyoming’s 2 ‘Catchnet’ Systems Saves Driver Of Runaway Truck On Teton Pass
One of Wyoming’s two “catchnet” systems to stop runaway vehicles saved the driver of a box truck that lost its brakes on Teton Pass on Thursday. The catchnet uses a series of energy-absorbing nets that can slow and stop high-speed and heavy vehicles.
Dale KillingbeckJuly 18, 2025

Guest Column: If You're Curious About Court, Get In There
The Wyoming Judicial Branch writes: "You’ve read the headlines, but how do you know exactly what a judge, jury, or justice decided in any given case, and why? It’s easy to find out. With some exceptions, Wyoming courts are and always have been open to the public."
Wyoming Judicial BranchJuly 18, 2025

Fox-Turned-Shoe Bandit Makes Grand Teton’s ‘Most Wanted’ List
At least one naughty fox has been making off with people’s shoes from a campground in Grand Teton National Park. At least 32 shoes have been stolen so far, prompting the park to put the fox on its “Most Wanted” list.
Mark HeinzJuly 18, 2025

Sued By Ousted Library Director, Campbell County Says She's No LGBTQ Hero
In a scathing court filing Wednesday, Campbell County denies wrongdoing in the 2023 firing of the local library director, who is suing. The county says her claims are full of bogus “self-praise” and that she's no LGBTQ hero.
Clair McFarlandJuly 18, 2025

Wyoming Company Helps Develop Tech-Driven Early Alzheimer’s Detection Tool
Wyoming technology company Lunavi has helped develop a tech-driven digital tool to detect Alzheimer’s disease before most other tests can. It will make the tests inexpensive and available to anyone with an internet connection.
Renée JeanJuly 18, 2025

Massive Recovery Mission Planned For Yellowstone Hiker Who Vanished 10 Months Ago
A team of private-sector outdoorsmen and another of Yellowstone National Park personnel and volunteers are preparing missions next month to recover Austin King. He’s the 22-year-old hiker who vanished after summiting Eagle Peak last September.
Clair McFarlandJuly 18, 2025

Accused Serial Killer Suspected Of Murdering 2 Women In Wyoming Dies In Tennessee
Clark Perry Baldwin, a convicted murderer and suspected serial killer linked to the deaths of two women in Wyoming, died Friday in Tennessee. His death leaves a Wyoming prosecutor frustrated he won’t stand trial here for the decades-old murders.
Clair McFarlandJuly 18, 2025

Cowboy State Daily Show with Jake - Friday, July 18, 2025
Jake in the 307. Weekday mornings 6-10 a.m.
Jake NicholsJuly 18, 2025

House Votes To Defund Public Media, Gouging NPR and PBS
By a 216 - 213 vote, the U.S. House on Thursday approved a Trump administration plan to rescind two years' budget from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman voted for the measure, which also impacts PBS and NPR.
Jimmy OrrJuly 18, 2025

Guest Column: When PBS Stopped Listening, America Stopped Watching
Joanna Kail, CEO of Wyoming PBS, writes, "PBS’s unwillingness to confront growing concerns about ideological bias created a perception that it no longer served the public equally. Viewers walked away, unsure if PBS was still for them."
Guest ColumnJuly 18, 2025

Cowboy State Daily Video News: Friday, July 18, 2025
Friday's headlines include: * Kill NPR/PBS Vote Friday * After 33 Years, I-90 Jane Doe Identified * Degenfelder Fights Judge’s School Choice Order
Wendy CorrJuly 18, 2025

Friday Or Bust: House Under Legal Deadline For PBS, NPR Cuts
The U.S. House of Representatives has a legal deadline of Friday at 11:59 p.m. to vote on the proposed $1.1 billion in cuts to public television and radio. Wyoming's congressional delegation is firmly in favor of the cuts.
Sean Barry & Clair McFarlandJuly 18, 2025

Wyoming Irrigators Frustrated By Getting Shut Off Earlier In Colorado River Basin
Western Wyoming irrigators are frustrated after being shut off earlier than normal to send Colorado River Basin water downstream. State officials are holding public meetings to keep tabs on Wyoming’s share of the Colorado River.
David MadisonJuly 17, 2025

Casper Drug Mule Pleads Guilty, To Testify Against Others In Meth/Fentanyl Ring
A 49-year-old Casper woman who was trafficking meth, fentanyl and cocaine from Colorado to Wyoming pleaded guilty Thursday in a plea deal with prosecutors. She received eight years in prison, and in return will testify against others in the drug ring.
Dale KillingbeckJuly 17, 2025

Hageman Wants Answers About Prosecution Of Grand Teton Trail Runner
Idaho ultrarunner Michelino Sunseri is awaiting a verdict in a criminal trial for cutting a switchback while running up Grand Teton last fall. U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman says she’s investigating a possible overzealous prosecution.
Sean BarryJuly 17, 2025

Degenfelder Fighting Judge's Block On School Choice Program
Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder announced Thursday the State of Wyoming is challenging a judge’s order that blocks the state’s new school-choice program. “I am grateful for the Attorney General’s swift action,” Degenfelder said.
Clair McFarlandJuly 17, 2025