Headlines

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

Yellowstone’s Old Faithful Plunges To -27, Coldest Spot In Lower 48

December was dominated by record-highs, but Yellowstone's Old Faithful plunged to -27 Sunday, the coldest spot in the Lower 48. That won’t last, however, with the weather expected to rebound with highs in the 40s, 50s, and maybe even 60s this week.

Andrew RossiDecember 29, 2025

Wyoming History: Sheridan’s Dry Gulchers Gang Paid To Rob, Hang, And Harass Tourists

The Dry Gulchers gang ran their own agenda around Sheridan in the 1960s, robbing banks, hanging outlaws and harassing tourists. They paid $1,500 each to be part of the posse that staged fake Wild West adventures for visitors.

Jackie DorothyDecember 29, 2025

Chuck Gray Announces Run For Wyoming's U.S. House Seat

After at least two weekends of an aggressive advertising campaign that named no specific political office, Wyoming Secretary of State Chuck Gray declared Monday that he’s running for the state’s lone U.S. House seat.

Clair McFarlandDecember 29, 2025

Cowboy State Daily Show with Jake - Monday, December 29, 2025

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

Jake NicholsDecember 29, 2025

For years, Baggs, Wyoming, Deputy Sheriff Bob Meldrum had legally — and eagerly — killed accused rustlers and outlaws. A quick-draw artist, his bloodlust caught up with him in 1912 when he killed the wrong man and was nearly lynched by a mob.

Wyoming History: The Baggs Quick-Draw Lawman Who Liked Killing Too Much

Bob Meldrum was known as "Wyoming’s mysterious badman” for his skill with a rifle — and eagerness to use it. He was hired as an assassin by the Wyoming Stockgrowers Association and later went on to kill a man just because he was annoyed by his singing.

Jackie DorothyDecember 29, 2025

Cowboy State Daily Video Newscast: December 29, 2025

Monday's headlines include: * Confused Trees, Plants Blooming * How Can UW Compete In NIL World? * 103-Year-Old Casper WWII Vet Picture Of Health

Mac WatsonDecember 29, 2025

Juli Cook of Cody grew up in the shadow of Yellowstone National Park watching its famous wildlife. Now an emerging photographer, her debut book marries her breathtaking wildlife images and the stories behind the photos.

Cody Photographer Who Grew Up In Yellowstone’s Shadow Debuts Wildlife Book

Julia Cook of Cody grew up in the shadow of Yellowstone National Park watching its famous wildlife. Now an emerging photographer, her debut book marries her breathtaking wildlife images and the stories behind the photos.

Wendy CorrDecember 29, 2025

Cassie Craven: My Hot Takes On The Wyoming Political Scene

Columnist Cassie Craven writes, “If you are in a split race and every indication tells you that you’ll lose, quit. It’s not a loss, it is a pivot. Better yet, work alongside those next to you to broaden the mission instead of focusing on the race."

Cassie CravenDecember 28, 2025

Sand Creek Road just off the Snowy Range Scenic Byway is hugely popular with local residents, and this winter it’s getting plowed. But only logging trucks are allowed on it, as in this file photo.

Snowy Range Residents Pleased Sand Creek Road Getting Plowed For Winter Logging

Many locals in the Snowy Range are pleased that a logging road is getting plowed this year even though they can't use it. Because of the "ghost forests" (massive stands of dead trees killed by pine beetle epidemics), they're just happy for the winter logging.

Mark HeinzDecember 28, 2025

Gail Symons: Wyoming Is A Quilt And Politics Are Its Stress Test

Columnist Gail Symons writes: "Wyoming has never depended on uniformity. Its strength comes from variety held together by simple fidelity. Politics, then, is not the fabric of Wyoming. It's the stress test."

Gail SymonsDecember 28, 2025

Hunting in Wyoming’s grizzly country is intimidating, but with the right mentality going in, it doesn’t have to be terrifying. Overcoming that fear of getting mauled is a big part of hunting where grizzlies live.

Overcoming Fear Of Getting Mauled A Big Part Of Hunting In Grizzly Country

Celia Easton of Thermopolis said being attacked by a grizzly last October while she was elk hunting alone in the Beartooth Mountains has left her shaken. “Until you go through something like that, you don’t understand what it does to you,” she said

Mark HeinzDecember 28, 2025

Pear and cherry trees in Utah are covered with blossoms while lilacs in Colorado are blooming like it's spring in late December. Experts are concerned that the warm, dry days are tricking trees and stressing them out. FILE PHOTO

Warm Winter Is Faking Out Fruit Trees, Forcing Blooms Like It’s Spring

Pear and cherry trees in Utah are covered with blossoms while lilacs in Colorado are blooming like it's spring in late December. Arborists are concerned that the warm, dry days are tricking trees and stressing them out.

Andrew RossiDecember 28, 2025

Cloud Nine on-mountain restaurant at Aspen

Forget Burgers And Pizza, High-End Ski Resorts Get Big Bucks For Wagyu And Caviar

Lift ticket prices have increased 3,600% since 1972, and now caviar, Wagyu beef, and $18 Budweisers are showing up on high-end ski lodge menus. But at Wyoming’s smaller resorts, skiers can still get $10 cheeseburgers.

David MadisonDecember 28, 2025

Parts of a wind turbine blade had been installed off of Esterbrook Road south of Douglas as part of a sculpture and snow fence project by Casper artist Chris Navarro is calling “The Wall of Renewal.”

Why Chris Navarro Is Using Old Wind Turbine Blade To Make Snow Fence Sculpture

Celebrated Wyoming sculptor Chris Navarro has used a giant wind turbine blade to make a snow fence sculpture at the Wyoming Rescue Mission ranch near Casper. He says “Wall of Renewal” could prove the viability of repurposing old blades as snow fences across the state.

Dale KillingbeckDecember 28, 2025

The stuffed emperor penguin on display at the Green River Little America started its journey to Wyoming from Antarctica alive and died during transport. The plan was to keep a living penguin at the hotel, but it was doomed from the start. The bird was taxidermied and arrived stuff, and it remains on display at the first Little America.

Little America Wyoming’s Plan To Keep A Living Penguin Was Doomed From The Start

Back in the 1930s, an ill-advised plan was hatched to keep a living penguin at the Little America hotel in southwest Wyoming. The emperor penguin started its journey from Antarctica alive but died during transport. The stuffed penguin is still on display there and another at the Little America hotel in Cheyenne.

Andrew RossiDecember 28, 2025

The County Road 104 bridge over the Salt River traces its design roots to World War II.

Crumbling Bridge Near Alpine Replaced In Days With WWII ‘Erector Set’ Tech

When a crumbling bridge over the Salt River near Alpine was failing, engineers turned to an “Erector Set” concept invented during WW II. It comes together in days, and could be used more across Wyoming with nearly half the state’s bridges past their prime.

David MadisonDecember 27, 2025

Laramie band Winston Creek will be one of the Wyoming acts performing at the first Outlaw Music Festival in Kaycee. The event was created to fill the void left by the ending of the popular Chris LeDoux Days.

No More Chris LeDoux Days? No Problem. Kaycee’s Outlaw Music Fest Takes Its Place

For 15 years, Chris LeDoux Days in Kaycee was a mainstay of Wyoming's summer music scene. Now that it’s over, locals have organized a new Outlaw Music Festival to take its place.

Renée JeanDecember 27, 2025

The research happening at Wyoming’s supercomputer facility in Cheyenne is about much more than climate change. It’s led to fundamental breakthroughs that have made many pursuits safer, ranging from fighting wildfires to flying jets.

Researchers Fight To Keep Wyoming's NCAR Supercomputer Alive

Researchers, many of whom are Trump supporters, say the president is getting bad advice about defunding Wyoming's NCAR supercomputer. They say NCAR is responsible for breakthroughs that have made many things safer, ranging from fighting wildfires to flying jets.

Renée JeanDecember 27, 2025

Wyoming History: The Deadly Damsel Of South Pass Who Seduced, Then Murdered 22 Men

In the height of the gold rush, South Pass City was the place for men to strike it rich — and for 22 of them, get murdered if they did. That’s because Polly Bartlett, the “Deadly Damsel,” would seduce, poison, and rob them.

Jackie DorothyDecember 27, 2025

While much of Wyoming is experiencing record warmth and dryness, the mountains in western Wyoming are buried in snow. The snowpack is between 90% and 143% of average in what meteorologists say is a pattern where record-breaking warmth is building stellar snowpack.

Eastern Wyoming Is Hot And Dry, But Western Part Of State Is Buried In Snow

While much of Wyoming has record warmth and dryness, the mountains in western Wyoming are buried in snow. The snowpack is between 90% and 143% of average in what meteorologists say is a pattern where record-breaking warmth is building a huge snowpack.

Andrew RossiDecember 27, 2025

Bill Sniffin: Looking Back At 2025 – Prominent Deaths & Continuing Energy Boom

Columnist Bill Sniffin writes: “This past year was full of incredibly good economic news and a lot of horrible news with the many deaths of important people plus more than our share of tragic deaths.”

Bill SniffinDecember 27, 2025

Joan Barron: Chances Dimming For A Woman Governor

Columnist Joan Barron writes, "The office of governor always has been regarded as the best political job in Wyoming. I always thought Lummis would be the one to become the first woman elected governor on her own merits. Even after her announcement, supporters are urging her to run."

Joan BarronDecember 27, 2025

A team of French researchers has published a study claiming teddy bears are too cute and cuddly to give children a realistic view of the apex predators, or nature in general. Bear experts in Wyoming laughed at the study and said that seems ridiculous.

French Researchers Concerned Teddy Bears Give Children Unrealistic View Of Nature

French researchers published a study claiming teddy bears are "too cute" and give children the wrong view of nature. Bear experts told Cowboy State Daily that if people are idiots around grizzlies, it's not because they had teddy bears growing up.

Mark HeinzDecember 27, 2025

As the University of Wyoming struggles in the emerging name, image, likeness (NIL) age to fund its players, some wonder if dropping out of Division I makes sense. Meanwhile, UW boosters look for ways to fund NIL as lower FCS schools outspend them.

Can UW Sports Compete In Division I As Lower Divisions Offer More NIL Money?

Montana and Montana State, who compete in a tier below Wyoming, each spend $2.2 million on NIL, while Wyoming spends $1.4 million. "That's embarrassing," one Wyoming booster said. "Schools that don't sit on the wealth of money we do are outspending us."

David MadisonDecember 27, 2025

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