Headlines

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

Closing the huge Tyson Foods beef processing plant in Lexington, Nebraska, has left locals “mad, sad, and numb.” It also has the town’s hospital and school district in limbo with the potential for 3,200 families to leave.

Nebraska Hospital CEO: Tyson’s “Spreadsheet Decision” Will Devastate Health Care

In a scathing letter to Tyson CEO Donnie King, Lexington hospital CEO Jason Douglas said the company’s decision to leave will devastate health care in the area. “You made a spreadsheet decision … and 3,200 families became nothing more than a line item.”

Greg JohnsonDecember 21, 2025

Tristan “Teton” Brown recently released his third self-produced ski film. He stands out as a longtime Jackson skier who goes to great lengths to ski for a living and live in one of the most expensive ski towns.

How "Teton" Brown Holds On In Jackson Hole, Making Films And Skiing On His Own Terms

"Teton" Brown is a 36-year-old professional skier who has worked in at least 10 restaurants, once lived on a porch, and scraped together every dollar to stay in Jackson. In his spare time, he's a filmmaker and just debuted his third film "Clean Slate."

David MadisonDecember 21, 2025

A cow moose that locals call “Big Betty” has been handing around Evanston. So far, she’s behaved herself, and wildlife agents haven’t been dispatched to catch her.

Urban Moose Named 'Big Betty' Seems Right At Home Wandering Around Evanston

A cow moose nicknamed "Big Betty" has been calmly wandering around Evanston, delighting residents and avoiding trouble. Wildlife officials say she is unusually peaceful, but still warn people to keep their distance.

Mark HeinzDecember 21, 2025

Freddie Johnson entertaining folks during a tour of the Buffalo Trace Distillery in Kentucky. He will bring his shtick to Yellowstone National Park’s wilderness in a glass-walled tasting room where the buffalo roam.

Holding A Whiskey-Tasting In A Glass Box In The Middle Of The Wyoming Wilderness

Kentucky-based Buffalo Trace Distillery is holding a whiskey-tasting in a custom-built room with floor-to-ceiling glass walls in the Wyoming wilderness near Yellowstone this summer. They say the secret location will be in the middle of a bison herd.

Renée JeanDecember 21, 2025

Cowgirls and ranch hands are the true innovators behind today’s Western style, not celebrity bandwagon jumpers. When it comes to fashion or function, dressing like a cowboy — or girl — is all about attitude, not wardrobe. At the National Finals Redeo in Las Vegas, Aspen Edge gets a new Western look.

Beyond the Bandwagon: The Real Pioneers of Western Style

When supermodels Kendall Jenner and Gigi Hadid this year made the cover of Vogue magazine on the strength of a Western-wear photo shoot in Jackson, they were merely jumping on the bandwagon. The real style pioneers are the cowgirls and ranch hands who live the Western lifestyle.

Zakary SonntagDecember 21, 2025

When Prohibition began in 1919, Joe Carey made bank-funded runs to Canada to “import liquor” for the good citizens of Greybull. He did so well that he was able to buy several businesses, including the Greybull Hotel, and retired from the “importing business” in 1923 to marry and raise his family.

Wyoming History: Rum Runner Joe Carey Ran Greybull’s Underworld In The 1920s

During Prohibition, 23-year-old Joe Carey of Greybull ran bootleg liquor from Canada with help from a local banker. His daring rum runs made him rich enough to buy businesses and go legit once Prohibition ended.

Jackie DorothyDecember 21, 2025

Joan Barron: Freedom Caucus Subpoenas Burn Bridges

Columnist Joan Barron writes, “The Freedom Caucus members were reckless and overly aggressive in their decision to issue subpoenas to local officials over some questionable audit findings.”

Joan BarronDecember 21, 2025

Bill Sniffin: Last Night Was The Longest Night Of Wyoming’s Year

Columnist Bill Sniffin writes: “Although winter is now officially here, this date also means the days will be getting longer and the darkness of the nights will be getting shorter. Wonderful!”

Bill SniffinDecember 21, 2025

The Wyoming Department of Transportation wants to use federal money to support an EV charger building spree.

Wyoming Aims To Turn EV Charging Into A New Post-Pump Marketplace

Wyoming recently won federal approval to expand its EV charging network beyond the interstates, and the state plans to kick-start development of a new post-pump marketplace for EV charging.

David MadisonDecember 20, 2025

Traxton Rex Bennett (aka “T-Rex”) wasn't home in Big Piney for Christmas. He's in a Utah hospital fighting a rare form of Leukemia. He has lots of support, including two big brothers who argued over who gets to be his bone marrow donor.

Big Piney Toddler Battles Leukemia As Brothers Compete To Be Donor

Traxton Rex Bennett (aka “T-Rex”) can’t be home in Big Piney for Christmas. He's in a Utah hospital fighting a rare form of Leukemia. He has lots of support, including two big brothers who are arguing over who gets to be his bone marrow donor.

Mark HeinzDecember 20, 2025

As NIL money reshapes college athletics, the state's only Division I program turns to analytics — and a Gillette native's vision — to compete against schools with deeper pockets. It’s a new pay-to-play landscape for the University of Wyoming. Men's basektball coach Sundance Wicks uses a "Moneyball" approach to identify under-the-radar talent he can use his NIL money for.

Pay To Play: University Of Wyoming's Battle To Remain Division I In An NIL World

The new reality facing the University of Wyoming is to maintain its major Division I athletic programs, it needs to generate revenue that is paid to players. Will Wyoming keep up as its rivals like Colorado State and BYU build war chests to pay for top players?

David MadisonDecember 20, 2025

Vince and Warren Meyer are making sure the Santa Go Pokes legend lives on for Christmas.

Go Pokes! Despite Death Of Steamboat's Owner, Lighted Wyoming Santa Rides On.

For more than two decades, thousands of people each year drive by a Cheyenne house to see a lighted 10-foot Santa riding Steamboat, Wyoming's iconic bucking bronco. Despite the death of its owner earlier this year, her family continues the "Santa Go Pokes!" tradition.

Renée JeanDecember 20, 2025

After Dad Murders Mom And Blames Daughter, She Turns Her Tragedy Into Help

At 12, Haylee Cole’s father murdered her mother and tried to blame Haylee for the crime. He's since been convicted of the killing and won't ever get out of prison. The Lander woman has turned her family tragedy into help for others.

Jen KocherDecember 20, 2025

Dry and brown conditions outside of the Wyoming Supreme Court building on Saturday, December 20, 2025

Most Of Wyoming Will Have A Gross, Dry, Brown Christmas This Year

After a month of above-average temperatures, below-average precipitation and intense windstorms, the same weather patterns that prevented snow from reaching Wyoming will continue through Christmas. Forecasters say, expect a brown Christmas.

Andrew RossiDecember 20, 2025

‘A Gut Punch’: Nebraska Town Shell-Shocked By Tyson Closing Huge Beef Plant

About 3,200 of Lexington, Nebraska’s 11,000 residents work at a huge Tyson Foods beef processing plant — for another month. News that the plant will close next month was an unexpected “gut punch” many fear will devastate this rural cow town.

Greg JohnsonDecember 20, 2025

Wyoming Awards $100 Million To BWXT For Nuclear Fuel Plant In Gillette

Gov. Mark Gordon on Friday announced that $100 million in matching funds will be awarded to BWXT to build a nuclear fuel plant in Gillette. He said the award is about ensuring Wyoming is competitive with other states that are also vying for these projects.

Renée JeanDecember 20, 2025

Gov. Mark Gordon has received five formal requests to remove county officials from office. Former Wyoming governors Mike Sullivan, from left, Jim Geringer, and Dave Freudenthal can't recall getting any such requests.

Former Wyoming Governors Say Requests To Remove County Officials Unprecedented

Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon has received five clusters of complaints asking him to oust county officials from their offices. Three former Wyoming governors on Friday called that number unprecedented, citing growing political strife.

Clair McFarlandDecember 20, 2025

A cow elk viciously stomping a mountain lion, and her own calf, is indicative of the pressure Idaho elk feel from predators, a hunter said.

Cow Elk Stomps Mountain Lion In Desperate Bid To Save Calf

Caught between wolves, mountain lions and grizzly bears, elk are struggling to fend off predators. A trail camera video shows the elk's desperation as it viciously pummels a mountain lion that has her calf by the neck.

Mark HeinzDecember 19, 2025

Starlings fly in a tight, swirling pattern called “murmuration” over farmland north of Torrington.

Weird Bird Tornado Near Torrington Was A Wild Flight Of Starlings

A swirling “bird tornado” over farmland near Torrington turned out to be a flock of European starlings. While a sight to see, starlings are an invasive species in Wyoming that harm native birds and crops.

Mark HeinzDecember 19, 2025

Casper Police Department Asks For Help Finding Stabbing Suspect

Casper police are asking for help in finding a 41-year-old stabbing suspect involved in an incident that left an adult with serious injuries. The suspect's facial tattoos could be of assistance in locating him.

Dale KillingbeckDecember 19, 2025

Dennis Sun: Christmas Way Out West

Columnist Dennis Sun shares a Christmas poem by Rhonda Sedgewick Stearns

Dennis SunDecember 19, 2025

Jonathan Lange: Wyoming’s Delegation Delivered Coal for Christmas

Columnist Jonathan Lange writes: The repeal of the Buffalo RMPA was a wonderful Christmas present to the people of Wyoming. Hageman, Barrasso, and Lummis preserved an entire economic ecosystem for generations to come.

Jonathan LangeDecember 19, 2025

Sheridan EMT And Family Escape Blaze But Lose Home In Wind-Whipped Fire

An EMT, his wife and their two young children escaped a blaze fanned by 50-mph winds early Thursday. Sheridan Fire and Rescue reported the winds hampered efforts to save the property, which burned to the ground. The family lost everything.

Dale KillingbeckDecember 19, 2025

With New Sublette County Helium Plant, Wyoming Will Supply 30% Of World's Helium

A new helium plant in Sublette County will boost Wyoming’s share of global helium output to about 30% and generate nearly $2 billion in taxes and royalties. The plant begins construction on May 1, 2026.

Renée JeanDecember 19, 2025

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