Headlines

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

Charnick checks out the northern lights while taking a break from skiing on Friday night.

Wyoming Weather Scientist Goes Night-Skiing During Aurora Borealis Event

Michael Charnick is a weather scientist based in Cheyenne who captured stunning images while night-skiing at more than 11,000-feet elevation during last weekend’s vivid aurora borealis. He was on the slopes from 9:30pm to after 3am.

Leo WolfsonMay 18, 2024

Shooting victim Lenea Brown turned 17 on May 4. She was shot and killed May 14. The day of her death, her dad received the copy of her birth certificate he had been seeking so he could help her get her driver’s license.

Casper Shooting Victim's Father Shares Broken Heart

The father of Lenea Brown, 17, who was gunned down at a Casper park Tuesday, told Cowboy State Daily he's devastated. He wants justice for his daughter who exuded compassion, including wanting to give the brother of Bobby Maher a hug “and tell him it’s going to be OK.”

Dale KillingbeckMay 18, 2024

Brendan Blackburn of Blackburn Cattle Company said he enjoys hauling cattle and working with the people on the Wyoming ranches he meets as part of his job.

Cattle Hauler’s Mission: Get The Mommas And Babies To Summer Pasture

A day in the life of a Douglas-based cattle hauler in May involves lining up to ranch cattle chutes and successfully getting calves and momma cows onboard for a trip to their summer pasture.

Dale KillingbeckMay 18, 2024

Joan Barron: Term Limits For Legislature; The Story Of Two States

Columnist Joan Barron writes, "The loss of institutional knowledge is why I have consistently opposed term limits for legislators. Wyoming has a high turnover every election and while there are some members who serve for many years, the vast majority do not.

Joan BarronMay 18, 2024

At age 11, Yellowstone’s Wolf 907F has lived more than twice a wild wolf’s average life expectancy. In this photo from April, she was pregnant with a litter of pups that she’s since given birth to.

Yellowstone's 11-Year-Old 1-Eyed Wolf Just Had Another Litter Of Pups

Wolf 907F in Yellowstone has lived an unprecedented 11 years, which is more than three times the average lifespan of a wolf. Along the way, she's given birth to multiple litters and lost her left eye. And she just became a mom again.

Mark HeinzMay 18, 2024

Amber Smith, a forensic analyst at the Wyoming State Crime Lab in Cheyenne, demonstrates how this Hamilton aparatus works. It can process nearly 90 individual DNA samples at a time.

Inside Wyoming’s State Crime Lab, Which Was Just Named One Of Best In Country

One of the Wyoming State Crime Lab’s most notorious busts was a 14-year cold case. DNA technology linked a body found in the North Platte to inmate Dale Wayne Eaton. The victim’s car was then unearthed from his yard in Moneta, Wyoming.

Clair McFarlandMay 18, 2024

Bill Sniffin: 2024 Graduates Ask ‘What Is Going To Happen To Me?’

Bill Sniffin writes: “To 2024 graduates, your future is coming at you at a terrific speed and there is very little you can do to get ready for it, except get an education and use your education.”

Bill SniffinMay 18, 2024

A Cub Scout carries a matched set of antlers to the auction stage at a past ElkFest. Workers who prepare the antlers for auction try to match sets whenever possible as they bring in more money per pound.

Huge Wyoming Elk Racks Sell For Big Money At World’s Largest Antler Auction

The 57th annual ElkFest auction -- the world's largest antler sale -- is being held this weekend in Jackson. Last month, more than 100 scouts gathered 8,162 pounds of antlers at the National Elk Refuge. Proceeds are split between the scouts and the National Elk Refuge.

Jake NicholsMay 18, 2024

An illustration of the massive hotel development Mogul Capital has proposed for downtown Jackson, Wyoming.

Massive 362,000-Square-Foot Mega Hotel Planned For Downtown Jackson

Jackson changed its zoning laws years ago to refresh its downtown. Now it’s looking at a 362,000-square-foot mega hotel that far exceeds anything the town imagined at the time. The former mayor says she's "aghast" at the project.

Renée JeanMay 18, 2024

Natrona County Coroner James Whipps keeps the cremated remains of indigent people contained in square, box-shaped urns in a fireproof filing cabinet in one of his offices until he can find next-of-kin.

Wyoming Coroner Finds Unclaimed Remains In Shared Coffins Or Shipped Out Of State

Natrona County Coroner James Whipps was shocked to find inconsistent and haphazard treatment of unidentified remains. He found them stored on shelves, buried in communal coffins or shipped out of state. He’s on a mission to change that.

Pat MaioMay 18, 2024

The Blue Heart Collaborative’s first meeting involved adult representatives from agencies and organizations related to the youth culture in Casper. A meeting on June 7 is planned as a means to hear from the city’s youth.

Casper Adults Shocked Into Action By Two Teen Murders In 37 Days

A pair of teen murders in 37 days has shocked adults in Casper, Wyoming, to act against a growing culture of youth violence. At a Friday meeting, local groups considered all options, including patrolling the city with teams of watchers.

Dale KillingbeckMay 18, 2024

The Roundup: A Conversation With Authors W. Michael & Kathleen O'Neal Gear

This week, host Wendy Corr has a conversation with best-selling authors W. Michael and Kathleen O’Neal Gear. The Cody couple has sold over 17 million books, including their New York Times bestselling “First Peoples” series.

Wendy CorrMay 18, 2024

Republican House District 40 Republican candidates Liberty Poley, left, and Marilyn Connolly.

Buffalo 22-Year-Old Would Be Youngest In Wyoming Legislature If She Wins

A 22-year-old woman from Buffalo is joining a crowded Republican race for to replace incumbent House District 40 Rep. Barry Crago, who’s running for the state Senate. If she wins, she’d be the youngest in the Wyoming Legislature.

Leo WolfsonMay 18, 2024

Just When Wyoming Seems To Be Firmly In Spring, Snow Expected

Warm and windy weather is in store for most of Wyoming this weekend, but meteorologist Don Day says to expect a wet and cold start to the work week on Monday with high-country snow.

Andrew RossiMay 17, 2024

This image from a video taken from a distance by Fred McClanahan Jr. shows a grizzly running along the shore of Buffalo Bill Reservoir near Cody, Wyoming, during a smattering of spring snow.

Yellowstone Grizzlies Observed Farther East In Wyoming — And Earlier

Grizzly bears are getting more common in the lower elevations as they push east out of Yellowstone National Park toward Cody. A visitor caught video of a grizzly lumbering along the shore of Buffalo Bill Reservoir last week during a snow squall.

Mark HeinzMay 17, 2024

Members of the Wyoming Public Service Commission listen to testimony about the proposed Rocky Mountain Power rate hikes in November 2023.

Rocky Mountain Power Sues For Not Getting Full $140 Million Rate Hike

Rocky Mountain Power filed a federal lawsuit Thursday against the Wyoming Public Service Commission for not approving a massive 29.2% rate hike last year. The suit said the company lost millions because of the ruling.

Clair McFarlandMay 17, 2024

Hageman Introduces Bill To Abolish 'Woke Award' Federal Research Grants Based On DEI

Rep. Hageman introduced a bill Thursday to strip DEI requirements from the $30 billion dollars the National Institutes of Health gives in research grants to universities every year. She said grants should be based on meritocracy not gender and racial quotas.

Leo WolfsonMay 17, 2024

This screenshot from video shows a photographer deliberately being too close to a Yellowstone grizzly and her cubs. The tour guide who shot the video says he told the photographer multiple times to back off to a safe distance, but was ignored.

Photographers Way Too Close To Grizzly And Cub In Yellowstone

Andrea Baratte, a wildlife biologist working in Yellowstone, says photographers who refused to move to a safe distance when a grizzly and her cubs walked across the highway, took a terrible risk and their dismissive attitude made it worse.

Andrew RossiMay 17, 2024

Jonathan Lange: Thankfully Wyoming Is Fighting Back Over Title IX Rule Changes

Columnist Jonathan Lange writes, "The rules harm Wyoming citizens not only by forcing young women to disrobe in the presence of males. They also coerce teachers and students to parrot pronouns or risk fines, loss of tenure, and harassment charges by the school’s thought police."

Jonathan LangeMay 17, 2024

Adam Aviles Jr., inset, and Katie Ferguson.

Boyfriend Of Missing Cody Woman Remains A Suspect, Has New Gun Charge

The boyfriend of Katie Ferguson, who vanished while driving back to Wyoming with him from another state last fall, remains a suspect in her disappearance. And he now faces a new gun charge that could double his potential sentence to 30 years.

Clair McFarlandMay 17, 2024

Casper Man Accused Of Sex With Infant, Possessing Child Porn

A 25-year-old Casper man accused of having sex with an infant and asking other adults to participate was in court Wednesday to face 10 felony charges of child sexual abuse and child pornography.

Dale Killingbeck & Greg JohnsonMay 17, 2024

Dennis Sun: Cost Of Meat Is Not Going Down

Columnist Dennis Sun writes, "Lately, people have been asking me if the price of meat is going to keep getting higher. I have to be honest and tell them there are no signs of most meat prices going down, especially beef."

Dennis SunMay 17, 2024

This mobile home park on Echeta Road in Gillette was the scene of an early morning barrage of gunfire May 6, 2024, allegedly from a resident.

Neighbor Sends Hail Of Bullets Through Gillette Woman’s Home, But ‘I Survived’

The Gillette woman whose home was shot up with a hail of bullets said Friday that she has “to move forward” after the terrifying experience. “I’ve been to hell and back more times than anybody will ever know, and I survived,” she said.

Clair McFarlandMay 17, 2024

Cowboy State Daily Video News: Friday, May 17, 2024

Friday's headlines include: * Casper Teen Accused Of Shooting Ex-Girlfriend Said He’d ‘Celebrate When You Die’ * Angry Snowy Range Ranchers Cut Off From Longtime Summer Grazing Pastures * No One Mauled When Grizzlies Come Close To Tourists At Old Faithful

Wendy CorrMay 17, 2024

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