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

100-Year-Old Rawlins Water System Keeps Failing, But City Can’t Afford To Fix It
Two breaks in the 100-year-old Rawlins city water system this week leaves residents in a familiar spot — on notice they may lose water. The former mayor estimates the cost to fix the system at between $50 - $60 million, which is money they don't have.
Kate MeadowsApril 29, 2026

Cowboy State Daily Show with Jake - Wednesday, April 29, 2026
Jake in the 307. Weekday mornings 6-10 a.m.
Jake NicholsApril 29, 2026
Cowboy State Daily Video Newscast: Wednesday, April 29, 2026
Wednesday's headlines include: * Towing Boat At 104 MPH Is Bad Idea * Councilman Calls For Hanging Of Judges * Worry That Fontenelle Water Targeted Next
Mac WatsonApril 29, 2026

Fred Harrison: The Fruit Of The Poisonous Tree — How The Courts Rigged The Game Against Life
Columnist Fred Harrison writes, "Until the Wyoming judiciary finds humility to admit its past errors, abandon its rigged games, and read the Constitution exactly as written, we will continue to see the will of the people frozen by the stroke of a single judge's pen."
Fred HarrisonApril 29, 2026

Ken Buck: DOGE 2.0 — Can Congress Finish What Elon Musk Started?
Columnist Ken Buck writes, "DOGE sparked a movement. It invigorated projects that have uncovered flagrant government waste -- from Minnesota's $9 billion of handouts to Somali swindlers, to California fraud that could cost residents $425 billion."
Ken BuckApril 29, 2026

Fontenelle Reservoir About Half-Full As Downstream States Demand More Water
Flaming Gorge Reservoir is being drawn down up to 1 million acre-feet to supply water to thirsty downstream states. That has some worried that Wyoming’s Fontenelle Reservoir, upstream from Flaming Gorge, is next.
Mark HeinzApril 28, 2026

Driver Says Car Smelled Like Pot When He Got It, Then 75 Pounds Of It Found In Trunk
The driver of a Honda stopped on a rural Campbell County highway Sunday said the car was rented, and it smelled like marijuana when he got it. That’s probably because there was 75 pounds of pot in the trunk, along with more than 1,000 grams of liquid THC.
Greg JohnsonApril 28, 2026

After Abortion Ruling, Powell City Councilman Calls For 'Hanging Bad Judges'
A Powell City councilman suggested on Facebook that Wyoming start “hanging bad judges” after a judge blocked the state’s most recent abortion ban. A former Wyoming Supreme Court Justice said, “This man is obviously an idiot and does not deserve public office."
Clair McFarlandApril 28, 2026

Rock Springs Hotel Manager Accused Of $200K Fraud By Making Up Guests Is Arrested
The former manager of a Rock Springs hotel accused of embezzling nearly $200,000 through fake guests and cash deals for long-term stays has been arrested. She was bound over to felony court Friday.
Greg JohnsonApril 28, 2026

Court Rules 2nd Amendment Covers Firearms Parts, Good News for Those Who Build Guns
A federal court ruled that firearms parts without serial numbers could be protected under the Second Amendment. That’s good news for Wyomingites who build or customize their own guns, which one enthusiast likened to “Barbie dolls for men.”
Mark HeinzApril 28, 2026

Angry Cheyenne Residents Speak Out Against Annexation And Proposed Data Center
Dozens of angry Cheyenne residents spoke out Monday against a 1,200-acre annexation and possible data center before City Council tabled the decision. “To me it looks like a quick way to make a nice big buck,” said one woman about the landowner's motive.
Kate MeadowsApril 28, 2026

Wyoming AG Says Gray Doesn't Have To Reveal Advice On Giving Voter Info To Feds
In a sharply-worded letter to Cheyenne attorney George Powers, the Wyoming Attorney General's office said Sec. of State Chuck Gray doesn't have to release the legal advice he may have received before handing sensitive voter data to the federal government.
Clair McFarlandApril 28, 2026

Dry, Dry, Dry: Wyoming Gets Less Than Half of Anticipated Precipitation in April
Wyoming had another month of below-average moisture in April, which worsened the abnormally dry to exceptional drought situations across the state. Meteorologist Don Day says he's more "gun-shy" about forecasts than at any other point in his career.
Andrew RossiApril 28, 2026

Towing A Boat In Wyoming At 104 MPH Isn’t Guaranteed Jail, But It Could Kill You
A driver caught towing a boat on I-25 near Wheatland at 104 mph got a ticket, but didn’t go to jail. The Wyoming highway patrol says there’s no set threshold that triggers automatic jail for speeders, but towing a boat in triple digits could kill you.
Kolby FedoreApril 28, 2026

Cowboy State Daily Show with Jake - Tuesday, April 28, 2026
Jake in the 307. Weekday mornings 6-10 a.m.
Jake NicholsApril 28, 2026

Live Auction Week in Cody: Lock Stock & Barrel Takes the Stage
Lock Stock & Barrel to Host Three-Day Live Auction in Cody This Week.
April 28, 2026

Cowboy State Daily Video Newscast: Tuesday, April 28, 2026
Tuesday's headlines include: * Amazon Increases Footprint * Opposition To Data Centers Grows * Neighbor: Sheridan Shooter 'Sprayed' Cop Cars
Mac WatsonApril 28, 2026

GOP Senate Challengers Emerge To Take On Harriet Hageman In Primary
Harriet Hageman has the endorsements of President Trump and Sens. Barrasso and Lummis in the 2026 Wyoming race for U.S. Senate. Even so, she won't be unopposed in the primary, facing rancher Sam Mead and Jimmy Skovgard, both multi-generation Wyomingites.
Clair McFarlandApril 28, 2026

Hotels, Convention Center And Indoor Arena Could Follow PRCA To Cheyenne
Now that the PRCA’s move to Cheyenne is official, local leaders are sketching big plans to turn the 416-acre Hitching Post subdivision into a Western "Field of Dreams" for rodeo. That could include hotels, a convention center and an indoor arena.
Renée JeanApril 28, 2026

Millions Love Watching North Dakota Rancher Get Bullied By Baby Bison
John and Makayla Otto are bottle-feeding a belligerent baby bison on their ranch near Plaza, North Dakota. “I’ve had my ass handed to me about four different times now,” John says — and millions of people love watching the little guy bully him.
Andrew RossiApril 27, 2026

Neighbor Says Sheridan Shooter 'Sprayed' Cop Cars With Gunshots During Standoff
A woman went from house to house pleading for help early Sunday morning, telling neighbors her husband “has a gun." A neighbor said Monday that the man "sprayed" police cars with gunshots for around 20 minutes before being shot and hospitalized.
Clair McFarlandApril 27, 2026

In Gun-Friendly Wyoming, When Is It OK To Shoot Somebody?
Wyoming law is about as friendly as it gets toward gun rights and self-defense, but even here, the rules for opening fire on somebody are complicated. The wrong decision can land a shooter in big legal trouble.
Mark HeinzApril 27, 2026

Dave Simpson: So, Who Won The Budget Session Battle?
Columnist Dave Simpson writes, “Did you hear the story how Weaksauce Republicans saved the budget session from the slash-and-burn Freedom Caucus? Typical anti-Freedom Caucus spin from liberal Republicans who forgot which brand they're supposed to be riding for."
Dave SimpsonApril 27, 2026

Guest Column: Wyoming Powered America for a Century. It’s Not Done Yet.
Guest columnist Betsey Hale writes, "The digital economy needs power. Wyoming has it. The question is whether we are going to compete hard enough to make sure the investment lands here rather than somewhere else."
Guest ColumnApril 27, 2026
