Headlines

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

Cowboy State Daily Show with Jake - Monday, August 17, 2026

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

Jake NicholsAugust 17, 2026

Bill Sniffin: Who Is The Best Political Expert In Wyoming?

Columnist Bill Sniffin writes: “I am issuing this challenge to the readers of Cowboy State Daily. Who is the smartest political observer of them all?”

Bill SniffinAugust 17, 2026

Llamas Are Becoming A Big Tourism Draw At Farm In Elk Mountain, Wyoming

What began as an Elk Mountain girl’s FFA project has grown into a herd of party-going, trail-hiking llamas that draw visitors for farm tours, selfies, and wackiness. "They look like something from a Dr. Seuss book," says owner Steve Priest.

Renée JeanAugust 16, 2026

A disgraced Torrington pastor shocked all who knew him in 1926 when he killed his wife and four of his five children, then himself. He wrote he had brought shame to them when caught with a woman in a rooming house in Nebraska under an assumed name.

Wyoming History: Disgraced Pastor Shocked State By Killing Family, Self In 1926

Shocking headlines from 100 years ago after a pastor from Torrington gunned down his wife and four of his five children, then himself. He wrote he had brought shame to them when caught with a woman in a rooming house in Nebraska under an assumed name.

Dale KillingbeckAugust 16, 2026

Cowboy State Daily Video Newscast: Monday, August 17, 2026

Monday's headlines include: * Misleading Political Ads Everywhere * Dad Disappeared From Wamsutter 23 Years Ago * Playing The Most Exclusive Golf Course In The U.S.

Mac WatsonAugust 16, 2026

How A Sheridan Woman Turned Her Closet Into A Funky Worldwide Fashion Business

Laid off from a corporate job, Kelli Tracy started selling clothes out of her closet on Instagram. Ten years later, she owns Sheridan’s Lil Bee’s Bohemian and ships her '70s-inspired designs to people all over the world from her Wyoming storefront.

Renée JeanAugust 16, 2026

Old-timers in remote Elk Mountain, Wyoming — like Powd Boles — tell wild stories of survival in a place where wind blew so hard men had to crawl to the next ridge.

Elk Mountain Old-Timers Keep Remote Town’s Wild History Alive One Story At A Time

To preserve the town's legacy, old-timers in remote Elk Mountain, Wyoming, are sharing their tales for a film project. The blizzards were so bad, they say, you had to trust your horse to get home.

Renée JeanAugust 16, 2026

Gail Symons: Check Out All This Out-Of-State Money In Wyoming Politics

Columnist Gail Symons writes: "The Freedom Caucus’s campaign arm, WY Freedom PAC, raised $296,500. Sounds like a grassroots operation, but $165,000 of it, more than half, came from the State Freedom Caucus Network, headquartered in Washington, D.C."

Gail SymonsAugust 16, 2026

In hopes of debunking evolution, a New York creationist in 2005 offered a $10,000 reward for the return of the Pedro Mountain Mummy found in Wyoming in 1932 and not seen since 1950. The man died in November, and nobody will ever claim that reward.

Nobody Will Ever Claim $10K Reward For Wyoming's Missing Pedro Mountain Mummy

In 2005 New York creationist John Adolfi offered a $10,000 reward if someone brought him the "Pedro Mountain Mummy" found in Wyoming in 1932 but never seen in public after 1950. With Adolfi's death in November, no one will ever claim the reward.

Kerry DrakeAugust 16, 2026

Sawyer Wilson's daily chores included feeding his pigs and training them to show properly in the arena. The family had ended up with an "extra pig" and Marshmallow was drawn in the Fair to Fork lottery. He will be fattened up a bit more and then given to a charity of Sawyer's choice to help feed the hungry in his community in Hot Springs County.

Life Of A Wyoming Show Pig: Training, Tearful Goodbyes, And The Dinner Table

Raising show pigs is a huge commitment for Wyoming 4-H and FFA kids working toward the Wyoming State Fair. Then comes the bittersweet part — tearful goodbyes when the pigs are sold to become dinner for the less fortunate.

Jackie DorothyAugust 16, 2026

Barry Gasdek at the unveiling of a Chris Navarro bronze sculpture honoring a fallen soldier at the Oregon Trails State Veterans Cemetery in Evansville.

Laramie Vietnam Vet Led From The Front And Has The Scars And Medals To Prove It

Retired Vietnam Veteran Lt. Col. Barry Gasdek had a leadership philosophy that kept him in front of his men. He has the scars and medals, including a Distinguished Service Cross, to prove he lived out that ideal during two tours of combat at the height of the war.

Dale KillingbeckAugust 16, 2026

No. 15, a bright-pink demolition car built by Saratoga 19-year-old Jarahleigh Johnson.

19-Year-Old Saratoga Woman Rebuilds Cars Just To Beat The Crap Out Of Them

Saratoga 19-year-old Jerahleigh Johnson can weld a roll cage, rebuild an engine and smash a Cadillac with the best of them. “I’ve had grown men say, ‘I haven’t been hit that hard in years,’” her dad says of Jarahleigh's demolition derby domination.

Kolby FedoreAugust 16, 2026

For 82 years, Lt. Col. John Clarke Goldtrap of Casper has been in a watery grave as a POW on the sunken wreck of the Japanese “hell ship” Oryoku Maru. Now his remains may finally be ID'd and brought home. Another Wyoming serviceman on the ship survived.

Wyoming POW On Sunken Japanese 'Hell Ship' May Be Close To Coming Home After 82 Years

For 82 years, Lt. Col. John Clarke Goldtrap of Casper has been in a watery grave as a POW on the sunken wreck of the brutal Japanese “hell ship” Oryoku Maru. Now his remains may finally be ID'd and brought home. Another Wyoming serviceman on the ship survived.

Jackie DorothyAugust 16, 2026

Calvin "Cal" Fulfer said that he is grateful that Terry Shryack saved the wood from an old ash tree that was mistakenly cut down nearly 30 years ago at the Washakie County Courthouse in Worland. It took the duo a year to build the 600-pound work of art that they are now planning to sell at a Cody art gallery.

Old Washakie County Ash Tree Cut Down By Mistake Remade Into 600-Pound Table

When an old ash tree was cut down by mistake at the Washakie County Courthouse in 1999, the groundskeeper rescued the wood. For nearly three decades, huge pieces of the ash sat forgotten until a Worland craftsman built a 600-pound table from it.

Jackie DorothyAugust 16, 2026

Joan Barron: I Have No Confidence In The Polls

Columnist Joan Barron writes, "I am beginning to lose all faith in polls on primary elections, given the recent upsets nationwide."

Joan BarronAugust 16, 2026

Bill Sniffin: Barlow, Friess, Hageman, Harshman, Short, Meier, Headed For Wins?

Columnist Bill Sniffin writes: “Who is going to win? This primary election has so many variables. These are the folks I think will win on Tuesday.”

Bill SniffinAugust 16, 2026

For 16 years, a small Sturgis church that needed to raise money began welcoming motorcycle rallygoers with hot made-to-order breakfasts. “Our parish would not exist without this ministry,” says the pastor for Blessed Emmanuel Lutheran Church.

Thousands Of Hungry Sturgis Bikers Boost Churches With Made-To-Order Breakfasts

For 16 years, a small Sturgis church that needed to raise money has welcomed motorcycle rallygoers with hot, made-to-order breakfasts. “Our parish would not exist without this ministry,” says the pastor for Blessed Emmanuel Lutheran Church.

Kate MeadowsAugust 16, 2026

A slew of 55 million-year-old fossils from Earth’s earliest primates have been discovered in southwestern Wyoming, offering new insights into the evolution of humanity’s sap-sucking ancestors. The tiny primates were around the size of a mouse lemur.

"Something Strange Going On": 55 Million-Year-Old Primate Fossils Found In SW Wyoming

A slew of fossils from Earth's earliest primates have been discovered in southwestern Wyoming. Scientists say the tiny primate fossils, around the size of a mouse lemur, is evidence something strange was going on in Sweetwater County 55 million years ago.

Andrew RossiAugust 16, 2026

Arden and Betty White were married at an Eaton, Colorado, church in 1951. They recently celebrated their 75th anniversary.

Cheyenne Couple Celebrate 75 Years, Husband Still Amazed Wife Agreed To First Date

Arden and Betty White of Cheyenne celebrated their 75th anniversary this past week with family and friends. In recalling their first date, Betty said Arden ambushed her. Arden said he was surprised she agreed to go out. "Oddly enough, she said yes.”

Kerry DrakeAugust 15, 2026

Sebastian Nehring was a German immigrant and Kansas farmer who had once served in the Prussian Army. He died in the Battle of Platte Bridge along with Lt. Caspar Collins.

Never Forgotten: Names Of 50 More Men Put On Fort Caspar Headstone

About 160 years after they died serving at Platte Bridge Station and Fort Caspar, 50 more names have been added to a commemorative headstone at the historic fort. When the “Lest We Forget” project began, there was no casualty list. Now there is.

Dale KillingbeckAugust 15, 2026

Dime Horseshoe Bar owner Jess Jones does an exhibition burnout ride during the annual contest in Sundance held during Sturgis Rally week.

Why Sturgis Riders Have Packed Sundance, Wyoming, For 50 Years Of Its Annual Burnout

Sturgis Motorcycle Rally riders have packed Sundance, Wyoming, for its annual burnout for more than 50 years. Legend has it the burnout started inside the Dime Horseshoe Bar. “The bigger the cloud of smoke is, the better,” says one rider.

Renée JeanAugust 15, 2026

Little Snake River Museum Director Lela Emmons talks about restoring the Niland cabin in the Medcine Bow-Routt National Forest, which is being restored.

Leeches, Lambs And Log Walls: Race Is On To Save Medicine-Bow’s Niland Cabin

High up in the Medicine Bow National Forest, a log cabin that once anchored one of Wyoming’s old range-sheep operations was in danger of being lost forever until the Little Snake River Museum stepped up. "There will be nothing left if we don’t preserve this cabin," they say.

Renée JeanAugust 15, 2026

Elk Montain Hotel sits at the base of Elk Mountain near Medicine Bow river.

How Wyoming’s Elk Mountain Hotel Went From Money Pit To Historic Showplace

Built 120 years ago when an Overland Trail stage stop burned down, many warned its previous owner it would be a money pit to restore. He did it anyway, and now the Elk Mountain Hotel has become a showplace on the National Register of Historic Places.

Renée JeanAugust 15, 2026

George "Big Nose" Parrott’s skin was sent to a tannery in Denver with instructions to fashion a pair of shoes with the dead man’s nipples on each to prove they were footwear made from a human being.

Yes, Skin From Wyoming Wild West Outlaw "Big Nose George" Was Used To Make Shoes

This is the macabre story of a once-common practice of binding books with human skin — and how Wyoming did that one better by skinning notorious Wild West outlaw "Big Nose George" and making him into a pair of shoes. His skull was made into an ashtray.

Jake NicholsAugust 15, 2026

Page 8