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Headshot of Cowboy State Daily's Feature Reporter, Andrew Rossi.

Andrew Rossi

Clyde “The Buffalo” will be the biggest celebrity in Cody for America’s 250th.

 was invited to participate in the Cody Stampede Rodeo and Parades on July 3 and 4.

On Thursday, the famous bison arrived. His first stop was the historic Irma Hotel. 

It might be the first time a buffalo was invited inside Buffalo Bill’s hotel. He was even served a drink at the bar.

“He likes bourbon and margaritas,” Clyde’s owner, Clint Mortenson, told Cowboy State Daily. “He drinks what I drink.”

Clyde will be first in line for the parades Friday and Saturday. He may or may not have a rider on his humped back.

[{"type":"text","text":"“We haven’t decided yet,” Mortenson said."}]

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Big Celebrity Bison"}]

Mortenson, who owns Mortenson Silver and Saddles in Santa Fe, New Mexico, has raised Clyde since he was two weeks old. He turned his “pet” into a celebrity through the connections he made after several years in the film industry.

“I actually lived in Lusk when I went to saddle-making school, and supplied horses, saddles, and other things for movies in New Mexico,” he said. “That's how Clyde became popular."

Clyde's "acting" credentials include appearances in Paramount's "Yellowstone," the Amazon Prime science-fiction series "Outer Range," and Apple TV’s "Pluribus.”

Clyde has also appeared in commercials for Banana Republic, Bass Pro Shops and YETI.

“When the Oklahoma City Thunder made the NBA Finals last May, Clyde took on the role of "Rumble the Bison" to support the team,” Mortenson said. “He had a place of honor outside the Paycom Center in downtown Oklahoma City.”

Between acting and endorsement gigs, Clyde is a highly sought-after model for all kinds of photo shoots. In November 2025, Mortenson transported Clyde to Jackson for a western-themed wedding shoot.

Mortenson has fully embraced his role as Clyde’s chauffeur, booking agent, and personal assistant. The bison is fully halter-trained, so he’s comfortable going wherever Mortenson leads him.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Buffalo At The Bar"}]

When Mortenson and Clyde reached Cody on Thursday, they were invited inside the Irma Hotel by owner Mike Darby. Clyde eagerly accepted Darby's invitation.

Far from being a bull in a china shop, Clyde doesn’t mind small spaces. He's become a bit of a bar fly.

“We've done a lot of photo shoots in saloons," Mortenson said. "I've taken him into little bars in Aspen, Vail, Telluride, Durango, and Silverton, Colorado. I even took him into the White Elephant Saloon in Fort Worth, Texas."

Clyde entered the Irma through the back door and easily navigated the winding, narrow corridors leading to the dining room. He even posed on the front porch.

“He did great,” Mortenson said. “He was confident as we twisted and turned through the hallways to reach the bar. It was super.”

Clyde also made an appearance in front of the Buffalo Bill Center of the West. He was not invited inside.

At both places, Clyde got photo-ops with bronze sculptures of Buffalo Bill. Mortenson brought something extra special to add to the ambiance of those shots.  

“The saddle is a one-of-a-kind replica of a Buffalo Bill saddle I made in 1993,” he said. “It's based on one he used in the Wild West Show in Paris, France.”

The actual saddle is on display in the Buffalo Bill Museum at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West. Mortenson got to take his replica inside to show how closely it resembles the original. 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"The Biggest Celebrity"}]

Clyde will be making the most of his trip to Cody. In addition to leading off the Cody Stampede Parades, he’ll be making a grand entrance during the Cody Stampede Rodeo.

[{"type":"text","text":"“He’ll be here through July 4,” Mortenson said."}]

Clyde’s other big accolade is that he’s saddle-trained. Mortenson’s son, Wyatt, an actor and stunt performer, broke into show business as “The Buffalo Rider" by sharing photos and videos of himself riding Clyde.

Clyde will be saddled up for the parades and rodeos but might go riderless for the occasion.

The secret to Clyde’s success is his temperament and his self-identity. He might be a big bull bison, but he doesn’t seem to know that, and Mortenson hasn’t tried to persuade his best client otherwise.

"I don't think he knows he's a buffalo," he said. "He's pretty trustworthy with me, so he let me lead him all over, which has made him popular with directors and photographers. But he's always been gentle. He's just like a person."

Clyde the bison wes cody 14 7 2 26

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<title>Bison Drinks Bourbon In Buffalo Bill’s Bar In Cody, Wyoming | Cowboy State Daily</title>

Clyde "The Buffalo" arrived in Cody for the Cody Stampede Rodeo and Parades, and his first stop Thursday was for a drink at Buffalo Bill's Bar in the legendary Wild West showman's historic Irma Hotel. "He likes bourbon and margaritas," said Clyde's owner.

Bison Drinks Bourbon In Buffalo Bill’s Bar In Cody, Wyoming

Kolby fedore

Kolby Fedore

Crime & Courts

Courts

A Florida woman who owned a behavioral health clinic in Cheyenne has been ordered to pay back more than $870,000 to Wyoming Medicaid for bilking the federal agency with fraudulent claims.

Federal prosecutors say her daughter helped carry out the scheme by assisting with billing and falsifying service documentation while working for the clinic.

Tera Marie Campbell, 47, of Maitland, Florida, owned The Olive Branch LLC, a behavioral health clinic that provided autism services in Cheyenne and Minot, North Dakota, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming said Thursday in a statement announcing the women’s sentences for conspiracy to commit health care fraud.

Campbell used the business to submit fraudulent Medicaid claims over several years, including claims for services provided by employees who lacked required certifications, claims that were upcoded to higher-paying services and bills for appointments that never occurred, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Investigators said some of those claims were submitted for dates when the clinic was closed and even while Campbell was out of the country on vacation.

Campbell's daughter, Tayler Ann Krauss, 27, of McDavid, Florida, worked as the clinic's medical biller between December 2020 and October 2022. She was instrumental in providing service documentation used to support fraudulent claims.

The investigation concluded the clinic relied extensively on untrained employees, falsified certification and supervision records, and knowingly billed Wyoming Medicaid for services that did not meet Medicaid requirements, according to prosecutors.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Joint Investigation"}]

The case was investigated by the Wyoming Attorney General's Office Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Defense's Defense Criminal Investigative Service.

U.S. Attorney Darin Smith said in a statement that Medicaid fraud "steals taxpayer dollars from programs that millions of Americans depend on and undermines care for vulnerable patients.

"I am committed to holding accountable those who exploit these programs for personal gain."

Smith said his office will continue working with federal and state partners to investigate and prosecute health care fraud, saying the effort is aimed at protecting public resources and preserving confidence in the healthcare system.

Wyoming Attorney General Keith Kautz added in the statement that the prosecution and conviction of Campbell and Krauss demonstrates the value of cooperation between state and federal law enforcement agencies and praised the work of his office's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.

Smith nor Kautz responded to Cowboy State Daily's request for an interview beyond the prepared statements released by the U.S. Department of Justice on Thursday. 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Sentence Handed Down"}]

U.S. District Judge Kelly H. Rankin sentenced Krauss on Monday and Campbell on Tuesday in federal court in Cheyenne.

Campbell and Krauss were indicted May 21, 2025, and both pleaded guilty April 9 to conspiracy to commit health care fraud.

Campbell was sentenced to 36 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release. Krauss was sentenced to two years of home confinement.

The judge ordered the women to jointly pay $735,717.63 in restitution to Wyoming Medicaid. Campbell was also ordered to repay $135,890.91 to the military's Tricare health care program.

The court ruled Krauss is jointly responsible for up to $71,509.44 of that amount.

Campbell was separately sentenced in January in a related North Dakota Medicaid fraud case.

In that case, she received a three-year suspended sentence, three years of supervised release and was ordered to repay an additional $225,000 to North Dakota's Medicaid program.

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<title>Florida Woman, Daughter Ordered To Pay Back $870K They Stole From Wyoming Medicaid | Cowboy State Daily</title>

A Florida woman who ran a Cheyenne behavioral health clinic, and her daughter, have been ordered to pay back more than $870,000 they stole from Wyoming Medicaid. They funneled fraudulent claims through the clinic for years, say federal prosecutors.

Florida Woman, Daughter Ordered To Pay Back $870K They Stole From Wyoming Medicaid

Employee kate meadows cropped

Kate Meadows

Government & Politics

Executive

Cheyenne’s Board of Public Utilities isn’t accepting industrial wastewater associated with data center systems until further notice after a contractor for Meta Platforms contaminated the city’s wastewater system, prompting months of cleanup.

The announcement was made by the Board of Public Utilities (BOPU) on Thursday in conjunction with naming the Meta company as the source of the initial contamination.

It also comes more than four months after the Meta company — which is building a huge $800 million data center in south Cheyenne — disrupted the city’s reclaimed wastewater system with a rare bacterial contaminant.

Goat Systems LLC was in “significant noncompliance" with the city's industrial pretreatment regulations after discharging wastewater contaminated with Cupriavidus gilardii, a bacterium that interfered with operations at the city's water reclamation facilities and contaminated the municipal reuse water system, according to the BOPU’s Thursday statement.

Goat Systems LLC is the corporate entity Meta uses for construction of its sprawling nearly 800,000-square-foot Cheyenne data center campus known during development as 

Cheyenne City Councilman Pete Laybourn said learning that the contamination originated from Meta's data center was unwelcome news.

"It's a very, very unpleasant surprise," Laybourn told Cowboy State Daily. "I have a lot yet to learn. It definitely complicates matters."

Laybourn said he has already expressed concerns about some of the arrangements the city has made with data center operators, adding that he expects the disclosure will prompt additional discussion.

"It's about the last thing we need right now," he said. "But it's a reality we're going to have to work through.”

Mayor Patrick Collins likewise expressed disappointment in Thursday's announcement.

"I think it's a disappointment to everyone involved," he told Cowboy State Daily.

Collins also praised the BOPU for catching the contamination and getting the city's sewage reuse system cleaned up. 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"'Final Resolution'"}]

Thursday’s announcement marks the first time city officials have publicly identified the company behind the contamination, which was first discovered in February and prompted months of investigation and public speculation.

According to the statement, Goat Systems immediately stopped discharging wastewater from fill-and-flush operations at Meta's Cheyenne Data Center CHY 1-2 after being notified of the contamination.

BOPU also revoked the company's industrial discharge privileges for those operations effective March 24.

[{"type":"text","text":"The incident has led to broader changes beyond Meta's project."}]

BOPU also is suspending acceptance of industrial wastewater from data center fill-and-flush and closed-loop system operations until further notice while officials evaluate how to prevent future incidents.

The city said the action is intended to protect the integrity of Cheyenne's wastewater treatment system.

Calls to Cheyenne’s Public Utilities Office were not immediately returned Thursday.

"The BOPU appreciates the public's patience throughout this process," the agency said in the statement. "By conducting a thorough and diligent review, we have been able to reach a final resolution while ensuring continued protection and integrity of our wastewater treatment system."

A spokesman for Meta told Cowboy State Daily in an email statement that the company is working with its general contractor to "resolve this issue."

"Meta is supporting the efforts of our general contractor, Fortis, to resolve this issue with the city of Cheyenne Board of Public Utilities," the statement says. "When the board shared that it found a substance in the city's wastewater — not public drinking water — Fortis immediately stopped discharging industrial wastewater and began hauling it offsite.

"Fortis also began its own water testing with an independent environmental specialist which has found no trace of the substance," the statement adds. "Meta is committed to being a good neighbor in Cheyenne, including through the protection of local water resources, and will continue encouraging collaboration between Fortis and the board until this situation is resolved.”

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Months Of Questions"}]

The disclosure comes after months of questions surrounding the source of the contamination.

BOPU previously confirmed the bacterium had entered the city's wastewater treatment process through an industrial user but declined to identify the company while the investigation remained underway.

The contaminant was traced to wastewater generated during data center fill-and-flush operations, a process used to clean and test cooling systems before a facility begins operation.

Meta's Cheyenne campus, one of the largest private construction projects in the city's history, spans hundreds of acres in the High Plains Business Park and is expected to encompass roughly 800,000 square feet when completed.

 that Meta was the company behind the previously unnamed Project Cosmo development.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Questions Remain"}]

Thursday’s announcement answers one of the biggest questions surrounding the incident but leaves others unresolved.

Among them are how the BOPU intends to regulate future data center wastewater, how the suspension of accepting industrial discharges associated with data centers affects other facilities under construction in Cheyenne and whether any long-term environmental or public health impacts are expected.

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<title>Cheyenne Won’t Take Data Center Wastewater After Meta Contractor Contaminated System | Cowboy State Daily</title>

Cheyenne announced Thursday it's suspended taking wastewater associated with data center systems after a Meta contractor contaminated the city’s wastewater system, prompting months of cleanup. "It's a very, very unpleasant surprise,” said a city councilman.

Cheyenne Won’t Take Data Center Wastewater After Meta Contractor Contaminated System

Agriculture

Two months after John Deere agreed to pay $99 million in a 

 over claims it monopolized repairs on its agricultural equipment, some Wyoming farmers and ranchers say the agreement falls far short of solving the problem.

“We think it is an unfair settlement,” said Chad Franke, a Lander-area rancher and president of the Rocky Mountain Farmer’s Union.

Jared Wilson of Wilson Farms Land and Cattle Co. in Missouri formally objected to the settlement this week, claiming it would harm the interests of every farmer in America. He argues the settlement will actually strengthen John Deere’s repair monopoly rather than dismantle it.

The class-action lawsuit claimed the tractor giant was monopolizing the repair market. Right-to-repair advocates say farmers should be able to fix tractors themselves or go to an independent repair shop.

Members of the lawsuit can opt out of the proposed settlement agreement between July 14 and Sept. 14, said Willie Cade, a board member for The Repair Association, which works with farmers unions and others in several states to push right-to-repair legislation. A final court hearing is scheduled for Oct. 29 in Rockford, Illinois.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"The Problem"}]

For years, farmers and ranchers have argued that agriculture equipment such as tractors and combines have become so technologically advanced they’re nearly impossible to fix themselves. They are often left with no choice but to pay John Deere dealerships when equipment fails.

[{"type":"text","text":"That costs farmers time and money they often do not have."}]

The lawsuit alleges John Deere used its control over software and diagnostic tools to monopolize repairs on its equipment. Right-to-repair advocates contend owners should be able to repair their own machinery or hire independent mechanics.

According to legal filings, “America’s farmers have become dependent on the whim of these distant corporations and their agents for access to repair tools, repair services, and replacement parts.”

[{"type":"text","text":"John Deere has denied any wrongdoing."}]

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Details of the Settlement"}]

The proposed settlement would compensate equipment owners who can show they paid more for repairs at a John Deere dealership than they would have paid if they had been allowed to perform the repair themselves or use an independent shop.

John Deere also agreed to support owner repairs and provide access to certain software, tools and diagnostic systems for the next 10 years.

[{"type":"text","text":"But critics say the agreement doesn't go nearly far enough."}]

Court filings objecting to the settlement note that attorneys could seek about $51 million in legal fees, leaving substantially less for class members.

"Meanwhile, the average member of the Class will get, at best, a $400 check, remain under Deere's thumb, and see no meaningful change in their independence to repair their equipment," Wilson’s legal objection states.

"The cost in loss of independence and liberty to our farmers and our rural communities is incalculable."

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Ranchers Respond"}]

[{"type":"text","text":"Monetarily, the settlement is a pittance, according to Franke."}]

“Ninety-nine million sounds like a lot of money, until you realize that a new combine is a million dollars,” he said.

By some estimates, the settlement would amount to roughly 79 cents per acre for about eight years of claims.

John Deere customers would have to prove through John Deere’s own system that they were overcharged, Franke said. That would mean the tractor company would determine who was and who was not overcharged, leading Franke to wonder about conflict of interest.

“It basically absolves John Deere of any liability,” he told Cowboy State Daily.

Franke also questioned why the company’s promise to support software and owners’ repairs was only good for 10 years, when equipment typically lasts much longer.  

[{"type":"text","text":"“It seems disingenuous,” he said."}]

Franke stopped short of saying whether the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union would encourage its members to opt out of the settlement. The National Farmers Union, of which the state organization is a member, is separately suing John Deere alongside the Federal Trade Commission in a pending antitrust case that is paused while the parties pursue settlement talks.

"There's a lot going on with this," Franke said. "But I am confident saying we're not happy with the settlement." 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"From Corporate to Independent"}]

Brad Sage, owner of Sage Repair in Florence, Montana, spent more than 30 years working for John Deere dealerships before opening his own independent repair business.

He said he left because the company became increasingly corporate and restrictive.

Today, Sage said he can often repair equipment for about half what dealerships charge. But independent mechanics remain limited by their inability to access all of Deere's proprietary software and diagnostic tools.

“You don’t need to pay four people to do one job,” he previously told Cowboy State Daily.

Sage said farmers typically would go to the John Deere dealership for a problem when something strange, highly technical, or unusually time-consuming arose.

“That was the scenario before,” Sage said. “Now farmers are locked out (of solving equipment problems) because the information is too hard or cumbersome to come by.” 

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Right to Repair Momentum"}]

The dispute comes as right-to-repair momentum continues to build nationally.

 In 2025, 20 states introduced legislation aimed at including agricultural equipment under right-to-repair laws.

President Donald Trump on Monday signed an executive order to expand Americans' ability to repair their own vehicles by improving access to diagnostic information and repair tools.

Similar to the John Deere ordeal, access to repair information, diagnostic software and specialized tools have long hampered mechanics’ troubleshooting , which right-to-repair advocates say causes repairs to be more expensive.

In May, a separate federal antitrust lawsuit was filed against John Deere by a Chicago construction-equipment owner alleging the company employs similar repair restrictions on construction and forestry equipment. The suit alleges anti-competitive rules force owners to use authorized dealers, which has caused inflated repair costs and longer wait times since May 2022.

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<title>Wyoming Ranchers: $99M John Deere Right-To-Repair Settlement Doesn't Go Far Enough | Cowboy State Daily</title>

Wyoming ranchers say a $99 million John Deere right-to-repair settlement doesn't go far enough. They'll get small payouts while while John Deere keeps control over repair software. "We think it is an unfair settlement,” said a Lander-area rancher.

Wyoming Ranchers: $99M John Deere Right-To-Repair Settlement Doesn't Go Far Enough

Headshot of Cowboy State Daily's business and tourism reporter, Renée Jean

Renée Jean

Outdoors

Public Lands

John Merwin showed up 45 minutes early for the 18,800-acre Belvoir Ranch’s grand opening Wednesday afternoon at a trailhead about 8 miles west of Cheyenne. 

He just couldn’t resist the chance to sneak in a 7-mile bicycle ride before all the speeches began.

“I worked for the Board of Public Utilities when they bought this back in the early 2000s, and I knew there was a master plan to have bicycle trails out here,” he told Cowboy State Daily. “I’ve looked forward to this ever since then, and I know this has been in the works for several years.”

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"}],"text":"The short ride was great, Merwin added."}]

“It’s nothing real technical,” he said. “But it’s some open, flowy trails.”

The trails roll up and down gentle hills with just enough curve and rock features to be fun without being intimidating, he added. There are also accessible trails for those using wheelchairs or walkers. 

Merwin was one of 40 to 50 mountain bikers and hikers who showed up not only to hear all the speeches, but to break those trails in properly the minute all the speeches ended.

The opening marks the first time Cheyenne residents can freely access the city-owned Belvoir Ranch for recreation since the city bought the sprawling property west of town in 2003.

The new trailhead and roughly 13 miles of singletrack and shared-use paths give hikers and cyclists a long-promised playground in the city’s backyard, turning what was once mainly an insurance policy for future water and landfill needs into a full-fledged outdoor destination.

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Remembering A Champion"}]

Wednesday’s opening of the Belvoir Ranch also tugged at heartstrings for everyone who knew former Cheyenne City Councilman Scott Roybal, 

 in September and was the project's longtime champion.

“He saw the recreational side of it right from the start,” said Councilman Pete Laybourn.

While the ranch was officially acquired for water and landfill options, Roybal “really understood” the solitude, the beauty, and the recreational opportunity, he said.

Roybal faced a skeptical public, but never backed down, Laybourn added.

“We wouldn’t be here today if he wouldn’t have just consistently kept working on it,” he said. “He had to be patient. A lot of patience went into it, and everyone remembered him. It just felt like, ‘Man, we wish you were here with us.’”

Roybal’s absence was the emotional undercurrent of the day for Mayor Patrick Collins as well.

“Scott had a deep love for this community, and he had a genuine passion for the ranch and making the Belvoir Ranch (a place) that would one day be open to the public, where everybody could enjoy it,” Collins told a crowd of close to 100 gathered for the occasion. “He understood that protecting the land wasn’t enough. 

"We needed to open it up so residents and families, children, and future generations would experience its beauty firsthand. I know he would have taken great pride in seeing this ribbon cutting today.”

Belvoir Ranch’s trailhead and trail system were paid for through a combination of a $486,000 grant from the Wyoming Office of Outdoor Recreation and money from windmill leases on the ranch. 

The total price tag for the recreational project came to $1,230,736.93, said Collins. 

“Now, I would have rounded that up,” he added. “But I’ll never do that again, because … Scott, when he was on the finance committee on the City Council, the first thing (he) would ask is, ‘Mr. Mayor, what do I get for that 93 cents?’”

On Wednesday, Collins said he finally has an answer for that question. 

“Scotty, today what you get for that 93 cents is the last piece of the puzzle to open up this beautiful 13 miles of trails, the trailhead and all that we have today,” he said. "So, Scotty, that 93 cents was the last piece, and brother, we miss you.”

[{"type":"text","marks":[{"type":"textStyle"},{"type":"bold"}],"text":"Big Hole Still The Dream"}]

Even with the ribbon finally cut, city officials stressed that Wednesday’s opening is only the first phase of plans for the ranch. 

Still to come is the dramatic “Big Hole” on the south side of the Union Pacific tracks — a landscape Roybal and other early champions long dreamed of opening. That remains off-limits for now.

Collins said the city has spent five years trying to negotiate 

 beneath the railroad, but safety and flooding concerns have stalled those plans.

“I call the railroad tracks the Great Wall of China,” he told the crowd. “We can’t get under it, we can’t get over, we can’t get across it.”

It was Cheyenne City Engineer Tom Cobb who suggested the city pivot from waiting on that piece of the project and instead build trails on the north side. 

“His pivot got us started,” Collins said. “But this trailhead is perfectly located so that when the day comes that they allow us to build a trail to the Big Hole — which is the most beautiful place, I can’t wait to get there — this trailhead will be able to service that also.”

Beyond local riders and hikers, tourism officials believe the Belvoir Ranch has great economic potential.

Visit Cheyenne CEO Jim Walter told Cowboy State Daily the ranch fits neatly into how the city already markets itself to visitors.

Recreationists celebrated Wednesday evening as the 18,800-acre Belvoir Ranch west of Cheyenne was opened to the public. The new recreation area provides 13 miles of trails and give hikers and cyclists a long-promised playground in the city’s backyard.

Ronald Lee Gillis, 78