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

Renée Jean

Business & Tourism

Business

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Cowboy State Daily is Wyoming’s largest newspaper with Wyoming’s most experienced journalists. 

<title>Postal Ping Pong: Letter Addressed To Woman In Alabama Gets Sent To Man In Wyoming | Cowboy State Daily</title>

A letter mailed to Lisa in Alabama was instead delivered to Roger in Torrington, Wyoming, in what Postal Service called a “rare” error. It was a head-scratcher for Roger who said the name and address on the envelope were both clear and legible. 

Postal Ping Pong: Letter Addressed To Woman In Alabama Gets Sent To Man In Wyoming

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<title>Meet John L. Blair: Wyoming’s Mozart Of Saddlemaking And Virtuoso With Leather | Cowboy State Daily</title>

John L. Blair of Shell, Wyoming, is a master saddlemaker who commands more than $45,000 for a saddle, $15,000 for a leather bowl or $8,500 for a custom purse. He works listening to Mozart, one virtuoso inspiring another to create stunning leather art.

Meet John L. Blair: Wyoming’s Mozart Of Saddlemaking And Virtuoso With Leather

Wyoming Life

Around Wyoming

Agile Chariot MC 130 J takes off Photo by Carly Feliciano via U S Air Force

<title>War Games On Wyoming Highway Helped Prepare For Daring Iran U.S. Pilot Rescue | Cowboy State Daily</title>

A high-risk special forces rescue of a U.S. fighter pilot in Iran earlier this month echoed war games held in Wyoming in 2023, when the military turned a remote, windswept stretch of highway near Rawlins into a simulated rescue mission for a downed pilot.

War Games On Wyoming Highway Helped Prepare For Daring Iran U.S. Pilot Rescue

Kolby fedore

Kolby Fedore

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<title>Artemis II Astronauts Credit Wyoming-Based NOLS For Prepping Them For Moon Mission | Cowboy State Daily</title>

In their first interview Thursday since returning from a trip around the moon, the Artemis II astronauts credited their training at Wyoming-based NOLS for helping prepare for their mission. NASA has contracted NOLS for more than 45 wilderness expeditions.

Artemis II Astronauts Credit Wyoming-Based NOLS For Prepping Them For Moon Mission

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Mark Heinz

Outdoors

Wildlife

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<title>Grizzly Transplanted To Yellowstone Has Cubs, Raising Hopes For Genetic Exchange | Cowboy State Daily</title>

A female grizzly transplanted from near Glacier National Park to Yellowstone has emerged with two cubs, initiating genetic exchange between bear populations. Some say it’s not enough to impact the debate over delisting grizzlies from federal protection.

Grizzly Transplanted To Yellowstone Has Cubs, Raising Hopes For Genetic Exchange

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

Andrew Rossi

Public Lands

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<title>Crews Battle 15-Foot Snowdrifts As Road-Clearing Begins On Beartooth Highway | Cowboy State Daily</title>

Despite the warmer than normal winter, road crews are still battling 15-foot snowdrifts as the annual clearing of the Beartooth Highway begins. The 64-mile stretch of highway, with elevations reaching 10,947 feet, isn’t expected to open until May 22.

Crews Battle 15-Foot Snowdrifts As Road-Clearing Begins On Beartooth Highway

Headshot of Cowboy State Daily's founder Jimmy Orr

 is co-founder and executive editor of Cowboy State Daily.

Orr is a longtime journalist who was on the masthead at the Los Angeles Times and the Christian Science Monitor as the Managing Editor, Digital.

In the political arena, Orr served as a spokesman for the White House and directed digital strategy for President George W. Bush and California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Prior to these positions, Orr worked for Wyoming Governor Jim Geringer and U.S. Senators Malcolm Wallop and Al Simpson.

He was also a co-founder of The Sports Show with ESPN's Woody Paige and was the executive producer of Clay Travis' Outkick the Show.

<title>Jimmy Orr | Cowboy State Daily</title>

Jimmy Orr

Johnson greg

 is managing editor for Cowboy State Daily at the headquarters in Cheyenne.

A veteran journalist of more than 31 years covering Western issues and politics, Greg spent stints in Wyoming as managing editor for the Gillette News Record and Laramie Boomerang. Greg's produced award-winning journalism, and has built a national reputation for his extensive coverage of Wyoming energy -- especially coal.

He previously spent seven years editing and reporting in Alaska, and was managing editor for Sarah Palin's hometown paper when she was tapped as John McCain's running mate in 2008. Greg studied music and English at the University of Colorado, Boulder.

Outside the office, Greg likes photography, reading and all things sports.

<title>Greg Johnson | Cowboy State Daily</title>

Greg Johnson

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 is a general assignment reporter for Cowboy State Daily and is based in Riverton, Wyoming. She specializes in crime and court reporting and social issues coverage. Clair also writes a twice-monthly column on motherhood and country living.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Previously, Clair wrote for The Ranger, the Lander Journal and the Wind River News. She is an award-winning journalist, columnist and poet, who joined Cowboy State Daily on Valentines Day, 2022.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<title>Clair McFarland | Cowboy State Daily</title>

Clair McFarland

Headshot of Cowboy State Daily's outdoor and wildlife reporter, Mark Heinz.

[{"type":"text","text":"Mark Heinz covers the outdoors and wildlife for Cowboy State Daily."}]

He previously worked or freelanced for numerous newspapers and magazines across Wyoming, Idaho and Montana  covering all manner of news and feature stories. He has a strong background in topics related to wildlife, hunting, and wildlands conservation. Hes written extensively since the 1990s about the controversies surrounding wolves, grizzly bears and mustangs.

He also enjoys people-centric stories with quirky edge of humor and has written several such pieces for Cowboy State Daily.&nbsp;

Mark lives in Laramie with his wife, Kendy, and the youngest of their five children.

<title>Mark Heinz | Cowboy State Daily</title>

 is the business and tourism reporter for Cowboy State Daily and is based in Cheyenne. Previously, Ren&eacute;e spent seven years covering energy and agriculture in North Dakota and Montana. She has won many writing awards over a 30-year career, and has written magazine articles for Guideposts.

<title>Renée Jean | Cowboy State Daily</title>

Headshot of Cowboy State Daily reporter, Dale Killingbeck

Killingbeck is glad to be back in journalism after working for 18 years in corporate communications with a health system in northern Michigan. He spent the previous 16 years working for newspapers in western Michigan in various roles.

<title>Dale Killingbeck | Cowboy State Daily</title>

Dale Killingbeck

Headshot of Cowboy State Daily reporter, Jen Kocher.

[{"type":"text","text":"Jen Kocher is Cowboy State Daily's reporter in Gillette, Wyoming."}]

Hard-hitting, thorough, and relentless, Kocher is a bulldog who prides herself in finding the stories that are challenging, meaningful, and difficult for others to attempt.

Originally from Pittsburgh, Jennifer has lived all over the West and moved to Wyoming just under a decade ago where shes written for dozens of magazines and publications throughout the state.

With masters degrees in creative writing and nonfiction and several awards under her belt, she loves writing features and long-form stories as well.

Outside of work, Jennifer loves anything to do with birds, wine, hiking or traveling.

<title>Jen Kocher | Cowboy State Daily</title>

Jen Kocher

Headshot of Cowboy State Daily features reporter, Jake Nichols.

Jake Nichols hosts the Cowboy State Daily Morning Show, each weekday from 6-10AM.  

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