Headshot of Cowboy State Daily's general assignment reporter, Clair McFarland.

Clair McFarland

Crime & Courts

Courts

Chris Hicks Wyoming State Penitentiary Allen Brown via Alamy 9 22 24

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

<title>3 Life Sentences For Gillette Teen Not ‘Cruel And Unusual,’ Supreme Court Says | Cowboy State Daily</title>

A Gillette man who got three life terms at age 19 for his involvement in killing two people won’t get resentenced. The Wyoming Supreme Court wasn’t swayed by science Christopher Hicks claimed shows that sentence for someone so young is “cruel and unusual."

3 Life Sentences For Gillette Teen Not ‘Cruel And Unusual,’ Supreme Court Says

Heinz mark

Mark Heinz

Outdoors

Hunting

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<title>After 8-Year Investigation, Hunters Busted Faking Wyoming Residency To Get Tags | Cowboy State Daily</title>

After an eight-year investigation, 10 people have been busted, accused of faking Wyoming residency to get hunting tags in a Sweetwater County scam. Wyoming Game and Fish announced the violations Monday.

After 8-Year Investigation, Hunters Busted Faking Wyoming Residency To Get Tags

Government & Politics

Legislature

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<title>SNAP Fallout Has Wyoming Dem, Freedom Caucus Saying The Same Bible Verse | Cowboy State Daily</title>

On the national scale, the federal government’s suspension of SNAP benefits has blue states suing the Trump administration. In Wyoming, the Freedom Caucus and a prominent Democrat have responded by quoting the same Bible verse.

SNAP Fallout Has Wyoming Dem, Freedom Caucus Saying The Same Bible Verse

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

Renée Jean

Business & Tourism

Business

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<title>No, Zelenskyy Isn’t Buying 916,000-Acre Pathfinder Ranches — But Someone Is | Cowboy State Daily</title>

A rumor that Ukrainian President Zelensky is buying the 916,000-acre Pathfinder Ranch in Wyoming spread like wildfire Monday. But, it’s not true. However, an offer is pending on the $79.5 million ranch.

No, Zelenskyy Isn’t Buying 916,000-Acre Pathfinder Ranches — But Someone Is

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<title>Burglar Who Shot Riverton Shop Manager Gets 23-30 Years In Prison | Cowboy State Daily</title>

The man who robbed a Riverton oil field shop and shot the manager when confronted got 23-30 years in prison Tuesday. “This is what’s wrong with our community,” said the manager’s wife, who was against a plea agreement dropping an attempted murder charge.

Burglar Who Shot Riverton Shop Manager Gets 23-30 Years In Prison

Scott Schwebke

Politics

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<title>Who Is Timothy Mellon, The Reclusive Wyoming Billionaire Who Gave $130M To Troops? | Cowboy State Daily</title>

Reclusive Wyoming billionaire Timothy Mellon has been identified by The New York Times as the anonymous donor of $130 million to troops during the shutdown. Last year, Mellon funded a billboard on the state line that warned drivers that Colorado was Venezuela.

Who Is Timothy Mellon, The Reclusive Wyoming Billionaire Who Gave $130M To Troops?

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

Headshot of Cowboy State Daily editor Justin George

Justin George is a journalist and editor who has worked for eight news organizations across four states & Washington, D.C., including the Washington Post, Baltimore Sun & Tampa Bay Times. Over nearly 25 years, he has covered public safety, transportation, education, the Department of Justice and local government. In 2015, George embedded with the Baltimore Police Department during the internal investigation of the death of Freddie Gray. His coverage contributed to the Baltimore Sun being named a 2016 Pulitzer Prize finalist. 

<title>Justin George | Cowboy State Daily</title>

Justin George

Clair headshot 2 11 22 23

 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>

Headshot of Cowboy State Daily reporter, Wendy Corr.

Wendy Corr is the Broadcast Media Director for Cowboy State Daily, and is based in Cody. She covers unique people, places and events in Wyoming, highlighting the best of the Cowboy State  and occasionally reaching beyond our borders to highlight happenings in nearby states as well.

Previously, Wendy was the news director at the Bighorn Radio Network in Cody, earning six "News Reporter of the Year" awards from the Wyoming Association of Broadcasters. She also contributes television news stories to stations in Billings, Montana, as well as in Casper and Cheyenne.

Additionally, Wendy is a professional singer and instrumentalist with the "Dan Miller Cowboy Music Revue" based in Cody, although the band often travels around the country, bringing "Wyoming to the world."

<title>Wendy Corr | Cowboy State Daily</title>

Wendy Corr

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.

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