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

Renée Jean

Crime & Courts

Public Safety

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

<title>Wind-Whipped Fire Forces Cheyenne Families To Abandon Homes, Christmas Presents | Cowboy State Daily</title>

Families scrambled to evacuate themselves and their pets after 70 mph winds sparked a fire south of Cheyenne on Wednesday evening threatening two subdivisions. More than 100 firefighters converged to put out the grassfires and 40 homes remained evacuated.

Wind-Whipped Fire Forces Cheyenne Families To Abandon Homes, Christmas Presents

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

Clair McFarland

Courts

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<title>Sued For Defamation, Former State Senator Says WyoFile Should Be Sued Too   | Cowboy State Daily</title>

Sued for defamation on claims he hurt the reputation of Casper businessman Reid Rasner, former state Sen. Anthony Bouchard is calling for the news outlet WyoFile to be sued as well after it republished another paper's story, which was critical of Rasner.

 

Sued For Defamation, Former State Senator Says WyoFile Should Be Sued Too  

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

Andrew Rossi

Wyoming Life

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<title>144 MPH Wind Gust On Wednesday Is Strongest Ever Recorded in Wyoming | Cowboy State Daily</title>

The 144 mph wind guest on Mount Coffin in Lincoln County on Wednesday appears to be the strongest wind gust ever recorded in Wyoming. The previous record was 128 mph recorded in Clark, Wyoming.

144 MPH Wind Gust On Wednesday Is Strongest Ever Recorded in Wyoming

Headshot of Cowboy State Daily reporter, Dale Killingbeck

Dale Killingbeck

Business & Tourism

Economy

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<title>Casper ‘House From Hell’ Once Covered In Deadly Mold Heads To Auction | Cowboy State Daily</title>

A mold-infested Casper home with a failing foundation, once owned by a former councilman, is headed to auction with no inspections allowed. The ex-owners and a reporter are warning bidders it could be a financial and health disaster.

Casper ‘House From Hell’ Once Covered In Deadly Mold Heads To Auction

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<title>Cody Roberts Asks Judge To Dismiss Case, Says Charge Stretches Law  | Cowboy State Daily</title>

Cody Roberts, the Daniel, Wyoming, man accused of torturing a wolf before killing it is asking a judge to drop a felony animal cruelty charge. His attorney says the state stretched the law to prosecute him.

Cody Roberts Asks Judge To Dismiss Case, Says Charge Stretches Law 

Kate Meadows

Government & Politics

Education

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<title>Rock Springs Parents Blast School District Over Vulgar Wristband | Cowboy State Daily</title>

Parents and community members are outraged over reports a wristband reading “Follow Policy + FAFO + GFY” was worn by a school official. The district is reviewing the complaint but won’t discuss specific personnel.

Rock Springs Parents Blast School District Over Vulgar Wristband

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'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>

Mark Heinz

 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>

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>

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.  

Jake Nichols

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