Clair McFarland

Former Department Of Defense UFO Whistleblower Sues Wyoming Business Partner

Greg Johnson

Wyoming Woman Charged With Putting Signs On Pole Calling Sheriff's Office 'Lazy'

Renée Jean

Camporee, Giant Youth Camping Event That Brought 60,000 To Gillette, Won't Return

Sorority Back In Court Over Trans Member, Says Historic Definition Of 'Woman' Not Relevant

Mac Watson

Cowboy State Daily Video Newscast: Monday, September 14, 2026

Bison Have Rebounded From Brink Of Extinction To Become Big Business In Wyoming

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.

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

<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>

Welsch mug

is the weekend and features managing editor for Cowboy State Daily.

Jeff has been a journalist across the West since 1979, most recently as editor-in-chief for the Bozeman (Mont.) Daily Chronicle and four other newspapers in southwest Montana. He also served as executive editor for Lee Newspapers’ five Montana papers after a stint as sports editor at the Billings Gazette, where he started and ran the popular statewide 406 MT Sports website for eight years.

Jeff spent the early years of his career covering sports, primarily college basketball and football. He has written six books and won numerous journalism awards, including first place in the national Associated Press Sports Editors contest for his coverage of the 2006 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Alaska. He was 2023 Montana Sportswriter of the Year and his sports sections at the Daily Chronicle and Corvallis (Ore.) Gazette-Times were APSE top 10 honorees.

When he’s not editing stories or writing them, Jeff is often on his road bike or exploring the West with his wife, Sherry.

<title>Jeff Welsch | Cowboy State Daily</title>

Jeff Welsch

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.  

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.  

<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. 

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

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

Mark Heinz

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

 is the business and tourism reporter for Cowboy State Daily and is based in Cheyenne. Previously, Renée 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

Jen Kocher - Headshot CSD

[{"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

Latest from Jake Nichols

Cowboy State Daily Show with Jake - Monday, September 14, 2026

Cowboy State Daily Show with Jeff - Saturday, September 12, 2026

Cowboy State Daily Show with Jake - Friday, September 11, 2026

Cowboy State Daily Show with Jake - Thursday, September 10, 2026

Cowboy State Daily Show with Jake - Wednesday, September 9, 2026

Cowboy State Daily Show with Jake - Tuesday, September 8, 2026

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