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Mark Heinz

Outdoors

Wildlife

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

<title>Lynx Are So Rare And Elusive, Nobody Really Knows How Many Are In Wyoming | Cowboy State Daily</title>

Once more common across much of the North American Rockies, lynx are now elusive and rare. A Wyoming wildlife researcher says there are lynx in the Cowboy State, but nobody’s really sure how many are out there.

Lynx Are So Rare And Elusive, Nobody Really Knows How Many Are In Wyoming

Headshot of Cowboy State Daily reporter, Jackie Dorothy.

Jackie Dorothy

Wyoming Life

Around Wyoming

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<title>Cheyenne Trucker Was On A Road To Destruction, Then Sculpting Saved His Life | Cowboy State Daily</title>

When Brandon Clark wasn’t drowning himself at the bottom of a bottle, he found himself staring out the windshield of his big rig, watching his life pass him by. Then a lifelong passion for art and sculpting changed — and saved — his life.

Cheyenne Trucker Was On A Road To Destruction, Then Sculpting Saved His Life

David Madison

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<title>When A Career In Filmmaking Didn’t Pan Out, He Became A Wyoming Oil Fracker | Cowboy State Daily</title>

When a 1995 Sundance Film Festival appearance didn’t deliver a film career, Dan Doyle switched gears in a big way — he became an oil fracker. That took him to the Wyoming oil fields and nearly got him knifed in an Oklahoma trailer.

When A Career In Filmmaking Didn’t Pan Out, He Became A Wyoming Oil Fracker

Headshot of Cowboy State Daily reporter, Dale Killingbeck

Dale Killingbeck

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<title>Wyoming Vet Returned From Vietnam War To Become A CEO, But Still Haunted | Cowboy State Daily</title>

Sheridan resident Cliff Root returned from the Vietnam War to become a successful CEO of multiple companies. After more than 50 years, he’s still haunted by seeing things nobody should ever see, then coming home to be called a “baby killer."

Wyoming Vet Returned From Vietnam War To Become A CEO, But Still Haunted

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

Renée Jean

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<title>New Lease On Life: Cheyenne’s Historic 130-Year-Old Sturgis House Has New Owners | Cowboy State Daily</title>

It’s one of the oldest mansions still standing in Wyoming and now it's turning a page. Cheyenne’s historic 130-year-old Sturgis House, once the home of cattle baron William Sturgis, has new owners. They've turned it into craft retreat and it's 90% booked.

New Lease On Life: Cheyenne’s Historic 130-Year-Old Sturgis House Has New Owners

Zakary Sonntag

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<title>Triangle X Ranch At 100: Fifth Generation Leads Legendary Wyoming Dude Ranch | Cowboy State Daily</title>

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the legendary Triangle X Ranch in Grand Teton National Park, now led by a fourth generation of the Turner family.

John Turner grew up there in a cabin with no electricity. “If it was 20 below outside, it was 20 below in here.”

Now the family is entering a moment they just never get used to: renegotiating the lease with the Park Service.

Triangle X Ranch At 100: Fourth Generation Leads Legendary Wyoming Dude Ranch

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

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 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

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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>

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

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Mac Watson is the Broadcast Media Director and news anchor. His 30-plus radio career has taken him all over the country, but he now calls Cody home.

Mac Watson

Latest from Mac Watson

Cowboy State Daily Video Newscast: Monday, April 13, 2026

Cowboy State Daily Video Newscast: Friday, April 10, 2026

Cowboy State Daily Video Newscast: Thursday, April 9, 2026

Cowboy State Daily Video Newscast: April 8, 2026

Cowboy State Daily Video Newscast: Tuesday, April 7, 2026

Cowboy State Daily Video Newscast: Monday, April 6, 2026

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