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

Clair McFarland

Crime & Courts

Law Enforcement

Darin Smith and protest 5 9 26

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

<title>Wyoming U.S. Attorney Battling Misconduct Claims Ahead of Monday Confirmation Vote | Cowboy State Daily</title>

Wyoming U.S. Attorney Darin Smith is set for a U.S. Senate confirmation vote Monday as a controversy heats up over allegations he prejudiced a grand jury. Eight defendants are now suing to dismiss their cases, including one for first-degree murder.

Wyoming U.S. Attorney Battling Misconduct Claims Ahead of Monday Confirmation Vote

Heinz mark

Mark Heinz

Outdoors

Wildlife

Glacier grizzly 2 5 9 26

<title>Montana Suspected Fatal Grizzly Attack Happened Same Day As Yellowstone Mauling | Cowboy State Daily</title>

A suspected fatal grizzly attack in Glacier National Park is thought to have happened the same day two brothers were mauled by a grizzly in Yellowstone. Outdoorsman say the attacks are the beginning of “human-bear conflict season."

Montana Suspected Fatal Grizzly Attack Happened Same Day As Yellowstone Mauling

Government & Politics

Politics

Joel Guggenmos 5 8 26

<title>Riverton Lawmaker Under Investigation For Living Outside His State House District | Cowboy State Daily</title>

The Fremont County Sheriff's Office is investigating after Rep. Joel Guggenmos lived outside his legislative district for months. The county GOP says it stands behind Guggenmos and that "we applaud his honesty throughout this matter."

Riverton Lawmaker Under Investigation For Living Outside His State House District

Dimwitted tourist and bear 5 8

<title>Day After Grizzly Attack, Dimwitted Tourist Takes Video Of Bear From 5 Feet Away | Cowboy State Daily</title>

A day after two brothers were mauled by a grizzly in Yellowstone, a dimwitted tourist was spotted five feet from a bear taking video on his phone. Retired biologist Gary Gaston said the scene was “so absurd” he had to leave.

Day After Grizzly Attack, Dimwitted Tourist Takes Video Of Bear From 5 Feet Away

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

Renée Jean

Legislature

Meta working close IMG 7771

<title>As Data Centers Boom, Wyomingites Want To Know Where The Water’s Coming From | Cowboy State Daily</title>

As the state’s data center industry booms, Wyomingites want to know where the water is coming from. The  Select Water Committee dove into that Thursday, as critics clashed over property rights, supply, and impacts for one of the nation’s driest states.

As Data Centers Boom, Wyomingites Want To Know Where The Water’s Coming From

Hunting

LU Ranch and shed inset 5 7 26

<title>Man Cited For Trespass After 7-Year-Old Son Grabs Antlers With Tracking Device | Cowboy State Daily</title>

To nab trespassers hunting shed antlers on a ranch in Hot Springs County, Game and Fish put tracking devices in antlers and planted them around the ranch. The first one was picked up by a local 7-year-old boy, which got his father a ticket.

Man Cited For Trespass After 7-Year-Old Son Grabs Antlers With Tracking Device

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

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>

 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.  

<title>Jake Nichols | Cowboy State Daily</title>

Jake Nichols

Mac watson portrait

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: Friday, May 8, 2026

Cowboy State Daily Video Newscast: Thursday, May 7, 2026

Cowboy State Daily Video Newscast: Wednesday, May 6, 2026

Cowboy State Daily Video Newscast: Tuesday, May 5, 2026

Cowboy State Daily Video Newscast: Monday, May 4, 2026

Cowboy State Daily Video Newscast: Friday, May 1, 2026

Team