Features Reporter

Andrew Rossi

Andrew Rossi is a features reporter for Cowboy State Daily based in northwest Wyoming. He covers everything from horrible weather and giant pumpkins to dinosaurs, astronomy, and the eccentricities of Yellowstone National Park.

Previously, Rossi was the News Director for Big Horn Basin Media in Cody. He earned several awards from the Wyoming Association of Broadcasters, including multiple awards for Best News Reporter and Best News Talk Show.

A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Rossi previously worked at the Wyoming Dinosaur Center in Thermopolis. He has collaborated with Disney/Pixar, the BBC, The Washington Post, the Wyoming Office of Tourism, and several other national and international media outlets. He is also a cofounder of The Cody Theatre Company in Cody.

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Latest from Andrew Rossi

A “catastrophic failure” of Wyoming Highway 22 over Teton Pass on June 8, 2024, saw a huge section wash down the mountain. A long closure of the “lifeline” between Jackson and Victor, Idaho, is expected.

'Catastrophic Failure' On Teton Pass; Road Closed After Highway Falls Off Mountain

A “catastrophic failure” of Wyoming Highway 22 over Teton Pass overnight Friday saw a huge section wash down the mountain. The "lifeline" between Jackson and Victor, Idaho, is expected to be closed for weeks, according to WYDOT.

Andrew RossiJune 08, 2024

A mudslide at about 4:20 a.m. Thursday morning has shut down Wyoming Highway 22 over Teton Pass at milepost 15. The closure comes less than 24 after a large two-lane crack in the pavement of the highway closed the pass for a few hours.

Teton Pass Closed Down Again -- This Time For Giant Mudslide

A mudslide shut down Wyoming Highway 22 over Teton Pass in the early morning hours of Friday less than a day after a humongous two-lane crack closed it.

Andrew RossiJune 07, 2024

Large cracks appeared on Wyoming Highway 22 over Teton Pass on Thursday, prompting it to close for several hours.

Forced Closure Of Teton Pass Due To Large Cracks Stretching Across Entire Road

Large cracks that stretched across the entire highway creating an 8-inch shelf in the road on Teton Pass forced its closure for a few hours on Thursday. Although it's reopened, WYDOT is assessing the damage and potential danger created by it.

Andrew RossiJune 06, 2024

Waltman Rest Area is one of Wyoming's busiest, but it will be closed for several weeks for rennovations. This is what the rest area looked like in September in photos taken by visitor Julissa Buddell and shared on Google.

WYDOT Flooded With Calls Over Closing Popular Rest Area For Renovations

The Waltman Rest Area in the middle of nowhere between Casper and Shoshoni is closed for three to four weeks for renovations. But that’s way too long for many fans of the stop, who have flooded WYDOT with calls about it.

Andrew RossiJune 05, 2024

The aftermath of the SUV impact in the classroom of the Cody Firearms Experience. Fortunately, this room is part of a separate building from the main business, so the popular Cody business hasn't been impacted by the incident.

Alleged Drunk Driver Severs Gas Line Plowing Through Cody Gun Range

A suspected drunk driver plowed through an indoor gun range in Cody on Saturday night and severed a gas line in the process. The owner said it was a miracle the building didn't blow up.

Andrew RossiJune 04, 2024

The pelt of Elyssa, the black-footed ferret on display at the Meeteetse Museums. This pelt was stolen from the museum, but thankfully undamaged by the ordeal and has since been returned to the museum.

Missouri Man Steals Endangered Ferret Pelt From Wyoming Museum

The pelt of an endangered Wyoming black-footed ferret is back where it belongs in the Meeteetse Museums after a visitor stole it on an “impulse.” Despite the odds of finding it, it was recovered intact and the thief arrested, prosecuted and punished.

Andrew RossiJune 03, 2024

When a rare alighment of six planets appear in the early morning pre-dawn skies over Wyoming on Tuesday, most in the state won't be able to see this Parade of Plaents because of cloud cover.

With Cloudy Wyoming Skies Expected, Good Luck Seeing Rare Parade Of Planets

When six of the solar system’s eight planets, and a crescent moon, align in Tuesday's early morning pre-dawn sky, Wyomingites will likely see nothing but clouds moving in from the Pacific Northwest.

Andrew RossiJune 03, 2024

Patricia Wyer gives treats to rescued racoons at the Broken Bandit Wildlife Center east of Cheyenne.

Why Wyoming Is One Of Only Two States Without A Zoo

Besides being the two least populated states, Wyoming and Vermont have something else in common — the only states without a zoo. While you could put one in the Cowboy State, it would be a permitting nightmare.

Andrew RossiJune 02, 2024

Someone poses next to the bronze sculpture of Grizzly 399. The sculpture was created at Eagle Bronze in Lander.

Grizzly 399, The Most Famous Bear In The World, Gets Her Own 8-Foot Bronze Statue

An 8-foot-tall statue of Grizzly 399 with the four cubs she raised in 2020 was dedicated Saturday at its new home at the National Museum of Military Vehicles in Dubois. The bronze on the statue reads, “Queen of the Rockies.”

Andrew RossiJune 02, 2024

This license plate would be coveted in Hot Springs County because it's the lowest one can get — 1. But as county No. 15, as shown at the left side of the plate, it only shows that the county was had the 15th highest assessed valuation in 1930.

The Numbering System Behind Wyoming's License Plates

If county numbers on Wyoming license plates were assigned by the same criteria as they were in 1930, there would be a lot of changes. Campbell County would be #1 instead of Natrona County. Converse County would be #2 instead of Laramie County. Here's why:

Andrew RossiJune 02, 2024

A specimen of Paleoamphiuma from Fossil Butte National Monument in southwest Wyoming. The Green River Formation has produced legions of fossils of plants, fish, reptiles, mammals, and other prehistoric organisms, but amphibians are "extremely uncommon." The new specimen found near Kemmerer is the third fossil of this rare salamander and the only one with soft tissue preservation.

Fossil Geeks Excited Over 52 Million-Year-Old Salamander Discovered Near Kemmerer

The 52 million-year-old foot-long fossil salamander from a fossil quarry near Kemmerer is only the third specimen of its kind ever found. Plus, it's the first Paleoamphiuma ever found with soft tissue preserved in it.

Andrew RossiJune 01, 2024

Crews in Yellowstone National Park work Thursday to clear parts of the Beartooth Highway, which still has up to 6 feet of wet, heavy snow on it.

Beartooth Highway Will Finally Be Fully Open After Snowstorm, Repair Delays

After a monster snowstorm and corresponding avalanches, the entire 69 miles of the Beartooth Highway should finally be open Saturday morning — and hopefully stay open for the summer season.

Andrew RossiMay 31, 2024

Other Authors

First Grizzly Relocation Of The Year In Wyoming After Bear Ate Cows

The Game and Fish Department said they didn't kill the grizzly who ate some cows earlier this month because the bear had no previous run-ins with the department. The department opted to relocate the bear away from cows instead.

Andrew RossiMay 30, 2024

Grizzly 399 May Be Old But She Still Knows How To Kill Elk

Although people have romanticized Grizzly 399 as a giant, cuddly teddy bear, she's a grizzly. Earlier this week, spectators saw what apex predators do as she ripped apart two elk calves so she and her cub Spirit could have some lunch.

Andrew RossiMay 30, 2024

A bronze statue of Wyoming State Senator Hank Coe stands amid the charred remains of the Calceo Foundry. The cause of the overnight fire that destroyed everything inside is under investigation.

Millions Lost In Overnight Fire At Cody Bronze Art Foundry, 100% Loss Says Owner

Millions of dollars of art and equipment were destroyed in an overnight fire at the Caleco Foundry in Cody. The establishment, one of only two bronze foundries in Wyoming was totally gutted. One artist says he lost over $5 million worth of art.

Andrew RossiMay 30, 2024

The May 10 aurora seen from Eagle Pass South between Cody and Greybull. The aurora was created by the convergence of five chronal mass ejections from a massive sunspot, which will be turned toward Earth again in early June.

Wyoming May Be In For Another Spectacular Aurora Show

The same group of sunspots that delivered mid-May's amazing aurora displays across Wyoming and the rest of the United States is turning toward Earth this week, meaning another spectacular show may be on the way.

Andrew RossiMay 29, 2024

Blame Game Heats Up Over Whether Wyoming Wolves Are Killing Colorado Cattle

Since wolves were reintroduced in Colorado last year, the blame game over whether that state's 10 new predators are killing ranchers' cattle or if Wyoming wolves are ranging south has gained steam.

Andrew RossiMay 29, 2024

Now Beartooth Highway Hit By Avalanche, Remains Closed

Officials want to open Beartooth Highway, one of the main routes to get to Yellowstone, but still can't. Opening day was delayed due to weather and now it's because an avalanche has pummeled the road.

Andrew RossiMay 28, 2024

Seems some guy named Nick loves the unique features at Yellowstone National Park — so much so that Nick scratched his name and a message into a delicate thermal area just off the Biscuit Basin boardwalk.

People Outraged After Guy Named Nick Defaces Yellowstone Thermal Feature

Some guy named Nick seems to love the thermal features at Yellowstone National Park that he scratched his name and a message into one of them over the Memorial Day Weekend, to the outrage of many fans of the park.

Andrew RossiMay 28, 2024

Springtime is also known as "rockfall season" through Wind River Canyon in central Wyoming. So far this year, rockfall season has been pretty quiet.

Gigantic Boulders Not Crashing Down On Highway In Wind River Canyon Is Good Sign

It's a good year so far in Wind River Canyon as there's been a decrease in rocks and boulders crashing down on the highway. The Wyoming Dept of Transportation believes it could be a sign that rockfall mitigation projects are working.

Andrew RossiMay 27, 2024

Scott and Rodney Fujita at the Heart Mountain Interpretive Center near Cody during the production of the NFL documentary "9066: Fear, Football, and the Theft of Freedom."

NFL Network Puts Wyoming In Spotlight With Documentary On Heart Mountain Eagles

The NFL Network will premiere a half-hour documentary Monday on the Heart Mountain Eagles, the high school football team for the Wyoming Japanese-American internment camp during World War II that went undefeated in 1942.

Andrew RossiMay 27, 2024

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