Writer

David Madison

David Madison is an award-winning journalist and documentary producer based in Bozeman, Montana. He’s also reported for Wyoming PBS. He studied journalism at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and has worked at news outlets throughout Wyoming, Utah, Idaho and Montana.

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Latest from David Madison

The Frontier Bar, Montana’s unofficial hub of cold beer diplomacy.

Along Montana-Canada Border, Tariffs Could Spike Prices For Beer, Fishing Lures

A lot of commerce flows across the 545 miles of border between Montana and Canada. With promised 25% tariffs going into effect Tuesday, locals expect prices for all kinds of things to spike, including beer and fishing lures.

David MadisonMarch 04, 2025

Valan Anthos, an attorney and "drag king," testifies against a bill that would allow parents to sue if their children are exposd to "hyper sexualized" shows. Anthos appeared in make-up and said his drag act was inspured by the boy band 'NSYNC.

Bill Moving Through Montana Legislature Would Let Parents Sue Over Drag Shows

Wyoming lawmakers recently chose not to advance a bill outlawing the use of public money for drag shows. Across the border in Montana, a bill is moving through the Legislature that would let parents sue over "hypersexualized" shows.

David MadisonMarch 03, 2025

An illustration showing what the front of the Field and Stream Lodge could look like.

Country Music Stars Launching New Field & Stream Branded Hotel In Montana

Country music stars Eric Church and Morgan Wallen are building a Field & Stream-themed lodge in the middle of hotel boom in Bozeman, Montana. It promises guests a throwback summer camp experience filled with the magazine’s outdoors nostalgia.

David MadisonMarch 02, 2025

The real estate industry in Wyoming accounted for $8.5 billion or 17.1% of the gross state product in 2024, according to research compiled by Wyoming REALTORS, a statewide industry group. Best sellers include homes for first-time homebuyers.

Montana, Wyoming Top List Of Fastest-Selling Real Estate Markets

A new real estate report shows Wyoming, Montana, and Alaska are the fastest-selling real estate markets in the nation. Inventory in Wyoming is very low -- ranging from 1.79% in Natrona County to 2.05% in Sweetwater County to 5.63% in Park County.

David MadisonMarch 02, 2025

A Montana state agency is moving ahead with restoring passenger service to southern Montana, and rail advocates in Laramie sees promise in a new report from the Federal Rail Administration. This Union Pacific train hauls people from Denver to Cheyenne Frontier Days in this file photo.

New Study Adds Momentum To Return Of Passenger Rail To Wyoming, Montana

A January report from the Federal Railroad Administration recommends restoring Amtrak routes across the West, including through Cheyenne. It specifically recommended passenger train travel across southern Wyoming and a north-south route to Billings.

David MadisonMarch 01, 2025

Girl Scouts Push Back On Claim That Cookies Have Unsafe Levels Of Weed-Killer Chemical

Going up against Joe Rogan is no easy task, but that's what the Girl Scouts are doing after he discussed a study that called its cookies "toxic." The Girl Scouts of Wyoming and Montana told Cowboy State Daily the cookies are "very safe to eat."

David MadisonMarch 01, 2025

Edward “Ean” Nurse worked at the Great Northern branch of Park Side Credit Union in Missoula, Montana. On Feb. 25, Nurse was ordered to pay $389,000 in restitution for the cash he stole by removing it from the bank’s vault. He then replaced the real cash with fake prop money, according to court documents.

Montana Credit Union Worker Replaced $340,000 In Vault With Fake Money

When a credit union employee needed cash to feed his gambling habit, he bought fake cash from an online prop money company and swapped it with real bills in the vault. He pleaded guilty Tuesday to replacing $340,000 over seven months.

David MadisonFebruary 27, 2025

Montana Bill Would Charge Women With 'Abortion Trafficking' For Going Out Of State

A Montana bill would charge women with abortion trafficking for seeking abortions in other states. Opponents flooded a Wednesday hearing claiming overreach, supporters say it's needed to keep minors from being taken for secret abortions.

David MadisonFebruary 26, 2025

Legislature Making It Harder For Power Companies To Take Land For Power Lines

A bill landed on Gov. Mark Gordon's desk Tuesday that makes it harder for power companies to use eminent domain in Wyoming to take land to build power lines. Legislators say the goal is to protect property rights while preserving energy production.

David MadisonFebruary 25, 2025

Paul Ailport, left, was sentenced Feb. 13, 2025, to 110 year in prison for attempted murder of his neighbor. Top right, a screengrab from home security video captures Ailport’s pickup on fire and speeding toward his neighbor’s home. Bottom right, the aftermath of Paul Ailport’s fiery truck assault on his neighbor’s home.

Montana Man Gets 110 Years For Crashing Homemade Truck Bomb Into Neighbor’s House

A neighborhood feud turned into a scene from “Mad Max” when a Montana man transformed his truck into a firebomb on wheels and sent it crashing into a neighbor’s house. He was sentenced earlier this month to 110 years in prison for attempted murder.

David MadisonFebruary 25, 2025

Sun Valley Resort in Idaho is recognized as a world-class ski area. A recent Idaho Supreme Court ruling against Sun Valley stopped ski industry watchers in their tracks and raised concerns about an avalanche of liability lawsuits.

‘Nuclear Verdicts’ Against Big Ski Resorts Could Price Mom-And-Pop Areas Out Of Business

A widow suing the world-famous Sun Valley Resort in Idaho over the death of her husband could end with a “nuclear verdict” that could spike insurance rates across the industry. That could price mom-and-pop areas like those in Wyoming out of business.

David MadisonFebruary 23, 2025

Strange on the Range creator Ella Bishop-Heil.

Strange On The Range: Wyoming Comic Artists Create Eclectic Compilation Of Wild & Weird

Strange on the Range is a new underground publication that features an eclectic mix of Wyoming comic artists. The hard-copy magazine is dedicated to the work of Wyoming comic illustrators.

David MadisonFebruary 23, 2025

Other Authors

Jerry Valentine, Montana’s Cinderella pinball wizard, headed to the North American Championships after only 18 months of competitive pinball.

Wyoming Only State Not Sending A Pinball Wizard To North American Championships

A budding pinball scene fizzled out a few years ago in Cheyenne, which means Wyoming will be the only state without someone competing at the North American Championships. But a Cinderella pinball wizard from Montana is going full-tilt to earn a title.

David MadisonFebruary 23, 2025

A group of self-described tree-hugging hunters are trying to influence a lawsuit between the state of Montana and Yellowstone National Park about how bison are managed.

Environmentalists Known As “Tree-Hugging Hunters” Want More Yellowstone Bison Hunted

A group of environmentalists who describe themselves as “tree-huggers who hunt," are uniting around a message that might surprise some: They say it’s time to hunt and kill more bison outside Yellowstone National Park.

David MadisonFebruary 23, 2025

Montana State University researchers are testing immune-boosting supplements on honeybees. They’re also strapping the bees into machines for live flight tests and other scientific study.

To Boost Bee Immune Systems, Researchers Strap In Honeybees For Live Test Flights

Viruses spread through honeybee hives like the flu virus in a crowded waiting room. Looking to boost bee immune systems, researchers are examining the impact of viruses on honeybee flight performance and testing supplements.

David MadisonFebruary 22, 2025

The gymnasium errupts after Sophomore shooting guard Ari Fowler nailed a 3-pointer with 5 seconds left against Riverton on Feb. 20, 2025, to snap Jackson Hole High School’s 79-game, four-year girls’ basketball losing streak.

Jackson Hole Girls Basketball Snaps 79-Game Losing Streak With Last Second 3-Pointer

In a home game against Riverton, four seniors for Jackson Hole High School had never won a high school basketball game until a sophomore sharpshooter sunk a clutch 3-pointer Thursday. The 35-32 win snapped the Broncs’ 79-game losing streak.

David MadisonFebruary 22, 2025

The micro-nuclear plants Radiant Industries wants to build will weigh 60 tons, but be small enough to be transported by semitrailer or air. They'll produce 1 megawatt of power, enough for industrial use or to power a 750-home development.

House Committee Kills Bill To Store Radioactive Waste In Wyoming

A House committee rejected a proposal Wednesday to build small nuclear power plants. Assurances that the legislation would not bring radioactive “green slime” to Wyoming weren’t enough to convince committee members.

David MadisonFebruary 19, 2025

Wyoming And Montana Legislators Seek To Ban Lab-Grown Meat

Allusions to “Frankenstein” and “The Matrix” punctuate discussion of bills designed to protect “food traditions” and ban the sale of meat created in a laboratory. Wyoming and Montana are among states trying to ban it.

David MadisonFebruary 17, 2025

The Fools’ End Club was founded in 2016 to provide Missoula’s cigar aficionados with discriminating tastes and a wish for exclusivity a private club where they can come to enjoy camaraderie and a good leaf of tobacco,” according to promotional materials. Recent proposed legislation wafting through the Montana Capitol Building currently aspires to make it easier to open public cigar bars.

Cigar Bars Making A Comeback In A Post-Smoking World

Rocky Mountain states see stogie smoke rising around a growing trend of opening more cigar bars and protecting local cigar shops with tax breaks. Wyoming and Montana both are pushing forward to promote the industry.

David MadisonFebruary 16, 2025

Since 2008, Wyoming Catholic College has required its students to complete a winter expedition.

Subzero Camping 101 Required For All At Small Wyoming College

The Wyoming backcountry offers a snowy campus for instructor-led expeditions into the Tetons at Wyoming Catholic College. Students are required to complete a course in subzero camping, and some even have fun.

David MadisonFebruary 15, 2025

In Montana, If You Kill Someone In A Duel, You Have To Provide For His Family

Montana legislators are taking aim at an antiquated law that says if you kill or maim someone in a duel, you have to then provide for his family. That it’s still on the books elicited laughter from the Legislature when the bill to repeal the law was introduced.

David MadisonFebruary 15, 2025