Managing Editor

Greg Johnson

Greg Johnson 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.

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Latest from Greg Johnson

Jimmy and Antonio Mora with their 1984 Chevy Monte Carlo, aka the "Nightmare Monte," at the recent WyoTech Car Show in Laramie.

Building ‘Nightmare Monte’ Lowrider A Dream Come True For Wyoming Father And Son

When nobody would buy his rusted-out 1984 Chevy Monte Carlo, Jimmy Mora said he decided to rebuild it himself out of “spite.” A decade later, he and son Antonio have created a championship lowrider they call the “Nightmare Monte.”

Greg JohnsonJune 18, 2023

What The Heck Is … That Lonely Big Boy Statue In the Middle Of A Field In Wapiti, Wyoming?

The Wapiti Big Boy may seem like it’s been randomly abandoned in a Wyoming field on the highway to Yellowstone National Park. Truth is, it’s well cared-for and Big Boy’s owner put him there on purpose.

Greg JohnsonJune 11, 2023

A Laramie Fire Department crew responded to a call to rescue some ducklings from a storm drain Tuesday evening. In the end, they pulled three scared, but healthy, ducklings out. Laura Levin holds one.

Laramie Firefighters Pull Three Ducklings From Storm Drain — A Big Relief For Worried Mom

Laramie firefighters rescued three dirty, stressed-out ducklings from a storm drain Tuesday and reunited them with their worried mom, who was waddling and flying around quacking the whole time.

Greg JohnsonJune 08, 2023

This giant head in West Laramie, Wyoming, has been looking out over Snowy Range Road since 2021. It's titled "Exhaling Dissolution" and is part of a rotating public art display.

What The Heck Is … That Giant 13.5-Foot-Tall Head On A Corner In Laramie, Wyoming?

What the heck is that giant 13.5-foot-tall head at the intersection of Clark Street and Snowy Range Road in Laramie? Well, Cowboy State Daily can confirm that it’s NOT President Joe Biden.

Greg JohnsonMay 27, 2023

This house in a rural subdivision about 14 miles north of Cheyenne was hit by lightning Wednesday evening.

Of 352 Lightning Strikes In Laramie County In An Hour Wednesday Evening, One Damaged Rural Home

A brief, but powerful, thunderstorm dumped inches of hail across much of Laramie County on Wednesday evening while lightning played whack-a-mole with area buildings. Of the 352 recorded lightning strikes, one damaged a home in a rural subdivision.

Greg JohnsonMay 25, 2023

This image from a video showing a traffic stop shows Cody Police Officer Blake Stinson grabbing a 17-year-old driver by the neck to get him out of his vehicle.

Cody Police Investigate Video Showing ‘Aggressive’ And ‘Outrageous’ Traffic Stop Of Teen

A viral video of a traffic stop in Cody, Wyoming, uploaded Monday shows an officer being overly “aggressive” and displaying “outrageous” behavior, says Gillette defense attorney Steven Titus. As an attorney who has reviewed "thousands of traffic stops," Titus said the video shows the officer lied about the incident.

Greg JohnsonMay 24, 2023

Less than a month after the original Laramie Russell Street roadside toilet was removed by the city May 6, someone replaced it over the weekend.

Laramie Russell Street Roadside Toilet Returns For Second Movement

Less than a month from finally hauling off an old, discarded toilet that had been at the side of a busy Laramie street for at least two years, city Code Enforcement Officer Brian Forster said the commode returned over the weekend for a second movement.

Greg JohnsonMay 22, 2023

Albany County resident David De Pastina captured this photo of a funnel cloud that nearly touched down near his home about 7 miles northeast of Laramie at about 11:30 a.m. Thursday.

'Beautiful But Practically Harmless' Tornado Touches Down Northeast Of Laramie

There’s a reason David De Pastina keeps his eyes to the sky, and Thursday his fascination for weather watching paid off when he captured a series of sharp images of a skinny, snake-like funnel cloud that touched down northeast of Laramie.

Greg JohnsonMay 18, 2023

Mr. Gnome was a colorful fixture in his Laramie garden, as seen in this 2022 photo.

‘People Suck’: Laramie Woman Says Karma Will Catch Up With Whoever Stole Her Garden Gnome

When Laramie resident Melissa Desiervo vented on Facebook about someone stealing Mr. Gnome, her garden ornament, she didn’t expect a flood of support — or a new gnome.

Greg JohnsonMay 10, 2023

A 12-year-old Sage Valley Junior High student has been ticketed for allegedly making threats to shoot people at a school dance.

Another Gillette School Threat: 12-Year-Old Talked About Shooting Up School Dance

Last week’s ticketing of a 12-year-old suspected of threatening to shoot people at a school dance is the latest in a long string of violent threats made by Gillette students.

Greg JohnsonMay 09, 2023

This photo of an old toilet discarded in the public right of way along Russell Avenue in Laramie was taken in May 2022. By that time it had been there for more than a year. It was picked up by the city Thursday.

After More Than Two Years, Laramie Removes Historic Russell Street Roadside Toilet

It had been on his radar for awhile, but Laramie Code Enforcement Officer Brian Forster said a Cowboy State Daily call asking about an old toilet that had been on the side of the road for more than two years was “the push to get rid of it.”

Greg JohnsonMay 06, 2023

Titus Swen was the University of Wyoming's leading rusher in 2022, topping 1,000 yards. He was dismissed from the team before its bowl game by head coach Craig Bohl, and as been signed by the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent.

Titus Swen, UW Featured Running Back Dismissed From Team In November, Signs With NFL’s Colts

Titus Swen, who was the University of Wyoming’s featured running back last season before being dismissed from the team by coach Craig Bohl, has signed as an undrafted free agent with the Indianapolis Colts.

Greg JohnsonMay 01, 2023

Other Authors

Cheyenne Teen Girl Critical After Being Shot In Head At Lincoln Park

A teenage girl is in critical condition at Cheyenne Regional Medical Center after being shot in the head at Lincoln Park in the early morning hours Sunday.

Greg JohnsonApril 30, 2023

Meandering Moose Breaches Security At Sinclair Oil Refinery

An unauthorized visitor breached security at the Sinclair oil refinery east of Rawlins in the early morning hours Monday – a young bull moose. A security guard who has worked there since 1966, said it's the first time a moose broken into the facility.

Greg JohnsonMarch 27, 2023

Colorado Lawmaker Warns Wyoming: Beware The ‘Bleed-Over Effect’ Of Gun Restrictions

A Colorado legislator became so impassioned over gun control proposals in his state he tweeted it could spark “civil war.” He warns Wyoming to be wary of similar efforts here.

Greg JohnsonMarch 15, 2023

Wyoming Ranchers Say Knickers, The Humungous Holstein, Has Nothing On Cowboy State Cattle

A humongous Holstein named Knickers stands head and shoulders above the rest of his herd at his home in western Australia. Cattle growers in the Cowboy State say that while the steer is impressive, Wyoming’s home-grown cattle have an edge.

Greg JohnsonMarch 15, 2023

Snow piled up last winter around Jackson Hole, Wyoming, as storms would dump on top of each other and cold temperatures kept melting at a minimum.

With 511 inches Of Snow, Jackson Doesn't Have Any Place To Put The Snow; New Record Possible

Snowmageddon has hit much of Wyoming, and in Jackson it’s piled so high there’s nowhere left to put it. It’s great for skiers, though, with 511 inches so far and a chance to break the all-time record.

Greg JohnsonMarch 15, 2023

Lawsuit Claims “Boneless” Chicken Wings Are A Fraud, And Wyoming’s Wing King Agrees

A federal lawsuit claims Buffalo Wild Wings is deliberately defrauding customers by passing off deep-fried and sauced up chunks of chicken breast as boneless wings. Laramie's Trent Weitzel, reigning National Buffalo Wing Festival champ, agrees that boneless wings are ridiculous.

Greg JohnsonMarch 14, 2023

Worm Moon Says It’s Spring, Wyoming Weather Says Not Yet

That giant Worm Moon we saw rising earlier this week is supposed to a sign that spring is coming. But Wyoming citizens should look for robins and bluebirds as a more accurate sign.

Greg JohnsonMarch 09, 2023

Wild Wyoming Storm Strands Four Snowplows And a Wrecker

While plowing the roads and highways around Carbon county on Wednesday, a WYDOT snowplow got stuck. Then another. Then a third. Then a fourth. Then a wrecker large enough to pull the snowplows out got stuck...

Greg JohnsonFebruary 23, 2023

Bad Weather Postpones Wyoming’s ‘Storm Of The Century’

A strong winter storm making its way through Wyoming has shut down a planned showing of the PBS documentary Storm of the Century: The Blizzard of 49 in the town of Sinclair.

Greg JohnsonFebruary 21, 2023

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