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GJ
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

Black Hills Energy announced a blockbuster $15.4 billion merger Tuesday with NorthWestern Energy in a deal the companies say will help them compete with larger utilities. Rates won’t go down, they say, but they won’t go up as much or as fast.

In Blockbuster $15.4 Billion Deal, Black Hills Energy To Merge With NorthWestern

Black Hills Energy announced a blockbuster $15.4 billion merger Tuesday with NorthWestern Energy in a deal the companies say will help them compete with larger utilities. Rates won’t go down, they say, but they won’t go up as much or as fast.

Greg JohnsonAugust 19, 2025

With the Red Canyon Fire burning about 11 miles east of Thermopolis nearing 100,000 acres in size, Gov. Mark Gordon has declared the fire an emergency, even as crews report it’s 28% contained.

Wyoming's Red Canyon Fire Now 100,000+ Acres, Fire Emergency Declared

With the Red Canyon Fire burning about 11 miles east of Thermopolis exceeding 100,000 acres in size, Gov. Mark Gordon has declared a fire emergency, even as crews report it’s 28% contained.

Greg JohnsonAugust 18, 2025

A large, out-of-control wildfire “exhibiting extreme fire behavior” continues to grow in multiple directions about 11 miles east of Thermopolis. The Red Canyon Fire also has prompted more evacuations in its potential path.

Aggressive Red Canyon Fire Closes In On 100,000 Acres, Still 0% Containment

The Red Canyon Fire continues to surge in multiple directions about 11 miles east of Thermopolis as it closes in on 100,000 acres burned. It’s also moving into Washakie and Fremont counties, prompting evacuation alerts in Fremont.

Greg JohnsonAugust 18, 2025

A large, out-of-control wildfire “exhibiting extreme fire behavior” continues to grow in multiple directions about 11 miles east of Thermopolis. The Red Canyon Fire also has prompted more evacuations in its potential path.

Red Canyon Fire Grows To Nearly 85,000 Acres, More Evacuations Ordered

A large, out-of-control wildfire “exhibiting extreme fire behavior” continues to grow in multiple directions about 11 miles east of Thermopolis. The Red Canyon Fire also has prompted more evacuations in its potential path.

Greg Johnson & Jackie DorothyAugust 17, 2025

The Red Canyon Fire advances overnight Friday on the south side of Buffalo Creek Road.

3 Wildfires Have Burned More Than 61,000 Acres In Bighorn Basin, 0% Containment

As of Saturday morning, a trio of fast-growing wildfires have burned more than 61,000 acres in Wyoming’s Bighorn Basin, with 0% containment on any of them. The largest is the Red Canyon Fire at 40,000 acrea, which has exploded on cheatgrass.

Greg JohnsonAugust 16, 2025

The Red Canyon Fire is burning out of control about 11 miles east of Thermopolis, blowing up to an estimated 35,000 acres. Oil field workers saw the lightning bolt that started the fire, then could only watch it spread.

Out-Of-Control Red Canyon Fire Near Thermopolis Now Nearly 35,000 Acres

The Red Canyon Fire is burning out of control about 11 miles east of Thermopolis, blowing up to nearly 35,000 acres on Friday. Oil field workers saw the lightning bolt that started the fire, then could only watch it spread.

Greg JohnsonAugust 15, 2025

Kristen Hohman shared this eerie image of the Red Canyon Fire glowing east of Thermopolis to a local Facebook group on Wednesday night. It exploded to more than 15,000 acres Thursday.

Wildfire East Of Thermopolis Explodes To 20,000 Acres, Prompts Evacuation

What was a small wildfire reported about 14 miles east of Thermopolis on Wednesday evening has exploded to an estimated more than 20,000 acres Thursday. The Red Canyon Fire has also prompted some evacuations.

Greg JohnsonAugust 14, 2025

A Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office training exercise on Flaming Gorge Reservoir on Wednesday turned into a real rescue for five deputies and a K-9. When the boat took on water and flipped, deputies acted quickly to save one of their own and a K-9.

Sheriff’s Office Training On Flaming Gorge Reservoir Turns Into Real Water Rescue

A Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office training exercise on Flaming Gorge Reservoir on Wednesday turned into a real water rescue for five deputies and a K-9. When the boat took on water and flipped, deputies acted quickly to save one of their own and a K-9.

Greg JohnsonAugust 13, 2025

Campbell County Republican Eric Barlow on Tuesday announced he’s running for governor in 2026.

Barlow Says If GOP Primary For Wyoming Governor Gets Ugly, It Won’t Come From Him

Even the opening prayer at state Sen. Eric Barlow’s announcement for governor cautioned it could be an ugly campaign. But Barlow said if it gets ugly it's not going to come from him and he won’t get caught up in smear and misinformation campaigns.

Greg JohnsonAugust 12, 2025

Campbell County Republican Eric Barlow on Tuesday announced he’s running for governor in 2026.

Wyoming State Senator Eric Barlow Announces Run For Governor

Campbell County Republican Eric Barlow on Tuesday announced he’s running for governor in 2026. The state senator and former Wyoming House speaker says he was motivated to preserve the state’s independent spirit and to “keep Washington, D.C., out of Wyoming’s business.”

Greg JohnsonAugust 12, 2025

A massive search effort was conducted for a Minnesota man missing since July 29 in the rugged Cloud Peak Wilderness of northern Wyoming. Grant Gardner, 38, was last heard from after summiting Cloud Peak on July 29.

Family Still Holds Out Hope For Minnesota Hiker Missing Since July 29

The wife of missing Cloud Peak Wilderness hiker Grant Gardner on Monday told Cowboy State Daily that she's hopeful his skills and abilities that "he's been honing over the last decade-plus will help him come home to us."

Greg JohnsonAugust 11, 2025

Staff at the Platte County Record-Times and Guensey Gazette spent part of Friday retrieving the bound newspaper archives in the wake of their parent company shutting the papers down.

Potential Buyers Emerge For Closed Wyoming Newspapers

In the wake of the shutdown of eight Wyoming newspapers, potential buyers are emerging for at least some of them. The former Pinedale Roundup editor says she’s already secured money to buy the paper, and there’s reportedly interest in at least two others.

Greg JohnsonAugust 08, 2025

Other Authors

The parent company of eight Wyoming hometown newspapers closed them with no notice Wednesday after a deal to sell fell through. That’s no excuse for the “unconscionable” way employees were suddenly fired, longtime journalism industry leaders say.

Shutdown Of Wyoming Newspapers Triggered By Missed Deadline To Sell Company

The parent company of eight Wyoming hometown newspapers shut them down with no notice Wednesday after a deal to sell them fell through. Industry leaders say that’s no excuse for the “unconscionable” way employees were treated.

Greg JohnsonAugust 08, 2025

The Big Horn County Sheriff's Office confirmed Thursday that the body of Grant Gardner, 38, has been found and recovered from Cloud Peak in the Bighorn Mountains. Gardner summited the peak on July 29, touching off an extensive 20-day search.

Man Found Dead In Montana River Wrongly Reported As Hiker Missing In Wyoming

Officials are trying to squash wrong reports that a body found in the Bighorn River in Montana was a Minnesota man who went missing July 29 in Big Horn County, Wyoming. It isn’t, but the reports have rubbed at already raw emotions.

Greg JohnsonAugust 07, 2025

Eight rural communities across Wyoming are without their legacy hometown newspapers after parent company News Media Corp. abruptly closed them without notice Wednesday morning. Employees said they were blindsided, and the move is “devastating.”

Blindsided: 8 Wyoming Towns Lose Their Newspapers After Abrupt Shutdown

Eight rural communities across Wyoming are without their legacy hometown newspapers after parent company News Media Corp. abruptly closed them without notice Wednesday morning. Employees said they were blindsided and call the move “devastating.”

Greg JohnsonAugust 06, 2025

If anyone could survive a week alone in the rugged Cloud Peak Wilderness of Wyoming’s Bighorn Mountains, it’s Grant Gardner. His wife Lauren said she’s still “in shock” over his disappearance, but holds out hope that her husband is still alive.

Family, Sheriff Hold Out Hope For Minnesota Man Missing A Week On Cloud Peak

If anyone could survive a week alone in the rugged Cloud Peak Wilderness of Wyoming’s Bighorn Mountains, it’s Grant Gardner. His wife Lauren said she’s still “in shock” over his disappearance, but holds out hope that her husband is still alive.

Greg JohnsonAugust 05, 2025

Multiple agencies haven’t given up searching for a Minnesota hiker missing for nearly a week in Wyoming’s rugged Cloud Peak Wilderness. Grant Gardner texted his wife when he got to the summit of Cloud Peak, and hasn’t been heard from since.

Minnesota Man Got To Top Of Cloud Peak A Week Ago, Hasn’t Been Heard From Since

Multiple agencies haven’t given up searching for a Minnesota hiker missing for nearly a week in Wyoming’s rugged Cloud Peak Wilderness. Grant Gardner texted his wife when he got to the summit of Cloud Peak on July 29, and hasn’t been heard from since.

Greg JohnsonAugust 05, 2025

Wyoming Republican U.S. Sen. John Barrasso on the floor of the senate Thursday, July 31, 2025, where he chastized Democrats for holding up the nomination of Brian Nesvik as director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Barrasso: Holding Up Trump Nominees Part Of Democrat Tantrum Over Losing Election

Wyoming U.S. Sen. John Barrasso said Friday that Senate Republicans aren’t losing patience with what he calls deliberate “obstructionist” tactics by Democrats. He said they’ve lost it entirely as 160 Trump nominees await confirmation.

Greg JohnsonAugust 01, 2025

The Vees Fire burning in steep, rugged terrain about 13 miles southeast of Ten Sleep, Wyoming.

With 2 Wildfires Burning Near Ten Sleep, Town Becomes Ground Zero For Responders

With a pair of wildfires less than 15 miles from the town, Ten Sleep has become ground zero for wildland firefighting crews. Residents can see the smoke, and “at night you can see the orange glow,” the mayor says.

Greg JohnsonJuly 30, 2025

While tens of thousands of out-of-state visitors flock to Cheyenne Frontier Days every year, locals love it too. And one of the more popular things they do is play CFD Bingo, a light-hearted game of spot the stereotype.

What Do Locals Do At Cheyenne Frontier Days? Play CFD Bingo

Cheyenne's Harvey Deselms shares the Cheyenne Frontier Days Bingo card every year. He says the most entertaining part is seeing how many of the squares you can check off by looking in a mirror. "I had the coolest mullet," he said.

Greg JohnsonJuly 26, 2025

Wyoming is eager to exercise more control over educating its own kids. Gov. Mark Gordon told Cowboy State Daily’s Jake Nichols on Thursday that Wyoming can do better educating its kids than federal “talking heads” in Washington, D.C.

Gov. Gordon Says Wyoming Can Educate Kids Better Than Federal ‘Talking Heads’

Wyoming is eager to exercise more control over educating its own kids. Gov. Mark Gordon told Cowboy State Daily’s Jake Nichols on Thursday that Wyoming can educate its kids better than federal “talking heads” in Washington, D.C.

Greg JohnsonJuly 24, 2025

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