Leo Wolfson
Leo Wolfson is the State Government and Politics Reporter for Cowboy State Daily and is based in Cheyenne. He is responsible for covering Wyoming politics on a federal and statewide level.
Leo led Cowboy State Daily's coverage of the 2022 Wyoming primary election, including the highly contentious race between former congresswoman Liz Cheney and her successor U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman. He also managed CSD's coverage of the 2023 State Legislature, which was by far the most extensive and timely media coverage of a legislative session in the state's history.
Before joining Cowboy State Daily, Leo was a general assignment reporter for the Cody Enterprise Newspaper in Cody from 2018-2022. Prior to that, he reported for a suburban newspaper outside Denver.
Latest from Leo Wolfson
Wyoming House Re-Establishes 988 Suicide Call Center Trust Fund – With A $0 Balance
The Wyoming State House added an amendment to legislation on Wednesday morning that would allow private individuals and nonprofits to help fund state-run 988 suicide call centers in Wyoming.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 26, 2023
Hageman On Committee That Will Investigate FBI, Social Media Tech Giants
U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman was chosen for a committee on Tuesday that will allow her to fulfill some of her campaign promises to investigate the federal government and its dealings.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 26, 2023
Wyoming Senate Green-Lights Lower Property Taxes; Housing Allowance For Judges
The Wyoming State Senate passed two bills Tuesday: one would grant property tax relief and another would give a housing allowance to state judges.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 26, 2023
Legislative Committee Moves Forward With Bill Protecting Reporters From Revealing Sources
A legislative committee on Wednesday advanced a media shield law by an 8 - 1 vote that would protect journalists in Wyoming from revealing their sources. Wyoming is one of only two states without a shield law.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 25, 2023
Wyoming Freedom Caucus Wants State Attorney General To Take Stance On Social Credit Scores
The Wyoming Freedom Caucus wants Attorney General Bridget Hill to come out against social credit scores. They said Bridget Hill should "take a stand and protect Wyoming's extractive industries and way of life."
Leo WolfsonJanuary 25, 2023
Gordon Says No Problems With Guatemalans In Gillette; Rep. Bear Not Convinced
Gov. Mark Gordons office found nothing to confirm Rep. John Bears concerns that potentially undocumented Guatemalans had landed in Wyoming. Bear wants a further investigation.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 25, 2023
Sec Of State Chuck Gray Actively Lobbying Legislature; Rep Calls It ‘Uncouth” & “Unstately”
Although Chuck Grays active legislative lobbying has surprised some people, it doesn't infringe on any state laws and many legislators have no problem with it. The longest serving member of the House, however, calls it "uncouth" and "unstately."
Leo WolfsonJanuary 25, 2023
Bill Would Prohibit Former Legislators From Immediately Becoming Lobbyists With 2-Year Wait Period
There are at least three lobbyists at the Capitol this session who were still elected members of the Wyoming Legislature less than two weeks ago. A bill has been introduced that would require legislators to cool off for two years before becoming lobbyists.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 22, 2023
Legislature Pulls Trust-Fund Support For Suicide Call Centers
State Rep. Landon Brown said carving out the $46 million trust fund from a bill establishing the national 988 suicide call center program in Wyoming was the bill's best chance to pass.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 21, 2023
Watered-Down Vax Bill Advances; Drops Polio, Measles, Mumps, Rubella Language
A previous version of the bill prohibited all vaccine mandates for COVID-19 and any other infectious virus or disease. This would have included other diseases like measles, mumps, polio and rubella.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 21, 2023
Committee Kills Ranked Choice Voting For Wyoming
Citing ballot exhaustion, costs and potential to confuse voters, a Wyoming House committee killed a proposal that would have allowed state municipalities to test ranked choice voting.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 21, 2023
Gov. Gordon Tests Positive For COVID, Will Work From Home
Wyoming Gov Mark Gordon announced on Friday that he has tested positive for Covid. He sad the symptoms are minor and will work from home.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 20, 2023
House Committee Passes Medicaid Expansion, But Not For Gender Surgeries
An effort to expand Medicaid in Wyoming cleared its first hurdle but not before Rep. John Bear added an amendment to the bill that stipulates no state money could be used for transgender surgical operations.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 19, 2023
Two Bills Would Make Concealed Carry Permits Legal Identification To Vote In Wyoming
State Sen Lynn Hutchings told Cowboy State Daily that when she arrived at a polling place to vote, she realized she had no form of identification besides her concealed-carry permit. She said, "I'm a state legislator. I'm going to fix that."
Leo WolfsonJanuary 19, 2023
Rep. John Bear Remark About Guatemalans Landing In Gillette Sparks Refugee Rumor
A comment state Rep. John Bear made on Thursday morning that dozens of Guatemalans were on a flight that landed in Gillette on Wednesday night has stoked the political rumor mill at the Capitol that it was an influx of refugees.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 19, 2023
Hageman Warns U.S. Heading For Fiscal Cliff, Says Legislators Must Fight For Coal, Oil & Gas
U.S. Rep Harriet Hageman on Wednesday told Wyoming legislators that the U.S. is heading for a "fiscal cliff" and it was important that they continue to fight for coal, oil, and gas.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 19, 2023
Chuck Gray Gets Another Win As Committee Strikes Down Bill Changing How Vacancies Are Filled
Sec of State Chuck Gray lobbied against a bill that would have required special elections to fill seats of elected officials if more than half of a term remained. The legislative committee rejected the bill by a 5-3 vote.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 19, 2023
Casper Legislator’s Covid Bill Would Also Prohibit Required Vaccines For Polio, Measles, Mumps
Although Rep. Ward said her Covid bill which would also prohibit required vaccines for polio, measles, mumps and other infectious diseases is a way to prioritize the rights of individuals, physicians said it would put Wyoming "back a few centuries."
Leo WolfsonJanuary 18, 2023
Perhaps Largest Group Ever, Freshman Lawmakers May Hold Real Political Power In Wyoming
With 34 first-year members of the 67th Legislature nearly 37% of the 93-member body freshman legislators have potential to be the most influential first-term class in Wyoming history, but they will have to come together to make that happen.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 18, 2023
Rick Santorum Pushes Convention Of U.S. States While In Wyoming, Says Trump No Longer Strong
Former U.S. Sen Rick Santorum was in Wyoming on Monday to advocate for a "convention of the states." He said if there are 38 states in the convention, they can pass amendments that are legally binding.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 17, 2023
From Chicken-Roping To Ax-Throwing, Lawmakers Debate New Class Of Liquor License For Wyoming
Senate File 12 would create a new kind of liquor license in Wyoming for businesses that want to provide alcohol along with entertainment activities like chicken-roping and ax-throwing.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 17, 2023