Business and Tourism Reporter

Renée Jean

Renée Jean is the business and tourism reporter for Cowboy State Daily and is based in Cheyenne. Previously, Renée spent seven years covering energy and agriculture in North Dakota and Montana. She has won many writing awards over a 30-year career, and has written magazine articles for Guideposts.

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Latest from Renée Jean

It may seem like deja vu for folks at the Brooks Lake Lodge and surroundings areas as a huge plume of smoke rises from the nearby Pack Trail Fire, which blew up to nearly 20,000 acres overnight Sunday.

Wildfire Rages To 18,000 Acres In Bridger-Teton Forest, Pulling Crews Off Nearby Fire

A lightning strike deep in Wyoming’s Bridger-Teton National Forest blew up overnight Sunday to nearly 18,000 acres. It also prompted new evacuation orders for Brooks Lake and Lava Mountain Lodges, as well as ranches and the KOA campground.

Renée JeanSeptember 30, 2024

The Elk Fire burning in northern Wyoming has prompted evacuations and concern from people who live near the fire's path, particularly the communties of Dayton and Parkman.

More Evacuations Ordered For People In Path Of 25,000-Acre Elk Fire

Some people were evacuated over the weekend and more Monday as the 25,000-acre Elk Fire near Dayton in northern Wyoming continues to burn. The growth of the fire slowed Monday, but it's still uncontrolled and a threat to homes in its path.

Renée JeanSeptember 30, 2024

A host of people stopped to help Nathan Frederick when his truck caught on fire off I-25 near Casper on Sunday, Spet. 29, 2024. (Video by Renee Jean, Cowboy State Daily)

When Truck Catches Fire Off I-25, Wyomingites Stop To Help

When a DoorDash driver’s truck caught fire just off Interstate 25 just east of Casper on Sunday, he had all kinds of help. Truckers and other motorists were quick to stop to help, even before emergency responders could arrive.

Renée JeanSeptember 30, 2024

Dave Stewart owns and operates the historic Occidental Hotel in Buffalo, Wyoming, with wife Jackie. He’s also a musician, writing “God Already Has,” which won Gospel Song of the Year at Friday’s IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards. Here he's posing with the award.

Owner of Buffalo’s Occidental Hotel Wins 2024 Gospel Song Of The Year

Dave Stewart owns and operates the historic Occidental Hotel in Buffalo, Wyoming, with wife Jackie. He’s also a singer/songwriter, co-writing “God Already Has,” which won Gospel Song of the Year at Friday’s International Bluegrass Music Awards.

Renée JeanSeptember 30, 2024

Locals in Dubois, Wyoming, still tell how Butch Cassidy, left, rode into town the winter after his infamous Telluride bank robbery. That’s when the notorious outlaw is said to run into author Owen Wister before either were famous.

Butch Cassidy In Wyoming: Notorious Outlaw Meets Owen Wister Before Either Were Famous

Locals in Dubois, Wyoming, still tell how Butch Cassidy rode into town the winter after his infamous Telluride bank robbery. That’s when the notorious outlaw is said to run into author Owen Wister before either were famous.

Renée JeanSeptember 29, 2024

Left, the designer of the Wyoming State Flag, Verna Keays Keys, maintained the bison on the flag should face away from the pole. But prominent sufferagist, UW professor and head of the DAR at the time, Grace Raymond Hebard, right, insisted it face the pole, which became the preferred way to make the flag.

Is The Wyoming Flag Bison Facing The Wrong Way? Creator’s Granddaughter Says Yes

Verna Keays Keyes designed Wyoming's unique state flag, but is the bison facing the wrong way? Her granddaughter says yes, that Keyes originally made it looking away from the pole.

Renée JeanSeptember 29, 2024

Electronic Con Artists Learned The Hard Way Not To Mess Around With "The Goat Ladies"

Electronic scams are everywhere whether it be email, social media or text messages. Con artists don't just target big business they go after the little guys too, like the Goat Ladies of Rock River. But the Goat Ladies were too smart to get conned.

Renée JeanSeptember 29, 2024

The iconic white wedding dress Geena Davis wore in her role as Barbara Maitland in the 1988 cult movie classic "Beetlejuice" is on display this weekend at the Hyart Theatre in Lovell, Wyoming. It's showing the long-awaited premired of the sequel, "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice."

Lovell Theater Has Wedding Gown From Original “Beetlejuice” On Display

Geena Davis might not be in the sequel to “Beetlejuice,” but her spirit is there for moviegoers in Lovell. The historic Hyart Theatre is screening “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” this weekend, and is displaying the famous white gown Davis wore in the original campy-creepy movie.

Renée JeanSeptember 28, 2024

Wyoming Rare (USA)'s Halleck Creek Project in southeast Wyoming.

Huge Wyoming Rare Earth Project Gets $450 Million Loan From Feds

Wyoming Rare (USA) will get more than $450 million in financing for its huge Halleck Creek Project in southeast Wyoming from a federal bank. It’s a loud message that America is serious about rare earth minerals and Wyoming’s potential to supply them.

Renée JeanSeptember 27, 2024

A pronghorn with a trio of drilling rigs in the background.

Wyoming’s Tiny 80-Acre Oil And Gas Lease Sale A Bust Waiting To Happen

A miniscule 80 acres sold in Wednesday’s federal oil and gas lease sale in Wyoming. The throttling of oil and gas production has state industry officials worry it’s a bust waiting to happen.

Renée JeanSeptember 27, 2024

The JBS meat processing plant in Greeley, Colorado.

Union Says Huge Greeley JBS Meat Plant Trafficked 500 Immigrant Workers

Local UFCW 7 claims a huge JBS meat plant in Greeley, Colorado, trafficked 500 or more immigrant workers. The stunning allegations include packing them into rooms with putrid living conditions and charging extra “fees” for company services.

Renée JeanSeptember 25, 2024

Sleeping giant Nic Oatridge via Flckr 9 24 24

Sleeping Giant Ski Resort Near Cody Won’t Open This Winter Either

The Sleeping Giant Ski Resort in the Shoshone National Forest near Yellowstone National Park won’t open for the winter ski season. It’s the second straight winter the resort has been closed.

Renée JeanSeptember 25, 2024

Other Authors

A satellite plat at Uranium Energy Corp's Christensen Ranch site in Wyoming. TerraPower's new nuclear plant planned for Kemmerer could run on Wyoming uranium.

Texas-Based Uranium Energy Buys Wyoming Processing Plant For $175 Million

Texas-based Uranium Energy Corp. is making yet another acquisition in Wyoming, snapping up the state’s only conventional uranium mill for $175 million. The move sets it up to be the largest domestic producer of uranium.

Renée JeanSeptember 24, 2024

Biden’s BLM Puts Up 159 Acres For Oil And Gas Lease Sale, Record Low For Wyoming

The 159 acres available in Wednesday’s BLM oil and gas lease sale is a record low for Wyoming. Under the Biden administration, hundreds of thousands of acres have become unavailable.

Renée JeanSeptember 23, 2024

The Divide Restaurant & Lounge in Encampment, Wyoming.

Eating Wyoming: The Divide Brings Fine Dining To Rural Encampment

Fine dining in Encampment? Yes! A high-end steakhouse called The Divide Restaurant & Lounge features the former general manager of the world-renowned Brush Creek Ranch and an executive chef who previously worked with a celebrity chef off of “Hell’s Kitchen.”

Renée JeanSeptember 22, 2024

French tourists tour the Jim Gatchell Museum in Buffalo.

French Tourists Are Discovering Wyoming And The Wild West

They’ll be learning French this winter at the TA Ranch near Buffalo. It’s preparation for an expected onslaught of French tourists. There's been a 40-50% increase in the number of French tourists this year and next year, it's expected to be much larger.

Renée JeanSeptember 21, 2024

The Lamp Lounge in Cheyenne, at 101 W. 6th St.

Drinking Wyoming: Lamp Lounge Cleans Up Its Act, But Still A Cheyenne Dive Bar

The Lamp Lounge on Cheyenne’s south side has new owners and is shedding its notorious and violent reputation. But new co-owner Michael Jordan says don't worry, it's still a dive bar.

Renée JeanSeptember 21, 2024

David Belus looks out over scorched land. Fire burnt up nearly 50,000 acres of his ranch, leaving nothing but dirt and dust devils as far as the eye can see.

“This Was A Monster Fire”: 50,000-Acre Wyoming Ranch Now A Giant Black Dustbowl

Johnson County resident David Belus is one of dozens of Wyoming ranchers devastated by wildfires that have burned more than 500,000 acres. Now he’s left to rebuild 50,000 acres that have become a giant black dustbowl.

Renée JeanSeptember 21, 2024

Custodia Bank CEO Caitlin Long, left, and Wyoming Banking Association President and CEO Scott Meier.

Legislators Upset Wyoming Bankers Are Against Custodia’s Fight With Fed

Wyoming legislators are upset with the Wyoming Banking Association for supporting the Federal Reserve in its fight with Wyoming-based Custodia Bank. “I mean, talk about failing to ride for the brand,” said state Sen. Chris Rothfuss.

Renée JeanSeptember 20, 2024

Wyoming Homebuyers Shocked, Pleased By Whopping Half-Percent Interest Rate Cut

Homebuyers and sellers in Wyoming were shocked and pleased with Wednesday’s whopping half-percent Federal Reserve interest rate cut. That means some great deals for prepared homebuyers, while many are still on the fence.

Renée JeanSeptember 18, 2024

The MineOne Chinese bitcoin operation ordered by President Joe Biden in early May to shut down and sell off is staging to clear out with large turcks and storage pods at the site, which is about a mile from F.E. Warren Air Force Base.

Former Chinese Crypto Mine Near Cheyenne Air Force Base Has New American Owner

A Chinese-owned cryptocurrency mining operation a mile from F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne was forced to sell. Now it has a new American owner, who told legislators Monday that the company has big plans for Wyoming.

Renée JeanSeptember 18, 2024

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