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.
Latest from Renée Jean
Wyoming’s Gen Z Is Dreaming Up Ways To Bring Tech Outdoors With Smart Parks
University of Wyoming students are exploring what the future of outdoors tourism can look like for the Cowboy State. One idea is Smart Parks, which uses smartphones to enhance how people recreate outdoors.
Renée JeanApril 28, 2023
Kroger Urges California Court To Toss Consumer Lawsuit Over $25 Billion Mega Merger With Albertsons
The mega merger of Albertsons and Kroger has been sharply criticized by a union that represents hundreds of Wyoming grocery store workers. Regardless of how it fares, the consumer lawsuit is part of opposition that continues to build against the $25 billion deal.
Renée JeanApril 26, 2023
Replacing Minuteman III Missiles Around Cheyenne Will Bring In $2.6 Billion In Construction Money
The economic impact of replacing the Minuteman III missiles located in the Cheyenne area will be gigantic. Not only will the workforce increase by 5,000 people but construction costs alone are estimated to be $2.6 billion dollars.
Renée JeanApril 25, 2023
Facebook Settles Privacy Lawsuit, But Wyoming Cybersecurity Experts Say Plenty Of Issues Remain
Wyomingites who were Facebook users anytime during the past 15 years qualify for a sliver of a $725 million settlement over privacy issues.
Renée JeanApril 25, 2023
Wyoming Bed Bath & Beyond Stores Shuttered As Company Files Chapter 11 Bankruptcy
Bed Bath & Beyond staff told Cowboy State Daily in February that its Cheyenne and Casper stores would likely linger until May, but their last day was Sunday, with the retailer announcing it has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
Renée JeanApril 24, 2023
Riverton Woman Has Rolled Past 611,000 Miles In Her Toyota Corolla
Melissa Gardner says maintenance is the key to piling up 611,000 miles on her 2007 Toyota Corolla. The Riverton, Wyoming woman plans to keep driving Corolla until the “engine falls out on the highway.”
Renée JeanApril 23, 2023
New Triceratops Exhibit At Wyoming State Museum Already A Hit Even Before It Opens
A new Triceratops that’s part of a display opening in May is already on display at the Wyoming State Museum in Cheyenne, and was the star of an adults-only Jurassic party to preview the exhibit — even though he’s really a Cretaceous kid.
Renée JeanApril 23, 2023
Brotherhood Of Cheyenne Firefighters Includes Two Who Are Actually Brothers
After college, the lives of the two brothers diverged for a time, until one of became a firefighter. That ultimately brought them together as Cheyenne firefighters in what’s become a dream job for both.
Renée JeanApril 22, 2023
Wyoming Man Who Wore Original Taco John’s Mascot Suit Says It Was A Horrible Job
It's been 40 years, but Dave Herrington will never forget his experience as one of the original mascots for Cheyenne-based Taco John's. The heavy costumes were not well-ventilated which was an issue in the summer heat.
Renée JeanApril 22, 2023
Roof Collapse In Casper After Massive Snowstorm Not Widespread Issue, Natrona County Building Inspector SaysÂ
Accumulation of snow on roofs is sometimes quite stealthy, and they can also be deadly. Here’s what to know about whether snow is creating a hazard for your home.
Renée JeanApril 21, 2023
Wyoming’s Custodia Bank Lawsuit Against Federal Reserve Gets Boost From Former Penn. Sen. Patrick Toomey
Patrick Toomey, former chair of the Senate Banking Committee, says the Federal Reserve is completely misinterpreting legislation he wrote in its argument to deny Custodia Bank a master account.
Renée JeanApril 20, 2023
Union Pacific Offers $50,000 Sign-On Bonus In Wyoming
Eye-popping Union Pacific bonuses up to $50,000 reflects high demand for workers, but former employees also say it’s a demanding job that offers little time for a personal life
Renée JeanApril 19, 2023
Wyoming Insiders Cry Foul As Federal Reserve Says It Wants New, Innovative Banks While Denying Custodia
Federal Reserve Gov. Michelle Bowman said America needs a better pipeline for creating new banks, which had Wyoming Twitter feeds exploding given that the federal agency has blocked the Cowboy State’s digital asset banks.
Renée JeanApril 18, 2023
Twice As Many Wyoming Homeowners Eligible For Expanded Property Tax Relief
Wyoming residents whose median income is not greater than 125% of their state or county could qualify for substantial property tax relief, if they meet residency requirements.
Renée JeanApril 17, 2023
This Time We Mean It: Cheyenne's Hitching Post Inn Is Really Coming Back
Although it's looked like nothing has happened on the site of the burned down Hitching Post Inn for more than a year (when new construction was supposed to have started), there's been a lot going on behind the scenes. Heavy construction for two hotels is slated to begin in May.
Renée JeanApril 16, 2023
Feel On Top Of The World With A Trip To Rocky Mountain National ParkÂ
Just a two-hour drive south of Wyoming lies a world-class mountain adventure. Rocky Mountain National Park offers 415 miles of mountain wilderness and 77 mountain peaks to climb, with the sweet smell of ponderosa pines all around. Â
Renée JeanApril 15, 2023
How F.O. Stanley, The Builder Of The Stanley Hotel, Changed The World We Live InÂ
F.O. Stanley didn’t only build the world-class hotel in Estes Park, just south of Wyoming’s border, near Rocky Mountain National Park. The inventions he and his brother came up with helped to influence and change the entire world.Â
Renée JeanApril 15, 2023
The Haunted Stanley Hotel: Where Guests Can Check Out, But Ghosts Never Will
Not far from Wyoming, a paranormal adventure awaits at Colorado’s Stanley Hotel, made famous by Stephen King's “The Shining.” Cowboy State Daily reporter Renée Jean stayed in the hotel’s infamous Room 217 to see if it’s truly haunted.
Renée JeanApril 15, 2023
Albertsons Beats Profit Expectations Ahead Of $25 Billion Merger With Kroger
As the nation’s two largest grocery chains move ahead with a planned $25 billion merger, Albertsons reports it beat its financial goals for the fourth quarter of 2022. But lawsuits and the FTC still stand in the way of the deal.
Renée JeanApril 13, 2023
Historic Mammoth Hotel In Yellowstone Won’t Open This Spring Due To Record Snowfall
The historic Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel in Yellowstone isn't opening for the spring 2023 season because of record snowfall. The weather has delayed construction of a new wastewater treatment system damaged by last year's massive flood.
Renée JeanApril 13, 2023
Late Spring Snow Boosts Ski Resorts Across Wyoming, But Doesn’t Extend Season Much
Late spring snow and cooler-than-usual weather helped cap off a record ski season in Wyoming, but most resorts cannot extend their seasons. The late snow also threatens to impede work to prepare for the upcoming tourism season.
Renée JeanApril 12, 2023