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 Custodia Digital Bank Fights David Vs. Goliath Battle With Federal Reserve
It's David vs Goliath for Wyoming's Custodia Bank which is taking on the Kansas City Federal Reserve for shutting the financial institution out earlier this month. Bank founder Caitlin Long says the Federal Reserve has no authority to reject a law-abiding state-chartered bank.
Renée JeanFebruary 21, 2023
It’s Not Quite Cheyenne Frontier Days But For February, Chicken Roping Is About The Closest Thing
February gets to be a very slow month not just for cowboys who like to rope, but for businesses in Moorcroft. So one bar in town started the annual Chicken Roping contest. It was held this past weekend.
Renée JeanFebruary 20, 2023
From Desperation To CEO Of A Pretzel Empire, ‘Auntie Annie’ Shares Message Of Faith, Hope
After her 20-month-old baby was killed, Anne Beiler sought spiritual help -- only to get assaulted by her pastor. She considered suicide but with her husband's help, she was able to start anew. And ended up running largest pretzel company in the country with more than 1,700 locations in 48 states.
Renée JeanFebruary 19, 2023
Tired Of Waiting For Feds To Act, Wyoming Making Its Own Digital Banking Rules
After waiting about a decade for promised federal regulation of the emerging digital financial landscape, Wyoming lawmakers are making their own. A bill to regulate third-party apps that interface with banks is close to passing the Legislature.
Renée JeanFebruary 19, 2023
First She Took On Bobby Flay, Now Wyoming Chef Petrina Pert Tapped As US Culinary Diplomat
The star continues to rise for Cheyenne Chef Petrina Peart. She almost beat Bobby Flay on his hit Food Network show and now has been tapped to represent the United States as a culinary diplomat.
Renée JeanFebruary 18, 2023
Wyoming Lawmakers Work To Counteract Skyrocketing Property Tax Bills
Of 21 bills filed this session to ease exploding property tax increases, Rep. Liz Storers House Bill 99 has emerged a favorite. It calls for relief to kick in when property tax bills are more than 10% of someones gross income.
Renée JeanFebruary 17, 2023
Sen. Affie Ellis Brings Dirt From Sutton Archaeological Site To Wyoming Capitol
House lawmakers continued to advance a bill that would fence a special archaeological site in Wyoming adjacent to the Powers II red ochre mine. The site has large ceremonial circles that could prove significant in understanding the states earliest inhabitants.
Renée JeanFebruary 17, 2023
Should Wyoming Tax Property Like It Does Vehicles?
A bill moving through the Wyoming Legislature would study whether the state should change from valuations to determine property tax to basing it on a propertys purchase price.
Renée JeanFebruary 16, 2023
There Are Many More Balloons Floating Overhead Than You Might Realize, Thousands Launched Every Day
The U.S. military may need a lot more missiles given the number of unidentified balloons navigating high overhead at any given time, says meteorologist Don Day. In fact, thousands are launched every day.
Renée JeanFebruary 15, 2023
It’s The Craziest Day Of The Year For Wyoming Chocolatiers
It may not be raining chocolate, but its close for Wyoming chocolatiers, who will each go through hundreds of pounds of chocolate for that annual ritual of giving sweets to the sweet.
Renée JeanFebruary 14, 2023
Bill Would Have Driver’s Licenses Going Retro With Black-And-White Photos
Wyoming is using a new and more secure technology for its drivers licenses, but that technology so far does not play well with color. To allow black-and-white photos on them requires the Wyoming Legislature to act.
Renée JeanFebruary 14, 2023
Chinese New Year A Celebration Of Joy, Culture For Cheyenne Family
Dragons and lions made for a magical annual Chinese New Year party in Cheyenne, an event held by Bryan and Sara Pedersen to celebrate the heritage of their two adopted children.
Renée JeanFebruary 14, 2023
Wyoming’s Cigar Tax Bill Is A Great Example Of Sausage-Making In The Legislative Process
The old adage goes "If you like laws and sausages, you should never watch either one being made. Wyoming's cigar tax bill is a good example the sausage-making in action.
Renée JeanFebruary 12, 2023
Saratoga’s Famous Hobo Hot Springs A Remote Gem In Wyoming’s Snowy Range
Theres an alchemy at work in Saratoga, Wyoming, at the base of the Snowy Range Mountains that has long brought people to what they believe must be healing waters. The best part is a soak in the Hobo Pool is, and always has been, free.
Renée JeanFebruary 12, 2023
Wyoming Stores On Long List Of Bed, Bath & Beyond Closures
In another round of cost-saving moves, national big-box retailer Bed, Bath & Beyond has announced its closing hundreds of its brick-and-mortar stores, including the Casper and Cheyenne locations in Wyoming.
Renée JeanFebruary 11, 2023
Wyoming Filmmaker Says Film Incentives Bill Deliberately Killed By House Majority Leader
A Wyoming filmmaker says a bill that would have provided incentives to film companies that shoot Wyoming-centric films in the Cowboy State was targeted for failure by the Wyoming Freedom Caucus.
Renée JeanFebruary 10, 2023
Property Tax Relief Bills Die After Freedom Caucus Blocks Them
Both bills that aimed to give residential property a category of its own -- and would make it easier to provide property tax relief -- failed. That means any specifically targeted homeowner relief is likely dead as well.
Renée JeanFebruary 09, 2023
Wyoming Property Owners Closer To Some Tax Relief As $50,000 Exemption Passes House
The bill would provide a an average savings of $300 for Wyoming homeowners under House Bill 98, which advanced to the Senate floor Wednesday evening.
Renée JeanFebruary 09, 2023
C.J. Box Films Won’t Be Produced In Wyoming Anytime Soon; Legislature Shoots Down Film Incentives Again
The Big Sky and Joe Pickett television shows arent likely to get authentic Wyoming settings anytime soon as a bill that would have created incentives for filmmakers who shoot their Wyoming storylines in the Cowboy State died on Tuesday.
Renée JeanFebruary 08, 2023
No Fishing Derby? No Problem: Ice Racing Revs Up Saratoga’s Winter Lineup
When Game and Fish decided to kill all the fish in Lake Saratoga last summer, it dealt a significant blow to winter tourism in Saratoga. But the townspeople got together and made the best out of it. Turns out the lake is a great place for motorized ice racing.
Renée JeanFebruary 07, 2023
Saratoga Skijoring 2023: A Broken Leg, Plenty Of Wrecks, And A Great Time
Visitors to Saratogas skijoring championship this past weekend will found a scene reminiscent of spring break, but its in the snow. Instead of college pranks, theres skijoring, with some of the best steak and pea moments aka wrecks around.Â
Renée JeanFebruary 07, 2023