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

This splendid rainbow over a colorful field of wildflower in the Bighorns inspired Victoria Haun of the Lucky Chukar Ranch in the Bighorn Mountains.

Lucky Chukar Ranch In The Bighorns Lives Up To Its Name After Spectacular Back-To-Back Rainbows — Including A Double

Rainbows are not more common in the Bighorn Mountains, Cowboy State Daily Meteorologist Don Day says, but they’re still a beautiful sight, especially with a more-generous-than-usual wildflower bloom in progress.

Renée JeanMay 26, 2023

Wyoming-based Taco John's reports it's been the beneficiary of huge global publicity since Taco Bell challenged its 34-year-old trademark on the phrase "Taco Tuesday."

Taco Tuesday War Brings Huge Global Publicity For Wyoming-Based Taco John’s

Lebron James, Jack In The Box and Gov. Mark Gordon all have waded into the World Taco War with publicity stunts mocking one side or the other. In the meantime, Taco John’s has enjoyed huge global publicity.

Renée JeanMay 25, 2023

SEC Commission Suspends Registration Of Wyoming’s First Legally Registered DAO

Wyoming’s first legally registered DAO, American CryptoFed, has run into trouble with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which has suspended its effort to register with the agency.

Renée JeanMay 24, 2023

Teton County Has Affordable Housing Choices: 45 Free Acres? Buy 5 Acres for $28 Million? Or Both?

Housing in Jackson has long been tight, expensive and over-complicated. The recent purchase of a 5-acre parcel for $28 million has advocates of a project involving a 45-acre donation of land for affordable housing wondering why their project is delayed.

Renée JeanMay 24, 2023

Wyoming state Sen. Chris Rothfuss, D-Laramie, left, and Rep. Cyrus Western, R-Big Horn, serve on the state's Select Blockchain Committee and say Wyoming can continue to be a leader in the digital space by working with top experts on regulating generative AI.

Wyoming Lines Up With Top Experts As It Wrestles With How To Regulate ChatGPT and AI

Wyoming is getting one-of-a-kind access to the nation’s top experts in all things digital thanks to being out in front of a fast-growing business sector — despite antagonistic federal pushback.

Renée JeanMay 23, 2023

Cheyenne's Historic Hitching Post Inn Was The Place To Be For Wyoming’s Movers And Shakers

Part One of a Series: Cheyenne’s Hitching Post Inn, once dubbed the 'Second Capitol' of Wyoming, was destroyed by fire in 2010. When Cowboy State Daily wrote about the revitalization of the land where the Hitching Post once stood, many shared their memories of the place, a testament to a legacy of the legendary hotel.

Renée JeanMay 21, 2023

Wyld Amber Ale created in Laramie at Altitude Chophouse & Brewery donates a portion of sales to support Cowboy State wildlife.

Laramie Brewery’s New Wyld Amber Ale Is First Co-Branded Product To Support Wyoming Wildlife

Wyldlife For Tomorrow has another innovative idea for supporting wildlife — and it’s delicious. Wyld Amber Ale created in Laramie at Altitude Chophouse & Brewery donates a portion of sales to support the effort.

Renée JeanMay 21, 2023

Blue benches dot the hike to the waterfall at Garden Creek Falls near Casper. The trail and falls are part of Rotary Park.

Explore Wyoming: Garden Creek Falls Near Casper An Easy Spring Hike — And Excuse For A Picnic

Garden Creek Falls is a gem of a waterfall found at the base of Casper Mountain. In May, with the snow melting, it’s at its strongest and is a photo magnet for prom-goers and graduates.

Renée JeanMay 21, 2023

L & H Industrial CEO Mike Wandler said a deep-sea diving accident sparked a journey to finding better mental health. Along with the personal benefits, prioritizing mental fitness in his business has been game-changing.

Mental Fitness A Key To Success For Wyoming’s L & H Industrial As It Builds Biggest Machines On Earth

Mike Wandler, CEO of Gillette-based L & H Industrial, founded the Travis Ramsey mental fitness program after suffering panic attacks while deep-sea diving. It was so life-changing, he brought it to his company, and now the world.

Renée JeanMay 20, 2023

Wyoming Lawmakers Turn To Experts To Stay Ahead Of AI Curve, Even As ChatGPT4 Passes Bar Exam

Wyoming's Select Committee on Blockchain met in Jackson this week to go over emerging developments in the digital sector. The smarter the AI is the more potentially harmful it can be if it doesn’t have appropriate guardrails, John Nay, a fellow with the computer department at Stanford University told legislators.

Renée JeanMay 20, 2023

Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon says the state is fully behind Wyoming-based Taco John's in its battle with fast-food behemoth Taco Bell over the trademark to the phrase "Taco Tuesday."

Gordon Horks Down Food While Supporting Wyoming-Based Taco John’s In ‘Taco Tuesday’ Fight

Gov. Mark Gordon on Thursday horked down some Taco John's while stating he supported the Cheyenne-based restaurant chain in its battle to keep the trademarked phrase "Taco Tuesday."

Renée JeanMay 18, 2023

Taco Bell Fights To Use Trademarked Phrase ‘Taco Tuesday’ Owned By Cheyenne-Based Taco John's

Taco Bell has filed a petition with the U.S. Patent Office that seeks to quash Wyoming-based Taco John’s 34-year trademark on the phrase “Taco Tuesday.” Taco John's has survived every prior legal challenge over the phrase.

Renée JeanMay 17, 2023

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More than 150 people packed into the Wagon Box Inn on Saturday to learn more about the WagonBox DAO, which owns the historic property.

Wagon Box DAO Owner Holds Town Hall In Front Of Packed House In Story

The Wagon Box Inn’s new owner, Paul McNiel, addressed more than 150 residents of Story, Wyoming, on Saturday to discuss his plans to set up a "digital time-share" and if his plans were going to change the fundamental character of Story.

Renée JeanMay 16, 2023

The WagonBoxDAO isn't the first digital land buy in Wyoming, that was CityDAO. The Cowboy State has favorable rules for those wanting to set up these types of ownership groups.

Wyoming’s First Digital Land Buy Wasn’t Story’s Historic Wagon Box Inn, It Was CityDAO Near Yellowstone

CityDAO bought 40 acres near Yellowstone National Park in 2021, but records from the digital city don’t yet explain any particular use for the property. It was the first digital land buy in Wyoming, now another is happening with property that includes the historic Wagon Box Inn in Story.

Renée JeanMay 14, 2023

Trees and shrubs in Wyoming have been getting some mixed signals from Mother Nature, with temperatures near 80 degrees one day and in the teens shortly thereafter. How do the trees know when the weather's trying to confuse them?

Wyoming’s Roller Coaster Spring Weather Can Confuzzle Your Fruit Trees

Wyoming’s roller coaster springs, with temperatures in the 80s one week and in the teens the next, present particular problems for fruit tree growers. But a variety of fruit trees will still grow in the Cowboy State, even if they don’t produce fruits every year.

Renée JeanMay 14, 2023

Rhuberry may look like pink lemonade, but its beer infused with the flavors of rhubarb, raspberries and strawberries.

The Pink Beer At Laramie’s Bond’s Brewing Co. Isn’t Just A Favorite With Women, Guys Are Drinking It Too

Real Wyoming men may not eat quiche, but apparently they do drink pink beer at Bond’s Brewing Co. in Laramie, where owners Jay and Mallory say it’s one of their most popular.

Renée JeanMay 13, 2023

The historic Wagon Box Inn in Story, Wyoming, has new owners — 300 of them through a DAO, or decentralized autonomous organization, which has local residents asking questions.

Story, Wyoming, Residents Shaken By Community Of Digital Outsiders Taking Over Historic Wagon Box Inn

Residents of the tiny unincorporated town of Story, Wyoming, are worried an outside group of up to 300 people who will digitally purchase the historic Wagon Box Inn could forever change the community.

Renée JeanMay 11, 2023

Caitlin Long custodia bank founder 2 20 23

Wyoming’s Caitlin Long Named One of Nation’s 20 Most Innovative Leaders In Banking

Caitlin Long’s fight with the Federal Reserve for her Wyoming digital bank is getting national spotlight from well-recognized trade publication American Banker, which named her one of the industry’s 20 Most Innovative Leaders.

Renée JeanMay 09, 2023

Wyoming Stable Token A Multibillion-Dollar Opportunity As Officials Wrestle With How To Make It Happen

Gov. Mark Gordon said he’s committed to finding a way for Wyoming to become the first state with its own stable token, even if federal agencies aren’t keen on the idea. Trillions of dollars in retail commerce — which could mean billions for Wyoming — are at stake.

Renée JeanMay 09, 2023

J.R. Twiford is a fifth-generation Wyomingite from Douglas who wants to boost Wyoming's federal contracts from $200 million to $12 billion.

Cowboy From Douglas Who Retired From Pentagon Wants To Boost Wyoming’s Federal Contracts To $12 Billion

A fifth-generation Wyoming cowboy from Douglas, J.R. Twiford has relocated his Washington, D.C., business to Laramie. He plans to measure its success in part by how many jobs he can lasso for the Cowboy State.

Renée JeanMay 07, 2023

Florida Man To Play Pickleball In Wyoming As Part of 48 Matches In 48 Days World Record Attempt

Dean Matt’s idea to play 48 matches in 48 days in 48 states is modeled after the Iron Cowboy. He is scheduled to play VisitCasper’s Tyler Daugherty and Luke Gilliam at the 307 Tennis Club next Saturday at 11am.

Renée JeanMay 07, 2023

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