Wyoming Life
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News
Full Lunar Eclipse Directly Over Wyoming Will Make Moon Look Blood-Red
A total lunar eclipse just after midnight March 14 will be positioned directly over Wyoming, which means Wyomingites will have an excellent view of the all-night event. It’ll be hard to miss — the moon will look blood-red.
Andrew RossiMarch 05, 2025
Winter Surge Could Dump 20 Inches Of Snow On Parts Of Wyoming
Nearly all of Wyoming will see snow sometimes between Wednesday night through Friday from an incoming wet winter storm. The surge could dump as much as 20 inches on Casper Mountain and South Pass, and a foot in central and northwest Wyoming.
Andrew RossiMarch 05, 2025
Dubois Double-Amputee Wrestler Wins State Championship
Sammie Cyrus, a senior double-amputee wrestler from Dubois High School, capped his career as a state champion. Cyrus won the Class 2A 106-pound division during this past weekend at the Wyoming state tournament in Casper.
Andrew RossiMarch 04, 2025
Before They Become Bull Riders, Wyoming Rodeo Kids Learn On Steers
Rodeo is a way of life for many Wyoming families, which means kids are learning to ride and rope almost as soon as they can walk. Before they become bull riders, these budding stars learn on steers.
Hunter McDaniel for Cowboy State DailyMarch 03, 2025
Southeast Wyoming To Get Blasted By Heavy Snow And 55MPH Winds On Monday
A fast-moving low-pressure system centering on southeast Wyoming could dump several inches of snow in Cheyenne and Laramie late Monday. Winds could top 55 mph during the snowstorm. A Winter Storm Watch has been issued.
Andrew RossiMarch 02, 2025
It's A Real Job: “Dinosaur Erection Specialist” Positions Dino Skeletons At Museum
Ry Williams is a self-described “dinosaur erection specialist” who’s a lot like a window dresser at a department store, except instead of arranging mannequins he poses and positions delicate, huge and ancient dinosaur skeletons -- many of which are from Wyoming.
Andrew RossiMarch 02, 2025
The Woman Behind The Gigantic Sand Sculptures At Glendo
A Casper woman’s addiction to building intricate sand sculptures takes her all over America. But she practices in her home state at Glendo, where she built a 6-foot-tall cowboy boot (which is still standing). She says Wyoming sand is the best.
Renée JeanMarch 02, 2025
The English Westerner Society: Brits Obsessed with Wyoming, Outlaws And All Things Cowboy
The English Westerner Society started in the 1950s to give American West enthusiasts in England a place to talk about their favorite topic. Mike Bell is one of those British enthusiasts. He has written several books on Butch Cassidy and Wyoming outlaws.
Jackie DorothyMarch 02, 2025
Wyoming History: When The Waltzing Mouse Was The Most Popular Pet In America
More than a century ago, the waltzing mouse exploded as the most popular pet in America. Now we know these spazzed-out tiny rodents have a neurological disorder, but then they were beloved for their “dancing.”
Jackie DorothyMarch 02, 2025
Glenrock Woman Spends Final Days In Hospice Writing Book, Getting Tattoos
A 43-year-old Glenrock mother of four, wife and business owner is facing her final days at a Casper hospice. She's got a 'bucket list' of things to do before she dies, which includes finishing her book and completing an inspirational tattoo sleeve of her left arm.
Dale KillingbeckMarch 01, 2025
White Mountain Handprints Near Rock Springs Unlike Any Other Petroglyphs
While there are hundreds of inscribed petroglyphs at the White Mountain Petroglyph Site north of Rock Springs, the deep handprints gouged into a sandstone pillar are unlike anything else. Scientists are struggling to understand them.
Andrew RossiMarch 01, 2025
Where Are The Six Bodies Missing From Wyoming’s Smoky Row Cemetery?
As many as nine people were long believed to have been buried in the historic 1890 Smoky Row Cemetery in Hot Springs State Park in Wyoming. Now ground-penetrating radar shows six of them aren’t there, so where are the missing Smoky Row bodies?
Jackie DorothyMarch 01, 2025
Cheyenne Man Builds His Dream House: Throwback Medieval English Mead Hall
Cyning Meadowcroft built his dream home in Happy Valley near Cheyenne using a near-extinct construction method called a "cruck" to build it. The former Brit built the medieval English mead hall home by himself and trucked two old-growth oak trees 2,000 miles round-trip to begin the project.
Renée JeanMarch 01, 2025
Girl Scouts Push Back On Claim That Cookies Have Unsafe Levels Of Weed-Killer Chemical
Going up against Joe Rogan is no easy task, but that's what the Girl Scouts are doing after he discussed a study that called its cookies "toxic." The Girl Scouts of Wyoming and Montana told Cowboy State Daily the cookies are "very safe to eat."
David MadisonMarch 01, 2025
Boooo! Soda Can Moving On Its Own Captured On Video At Sweetwater County Jail
A soda can moving on its own was caught on video earlier this week at the Sweetwater County Detention Center in Rock Springs. Workers there say it's the latest evidence that the facility is haunted.
Andrew RossiMarch 01, 2025
Cowboy State Daily’s Wendy Corr Receives Major Western Award For Podcast
Cowboy State Daily News Director and podcast host Wendy Corr has been honored by the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. John Wayne, George Strait, and Reba McEntire are among honorees.
Jen KocherFebruary 26, 2025
Rare 144-Year Seven-Planet Parade Lines Up Over Wyoming This Week
Saturn, Mercury, Neptune, Venus, Uranus, Jupiter and Mars will all be visible in the night skies over Wyoming after sunset Friday, an alignment that only happens once every 144 years.
Andrew RossiFebruary 25, 2025
Northern Wyoming Swings 85 Degrees — From Minus 27 To 58 — In Four Days
Parts of northern Wyoming that broke records for cold on Thursday hit 58 on Sunday. That’s a huge 85-degree swing in just four days.
Andrew RossiFebruary 25, 2025
Josh Allen To Be Inducted Into Wyoming Cowboys Hall Of Fame
Buffalo Bills star quarterback Josh Allen, fresh off being named the MVP of the NFL earlier this month, has another accolade upcoming: The University of Wyoming Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame announced him as part of the Class of 2025.
Justin GeorgeFebruary 24, 2025
Texas Red Chili Wins Popular Casper Chili Cook-Off For Fifth Time
A Texas red chili was voted No. 1 at the popular API Chili Cook-Off in Casper on Saturday. It’s the fifth time Norman Jackson’s secret recipe has won, as thousands of people packed the Ford Wyoming Center in Casper for the 32nd annual event.
Renée JeanFebruary 24, 2025
Meet Mia The Walmart Dog — Casper’s Tutu-Wearing Celebrity K-9
When Casper Walmart greeter Billy Welch started bringing his service support dog Mia to work with him, he didn’t expect the pit bull-mastiff mix would become a local celebrity. Now the tutu-wearing K-9 has her own social media with thousands of followers.
Dale KillingbeckFebruary 23, 2025
Montana Man Recovers Lost Stories Of Chinese Who Helped Build The American West
Chinese immigrants flocked to the American West in the 1800s to help build railroads and amid a mining boom. Many of their experiences have largely been forgotten by history, but a Montana man is helping recover their stories.
Anna-Louise Jackson for Cowboy State DailyFebruary 23, 2025
1904 Casper Police Docket Full Of Prostitutes, Drunks And Horses On Sidewalks
In January, someone donated a Casper police docket book from 1904 to a local thrift store. It gives a fascinating glimpse into the most prevalent crimes of the day: prostitutes, drunks and people fined for riding horses on sidewalks.
Dale KillingbeckFebruary 23, 2025
Huge 153,000-Pound Tanker Becomes Biggest Addition To Wyoming Flight Museum
Tanker 97, a Boeing KC-97 Stratofreighter, a new addition to the Museum of Flight and Aerial Firefighting in Greybull, has immediately become the crown jewel of the museum's collection. The aircraft has a 141-foot wingspan and weighs 153,000 pounds.
Andrew RossiFebruary 23, 2025
Strange On The Range: Wyoming Comic Artists Create Eclectic Compilation Of Wild & Weird
Strange on the Range is a new underground publication that features an eclectic mix of Wyoming comic artists. The hard-copy magazine is dedicated to the work of Wyoming comic illustrators.
David MadisonFebruary 23, 2025
He Lost A Leg In Combat, Now Wyoming Vet Teaches Others To Adapt And Overcome
Karl Milner lost a leg in combat, but the Gillette veteran used his military training to adapt and overcome to map out a new mission in life. Now he treats others facing mental and physical challenges to ski. He's a better teacher, he says, because "he's been there."
Jackie DorothyFebruary 23, 2025
Wyoming Only State Not Sending A Pinball Wizard To North American Championships
A budding pinball scene fizzled out a few years ago in Cheyenne, which means Wyoming will be the only state without someone competing at the North American Championships. But a Cinderella pinball wizard from Montana is going full-tilt to earn a title.
David MadisonFebruary 23, 2025
Wyoming History: The Wyoming Man Who Designed B-52 Jet Engine That Transformed Aviation
Leonard Hobbs was born in small Carbon, Wyoming, in 1895 and grew up to help transform aviation, designing one of the most important jet engines in history. It was the workhorse of America's B-52 jet bombers.
Dale KillingbeckFebruary 23, 2025
Where The Heck In Wyoming Is This One-Of-A-Kind Western Iron Art Fence?
Lela Emmons of tiny Savery, Wyoming, stumbled on an unusual artistic fence in the 1990s and took photos of it. But she forgot where it was and hasn’t been able to find it again in about 30 years. She hopes someone in Wyoming can solve the mystery.
Renée JeanFebruary 23, 2025
Award-Winning Wyoming Author Debuts First Crime Thriller That Took 10 Years To Write
Maria Kelson was already an award-winning Wyoming poet when she decided to tackle something totally different — a crime thriller. The result is “Not The Killing Kind,” a gripping whodunit that took 10 years to write.
Jackie DorothyFebruary 23, 2025
To Boost Bee Immune Systems, Researchers Strap In Honeybees For Live Test Flights
Viruses spread through honeybee hives like the flu virus in a crowded waiting room. Looking to boost bee immune systems, researchers are examining the impact of viruses on honeybee flight performance and testing supplements.
David MadisonFebruary 22, 2025
Drinking Wyoming: Whiskey Was The Go-To Medicinal Remedy Of The Wild West
Survival in Wild West Wyoming depended on treating illnesses without the help of modern medicine. Whiskey figured in a lot of treatments for all sorts of medical problems — some good and some quite insane.
Renée JeanFebruary 22, 2025
Glendo Native Creates Life-Size Moose From Junk Parts For Breast Cancer Fundraiser
A welder from Glendo sees the potential in other people’s junk to create unique sculptures, like a life-size moose standing in Casper called "Holy Smokes." He created this sculpture for a fundraiser to benefit a Glendo-based breast cancer foundation.
Dale KillingbeckFebruary 22, 2025
VIDEO: Wyoming's Billboard Sheriff: A Day In The Life Of Brian Kozak
Laramie County Sheriff Brian Kozak has captured national attention with his viral billboard and bold "vacancy" sign on his jail, while also earning a reputation locally for his unconventional approach. Cowboy State Daily spent a day with the sheriff to get a firsthand look at his unique style.
Hannah Brock & Reilly StrandFebruary 22, 2025
How A Former Law Enforcement Officer Became A Top Psychic Investigator
Jeff Ginter always knew he was a weird kid, but he learned to embrace his psychic powers throughout a career in law enforcement. Now he’s a top psychic, working to solve cold cases in Wyoming and around the world.
Jen KocherFebruary 22, 2025
Chancey Williams’ Ode To His Wyoming Cowboy Uncle Hits No. 1 On CMT Music
Inspired by his uncle Don Williams and the joy of bronc riding, Chancey Williams’ new hit song “The Ballad of Uncle Don” has hit No. 1 on the CMT Music charts. Chancey said the song came about over cup of coffee with his uncle in Moorcroft, Wyoming.
Jackie DorothyFebruary 22, 2025
Jackson Hole Girls Basketball Snaps 79-Game Losing Streak With Last Second 3-Pointer
In a home game against Riverton, four seniors for Jackson Hole High School had never won a high school basketball game until a sophomore sharpshooter sunk a clutch 3-pointer Thursday. The 35-32 win snapped the Broncs’ 79-game losing streak.
David MadisonFebruary 22, 2025
Sheridan, Gillette, Newcastle Set Record Lows; 80+ Inches Of Snow In Southern Wyoming
Fans of winter, rejoice! Sheridan, Gillette, and Newcastle all set record low temperatures on Wednesday morning. Meanwhile, more than 80 inches of snow has fallen in the Snowies and Sierra Madres. Meteorologist Don Day says there's plenty more to come too.
Andrew RossiFebruary 19, 2025
Single Mom Caught In Green River Tunnel Says Hero Led Survivors From Fiery Crash
A local single mom who was caught in an explosive 26-vehicle crash Friday in the Green River Tunnel says a hero named Ray led her and others out of the tunnel. She dragged her arm along the wall to escape in the thick, black smoke.
Clair McFarlandFebruary 17, 2025
Cheyenne Couple Loses Insurance After Truck Crashes Into Their House
A pickup truck crashed into a Cheyenne couple’s home last fall, causing at least $30,000 damage. Now State Farm Insurance is dropping their home coverage, and no other company will insure them.
Leo WolfsonFebruary 17, 2025
Investors Purchase 40,000 Shares Of Wyoming Stegosaurus Skeleton In Just 18 Minutes
A Stegosaurus skeleton being excavated in the famous Bone Cabin Quarry near Medicine Bow is expected to sell for millions. In December, investors could purchase a share of the dinosaur for $68.75. 40,000 shares sold in 18 minutes.
Andrew RossiFebruary 16, 2025
Former Metal Drummer Turned Singing Cupid Delivers Love — And Embarrassment
Casper has had a Cupid of sorts for the past 10 years in Joe Eason, a former heavy metal drummer who does singing telegrams as a side gig. On Valentine’s Day, he delivers up to 35 of the most embarrassing singing telegrams he can muster.
Renée JeanFebruary 16, 2025
Gillette Man Builds Black Powder Cannons, Lets Kids Shoot Them
What began as an outreach for troubled youth led to a Gillette machinist's shop becoming a black powder cannon and mortar factory. Now he builds cannons and lets kids shoot in a safe, controlled environment with adult supervision.
Mark HeinzFebruary 16, 2025
Cheyenne Stargazers Love Space So Much They Built Their Own Observatory
Cheyenne’s Marcy Curran, the cofounder of the Cheyenne Astronomy Society and an editor of a major astronomy publication, has spent 40 years studying the sky. She and her husband recently built their own observatory.
Renée JeanFebruary 16, 2025
Rare (And Illegal) In The U.S. Toyota Land Cruisers Turn Heads On Wyoming’s I-80
Two rare 79 Series Toyota Land Cruisers spotted near Laramie on I-80 turned heads of auto enthusiasts. These vehicles aren't legal in the U.S. and are often seen in the Middle East equipped with rocket launchers, machine guns, and other weaponry.
Andrew RossiFebruary 16, 2025
Kayaking Can Be Dangerous, Just Ask The Guy Who Was Swallowed By Whale
Kayaking isn't a risk-free activity, but the man who was in the mouth of a humpback whale while paddling on the Pacific Ocean was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. A Wyoming kayaker says he was “pretty amazed” by the encounter.
Andrew RossiFebruary 16, 2025
Have An Extra Three Grand? Old “Welcome To Wyoming” Signs Are Up For Auction
Now that the state of Wyoming has put up new welcome signs on roadways all across the state, the ones that have greeted motorists since 2017 are up for sale. They aren't small -- ranging in size from 8x4 ft to 16x8 ft. Some bids are topping $3,000 so far.
Anna-Louise Jackson for Cowboy State DailyFebruary 15, 2025
People All Over Wyoming Rally To Pray For Olivia, 7, Lone Survivor Of Murder-Suicide
In Casper and all over Wyoming, people gathered Friday evening to rally and pray for the 7-year-old survivor of Monday’s tragic murder-suicide in Byron. “Wyomingites come together when needed,” a prayer organizer said.
Dale KillingbeckFebruary 15, 2025
Wyoming History: Valentine’s Day Used To Be As Much For Haters As Lovers
In the 1800s and early 1900s in Cheyenne, Wyoming, Valentine’s Day was not just for lovers, it was also for haters and just for fun. It was popular to share your anonymous feelings with humorous and derogatory Valentine’s Day cards.
Jackie DorothyFebruary 13, 2025
Fast Action Helps Save Horse Named Frisky From Collapsed Septic Tank
A host of agencies responded fast to save a horse named Frisky that had fallen into a collapsed septic tank in southern Colorado on Saturday. The local sheriff’s office reports the horse was scared and cold, but is fine now.
Andrew RossiFebruary 13, 2025
Rolls-Royces In Snow Tires: Sheridan Winter Rodeo Attracts Different Kind Of Cowboy
Four Rolls-Royce Cullinans and a Spectre were turning heads around Sheridan, Wyoming, this past weekend. Not everyone is a fan of the different kind of high-society cowboy attracted by the town’s annual WYO Winter Rodeo.
Andrew RossiFebruary 11, 2025
Some Daytime High Temperatures In Wyoming This Week Will Be Well Below Zero
Some of the coldest temperatures of the 2024 - 2025 season are heading to Wyoming this week. Some areas of the state will see daytime high temperatures of 20 below zero while overnight low temps could hit negative 30.
Andrew RossiFebruary 10, 2025
Don’t Crowd The Snowplow During Wyoming’s Whiteouts
So far there have been nine incidents of motorists running into snowplows this year. With big winter storms converging on Wyoming this week, WYDOT is asking drivers to slow down and steer clear of snowplows.
Jackie DorothyFebruary 10, 2025
Wyoming: A State For Single Dudes
Wyoming ranks as the state with the third highest ratio of bachelors in the United States. For every 100 single women, 106 unmarried men are milling around. In the early 1900s, there were proposals considered that would tax bachelors to encourage them to get married.
Jen KocherFebruary 09, 2025
A Rock Found In Worland Could Be Magic Or An Ancient Tool
When LeAnn Baker found a rock with a smooth hole in the middle, she was told it was a magic hag stone. However, archaeologist Mike Beis said it was most likely a spindle whorl, a simple tool used by Indian tribes for centuries.
Jackie DorothyFebruary 09, 2025
Scientists Are Taking Possibility Of Asteroid Slamming Into Earth Seriously
The newly-discovered Asteroid 2024 YR is being taken seriously by scientists at NASA who say it's got a legit shot at slamming into the Earth. Right now, the odds are 1 in 43. UW planetarium guru says El Salvador is much more likely of a hit than Wyoming.
Andrew RossiFebruary 09, 2025
Dubois Double-Amputee Wrestler Has Made The Most Of His Disadvantages
Sammie Cyrus, a senior at Dubois High School, has won over 100 matches and become an exceptional wrestler despite losing the lower halves of both his legs as a child. With the right mentality and attitude, anything can be overcome, he says.
Andrew RossiFebruary 09, 2025
Cody Woman Donates 4 Gallons Of Breast Milk To New Wyoming Milk Bank
Cody Regional Health has become a milk depot for Mother's Milk Bank, an agency that pasteurizes and distributes donated breast milk to infant ICUs across the nation. A local woman has already donated 4 gallons to the new milk bank.
Andrew RossiFebruary 09, 2025
What's In A Name: Dubois, Wyoming
You can always spot a tourist in Dubois, Wyoming, by how they pronounce the name of the town. In Wyoming, it's called Doo-boys, not the French pronunciation of Deh-bwah. How it got called that is shrouded in myth and mystery.
Jackie DorothyFebruary 09, 2025
VIDEO: An Old Horse Trainer Returns To His First Roots
Charles Walks had walked away from horse training for about a decade, but he couldn’t stay away. Now at the Terry Bison Ranch in Cheyenne, he returned to the job he had learned while growing up on the Crow Reservation in southern Montana.
Hannah Brock & Reilly StrandFebruary 08, 2025
Wyoming History: The 1919 Casper Whiskey Raid Gone Bad
A 1919 raid on a big whiskey stash by lawmen in Casper was a disaster in every way. A shootout killed a deputy and wounded many others. The sheriff never produced a warrant and those raided pleaded ignorance to knowing they were officers. Everyone charged walked away.
Dale KillingbeckFebruary 08, 2025
University Of Wyoming Spends $2 Million For Super Bowl Ad Celebrating Josh Allen
The University of Wyoming has expended $2 million for a 30-second ad during the Super Bowl celebrating Buffalo Bills' quarterback Josh Allen and his connection to the University of Wyoming. The spot will air in cities across the country and will be seen in Wyoming too.
Andrew RossiFebruary 07, 2025
Wyoming Cowboys Will Play Coach Prime And the Colorado Buffaloes Next Season
On Sept. 20, the Wyoming Cowboys will head down to Boulder for an anticipated matchup with Coach Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes, a contest that will feature two young teams and bring national exposure to a regional matchup. UW last played CU in 2009.
Justin GeorgeFebruary 07, 2025
Wyoming's Josh Allen Wins His First MVP
Former University of Wyoming quarterback Josh Allen won his first most valuable player award on Thursday night. The Buffalo Bills QB edged out Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson in the closest ballot since 2005.
Jimmy OrrFebruary 07, 2025
Here Comes The Sun: February Is Month For Greatest Increase In Sunshine
For those tired of the dark, dreary days of winter, February is the month of optimism. This is the month where we gain the most sunlight. Cody and Greybull are tops in the state and will gain 1 hour and 19 minutes of sun by the end of the month.
Jimmy OrrFebruary 06, 2025
Cody Residents Celebrate Snow Day By Slapping On Skis And Attaching Themselves To Moving Cars
Although it's frowned on by the police, some Cody residents celebrated their snow-day on Monday by slapping on some skis and attaching themselves to vehicles with a rope. One Cody resident posted photos of the amateur skijoring but blacked out incriminating evidence to protect the guilty.
Andrew RossiFebruary 05, 2025
120 MPH Wind Gust On Mount Coffin One Of Strongest Ever In Wyoming
A 120 mph wind gust recorded on Mount Coffin in western Wyoming last week is among the strongest wind gusts ever recorded in the Cowboy State. Winds that strong can easily be fatal, throwing people and objects around.
Andrew RossiFebruary 04, 2025
Snowstorm Shuts Down Cody, While It’s Near 60 And Spring-Like In Cheyenne
While southeast Wyoming enjoyed sunny skies spring-like temperatures near 60 degrees Monday, it was another story in the northwest corner of the state. Subzero temperatures and up to 36 inches of snow shut down Cody.
Andrew RossiFebruary 03, 2025
Kiddos On Skis: How Wyoming's Antelope Butte Ski Resort Teaches Littles How To Ski
At Antelope Butte, the youngest students are just three years old and when they are first put on the skis. But it doesn’t take long for them to start grasping the basic concepts and take off in controlled chaos.
Jackie DorothyFebruary 02, 2025
Restoration Of Historic Tumble Inn Sign Almost Complete
Efforts to restore the old neon Tumble Inn cowboy sign that once sat next to U.S. Highway 26 between Casper and Shoshoni are getting close to completion. Hopes are to have the sign installed in a downtown Casper district by Memorial Day.
Dale KillingbeckFebruary 02, 2025
People Can’t Get Enough Of This Guy’s Realistic Squirrel Warriors
Montana artist and taxidermist Bob McEachern’s Squirrel Warriors sell out as fast as he can make them. The buckskin-clad squirrels holding longbows, spears, or rifles aren't cheap either. They start at $750 and one just sold for $2,800.
Anna-Louise Jackson for Cowboy State DailyFebruary 02, 2025
Champion Thoroughbred Finnegans Wake To Make Wyoming Home In Retirement
Finnegans Wake, a racehorse with world-famous bloodlines, is a champion thoroughbred that’s making Wyoming home in retirement. Horse racing insiders say he won’t be the last, either, as the Cowboy State is attracting more industry stars.
Renée JeanFebruary 02, 2025
Wyoming History: Cheyenne Man Was Radio’s Buck Rogers, Scouted German Subs In WWII
Curtis Arnall was raised a cowpuncher in Cheyenne but became famous as the voice of Buck Rogers during the 1930s. The Wyoming native also scouted out German U-boats during World War II, which led to being lost at sea for 21 days.
Dale KillingbeckFebruary 02, 2025
Does Size Matter? Every County In Wyoming Is Bigger Than Rhode Island
Each of Wyoming's 23 counties is larger than the entire state of Rhode Island. Sweetwater County is 7 times larger. Rhode Islanders don't care, however. They say their small size is an advantage.
Andrew RossiFebruary 02, 2025
Groundhog Day: Wyoming’s Lander Lil Doesn’t See Shadow (And No One Shot At Her)
Lander Lil, the famous Wyoming prairie dog who predicts the weather better than Punxsutawney Phil, didn’t see her shadow Sunday. Also, no one shot at her (at least during filming).
Clair McFarlandFebruary 02, 2025
Wyoming Pharmacist’s Gaudy Suit Jackets Are So Bad They’re Awesome
A Thayne pharmacist’s collection of suit jackets is becoming local legend, looking like the leftover rack of a garage sale. The pharmacist has well over 100 jackets and his collection is growing. People now call him in the morning to ask which one he’ll wear that day.
Dale KillingbeckFebruary 01, 2025
Want To Donate Your Body To Science? It’s A Challenge In Wyoming
Want to donate your body to science? Although there’s a shortage of human cadavers for students to learn on, donating your body after you die can be a challenge, especially in a rural state like Wyoming.
Jackie DorothyFebruary 01, 2025
Metal-Detecting Duo Find Wedding Ring Gillette Woman Feared Lost Forever
Shelby Forbes of Gillette was “crying my eyes out” when she lost her grandmother’s wedding ring while throwing hay to her horses. Fearing it could be lost forever, a pair of metal-detecting pals found it, and Forbes burst into tears again.
Andrew RossiFebruary 01, 2025
A Wyoming Cowgirl Is Australia’s Newest Breakaway Roping Champion
A cowgirl from Rozet, Wyoming, named Shawn Robin Chape is Australia’s newest breakaway roping champion. She lassoed the title in a blazing fast 1.69 seconds, setting a new arena record. She credits her Wyoming roots as a huge part of her success.
Renée JeanFebruary 01, 2025
Eating Wyoming: Buffalo Bill Was The World’s Original Galloping Gourmet
“The Galloping Gourmet” on PBS had nothing on Buffalo Bill Cody, who was the original foodie of the West. He brought Mexican food to New York, popcorn to Europe and gourmet dining experiences to the masses.
Renée JeanFebruary 01, 2025
Wyoming Twin Teens Grew Up In The Middle Of Nowhere, But Have Huge Music Dreams
Liam and Layne Jordon, 14, have grown up in the middle of nowhere in Wyoming’s Bighorn Basin. That hasn’t stopped the young musicians from pursing some big dreams of writing and performing their music for the masses.
Jackie DorothyFebruary 01, 2025
Wild West In The Far East: Welcome To China’s Knockoff Jackson Hole
Did you know that there is an exact replica of Jackson Hole in China? Not only does the downtown look the same but the community -- two hours from Beijing -- has 1,500 homes. A filmmaker spent three months in the town for his documentary "Americaville."
Jake NicholsFebruary 01, 2025
Jackson Coaches Devastated By D.C. Air Collision That Killed 14 From Skating Club
Two Skating Club of Jackson Hole coaches trained at the same Boston ice skating club where 14 victims of Wednesday’s D.C.-area plane collision hailed from. They say the news is devastating, especially because a similar tragedy hit the club before.
Justin GeorgeJanuary 30, 2025
Wyoming Ski Areas Can Expect Huge Dump Of Up To 60 Inches Of Snow This Weekend
A massive surge of Pacific moisture will drop up to 60 inches of snow in the western mountains of Wyoming between Friday and Sunday. The rest of Wyoming can expect clouds, wind and a little snow.
Andrew RossiJanuary 30, 2025
Cody Filmmaker Says Premiering To Packed House At Sundance Was “Something Special”
Cody, Wyoming, filmmaker Preston Randolph is a producer of the documentary “Free Leonard Peltier,” which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on Monday to a packed house. He calls the experience “something special.”
Andrew RossiJanuary 29, 2025
Headed To A Hot Springs In Wyoming, Montana Or Colorado? Better Plan Early
People are still hot for hot springs, and various projects are underway this year that will enhance the soaking experience in Wyoming, Colorado and Montana. But if you want to soak somewhere this year, be sure to plan early.
Anna-Louise Jackson for Cowboy State DailyJanuary 26, 2025
The 10 Young Men Who Died Giving Wyoming's Bomber Mountain Its Name
Bomber Mountain in Wyoming’s Big Horn Mountains paid dearly to earn its name when a B-17 Flying Fortress crashed into it in 1943, killing all 10 on board. The oldest was 25, and what happened to the plane was a mystery for two years.
Jackie DorothyJanuary 26, 2025
35-Year Mystery Of Wooden Plane Propeller Clears Up For Wyoming Woman
A Laramie woman and her late husband got a gift from a dentist friend about 35 years ago. It was a long, wooden airplane propeller, but for years they knew nothing about it. Now the mystery is beginning to clear up.
Dale KillingbeckJanuary 26, 2025
Wyoming Man’s Ultimate Wrestling App Tracks Every State Placer In History
Spencer Condie is a former wrestling coach and official who took his hobby of tracking Wyoming’s high school champions to the next level. The result of his years of work is an app that tracks every state placer in history, going back to the 1940s.
Amber SteinmetzJanuary 26, 2025
Wyoming Sleuths Help Return WWI Dog Tags Buried In France For A Century
A French field infamously known as the “mud camp” is still giving up World War I relics lost there more than a century ago, including dog tags. A Wyoming author and investigator are helping them get back to their families.
Jackie DorothyJanuary 26, 2025
Wyoming Radio Voice For More Than 50 Years Steps Away From The Mic
Radio is in Larry Proietti’s blood, and has been waking up his Cheyenne audience for decades. He recently retired after more than 50 years in radio, but is still working behind the scenes.
Jackie DorothyJanuary 26, 2025
Rat Rods, Beer Keg Smoker And Now Moonshine — Life Of A Wyoming Redneck Engineer
A Cheyenne mechanic who loves NASCAR and building rat rods, potato cannons and a smoker out of a beer keg has a new hobby. Inspired by the TV show “Moonshiners,” Geno Stecks is now trying to make his own hooch.
Dale KillingbeckJanuary 26, 2025
A Totally Wyoming Prescription At Cody Care Center: Take Two Ponies A Week, Repeat
Residents at the Long-Term Care Center at Cody Regional Health are reminded often they’re Wyomingites. It happens when their weekly prescription for ponies is filled, letting them interact with animals like they have their whole lives.
Andrew RossiJanuary 25, 2025
Wyoming History: How 17 People Didn’t Have To Die When Trains Collided Near Evanston In 1951
Seventeen people were killed and 159 others hurt when a full-speed train crashed into another nearly stopped on the tracks near Evanston in 1951. The real tragedy is technology was available that could’ve averted disaster.
Dale KillingbeckJanuary 25, 2025
The Cadaver Lab At Central Wyoming College Is A Rarity In Today's Academic World
Most cadaver labs are limited to big public universities. To have one at the community college level is a rarity and makes Central Wyoming College in Riverton stand out. "It is definitely not for the weak," one student told Cowboy State Daily.
Jackie DorothyJanuary 25, 2025
Drinking Wyoming: The Kitsch, One-Time-Trendy Aprés Ski Cocktails Time Forgot
The 50s, 60s, and 70s were the highpoint of the Après Ski scene -- the post-slope, happy-hour tradition of sipping adult beverages and tasting fondue, preferably while wearing a turtleneck. Here’s a sampling of three classic cocktails, one from each decade of après ski’s golden era.
David MadisonJanuary 25, 2025
Pilot On Mission To Save Nearly 100-Year-Old Historic Wyoming Airmail Post
A nearly 100-year-old airmail station near Medicine Bow, Wyoming, was once part of a critical network moving the mail across America. A pilot is on a mission to save this remote outpost, which may be the last of its kind in the United States.
Andrew RossiJanuary 25, 2025
“American Primeval” A Netflix Hit That Gets A Lot Of Wyoming History Wrong
Wyoming’s historic Fort Bridger is taking calls from “American Primeval” fans looking for its hanging spot. But there isn’t one, never has been. That’s just one of many things historians say “American Primeval” gets completely wrong.
Renée JeanJanuary 25, 2025
Six Planets, Including Uranus, Will Line Up Across Wyoming's Night Sky This Weekend
From west to east, Saturn, Venus, Neptune, Uranus, Jupiter and Mars will make an arc across Wyoming’s night sky in a parade of planets Friday and Saturday nights. And this time, light from the moon won't interfere with the spectacle.
Andrew RossiJanuary 24, 2025
As Locals Freak Out, Transplanted Wyomingite In The South Loves The Record Snow
While many people in the U.S. South are freaking out over a winter storm that brought record snowfall across Alabama, Florida and Louisiana, a transplanted Wyomingite is loving it. He's having too much fun showing neighbors how to handle the snow.
Andrew RossiJanuary 23, 2025
Wild Winds Up To 90 MPH Blow Over At Least 9 Semis On Wyoming Highways
Tuesday’s wild winds across Wyoming gusted to nearly 90 mph in some spots, closing some stretches of I-25 and I-80. But not everyone observed the closures, because at least nine semis were blown over, WYDOT reports, the most in at least two decades.
Andrew RossiJanuary 22, 2025
88 MPH Winds Are Blowing Over Trucks, Closing Wyoming Highways And Wreaking Havoc
Sustained winds of 60 mph and more — and gusts up to 80 mph — are blowing semitrailers over on Wyoming highways Tuesday. The “classic Chinook” winds have also closed many areas to truck traffic and are wreaking other havoc.
Andrew RossiJanuary 21, 2025
Subzero Arctic Blast Nowhere Close To Wyoming Record Low Of Minus 66
Temperatures ranged from minus 20 to 40 degrees across Wyoming between Sunday and Monday, but that's still nowhere close to the coldest day in Cowboy State history. That came in 1933 when it hit minus 66 at a Yellowstone ranger station.
Andrew RossiJanuary 20, 2025
It’s Never Too Cold For Chores On Wyoming’s Family Ranches
As a blast of Arctic cold has plunged Wyoming into a double-digit deep freeze, most stay indoors as much as possible. Not so for the state’s family ranchers. It’s never too cold for feeding the animals and outdoor chores.
Jackie DorothyJanuary 20, 2025
Joe Kenney’s Been A Fixture On Wyoming Radio For 60 Years
You may not know Joe Kenney to look at him, but chances are you know his voice. Kenney’s been a fixture on Lander and Wyoming radio for going on 60 years.
Jackie DorothyJanuary 19, 2025
Wyoming Braces For Dangerous Windchills Up To -45, Can Cause Frostbite In Minutes
Wyomingites will wake up to some serious cold Monday with windchills hitting anywhere from minus 15 to minus 45 around the state. That’s not only bone-chilling, it’s dangerous, and can cause frostbite in minutes.
Andrew RossiJanuary 19, 2025
Miracles Happen: How A Lost Girl, 4, Survived Two Nights In The Wilderness
In May 1908, a 4-year-old girl got lost after following a sheepherder out of camp. Nearly 120 years later, a search and rescue expert says it was a miracle she survived two days and nights alone in the Wyoming wilderness.
Dale KillingbeckJanuary 19, 2025
88-Foot-Long Bronze Of Wyoming’s Famous Dippy The Dinosaur Goes Up In London
Dippy the Diplodocus, an 88-foot-long Wyoming dinosaur, is world famous and billed as “the most colossal animal ever on Earth.” Now it’s been cast in bronze — in life size — for a new outdoor exhibit at the Natural History Museum of London.
Andrew RossiJanuary 19, 2025
Wyoming Towns Used To Have Their Own Money, Which Is Now Worth Big Bucks
For 70 years, National Banks in Wyoming could have their own money printed, complete with their names and towns on it. Now these $10 and $20 bills are still legal tender, and worth big bucks to collectors.
Jackie DorothyJanuary 18, 2025
Emergency Foster Care Parents There For Wyoming Kids When They Need Them Most
Taking in kids who have been abused and neglected takes training, dedication and a huge heart. It’s the most gratifying — and difficult — thing Wyoming emergency foster parents do for kids when they need a loving parent the most.
Dale KillingbeckJanuary 18, 2025
Did You Know The Presidents On Mount Rushmore Were Supposed To Have Bodies, Too?
It took more than 400 workers 14 years to carve the heads of Presidents Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt and Lincoln into Mount Rushmore. Did you know the original plan was for them to have bodies, too?
Jackie DorothyJanuary 18, 2025
Truck Takes Out $95,000 Sculpture In Yard Of Cheyenne Art Gallery
A collision at a busy downtown Cheyenne, Wyoming, intersection caused a truck to crash into a $95,000 bronze sculpture Thursday. It also nearly took out another large bronze worth $165,000.
Greg JohnsonJanuary 17, 2025
Subzero Surge To Bring Snow Squalls, Black Ice And Dangerous Wind Chills
Between Friday and Tuesday, Wyomingites will experience the coldest temperatures of the winter season so far. Don Day says to expect dangerously low wind chills, black ice and wind-driven snow squalls.
Andrew RossiJanuary 16, 2025
Remembering Jeanne Bryan: State Centennial Director And Wyoming Booster
Jeanne Bryan, longtime Wyoming booster and former executive director of the Wyoming Centennial Commission died Jan. 8. Former Gov. Mike Sullivan said Jeanne "was immensely dedicated to Wyoming."
Dale KillingbeckJanuary 13, 2025
Get Ready To Shiver — Cold Wave To Plunge Wyoming Below Zero This Week
A surge of polar air from Canada will move into Wyoming by the end of the week, plunging much of the state into below zero temperatures. It’s the start of what could be a prolonged period of serious cold.
Andrew RossiJanuary 13, 2025
Just How Windy Does It Get In Wyoming?
The most powerful wind gust ever recorded in Wyoming was in the town of Clark in April, 2022. That's when the wind hit 128 mph. Luckily, wind speeds don't get this high that often.
Dale KillingbeckJanuary 12, 2025
That Time Bugs Bunny Tormented Elmer Fudd While Camping In Yellowstone
The 1941 cartoon "Wabbit Twouble" had Bugs Bunny antagonizing Elmer Fudd in Jellostone National Park, aka Yellowstone. The cartoon was a crucial step for the iconic characters while also providing one of the internet's favorite memes: Big Chungus.
Andrew RossiJanuary 12, 2025
Michael And Kathleen Gear: Wyoming’s First Couple Of Writing Have Published 88 Books
Every book New York Times best-seller Michael and Kathleen Gear write is influenced by Wyoming. After 88 published books, the Gears are scratching a new itch to write short stories.
Jackie DorothyJanuary 12, 2025
Fossils Of 47 Million-Year-Old "Alien Plant" Raise More Questions Than Answers
Researchers have found nearly every plant part they need to trace the prehistoric history of a 47 million-year-old "alien plant" from Utah. That’s why it's baffling that it remains so elusive and unlike anything else ever found on the planet.
Andrew RossiJanuary 12, 2025
Perfect Weather Conditions Can Create Stunning Light Pillars Across Wyoming
Light pillars aren't rare or hard to see in Wyoming, but they require perfect weather conditions to create their stunning columns of color streaking into the night sky. It has to be freezing out and have hexagonal ice crystals to reflect the light.
Andrew RossiJanuary 12, 2025
Pedigree Stage Stop Sled Dog Race Returns To Dubois After 20-Year Hiatus
Dubois will once again host a leg of the world-famous Pedigree Stage Stop Dog Race after a 20-year hiatus. The town is planning an over-the-top weekend as the final stage for the event’s 30th year.
Renée JeanJanuary 12, 2025
Wyoming Pioneer Family Has Been Taming Casper Mountain For 90 Years
For more than six decades, Casper Mountain has been Julie York's home. Her family homesteaded there in 1932 and used to run the Wa-Wa lodge. And they had a pet deer named Bimbo.
Dale KillingbeckJanuary 12, 2025
Wyoming History: Early Air Mail Pilots Put Lives On The Line To Connect The West
From 1920 to the late 1930s, pilots in open-cockpit planes put their lives on the line to deliver mail across Wyoming. All they had was a compass and nerves of steel.
Dale KillingbeckJanuary 11, 2025
Mills Man’s 1964 Ford Galaxie Cop Car Looks Like It Came Right Out Of Mayberry
When Hurk Wahl gets behind the wheel of his 1964 Ford Galaxie, he says he feels like he's in a parade or on patrol. The black-and-white police cruiser with the round bubble cherry light looks like it drove out of a TV set from the “Andy Griffith Show.
Dale KillingbeckJanuary 11, 2025
Pickleball: It's Unavoidable -- Even In Wyoming
Even in Wyoming, where rodeo is king, pickleball appears to be unavoidable. It's considered easier to learn than tennis and more active than pingpong. The state’s second indoor pickleball facility is opening in Cheyenne on Saturday.
Leo WolfsonJanuary 11, 2025
North America's Earliest Dinosaur Is A 230-Million-Year-Old Chicken-Sized Wyomingite
Paleontologists released a new report last week showing that the earliest dinosaur ever discovered in North America is from Wyoming. It's a small, chicken-sized dino found in the Wind River Mountains.
Andrew RossiJanuary 11, 2025
For The Most Part, It's O.K. To Wash Your Car In Wyoming's Harsh Winters
When Wyoming's temperatures go below freezing, should you wash your car or just allow it to become an ice-encrusted dirt machine? Car washers explain that, for the most part, it's OK. But there are limits.
Dale KillingbeckJanuary 11, 2025
If You Like 8:30 a.m. Sunrises In Winter, You'll Like Permanent Daylight Saving Time
If Congress passes the Sunshine Protection Act, which was introduced earlier this week, daylight saving time would be permanent. That means later sunrises and sunsets in Wyoming and no changing of the clock.
Andrew RossiJanuary 11, 2025
Huge Chinook Choppers Refuel In Riverton On Way To Fight California Fires
Two huge firefighting helicopters touched down Thursday in Riverton on their way to water-bomb the devastating wildfires burning in Southern California. The Chinook choppers can carry up to 26,000 pounds.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 10, 2025
Moose Butt Wins Contest To Guess What Shattered A BMW Windshield Near Afton
A Cody auto glass company decided to have some fun by hosting a contest to guess what shattered the windshield of a BMW while driving near Afton, Wyoming. The winning guess? Moose butt at 9 mph.
Andrew RossiJanuary 10, 2025
Campbell County Uses Tacos To Explain Difference Between Winter Storm Watch And Warning
Campbell County is trying to help Wyomingites understand winter weather better by comparing the various alerts to tacos. It can be an appetizing and appropriate analogy — depending on the ingredients and how they come together.
Andrew RossiJanuary 10, 2025
Broncos Or Josh Allen — Who Will Wyoming Fans Cheer For On Sunday?
Sheridan's John Baggett worked in Denver radio for decades, including at 850 KOA, the Broncos flagship station. The longtime sports fan is wrestling with who to root for on Sunday: his beloved Broncos or former Wyo quarterback Josh Allen's Buffalo Bills.
Justin GeorgeJanuary 09, 2025
C.J. Box Going On Book Tour For New Joe Pickett Novel, Which Drops In February
Wyoming author C.J. Box will travel across the country to promote “Battle Mountain,” the latest novel in his popular Joe Pickett series, which goes on sale Feb. 25. In it, Pickett spans Wyoming in search of missing elk hunters.
Andrew RossiJanuary 07, 2025
Huge Second Half From Montana State’s Touchdown Tommy Not Enough To Win FCS Title
Montana State University quarterback Tommy Mellott lived up to his nickname Touchdown Tommy in the second half of Monday’s FCS title game. But it wasn’t enough to overcome a big North Dakota State lead, losing 35-32.
David MadisonJanuary 07, 2025
Craig Johnson’s Next Novel Drops May 27, Was Inspired By Cowboy State Daily Story
Craig Johnson’s newest novel “Return to Sender” will drop May 27. The Ucross, Wyoming, writer said his latest mystery was inspired by a story he read in Cowboy State Daily about the mail carrier who has the most remote route in the United States.
Renée JeanJanuary 06, 2025
Total Eclipse, Meteors And Space Probes — A Lot’s Going On Over Wyoming In 2025
From a total lunar eclipse to meteor showers to space probes, 2025 will be stellar for celestial viewing. Those and more will keep Wyoming stargazers looking up this next year.
Andrew RossiJanuary 05, 2025
Montana Roadside Museum Is Packed With Rare, Cool Nuggets Of Americana
A roadside museum in northwest Montana has been dedicated to all things Americana for more than 40 years. It's packed to the rafters with rare, cool and eclectic collections, from vintage firearms, military artifacts and even Teddy Roosevelt's saddle.
Anna-Louise Jackson for Cowboy State DailyJanuary 05, 2025
Wyoming Couple Sells Home To Sail Around The World Over Next 10 Years
Jim Bob and Marlie Schell have have traded their home in Hoback Junction for a sailboat. They're not only going to sail around the world over the next 10 years but they're homeschooling their son on the high seas.
Renée JeanJanuary 05, 2025
Parents Of Murdered Casper Teen Say She’s “Not The Only One That Died That Day”
It’s been nearly eight months since 17-year-old Lene’a Brown’s ex-boyfriend shot and killed her in a Casper park. Her parents tell Cowboy State Daily that the fear, pain and grief are as raw as the day it happened.
Dale KillingbeckJanuary 05, 2025
Wyoming Woman Was An Office Clerk, Now Is A World-Class Western Horse Artist
Karmel Timmons of Sheridan is recognized as a world-class Western horse artist. That’s far from where she was not too many years ago — working as an accounts receivables clerk for “some company.”
Amber SteinmetzJanuary 05, 2025
A Young Jimmy Carter Wasn't Pleased His First Navy Assignment Was The USS Wyoming
In 1946, Ensign Jimmy Carter was assigned to serve on a by-then aging and broken-down USS Wyoming after graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy. The future president wasn't pleased to draw the Wyoming as his first posting.
Andrew RossiJanuary 05, 2025
Lost Home Videos From 1940s, ’50s And ’60s Coming Home To Wyoming
After a woman in Hayward, California, discovered a cache of old home videos in the attic of her newly purchased home, she's been on a mission to find family members connected to them. The videos were filmed in Cheyenne in the 40s, 50s, and 60s.
Jackie DorothyJanuary 05, 2025
Wyoming Motorcycle Racer Recovers From Broken Back To Go Pro At 17
Jason Harris of Lyman, Wyoming, learned to ride a motorcycle at age 4. He broke his back in a 2023 crash, but recovered quickly and, at 17, is going pro as a long-distance racer.
Mark HeinzJanuary 05, 2025
Lander Man's Book An Anthem To "Unsung" Shoshone Chief Washakie
Lander author Sam Lightner has released his 12th book “In The Valley of the Warm Winds” which focuses on the story of Eastern Shoshone Chief Washakie -- who demanded sovereignty and recognition for his tribe from the ever-encroaching U.S. settlers.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 04, 2025
“Landman” Not Always Realistic, But New Hit Taylor Sheridan Show Gets A Lot Right
Real-life Wyoming landmen say Taylor Sheridan’s new hit TV show “Landman” isn't always realistic, but the show does get a lot of the fundamentals right.
Renée JeanJanuary 04, 2025
Wyoming Rodeo Legend Kenny Clabaugh Remembered As A Cowboy’s Cowboy
Wyoming hall-of-fame rodeo pick-up man Kenny Clabaugh, 78, died New Year’s Eve. The rodeo legend is being remembered as one of the best in the business and a cowboy’s cowboy.
Jackie DorothyJanuary 04, 2025
Giant $200,000 Murals On Cheyenne Water Tanks Will Show City’s Western Roots
A Cheyenne artist has been selected to paint 360-degree murals on two giant water tanks overlooking Wyoming's capital city. The $200,000 project will be visible from much of the city, giving tourists and longtimers a sense of the city’s Western roots.
Justin GeorgeJanuary 04, 2025
Anthony “Al” Addison, Northern Arapaho Tribe's Longest-Serving Leader, Dies
Anthony “Al” Addison is remembered by friends and family as someone dedicated to his people and helping others. The longest-serving leader on the Northern Arapahoe Business Council, Addison died Dec. 28. He was 75.
Clair McFarlandJanuary 03, 2025
Want To Get Rid Of That Christmas Tree? Goats Will Gobble Them Up
Is it time to get rid of that wilting, drying out and browning Christmas tree? Goats will gobble them up as the gift that keeps on giving. They do a great job, says Wind River Pack Goat Adventures in Boulder, Wyoming.
Andrew RossiJanuary 03, 2025
Rawlins Couple Gets Great New Year’s Wedding Anniversary Gift — Their First Baby
A Rawlins couple got a very special gift on New Year’s Day, which was also their second wedding anniversary. Their first child, a daughter, arrived at 2:38 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2025.
Dale KillingbeckJanuary 02, 2025
Cheyenne Reports More UFO Sightings Than Anywhere Else in Wyoming
Although Devils Tower gets all the attention, the National UFO Center reports Cheyenne is tops in the state for UFO sightings. A UFO investigator says that's not surprising as it is the home of F.E. Warren Air Force Base.
Andrew RossiJanuary 01, 2025
Rod Miller Gets Drunk & Drives Thru Obstacle Course To Show Dangers Of DUI
In a “WKRP In Cincinnati”-inspired test, Cowboy State Daily columnist Rod Miller demonstrated the dangers of drunk driving. On a closed-course demonstration hosted by the Laramie County Sheriff’s Office, he took many shots of Wyoming Whiskey and drove a riding lawnmower through an obstacle course.
Leo Wolfson & Reilly StrandJanuary 01, 2025
No, Those Weren’t "Hell Portals" Opening Up On WYDOT's I-80 Webcams
WYDOT's webcams at Sinclair along Interstate 80 produced some strange, and potentially demonic, images during a Monday snowstorm. Light reflecting through ice buildup on the cameras made some people say the effect looked like “hell portals” opening.
Andrew RossiDecember 31, 2024
Wyoming Can Expect New Year To Begin Cold, Windy And Snowier
New Year's Day in Wyoming will be a cold, windy and snowier start to 2025 after a dry, relatively warm December. Don Day says all signs are that the first weeks of the new year will bring much-needed winter weather.
Andrew RossiDecember 30, 2024
Wyoming History: That Famous 1908 Horse Race From Evanston To Denver
A $1,250 prize purse lured more than two dozen men to race on horseback 534 miles from Evanston, Wyoming, to Denver. The famous 1908 race was big news across the country, with a controversial finish for a Cody man who won.
Dale KillingbeckDecember 29, 2024
Tow Truck Drivers Say Drivers, Not Weather, Can Make I-80 A Winter Nightmare
I-80 across southern Wyoming is known as being one of most dangerous stretches of highway in the nation during winter. But tow truck drivers says drivers, not weather, can make I-80 a winter nightmare.
Sydnee ChapmanDecember 29, 2024
Wyoming People: Casper's Spencer Bohren, Master Of American Roots And The Blues
Casper native Spencer Bohren was a master of American roots music and the blues, opening for B.B. King and playing with other legends. His musical legacy continues to resonate five years after his death.
Dale KillingbeckDecember 29, 2024
Even When I-80 Is Closed, Medical Couriers Still Allowed To Go Through
Interstate 80 is notorious for being impossible to get through at times during the winter. But even when closed, medical couriers are still allowed to go through. Lives depend on it.
Renée JeanDecember 29, 2024
Carmelite Monks Near Meeteetse Use Modern Tech To Build Gothic Monastery
A group of Carmelite monks in the mountains near Meeteetse, Wyoming, are building a Gothic monastery using cutting-edge technology. They’ve adapted high-tech computerized machines to carve stone that looks like it could’ve been sculpted 1,000 years ago.
Renée JeanDecember 29, 2024
UW's Western Thunder Marching Band To Feature Cowboy-Themed Songs In Rose Parade
The University of Wyoming's Western Thunder marching band will perform in the Tournament of Roses Parade on New Year’s Day for the first time. The Laramie-based band will feature a selection of cowboy-themed songs along ther famous 5.5-mile route.
Hunter McDaniel for Cowboy State DailyDecember 29, 2024
‘Big Wonderful Wyoming’ Mud Flaps Used To Be Everywhere. Now, They’re A Vintage Novelty
There was a time when nearly every pickup and Jeep in Wyoming — and neighboring states — sported huge “Big Wonderful Wyoming” mud flaps. Whatever happened to them?
Mark HeinzDecember 28, 2024
Big Joe Almost Died In A Mud Hole, Now The Idaho Ranch Horse Is Working Again
Big Joe was just an average working ranch horse until he got stuck in a muddy death trap in an Idaho pasture. He came close to death, but now is back to working on the ranch.
David MadisonDecember 28, 2024
The Year Will End On A Black Moon — Are We All Doomed?
The year will end with a somewhat rare black moon having in the night sky over Wyoming. While that may sound like an ominous warning of impending doom, there’s nothing strange or mysterious about black moons.
Andrew RossiDecember 27, 2024
“Parade” Of Storms Will Dump Snow On Western Wyoming All Weekend
A wave of snowstorms will dump snow on much of western Wyoming this weekend, making travel difficult in towns like Afton and Pinedale. Major highways will experience heavy winds with gusts of up to 80 mph.
Justin GeorgeDecember 27, 2024
What's More Wyoming Than A Christmas Eve Cattle Drive?
The Laramie County Sheriff's Office mounted up to help move 400 cattle to a greener pasture the day before Christmas. It’s a totally Wyoming way to celebrate the season and Western culture of the Cowboy State.
Andrew RossiDecember 26, 2024
Wyoming History: Boy, 11, Sheriff Among 7 Killed In 1903 Fight At Lightning Creek
Called the “last blood-spilling fight” between Indians and white residents in Wyoming, seven were killed in the 1903 fight at Lightning Creek. That includes an 11-year-old boy and an over-zealous Weston County sheriff.
Dale KillingbeckDecember 25, 2024
Wyoming History: Before There Were Bridges, Crossing Rivers Was Dangerous And Deadly
To early pioneers, Wyoming rivers could be the most dangerous adversary they faced. Fording high waters claimed many lives in the early years of the Cowboy State and cut off entire towns from the rest of the world.
Jackie DorothyDecember 25, 2024
Podcast Is All About Stuff That’s Wacky, Wild Or Weird In Wyoming
What do cattle mutilations, a grave robber and a good Samaritan have in common? They are all featured on Dean Petersen’s Wyoming-based podcast, “That Doesn’t Happen Everyday.”
Jackie DorothyDecember 25, 2024
Gigantic Dinosaur Sculpture Made Entirely Of Various Shoulder Blades
Wes Plummer collected shoulders from bison, elk, cattle and many other animals for three years until he had enough to build a prehistoric dinosaur from modern bones. The result is Windee, a giant Stegosaurus outside his business in Kalispell, Montana.
Andrew RossiDecember 25, 2024
Holidays At Four Corners, Montana: Christmas Crack And Gourmet Meat
Not hip enough for a Christmas stroll and about as scenic as a Costco parking lot, Four Corners, Montana, is home to Bozeman’s ugliest building and under-the-radar holiday traditions. But the Christmas Crack is worth the stop.
David MadisonDecember 25, 2024
Popular Version Of “The Little Drummer Boy” Has A Silent Star — The Bighorns
The popular Christian rock duo for King + Country uses Wyoming as the backdrop for the music video of their remake of the Christmas classic “The Little Drummer Boy.” The majesty of the Bighorn Mountains helps make the video magical.
Renée JeanDecember 24, 2024
Green River Man Turns His Home Into Holiday Tribute To All Things Wyoming
Folks in Green River may not know Robert Bostick personally, but they know his house. It’s the one covered in thousands of holiday lights forming the Grand Tetons, life-sized wildlife cutouts and his tribute to all things Wyoming.
Tracie SullivanDecember 24, 2024
Christmas Is Time For First Guns For Many Wyoming Kids
Like in the classic 1983 moving “A Christmas Story,” all many Wyoming kids want for Christmas is their first gun. For some, that’s the legendary Red Ryder BB gun.
Jackie DorothyDecember 24, 2024
Nobody Knows Why Santa Keeps Getting Stuck Dangling Over A Cliff Near Casper
Santa Claus seems to get into trouble along Highway 220 near Casper each Christmas season, left dangling over a cliff. Nobody knows how he gets there, but plenty come out to see Santa hanging on for dear life.
Andrew RossiDecember 24, 2024
Party Like It’s Christmas 1924 At The Kendrick Mansion In Sheridan
The Kendrick Mansion in Sheridan comes to life for the holidays. The setting serves as the backdrop for a day in the life of the Kendricks at Christmas -- an intimate and cozy trip back into time.
Renée JeanDecember 24, 2024
Wyoming Experiencing Referee Shortage; Some Say Fan Abuse To Blame
A referee shortage is causing scheduling issues across Wyoming as high schools have trouble finding referees. Some say poor sportsmanship is making it harder to recruit new referees and keep experienced officials.
David MadisonDecember 23, 2024
There's A Chance For White Christmas Across Wyoming But Don't Count On It
There's a change coming that could start soon enough to carry a taste of winter weather across Wyoming on Christmas Day. But don’t hold your breath waiting for a Norman Rockwell white Christmas, Don Days says.
Andrew RossiDecember 22, 2024
It’s Just Western: Old Cowboy Boots On Fence Posts Can Mean Many Things
It’s a commonly asked question of city folk and Easterners when they visit the great American West. What’s with the cowboy boots on fence posts?
Jake NicholsDecember 22, 2024
Antique Firetrucks Decked Out For Christmas Draw Crowds In Cheyenne
Christmas is all about Santa and firetrucks at the Bartow family home in Cheyenne. His holiday decorations are centered two antique firetrucks -- a 1942 American LaFrance and a 1938 Studebaker.
Renée JeanDecember 22, 2024
Think Beef Wellington Is Too Hard To Make? Think Again, Says Wyoming Chef
There’s a reason Gordon Ramsay’s famous beef Wellington costs $119 dollars per person. it’s a complex dish that marries high-quality ingredients in a visually stunning way. But Wyoming chef Juan Coronado says with a few smart changes, it doesn’t really have to be such a chore.
Renée JeanDecember 22, 2024
What Is That Weird Boulder Dug Up On Historic Wyoming Ranch?
A Wyoming family was surprised to run into a gigantic boulder while digging a trench on the historic Hogg Ranch near Meeteetse. Despite pressure to cut it open, they'll keep the giant rock as a decorative piece.
Jackie DorothyDecember 22, 2024
Montana State’s Touchdown Tommy Leads Wyoming Supporting Cast Into FCS Title Game
Montana State University punched its ticket into the FCS championship game Saturday with a dominating 31-17 win over South Dakota. Quarterback Tommy Mellott, aka Touchdown Tommy, led a supporting cast that includes four Wyoming players.
David MadisonDecember 22, 2024
Tourist Finds Out That Mustang Probably Not Best Choice To Explore Hole-In-The-Wall Wyoming
A tourist from Iowa was so fascinated by the stories of Butch Cassidy and the Hole-in-the-Wall gang that, despite warnings from locals in Thermopolis that he should take a four-wheel-drive, he went out to explore the area in his prized Mustang instead.
Jackie DorothyDecember 22, 2024
Hard To Imagine Now, But High Schools Used To Have Smoking Areas
It's hard to imagine now, but high schools across the country used to have designated smoking ares for students who liked to light up. At Cheyenne's East High, that was the courtyard outside the cafeteria.
David MadisonDecember 21, 2024
Wyoming History: That Time In 1929 When Santa Saved Greybull With Dynamite Bombs
History says Santa saved Greybull from a devastating flood when he tossed dynamite bombs out an airplane. That was George Scott, who bomb an ice jam that threatened to wash Greybull off the map. He would go on to be the town’s Santa for years.
Jackie DorothyDecember 21, 2024
Cody Native Living Dream As Notre Dame Makes Run For College Football Title
Cody native Luke Talich was on the field Friday as Notre Dame beat Indiana to advance in the College Football Playoffs. He told Cowboy State Daily that the playoffs are another chapter of an incredible season for the walk-on from Wyoming.
Leo WolfsonDecember 21, 2024
How A Loan Shark Enforcer Found His Calling As A Wyoming Biker Pastor
A former loan shark and enforcer who goes by the handle “Velcro” has a lot in common with the people he ministers to. The Cheyenne biker has found his calling helping prisoners find safe homes once they’re released from prison.
Jen KocherDecember 21, 2024
Saturday Is The Darkest Day Of The Year -- Especially If You Live Up North
Saturday is the shortest day of the year, but that’s relative to where you are in Wyoming. Folks in the northern reaches, like Sheridan, will have more than 30 minutes less sunlight than those in Cheyenne, Rock Springs or Pine Bluffs.
Andrew RossiDecember 20, 2024
Fueled By Wyoming Talent, Montana State Guns For National FCS Championship
If undefeated Montana State University wins a national FCS title this season, it will have Wyoming fingerprints all over it. The Bobcats feature a host of former Wyoming high school players and are coached by a longtime UW assistant.
David MadisonDecember 20, 2024
Locals Shellshocked After Historic Wyoming Union Pacific Water Tower Torn Down
A historic water tower along the Union Pacific line near the Wyoming-Colorado state line was a local landmark for about 80 years. Now it’s gone, torn down Tuesday without notice or discussion, leaving locals and railroad buffs shellshocked.
Andrew RossiDecember 19, 2024
A Denver Broncos-Buffalo Bills Playoff Game Could Test Wyoming’s Football Loyalties
The Buffalo Bills drafting Josh Allen in 2018 — and not the Denver Broncos — has split Wyoming’s die-hard Broncos fan base. Wyoming has adopted Allen and the Bills, and that loyalty to the Orange and Blue could be tested if the teams meet in the playoffs.
Justin GeorgeDecember 19, 2024
Report That Wyoming Lost Winter Days To Climate Change Is Misleading, Says Don Day
A non-profit environmental group's claim that Wyoming has lost two days of winter because of climate change is misleading and incorrect, says Wyoming meteorologist Don Day. “I almost laughed when I saw that,” Day told Cowboy State Daily.
Andrew RossiDecember 18, 2024
Did Nirvana’s Rise As Grunge Rock Royalty Begin With A Wyoming Garage Band?
The early 1970s was a heyday for Wyoming garage bands. Legend has it that a band from Casper went to Seattle and inspired Kurt Cobain to start the 1990s grunge rock movement.
Mark HeinzDecember 17, 2024
Santa Also Delivers Official Mail Through Wyoming With The Pony Express
Santa Claus spent part of Saturday delivering Christmas cards from Green River to Rock Springs, Wyoming. The Jolly Old Elf was an honorary Pony Express rider, delivering official U.S. mail.
Dale KillingbeckDecember 16, 2024
Wyoming History: It’s Been More Than A Century Since Marines Invaded Teapot Dome
It was August 1922, when five armed U.S. Marines arrived at Wyoming well in the Navy’s oil reserve at Teapot Dome. It was part of the first act in what remains one of the most sensational scandals in American history.
Dale KillingbeckDecember 15, 2024
Tiny Box In Southern Wyoming Can Detect Earthquakes Around The World
A new seismograph technology has positioned a tiny box in southern Wyoming capable of monitoring earthquakes around the world. It's expected to reveal answers to mysterious smaller quakes in the region.
Andrew RossiDecember 15, 2024
Much Of Wyoming May Be Safe If US Is Nuked, But Cheyenne Likely To Be Vaporized
A FEMA map showing the best places in the U.S. to survive a nuclear attack shows much of Wyoming clear. Cheyenne and surrounding areas, however, will likely be immediately annihilated.
Mark HeinzDecember 15, 2024
Douglas “Frost Artist” Creates Intricate Snowscapes On Wyoming Storefronts
Moving to Wyoming has inspired Douglas resident Dan Downs to return to doing his “frost art.” Now he creates intricate snowscapes and winter scenes on storefronts.
Andrew RossiDecember 15, 2024
Discovery In Wyoming Weed Field Started Vintage Collection Of Restored Gas Pumps
A Worland, Wyoming, man is obsessed with antique gas pumps, finding them and restoring them to their former glory — or better. The obsession began 15 years ago when he found a rusted old pump in a field of weeds.
Jackie DorothyDecember 15, 2024
Luke Bell’s Inspiring, And Devastating, Story Part Of Wyoming PBS Series
Luke Bell of Cody, Wyoming, was a rising country music star when his career and life were cut short with his unexpected death in 2022. Bell’s family shares his inspiring, and devastating, story in a recent installment of a Wyoming PBS series.
Amber SteinmetzDecember 15, 2024
Willie LeClair: Eastern Shoshone Spiritual Leader, Teacher And Storyteller
Eastern Shoshone tribe member Willie LeClair walked dual worlds as a cowboy and an American Indian in Wyoming. His legacy is as a spiritual leader, storyteller and teacher who also had a “wicked sense of humor.”
Jackie DorothyDecember 15, 2024
UW Fellowship Honors Phil Roberts, Who Taught Wyoming History To Thousands
Nobody knows Wyoming like Phil Roberts, the University of Wyoming professor emeritus who literally wrote the book on Cowboy State history. A new UW fellowship has been named for Roberts, who taught tens of thousands of students over the years.
Jackie DorothyDecember 15, 2024
Wyoming Dinosaurs Sold For $15 Million In Europe, But How Legitimate Are They?
Collectors might want to beware when bidding on dinosaurs at auction houses. A recent trio of Wyoming dinosaurs sold for more than $15 million at an auction in London, but how much of the dinosaur skeletons are legitimate vs 3D printed material?
Andrew RossiDecember 14, 2024
Wyoming History: That Time In 1907 A Cow Ate 19 Sticks Of Dynamite And Exploded
It was 1907 when a cow wandered onto a mining claim in Birdseye, Wyoming, ate 19 sticks of dynamite and exploded. "What hurts is that we had to pay $45 for the cow," lamented the owner.
Jackie DorothyDecember 14, 2024
Wyoming License Plate Collector Makes “Holy Grail” Find
Collin Townsend has spent 12 years collecting a complete run of license plates from Weston County. His latest acquisition is a “Holy Grail” find — a rare 1945 plate with its original wartime wrapper.
Andrew RossiDecember 14, 2024
Behind The Release Of The New Chris LeDoux Song
Before it could be transformed into a father-son duet, the original recording of a never-released Chris LeDoux song sat in storage for 20 years. Then the one copy of the song survived a FedEx trip from Utah to Tennessee and a technology disaster.
Clair McFarlandDecember 14, 2024
Rocky’s Siberian Training Site In “Rocky IV” Was Really In Wyoming
That time Rocky trained outdoors in the snowy desolate mountains of Siberia to beat Ivan Drago in “Rocky IV”? It was filmed 39 years ago in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The training montage is one of the best in the Rocky series.
Jake NicholsDecember 14, 2024
Storm To Dump On Western Wyoming Mountains, Could Make Travel “Impossible”
A winter storm will dump 1-2 feet of snow, or more, on Wyoming’s western mountains this weekend. That could make travel “difficult to impossible,” the National Weather Service warns.
Andrew RossiDecember 13, 2024
Powell Saddle Bronc Rider Brody Wells On A Tear At National Finals Rodeo
Powell, Wyoming, saddle bronc competitor Brody Wells has been on a tear at the National Finals Rodeo this week, including a massive 90-point ride. He’s placed four times and has earned nearly $90,000 so far.
Leo WolfsonDecember 13, 2024
Wyoming "Blue" Christmas Services Happening For People In Holiday Misery
Some Wyoming churches are hosting “Blue” Christmas services for people dealing with grief and sadness. Sometimes pretending to exude joy in December is almost as heavy as the weight of grief itself, one reverend explained.
Clair McFarlandDecember 10, 2024
Wyoming Forest Rangers And Hotshots Spread Cheer With “Charlie Brown” Trees
U.S. Forest Service Rangers and Hotshot firefighters in Greybull, Wyoming, cut Christmas trees to donate around Big Horn County this past weekend. The “Charlie Brown” trees are lighting up homes and offices for the season.
Jackie DorothyDecember 09, 2024
Storm To Bring Up To 9 Inches Of Snow, 50 MPH Winds Across Parts Of Wyoming
A winter storm is expected to bring up to 9 inches of snow and 50 mph winds across northeast Wyoming through Wednesday morning. Cold continues to settle in across the rest of the state, with snow flying in the higher elevations.
Andrew RossiDecember 09, 2024
Casper Fireman Is Wyoming’s Pinball Wizard Who Has Spent 20 Years Restoring Vintage Games
Patrick Stafford of Casper is Wyoming’s Pinball Wizard. He’s spent 20 years repairing and restoring pinball machines and other vintage arcade games in his garage. He says his wife is the "most understanding woman of all-time."
Amber SteinmetzDecember 08, 2024
What The Heck … Are Those Giant Snowballs That Seem To Roll Themselves?
Those giant snowballs that seem to roll themselves are a rare weather phenomenon called snow rollers, meteorologist Don Day says. Basically, wind and gravity roll them up the same way you would when making a snowman.
Greg JohnsonDecember 07, 2024
Tiny Bone Needles From Wyoming’s La Prele Site A Prehistoric Breakthrough
Archaeologists say Wyoming’s La Prele Mammoth site near Douglas has given up another big prehistoric find. They say the discovery of early 13,000-year-old tiny bone needles could help rewrite the history of early man.
Renée JeanDecember 07, 2024
LA To NY: Buddies On A Mission To Skateboard 3,000 Miles Across America
What started as a spur-of-the-moment trip for two friends to skateboard across the U.S. has turned into an effort to raise money to buy 1,000 skateboards for low-income children. They say skateboarding kept them out of trouble so they want to pass it forward.
Sydnee ChapmanDecember 07, 2024