Headlines

Explore a chronological display of Cowboy State Daily’s articles.

Cassie Craven: Can the Government Compel Your Use of Pronouns?

Columnist Cassie Craven writes, “Government’s policies attempt to override our God-given freedom and compel our speech to fall in line with their ideological secularism, which is a religion in its own right.”

Cassie CravenFebruary 16, 2025

Rod Miller: Scorched Earth In Wyoming And Elsewhere

Columnist Rod Miller writes, "By strangling the lifeline for local services such as fire and police protection, water and sewer infrastructure, schools, libraries, and other essential elements of civilization, the Freedom Caucus will turn our landscape into a scorched earth of ghost towns."

Rod MillerFebruary 16, 2025

Frank Templeton (left), W.B. Travis (right)

The American West: Is This The Alamo’s Commander William Barret Travis?

Without the sketch attributed to Wiley Martin we have no verified authentic likeness of the commander at the Alamo, and therein lies its greatest value. But it takes a history sleuth to determine if the sketch is authentic.

William GronemanFebruary 16, 2025

Gillette-area machinist Karl Milner builds black powder cannons and mortars, and hosts cannon shoots on his rural property — and kids are included.

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

Burned vehicles inside Green River tunnel on Sunday, February 16, 2025.

Third Fatality Confirmed In Green River Tunnel Crash, 26 Vehicles Involved

A third person has been confirmed dead in Friday’s devastating multivehicle crash in the westbound lane of the Green River Tunnel, officials reported Sunday. It’s believed 26 vehicles were involved.

Zakary Sonntag & Greg JohnsonFebruary 16, 2025

Earthsky.org editor Marcy Curran is celebrating 40 years as founder of the Cheyenne Astronomy Society. She's always loved bringing the stars down to earth for others.

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

Yellowstone Has An Active Ancient Undersea Wasteland 7,300 Feet Above Sea Level

Monument Geyser Basin is one of the most unique areas of Yellowstone National Park. Its ancient undersea wasteland at 7,300 feet above sea level features formerly underwater cones that are still active.

Renée JeanFebruary 16, 2025

Wyoming Must 'Close The Door' On Running Over Wolves With Snowmobiles, Schmid Says

Though his bill to ban running predators over with snowmobiles failed, Wyoming Rep. Mike Schmid says he’s determined to “close the door” on the practice in Wyoming.

Mark HeinzFebruary 16, 2025

Are you ready for the zombie apocalypse? You could be with the help of Zombie Tools, a Montana business that makes custom weapons.

Montana Man Has Spent 20 Years Forging Weapons To Stave Off A Zombie Uprising

Joey Arbour has made as many as 10,000 custom blades and knives since he started his Montana-based company Zombie Tools. His blades have been featured in television and movies like “Dune.”

Anna-Louise JacksonFebruary 16, 2025

Quinn Blackmer with his two daughters Brailey, right, and Olivia. Both were shot Monday, Feb. 10, 2025. Brailey, 9, died, while Olivia, 7, at left, has died after fighting for her life in a Salt Lake City hospital for nearly a week.

Olivia, 7-Year-Old Lone Survivor Of Byron Murder-Suicide, Dies In Utah Hospital

Olivia Blackmer, 7, was the lone survivor of a Feb. 10 murder-suicide in Byron, Wyoming, by which her three sisters and mother died last week. Olivia pulled through a brain surgery early last week, but ultimately died Saturday, her family has confirmed.

Clair McFarlandFebruary 16, 2025

Wyoming’s first human case of bird flu was caused by an infected poultry flock in Platte Valley. The person is hospitalized in another state, and is the nation’s third hospitalization.

Wyoming Confirms First Human Case Of Bird Flu, 3rd Hospitalization In U.S.

Wyoming’s first human case of bird flu was caused by an infected poultry flock in Platte County. The person is hospitalized in another state, and is the nation’s third hospitalization.

Renée JeanFebruary 16, 2025

Two 70 Series Land Cruisers spotted on I-80 near Laramie. Jeremiah Proffitt, owner of Proffitt’s Resurrection Land Cruisers, believes these were acquired from Saudi Arabia, and were likely headed to a military contractor to be "dissected" for defense research.

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

The Fools’ End Club was founded in 2016 to provide Missoula’s cigar aficionados with discriminating tastes and a wish for exclusivity a private club where they can come to enjoy camaraderie and a good leaf of tobacco,” according to promotional materials. Recent proposed legislation wafting through the Montana Capitol Building currently aspires to make it easier to open public cigar bars.

Cigar Bars Making A Comeback In A Post-Smoking World

Rocky Mountain states see stogie smoke rising around a growing trend of opening more cigar bars and protecting local cigar shops with tax breaks. Wyoming and Montana both are pushing forward to promote the industry.

David MadisonFebruary 16, 2025

The museum in the Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody has acquired a one-of-a-kind portrait of Gen. George Armstrong Custer created by pop artist Andy Warhol. The colorful portrait is a huge get for the Whitney Western Art Museum.

The American West: Following Custer’s Guidon

George Armstrong Custer finished last in his class at West Point, but served admirably in the Civil War before coming to the West and commanding the 7th Cavalry. Along the way he met a gal who followed him from one Army post to another.

Candy MoultonFebruary 16, 2025

Tom Lubnau: The Freedom Caucus Unleashes Big-Government Control

Columnist Tom Lubnau writes, "Here are five examples of how the Freedom Caucus is less about freedom, and more about 'being the boss of you.'"

Tom LubnauFebruary 16, 2025

Joan Barron: Freedom Caucus’ Top Priority Bill On Stage Next Week.

Columnist Joan Barron writes, "When the legislators return next week after their crossover long weekend, they will find Senate File 69 waiting in the house."

Joan BarronFebruary 16, 2025

Bill Sniffin: The Dawn Of Snowmobile Tourism In Wyoming – I Was There – Here Is What Happened

Columnist Bill Sniffin writes: “We all knew that snowmobile tourism could be gigantic in Wyoming but nobody knew how to get this new industry off the ground. We needed to call in an expert.”

Bill SniffinFebruary 16, 2025

Dell Simancas was taking video of his son kayaking in the ocean off Chili when a whale scooped him up in his mouth. The whale quickly spat his son out.

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

Gov. Mark Gordon speaks to state Sen. John Kolb following a press conference on the Green River tunnel

Responders Still Putting Out Fires, Clearing Vehicles At Green River Tunnel

At a press conference on Saturday, officials said emergency responders were still working to extinguish fires and clear piled-up vehicles, after a wreck in the Green River tunnel killed at least two people and sparked a raging blaze.

Zakary SonntagFebruary 15, 2025

A long-haul trucker who makes TikTok videos was involved in Friday's horrific Green River Tunnel crash and posted three videos about it.

Trucker In Deadly Green River Tunnel Crash Describes Harrowing Escape

A trucker who narrowly escaped Friday’s explosive pileup in the Green River Tunnel described the horror inside and shared video footage of him kicking out the window of his truck to escape.

Greg JohnsonFebruary 15, 2025

Demonstrating a suppressor attached to a Traditions 350 Legend.

Gun Owners Expect Trump To Lift Nearly 100-Year-Old Restrictions On Silencers

Under the Trump administration, Wyoming gun rights advocates hope that a 91-year-old restriction on suppressors — aka silencers — will be lifted. However, nobody expects fully automatic weapons to become readily available.

Mark HeinzFebruary 15, 2025

Since 2008, Wyoming Catholic College has required its students to complete a winter expedition.

Subzero Camping 101 Required For All At Small Wyoming College

The Wyoming backcountry offers a snowy campus for instructor-led expeditions into the Tetons at Wyoming Catholic College. Students are required to complete a course in subzero camping, and some even have fun.

David MadisonFebruary 15, 2025

After changing out the old Welcome to Wyoming signs posted at various entrances to the state, Wyoming is auctioning off the old signs.

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 JacksonFebruary 15, 2025

Nobody has seen or heard from Natasha Requejo since last July, leaving family and friends desperate for news of the missing mom of seven from Lusk, Wyoming. Her boyfriend at the time says she just walked off one day, leaving him and her kids behind.

Family, Friends Desperate For News Of Lusk Mother Of 7 Missing Since July

Nobody has seen or heard from Natasha Requejo since last July, leaving family and friends desperate for news of the missing mother of seven from Lusk. Her boyfriend says she just walked off one day, leaving him and her kids behind.

Jen KocherFebruary 15, 2025

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