Headlines

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

The Elk Fire burned nearly 100,000 acres across the eastern face of the Bighorn Mountains in northern Wyoming. It was one of the devastating wildfires across the state this season that burned 850,000 acres and depleted the state's two-year wildfire fund in a matter of months.

Gordon Unveils $692 Million Supplemental Budget — One-Third For Wildfires

Gov. Mark Gordon unveiled his $692 million proposed supplemental budget Thursday, a plan he said promotes fiscal conservatism and sets Wyoming up for a strong future. Nearly one-third of that is earmarked for fighting wildfires.

Leo WolfsonNovember 15, 2024

These two art pieces from the University of Wyoming Art Museum and Colorado State University’s Gregory Allicar Museum of Art (GAMA) are part of a friendly Border War rivalry between the two schools in the form of an art loan. Left is Roxanne Swentzell’s “Mask Maker” from GAMA, and right is Beth Van Hoesen’s “Pale Horse” at the UW Art Museum.

University of Wyoming, CSU Museums Wager Art On Border War Football Game

The art museums at University of Wyoming and Colorado State University are betting on the outcome of Friday’s Border War football game. The winner gets to display artwork from the loser’s museum through the end of the school year.

Justin GeorgeNovember 15, 2024

The rugged and remote Green Mountain area in the Laramie Range in Albany County is prized for its elk and bighorn sheep hunting. The proposed Britania Land Exchange would trade rugged Forest Service Land in Albany for two parchels farther to the north.

Fight Over Prime Wyoming Hunting Land Exchange Headed To Federal Court

A legal fight is brewing over a U.S. Forest Service land exchange that would take a "hunter's paradise" parcel in Wyoming's Laramie Range out of public use. Opponents of the swap filed a court petition to stop it this week and are threatening a lawsuit.

Mark HeinzNovember 14, 2024

From left, state Reps. Trey Sherwood, John Bear and Senate President Ogden Driskill debate tax relief and their visions for Wyoming’s future Thursday in Laramie at the Wyoming Business Alliance’s Governor Business Forum.

Legislative Leaders Debate Tax Relief, Visions For Wyoming’s Future

It was a meeting of old vs. new Thursday as incoming and outgoing Wyoming legislative leaders were on stage together. Senate President Ogden Driskill and Reps. John Bear and Trey Sherwood debated tax relief and their visions for Wyoming’s future.

Leo WolfsonNovember 14, 2024

The American West: Calamity Jane – Wild Woman of the West

Calamity Jane drank hard and could tell a good tale with the best of them. People who knew her well said she had a heart of gold. When Deadwood was struck with a smallpox outbreak, Calamity said she was immune and took care of the sick.

Bill MarkleyNovember 14, 2024

LaPrele Dam has been standing for 115 years, more than double its original 50-year lifespan.

Failing LaPrele Dam Near Douglas Leaves Farmers With No Good Options

There doesn't seem to be any good options for people living below the 115-year-old LaPrele Dam near Douglas which is failing. It's scheduled to be breached by April 1, 2025.

Mark HeinzNovember 14, 2024

A rash of graffiti and vandalism on the Cheyenne Frontier Days grounds has prompted the organization to ban the public from the area except during regular events.

Vandalism Forces Cheyenne Frontier Days To Close Grounds To Public

A rash of vandalism at the Cheyenne Frontier Days grounds has caused an estimated $15,000 to $20,000 worth of damage and prompted the organization to close the area to the public.

Greg JohnsonNovember 14, 2024

A demonstration of how a radio frequency identification tag on cattel is scanned.

Marta Mossburg: Let’s Hope Trump Scraps The Electronic Cattle Tag Rule

Marta Mossburg writes, “Knowing exactly how many cattle ranchers own means the ability to tax cows based on their greenhouse gas emissions as has been enacted in Denmark, to start in 2030. It could also mean forced slaughter, for example.”

CSD StaffNovember 14, 2024

Utah Man Says He Was Hired To Cash $13K In Fake Checks In Wyoming

A Utah man is the Lincoln County, Wyoming, jail on claims that he drained the Alpine Standard gas station's bank account of $13,000. He’s accused of cashing fake checks, but claims he was hired to cash them and had no idea they were fake.

Clair McFarlandNovember 14, 2024

Secretary of State Chuck Gray, left, and Gov. Mark Gordon.

Chuck Gray Says Animosity Toward Mark Gordon Not Personal

Secretary of State Chuck Gray on Thursday said his longstanding feud with Gov. Mark Gordon is nothing personal. He says it dates back to the governor’s vetoing one of his bills five years ago and a series of actions since then that he disagrees with.

Leo WolfsonNovember 14, 2024

U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, gives his concession speech after losing to Republican Tim Sheehy in the Nov. 5, 2024, election.

Jon Tester Lost Senate Race And They’re Still Running Negative Ads Against Him

Although incumbent Montana Sen. Jon Tester lost his race for U.S. Senate, that hasn’t stopped a barrage of attack ads running against him. No one seems to know why they’re continuing, but they are.

David MadisonNovember 14, 2024

A pair of pronghorn graze near a southeastern Wyoming solar farm in this file photo.

Natrona County Planners OK 2,000-Acre Solar Farm West Of Casper

A proposal to put a 2,000-acre solar farm and battery storage facility west of Casper was OK’d by Natrona County Planners on Tuesday. The 199 MW facility with 100 MW of storage would be on private ranch land.

Dale KillingbeckNovember 14, 2024

Sally Ann Shurmur: Wyoming vs CSU -- It Won't Ever Be Just Another Game

Columnist Sally Ann Shurmur writes, “Conferences may realign, playoffs may expand, but there will never be another rivalry like Wyoming and the sheep. Here’s why.”

Sally Ann ShurmurNovember 14, 2024

Highway 287 crash on Feb 22, 2024, that killed three members of the University of Wyoming swimming and diving team.

Wyoming, Colorado DUI Patrols Will Be Watching Highway 287 For Border War

Wyoming and Colorado will increase DUI patrols for Friday’s annual Border War football game between Wyoming and Colorado State universities. Highway 287 between Laramie and Fort Collins has been nicknamed the "highway of death."

Justin GeorgeNovember 14, 2024

Multiple Law Agencies Investigate Homemade Explosives Found At Home Near Cody

The discovery of homemade explosive devices at a home on Musser Road in Park County east of Cody has prompted a multiagency response from local, state and federal law enforcement Thursday morning. The investigation remains active.

November 14, 2024

Morning Show with Jake - Thursday, November 14, 2024

Jake in the 307. Weekday mornings 6 - 10 a.m.

Jake NicholsNovember 14, 2024

Rod Miller: In Praise Of Tricksters And The Free Press

Columnist Rod Miller writes, "If you read something that offends you or calls into question your basic beliefs – say, in a column in Cowboy State Daily – feel free to read no further, and go back to your pep rally."

Rod MillerNovember 14, 2024

Tom Lubnau: A Statue Of A Barn Owl Sits On Law Books And the Bible in Cheyenne

Tom Lubnau writes: "The sculpture depicts a barn owl in flight, representing wisdom and the rural roots of these five legislators, the active role they played in Wyoming government, and their foundational belief in the Bible."

Tom LubnauNovember 14, 2024

Cowboy State Daily Video News: Thursday, November 14, 2024

Thursday's headlines include: - 3 UW Players Sue Over Trans Player - Alleged Hockey Coach Killer Claims Self Defense - Deer Runs Out In Front Of You, Don't Swerve - Just Hit It

Wendy CorrNovember 14, 2024

The Mountain West Conference and its commissioner, Gloria Nevarez, inset, are among those being sued by a dozen conference volleyball players over a transgender player allowed to compete on the San Jose State University team.

3 UW Volleyball Players Part Of Bombshell Lawsuit Over Trans Player

Three University of Wyoming student-athletes are part of a bombshell lawsuit over a transgender player competing for San Jose State University. Among other things, they claim the Mountain West Conference tried to silence player boycotts.

Clair McFarlandNovember 14, 2024

Colorado Says If You See A Deer In The Road, Hit It. Don’t Try To “Save Bambi”

If a deer jumps out in front of your vehicle on the road, Colorado officials say it could be best to just hit it. Swerving to try and “save Bambi” could lead to even more tragic results.

Mark HeinzNovember 14, 2024

Hockey sticks put up along a fence near Sheridan in memory of Patrick Mudd, a longtime coach who was killed in an altercation this past summer.

Sheridan Man Accused Of Punching And Killing Hockey Coach Claims Self-Defense

A Sheridan man accused of punching a longtime hockey coach so hard it killed him is arguing that he acted in self-defense. He claims the hockey coach first repeatedly punched and attacked him outside a rodeo this past summer.

Clair McFarlandNovember 14, 2024

It was a packed house for the Park County School District 1 board meeting Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, for its discussion of separating bathroom usage in schools by sex.

Powell School District Vows To Push Legislature For Separate Bathrooms Law

The board of the Park County School District 1 passed a resolution Tuesday, vowing to lobby the Wyoming Legislature for a law separating boys’ and girls’ school bathrooms.

Clair McFarlandNovember 13, 2024

An elk hunt near Sybille Canyon in southeast Wyoming became a mountain lion hunt for Matt Rivord of Laramie. He said more and more mountain lions have been showing up there.

Having A Mountain Lion Tag, Just In Case, Pays Off For Wyoming Elk Hunting Guide

Hunters keeping just-in-case mountain lion tags in their pocket when they’re out after elk and deer is increasingly common. It paid off for a Wyoming elk hunting guide.

Mark HeinzNovember 13, 2024

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