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Cowboy State Daily Video News: Thursday, July 18, 2024

Thursday's headlines include: Wyo Man Killed Trying To Beat Train New Road To Bypass Wind River Canyon? Ranchester’s Ramaco Preparing To Transform Coal

Wyoming Hires Second Powerful Law Firm To Fight Washington's Coal Policies

Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon has hired another major law firm to fight anti-coal policies from the Environmental Protection Agency. The firm employs former President Trump's former Interior Secretary David Bernhardt.

Gordon Congratulates WYDOT Workers For Teton Pass Rebuild

Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon on Tuesday thanked 65+ Wyoming Dept of Transportation employees and dozens of private construction workers for their around-the-clock efforts to build a detour on Teton Pass after 200-feet of highway fell off the mountain last month.

Casper's Ur-Energy Sees Boost In Uranium Production

According to regulatory filings on Wednesday, Casper-based Ur-Energy is one of the first major uranium mining players in Wyoming to see evidence of stronger demand by electric utilities of its ore, which is needed to power nuclear power plants.

Why Won't Anyone Debate This Year? They Don't Trust Who's Hosting It.

There’s a trend among Wyoming candidates running for office to not attend debates hosted by organizations they don't trust-- like the League of Women Voters in Fremont County. Candidates don't believe they are as non-partisan as the group says.

Tom Lubnau: When Scientific Model Is Criticized, Keep Model And Change The Name!

Columnist Tom Lubnau writes, "Climate modeling used by policy makers in Washington, D.C. does not reflect reality. As a result, the environmental policy espoused by the government has little touch with the real world."

Volkswagen Bug Breaks Down So Alleged Drug Dealer Can't Finish Meth Run

A Gillette drug dealer couldn’t finish his methamphetamine run from Colorado last month because his Volkswagen bug slowed to a smoke-spewing crawl when he hit Chugwater, court documents say. 

Horse Creek Fire Now At 43 Acres, Type 3 Firefighter Team Called In

The Horse Creek fire on the border of Sublette and Lincoln counties has burned 43 acres as it moves through ‘steep, arduous terrain.’ A Type 3 wildfire fighting team has been called in to battle the blaze with two hand crews and a helicopter.

Big Piney Man Faces 260 Years In Prison For Possession, Delivery of Child Pornography

A Big Piney man who allegedly went by the display name of "wyonaked" in an internet chat room was caught up in a sting where he was arrested on 24 counts of possession and distribution of child pornography. He faces up to 264 years in prison.

Casper Millionaire's Son Loses Inheritance For Suing Co-Heirs

A Casper millionaire’s son lost his portion of a $4 million inheritance for suing co-beneficiaries of his father’s estate, the Wyoming Supreme Court ruled Tuesday.

Florida Group Influences Wyoming Election, ESG Rules With Chuck Gray’s Help

A trove of emails show that Secretary of State Chuck Gray pushed forward bills and rules on elections and ESG over the past two years that were almost identical to the model legislation brought to him by a Florida lobbying group.

Ramaco Resources Preparing To Build Plant To Transform Coal

Ramaco Resources is close to starting work on a pilot demonstration plant that will convert coal mined from a Ranchester mine into strategic rare earth minerals. They estimate they'll be pulling up to 2 million tons of coal annually out of the old Brook mine by 2026.

WYDOT Studying Ways to Bypass Wind River Canyon Byway

Wyoming transportation officials are studying alternative routes or detours around Wind River Canyon Byway because when there is inclement weather or a major traffic incident, waits can take hours and sometimes days.

Wyoming Man Dead In Nebraska Semi Vs. Freight Train Crash

One Wyoming man died and one was injured Tuesday after a semi truck reportedly tried to beat a train to a temporary crossing on a curved Nebraska highway.

Cowboy State Daily Video News: Wednesday, July 17, 2024

Wednesday's headlines include: Sheridan 4-Year-Old Defies Medical Odds Powell Baseball Player Near-Deadly Rattlesnake Bite Grizzly Habitat In Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem Filling Up Fast

Powell Baseball Player Set To Return After Suffering Life-Threatening Rattlesnake Bite

Powell baseball player Jhett Schwahn was deep in the backcountry when he was bit by a rattlesnake. It took a rescue helicopter 2 1/2 hours to get to him. By that time, his legs were numb and he was unable to communicate.

Rock Springs Woman Accused Of Stealing Ex's Gun While Texting Him About It

A Rock Springs woman accused of breaking into her ex-boyfriend’s home to steal a gun while sending him suspicious text messages about it faces up to 25 years in prison. 

Grizzly Habitat In Yellowstone Ecosystem Is Filling Up Fast, Biologist Says

Going just by the numbers, the grizzly population in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem is more than double the 500 bears designated as “recovered,” a top bear biologist told the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission on Tuesday.

 Park County Search And Rescue Coordinate Five Rescues In Four Days

Between July 5 and 8, Park County Search and Rescue coordinated a slew of rescues, including some which were life-threatening. Multiple agencies and helicopters across northwest Wyoming responded to the emergencies.

Candy Moulton: Let the Wagons Roll

Columnist Candy Moulton writes, "Anyone who has been around horse drawn vehicles knows that one of the best builders today is Doug Hansen of Letcher, South Dakota, who readily admits he had a hobby – repairing wagon wheels – that turned into a business."

Sheridan 4-Year-Old Defies Medical Odds, Awakes From Coma And Is Recovering

Doctors said 4-year-old Serafina Blue Day might not be able to talk or hear after she suffered brain damage in a two-story fall last month. But then she woke from 10-day coma and by Sunday, she'd regained her spunky personality.

700 4H Kids Competed In the 2024 Wyoming State Shoot Last Weekend

Nearly 700 4H kids from all across Wyoming were in Douglas last weekend at the 2024 Wyoming State Shoot. The 4Hers competed in archery, and in different gun categories including shotgun, .22 rifle, .22 pistol, air rifle, air pistol and muzzleloader.

Wyoming, Utah Call For No Limits On Flaming Gorge Lake Trout

The Wyoming Game and Fish Commission on Tuesday voted to eliminate the catch limit on most lake trout at Flaming Gorge Reservoir because they are diminishing the kokanee salmon population.

Natrona County Officials Remove Road Barricade Erected By Ranchers

Barriers erected by a ranch family along County Road 505 were removed on Tuesday morning per the order of the Natrona County commissioners. The county announced it will now move forward to legally claim the road.

Evanston Horse Molester Gets Maximum Sentence For Bestiality

James Botkin on Monday accepted a plea agreement giving him the maximum sentence for bestiality after he was arrested for sexually violating a horse at the Uinta County fairgrounds. He was sentenced to a year in jail. 

Hageman’s Primary Opponent Knows He’s A Long Shot But Believes She Needs Challenger

Casper attorney Steve Helling has no illusions about his chances of beating Wyoming Rep. Harriet Hageman in the upcoming Republican primary election, but he still believes it's the right thing to do so voters can have a choice.

Mining Company Sees 'Paws-Abilities' In Growing Cat Litter Business

Wyoming's sodium bentonite companies produce over 70% of the world’s supply, with privately held Wyo-Ben going up against larger rivals like Mineral Technologies and Haliburton’s Bentonite Performance.

Rod Miller: This Cowboy’s Hat (With Apologies to Chris LeDoux)

Columnist Rod Miller writes, "Cookie stopped washing dishes long enough to say, 'Some folks can wear a cowboy hat, an’ some purely cain’t. That’s jes how God made the world, and there ain’t nothin’ that li’l sumbitch can do about it.'"

Dave Simpson: Stay Tuned, Goldwater Republicans

Columnist Dave Simpson writes, "With only seven actual Democrats in the legislature currently, we have a wave of Born Again Republicans, who claim to have seen the light, experiencing a miraculous political party epiphany. Well, I'm not buying it."

Cowboy State Daily Video News: Tuesday, July 16, 2024

Tuesday's headlines include: * A Punch Over A Parking Dispute Kills Sheridan Hockey Coach * Wyo Delegation Praises Trump’s Pick of Vance for Running Mate * Test Drilling Begins On $456 Million Rare Earths Project Near Wheatland

As Grizzlies Fill In Corners Of Montana, Are They Closer To Mingling With Wyoming Bears?

Montana wildlife officials are telling people they should be prepared to run into grizzlies anywhere west of Billings – but it remains unclear whether a long expected mingling of Wyoming and Montana bears is imminent. 

Man Arrested In Alleged Sexual Abuse Of Horse In Evanston

A Texas couple said they caught a man early Monday in a stall at the Uinta County fairgrounds violating their horse. The man has been charged with one count of bestiality and faces one year in jail, if convicted.

Australian Firm Test Drilling On $456 Million Rare Earths Project Near Wheatland

American Rare Earths' mining project near Wheatland, which could have one of the richest rare earths deposits in the world, on Monday said it had begun test drilling.

Chuck Gray Announces Wyoming GOP Delegates Vote Unanimously For Trump

Wearing an oversized cowboy hat, Wyoming Sec. of State Chuck Gray on Monday announced at the Republican National Convention that all of the state's 29 delegates were cast for former President Donald Trump.

Natrona County Ranchers Block Off Road Claimed By County

A Natrona County ranch couple blocked off a portion of County Road 505 where it crosses their property, potentially impacting two major road projects. One commissioner said, "The county is extremely concerned."

Wyoming Congressional Delegation Excited About Trump’s Running Mate Pick, JD Vance

Wyoming's congressional delegation said they were pleased with former President Trump's decision to pick JD Vance as his running mate. Harriet Hageman said she "couldn't wait" to see him debate Kamala Harris.

A Punch Over A Parking Dispute Kills Sheridan Hockey Coach  

Sheridan hockey coach Patrick Mudd died over the weekend, after he was allegedly "sucker punched" in a parking lot outside of the Sheridan WYO rodeo. The hockey community laid their sticks outside his home in mourning.

Balloonist, Passenger Injured In Crash Landing At Casper Event On Saturday

A balloonist and passenger participating in the Casper Balloon Roundup sustained injuries when they crash landed on Saturday in Casper. Once thrown out of the basket, the balloon sailed another quarter of a mile away.

Game Warden Involved In Wolf Torture Investigation Charged With DUI

Herbert “Bubba” Haley, one of the game wardens who investigated the capture, torture and killing of a wolf in Sublette County was charged with driving under the influence, according to court records. 

Barrasso, Lummis Applaud Dismissal Of Trump’s Classified Docs Case

U.S. Sens. John Barrasso and Cynthia Lummis celebrated the dismissal of a classified documents case against former President Trump on Monday, saying they had always viewed the allegations as a politically motivated attack by the Justice Department.

Wyoming Delegation Hopes America Will Come Together After Assassination Attempt

Wyoming's congressional delegation on Sunday told Cowboy State Daily they hope the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump over the weekend will cause the country to come together.

Cowboy State Daily Video News: Monday, July 15, 2024

Monday's headlines include: * Bill In Congress Outlaws Killing Wildlife By Snowmobile * Wyoming Woman Launches Dating Site To Expose Cheaters * Cowboy State Daily Reporter Mark Heinz Visits Freaky Adobe Town

Clair McFarland: Finding The Right Word After The Shooting

Clair McFarland writes: "This is what we’ve come to. Instead of being a people who self-identify by our faith, our family, and our goals, we present our political identities foremost, like a cattle brand."

Rock Springs ‘Desert Rats’ Know Wyoming’s Adobe Town Better Than Anybody

Three friends from Rock Springs who call themselves the desert rats know Wyoming’s Adobe Town better than anybody. They’ve been exploring the huge, rugged expanses of southwest Wyoming for decades and say they’ve seen only a fraction of what’s out there.

Let's Go Hot Air Ballooning Over Casper

Cowboy State Daily reporter Dale Killingbeck on Friday hopped into a wicker basket, and let a pilot launch him into the air over Casper by blasting flames into a nylon balloon.

Casper Couple Transforms Former Drug House Into Wyoming Mountain Retreat

When Walter and Sharon Merschat heard that a 'drug house' was getting demolished by the City of Casper, they stopped inside to take a look. They saw the woodwork and told the city "you can't do this." The city gave them one month to move the house.

The American West: The Battle of Granby -- 2004

Marvin Heemeyer climbed into his improvised tank-bulldozer, cranked up the engine, and proceeded to drive through the wall of his rented building onto the parking lot of business neighbor Cody Docheff’s newly constructed concrete plant.

The American West: Fort Laramie Attacked

Though one of the most important military forts in the West, Fort Laramie lacked fortifications. It was an open assemblage of buildings that one might usually expect to find within protective walls of any U.S. Army fort in the Nineteenth Century.

Wyoming Twins On Mission To Unravel Deaths Of 'Motel Mike' And 'Pine Bluffs Pete'

Megan McWilliams and Ashley Kroner are twins and genealogists who investigate some of the region's coldest cold cases and missing people mysteries. The Wyoming women are now working to unravel the decades-old deaths of "Motel Mike" and "Pine Bluffs Pete."

Rod Miller: When Transparency Wins, Wyoming Wins

Columnist Rod Miller writes, "You may not realize it but you, as a Wyoming citizen, won a landmark court victory the other day. The Wyoming Department of Education and its leadership were slapped down hard before the bar of justice for trying to keep secrets from us."

Are We Dating The Same Guy? Wyoming Women Use Facebook To Avoid Dating Disasters

A Wyoming woman created “Are We Dating The Same Guy 307” Facebook page in 2023 as a forum for women to share information about the statewide dating scene and to help expose cheaters. In less than 18 months, it has become a very active page with more than 10,000 members.

Forgotten 1860s Wyoming Stagecoach Stop Reveals Artifacts Thousands Of Years Old

A recent dig on a long-forgotten archaeological site at a private Laramie Valley ranch has uncovered more than 10,000 artifacts that date back to prehistoric times, the Plains Indian Wars and an apparent mercantile in the 1870s.

A New Hobby? Wyoming Scientists Looking For People To Go Out And Collect Ticks

For those who can stomach the task, Wyoming scientists need volunteers to go out and pick up ticks. “We need tick wranglers, please,” entomologist Mikenna Smith told Cowboy State Daily.

Chapel Of The Transfiguration: 100 Years Of Worship In Grand Teton National Park

The Chapel of the Transfiguration was built in Grand Teton National Park 100 years ago when early settlers got fed up with a 25-mile ride to church on Sundays. Now it's a must-see tourist destination, popular wedding chapel, and still-functioning Episcopal church.