Headlines

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

Cowboy State Daily Video News: Wednesday, July 2, 2025

Wednesday's headlines include: * Trans Bathroom Yawner * 106 New Wyo Laws Take Effect * Lawmaker Wants To Get Rid Of Business Council

Wendy CorrJuly 02, 2025

President Donald Trump, left, and Wyoming Secretary of State Chuck Gray.

Trump Administration Seeks To Defend Wyoming’s New Citizenship Voter Law

The U.S. Department of Justice under President Donald Trump filed a brief in court Tuesday to help defend Wyoming’s new voter citizenship law. Secretary of State Chuck Gray says he’s “extremely grateful” to the department and Trump.

Clair McFarlandJuly 02, 2025

Energy Secretary To Visit Site Of Massive Rare Earth Find In Ranchester, Wyoming

U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright will be in northern Wyoming for the July 11 groundbreaking of the Brook Mine in Ranchester. Ramaco Resources believes it holds the largest “unconventional” rare earth deposit in the U.S.

David MadisonJuly 02, 2025

Hot Springs County In An Uproar Over Cuts To 4-H, Extension Programs

The Hot Springs County Commission faced backlash Tuesday from residents upset over deep cuts to the county’s extension office and 4-H program. Commissioners say it's necessary due to lagging oil and gas revenue and a 25% cut in property taxes.

Mark HeinzJuly 02, 2025

UPenn Bans Trans Athletes From Women's Sports Same Day Wyoming Law Goes Into Effect

Wyoming State Sen. Wendy Schuler said Tuesday’s decision by the University of Pennsylvania to ban trans athletes from participating in women's sports marks “a great victory for our women and girls.” It happened the same day Wyoming's law that does the same thing went into effect.

Clair McFarlandJuly 02, 2025

Calling the Wyoming Business Council a “huge flipping waste of money,” state Rep. Ken Pendergraft says he wants to cut the program’s budget. Reducing the state’s budget is more important, he says.

‘Huge Flipping Waste Of Money’: Legislator Wants To Eliminate Wyoming Business Council

Calling the Wyoming Business Council a “huge flipping waste of money,” state Rep. Ken Pendergraft says he wants to reduce the state’s budget by getting rid of the entity. Economic development shouldn’t be the government’s responsibility, he said.

Matthew ChristianJuly 01, 2025

State Sen. Chris Rothfuss, D-Laramie, from left, Rep. Daniel Singh, R-Cheyenne, and Gov. Mark Gordon.

Wyoming Legislators Cheer Removal Of Ban On States Regulating AI From Budget Bill

Gov. Mark Gordon and a pair of Wyoming legislators cheered Tuesday’s removal of a ban on states regulating artificial intelligence. A 99-1 Senate vote took it out of the controversial federal budget bill.

Matthew ChristianJuly 01, 2025

Storm Chasers Get Engaged In Front Of ‘Perfect Tornado’ in South Dakota

Bryce Shelton proposed to Paige Berdomas on Saturday while an EF-3 tornado raged behind them and across South Dakota and Minnesota. Both professional storm chasers called it "the most beautiful tornado" they'd ever seen.

Andrew RossiJuly 01, 2025

Midwest Power Plant Operator Wants $22M From BNSF For Not Delivering Wyoming Coal

The operator of a pair of Midwest power plants wants $22 million from BNSF Railway, according to recent documents filed with the Surface Transportation Board. The company claims the power plants couldn’t get their full orders of Wyoming coal.

David MadisonJuly 01, 2025

Smoke starts to pour out as ZamTrip warms up the crowd for the next band in the lineup at Flaming Gorge Days in Green River.

Flaming Gorge Days Makes Comeback After Embezzlement Scandal Nearly Killed It

Thousands of people turned out over the weekend for Flaming Gorge Days, a Green River party that’s been around for decades. But the event was almost killed two years ago when an embezzlement scandal canceled it in 2023 and threatened to end it forever.

Renée JeanJuly 01, 2025

Rihanna Kelver comes out of the women's bathroom near Gov. Mark Gordon's office in the Wyoming Capitol on Tuesday. Kelver used the bathroom to protest Wyoming's new bathroom ban law that went into effect Tuesday, July 1, 2025.

Trans Woman Breaks Wyoming’s New Bathroom Ban In State Capitol, Nothing Happens

Nothing happened Tuesday when a transgender woman flagrantly violated a newly implemented Wyoming law restricting people to the restroom corresponding to their birth sex in public buildings.

Matthew Christian & Clair McFarlandJuly 01, 2025

Gun free zone and Park County vote 2024 IMG 3929 7 1 25

Wyoming’s New Laws: No Gun-Free Zones, Prove Citizenship To Vote And A Bathroom Ban

In all, 106 new Wyoming laws became active Tuesday. Now, most gun-free zones are gone, voters must prove citizenship and residency to register and people born male can’t use women’s bathrooms in government buildings.

Clair McFarlandJuly 01, 2025

Bill Sniffin: If You Had Your Life To Live Over, What Would You Change?

Columnist Bill Sniffin writes: “Folks a certain age start looking back on their lives and wonder just how much differences they could have made. What if you could live your life over?”

Bill SniffinJuly 01, 2025

Vice President JD Vance shakes hands with Senate Republicans on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, after he cast the tiebreaking vote on the embattled One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which is now just The Act.

Barrasso, Lummis Praise Passage Of Budget Bill, But It’s No Longer ‘Beautiful’

Democrats managed to strip “Beautiful” out of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, but the U.S. Senate passed the GOP’s controversial budget bill Tuesday. Vice President JD Vance broke a tie, which Wyoming Sens. John Barrasso and Cynthia Lummis call a huge win.

Sean BarryJuly 01, 2025

Cowboy State Daily Show with Jake - Tuesday, July 1, 2025

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

Jake NicholsJuly 01, 2025

Cowboy State Daily Video News: Tuesday, July 1, 2025

Tuesday's headlines include: * Coal Wins Big In Budget Bill * Off-Label Abortion Drugs Allowed * SportsCenter To Broadcast Live From CFD

Wendy CorrJuly 01, 2025

Brandon "BJ" Kidgell, Manderson, Wyoming, police chief.

Deal For Manderson Police Chief Charged With Helping Girlfriend Avoid Drug Arrest

The former police chief of Manderson, Wyoming, accused of helping his girlfriend avoid a drug arrest has agreed to a plea deal. He’ll get probation and has to give up his policing certification.

Clair McFarlandJuly 01, 2025

Judge Green-Lights Off-Label Prescribing Of Abortion Drugs

Lawmakers may have had Ivermectin in mind when they passed a law to safeguard doctors who prescribe off-label. But a judge on Monday ruled that, at least for now, that protection must apply to abortion-inducing drug providers as well.

Clair McFarlandJuly 01, 2025

Guest Column: Wyoming Leading Nation With Election Integrity Measures Effective July 1

Secretary of State Chuck Gray writes, "Make no mistake. Wyoming is leading the nation in election integrity. A number of these key reforms go into effect July 1."

Guest ColumnJuly 01, 2025

ESPN’s flagship SportsCenter program will broadcast from Cheyenne Frontier Days on July 24 as part of its 50 States in 50 Days event. “I’m thrilled that the Daddy of ’Em All will get national exposure,” says Gov. Mark Gordon. Gary Striewski, who got his start at a Cheyenne TV station, will anchor the program.

ESPN’s SportsCenter To Broadcast From Cheyenne Frontier Days

ESPN’s SportsCenter program will broadcast from Cheyenne Frontier Days on July 24 as part of its 50 States in 50 Days event. It will be a homecoming for ESPN's Gary Striewski who got his start at KGWN-TV in Cheyenne.

Matthew ChristianJuly 01, 2025

A large shovel fills a 200-ton bucket with coal at the Buckskin Mine in northeast Wyoming in this file photo.

Coal A Big Winner After Marathon Senate Session on Big Beautiful Bill Act

A dramatic marathon weekend session in the U.S. Senate elevated coal as a high priority among lawmakers who hammered out amendments to President Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

David MadisonJune 30, 2025

Riverton Man In 130 mph Car Chase Faces Up To 7 Years In Prison

The Riverton man accused of leading Fremont County law enforcement on a 130-mph car chase through a construction zone last week could face up to seven years and 40 days in prison. His preliminary hearing is Tuesday.

Clair McFarlandJune 30, 2025

Wyoming state Rep. Karlee Provenza, D-Laramie, leads hundreds of people in a rally at the Wyoming Capitol on Thursday, June 26, 2025, to protest a proposed sale of federal public lands.

Rob Wallace: Don’t Expect Public Land Sale To Be Brought Back Anytime Soon

People shouldn’t expect to see a plan to sell federal public lands brought back to Congress anytime soon, says Rob Wallace, former Assistant Interior Secretary. In the future, the proposal needs to be its own standalone bill, says Sen. John Barrasso.

Matthew ChristianJune 30, 2025

Wyoming turbines near Rock River Steve Hamblin via Alamy 6 30 25

Another Wind And Solar Project Triggers Opposition In Eastern Wyoming

A proposed 450-megawatt wind and solar project in Goshen and Platte counties would create 300 jobs and mean about $150 million in tax revenue. Even so, locals are opposed, with Torrington’s mayor saying a gas- or coal-fired power plant would be preferred.

David MadisonJune 30, 2025

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