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Sheriff Kozak, far left, and 25 Laramie County deputies were sworn in by ICE and authorized to enforce immigration law under Title 8, Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act during the an October 2025 press conference announcing a new 25-officer ICE force for Laramie County.

ACLU Helps Church, Nonprofit Group Sue Laramie County Sheriff Over ICE Agreements

The ACLU is helping a Cheyenne-based church, barbershop and nonprofit group sue Laramie County Sheriff Brian Kozak over his three agreements with ICE. “Wyoming sheriffs do not have limitless authority,” the complaint says.

Clair McFarlandMay 27, 2026

Another case of a transgender person asking for an altered birth certificate showing a different sex hit the Wyoming Supreme Court. There are now at least two cases where applicants are asking courts to order the Dept. of Health to issue new birth certificates.

Another Birth Certificate Sex Change Case Hits Wyoming Supreme Court

Another case of a transgender person asking for an altered birth certificate showing a different sex hit the Wyoming Supreme Court. There are now at least two cases where applicants are asking courts to order the Dept. of Health to issue new birth certificates.

Clair McFarlandMay 27, 2026

U.S. House candidate Bo Biteman was quick to share a letter from the White House thanking him for his work in the state Senate. "I’m honored to receive recognition from the White House for helping advance President Trump’s priorities,” Biteman said.

Biteman Touts Letter From White House Thanking Him, Senate For Their Work

U.S. House candidate Bo Biteman was quick to share a letter from the White House thanking him for his work as state Senate president. "I’m honored to receive recognition from the White House for helping advance President Trump’s priorities,” Biteman said.

Clair McFarlandMay 28, 2026

Marcie Kindred, representing Wyoming’s AFLCIO, talks during the Tuesday, May 26, 2026, Cheyenne City Council meeting about a proposed data center moratorium.

Full Speed Ahead For Cheyenne Data Centers As Council Rejects Moratorium

A 12-month moratorium on data centers in Cheyenne was rejected on a 9-1 City Council vote after hours of emotional, and at times angry, testimony Tuesday night. “The people who put you in your position are terrified,” one resident told the council. 

Kate MeadowsMay 27, 2026

Wyoming is killing more "conflict" grizzlies than would be killed by hunters if the bears were delisted, Wyoming Game and Fish Director Angi Bruce said Wednesday. One legislator said that if the goal is to kill fewer grizzlies, hunting might be the better option.

Director Says Game And Fish Likely Killing More Grizzlies Than Hunters Would

Wyoming is killing more "conflict" grizzlies than would be killed by hunters if the bears were delisted, the state Game and Fish director said Wednesday. One legislator said that if the goal is to kill fewer grizzlies, hunting might be the better option.

Mark HeinzMay 27, 2026

The Maverik gas station in Montrose, Colorado, can’t sell any diesel after someone dumped an RV’s waste tank into the station’s underground fuel tank this week. One avid RVer called the mistake “almost unbelievable … the dump stations are very obvious."

RV Driver Empties Waste Tank Into Colorado Gas Station's Diesel Supply

A Colorado Maverik station can’t sell any diesel after someone dumped an RV’s waste tank into the station’s underground diesel supply tank this week. One avid RVer said the mistake is “almost unbelievable … the dump stations are very obvious."

Andrew RossiMay 27, 2026

Arthur Huckfeldt, left, demonstrates how the trigger of a shotgun is the only way to make it fire at Frontier Arms and Supply in Cheyenne. Store owner Ryan Allen looks on.

Dog Shoots Woman With Shotgun At Scottsbluff, Nebraska Convenience Store

For those wondering how a dog shot a woman with a shotgun in Nebraska this past weekend, gun experts say it pulled the trigger. If someone says the shotgun went off because it was knocked over or kicked around by a dog, they are "lying out their ass."

Greg JohnsonMay 27, 2026

Vallory Dodson is suing police and child protection officials for malicious prosecution. Prosecutors charged her with child abuse, then dismissed the charge seven months later, saying they did not want to re-traumatize the child in court.

Green River Woman Sues Cops, DFS For Malicious Prosecution In Child Abuse Case

A Green River woman is suing police and child protection officials for malicious prosecution. Prosecutors charged her with child abuse, then dismissed the charge seven months later, saying they did not want to re-traumatize the child in court.

Clair McFarlandMay 27, 2026

The Lincoln Count Courthouse in Kemmerer, Wyoming.

Lincoln County Jury Finds Star Valley Man Not Guilty In Wife’s Death

After a six-day trial that spanned the Memorial Day weekend, a Lincoln County jury on Tuesday found Jared Erickson not guilty in the death of his wife. "This case has taken an emotional toll on all involved," said his defense attorney. 

Kolby FedoreMay 27, 2026

A packed house turned out in Evanston's Roundhouse to hear answers about Prometheus Hyperscale's proposed data center in Uinta County.

Prometheus Faces Skeptical Crowd In Evanston Over Huge 1.2GW Data Center

Fifth-generation Wyoming rancher Trenton Thornock pitched a huge 1.2 gigawatt data center on family land to a skeptical Evanston crowd on Tuesday. The project is facing a rising tide of opposition against data centers locally and across Wyoming.

Renée JeanMay 27, 2026

A fire tore through an under-construction apartment in north Cheyenne on Tuesday, burning so hot and intense it was “a total loss” in minutes, a witness said. “You could feel the heat like you were standing in front of a campfire,” he said.

"Total Loss": Witness Says Fire Ripped Through Cheyenne Apartment Building In Minutes

A fire tore through an under-construction apartment in north Cheyenne on Tuesday, burning so hot and intense it was “a total loss” in minutes, a witness said. “You could feel the heat like you were standing in front of a campfire,” he said.

Greg JohnsonMay 26, 2026

Miracle, a 2.5-year-old female grizzly, passed through the Colter Bay area in Grand Teton National Park on Sunday almost a year to the day since appearing in the same spot in May 2025.

Hooray! Miracle The Young Grizzly Survives Winter, Shows Up At Colter Bay

After losing both of her siblings to a male grizzly’s attack last spring and then splitting from her mother at an unusually tender age, the young grizzly named Miracle survived winter on her own and showed up at Colter Bay on Sunday.

Mark HeinzMay 26, 2026

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Hikers Rescued From Death Canyon Shelf In Grand Teton National Park

Two hikers on a multi-day excursion were helicoptered to safety by Teton County Search and Rescue after becoming ill on Monday. “It sounded like they weren't prepared to hit as much snow as they did in the high country," one rescuer told Cowboy State Daily.

Andrew RossiMay 26, 2026

State Rep. Mike Yin, D-Jackson, left, and Secretary of State Chuck Gray.

Mike Yin Bristles At Chuck Gray Plan To Ban Political Party Changes After Jan. 1

State Rep. Mike Yin argued against a proposal by Chuck Gray to ban political party changes after Jan. 1 in election years. “Why are you interested in making it harder for people?” Yin asked. “I view it as an election integrity issue,” Gray answered.

Clair McFarlandMay 26, 2026

This wolverine was spotted earlier this month near the Lower Green River Lakeside Trail in the Wind River Mountains.

Wolverine That Wyoming Hiker Saw In Wind Rivers Was Tracked Over 200 Square Miles

Wyoming biologists say a wolverine that had a rare close-range encounter with a hiker in the Wind River Range mountains is the same animal they’ve been tracking for more than a year. And it has a huge range, being tracked over 200 square miles.

Mark HeinzMay 26, 2026

Hours were spent around the campfire, cooking, writing, and talking during the day

'Tonight The Horses Sleep Standing Up': Lessons From Five Nights In The Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness

Suddenly, I was fully awake. The horses got out! Deep in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, dozens of miles from the nearest road, two days into a five-day trip, the horses and mules were our only way to pack out our camp.

Leah VeressMay 26, 2026

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Meteorologist Don Day Skeptical About Forecast For Wetter-Than-Normal Summer

Wyoming meteorologist Don Day is skeptical about a popular weather forecasting website’s prediction of a wetter-than-normal summer. “Beware the green blob,” he says about the forecast map and a hopeful, giant green shape covering Wyoming.

Andrew RossiMay 26, 2026

Casey Ott

Cheyenne Man Living Under Park Bridge Fights Cops, Threatens To Kill K-9

A Cheyenne man reportedly experiencing some kind of “psychosis” and living under a park bridge fought with four cops and threatened to kill a K-9. He also said he’d been living under the bridge since before the Civil War.

Kolby FedoreMay 26, 2026

Dallas Smith, 46, who admitted being a serial arsonist and starting numerous fires around Casper, got 6-12 years in prison Tuesday. He said he’s mentally ill and was trying to “burn the pain,” but the judge shut that down: “There is no excuse for the defendant’s actions."

Casper Serial Arsonist Who Says He Tries To ‘Burn The Pain’ Gets 6-12 Years

A Casper man who admitted being a serial arsonist and starting numerous fires got 6-12 years in prison Tuesday. He said he’s mentally ill and was trying to “burn the pain,” but the judge shut that down: “There is no excuse for the defendant’s actions."

Dale KillingbeckMay 26, 2026

Tabatha Richardson

Casper Woman Accused Of Hitting Herself With Hammer To Fake Abuse Pleads Not Guilty

A Casper woman told police she hit herself with a sledgehammer to treat a medical condition, not to fake abuse from her husband. She pleaded not guilty Tuesday to allegations she stabbed him in the neck with a knife.

Dale KillingbeckMay 26, 2026

Meteorologist Don Day says reports of a Super El Niño brewing in the Pacific Ocean are ludicrous. An El Niño is coming and that will likely be beneficial for Wyoming. But anything stronger is too far out to predict and, at this point, just clickbait.

Meteorologist Don Day Says Don’t Lose Your Mind Over Possible Super El Niño

Meteorologist Don Day says reports of a Super El Niño brewing in the Pacific Ocean are ludicrous. An El Niño is coming and that will likely be beneficial for Wyoming, but anything stronger is too far out to predict and, at this point, just clickbait.

Andrew RossiMay 25, 2026

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Sitting Bull Contract With Buffalo Bill Museum Returns To Wyoming After $136,000 Sale

Longtime museum supporter Naoma Tate paid $136K to secure Buffalo Bill Cody’s contract with Sitting Bull for the Buffalo Bill Museum in Cody, keeping a rare piece of Wyoming history in the Cowboy State. “It’s just wonderful this is coming back,” she said.

Renée JeanMay 25, 2026

Volunteers have revived the historic Red Shell School, once featured on the cover of national textbooks, turning it into a vacation rental, museum, and community hub.

Bell At Famous Red Shell Schoolhouse Rings Again After Decades Of Silence

The bell at the Red Shell School is ringing again after a decades-long effort to save the iconic 111-year-old one-room Wyoming schoolhouse. It’s so picturesque it became nationally famous for being featured on the cover of textbooks.

Renée JeanMay 25, 2026

Jake in studio small

Cowboy State Daily Show with Jake - Tuesday, May 26, 2026

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

Jake NicholsMay 26, 2026

As Wyoming faces another tinderbox fire season, high-tech home fire systems are starting to catch on across the West. One of the fastest growing is a Jackson Hole, Wyoming, company that makes AI sprinklers that are saving homes from wildfires.

Wyoming Company Uses High-Tech AI Sprinklers To Save Homes From Wildfire

As Wyoming faces another tinderbox fire season, high-tech home fire systems are starting to catch on across the West. One of the fastest growing is a Jackson Hole, Wyoming, company that makes AI sprinklers that are saving homes from wildfires.

Renée JeanMay 25, 2026

Coal 2 5 25 26

"We Need People Working": Wyoming Waits On BLM Reinforcements As Permits Back Up

As new BLM Director Steve Pearce begins work, energy leaders say staffing shortages are top priority. “We need people working on permits,” Wyoming mining honcho Travis Deti said. Without renewed leases, coal companies can lose access to federally leased reserves.

Kate MeadowsMay 25, 2026

For 45 years, Monsieur Philip Krass smoked cigars, fished the Big Horn Basin and would drive more than 100 miles for a game of bridge. “If you needed him for an emergency, you had to figure out who was hosting that night’s bridge game,” said Dee Arps, 108. Here, he's pictured with Iris Cavalli of Thermopolis, 90, who was the secretary and execultor of Krauss' estate and knew him well.

Wyoming History: Monsignor Philip Krass Loved Smoking Cigars And Playing Bridge

For 45 years, Monsignor Philip Krass smoked cigars, fished the Big Horn Basin and would drive more than 100 miles for a game of bridge. “If you needed him for an emergency, you had to figure out who was hosting that night’s bridge game,” said Dee Arps, 108.

Jackie DorothyMay 25, 2026

People expecting to spend Memorial Day weekend boating on Bighorn Lake were surprised to find no fuel available. It’s “a big deal,” say local operators in a sprawling canyon where some waters stretch 14 miles from the dock and cell service can be spotty.

‘A Big Deal’: No Fuel In Bighorn Recreation Area For Memorial Weekend Boaters

People expecting to spend Memorial Day weekend boating in Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area were surprised to find no fuel available. It’s “a big deal,” say local operators in a sprawling canyon where cell service can be spotty.

Kolby FedoreMay 25, 2026

Heavy smoke hung over the Teton Pines golf course when Forrest Sandberg arrived for work Monday morning. "People lost memories and irreplaceable things," said the facilities manager about watching fire rip through the office building.

Fire Rips Through Office Building Near Teton Pines Clubhouse In Wilson

Heavy smoke hung over the Teton Pines golf course when Forrest Sandberg arrived for work Monday morning. "People lost memories and irreplaceable things," said the facilities manager about watching fire rip through a nearby office building.

Kolby FedoreMay 25, 2026

Mark Potter of the Wind River Canyon left the chaos of city life in Denver for a quieter life in Thermopolis. Potter was not expecting the isolation from the conveniences of modern life such as fast food and home improvement stores but has discovered that he loves being away from the busy social life he once led. He said that he has discovered the simple joys of mowing his lawn and taking care of his mom’s 15-year-old Chihuahuas he had inherited.

Wyoming People: Mark Potter Gives Up Big City Chaos To Live In Wind River Canyon

Mark Potter gave up a chaotic life in Denver to live in isolation in Wyoming’s Wind River Canyon with a pair of yappy dogs. He likely saved his neighbors May 16 when he called 911 to report a wildfire near the railroad tracks in the canyon.

Jackie DorothyMay 25, 2026

Daily Features

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PinYour Wyoming Sunrise: Thursday, May 28, 2026

Today's Wyoming sunrise was submitted by Ellen Beitzinger. Ellen writes, "Cool sunrise picture that my son and daughter took while taking a sunrise hike near Powder River yesterday. Lucky shot, right place, right time!"

Photo by Ellen Beitzinger

Today's question to Don Day

Mark James Mullins of Douglas
In regard to your thunderstorm season article, can you reassess the data on a per-capita basis, especially when considering population of the states? It could affect me as I own a hill on my property which I plan a communications tower and likely will have a lightning rod installed when it goes in.
Don Day
FEMA has a good lightning database that takes into account lightning risk, potential property loss, etc. based on population and lightning frequency. Data is available on a county by county basis. Lots and lots of lightning data available here which may help in quest for more lightning information. https://hazards.fema.gov/nri/lightning
DD

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Opinion

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Fred Harrison: A Tale of Two Courts — The Battle For Wyoming’s Constitution

Columnist Fred Harrison writes, "On May 14, the Wyoming Supreme Court handed down a monumental victory for families and separation of powers. The court put down its red pen, picked up a dictionary, and read the Constitution as it was actually written."

Fred HarrisonMay 27, 2026

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Dave Simpson: I'm Voting For The Skunk At The Garden Party

Columnist Dave Simpson writes, "Serving in office, Chuck Gray was often the skunk at the status quo garden party. He had repeated run-ins with Gov Gordon, and two episodes when Gordon reportedly suggested they go outside and settle their differences."

Dave SimpsonMay 25, 2026

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Bill Sniffin: Wyoming’s False Spring — 90 Degree Temps & Wet Snow In Same Week.

Columnist Bill Sniffin writes, "Wyoming’s remarkable ability to dish out Jekyll-and-Hyde weather was on full display. In Lander, we hit the 90s on May 13 and then got blasted with wet snow on May 17."

Bill SniffinMay 23, 2026

Wyoming Life

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Outdoors

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Crime & Courts

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