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Clifford "Russ" Haux, then 42, disappeared in the Red Desert in November 2003 where he'd been working on an oil rig. He and a co-worker had gone out to retrieve a stuck work vehicle and became separated, and Haux was never seen again. 

Daughters Haunted By Dad’s Disappearance In Red Desert Near Wamsutter 23 Years Ago

Nearly 23 years after Clifford “Russ” Haux vanished in the Red Desert near Wamsutter, his daughters are still haunted. The 42-year-old husband and father of three had gone out with a co-worker to free a stuck vehicle and never returned.

Jen KocherAugust 15, 2026

Sheridan’s Josh Gardner, left, and Jared Stiver said the Landmand Golf Club course in northeast Nebraska was unlike any they’d ever played.

Sheridan Golfers Finally Get To Play Toughest Place To Book A Tee Time In The U.S.

Two golfers from Sheridan won the lottery on New Year's Eve when they were selected to play at the toughest place to book a tee time in the U.S. All 11,000 tee times were booked in one hour and they played last week. "It's all awesome," Jared Stiver said.

Jeff WelschAugust 15, 2026

A slew of 55 million-year-old fossils from Earth’s earliest primates have been discovered in southwestern Wyoming, offering new insights into the evolution of humanity’s sap-sucking ancestors. The tiny primates were around the size of a mouse lemur.

"Something Strange Going On": 55 Million-Year-Old Primate Fossils Found In SW Wyoming

A slew of fossils from Earth's earliest primates have been discovered in southwestern Wyoming. Scientists say the tiny primate fossils, around the size of a mouse lemur, is evidence something strange was going on in Sweetwater County 55 million years ago.

Andrew RossiAugust 16, 2026

Elk Montain Hotel sits at the base of Elk Mountain near Medicine Bow river.

How Wyoming’s Elk Mountain Hotel Went From Money Pit To Historic Showplace

Built 120 years ago when an Overland Trail stage stop burned down, many warned its previous owner it would be a money pit to restore. He did it anyway, and now the Elk Mountain Hotel has become a showplace on the National Register of Historic Places.

Renée JeanAugust 15, 2026

George "Big Nose" Parrott’s skin was sent to a tannery in Denver with instructions to fashion a pair of shoes with the dead man’s nipples on each to prove they were footwear made from a human being.

Yes, Skin From Wyoming Wild West Outlaw "Big Nose George" Was Used To Make Shoes

This is the macabre story of a once-common practice of binding books with human skin — and how Wyoming did that one better by skinning notorious Wild West outlaw "Big Nose George" and making him into a pair of shoes. His skull was made into an ashtray.

Jake NicholsAugust 15, 2026

Bar industry veteran Mike Moser calls DT's a "rarity." A locally owned neighborhood bar and liquor store that has survived long enough to become part of a community's identity.

Drinking Wyoming: No, You’re Not Drunk — That’s Just DT's Dancing Pink Elephant

Back in 1975, a hitchhiker woke up beneath Cheyenne’s giant pink elephant and wondered if he was hallucinating. He wasn’t. The booze-loving pachyderm has been bobbing over DT’s for decades. "We make sure that we keep that icon moving," says DT's owner.

Kolby FedoreAugust 15, 2026

Arden and Betty White were married at an Eaton, Colorado, church in 1951. They recently celebrated their 75th anniversary.

Cheyenne Couple Celebrate 75 Years, Husband Still Amazed Wife Agreed To First Date

Arden and Betty White of Cheyenne celebrated their 75th anniversary this past week with family and friends. In recalling their first date, Betty said Arden ambushed her. Arden said he was surprised she agreed to go out. "Oddly enough, she said yes.”

Kerry DrakeAugust 15, 2026

For 16 years, a small Sturgis church that needed to raise money began welcoming motorcycle rallygoers with hot made-to-order breakfasts. “Our parish would not exist without this ministry,” says the pastor for Blessed Emmanuel Lutheran Church.

Thousands Of Hungry Sturgis Bikers Boost Churches With Made-To-Order Breakfasts

For 16 years, a small Sturgis church that needed to raise money has welcomed motorcycle rallygoers with hot, made-to-order breakfasts. “Our parish would not exist without this ministry,” says the pastor for Blessed Emmanuel Lutheran Church.

Kate MeadowsAugust 16, 2026

Dime Horseshoe Bar owner Jess Jones does an exhibition burnout ride during the annual contest in Sundance held during Sturgis Rally week.

Why Sturgis Riders Have Packed Sundance, Wyoming, For 50 Years Of Its Annual Burnout

Sturgis Motorcycle Rally riders have packed Sundance, Wyoming, for its annual burnout for more than 50 years. Legend has it the burnout started inside the Dime Horseshoe Bar. “The bigger the cloud of smoke is, the better,” says one rider.

Renée JeanAugust 15, 2026

Little Snake River Museum Director Lela Emmons talks about restoring the Niland cabin in the Medcine Bow-Routt National Forest, which is being restored.

Leeches, Lambs And Log Walls: Race Is On To Save Medicine-Bow’s Niland Cabin

High up in the Medicine Bow National Forest, a log cabin that once anchored one of Wyoming’s old range-sheep operations was in danger of being lost forever until the Little Snake River Museum stepped up. "There will be nothing left if we don’t preserve this cabin," they say.

Renée JeanAugust 15, 2026

Sebastian Nehring was a German immigrant and Kansas farmer who had once served in the Prussian Army. He died in the Battle of Platte Bridge along with Lt. Caspar Collins. 

Never Forgotten: Names Of 50 More Men Put On Fort Caspar Headstone

About 160 years after they died serving at Platte Bridge Station and Fort Caspar, 50 more names have been added to a commemorative headstone at the historic fort. When the “Lest We Forget” project began, there was no casualty list. Now there is.

Dale KillingbeckAugust 15, 2026

U.S. House candidates Steve Friess, Kevin Christensen, and Chuck Gray.

False, Exaggerated, And Cherry-Picked Attack Ads Fly In Wyoming       

Political groups spending millions of dollars on Wyoming's primary election are attacking U.S. House and gubernatorial candidates with fliers and commercials. Some of their claims are exaggerated; some are downright false.

Clair McFarlandAugust 14, 2026

Outdoorsman Ryan Lutes had a predatory encounter with a female brown bear in Sitka, Alaska, during the first week of June.

When A Bear Wants To Eat You: Outdoorsman Has Terrifying Predatory Encounter

Outdoorsman Ryan Lutes had a predatory encounter with a female brown bear earlier this summer. He told Cowboy State Daily that he credits confidence and bold action for coming out alive. "I knew I had to plant my ass, stand firm and not appear weak," he said.

Mark HeinzAugust 15, 2026

asper bartenders Sam Husted and Sam Rollins, pose together during their fifth year in working at Sturgis.

Moneymaker: Casper Bartenders Work Sturgis Every Year And Can Make $1,500 Per Night

This is the fifth year Sam Husted and Sam Rollins have gone to Sturgis to work at The Buffalo Chip. The Casper bartenders are known as 'The Sams' and they can make $1,500 per night. August is harvest season. And money is growing everywhere.

Kolby FedoreAugust 14, 2026

Terry Zaske, a grandfather from South Dakota, has been identified as the motorcyclist killed in a multi-vehicle wreck near Wapiti on Wednesday. The Wyoming Highway Patrol says the driver of a pickup truck caused the six-vehicle accident.

South Dakota Grandfather Identified As Man Killed In Multi-Vehicle Wreck Near Yellowstone

Terry Zaske, a grandfather from South Dakota, has been identified as the motorcyclist killed in a multi-vehicle wreck near Wapiti on Wednesday. The Wyoming Highway Patrol says the driver of a pickup truck caused the six-vehicle accident. 

Andrew RossiAugust 14, 2026

Debra Laramore-Fenton, mother of Buck Laramore, who was killed in a shootout with a Thermopolis police officer, holds a sign memorializing her son at a protest.

Family Of Thermopolis Man Shot By Cop Gets $400K In Settlement

The family of a man shot to death in a shootout with a former Thermopolis police sergeant will receive $400,000 in a settlement agreement. A special prosecutor determined the sergeant entered the man's home illegally.

Clair McFarlandAugust 15, 2026

Hundreds of people gathered at the Christ Episcopal Church in Cody on Friday to mourn and celebrate Ann Simpson, who died on July 31.

'Grace Personified': Hundreds Celebrate 'Idyllic Life' Of Ann Simpson In Cody

Ann Simpson was remembered by family members Friday as a "grace giver" who lived a "an idyllic life" in the Bighorn Basin. Hundreds gathered at the Christ Episcopal Church in Cody to celebrate Simpson, wife of the late Sen. Al Simpson for 72 years.

Andrew RossiAugust 14, 2026

Kevin Perry, Professor of Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Utah, examines a dust mitigation test site on the exposed lakebed of Farmington Bay in Utah's Great Salt Lake on July 9, 2025. As water levels drop in Utah's Great Salt Lake, scientists are urgently working to understand the dust coming off the exposed lakebed and its potential health risks to the communities nearby.

Could 'Toxic Soup' From Great Salt Lake Lakebed Dust Impact Southwest Wyoming?

Researchers warn that a "toxic soup" of dust from a shrinking Great Salt Lake could be reaching Wyoming, which is not specifically monitoring lake particles. “We’re causing the problem, but it could impact you,” a University of Utah scientist says.

Kate MeadowsAugust 14, 2026

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Driver In Wild Lander Crime Spree That Ended In Triple Stabbing Takes Plea Deal

A woman accused of driving during a Lander burglary spree that ended with a Loaf N’ Jug clerk getting stabbed three times pleaded guilty to a felony. She faces up to 10 years, while the man accused of the stabbing is headed to trial for attempted murder.

Kolby FedoreAugust 14, 2026

Wyoming’s persistent hot, dry weather could be to blame for a spike in roadkill as wildlife is being drawn to greenery and water alongside highways.

Spike In Roadkill: Drought Has Wildlife Searching For Food And Water Near Roads

Wyoming’s persistent hot, dry weather could be to blame for a spike in roadkill as wildlife is being drawn to greenery and water alongside highways. One Teton County resident says she’s seen many bears not far from where Grizzly 399 was struck and killed.

Mark HeinzAugust 14, 2026

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Casper Woman Gets 12½ Years After Feds Tie Her To 11 Pounds Of Meth

Eight years after Casper police said Alysha Dahl faked a kidnapping and told officers she'd used meth since age 11, federal investigators tied her to more than 11 pounds of meth. She was sentenced to 12 1/2 years in prison.

Kolby FedoreAugust 14, 2026

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Three GOP Gubernatorial Candidates Face Off In Final Debate Before Primary Election

Three Wyoming gubernatorial candidates for the Republican nomination took the debate stage Thursday, for the last time before the primary election. Eric Barlow focused on his experience, Megan Degenfelder on her vision and Brent Bien on righting the government's structure.

Clair McFarlandAugust 14, 2026

Roy Griebler, Wisconsin, has been coming to Hulett's Ham and Jam since the 1980s. He remembers when it was a. bit wilder, but it's still a fun time.

Sturgis 2026: Hulett's Ham & Jam — The Detour Party That's Become A Destination

Hulett's Ham and Jam is supposed to be a one-day party. Ride in, have a Bloody Mary, eat a pork sandwich, and roar off into the distance toward Sturgis. But it's become such a popular event, the 30,000 bikers who visit every year have extended their stay.

Renée JeanAugust 13, 2026

The Powder River at Arvada in Sheridan County was extremely low, at 17.4 cubic feet per second (cfs), when this photo was taken on June 16. It’s since dropped to 0 cfs.

Under Severe Drought Conditions, Wyoming’s Powder River Has Completely Stopped Flowing

The Powder River in Sheridan County has completely stopped flowing for nearly a month due to severe drought conditions and irrigation. During a typical year, the Powder at Arvada is flowing at 135 cubic feet per second, now it's at zero cubic feet per second.

Mark HeinzAugust 14, 2026

A Laramie High School counselor is under fire for saying he wished House Speaker Chip Neiman had been aborted

Libs Of TikTok Blasts Laramie School Counselor For Wishing Chip Neiman Was Aborted

The national social media influencer Libs of TikTok blasted a Laramie High School counselor on Thursday for saying he wishes Wyoming House Speaker Chip Neiman had been aborted. "Would you want this person in charge of your kids' mental health?" she wrote.

Clair McFarlandAugust 13, 2026

The mother and grandfather of a 2-month-old Manderson baby who died July 6 have pleaded not guilty to seven total charges, including child endangerment, reckless endangering and drug charges.

Mother, Grandfather Plead Not Guilty After Baby Dies In Hot, Feces-Filled Camper

The mother and grandfather of a 2-month-old Manderson baby who died July 6 have pleaded not guilty to child endangerment and other charges alleging unsafe living conditions and drugs in the home.

Kolby FedoreAugust 13, 2026

A former office manager for two Goshen County businesses is facing eight felony forgery charges after state investigators allege he siphoned nearly $700,000 from the companies over a four-year period.

Goshen County Man Charged With 8 Felonies For Allegedly Stealing $700k From Businesses

A former Goshen County office manager, already on probation for grand theft from a Wyoming credit union, is facing eight felony forgery charges after nearly $700,000 was lost from two local businesses. He faces up to 80 years in prison.

Kolby FedoreAugust 13, 2026

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Wyoming PAC Spends More Than $1.4 Million Attacking Barlow, Top PAC Spender in State

The Wyoming's Turn PAC that has been attacking Sen. Eric Barlow in his run for governor is the state's biggest-spending PAC in the primary election, at $1.4 million. That’s nearly $1 million more than last cycle’s top spender.

Clair McFarlandAugust 13, 2026

A grizzly bear and a young wolf had a standoff near a bison carcass in Yellowstone National Park but they didn’t take it to the level of fighting.

Wolf-Grizzly Drama Over Carcass Shows Yellowstone Visitors How Predators Coexist

A grizzly and wolf initially had a tense standoff over a bison carcass in Yellowstone, but opted to resolve it peacefully. The photographer who filmed the interaction said they're smarter than people think. "They know that conflict is costly," she said.

Mark HeinzAugust 13, 2026

The Bureau of Land Management wants to round up about 1,800 mustangs from central Wyoming, claiming they’re overpopulated. Horse advocates say their horses are thriving in healthy numbers.

BLM Says Red Desert Wild-Horse Herd Must Be Cut By 1,800 To Prevent Starvation

The Bureau of Land Management plans to round up about 1,800 mustangs in the Red Desert Complex of central Wyoming this fall, claiming that overpopulated horses are at risk for starvation. “That’s baloney," says wild-horse advocate Carol Walker.

Mark HeinzAugust 13, 2026

A dimwitted tourist shared a video of himself illegally perched above the 109-foot-tall summit of the Upper Falls of the Grand Canyon in Yellowstone.

Dimwitted Tourist Illegally Climbs Yellowstone's Upper Falls, Brags About 'Risky View'

A dimwitted tourist posted a video of himself illegally climbing above the Upper Falls of the Grand Canyon in Yellowstone earlier this week. He bragged about the "risky view" and how it gave him adrenaline. The Instagram post could result in charges.

Andrew RossiAugust 13, 2026

Screenshot of a lightning strike that came within 50-feet of two South Dakota Highway Patrolman on Wednesday.

South Dakota Troopers Nearly Struck By Lightning While On Manhunt

Two South Dakota Highway Patrol troopers were nearly struck by lightning while on a manhunt Wednesday evening. Body cam video captured the lightning strike followed an immediate yell. "That's one way to light up a manhunt," the patrol said.

Andrew RossiAugust 13, 2026

Drake Alexander Ingalls

Tinder Date Ends With Newcastle Man Shot Dead, S.D. Man Facing Murder Charge

A Tinder date gone horribly wrong ended with a Newcastle man dead with a hollow-point round in his chest and a South Dakota man facing a second-degree murder charge — and vastly different stories from the couple who had just met for a hook-up.

Greg JohnsonAugust 12, 2026

Ron Star and Knuckles stop for fuel at Muddy Gap while riding home from Sturgis.

Zoinks! Gas Is $6 A Gallon In Muddy Gap — That's 42% Higher Than Wyoming Average

If you need gas while traveling on Wyoming Highway 220 near Independence Rock, get ready to pay for it through the nose. Gas is selling for $6 a gallon — 42% higher than the state's average. "We get some angry customers," says manager Tavienna Lozier.

Kolby FedoreAugust 12, 2026

Barlow Degenfelder Bien 8 12 26

Eric Barlow Earns Most In $3 Million Wyoming Governor's Race, Degenfelder Second

Campaign finance reports filed Tuesday show Eric Barlow out-earned Megan Degenfelder in the gubernatorial primary election with about $1.54 million, while Degenfelder posted nearly $1.3 million. The whole contest shows a roughly $3 million haul.

Clair McFarlandAugust 12, 2026

Gillette police scaled

Gillette Man Accused Of Raping Woman, Calling Her His 'Little Beat Victim'

A Gillette man who allegedly raped a woman and called her his “little beat victim” was charged Tuesday with eight felonies. Investigators say the woman had a black eye, bite marks, bruises, and rib and abdomen pain.

Dale KillingbeckAugust 12, 2026

Supporters of license plate readers in Wyoming say they work, while opponents agree, saying that’s the problem. Police talk “in terms of if everything goes right with them, and I talk about them in terms of if something goes wrong," says an opponent.

Supporters Say Cheyenne License Plate Readers Work; Opponents Say That’s The Problem

Supporters of license plate readers in Wyoming say they work, and opponents agree — saying that’s the problem. Getting dangerous people off the streets is the best outcome, but it shouldn’t be at the cost of everyone's personal rights, says one opponent.

Greg JohnsonAugust 12, 2026

Debris is scattered across properties near South Highway 59 and Rattlesnake Road in Campbell County after a possible tornado Wednesday afternoon ripped roofs from buildings, damaged homes and overturned a camper

Suspected Tornado Rips Through Campbell County, Leaving Widespread Property Damage

A violent storm ripped through southern Campbell County on Wednesday afternoon, tearing roofs from buildings, demolishing a vacant mobile home, flipping a camper upside down and requiring emergency crews to rescue four people from a damaged home.

Kolby FedoreAugust 12, 2026

A multi-vehicle accident between Cody and Yellowstone National Park involving multiple motorcycles on Wednesday morning resulted in one confirmed fatality and five serious injuries, the Wyoming Highway Patrol tells Cowboy State Daily.

UPDATE: Fatality Reported In Crash Involving Four Motorcycles, WYDOT Truck Near Cody

An accident involving multiple motorcycles and a WYDOT truck has resulted in at least one fatality and serious injuries on U.S. Highway 14-16-20 near Cody. "I counted at least three bodies that I could see lying on the ground, not moving," one witness said.

Andrew RossiAugust 12, 2026

Michael Ray Watts, a 37-year-old Casper man, faces potential prison time for allegedly driving a Polaris UTV side-by-side while intoxicated and causing serious injury to a passenger who fell off while sitting in the back on a cooler.

Casper Man Charged With Driving UTV Drunk; Passenger On Life Support After Fall

A Casper man faces prison time after authorities say he drove a side-by-side while intoxicated and caused a passenger to fall off a cooler in the back. The passenger is on life-support after sustaining head injuries in the fall at Alcova Reservoir.

Dale KillingbeckAugust 12, 2026

Platte County officials say they want safeguards in place before data centers arrive, but residents argued the rules are being shaped without enough public input.

Platte County Meeting Gets Contentious Over Proposed Data Center

Dozens of residents packed the meeting room and hallway at a meeting of the Platte County Planning and Zoning Commission on Tuesday night, their voices often rising as they shared their concerns about a massive data center project.

Kate MeadowsAugust 12, 2026

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service engine suppresses fire activity on the Weiser Knoll Fire

Lower Temps, Rain Help Firefighters Contain 30% Of 16,500-Acre Fire Near Lander

Thanks to lower temperatures and light rain Wednesday, the Weiser Knoll fire near Lander was 30% contained and another blaze at Fort Washakie was fully contained. The Weiser Knoll Fire in grass, sagebrush and juniper remained at 16,500 acres.

Mark HeinzAugust 12, 2026

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Guest Column: Wyoming Doesn’t Need More Mud Slinging

Gov. Mark Gordon writes, "I say enough with the name calling, the false information, the nasty for nasty sake. Enough with the schlock that uses Wyoming voters as fundraising bait."

Guest ColumnAugust 12, 2026

U.S. House candidate Reid Rasner (left), Freedom Caucus member Rep. John Bear (right)

U.S. House Candidate Reid Rasner Calls For Defeat Of "Freedom Caucus Losers"

U.S. House candidate Reid Rasner on Tuesday called for the defeat of "Freedom Caucus losers." Rep. John Bear, a prominent member of the group, said Rasner is a "failed career candidate who has brought division, dysfunction and political games to our state."

Clair McFarlandAugust 11, 2026

An elk calf got entangled in some barbed wire over the weekend but thankfully a Wyoming ranch hand rescued it.

Hooray! Ranch Hand Rescues Squealing Elk Calf Entangled In Barbed Wire

An elk calf got entangled in barbed wire over the weekend at a ranch in southern Montana but thankfully a ranch hand from Buffalo, Wyoming, heard it squealing and rescued it. “We care about all of the wildlife living out here,” he told Cowboy State Daily.

Mark HeinzAugust 12, 2026

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Yellowstone Tourists Watch As Rangers Use Kitchen Knives To Dismember Bison

A crowd gathered in Yellowstone's Lamar Valley on Monday as three rangers used kitchen knives to dismember a bison carcass. "They opened up her belly and backside to expose more flesh and blood for the predators to smell," one tour guide said.

Andrew RossiAugust 11, 2026

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Sweetwater Schools Parent Demands Board Chair Removal Over Free Speech Policy

At the school board meeting in Rock Springs on Monday night , a parent presented the Sweetwater County School District No. 1 Board of Trustees with a petition calling for Cole Wright's removal as board chair. The petition was signed by 105 people.

Kate MeadowsAugust 11, 2026

Leather moccasins, Marlboro cigarettes and prescription sunglasses were among the items found on the bank of the Greybull River near where an unidentified young man's body was discovered in 1973.

Big Horn County Reopens Case Of Man Found Floating In Greybull River In 1973

The Big Horn County Coroner's Office is reopening the cold case of a man found floating in the Greybull River near Basin in 1973. Investigators still don't know his name or how he died, but have released photos of what are thought to be his belongings.

Kolby FedoreAugust 11, 2026

Daily Features

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PinYour Wyoming Sunrise: Sunday, August 16, 2026

Today's Wyoming sunrise was captured by Tom Denniston. Tom writes, "Top of the Snowies, Telephone Creek, looking toward Laramie. Special spot for our family viewing this sunrise since 1954. Feeling blessed!"

Photo by Tom Denniston

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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Bill Sniffin: Political Crunch Time Brings Out Desperation And A Few Funny Lines

Columnist Bill Sniffin writes: “This is a desperate time for politicians. Just how negative can they go? Here in Wyoming, we discovered it is pretty darned deep.”

Bill SniffinAugust 08, 2026

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Rod Miller: Changes Around The Ol’ Campfire

Columnist Rod Miller writes, "It was a hot, sultry night in the Red Desert, without a breath of cooling breeze. All that could be heard was the grumbling of the exhausted cowboys and rattlesnakes copulating in the sagebrush."

Rod MillerAugust 07, 2026

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Tom Lubnau: Why You Should Consider Steve Friess For U.S. House

Columnist Tom Lubnau writes, "Chuck Gray's approach to politics is akin to a yapping Chihuahua, making lots of noise and getting headlines, but getting little done.  Most concerning is Gray dumping all of Wyoming voters’ election data to an agency of the federal government whose use is unrestricted."

Tom LubnauAugust 05, 2026

Wyoming Life

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