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Cheyenne City Council to Consider 1,200-Acre Solar Project On Belvoir Ranch
Months after the City of Cheyenne cut the ribbon on its new Belvoir Ranch trail system, the city council is set to consider the addition of a 140-megawatt solar and battery storage project on a different part of the 18,800-acre property.
Emma Jane JacksonSeptember 22, 2026

Pinedale Search And Rescue Pulls Bucked Horseback Rider Out Of Tight Crevice
Pinedale’s Tip Top Search and Rescue rescued an injured horseback rider out of a tight crevice recently using sophisticated short-haul helicopter rescue training. The man became wedged after his horse bucked him near Mount Darby in Sublette County.
Andrew RossiSeptember 22, 2026

‘Those Brothers Loved Each Other’: Casper Family Grieves After Fatal Shooting
A Casper family is mourning a 24-year-old killed in a shooting Saturday involving his brother, who has since been released from custody. “Those brothers loved each other,” said their great-aunt, who is grieving one nephew and worried for the other.
Kolby FedoreSeptember 21, 2026

Wyoming Group Bashes Hageman Bill Capping Conservation Easements At 30 Years
A Wyoming federal lands group is bashing a bill U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman has unveiled that would cap government conservation easements at 30 years. Hageman says it will balance landowners’ rights, while opponents claim it will harm conservation efforts.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 22, 2026

“The Gloves Are Off:” Angry Town Council Meeting In Guernsey Spills Into Parking Lot
Guernsey Town Councilman Jeremiah Fields told candidate Sue Fronapfel “the gloves are off” in the town hall parking lot after they clashed during a council meeting earlier this month. "It's not a threat, but a promise," Fields reportedly told Fronapfel.
Kate MeadowsSeptember 21, 2026

Facing Electricity Shortages, Wyoming Legislators Say Make Utilities Compete
Some Wyoming legislators are pushing a bill that would let independent power suppliers compete with utilities by selling to companies like trona mines and data centers. Four House members killed the effort, but it's coming back next week.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 21, 2026

Illegal Driver Going Wrong Way In Front Of Sheriff’s Office Was On ICE Watch List
The 17th and final illegal driver arrested during the latest Laramie County traffic safety enforcement operation was going the wrong way on a one-way street in front of the sheriff’s office. He almost hit a deputy and was on the ICE watch list.
Greg JohnsonSeptember 21, 2026

Casper Mountain Residents Clash Over Rocky Mountain Power Coming Onto Their Land
Casper Mountain residents are clashing over Rocky Mountain Power’s wildfire mitigation work on their land. One refuses to let a subcontractor cut down the pine tree where her father's ashes are buried, but a neighbor is thrilled to see her own trees go.
Emma Jane JacksonSeptember 22, 2026

Family Of Gillette Man Sues Co-op, Claims It Caused His Stress-Related Death
A Gillette family is suing a South Dakota cooperative after a 62-year-old businessman died of stress-related ulcers in February. They claim the company deliberately bankrupted the man and ultimately caused his death, allegations the company denies.
Julie MankinSeptember 21, 2026

‘Go Get ’Em Boys!’: Fugitive Arrested In Laramie After 100 MPH, Bare-Rim Chase
A Colorado fugitive was arrested after a 100-mph chase on U.S. 287 into Laramie that continued on a bare rim until the driver crashed through a cattle gate. “Go get ’em boys! Go get ’em," cheers a roadside witness who took video as the chase raced past.
Kolby FedoreSeptember 21, 2026

Wyoming’s One-Shot Antelope Hunt Is All About Dropping A Buck With One Bullet
The One Shot Antelope Hunt, a central Wyoming staple since 1940, is a test of skill for hunters — drop a buck pronghorn with a single shot. As hunters discovered near Jeffrey City on Saturday, it isn’t easy.
Mark HeinzSeptember 21, 2026

Cheyenne Mom Admits Starving 50-Pound 13-Year-Old Son To Point Of Near Death
Through tears and with a shaky voice, the mother of a 50-pound 13-year-old admitted in a Cheyenne courtroom Monday morning she intentionally starved the boy to the point of pushing the teen close to death. Her husband’s child abuse trial starts Tuesday.
Greg JohnsonSeptember 21, 2026

Connecticut Man Pleads Guilty To 2018 Saratoga Fishing Derby Scam, Faces 20 Years
A Connecticut man pleaded guilty last week to scamming the 2018 Saratoga Ice Fishing Derby. He sold an insurance policy against the derby’s $10,000 prize, and when someone caught the fish, he didn’t pay out. Kevin Kolenda faces up to 20 years in prison.
Renée JeanSeptember 21, 2026

Top 11 Selling Art From Cody's $1 Million Buffalo Bill Art Show And Sale
Here are the top 11 highest-selling pieces at the 45th Buffalo Bill Art Show and Sale in Cody over the weekend where more than $1 million was raised. “Every year’s different, but it’s always glorious,” said Katelyn Parker, the director of the show.
Andrew RossiSeptember 21, 2026

Manhunt Suspect Hit With Attempted Murder Charge For Shooting At Weston Co. Deputy
A man accused of firing at a Weston County deputy who helped him get a hotel room is headed to district court on attempted second-degree murder charges. He told DCI agents he remembered the deputy getting him the room — but not shooting at him.
Kolby FedoreSeptember 21, 2026

Drinking Wyoming: The SOB Who Showed Up Four Days Late To The Boulder Bar
The crowd at the Boulder Bar on a Sunday in September offers a representative sample of rural Sublette County: rancher, fishing guide, washed-up rodeo rider and retired rig mechanic. "You’re the son of a bitch from the newspaper, aren't ya?” the owner says.
Zakary SonntagSeptember 20, 2026

TerraPower Is Replacing Lead Contractor On Its Kemmerer Nuclear Plant
TerraPower is replacing the lead construction contractor on the next phase of its Natrium nuclear plant being built near Kemmerer, Wyoming. Mayor Robert Brown said he was surprised by the move, and construction on the first-of-its-kind plant is on track.
Emma Jane JacksonSeptember 21, 2026

Savery Rancher Won’t Stop Searching For Jim Baker’s Long Lost 1841 Battle Site
Savery-area rancher Dennis Faerber has spent 18 years searching around the Little Snake River Valley for Jim Baker’s Long Lost 1841 battle site. He, and the Wyoming state archaeologist, believe they’re close to solving a 185-year-old mystery.
Renée JeanSeptember 20, 2026

Feds Fed Up With Whoever Trashed Bridger-Teton Campsite With 500 Pounds Of Garbage
After hauling another 500-plus pounds of garbage out of a public campsite, Bridger-Teton National Forest officials are fed up with whoever keeps trashing the spot. It’s happened at least five times and is now the focus of a federal investigation.
Kolby FedoreSeptember 20, 2026

Sweetwater County Brings Back Former Superintendent To Fill In After Suspension
Former Sweetwater County School District 1 chief Paul Grube was appointed interim superintendent Sunday, less than a week after Joesph Libby was abruptly placed on administrative leave. “I’ll be honest with you, I never thought I’d be here,” Grube said.
Kate MeadowsSeptember 21, 2026
Cowboy State Daily Video Newscast: Monday, September 21, 2026
Monday's headlines include: * 19 Grizzlies Gorge * Boulder Bar: SOB Is Compliment * Bextel’s Legal Battle With Game & Fish
Mac WatsonSeptember 20, 2026

Morrison Jeep Trail Blasted To Open Its 27 Rugged Switchbacks After 4 Years Closed
The rugged Morrison Jeep Trail, which rises 6,500 feet to the Beartooth Plateau northwest of Cody, Wyoming, has been blasted with explosives to open it for the first time in four years. Hardore off-roaders seek the trail out for its 27 steep switchbacks.
Andrew RossiSeptember 20, 2026

Country Music Star Chancey Williams Says Success Rooted In Wyoming
Moorcroft native Chancey Williams has shared stages with Toby Keith, played the Grand Ole Opry, and is in the Cheyenne Frontier Days Hall of Fame. Despite his rise as a country music star, he says he looks forward to coming home to Wyoming the most.
Renée JeanSeptember 20, 2026

To Protect Harem, Yellowstone's ‘King Of Mammoth’ Elk Will Fight Anything — Even Cars
Yellowstone’s huge Elk 24 — aka the “King of Mammoth” — will fight anything during the rut to protect his harem, even cars. Because other bull elk seem to avoid Mammoth, Elk 24 is usually ready to pick fights with anything and anybody in the area.
Andrew RossiSeptember 20, 2026
Mysterious 1811 Pitchfork Ranch Rocks Change Timeline Of White Men In Bighorn Basin
Pitchfork Ranch cowboys had long heard about the battle of "Pappy-Po Butte," and the legends were affirmed when sandstone grave markers etched with "1811" were found. It's proof white men were in the Bighorn Basin earlier than thought, historians say.
Jackie DorothySeptember 20, 2026

How Rick Ackerman Went From The NFL To Wyoming Mountain Man And Musician
After a career in the trenches as an NFL nose tackle, Rick “Big Ack” Ackerman moved to Wyoming and has spent nearly 30 years living out his Western dream. “I’m part mountain man, part cowboy,” he says.
Leo WolfsonSeptember 20, 2026

Wyoming Bowhunter Walks Behind Moose Decoy To Fool Huge Bulls In Alfalfa Field
Bowhunter Zack Key of La Barge was struggling with how to get within range of two huge Shiras bull moose hanging out in an alfalfa field in southwest Wyoming. Then he decided to try holding a cow moose decoy in front of him and just walk in. It worked.
Mark HeinzSeptember 20, 2026

Forgotten Lander Cabin Discovered To Be Historic 140-Year-Old Chinese Laundry
A forgotten cabin hiding behind a building on Lander’s Main Street was discovered to be the 140-year-old Chinese laundry of Sam Sing, an early and influential resident. The owner "was using the laundry as a storage shed,” said the local museum director.
Renée JeanSeptember 20, 2026

Cody's Buffalo Bill Art Show And Sale Bidders Pony Up More Than $1M In The Dark
A city-wide power outage didn't stop bidders in this weekend’s Buffalo Bill Art Show and Sale from ponying up more than $1 million during one of the nation’s premier Western art events. The biggest spender was a bidder who bought nine pieces for more than $135,000.
Andrew RossiSeptember 20, 2026

Inside The Exclusive $400 Million Hoback Club’s Ultra-Luxe Teton Village Homes
Jackson Hole has never lacked for luxury, but its newest $400 million private enclave takes stealth wealth to a whole new level at Teton Village. Cowboy State Daily scored a rare tour inside the Hoback Club’s 25 newly opened private club condos.
Renée JeanSeptember 19, 2026

Non-Residents Willing To Shell Out Up To $30,000 For A Wyoming Elk Hunt
Nonresidents wanting to fulfill their dreams of a Wyoming elk hunt should be willing to shell out a median of $8,000 for a guided hunt, while high-end adventures can hit $30,000. Wyoming is the sweet-spot for big-game hunters, says Guy Eastman.
Mark HeinzSeptember 19, 2026

Found On Newcastle Ranch, 'Rex Jr.' Could Be Most Important T. Rex Ever Discovered
"Rex Junior" is a partial but perfectly preserved Tyrannosaurus skeleton found on the Zerbst Ranch in eastern Wyoming. A paleontologist said that the "extraordinary specimen" could rewrite 100 years of knowledge about how the T. rex looked.
Andrew RossiSeptember 19, 2026

Slowly But Surely, Wyoming's Once-Stunning Aspen Alley Making A Comeback
After years in decline and die-off, the once-stunning Aspen Alley corridor in southern Wyoming’s Sierra Madre Mountains is making a comeback. Withing five years, “We'll have aspen so thick it'll be hard to walk through there,” says an area rancher.
Andrew RossiSeptember 19, 2026
Kirby’s ‘Grandpa Ben' Makes Old-School Wooden Toys Kids Can Beat The Crap Out Of
Ben Arthur of Kirby — aka ‘Grandpa Ben’ — has spent the past 40 years making colorful and Wyoming-tough old-school wooden toys that are meant for kids to beat the crap out of. “Kids today need to have toys like I had as a kid,” he said.
Jackie DorothySeptember 19, 2026

Early-Morning Shooting In Casper Leaves One Man Dead, Another In Custody
A Casper man was shot and killed early Saturday morning during what local police say is believed to be an altercation between two men who knew each other. “The apparent shooter is in custody and is cooperating with police,” the CPD reports.
Greg JohnsonSeptember 19, 2026

Nobody Knows Who Dug Out Illegal ‘Hobbit Hole’ Discovered Near Yellowstone Trail
A visitor walking her dog on a trail near Grant Village in Yellowstone discovered a sizable — and illegal — "Hobbit hole" dug into a sandy hill. "It was definitely manmade, not Bigfoot with a chainsaw," she said.
Andrew RossiSeptember 19, 2026

Why North Dakota Pair Are Taking Search For Missing Gillette Man So Personal
A mother-daughter team from North Dakota has made numerous trips to Wyoming to search for a Gillette man they don’t know who's been missing for months. Their own tragedy makes the search personal. "Everyone needs to be brought home," they say.
Jen KocherSeptember 19, 2026

Drinking Montana: Mermaids Make Sip 'N Dip ‘Absolutely Insane In The Best Way’
Sip ’N Dip in Great Falls, Montana, is famous for its live mermaids and 10-shot fishbowl cocktails, earning it the “No. 1 bar in the world worth flying for” by GQ magazine. Patrons call it “absolutely insane in the best way.”
Anna-Louise JacksonSeptember 19, 2026

Casper 3-Month-Old Clings To Life In Desperate Wait For Lung Transplant
Lorelai Hockaday was born prematurely June 20 and has spent nearly every day since clinging to life in a desperate wait for a lung transplant. "A lot of kids only live either a few days or a week,” said the Casper baby’s mom.
Kolby FedoreSeptember 19, 2026

Mystery Solved! Flag At 1955 Medicine Bow Peak Crash Site A Tribute To Military Dad
The mystery of the American flag planted at the United Air Lines Flight 409 1955 crash site on Medicine Bow Peak has been solved. A tribute to a military dad, the man’s family calls the site “holy ground” and vows to replace it every time it disappears.
Dale KillingbeckSeptember 19, 2026

19 Grizzlies Having A Feeding Frenzy On A Carcass Wows Yellowstone Visitors
Tourists experienced a rare sight this past weekend when up to 19 grizzlies had a feeding frenzy on a carcass north of Yellowstone National Park. While usually solitary, bears can be semi-social when the right feeding opportunities arise.
Mark HeinzSeptember 19, 2026

Rebecca Bextel Says Legal Battle With Wyoming Game And Fish Is Political
Gubernatorial candidate Rebecca Bextel has been accused of trespassing, barred from building on her land, and locked in a legal war with Wyoming Game And Fish. She says she's a political target, while her neighbors say she violated a hunting easement.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 18, 2026

Investigators Say No Evidence Horrific Wyoming Truck Stop Stabbing A ‘Hate Crime’
While a congressman links Sunday’s Wyoming truck stop stabbing to what he calls racist messaging from the Trump administration, investigators say there’s no evidence it was a hate crime. So far “we have zero motive,” says a sheriff’s office spokesman.
Clair McFarlandSeptember 19, 2026

Man Dies When Car Plunges 50 Feet Into Snake River Canyon, Unnoticed For Hours
An unidentified man is dead after his vehicle drove through a guardrail and fell 50 feet from U.S. Highway 89 into Snake River Canyon on Thursday night. The vehicle was "there for a couple hours, at least," first responders told Cowboy State Daily.
Andrew RossiSeptember 18, 2026

Lawsuit Claims Grok Used Wyoming Woman's Photo To Make 7,000 AI Child Porn Pics
A class-action lawsuit alleges a Wyoming woman's stepfather uploaded her childhood photo to Grok, then used the AI platform to generate 7,000 pornographic images of her. She feels "like her childhood has been stolen,” says one of the woman’s attorneys.
Emma Jane JacksonSeptember 18, 2026

‘We Fought Him Off’: Women Describe Fight For Their Lives On Buffalo Trail
A Buffalo man faces attempted second-degree murder charges after allegedly attacking two women walking their dogs along the popular Clear Creek Trail. “We fought him off,” one woman told police, describing how they battled their attacker with rocks.
Kolby FedoreSeptember 18, 2026

Wagon Box Celebrity Chef Quits, Owner Says ‘Haters And Losers’ Pushed Him Out
The restaurant at the Wagon Box in Story, Wyoming, is closed after its celebrity chef abruptly quit amid an ongoing rift between ownership and some local residents. The owner says a contingent of “haters and losers” pushed the chef out.
Renée JeanSeptember 18, 2026

Spooked By Grizzly, Smokey The Llama Has Gone Missing In Absaroka Range Near Cody
Smokey, a 6-year-old experienced backcountry llama, has been lost in the Absaroka Range along the South Fork of the Shoshone River near Cody since Sept. 2. He was spooked by a grizzly, and has been seen hanging out with an elk herd.
Andrew RossiSeptember 18, 2026
Daily Features
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Today's Wyoming sunrise was captured by Tyler Maxfield. Tyler writes, "Morning sunshine through the aspens with fog."

Don Day's Wyoming Weather Forecast: Tuesday, September 22, 2026
Chance of rain in parts of Wyoming on Tuesday, otherwise mostly sunny. Partly to mostly cloudy overnight with a chance of rain. Highs from the low 60s to upper 70s. Lows from near 30 to mid 50s.

Daily Cartoon 2: Tuesday, September 22, 2026
Today's question to Don Day
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.
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
Opinion
Dave Simpson: Do 70 Percent Of Us Still Like Trump?
Opinion by Dave Simpson
Gail Symons: Hey Maybe Campaign Like Voters Are Human Beings
Opinion by Gail Symons
Joan Barron: 'L-Triple C' Out, 'Wyoming State College' In, Like It Or Not
Opinion by Joan Barron
Bill Sniffin: What To Do When Weather Closes Roads Here In Big Wonderful Wyoming
Opinion by Bill Sniffin
Dennis Sun: Protein Is Driving the Beed Industry
Opinion by Dennis Sun
Sponsored
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Wyoming Has Powered America, We’re Ready for What Comes Next
Wyoming can help power America’s next chapter. Getting it right means listening to local voices, protecting existing utility customers, and creating opportunities that endure long after construction ends.
September 21, 2026

Buffalo Bill’s Rifle, Rare Winchesters and Western Treasures Headline Three-Day Cody Auction
Lock Stock & Barrel Auctions will bring more than 1,500 lots to the historic Cody Auditorium Oct. 23–25, offering Wyoming collectors a chance to handle history, swap stories and enjoy three days of live auction excitement.
September 16, 2026

A Year of Transformation. A Lifetime of Smiles.
From life-changing dental implants to full-mouth restoration, Legacy Institute Dental is celebrating a year of helping patients rediscover the power of a healthy smile.
September 14, 2026
Opinion
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Gail Symons: Hey Maybe Campaign Like Voters Are Human Beings
Columnist Gail Symons writes, "The audience had given Bextel its time and attention. A closing statement is a chance to tell voters why they should support her. She spent much of hers attacking other people."
Gail SymonsSeptember 21, 2026

Joan Barron: 'L-Triple C' Out, 'Wyoming State College' In, Like It Or Not
Columnist Joan Barron writes, “I think Wyoming State College is kind of lame. I find more appeal in “College of the High Plains.” Or something with “Frontier” in it. The college has a new brand, but it has no boots or lace. It has just a plain cotton frock.”
Joan BarronSeptember 19, 2026

Bill Sniffin: What To Do When Weather Closes Roads Here In Big Wonderful Wyoming
Columnist Bill Sniffin writes: “There are some places in Wyoming I call ‘pinch points’ like South Pass and Wind River Canyon. When they are closed you are screwed. You are just stranded. So, what to do? Weather reports are very accurate. It is best to pay attention and plan ahead.”
Bill SniffinSeptember 19, 2026
Wyoming Life
View all207-Acre Wyoming Llama Ranch Opens As Sanctuary For Vets, First Responders
Kate MeadowsSeptember 18, 2026
'The Baby Is Coming': Dad Delivers Son In Parking Lot Of Wamsutter Truck Stop
Kolby FedoreSeptember 18, 2026
Wife Of Wyoming Hiker Says Body Found After 3-Week Grand Canyon Search Is His
Kolby FedoreSeptember 17, 2026
42,000 Pounds Of Food To Cheyenne Hunger-Relief Agencies 'Won't Last Us The Week'
Kerry DrakeSeptember 17, 2026
Wyoming Hasn't Forgotten 8 Cross-Country Runners Killed By Drunk Driver 25 Years Ago
Kerry DrakeSeptember 16, 2026
Outdoors
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Fish & Wildlife Chief Nesvik Wants To Ease Laws For 'Taking' Endangered Species
Mark HeinzSeptember 18, 2026
Grizzlies Killing Livestock Cost Wyoming Nearly $1M, Blows Budget Out Of Water
Mark HeinzSeptember 17, 2026
Missing 13-Year-Old Montana Boy's Body Found In Clarks Fork River
Emma Jane JacksonSeptember 17, 2026
Human Remains Found In Grand Canyon Yet To Be Identified As Wyoming Family Waits
Kolby FedoreSeptember 15, 2026
Just As Wyoming Wolf Season Begins, Famous Mollie's Pack Returns To Yellowstone
Mark HeinzSeptember 15, 2026
Crime & Courts
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Goshen County Man Accused Of Embezzling $700,000 From Dad's Business
Kolby FedoreSeptember 18, 2026
Judge To Review College Discipline Records Of Trans Activist’s Alleged Victim
Clair McFarlandSeptember 18, 2026
ICE Rift With Teton County Sheriff Widens After Agents Zip-Tie Woman At Bus Stop
Kolby FedoreSeptember 17, 2026
Wyoming Woman To Stand Trial For Telling Neighbor To ‘Get The F Off My Lawn’
Greg JohnsonSeptember 16, 2026
Cheyenne Mom Agrees To Plead Guilty To Starving 50-Pound, 13-Year-Old Son
Greg JohnsonSeptember 16, 2026
