It's time to take a look at what's happening around Wyoming for Wednesday, July 22nd. I'm Reece Cowan, filling in for Mac Watson

This newscast is brought to you by the Wyoming State Fair. Wrap up your summer at the Wyoming State Fair, August 11th through the 15th in Douglas!

Rodeo, Demolition Derby, live music, entertainment and fair food await. Learn more at W-Y State Fair dot com. See you at the fair! This ad was paid for by Converse County Tourism.

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State Sen. Eric Barlow released poll results Tuesday showing him with a sizable lead over other Republican candidates in the race for Wyoming governor.

Cowboy State Daily's Clair McFarland reports the polling showed him at 42% support, followed by Degenfelder at 19% and Bien at 14% — with 22% undecided.

"This is internal campaign polling, so it's not done by a neutral third party. It's permissioned by a candidate, and the candidate can be involved in the process. So, with that in mind, Degenfelder and Bien's campaigns both cast significant doubt on it. Bien's campaign associate associate Cheryl Aggie are saying, 'Yeah, we're doing our own thing.' And there's speculation. Will Degenfelder and Bien split a conservative vote? How will Barlow do it? Picking up moderates and conservatives? So there's a lot of speculation around that trio effect. So for Barlow to release poll figures, showing him at more than the other two candidates combined, it is noteworthy, though his opponents are saying 'this is internal polling, so don't forget that.'"

Curt Blake tells Cowboy State Daily "I think a poll can say whatever you want it to say. With that being said, it wouldn't surprise me if Eric is in the lead. He's a damn good guy." Read the full story HERE – A 14-year-old ranch kid from Big Timber, Montana, had a rope in his hand when cries for help erupted from the Yellowstone River. Cowboy State Daily's Kolby Fedore reports he sprinted into the water, threw one loop and caught a struggling man around the arm and neck, pulling him safely to shore.

"14-year-old Jory Thompson was visiting his grandparents along the Yellowstone River in Big Timber, Montana, when he heard cries for help coming from the river. Three people had fallen in after their boat struck a rock. Two of the people were able to swim to shore safely. A third man was clinging to a cooler when Thompson waded into the water, rope in hand. He was able to lasso the man and pull him to shore. A search and rescue sergeant said that without a doubt, he would not have made it had Thompson not been able to act quickly."

The Thomas family lives on a ranch about a dozen miles outside Big Timber, directly across from a campground where Jory's grandparents had been staying for the week. To his family, the rescue wasn't entirely surprising. Jase Thomas said his son has always been the first person to help someone else. Read the full story HERE – Dr. Eric Cubin whom Gov. Gordon sought to remove from the Wyoming Board of Medicine for advocating a ban on child sex changes has won his appeal – halfway. Cowboy State Daily's Clair McFarland reports that a Tuesday ruling sent the case back to federal court, reviving First Amendment claims against Gordon.

"He had lobbied in favor of a bill to ban child sex change treatments across the medical spectrum, including surgeries, including puberty blockers, and he had also emailed lawmakers saying that a medical private association that was lobbying in favor of the bill had gone woke, had been taken over by leftist interests. And so when Gordon pushed him off the board, the governor was saying, 'Look, the doctors that you are governing, adjudicating, have to know that you're not biased and you're out here saying these things.' So Cuban sued, alleging the governor had violated his First Amendment rights."

Though Cubin showed a strong enough case for retaliation to revive his official-capacity claims, he didn't prove that Gordon was violating a clearly-established right, the appeals court ruled.

Read the full story HERE – A Jackson man is accused of blasting another driver twice with bear spray during a Sunday road rage showdown, leaving the victim struggling to breathe. Cowboy State Daily's Kolby Fedore reports he admitted using bear spray on the other driver, but told police it was self-defense.

"Investigators say that 30-nine-year-old Leonard Dominguez on Sunday admitted to spraying another motorist on the road with bear spray, not once but twice. Both drivers said that one person cut the other person off. They ended up pulled over on the side of the road, and when the man approached Dominguez's driver's side window, Dominguez sprayed him with bear spray. The man kind of stumbled back to his car, and that's when Dominguez sprayed him again. He made a first appearance in court on Monday, and he was charged with felony assault."

The investigating officer wrote that bear spray is intended to stop bears — not people — and can cause severe eye injuries, swelling, airway constriction and potentially life-threatening respiratory complications when used at close range. Read the full story HERE –

I'll have more news from Cowboy State Daily right after this.

Cowboy State Daily News continues now….

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Days after a religious clash exploded on the Wind River Indian Reservation, the Northern Arapaho Tribe's government says it has adopted a new policy. Cowboy State Daily's Clair McFarland reports it requires ministry and charitable groups to get tribal authorization for their work on the reservation.

"Tribal government asked the church to leave the reservation. The Church is saying no, we're on private land. Here on Monday, the tribal government released a statement saying it has crafted a policy so that outside groups conducting recurring ministries, outreach stuff like that have to talk to the tribe and get its authorization to do that. Now the church didn't respond for my story Tuesday, but this is a very complex area of law where lots of questions come into play. There is a federal law on the books that subjects tribal governments to First Amendment like restrictions. There's also other uncertainties about where the property divisions impact this case."

It may be a point of debate whether private land surrounded by tribal trust lands falls within tribal jurisdiction, and if so, for what purposes. It's unclear if the tribe's new policy is constitutional.

Read the full story HERE

– Aggressive elk attack far more people than grizzlies, black bears, coyotes and mule deer — especially in tourist areas, according to an extensive study. Cowboy State Daily's Mark Heinz reports that a wildlife specialist says elk can "inflict serious damage with those stomps and kicks." "Elk are are the number one animal that people are having negative interactions with, up to and including being attacked and injured in national parks. It does not mean that. Oh my gosh, elk are that much more fearsome even than a grizzly. The the folks I talked to said that the best that they can surmise it probably boils down to just a game of odds. There are just more places across more locations across greater time frames when you have a lot of people and a lot of elk in close quarters with each other and they don't really see people as a threat."

Any animals that are raised around people such as town deer in some Wyoming communities, can be more aggressive than those that live out in the wild where they're hunted. Read the full story HERE – Attorneys for a former Cheyenne woman accused of murdering her newborn boy 38 years ago say there's not enough evidence for a trial and want a judge to order a new preliminary hearing. Cowboy State Daily's Greg Johnson reports that she's also out of jail on a lower bond granted last week. "Her defense team want a new preliminary hearing. They're asking the court, 'Hey, send it back. We want to redo the preliminary hearing because we don't think the judge ruled correctly in the first one. The prosecution didn't show that the the elements of the crime are there to move it forward to trial.' It's fairly unusual, but it does happen sometimes. And of course, the prosecution may say, 'Look, there's nothing wrong with the preliminary hearing. Everything was fine, and besides, you don't just get a do-over because you don't like what the judge said.'" While Martinez was granted a lower bond — and posted it, it was required to have been posted by a bondsman, not personally, and she has to wear an ankle monitor. If convicted of first-degree murder, Martinez could face life in prison or the death penalty. Read the full story HERE – A tourist was caught on video climbing one of the famous Mormon Row buildings in Grand Teton Park. Cowboy State Daily's Andrew Rossi reports that the grandson of T.A. Moulton says the tourist broke the law and disrespected his family's heritage. "It's easy to forget that the Bolton family is still living in Wyoming, and when they saw the video of someone climbing over the roof of one of the historic structures on Mormon Road, they were understandably upset. Those barns belong to the American people, they're part of the National Park Service. They gave that land so that everybody could enjoy it. So for somebody to not only approach those barns and touch them, let alone climb on them when they're fragile and need to be preserved, it's incredibly disrespectful to people who gave this gift to the people of Wyoming, the nation, and the world." As visitation to national parks increases, one commonly heard concern is that they're "being loved to death." Higher densities of tourists are causing more destruction and disturbance to the natural vistas that drew people there in the first place. Read the full story HERE —

And that's today's news. Get your free digital subscription to Wyoming's only statewide newspaper by hitting the Daily Newsletter button on Cowboy State Daily Dot Com - and you can watch this newscast every day by clicking Subscribe on our YouTube channel, or listen to us on your favorite podcast app. Thanks for watching - I'm Reece Cowan, in for Mac Watson, for Cowboy State Daily.

It's time to take a look at what's happening around Wyoming for Tuesday, July 21st. I'm Reece Cowan, filling in for Mac Watson

This newscast is brought to you by the Wyoming State Fair. Wrap up your summer at the Wyoming State Fair, August 11th through the 15th in Douglas!

Rodeo, Demolition Derby, live music, entertainment and fair food await. Learn more at W-Y State Fair dot com. See you at the fair! This ad was paid for by Converse County Tourism.

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Wyoming Republican Party State Central Committee met Monday, running late into the evening. Cowboy State Daily's Clair McFarland reports they made the controversial move to endorse candidates for statewide and federal offices.

"Technically, under state law, the major parties aren't allowed to financially back one candidate over another in the primary election, that has been interpreted as a ban on endorsing candidates. So they passed a bylaw here back in April, flouting the state law, saying we will endorse whom we will endorse. In the meantime, their state central committee meeting Monday evening, unfolded, and they chose to endorse Brent Bean for governor, Harriet Hageman for U.S. Senate and Chuck Gray for U.S. House."

Delegate Richard George expressed disagreement with the process, saying "If there's anybody in this state that needs to vet the candidates, it's the people. The people are going to do a fine job at it."

Read the full story HERE

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Two tourists got dangerously and illegally close to Grand Prismatic Spring on Sunday in Yellowstone. Cowboy State Daily's Andrew Rossi reports that Montana resident Tanya Saueressig, who filmed them taking selfies right next to the scalding water, said she "was so furious" she had tears in her eyes.

"Grand Prismatic Spring is 160 degrees, and it's just over a year ago, that we witnessed a bison fall into the pool and essentially get poached to death. So, it's something to take seriously as a entity. But that wasn't enough to deter two unknown women from strolling straight out there. They were seen walking along the edge of the pool, taking selfies, and really not considering the damage that they were doing with every step."

Several people have been seriously injured or killed after getting too close to Yellowstone's thermal features. One would think a high risk of death might be enough to dissuade tourists from tempting their luck. Read the full story HERE

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A Rock Springs man accused of holding his girlfriend captive for days while torturing her has pleaded not guilty. Cowboy State Daily's Kolby Fedore reports that court records allege he warned her: "I will murder your cat. I will murder your family if you get the cops involved."

"20-four-year-old Jake Canestrini pled not guilty on Thursday to holding his ex-girlfriend captive for several days in Rock Springs, beginning on May 30th until she escaped on June 2nd. Canestrini is being held at the Sweetwater County Detention Center. A jury trial has been scheduled for November. According to investigators, Canestrini held her down, yank her by the hair. He strangled her multiple times and threatened to kill her. Canestrini didn't sleep much. So when he finally fell asleep she was able to run and go get help from one of the neighbors."

Under Wyoming law, kidnapping is punishable by 20 years to life in prison if the victim is not voluntarily released substantially unharmed in a safe place before trial.

Read the full story HERE

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Rep. Daniel Singh, is an incumbent Republican from Cheyenne and was once a member of the Freedom Caucus. Cowboy State Daily's Clair McFarland reports he says he's changed since identifying as a pro-choice, progressive atheist in a recently surfaced 2021 podcast interview saying "People change their minds." "That features Singh talking to a former friend and podcaster, describing himself as a progressive, as extremely pro-choice, as wanting to legalize hard drugs, he described himself as a stoic and an atheist. And that's contrary to Singh's current presentation of himself frequently quoting scripture on Facebook and voting for pro-life bills every single year, as well as other hot button Republican conservative topics. I asked him 'what is the story with this contrast?' And he said that he has changed. His friend and podcaster doubted that, casting him as an opportunist." Singh first won the GOP nomination for House District 61 on Aug. 16, 2022, over two other candidates. He went on to win the general election and was sworn into office in early 2023. He started identifying as a member of the Wyoming Freedom Caucus during his freshman term. Read the full story HERE

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I'll have more news from Cowboy State Daily right after this.

Cowboy State Daily News continues now….

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A semitrailer caused extensive damage to a bridge over I-80 near Rawlins on Monday morning when it drifted off the pavement, into the median, and took out a concrete support. Cowboy State Daily's Andrew Rossi reports that the Westbound lanes of I-80 near the bridge are closed and traffic is being diverted.

"The semi was traveling westbound, then drifted off the pavement, went through a cable, went through a guardrail, and then the trailer itself embedded on the three concrete pillars supporting this bridge over I 80, and then the semi truck itself got detached and continued going a little bit further. There were two people inside the truck at the time. Neither was seriously injured, or at least they had non life threatening injuries. Somebody who was on the scene said that was more due to luck than anything else."

A preliminary inspection by WYDOT's bridge engineers revealed that the damage compromised the integrity of the bridge, but it reopened shortly afterward, and traffic resumed without incident.

Read the full story HERE

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The Cheyenne Board of Public Utilities didn't inform the public earlier that Cheyenne's wastewater system was contaminated by a Meta data center because they deemed it a "low risk to public health." Cowboy State Daily's Greg Johnson reports the agency released a timeline and Q&A on Monday.

"The Cheyenne Board of Public Utilities has finally responded with answers to a lot of questions that people have been asking for the last couple of weeks. They actually released two pretty extensive documents. One was a timeline detailing everything that happened. And then also a Q&A, which they say addresses a lot of questions they have been getting from the community. Probably the thing that's been asked most is about transparency. If there was some kind of contamination in the wastewater system, which is not the city's drinking water, why just let us know at the end of it? Why not let us know when it happened?"

According to the Q&A the answer is simple "BOPU determined there was a low risk to public health, which did not justify a public notification that could result in public panic." Read the full story HERE

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Fans still pack Buffalo for Longmire Days even nine years after the last "Longmire" TV episode aired. Cowboy State Daily's Renee Jean reports that Author Craig Johnson created Sheriff Walt Longmire, and said fans "expect Walt Longmire to come walking down the sidewalk and see them at any time." "These actors who portray the characters in the Longmire universe, they are super accessible during this event. I walked into the Occidental, and there was Robert Taylor sitting at the end of the bar just like a regular guy having a beer, chatting with people who passed by, a lot of people wanted selfies, and he was so gracious about that. I thought it was really cool to see that, and it is part of what attracts people here, is that these guys are accessible. They're willing to talk about Longmire Days all day long." In a world where the real-life headlines often feel upside-down, Longmire is offering a universe where decency, fairness and hard work still count. Where justice might be messy, but is never meaningless. Read the full story HERE –

There are plenty of theories about just how a $5 bill seemed to appear "out of thin air" and float onto the bar at Cheyenne VFW Post 1881. Cowboy State Daily's Greg Johnson reports that a video from surveillance cameras inside captured the scene.

"People say that there's a ghost at the VFW post here in Cheyenn and they got it on video. Two members of the VFW are standing there at the bar, and seemingly out of nowhere, this $5 bill floats floats out of the air and drops right on the bar, right next to these guys. And the look on these guys' face in the in the video is prices. They look stunned. They turn around, they're looking for for whoever did it, and there's nobody there. I talked to the guys at the bar and they said 'yeah, a lot of people are trying to explain what happened.'"

If you ask post member Dan Dial, it was the ghost of Darrel Anderson, a longtime VFW member who died about 10 years ago. He said Anderson was just buying Dial another beer for old time's sake. Read the full story HERE

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And that's today's news. Get your free digital subscription to Wyoming's only statewide newspaper by hitting the Daily Newsletter button on Cowboy State Daily Dot Com - and you can watch this newscast every day by clicking Subscribe on our YouTube channel, or listen to us on your favorite podcast app. Thanks for watching - I'm Reece Cowan, in for Mac Watson, for Cowboy State Daily.

It's time to take a look at what's happening around Wyoming for Monday, July 20th. I'm Reece Cowan, filling in for Mac Watson

This newscast is brought to you by the Wyoming State Fair. Wrap up your summer at the Wyoming State Fair, August 11th through the 15th in Douglas!

Rodeo, Demolition Derby, live music, entertainment and fair food await. Learn more at W-Y State Fair dot com. See you at the fair! This ad was paid for by Converse County Tourism.

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Triple-murderer Gerald Uden says he put the bodies of his 1980 murder victims in barrels and sunk them in Fremont Lake, Wyoming's deepest. Cowboy State Daily's Zakary Sonntag reports that Officials were skeptical — until they found a barrel 388-feet deep last week.

"It is pitch black down there. So it is the perfect place to stash something that you don't want people to find. They searched and they searched and they searched and they found nothing. Then years later, a citizen connects with this man and they determine that they may have previously searched in the wrong spot. So this independent search and rescue organization known as OSAR said we're going to go see if we can find this. People spent months looking for anything before, and these guys go out there, and within the first day, within the first handful of hours, they find exactly what people have been looking for. They were stunned, and now comes the extraction phase."

Stacy Koester, founder and president of WyoFind Search, Rescue and Recovery contacted Uden in prison through letters and asked for his help finding Virginia and the two boys. Uden initially denied having a role in their killing or disappearance. But Koester kept pressing, and eventually he admitted to killing them. Read the full story HERE

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After an agitated bison flipped a 65-year-old man in Yellowstone last weekend, it charged after another group of campers. Cowboy State Daily's Andrew Rossi reports the first incident was "only the beginning of the bison's rage," according to a Colorado man who said the bison targeted a 12-year-old.

"As far as the world knew, the bison that tossed Carl McDaniel just ran off after that encounter. But according to an eyewitness that I spoke to, the bison rampage continued at the same campground. There were four people in the E loop of the Bridge Bay campground. Two of those people were from Switzerland, a mother and her 12-year-old son. And at one point, the bison was targeting both of them. It was highly agitated. Thankfully, they managed to find safety in a bathroom that was on site."

As everyone's adrenaline started to come down, they were trying to process what had just happened. Joshua Lewis spoke to the two men who successfully distracted the bison, and they were going over every detail in exasperation. They seemed to be experienced backcountry hikers, which added to their dismay in the moment.

Read the full story HERE

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The Wyoming Supreme Court on Friday rejected all the appeals a former award-winning Casper foster dad made to overturn his 128-to-178-year sentence for sexually abusing children. Cowboy State Daily's Clair McFarland reports that multiple former foster and adopted children testified against him at trial.

"Steve Marler was convicted last April for sexually abusing and physically abusing children who had been his foster kids. He was a formerly award-winning foster dad, and he had adopted kids. The testimony ranged fairly graphic, explicit, and severe. Now Marler on appeal had contested many portions of his trial. One of those was that the judge didn't properly hedge and control the offerings of these these 'other acts' evidence. The decision the Supreme Court handed on Friday was not to let him have a new trial or a second chance." Steven Marler, 51, was not deprived of a fair trial in April 2025, says a unanimous majority opinion by Wyoming Supreme Court Justice Robert Jarosh issued Friday.

Read the full story HERE

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A routine drive over Teton Pass turned into a white-knuckle spectacle Wednesday when an RV appeared to lose its brakes and barreled downhill. Cowboy State Daily's Kolby Fedore reports it was weaving through traffic before somehow reaching the bottom without crashing.

"Last Wednesday, a Jackson videographer named Jeff Bernhard captured a terrifying video of a motorhome that apparently had lost its brakes. So as it careened around the pass, you could see smoke. Bernhard said it was especially concerning because there had just been a fatal wreck about one week earlier on July 7 that resulted in two fatalities with four people injured. Luckily, this did not result in a crash. Bill Sniffen, who's had over 50,000 miles pulling a motorhome, says that often you'll smell something or hear something before you know something is wrong, and it is terrifying."

For commuters who travel Teton Pass every day, Wednesday's close call serves as another reminder of how quickly a routine drive can become an emergency. Bernhard tells Cowboy State Daily "it demands more respect than what most people give it."

Read the full story HERE

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I'll have more news from Cowboy State Daily right after this.

Cowboy State Daily News continues now….

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Second-quarter campaign finance reports for Wyoming's GOP primary House race are in. Cowboy State Daily's Clair McFarland reports that Steve Friess has amassed the most with $2.5 million, which includes a $2 million self-loan. Reid Rasner is second, loaning himself $1.7 million out of $2 million.

"We had been watching for the July reports. They surfaced this week in that U.S. House race. Steve Freeze a clear leader as far as total fundraisings, loans, earnings. Reed Raisner has spent the most at nearly 2 million, and Rasner, Freese, Chuck Gray, and Teton County Rancher Frank Chapman have all loaned themselves at least a million dollars. These candidate campaign earnings and spendings aren't the whole story. There are also independent PACs that can process significant wealth, that can level significant speech at their candidate or candidates that they don't believe in."

Steve Friess, Reid Rasner, Secretary of State Chuck Gray and Frank Chapman will face off against six other Republican contenders for the GOP nomination in Wyoming's Aug. 18 primary election in the hopes of winning the state's lone U.S. House race soon being vacated by Rep. Harriet Hageman.

Read the full story HERE

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From burgers and ice cream in Atlantic City to showers in Lander to Thai food in Rawlins, Cowboy State Daily's Renee Jean reports that hikers on the Continental Divide Trail are giving small Wyoming towns a big economic boost. "It's put Atlantic City on the map," said one local business owner.

"The Continental Divide Trail really is giving some of these really tiny towns along the trail a big boost. The hikers they spend about $9,000 on this trip. They're also looking for places like the laundromat in Lander, which is a little bit like a lounge. They sell boba, coffee, beer, cocktails. You can play a game of pool while you're waiting on your laundry. They offer showers, and it's like a little bit of food, finger food. So it's everything a hiker might want in one place. And I don't think she started the business for that, but it's turned out really great for the hikers."

Gateway communities that have embraced the trail are seeing more benefits than those keeping it at arm's length. Even relatively modest investments, like Lander allowing free camping in the park, can pay dividends to a community's businesses.

Read the full story HERE

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A Dubois woman who specializes in cleaning up hoarder houses says every cleanup begins with the same plea from clients not to judge them. April Jo Jones tells Cowboy State Daily's Kolby Fedore that growing up in a similar situation gave her the empathy to help people living in homes buried beneath clutter. "What started as a routine cleaning business for a Dubois woman has turned into a specialized service offering help to hoarder houses. April Joe Jones says that it's about helping someone safely reclaim their home and their dignity. Joan says that the hardest part isn't actually the cleaning; it's the emotional toll that it takes on the homeowners. Sometimes they'll say they want everything gone, but then when she starts removing things from the home, they begin to panic. In these situations, Jones says that cleaning a house is one thing, but keeping it clean is another." For firefighters, the danger extends far beyond having to climb over piles of belongings. Casper Fire-EMS Battalion Chief Bradley Adles tells Cowboy State Daily that firefighters regularly encounter homes where excessive piles of clothing, paper, trash and other belongings complicate emergency calls. Read the full story HERE

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When no one showed up for a Cody girl's 7th birthday party, her mom went to Facebook to see if anyone would swing by. Cowboy State Daily's Andrew Rossi reports that the town of Cody rallied. More than 150 people stopped by the local pizza place to wish Chloe a happy birthday.

"Chloe wanted a nice seventh birthday party, and everybody who RSVP'd canceled at pretty much the last minute. So her mom, in desperation, just put the word out on Facebook saying, 'If anybody in Cody is available to come to her birthday, just so we're not alone, it would be greatly appreciated,' and over 100 people responded. I'm still getting emails from people who heard the story and want to give something to Chloe for her birthday weeks after the fact. So it's just incredible how the community stepped up because nobody wants to see a kid be sad and alone on their birthday."

Chloe's mother said "She started making friends really fast. It was a beautiful moment of a small town supporting each other. They are amazing, and we love this town."

Read the full story HERE

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And that's today's news. Get your free digital subscription to Wyoming's only statewide newspaper by hitting the Daily Newsletter button on Cowboy State Daily Dot Com - and you can watch this newscast every day by clicking Subscribe on our YouTube channel, or listen to us on your favorite podcast app. Thanks for watching - I'm Reece Cowan, in for Mac Watson, for Cowboy State Daily.

It's time to take a look at what's happening around Wyoming for Friday, July 17th. I'm Reece Cowan, filling in for Mac Watson

This newscast is brought to you by the Wyoming State Fair. Wrap up your summer at the Wyoming State Fair, August 11th through the 15th in Douglas!

Rodeo, Demolition Derby, live music, entertainment and fair food await. Learn more at W-Y State Fair dot com. See you at the fair! This ad was paid for by Converse County Tourism.

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A wall of water surged through East Thermopoli s late Wednesday, stranding people and breaking a gas main after 4.5 inches of rain fell in an hour near the town. Cowboy State Daily's Jackie Dorothy reports that one resident said he heard a roaring coming in his direction.

"It was a really intense two hours Wednesday night. It was clear skies. When at 10 o'clock a flash flood hit. One resident described it as a wall. He called 911, by the time he got a hold of dispatch, the wall of water had already hit his house. Another resident, she was actually trapped in her house. Morgan talked about going outside to rescue her dog. Once she got back in her house, Morgan said that she could feel it moving, and she really thought she was going to die. Chief Cornwall said that this is the worst flooding he has ever seen."

Meteorologist Straub said that the thunderstorm that caused all the damage developed about 10 miles east of Thermopolis and just kind of sat there for about an hour and a half.

Read the full story HERE

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Megan Degenfelder's campaign for Wyoming governor released a video early Thursday of President Donald Trump doubling down on his endorsement of her. Cowboy State Daily's Clair McFarland reports that the push comes with a month to go before Wyoming's hotly contested Republican Primary election.

"We've got a month before the primary election, which in Wyoming generally involves a huge standoff between Republicans of all stripes, and Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder garnered the Trump endorsement back in January. Well the president doubled down on Thursday, reiterating his endorsement. Trump varies on when he gives endorsements, Dagenfelder's is among the earliest that we've ever seen. Seven months before the primary election. She said that she was deeply honored to have the president's support and grateful that he took the time to speak directly to the people of Wyoming."

Trump has not endorsed anyone in the hotly-contested U.S. House race, where 10 Republicans vie for the nomination. He also hasn't endorsed in Wyoming's Secretary of State race or for other top state executive-branch seats.

Read the full story HERE

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Seven teens were arrested Wednesday in a sweeping western Nebraska raid over illegal machine guns and drugs. Cowboy State Daily's Kolby Fedore reports that investigators say they found Instagram posts of the teens posing with and firing Glock-style guns equipped with illegal switches.

"Federal authorities say that illegal Glock switches have become one of the fastest growing criminal trends that they're seeing in America, with a near 800% spike in the last few years, and that is reflected in a recent criminal case where seven teenagers in Western Nebraska were arrested on Wednesday for possessing these illegal machine guns as well as cocaine. All of the teenagers appeared for their initial hearing on Wednesday afternoon in Scottsbluff County Circuit Court. This criminal case came to light when investigators flagged suspicious activity on social media where they saw the stolen guns posted in videos and a series of pictures online. One of the defendants was even seen pointing it at another defendant."

According to ATF, recoveries of suspected machine gun conversion devices traced by ATF increased from 658 in 2019 to 5,816 in 2023. Agency spokesperson Ashlee Sherrill tells Cowboy State Daily "they present a significant public safety concern."

Read the full story HERE

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More than 23,000 birds and bats were killed by wind turbines in Wyoming in 2025, according to a report presented Wednesday to the state Game and Fish Commission. Cowboy State Daily's Mark Heinz reports that according to an official "They're flying around and they're not paying attention to those blades."

"Game and Fish, they don't set the policy. It's the Industrial Siting Commission that really says yes or no. They're the ones that have the power over the licenses for these operations. What Game and Fish does is before the project is built, they come in and they work with the developer to kind of give them advice on how to mitigate or avoid conflicts with wildlife, and then after the fact, they will do some monitoring as well and maybe suggest some solutions. I also talked to an eagle advocate in Laramie, and she said, although she appreciates what the game and fish is doing or trying to do, she doesn't think it's enough."

Wyoming Game and Fish habitat protection program supervisor Will Schultz tells Cowboy State Daily that, in some cases, painting one blade of a wind turbine black helps birds see it before it's too late, adding that hundreds of hours of work and research have gone into wind farm risk mitigation.

Read the full story HERE

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I'll have more news from Cowboy State Daily right after this.

Cowboy State Daily News continues now….

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Park County officials say a Wednesday flash flood nearly destroyed a bridge over the Shoshone River and cut off access for some county residents. Cowboy State Daily's Andrew Rossi reports that one witness said "We watched a wall of debris build up and surging muddy water begin to overflow the banks."

"Monsoonal moisture is moving into western Wyoming. That manifested as several short-lived but intense thunderstorms on Wednesday afternoon, and a mudslide and just an intense amount of flash flooding that came out of the mountains along the South Fork of the Shoshone River took out a bridge that serves a number of people and residences on a county road that's pretty far removed from Cody. Without that bridge, they have no access to the rest of the world. I spoke to the Cowboys State Daily meteorologist Don Day, and he said that the risk of monsoonal moisture and flash flooding is going to extend into the next week at least."

The Park County Public Works Department hoped to have a temporary bridge installed across Boulder Creek by the end of Thursday. Park County engineer Brian Edwards told Cowboy State Daily that the compromised wooden bridge had already been "high on our priority list for replacement."

Read the full story HERE

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Although manufacturers of AI software that uses surveillance cameras to search for guns say it makes people safer, gun rights activists are alarmed. Cowboy State Daily's Mark Heinz reports that Buffalo's Mark Jones, of Gun Owners of America, says it violates the Second and Fourth Amendments.

"There's software that's it's been around for a few years. It's been used in schools. It's software that helps camera surveillance cameras, pick up guns, firearms that that have been drawn or the out of a holster. The the idea being at least in the school it can help maybe catch a school shooting earlier. Hobbs, New Mexico, has expanded this to a municipal application. They've got about 70 cameras at different points around the city that have this software. I reached out to some some Second Amendment advocates and also a gun control advocate, and none of them are really fans of it."

The technology has potential to do good, but only within narrow parameters that protect gun owners' rights, said George Mocsary, University of Wyoming law professor and co-founder of the UW Firearms Research Center.

Read the full story HERE

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A magnitude 3.3 earthquake in Yellowstone on Thursday was felt by people as far as 30 miles away. Cowboy State Daily's Andrew Rossi reports that it's the largest earthquake of the year so far in the national park.

"A magnitude 3.3 earthquake was detected in Yellowstone National Park around 720 a.m. this morning. So Yellowstone, on average, experiences between 15 120 500 earthquakes every year. This is the largest earthquake detected in 2026 so far, but that's not even that big of an earthquake by Yellowstone standards. The largest earthquake last year was a 3.9 and even that wasn't very big. So while a lot of people get apocalyptic, while a lot of people get apocalyptic any time they hear something about something shaking in Yellowstone, earthquakes are an almost everyday occurrence, and a 3.3 is indicative of nothing to be alarmed about."

What the earthquake doesn't indicate is any significant change in Yellowstone's volcanic systems. Even at a depth of 4 miles, Thursday morning's quake was too shallow to indicate anything volcanic, which is true for most of Yellowstone's earthquakes.

Read the full story HERE

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The Galloping Horse is galloping again — or at least it will be when someone at The Wrangler turns the power on. Cowboy State Daily's Greg Johnson reports that after years of being inoperable, the iconic 400-pound folk art cowboy was fixed, refurbished and put back in place Thursday morning.

"The iconic galloping horse that for decades has sat over the entrance to the Wrangler Western Wire store in downtown Cheyenne hadn't been galloping for the last few years. A Cheyenne man who whose office is just across the road, finally decided, you know what, it needs to gallop again. So him and his brother and son got together and spent about 90 hours each, about almost 300 hours between them to restore this thing. They got a pretty prominent Cheyenne artist to paint it again to look pretty much original. And on Thursday morning, they put it up again, so they would be ready for Frontier Days."

Thursday was a proud moment for Dennis, who explained he had the idea to get the Galloping Horse galloping again because he saw it every day and "every day I wished it was moving again."

Read the full story HERE

—

And that's today's news. Get your free digital subscription to Wyoming's only statewide newspaper by hitting the Daily Newsletter button on Cowboy State Daily Dot Com - and you can watch this newscast every day by clicking Subscribe on our YouTube channel, or listen to us on your favorite podcast app. Thanks for watching - I'm Reece Cowan, in for Mac Watson, for Cowboy State Daily.

It's time to take a look at what's happening around Wyoming for Thursday, July 16th. I'm Mac Watson

This newscast is brought to you by the Wyoming State Fair. Wrap up your summer at the Wyoming State Fair, August 11th through the 15th in Douglas!

Rodeo, Demolition Derby, live music, entertainment and fair food await. Learn more at W-Y State Fair dot com. See you at the fair! This ad was paid for by Converse County Tourism.

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Wyoming state Rep. Bill Allemand pleaded guilty to DUI in court Wednesday and was given one year probation and fined $500. Cowboy State Daily's Clair McFarland reports that the lawmaker faces 88 days in jail if he fails probation.

"On Wednesday Allemand walked into court and pleaded guilty. That hearing had been set for his attorney to face a contempt charge, but it served a double purpose on Wednesday, in which Alamod also pleaded guilty and was sentenced to probation, 88 days in jail if he fails probation and a $500 fine. he's got to stay out of bars and liquor stores and not violate the law and has got some chemical testing and that's for a year."

Rep. Allemand was arrested Dec. 28th in Buffalo.

Read the full story HERE.

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The Department of the Interior stopped short of delisting grizzly bears from Endangered Species Act protection Tuesday when it moved to hand management of the bears over to states. Cowboy State Daily's Mark Heinz reports that one Wyoming outdoorsman says, "That's "the way it should be."

"It's the 4D rule that's within the Endangered Species Act. The Biden administration moved to strengthen that rule, and now the Trump administration has come through and they're kind of revise that rule to effectively what people are saying: hand management over to the states. It's a bit murky because this does not mean that they're not going to get delisted. It's just handing more of the direct control of the bears right over to the states."

A full delisting of grizzlies was attempted in 2007, and again in 2017. The latter led to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department issuing hunting tags for a grizzly season. However, both the 2017 and 2007 delisting efforts were overturned in court.

Read the full story HERE.

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A blown tire on a semitrailer sent it into the opposite lane, sideswiping an SUV and closing U.S. 20/26 near Shoshoni for more than four hours Wednesday. Cowboy State Daily's Kolby Fedore reports that motorists were stranded in near 100-degree heat.

"Wyoming Highway Patrol says an eastbound semi had a blown tire and it crossed into the westbound lane, striking a GMC Yukon. No fatalities were reported, and the extent of injuries at this time is unknown. Even though only two vehicles were involved in the crash, there was a heavy response from law enforcement with several police and fire vehicles, as well as two helicopters and three wreckers. One witness who was stuck at the scene for nearly four hours said it was about 100 degrees outside. He was mostly concerned about horses that were confined to a trailer that were also there."

Wyoming Highway Patrol Public Information Officer Aaron Brown said an eastbound semi truck east of Shoshoni traveling toward Casper suffered a tire failure at about 10:30 a.m., causing it to drift into the westbound lane and sideswipe a GMC Yukon. Brown added there were no fatalities.

Read the full story HERE.

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Meta says it is appealing a violation notice issued by Cheyenne's Board of Public Utilities. Cowboy State Daily's Kate Meadows reports that the company's corporate entity, Goat Systems, LLC is arguing the city has not provided evidence that the company's construction project contaminated the city's sewer reuse system.

"Meta is claiming that they have not received any of the underlying testing or data from the contamination from the tests that the city did and that they sent to the state lab. They're kind of taking issue with the fact that we don't have any data. The permit is wrong. Meta is arguing that the city cannot prove that the contamination actually came from the Meta project. I talked to Dr. Mark Rinnie on the Cheyenne City Council. He represents the Board of Public Utilities on the council. He was not aware of this appeal until we reached out to him."

Meta said it is seeking review "so the facts and cause can be fully and accurately evaluated through the appropriate process." The appeal comes more than four months after the bacteria was first detected in Cheyenne's wastewater reuse system.

Read the full story HERE.

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I'll have more news from Cowboy State Daily right after this.

Cowboy State Daily News continues now….

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As people across Wyoming raise concerns over license plate reader cameras, they're mapping cameras that might not actually be license plate readers. Cowboy State Daily's Clair McFarland reports that a new Deflock.org entry saying Lusk has them is right, but it's wrong about Cody and Gillette.

"DeFlock.org is a mapping site where it's voluntary, right? And so the idea is the citizens that are concerned about these cameras are going to build us a map as they encounter them, but as the publicity around this has grown in Wyoming and across the nation, and also litigation and problems with that, we're seeing what look like false reports. So somebody reported a license plate reader in Cody. I called the business where it was mounted is a Quick Lube-style shop, and the guy said, 'No, it's a vehicle counter because if I ever want to sell this place, I want to tell the buyer just how much traffic we have here.' And then in Gillette, the PD and the sheriff's office were both emphatic, like, 'No, we're not doing license plate readers.'"

Outspoken Green River residents earlier this month halted their police chief's bid to install license plate readers at town entrances. Besides Lusk, the Wyoming communities of Cheyenne, Jackson, Glenrock, and the Wind River Indian Reservation all have license plate reader cameras in place.

Read the full story HERE.

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Yellowstone National Park will spare the life of the bison that seriously hurt a 65-year-old grandpa from Washington. Cowboy State Daily's Andrew Rossi reports that park officials said "no management action" will be taken against the bison which means it won't be relocated or euthanized.

"The park rarely takes any management action because identifying that specific animal is difficult, and it's usually the animals are just doing what they would naturally do, whether it's because bison are in the rut or bears are defending their cubs or a food source. I spoke to bison biologist George Werthner. He reviewed the footage of the incident at Bridge Bay Campground over the weekend, and he said there really wasn't anything that Carl McDaniel could have done differently to prevent that attack."

Even grizzlies that attack and seriously injure park guests usually get off the hook, so long as the attack was determined to be a natural behavior, like defending cubs or a food source.

Read the full story HERE.

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A family hurt in a crash west of Casper that killed two people when a semitruck plowed into a construction zone is suing the trucking company and the as-yet unidentified truck driver. Cowboy State Daily's Kolby Fedore reports that no criminal charges have yet been filed as an investigation continues.

"Nearly a month after a commercial tanker drove into six cars, killing two people and injuring eight, a family has filed a lawsuit. Representing the injured family is Casper attorney Dallas Laird. He said simply that they're hoping for a settlement. The exact number remains unknown, as the family is still receiving medical care for long-term injuries. This civil lawsuit stems from a June 26th crash that happened west of Casper, between Casper and Manita. The complaint alleges that the tanker failed to stop in a construction zone."

The negligence lawsuit, filed Friday in Natrona County District Court, names Ryan Brothers Trucking Inc. and a John Doe defendant, identified as the tanker driver whose identity was not yet known to the plaintiffs when the complaint was filed.

Read the full story HERE.

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It was 47 years ago today that Cheyenne was hit by the most powerful tornado in Wyoming history. The powerful F3 tornado destroyed hundreds of homes, caused tens of millions of dollars in damages, and killed one. Cowboy State Daily's Kerry Drake was a reporter for the Wyoming Tribune and covered the story.

"It was obviously a terrible time for Cheyenne; most destructive tornado in the history of Wyoming. I was a photographer for the Wyoming State Tribune at the time. I was out covering a meeting, and I found out after I looked and we saw the tornado that I didn't have my camera with me. And fortunately, a good friend of mine who was at the meeting with me did. So we first saw the tornado looked like a big fire, and then we saw it move and realized what it was, so I kept telling my friend Jerry Johnson to shoot, shoot, shoot, and he did. And we got some photos that eventually we brought them down to the AP and UPI, and they were the first things that they had on the tornado."

After the dust settled, there were 400 buildings that were damaged, including about 140 that were just totaled, 25 million dollars worth of damage, after the tornado traveled about almost 9 miles. For more on the tornado, read Kerry Drake's two stories that Cowboy State Daily published today. There is also an interview with the former mayor of Cheyenne who recounts his experiences.

Read the full story HERE.

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And that's today's news. Get your free digital subscription to Wyoming's only statewide newspaper by hitting the Daily Newsletter button on Cowboy State Daily Dot Com - and you can watch this newscast every day by clicking Subscribe on our YouTube channel, or listen to us on your favorite podcast app. Thanks for watching - I'm Mac Watson, for Cowboy State Daily.

It's time to take a look at what's happening around Wyoming for Tuesday, July 14th. I'm Mac Watson

This newscast is brought to you by the Wyoming State Fair. Wrap up your summer at the Wyoming State Fair, August 11th through the 15th in Douglas!

Rodeo, Demolition Derby, live music, entertainment and fair food await. Learn more at W-Y State Fair dot com. See you at the fair! This ad was paid for by Converse County Tourism.

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The man who made international headlines after being attacked by a bison in Yellowstone on Friday is in a hospital recovering with several broken bones. Cowboy State Daily's Andrew Rossi reports that Carl Ison-McDaniel of Washington state is thanking well-wishers and says he's "OK."

"As of Monday, Carl McDaniel is hospitalized in serious condition. And before you panic, he was admitted to the hospital in critical condition after being tossed by the bison at the Bridge Bay campground in Yellowstone. He has several broken bones that are going to take a lot of time to mend. Carl never lost consciousness during this whole ordeal. He was even joking about it before Yellowstone EMS came to take control of the situation."

Ison-McDaniel, of Kendall, Washington, broke his femur in four places after being tossed airborne by a bull bison Friday. The 65-year old is expected to make a full recovery after being tossed 8-feet in the air by a bison.

Read the full story HERE.

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Northern Arapaho Tribal leaders have told a Christian church to leave their reservation after the pastor preached "a pipe cannot hear your prayers." Cowboy State Daily's Clair McFarland reports that the pastor said she's staying, and won't apologize.

"This could end up in court, but it's not very straightforward because the church is within the exterior boundaries of the reservation, but it's on private land, so it's a little tricky, or arguably impossible to kick someone off of private land. On the other hand, the tribe has some history of sovereignty and retains some sovereignty. So, it may be a question for the courts. In the meantime, the pastor, Sarah Lucas, said that she's sorry it came off as an attack, but she's not sorry for preaching that quote 'Jesus is the only way.'"

Protests unfolded at the Riverton City Hall and at the Foundations for Nations church site in the town of Arapahoe. Protestors joined in a traditional chant as honks and whoops sounded from passing vehicles.

Read the full story HERE.

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A company called Site Layer 4 wants to rezone 5,344 acres of ranchland near Wheatland for a data center and power plant. Cowboy State Daily's Renee Jean reports that the project, the developer says, adds 300 jobs and substantial tax revenue, but neighbors worry about water, wildlife, and their viewshed.

"There's some big figures to throw around here with this. I think $26 billion in capital investment, 5,000-plus acres, 250 to 300 employees. The rancher I talked to said he's not against the project, but he really hopes that they're taking appropriate steps to protect the wildlife in the area. The economic developer. Her take on this is: if you've driven through Wheatland, you've seen the vacant buildings. This is a place that could use some commercial development, some economic development, to help create opportunities to keep their kids home."

The property is roughly 13 miles east of Interstate 25, in an area now used for grazing and agriculture. Public hearings about the data center are scheduled to begin in August.

Read the full story HERE.

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The body of Tory Raether was found in the Snake River a week after leaping into the swift currents without a lifejacket. Cowboy State Daily's Kolby Fedore reports that family and friends remember Raether as a devoted husband, father and mentor.

"After a week of searching and waiting, the body of 55-year-old, North Carolina man Tory Raither was discovered on Saturday, july 11, by campers. After discovering the body the campers paddleboarded out and then called the authorities. Search and rescue was already in the water, and so they were able to respond quickly. Raither's wife, daughters, and friends were in the area helping search and rescue when the body was found. They are planning to take the body back to North Carolina for a burial."

The 55-year-old Raether disappeared July 4th after jumping into the river at Jump Rock, a popular recreation area about 3½ miles east of Alpine. Members of his group tried unsuccessfully to rescue him after he began struggling against the swift current.

Read the full story HERE.

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I'll have more news from Cowboy State Daily right after this.

Cowboy State Daily News continues now….

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GOP congressional candidate Chuck Gray derided primary opponent Reid Rasner after he brought Gray's father into the campaign by saying "Chuck Gray's Dad Supports Reid." Cowboy State Daily's Clair McFarland reports Gray called it "more unhinged nonsense from Reid Rasner."

"He's been trolling Chuck Gray, but this is a true troll in that he's saying Chuck Gray's dad supports Reed, and he showed screenshots that appear to depict Jan Charles Gray, the Secretary of State's father, casting heart face and fire emojis on Reed Raisner posts. And so I asked Jan Charles Gray about this. He didn't deny or confirm leaving those reactions. He did reiterate, though, that he emphatically supports his son."

Rasner's team did not respond to a text message request for an interview, for the original screenshots, or for confirmation of a different claim Rasner made Monday.

Read the full story HERE.

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For many northern Wyoming communities, Sunday was the hottest day in recorded history. Cowboy State Daily's Andrew Rossi ticks off the list of towns that broke records.

"There's no way to do justice for how hot it was on Sunday without just listing the all time temperature records broken on Sunday, and these are the hottest temperatures ever recorded in these communities: 110 degrees in Worland, 104 degrees in Sheridan, 104 degrees in Buffalo. I asked Cowboy State Daily meteorologist Don Day if there's a likelihood that it could get this hot again during the summer. The short answer is it could get that hot again on Tuesday. It's not likely to be as hot as Sunday, but it could be just as hot."

At Lake Yellowstone in Yellowstone National Park, Sunday's high was 88 degrees. The previous record was 86, set on July 19, 2021.

Read the full story HERE.

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After an outcry, Game and Fish has decided to back off its proposal to prevent veterans with PTSD and other non-apparent disabilities from hunting during special early seasons. Cowboy State Daily's Mark Heinz reports that Bill Brinegar of Hunting With Heroes says, the public's reaction was "loud and clear."

"After a huge pushback from the public, they decided to go ahead and reverse that, and so the Game and Fish Department tomorrow on Tuesday will recommend to the Game and Fish Commission that that rule just stay in place. 100% If the VA says you're 100% disabled, that works for us. You can have access to these special early hunts. The proposal was to basically to narrow it down to extreme physical disabilities only. They got massive pushback against that, including from a lot of veterans groups."

The department will recommend against removing a provision for counting a "100% service-related disability," based on a letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs, in Wyoming's disabled-hunter regulations. The final decision is up to the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission, which is scheduled to vote on it during its meeting Tuesday in Sheridan.

Read the full story HERE.

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The galloping horse and rider at Wrangler's Western-wear store has been a fixture in downtown Cheyenne since the 1950s, but it broke down four years ago and efforts to fix it failed. Cowboy State Daily's Executive Editor Jimmy Orr reports that now, a Cheyenne family rebuilt the horse in time for Cheyenne Frontier Days.

"Patrick Graham was talking to a city councilman and said that his office was right across the street from the Wrangler, and 'I sure wish they would fix that thing.' And so Pete told him, 'We'll fix it.' They were told yes, you can take it down if you have it up in time for Frontier Days. So they took it down. They spent more than 300 hours in just recreating this horse and rider, and it's amazing what they did."

The pony and rider have been featured outside The Wrangler's western-wear store at Capitol Avenue and 16th Street since the late 1950s or early 1960s. It's now owned by Boot Barn. No one knows precisely when the sign made its first appearance, and there's no record of its creator.

Read the full story HERE.

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And that's today's news. Get your free digital subscription to Wyoming's only statewide newspaper by hitting the Daily Newsletter button on Cowboy State Daily Dot Com - and you can watch this newscast every day by clicking Subscribe on our YouTube channel, or listen to us on your favorite podcast app. Thanks for watching - I'm Mac Watson, for Cowboy State Daily.

It's time to take a look at what's happening around Wyoming for Friday, July 10th. I'm Mac Watson

This newscast is brought to you by the Wyoming State Fair. Wrap up your summer at the Wyoming State Fair, August 11th through the 15th in Douglas!

Rodeo, Demolition Derby, live music, entertainment and fair food await. Learn more at W-Y State Fair dot com. See you at the fair! This ad was paid for by Converse County Tourism.

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A tourist was seriously injured Friday evening after being thrown 8 feet into the air by a bull bison in Yellowstone National Park. Cowboy State Daily's Andrew Rossi reports that professional photographer Mike Macleod filmed the incident and said the bison was "angry, agitated and charging anything and everything."

"The victim did nothing wrong. The narrative that's been circulating across social media is that this was another quote-unquote Touron or idiot doing something wrong in the park, and that can and does happen. But looking at the video evidence, the victim did nothing to provoke the bison. They were a safe distance away, at least in theory. This bison had been causing trouble in the Bridge Bay campground for a while before he showed up. The victim and his grandson tried to put something between themselves and the bison when it ran towards them, and that just wasn't enough. The bison in this case was the instigator."

MacLeod was camping at the Bridge Bay Campground when his wife pointed out the bull bison entering the area. He grabbed his camera and started shooting from a safe distance. Meanwhile, footage of the incident has become an international sensation with news organizations all over the U.S. and the world referencing Cowboy State Daily's article. Reporter Andrew Rossi was the first to cover the story and to get an interview with the photographer. The video has been viewed millions of times.

Read the full story HERE.

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A Mexican national who faces eight felonies is attempting to stay in the country after he allegedly tried to ram travelers off the road in Snake River Canyon in June of 2024. Cowboy State Daily's Clair McFarland reports that one victim says that 46-year-old Ramon Gabriel Chavez Cruz, "deliberately crossed the centerline and targeted our vehicle."

"His Teton County case just concluded with what they call a split sentence. He spends 180 days in jail, tries probation for three years. If he fails probation, he goes to prison for like two and a half to four and a half years. But he already has enough time served that that initial 180-day stint is eclipsed. The trooper recounted that he was basically trying to head-on collide with multiple people. Most of that happened in Lincoln County, one of the alleged victims from Lincoln County, was flabbergasted at the 180-day sentence in Teton County, but it's just not over yet. And as for the visa, his defense attorney was describing it as if he's been the victim of a crime and is working to stay in the country in relation to that somehow."

Chavez Cruz faces potentially much harsher consequences in Lincoln County, where County Attorney Spencer Allred has filed eight counts of aggravated assault against him – one for each person he allegedly charged with his truck.

Read the full story HERE.

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A Gillette woman's plans for one last summer road trip with her dying daughter have been derailed by a failed transmission in their 26-year-old SUV. But Cowboy State Daily's Dale Killingbeck reports that London Tabor says she's not giving up hope to take this trip with her daughter.

"Her daughter has Huntington's disease, and it's quickly sapping her life, and so they plan to go to the East Coast, plan to go rock hunting in Wyoming, and to a Huntington disease event that's in Utah, and all of that was on hold because she didn't have a vehicle. So, she's trying to rent a camper that would be able to facilitate taking her daughter, who now can't do anything except sit in a seat and watch. So she was hoping that she can get this trip accomplished, and have great memories with her this summer."

Autumn was diagnosed with the disease in 2018 at age 12, which also is the same year that her father, Justin Fender, died from the same condition at age 36.

Read the full story HERE.

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Green River's Bradlee Skinner was homeless, delivering pizzas, and wondering how his life had unraveled. Cowboy State Daily's Kate Meadows reports that now he performs before sold-out crowds with the Savannah Bananas, baseball's wildly popular entertainment phenomenon. And it all started with a selfie.

"In 2024, Bradley Skinner, he's a high school teacher at Green River, teaches theater in English, and he took a group of theater students to Salt Lake City to see the Savannah Bananas. And while they were all getting their pictures taken with the players in the parking lot before the game, Skinner heard a DJ. He knew there was a DJ nearby, and he himself is a DJ. So he went and sought out that guy and took a picture with him. And the guy noticed, and they started up a conversation about DJing. And so fast forward a year, and that DJ reached out and said, "Hey, I think you should try out. They're doing auditions because they're growing their teams. They're adding new teams, and they need a few more DJs in their back pocket. So that's really how it all got started with a selfie."

The job has taken him from Wyoming classrooms to iconic ballparks such as Coors Field in Denver and soon Wrigley Field in Chicago, where he rubs shoulders with performers and entertainers he once showed his students as examples of creative excellence.

Read the full story HERE.

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I'll have more news from Cowboy State Daily right after this.

Cowboy State Daily News continues now….

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So many dead trees are piling up on Wyoming's remote wilderness trails, some outfitters say they should be allowed to use chainsaws to clear them rather than working for days with hand tools. Cowboy State Daily's Mark Heinz reports that chainsaws have been banned from those areas for 62 years.

"The Forest Service kind of created a little loophole and allowed some outfitters in this spring in Idaho, in the Frank Church wilderness, and so now some people are saying, "Hey, we need to start doing this kind of all over the West, just letting a few people get in, because we just, we can't keep ahead of this timber otherwise, because under the strict rules of wilderness, you have to go in there like the old-fashioned push-pull saws or an ax or whatever, and some people are saying that with the sheer volume, what we got there, which we're never going to get ahead of it, and of course, opponents are saying no."

Pine beetle epidemics have torn through forests across the West, leaving dead trees everywhere. They frequently fall over on trails, or blow over in huge piles.

The Forest Service and volunteer trail associations across Wyoming can hardly keep up with the work.

Read the full story HERE.

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A trespasser trying illegally to make a copy of rare dinosaur footprints on the "Paleo Park" Zerbst Ranch near Newcastle ended up vandalizing the site. Cowboy State Daily's Andrew Rossi reports that owner Kristen Stauffer says she was "shell-shocked."

"Apparently, someone trespassed onto their property, poured blue silicone into one of the tracks in the attempt to make a copy of it, and then just abandoned the scene with the silicone still in the track, now they have been able to remove most of it. But setting aside the fact that there could be permanent damage from that, it's the fact that somebody violated their trust. That if this person had asked them if they could make a copy of their dinosaur footprint, they would have been all for it."

Setting aside the enormous scientific value of the fossil, Stauffer was "heartbroken" by the blatant disregard for her family's history. The Zerbst Trackway was found by her father, Leonard, and has enormous personal significance to her and her family.

Read the full story HERE.

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Laramie 9-year-old elk caller Axl Anton is set to compete against teens nearly twice his age in the world elk calling championship this month. Cowboy State Daily's Mark Heinz reports that Axl's already "in the top five best callers in the country, if not the best," said a hunting industry insider.

"His dad said he took an interest in it when he was about two, called in his first bull when he was six, and he's been in several contests now. He's going to the world elk calling contest that's held at Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation's headquarters in Missoula, Montana. The kid is young enough to compete in the Peewee division, but he said he doesn't want to do that, he wants to step up and compete with the big kids, so he's going to be competing with kids that are about high school age. He already is almost considered world class at the ripe old age of nine, so just kind of a cool story"

Archery elk hunters use tube-shaped calls to imitate the grunts, screams and bugles of bull elk during the rut, or mating season. The idea is to sound as much like a bull elk as possible. So, the real bulls, thinking a challenger is in their territory, will move in to investigate.

Read the full story HERE.

—

And that's today's news. Get your free digital subscription to Wyoming's only statewide newspaper by hitting the Daily Newsletter button on Cowboy State Daily Dot Com - and you can watch this newscast every day by clicking Subscribe on our YouTube channel, or listen to us on your favorite podcast app. Thanks for watching - I'm Mac Watson, for Cowboy State Daily.

It's time to take a look at what's happening around Wyoming for Friday, July 10th. I'm Mac Watson

This newscast is brought to you by the Wyoming State Fair. Wrap up your summer at the Wyoming State Fair, August 11th through the 15th in Douglas!

Rodeo, Demolition Derby, live music, entertainment and fair food await. Learn more at W-Y State Fair dot com. See you at the fair! This ad was paid for by Converse County Tourism.

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A Big Horn County grandfather and mother have been charged after a baby died Monday. Cowboy State Daily's Kolby Fedore reports the infant was found in a 95-degree trailer filled with feces, garbage, and a 5-gallon bucket of human waste.

"Destiny's duty said she woke up sometime after 1am to feed the baby and put the baby back to bed, and in the morning around 9am she found the baby in the crib unresponsive. She was on her way to Three Rivers Hospital when she called 911 and when she got to the hospital, investigators saw that she herself was covered in dirt. She had what appeared to be head lice and a strong odor coming from her and the baby. When they looked at the baby's body, there was dirt under its fingernails, as well as an insect that was crawling inside the diaper. Investigators obtained a search warrant, and when they went into the camper where the family lived, they found horrific conditions. There was a bucket of human feces in the bathroom, no running water, no air conditioning, and the temperature was 95 degrees inside their home."

56-year-old Travis Study is charged with felony child endangerment alleging exposure to meth, along with misdemeanor counts of reckless endangering, child endangerment, possession of methamphetamine and possession of marijuana.

22-year-old Destynie Study is charged with misdemeanor reckless endangering of a child and child endangerment. She pleaded not guilty Wednesday.

Read the full story HERE.

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Wyoming U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman is demanding answers from Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg about how its Cheyenne data center contaminated the city's wastewater system. Cowboy State Daily's Clair McFarland reports that in a Thursday letter, Rep. Hageman writes she's "deeply concerned."

"Hageman issued a letter Thursday to Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta, which is a Facebook giant that also is that also has data centers in Wyoming and Cheyenne, demanding to know things like how could a rare bacteria leak from a closed loop data center cooling system into Cheyenne's wastewater system, and now the company fired back, saying, you know, we haven't found the bacterium in our system, whereas the Board of Public Utilities announced the data center as the source of the bacterium. She really focused her questioning on how could something leak from this, in, you know, how could a rare bacteria leak from this."

That public announcement about the contamination came more than four months after the Meta contractor — which is building an $800 million data center in south Cheyenne — disrupted the city's reclaimed wastewater system with the rare bacterial contaminant.

Read the full story HERE.

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With Pathfinder Reservoir less than 24% full, some farmers and ranchers in eastern Wyoming and western Nebraska are being warned they could be out of irrigation water by the first week of August. Cowboy State Daily's Kate Meadows reports that there is a backup plan, but it's not foolproof.

"The snow pack has been historically low, it was the worst on record this year, and the reservoir where this irrigation, where this irrigation channel originates, is called the Pathfinder Reservoir, and it is at just about 23% right now. So the levels were already low, and it caused the irrigation canals to open up later in the year than they normally would have, and so farmers and ranchers are already hurting for water, and just weeks after the canals open, they're being told we may run out of water first part of August. the Pathfinder Irrigation District has previously said that they are against pulling water from other sources because they have to rent it, they basically pay to use it, and then they're required to return it somehow before the end of the irrigation season, so it's really a lose-lose as far as that goes."

The district operates a vast canal network that diverts water from the North Platte River at Whalen Dam, delivering irrigation to more than 100,000 acres of farmland. The water originates in Pathfinder Reservoir southwest of Casper.

Read the full story HERE.

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A Cheyenne boy who was 14 when he allegedly shot his mom in the head and charged as an adult with first-degree murder should be in juvenile court, his attorney argues in a Tuesday court motion. Cowboy State Daily's Greg Johnson reports public defender Emily Williams claims Havoc Leone's mother "verbally and physically abused" him.

"The motion does lay out some of the arguments the defense plans to make, like the mother is was allegedly abusive to this teen, verbally and physically, they, he was homeschooled for like six years and was kept isolated and didn't have any friends, and just wasn't as mature as other teens his age would have been, so and they mean there's several, they mentioned several times in the motion that society is not kept safer by trying him as an adult, that the extra help that he'll get in the juvenile court actually will make society safer, whether that's that, whether that's really the case or not, that's up to a judge to decide."

Despite the arguments of abuse and his age — 14 is the cutoff in Wyoming to be charged as an adult — Laramie County District Attorney Sylvia Hackl says her office believes the adult charge is appropriate and will oppose Williams' motion.

Read the full story HERE.

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I'll have more news from Cowboy State Daily right after this.

Cowboy State Daily News continues now….

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Two months after a Casper woman was killed during a child custody exchange with her ex-boyfriend, her mother, Shannon Clark, says she wants people to know who her daughter was. Cowboy State Daily's Kolby Fedore reports that mom says she misses her daughter everyday and "The quiet moments are the hardest."

"Jackson's mother, Shannon Clark, talked to Cowboy State Daily on Thursday. She wants people to remember her daughter as more than just a victim. She says that her daughter, Ashley, loved her son more than anything. The couple's three-year-old son witnessed the shooting and is now living with his grandparents. Clark said that is now her mission in life to raise Ashley's son the way she would have wanted."

Friends have also established the GoFundMe campaign to help provide long-term financial support for Will as he grows up without his parents. For Clark, though, her daughter's legacy isn't measured by memorials or fundraisers. It's measured every morning when a little boy wakes up in his grandparents' home.

Read the full story HERE.

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A Uinta County rancher charged with videotaping two others torturing a sickly moose by roping, riding, and spurring it is continuing toward a trial date next month. Cowboy State Daily's Dale Killingbeck reports that two other men in the case have entered plea deals with a special prosecutor.

"Two of three people charged in Uinta County for abusing a moose have entered a plea deal with a special prosecutor, and that deal says that they'll have three years of probation, and they also had to tell the court about the third defendant, who's charged with videotaping both of their abuse, one riding the mute, the moose, spurring it, and the other one lassoing the moose, and call and pulling it with a horse, those were separate incidents back in May 2021 So now the third defendant is still headed to a trial that's going to be in August, August 11th, in Uinta County."

Court records show 54-year-old Justin Martin of Evanston, faces trial on charges of two counts of accessory before the fact to felony cruelty to animals, and two counts of accessory before or after the fact to wanton taking of a big-game animal, both misdemeanors. His son, Range Martin of Evanston, 23, pleaded guilty June 22 to a felony cruelty to animals charge in return for the dropping of two misdemeanor charges. Kylan Platte, 22, of Malad City, Idaho, took a similar deal and plead guilty to felony cruelty to animals June 30.

Read the full story HERE.

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Wyoming local government leaders in data center-heavy areas who spoke with Cowboy State Daily on Thursday say they've never signed nondisclosure agreements with data center companies. Cowboy State Daily's Clair McFarland reports that the agreements can be legal if built correctly, however.

"We've been hearing for a long time that local public officials signed non-disclosure agreements with data centers while being courted by those companies. I contacted the leaders of communities that have known data centers or have been implicated as having them. I called county chairs and mayors, and everyone that talked to me on Thursday said no, I've never signed any such NDA."

Tom Lubnau, a Gillette-based attorney who's worked at length with Wyoming's public-records law, tells Cowboy State Daily that state law allows for local governments to sign NDAs with data center companies, but it's complicated.

Read the full story HERE.

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The National Weather Service is predicting a record-breaking weekend for many locations in Wyoming with "dangerously hot conditions" in the forecast. Cowboy State Daily's Andrew Rossi reports that temperatures will be hottest in the Big Horn Basin with Worland and Greybull expected to top 110 degrees.

"This isn't a one-and-done. We're not going to get relief out of this. Between at least Saturday night and Monday evening, we're going to have record breaking or potentially record breaking temperatures, and it's going to continue to be hot going into Tuesday, Wednesday, and possibly beyond that. So, people need to be aware and be prepared, because this is going to get worse before it gets better. Those aren't my words. That's from Cowboy State Daily, the meteorologist Don Day."

If there is a bit of good news with the upcoming heat, it won't feel quite as hot as the thermometer says. Because the atmosphere will be mostly dry, the heat shouldn't be amplified by humidity.

Read the full story HERE.

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And that's today's news. Get your free digital subscription to Wyoming's only statewide newspaper by hitting the Daily Newsletter button on Cowboy State Daily Dot Com - and you can watch this newscast every day by clicking Subscribe on our YouTube channel, or listen to us on your favorite podcast app. Thanks for watching - I'm Mac Watson, for Cowboy State Daily.

It's time to take a look at what's happening around Wyoming for Thursday, July 9th. I'm Mac Watson

This newscast is brought to you by the Wyoming State Fair. Wrap up your summer at the Wyoming State Fair, August 11th through the 15th in Douglas!

Rodeo, Demolition Derby, live music, entertainment and fair food await. Learn more at W-Y State Fair dot com. See you at the fair! This ad was paid for by Converse County Tourism.

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Count Wyoming as one of the states that is now infected with a parasite that is causing long-lasting explosive diarrhea and other distressing symptoms. Cowboy State Daily's Kolby Fedore spoke to the state epidemiologist late Wednesday who gave her the news.

"The Wyoming Department of Health has confirmed three cases of the parasite that's giving people explosive diarrhea around the country. It is called cyclosporiasis. According to Wyoming epidemiologist Matt Peterson, right now the investigation is ongoing, and they're not exactly sure what has caused it. Past outbreaks were linked to lettuce and other foods."

Peterson tells Cowboy State Daily that two Wyoming patients likely contracted the parasite while traveling to countries where Cyclospora is endemic, The third patient, however, had no history of international travel. Health officials did not identify the locations of the affected individuals.

Read the full story HERE.

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The 2.7-gigawatt data center once called Project Jade 8 miles south of Cheyenne has been unmasked as a massive Google campus. Cowboy State Daily's Renee Jean reports that Google's project, according to planning documents, will be a 716-acre campus in the Switchgrass Industrial Park.

"It's going to start at 2.7 gigawatts, but it can scale to 10 gigawatts. I was able to verify, I had suspected for a while that it was Google for a couple of different reasons, but I was able to finally verify that with some recent filings with Laramie County Planning and Development.Google has finally been revealed they are they are the entity behind this massive data center, which is Wyoming's largest and really one of the largest in the world, especially if they scale to 10 gigawatts."

Google's new facility likely isn't the last large tech company to show up in Cheyenne. In addition to its 10 existing locations, Cheyenne has five more under construction and another nine in advanced stages of discussion, according to data from Cheyenne LEADS.

Read the full story HERE.

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A Jackson driver who watched Tuesday's deadly Teton Pass crash unfold says he nearly passed the dump truck moments before its brakes failed and crashed into six vehicles, killing two people. Cowboy State Daily's Kolby Fedore reports that the eyewitness said, the dump truck was "driving way too fast."

"Jackson Airport taxi owner Dumitru Cebotari was just one vehicle behind the dump truck that caused a cataclysmic crash, resulting in two fatalities on Tuesday afternoon in the Teton Pass. He said several people started passing the dump truck, including a motorcyclist. Then, as they started going down the hill, the truck picked up speed, and he knew that something was wrong. As someone who's driven a truck before, he said that he instantly could tell that something was very wrong. He thought maybe the brakes had gone out. Later, the highway patrol was able to determine that that did in fact happen."

Cowboy State Daily also spoke to the motorcyclist who survived being hit from behind by the out of control dump truck. Caleb Batista tells Cowboy State Daily that he's lucky to be alive, only suffering a dislocated shoulder, a fractured foot, and lacerations to his face.

Read the full story HERE.

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Several Northern Arapaho Tribe members are outraged at a Christian pastor who spoke against their religious customs and encouraged worship of Jesus instead. Cowboy State Daily's Clair McFarland reports that one Arapaho member told Cowboy State Daily that the church is "not welcome here anymore."

"Sarah Lucas has been preaching on the Wind River Indian Reservation for about a decade, and at a recent service following the Sundance tribal ceremony, she said, but we know that Jesus is enough, it's not Jesus plus, it's Jesus everything. And controversy just exploded. Some tribal members are saying that she needs to leave the reservation."

Christian Wassana, an enrolled Cheyenne Arapaho of Oklahoma who played Martin Kills Many on "Yellowstone," described Foundations for Nations pastor Sarah Lucas' message as, "it feels like history repeating itself, with attempts to erase and discredit our traditional way of life."

Read the full story HERE.

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I'll have more news from Cowboy State Daily right after this.

Cowboy State Daily News continues now….

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The Jane Doe found dead on Interstate 25 near Cheyenne in April has been identified as Brittany Smith, a Wyoming woman. Cowboy State Daily's Jen Kocher reports that Smith was struck on the on-ramp from Missile Drive on April 20th.

"Brittany Smith, 37, she was identified today by the Wyoming Highway Patrol as the Jane Doe who was killed on April 20. She was a pedestrian on the on-ramp near Mild marker one off Interstate I-25 and she was hit by Ikea Sportage. From my understanding, at this point there are no charges pending."

According to senior public relations specialist with the Wyoming Highway Patrol, Aaron Brown, Smith was struck by a northbound Kia Sportage on the on-ramp from Missile Drive on April 20th. Smith had been a pedestrian standing in the roadway.

Read the full story HERE.

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A vocal crowd converged Tuesday on the Green River City Council meeting and opposed a $112,000 federal grant for the police department to install license plate reader cameras. Cowboy State Daily's Clair McFarland reports the City Council and mayor ultimately voted 6-1 against finalizing the grant.

"We reported that the police department was pushing for a grant to install license plate readers, at least four of them, around the city, and then there was a city council meeting to finalize that. The people showed up, 10 of them spoke, all in opposition, and in the end, the mayor and council voted six to one not to finalize the grant. The police chief defended the cameras at the city council meeting, but he also voiced empathy for the people's passion and concern."

Green River Police Chief Shawn Sturlaugson had planned to install around four Motorola brand license-plate readers, largely at city entrances, to respond quickly to criminal getaway or vulnerable-person situations, he told Cowboy State Daily on Tuesday.

Read the full story HERE.

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Two experienced Wyoming outdoorswomen said a large black bear aggressively entered their camp in the Bighorns late Sunday and turned it into "total chaos." Cowboy State Daily's Mark Heinz reports that when they returned the next day after escaping to a cabin, their camp was completely torn apart.

"Finally, the one lady fired two shots at it. The second shot convinced it to leave, and so they went and hung out in their jeeps for a while, and kind of got themselves settled back down, and decided, okay, let's, let's just go. My family has a cabin, so let's go stay at the cabin. So they grabbed their sleeping bags, went to the cabin, came back the next day, and apparently the bear had come back and just completely destroyed the camp."

In a statement emailed to Cowboy State Daily, Game and Fish confirmed that four traps were set in the area and Game and Fish agents who spoke to other campers in the area didn't report any bear conflicts.

Read the full story HERE.

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It was an alleged kick to the groin of a Wyoming Highway Patrol trooper that could get a Laramie man up to 10 years in prison after running from the law in a pickup towing a camper. Cowboy State Daily's Greg Johnson reports that the trooper says, the "intense pain was causing me to be nauseous."

"The lottery patrol knows he's coming, they set up the stop sticks, flatten his tires, he's still driving around, drives into Curt Gowdy State Park, and then ditches the car, runs, and he was hiding into his vegetation at night in the park. They finally find the guy, and he didn't want to go. He fought him the entire way, and at one point, when he got the opportunity, according to the affidavit, kicked the trooper in the groin as hard as he could, and you know that act right there is a felony."

47-year-old Nicholas J. Blocker is scheduled for a Friday appearance in Albany County Circuit Court to face at least three criminal charges and 12 other traffic citations related to the chase and arrest.

Read the full story HERE.

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And that's today's news. Get your free digital subscription to Wyoming's only statewide newspaper by hitting the Daily Newsletter button on Cowboy State Daily Dot Com - and you can watch this newscast every day by clicking Subscribe on our YouTube channel, or listen to us on your favorite podcast app. Thanks for watching - I'm Mac Watson, for Cowboy State Daily.

It's time to take a look at what's happening around Wyoming for Wednesday, July 8th. I'm Mac Watson

This newscast is brought to you by the Wyoming State Fair. Wrap up your summer at the Wyoming State Fair, August 11th through the 15th in Douglas!

Rodeo, Demolition Derby, live music, entertainment and fair food await. Learn more at W-Y State Fair dot com. See you at the fair! This ad was paid for by Converse County Tourism.

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A North Carolina man is still missing after jumping into the Snake River without a life jacket on Saturday. Cowboy State Daily's Kolby Fedore reports that authorities have changed the mission from search and rescue to recovery.

"55- year-old Tory Rather of Charlotte, North Carolina, went missing near Alpine in Wyoming when he jumped into the Snake River on Saturday without a life jacket. Authorities say that he was swept up by the current, and they have been searching for days to try and recover his body. On Tuesday, Lincoln County Sheriff Shane Johnson confirmed that this is now being looked at as a recovery and no longer a rescue. Johnson said, as time goes by, the likelihood of having a positive outcome goes down significantly. He is positive at this point. It is a recovery mission and not a rescue."

Raether's family sent Cowboy State Daily photos of the man and his wife taken just hours before the incident. Rafts, jet skis, a jet boat, drones, and search dogs have combed the Snake River below a popular cliff-jumping spot for days, all with one goal: bring Tory home.

Read the full story HERE.

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At least 13 portable toilets were blown up in Billings over the July 4th holiday and the company is blaming Wyoming fireworks for the destruction. Cowboy State Daily's Andrew Rossi reports the owners say the fireworks were likely purchased in Wyoming because Montana's fireworks aren't powerful enough.

"This is going to come straight out of the company's pocket. They're estimating at least $12,000 in damages, and while they have insurance, their deductible is $1,000 and if their deductible is $1,000 and each portable toilet is treated as a separate incident. So, if they tried to file a claim to get the cost for the destroyed toilet, then they would get maybe $100- $150 each after their deductible. So, it's not even worth filing the claim. They don't know who did it. They have no way of identifying them, and there's not a viable path to collect on insurance."

Co-owner Kris Vogele tells Cowboy State Daily that these aren't the type of fireworks you can "buy at a fireworks stand in Montana. It had to have been a large explosive." Vogele said he believes the fireworks came from Wyoming or the Crow Indian Reservation near Billings.

Read the full story HERE.

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Matthew Lynch lost most of his right hand in a fireworks explosion on July 4th. But Cowboy State Daily's Kolby Fedore reports that the Gillette carpenter isn't giving up on his electric-guitar dreams.

"Matthew Raymond Lynch says the incident was horrifying. He said when he lit a firecracker that he'd been carrying in his back pocket for years, trying to be adventurous, it blew up almost instantly. He looked down and his hand was the craziest, most mangled thing he says he's ever seen. the damage was so extensive that his friend took off his belt and used it as a tourniquet to save Lynch from losing his life. Lynch is an artist, he's a musician, a potter, and a carpenter by trade. He says the road to recovery will be long, but he's already been talking to doctors and hopeful that he will be able to get a prosthetic, and vows that one day he'll be able to play guitar again."

The blast severed most of Lynch's right hand, shattered bones throughout his left hand, peppered his face, neck and chest with shrapnel and burns, and sent him by Life Flight to Billings, Montana. In the days since, Lynch has publicly apologized, saying he feels terrible for the people who were injured alongside him.

Read the full story HERE.

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The Green River City Council is considering finalizing a $112,000 grant it's been awarded to install license-plate readers in the city. Cowboy State Daily's Clair McFarland reports that the mayor says the cameras could curb terrorism while former Libertarian lawmaker Marshall Burt says it's all "bullshit."

"The police chief said, 'Yeah, we're not looking to nitpick with these. We want to really amplify our response to things like missing and vulnerable persons cases or serious criminal flight cases.' Marshall Burt, who is the first Libertarian ever that Wyoming ever sent to the legislature, said, 'This is a slippery slope, because this grant is based on fighting terrorism, but these things can track people's movements and compile data on people's movements and patterns.'"

Green River applied last year for two Wyoming Office of Homeland Security grants and in January was awarded one for $111,956 to buy and install license plate readers for the police department, says the agenda item description. Mayor Pete Rust tells Cowboy State Daily the police department spearheaded the grant application.

Read the full story HERE.

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I'll have more news from Cowboy State Daily right after this.

Cowboy State Daily News continues now….

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A Casper man says he felt fortunate to rescue a baby pronghorn who got stuck in a cattle guard on Tuesday. Cowboy State Daily's Andrew Rossi reports that Dylan Heide says by posting the video, he hopes he can reduce the stigma around hunting and hunters.

"It was a very young fawn, so he just gently lifted and twisted it out of the cattle grate and let it successfully reunited with what he assumed was a few does, and one of which was probably its mother. Dylan goes out a lot during the summer, scouting for pronghorn. He hopes to hunt in the fall, and he'd never seen one with its body stuck in a cattle grate before, but if this fawn was young, he estimated it was probably only a month old, if that, and it's just probably the first time I'd ever seen a cattle guard before."

Heide shares his stories and perspectives on hunting and fishing in Wyoming on his FishHuntWyo social media pages. He has a particular outlook on Wyomingites' relationship with pronghorn and tells Cowboy State Daily, "The majority of us really care about wildlife."

Read the full story HERE.

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Allegedly outraged by a dirt bike zipping around his Albany County campsite, a man is accused of pulling two guns and brawling with three other campers over the weekend. Cowboy State Daily's Greg Johnson reports that investigators say, at one point, Tyler James McGill "stepped back and racked the slide, and pointed."

"What it boils down to is somebody riding a motorbike past somebody else's campground got that guy mad, and so he went looking for him down this camp. There were three men in the camp, and all four of them brawled. This guy took all three of them on, and at times during the brawl, it kind of the affidavit reads kind of like a movie script. he gets a gun from the waistband of one of the one of the other campers he's fighting, pointed at him, the guy wrestles the gun away from him, so he goes back to his campsite and gets another gun, it's just kind of a wild, wild tale at this Albany County campground over the Fourth of July weekend."

McGill, born in 1996, could get more than 15 years in prison if convicted of felony aggravated assault and battery and possession of a deadly weapon with unlawful intent.

Read the full story HERE.

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A Washington, D.C., super-PAC is attacking U.S. Senate candidate Sam Mead for a $27 donation Mead made in 2019 to then-presidential candidate Bernie Sanders. Cowboy State Daily's Clair McFarland reports that Mead is defending the move, saying it was about solving health care policy problems.

"Sam Mead has political credentials and is waging a really staunch Keep Public Land in Public Hands campaign, and this, you know, conservative super PAC found that in 2019 he had donated $27 to Bernie Sanders campaign. The election filings show that, and Meade told me that at the time he saw a lot of harm from Obamacare, the Obama insurance policies that Wyoming pushed back against hard at the time, and he said that he liked a lot of Sanders' ideas on health care, and decided to back that."

The attack ad surfaced Monday via an X.com post by Club For Growth president David McIntosh. The group calls itself the leading free-enterprise advocacy group in the nation and has endorsed Rep. Harriet Hageman.

Read the full story HERE.

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Cheyenne's Board of Public Utilities is not commenting further on the city's data center sewer contamination. Cowboy State Daily's Kate Meadows reports that residents still don't know where contaminated wastewater was taken, why the public wasn't notified for months, or what safeguards are now in place.

"Residents in Cheyenne have a lot of questions still with the sewer reuse contamination that was announced last week by the Board of Public Utilities. Cowboy State Daily reached out to Mayor Patrick Collins and asked, should the public be worried about this being a public health crisis, and is there a chance that it could happen again. The mayor candidly told us that we should be worried, because there's always a chance that it can happen, and there's always something to worry about when you're dealing with, you know, public utilities and big corporations, that's juxtaposed to the Board of Public Utilities that told us they are not commenting any further on anything until they deliver this press conference in about a week."

Last Thursday, the board announced that Goat Systems LLC, the corporate entity Meta uses during construction of its nearly 800,000-square-foot data center campus, was in "significant noncompliance" with the city's industrial pretreatment regulations.

Read the full story HERE.

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And that's today's news. Get your free digital subscription to Wyoming's only statewide newspaper by hitting the Daily Newsletter button on Cowboy State Daily Dot Com - and you can watch this newscast every day by clicking Subscribe on our YouTube channel, or listen to us on your favorite podcast app. Thanks for watching - I'm Mac Watson, for Cowboy State Daily.