It’s time to take a look at what’s happening around Wyoming, for Friday, July 26th. I’m Wendy Corr, bringing you headlines from the Cowboy State Daily newsroom – brought to you by Wyoming Senior Olympics, reminding you that this year’s Summer Olympics start July 31st in Cheyenne – and volunteers are needed! Become a volunteer today at Wyoming senior Olympics dot org.

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The body of a man found wrapped in a tarp and left at the Mirror Lake Recreation Area in Albany County, Wyoming, in early July has been identified as a 56-year-old Colorado man whose death is being investigated as a homicide.

Cowboy State Daily’s Jen Kocher reports that the former “John Doe” who was found with no identification has been identified as James Bitner of Blackhawk, Colorado.

“Law enforcement are being very tight lipped in this case. And that’s not uncommon, but it’s very tight lipped. And I do know, there weren’t any details that either the coroner or sheriff would share about this case at all, except about how the body was identified, and that was through his fingerprints. I will tell you, there’s a lot going on here in terms of the agencies involved. They have Wyoming State Police, Albany County Sheriff, and they also have three agencies in Colorado, including their state police.” 

The discovery of Bitner’s body over the Fourth of July weekend shut down the popular Snow Range picnic and fishing site near the base of Medicine Bow Peak for two days as law enforcement investigated the scene.

Read the full story HERE.

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A campaign organization run by former Wyoming congresswoman Liz Cheney has been actively paying into and receiving donations through a Democratic fundraising platform this year.

Cowboy State Daily’s Leo Wolfson reports that the mission of her group, named “Our Great Task,” is to unite Republicans, Democrats and Independents in a combined effort to ensure that, quote, “Donald Trump and those who have enabled him are defeated.”

“Our Great TAsk has been utilizing a Democrat fundraising platform called Act Blue… Act Blue basically acts as kind of an intermediate, like middleman to allow people to kind of donate to her group and other groups through them… what’s interesting, though, is Act Blue is really solely dedicated to the Democratic campaigns.”

Cheney was Wyoming’s congresswoman from 2017-2023, rising to the No. 3 position in the Republican caucus, before losing that role due to her opposition of Trump.

Read the full story HERE.

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A Utah man who worked as a concessionaire employee in Yellowstone National Park was sentenced Tuesday to five years’ probation for making threats one day after a fatal shootout in the same park.

Cowboy State Daily’s Clair McFarland reports that 55-year-old Robert Sherman of Holladay, Utah, was overheard making threatening statements referencing another mass shooting at the Roosevelt area of the Park, the day after a Xanterra employee was shot and killed in Canyon Village.

“This case lasted … less than two weeks… this is only like a disturbance charge, it’s a misdemeanor. I’m not going to speak for the prosecutors or for Congress in making these federal laws, but I think in America, people tend to be cautious about prosecuting speech, even if it does take the form of a threat, which is not constitutionally protected.”

Sherman was also sentenced to 14 days in jail, but received credit for the 14 days he spent in jail during his prosecution. 

Read the full story HERE.

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Two Rock Springs Republican legislators are suing the fundraising arm of the Wyoming Freedom Caucus, over election mailers that claim that the two Republicans want former President Donald Trump off Cowboy State ballots. 

Cody Wylie and J.T. Larson say the claims are deliberately false and meant to mislead, according to politics reporter Leo Wolfson.

“This was in reference to a budget amendment that was brought last session to basically restrict Secretary of State Chuck Gray from filing lawsuits with state money, that came in response to an amicus brief that he filed against the Colorado Supreme Court, when they decided to keep Trump off the election ballots in that state… They say that the mailers were made purposely false, knowingly false, and they want a court injunction to stop their production and to possibly get defamation fees.” 

Wylie and Larson said the accusations extend past honest debate about votes, and drift into the realm of slander. Neither has ever taken a direct vote on whether to keep Trump on or off any ballot.

Read the full story HERE.

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Arch Resources Inc. reported Thursday that thermal coal shipped from Wyoming’s energy-rich Powder River Basin faltered again in the second quarter of 2024, but is expected to rebound in the second half of the year.

However, energy reporter Pat Maio writes that the company is already foreshadowing the closure of its once-mighty coal mining operations.

“There’s also filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission… there was notation also that they’re moving forward with closure of the Black Thunder and Coal Creek mines, and that they’ve almost caught up all of the payment of the reclamation costs, you know, after they leave… they’re just reaffirming that they’re going to be doing that. That’s a big deal. Once the world’s mightiest and biggest coal mine about to close.”

While Arch hasn’t said what its timeline is for shuttering its Wyoming mines, it has repeatedly maintained a corporate stance that it wants to be out of the thermal coal business.

Read the full story HERE. 

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And a big draw for visitors to Cheyenne during Frontier Days is the world’s largest collection of operable old-time wagons.

Cowboy State Daily’s Renee Jean spoke to a couple of very experienced wagon drivers – Sam Gill and Mike Stein have both driven teams of horses for the famous “Yellowstone” prequel television series “1883,” but they said they would not miss the Cheyenne Frontier Days parade.

“Mike and Sam have been coming up from Texas for eight and 11 years respectively, to drive a team of horses in the Cheyenne Frontier Days Parade. These guys ride in events all across the country, but they make a point of coming to Cheyenne Frontier Days. And the reason is because the parade just has the most prestigious carriage collection in the world… There’s really nothing like it for these guys who enjoy, you know, driving teams of horses and buggies. And there’s actually a waiting list to be part of the team that pulls these wagons.” 

Gill’s team pulled an actual fire station wagon during the parade Thursday, complete with fire hoses in the back, while Stein pulled an oil tank wagon that was once used to deliver heating oil to homes in the Cheyenne area.

Read the full story HERE.

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President Joe Biden’s speech on Wednesday night explaining to America why he halted his reelection bid did little to ease concerns felt by Wyoming’s congressional delegation about the president’s ability to continue as the nation’s leader through the end of his term.

Politics reporter Leo Wolfson spoke to Representative Harriet Hageman, who told him that she believed Biden’s entire speech to be a lie.

“What she really wanted to hear from Biden was, ‘I’m resigning from the presidency.’ She says that he is too feeble to continue holding the office of president. And that just the fact that he’s dropping out shows… if he’s too feeble to be a candidate, he’s too feeble to be a president.” 

Biden is far from the first president to not seek reelection while continuing to serve his term in office. Former President Lyndon Johnson surprised the nation in March 1968 when he announced he would not seek reelection. 

Read the full story HERE.

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The death of a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer in Casper two months ago continues to complicate the Casper/Natrona County International Airport’s international service and trade zone opportunities.

Since the death of “Dale” Leatham, customs clearances have been slowed at the state’s only international airport – and Cowboy State Daily’s Dale Killingbeck reports that a federal foreign trade zone application remains on hold.

“They’re not seeing as many flights landing to clear at the airport. And what that means is there’s possibly a little bit of loss of revenue, because the airport gets 30 cents per gallon of aviation fuel on that. But even more importantly, is that a couple of businesses in Casper… have Foreign Trade Zones that they’re trying to set up. And so not having that customs officer in place is impacting kind of the timeline on that.” 

U.S. Customs is aware of the importance of putting an officer in place, but it may be two months before the position is filled.

Read the full story HERE.

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News that Park County won a much-coveted $10 million Wyoming shooting complex has some wondering if it makes sense to build it in a more remote area in the northwest corner of Wyoming, rather than a more central location.

But Cowboy State Daily’s Mark Heinz reports that backers of the plan remain confident that putting it near Cody will draw plenty of competitive shooters, firearms-related companies and big money to the Cowboy State.

“Cody already gets upwards of a million people a year coming from elsewhere to Cody… this will just give them one more reason to come to Cody and to Wyoming. And then the other argument is there are things there that will keep them there. Yellowstone is right there. Of course a Firearms Museum will be a huge draw for these folks, that’s right there.”

If all goes as planned, the Legislature will release the money and greenlight the project in Park County during its 2025 session.

Read the full story HERE.

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And the National Weather Service office in Cheyenne is calling for “monsoon moisture” in southeastern Wyoming on Friday and Saturday, but it’ll take a lot more than a monsoon to stop the momentum of Cheyenne Frontier Days.

Cowboy State Daily’s Andrew Rossi reports that there have been several wet and dry years during Cheyenne Frontier Days. But it’s never been enough to stop the fun.

“They’re prepared to deal with the rain. I mean, obviously, you don’t want a muddy arena when you have your animal athletes, as I heard them called, in there, because that can be hazardous. But the teams are ready. They’ve been out there with bulldozers before just taking off all the water and all the mud to get the arena ready. They don’t play around because they want everything to keep going.”

Anyone with CFD tickets for Friday and Saturday might want to bring a poncho to the rodeo. Yet, even if there are a few weather-related delays, the show will go on.

Read the full story HERE.

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And that’s today’s news! For a deeper dive into the people and issues that affect Wyoming, check out The Roundup, conversations with the most interesting people in the Cowboy State. A new episode drops tomorrow, when I have a conversation with Gunwerks founder Aaron Davidson. You can find the link on our website, on our YouTube Channel, and wherever you get your podcasts. And of course, you’ll find it in our FREE daily newsletter!

Thanks for tuning in – I’m Wendy Corr, for Cowboy State Daily.

Radio Stations

The following radio stations are airing Cowboy State Daily Radio on weekday mornings, afternoons and evenings. 

KYDT 103.1 FM – Sundance

KBFS 1450 AM — Sundance

KYCN 1340 AM / 92.7 FM — Wheatland

KZEW 101.7 FM — Wheatland

KANT 104.1 FM — Guernsey

KZQL 105.5 FM — Casper

KMXW 92.5 FM — Casper

KJAX 93.5 FM — Jackson

KROE 930 AM / 103.9 FM — Sheridan

KWYO 1410 AM / 106.9 FM  — Sheridan

KYOY 92.3 FM Hillsdale-Cheyenne / 106.9 FM Cheyenne

KRAE 1480 AM — Cheyenne 

KDLY 97.5 FM — Lander

KOVE 1330 AM — Lander

KZMQ 100.3/102.3 FM — Cody, Powell, Medicine Wheel, Greybull, Basin, Meeteetse

KKLX 96.1 FM — Worland, Thermopolis, Ten Sleep, Greybull

KCGL 104.1 FM — Cody, Powell, Basin, Lovell, Clark, Red Lodge, MT

KTAG 97.9 FM — Cody, Powell, Basin

KCWB 92.1 FM — Cody, Powell, Basin

KVGL 105.7 FM — Worland, Thermopolis, Basin, Ten Sleep

KODI 1400 AM / 96.7 FM — Cody, Powell, Lovell, Basin, Clark, Red Lodge

KWOR 1340 AM / 104.7 FM — Worland, Thermopolis, Ten Sleep

KREO 93.5 FM — Sweetwater and Sublette Counties

KERM 98.3 FM — Goshen County

Check with individual radio stations for airtime of the newscasts.

For many residents of the United States, especially those in its cities and larger suburbs, the fact of homelessness is quite well established. Camps made up of lean-tos, tents, small fire pits and people exist in parks, woods, along city streets and under freeway bridges around the nation. The reaction to these settlements by residents with houses and local authorities ranges from acceptance and providing services to the unhoused to vigilante and police attacks on the encampments. Despite the differences in these responses, both represent an acceptance of an essential fact: most people living outside because they can’t afford to live inside do so because of the capitalist economy.

Those who support the vigilantes and the police attacks on the unhoused are, in essence, rejecting the humanity of those being attacked and “swept” up (to use a popular euphemism). Whether they acknowledge this truth or not, their actions reveal an understanding that only people with houses matter when all is said and done. Meanwhile, those who work through churches, social services and other organizations that assist the unhoused prove a certain belief that modern capitalism is irredeemable.

J. Malcolm Garcia worked in an organization helping the unhoused during the 1990s. The agency was in San Francisco. I lived in the San Francisco Bay Area from the late 1970s until the mid-1980s. Of the seven or eight years I lived there, I spent a few of them on the streets. Even then, there were several hundred, if not thousands, of unhoused folks making do, keeping away from the cops, hitting the free meals and sleeping where they could. By 1984—after almost four years of neoliberal Reaganomics—those numbers had increased dramatically. So had a certain sense of desperation as funding was taken away from government agencies and non-profits that served the poor—housed and unhoused. I was lucky. I got out. Some of my friends did not.

Since his work in the social services world of San Francisco, Mr. Garcia has gone on to become one of the world’s most unique and honest journalists. His articles focus on those whose lives have been disrupted, even overturned, by US capitalism and its wars. Several collections of his work have been published and received plaudits and awards. This summer, Seven Stories published his first novel, titled Out of the Rain.

Like his journalism, this novel is about people. Based on his experiences as a social worker in an agency that worked with those without houses, Garcia tells his story with a collection of profiles. From the chronic and amiable alcoholic Walter to the tragic life of a crack addict named Varneeta, the author weaves a profound tale of humanity. Lives that most of his readers can only imagine, if even that, are chronicled in bits and pieces. People in recovery struggling with the urge to go to the liquor store instead of work; men fighting off urges to take advantage of vulnerable women they interact with at the shelter and men that give in to those urges; recovering alcoholics and drug users living lives of loneliness because their previous friends are still using and are nothing but a temptation. Informing it all is the primary protagonist Tom who directs the shelter and center that serves as the focal point for the novel’s characters. His job is one that requires compassion, but demands a certain ruthlessness. That ruthlessness is most often related to the other primary informant of the tale: a national and local economy that cuts funding for services to the poor in favor of profits for the rich. For anyone who has been to San Francisco since Reagan took over the country they must certainly agree that it is the rich who matter the most there.

This is a very human story. It is also very honest. Despite the occasionally unbearable misfortunes that happen to different characters at points in the narrative, a certain hopeful spirit remains the novel’s essence. At the novel’s end, Tom has moved on from his role at the shelter and center to a new job helping refugees. His burnout from caring too much while wrestling with politicians and funders who don’t really like the grimness and squalor of lives lived in the street has won out. This novel is his reminder to the reader as to why we need to care.