Wyoming

Cowboy State Daily Video News: Thursday, August 8, 2024

Published

2 years ago

August 8, 2024

It’s time to take a look at what’s happening around Wyoming, for Thursday, August 8th. I’m Wendy Corr, bringing you headlines from the Cowboy State Daily newsroom – brought to you by the Wyoming State Fair! Beginning August 13th in Douglas, the Wyoming State Fair has something for everyone. For more info visit WY-STATE-FAIR dot com”

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The Campbell County Sheriff says a Wright, Wyoming, man who shot at a deputy just as the deputy exited his car Sunday has been identified as 55-year-old Christopher Morales.

Sheriff Scott Metheny told Cowboy State Daily’s Clair McFarland that the deputy’s body cam video shows that, just as the car dings to indicate that the deputy has opened his car door, Morales fires a shotgun.

“In that moment, the shotgun blast hits the windshield in front of the deputy, or very near to where the deputy was, and so we know that there had to be this split decision, duck back into the car, or rush out and take refuge behind it. Matheny said that the deputy followed his training in using the car as a shield. And then, of course, he yelled, ‘drop the gun,’ and he returned fire and he killed Morales on scene.”

Metheny told Cowboy State Daily he believed that divine intervention was at work, protecting the deputy.

Read the full story HERE.

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Dede Anders knew she was too sick to ride 620 miles across Mongolia, then was abandoned halfway around the world Wednesday. The Powell woman was there to compete in the Mongol Derby, but race organizers left her in a hotel room without medical care.

Anders told Cowboy State Daily’s Andrew Rossi that she didn’t even get to start the race.

“She recognized she wasn’t well enough, and then all they did was they got a driver to take her back to Ulaanbaatar from the start, which was an eight hour car ride while she had a pretty intense gastrointestinal illness… She had to reserve her hotel herself through Expedia and find her own flight home. So to say she’s not a happy camper is a bit of an understatement.”

Anders said the earliest she’ll be able to leave Mongolia is August 11th.

Read the full story HERE.

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Now that Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris has selected Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate for this November’s election, the midwestern politician’s energy policies are in the spotlight.

No surprise, Walz is a big proponent, just like Harris, in pushing for clean energy initiatives – which for Wyoming, means a sharp turn away from fossil fuels, according to energy reporter Pat Maio.

“I think the buzzword here is green grid. He’s big on that, going completely green on alternative forms of energy like wind and solar by 2040, which kind of aligns with the Biden administration. So it’s going to be more of that with Tim Walz.”

During his tenure as governor of Minnesota, Walz placed his state on track to transition to “clean” energy even faster than California, which for decades has been at the forefront of efforts to tackle climate change.

Read the full story HERE.

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Landon Brown’s Republican primary opponent has resurrected a 2022 CNN interview in which he praised Liz Cheney and called former president Donal Trump “unfit for office.”

But in a Wednesday interview with Cowboy State Daily’s Clair McFarland, Landon Brown called Exie Brown’s Facebook post “old news” and questioned whether it’s relevant in 2024.

“He said, ‘Well, I still don’t like the almost cult-like following of Trump. I reserve the right to disagree with him,’ but he said that he’s noticed more humility in the former president since the July 13 assassination attempt against him… he said he agrees with many of Trump’s policies, but he wants to hold conservative ideals higher than he holds the man.”

Brown doesn’t back away from standing by Cheney in 2022, saying he believes she defended the U.S. Constitution while in office. He also pointed to her conservative congressional record.

Read the full story HERE.

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A historic Wyoming ranch that has been in the same family since 1895 has just landed on the market, and it’s a humdinger of a listing.

The Antlers Ranch near Meeteetse is listing for $85 million. That makes it the most expensive listing in Wyoming now and, for once, it’s not from Jackson Hole. The property ranges from river bottoms and valleys at the low point to timbered alpine peaks at the high point — and everything in between, according to Cowboy State Daily’s Renee Jean.

“There aren’t many opportunities to own something like this. This ranch controls more than 40,000 acres, including 16,532 deeded acres. It’s been in the same family since 1895 – that’s almost as long as Wyoming has been a state. The history of this ranch, it’s just the history of Wyoming itself.”

Antlers Ranch is a working ranch with plenty of housing for both its next owners and its staff, as well as a variety of buildings associated with making this a turnkey ranching operation, if the next owners so choose.

Read the full story HERE.

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Just when it seems Wyoming has hit its boiling point with 100-degree temperatures in some spots, a cold front from Canada will cool things off in a big way Thursday and Friday.

The cold front started moving across northwest Wyoming on Wednesday and will shock people’s summertime systems with daytime high temperatures plunging anywhere from 10-30 degrees, depending on where you are, according to Cowboy State Daily’s Andrew Rossi.

“We’re seeing close to a 30 degree difference between Wednesday in Cheyenne and Thursday in Cheyenne, the high is going to be 58 on Thursday. But the thing of it is, these kinds of cold fronts can bring seasonal change, but it’s still, too far in the summer for that to happen. So once we get into Monday, we’re going to get back into the 80s and the 90s that we’ve been experiencing.”

The cold front from Canada won’t last long, and the summer heat will return by next week.

Read the full story HERE.

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Questions about the integrity of Wyoming’s voting machines grew a little more pointed this week after observers say a Monday test of Laramie County equipment was suspect.

Laramie County Republican Party Chairman Taft Love on Tuesday filed an official complaint with the Laramie County District Attorney targeting Laramie County Clerk Debra Lee about the voting machine test she performed Monday. Love and others believe the test produced untrustworthy results, according to politics reporter Leo Wolfson.

“The ballots are supposed to be tested with different amounts of votes for each candidate. Well, that was not done in Laramie County. Most of the candidates had the same exact amount of votes. They performed two tests. And there were some other issues that happened, as well as like such as the ballots becoming crumpled and not really appearing to be read the correct way.”

State law requires that all election tests be performed at least two weeks prior to an election, a deadline that came Tuesday.

Read the full story HERE.

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Even while auto manufacturers are pumping the brakes on investing in the future of electric vehicles, as car buyers think twice on making expensive purchases and recharging them, signs of a slowdown in Wyoming aren’t necessarily materializing.

Energy reporter Pat Maio says EV registrations are up in Wyoming, the Wyoming Department of Transportation is getting ready to see who can build out an infrastructure of charging stations along the Cowboy State’s interstates, and one major auto dealership in Cheyenne is seeing an uptick in sales.

“I spoke to Daryl Turrell, who owns the Chevrolet and Honda dealerships here in Cheyenne, and he says… there’s a lot of people coming up from Colorado to buy EVs, and what they’re getting are the big the new Silverado truck that just rolled off. Plus, he says there seems to be high demand for Chevy Bolt, another electric car.”

Some analysts think it may be a while before EV acceptance in the region is ever embraced, though it is taking baby steps.

Read the full story HERE.

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Jackson’s Dierdre Griffith was the first Wyoming woman to win the Mongol Derby, splitting the victory with fellow rider and friend Willemien Jooste in July 2022. She knows what an arduous, strategic and life-changing experience it is to follow Genghis Khan’s horse messenger route through inner Mongolia.

Griffith told Cowboy State Daily’s Andrew Rossi that the ride was stressful, adventurous and lots of fun.

2:22 7/31 “Her story was incredible. She did it with a South African writer who became a lifelong friend. And it’s not that she raised over $100,000 for charity in the process. It’s the fact that she used that money to … set up a postpartum depression program at St. John’s Health in Jackson … because the thing that fueled her into the race in the first place was she had just had her second child, and she struggled with postpartum depression both times.”

Griffith’s victory in 2022 was the first time in the history of the race – not only that two people from the same nation, but two people from the same state – won back to back victories. Wyoming riders won in 2019 and in 2022, with a two-year gap because of the COVID pandemic.

Read the full story HERE.

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Wyoming

This Small Wyoming Town Has The Best Downtown

Published

12 hours ago

March 3, 2026

Press Room

This Small Wyoming Town Has The Best Downtown

If you’re planning on visiting Wyoming, for a truly authentic experience, you must include at least one of the state’s awesome downtowns in your travel plans. Positioned at the southern end of the 60-mile-long valley known as Jackson Hole, the character-rich town of Jackson is one such place to consider. A wonderful place to explore on foot, Jackson’s unique downtown, with its Old West vibe, spreads out from the intersection of Broadway and Cache Street. While it consists of just a few blocks, it is jam-packed with fun things to do, no matter what time of year you visit. Its impressive elk arch makes for an excellent photo opportunity, while the charm of its Old West heritage exudes from the historic buildings, cowboy-themed bars, and art installations across town. The wild past also comes to life in Jackson during the Jackson Hole Shootout at the Town Square, a tradition that has endured since 1957.

Town Square And The Elk Antler Arches

Tourists love to pose for pictures before the Elk Antler Arch at George Washington Memorial Park in Jackson, Wyoming.

Though Jackson’s Central Park is officially known as George Washington Memorial Park, locals and visitors alike prefer to call it Town Square. Dedicated in 1934, this centrally located public space occupies the block at Broadway and Cache and is famous for the elk antler archers set at each of its corners.

Made entirely from naturally shed elk antlers, the first arch was erected by local Boy Scouts and Rotary Club members in 1953, with the other three added a few years later. Each consists of around 2,000 antlers collected from the nearby National Elk Refuge and is among the most photographed landmarks in Wyoming.

Antlers on auction at the Elk Antler Auction during ELKFEST in Jackson, Wyoming.

For a truly memorable experience, try to time a visit to coincide with ELKFEST. Held in May, this community-wide celebration attracts visitors from across the country for events like the Mountain Man Rendezvous, a reenactment of the state’s early fur trading years.

The main event, though, is the highly anticipated Elk Antler Auction. Bidders from far and wide turn up at Town Square to purchase antlers, which are then used to make everything from furniture to jewelry (proceeds going back to the Elk Refuge).

Jackson’s Cowboy Heritage

Jackson Hole Shootout celebrations in Jackson, Wyoming.

From Memorial Day through Labor Day, Town Square becomes the backdrop of the famous Jackson Hole Shootout. This fun (and free) mock gunfight has been entertaining visitors since 1957 and includes several costumed outlaws and lawmen shooting it out (with blanks, of course). You can add to the experience by hopping aboard the Jackson Hole Stagecoach, a ride aboard a century-old coach that loops around downtown.

The Million Dollar Cowboy Bar in Jackson, Wyoming.

The Old West theme is evident in other spots around the downtown core, too. Steps from Town Square, the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar has been around since 1937 and is set in what was once the town’s first bank in the late 1890s. Highlights include its hand-carved bar top with silver dollars embedded in it, as well as its cool saddle barstools. Live music is regularly scheduled on the stage that has seen such legends as Willie Nelson and Hank Williams Jr. perform.

A cowboy mannequin in front of a photos store in Jackson, Wyoming.

The Wort Hotel is another downtown landmark you’ll want to include in your Jackson itinerary. A local fixture since 1941, it’s here you’ll find the famous Silver Dollar Bar with its custom-made S-shaped counter inlaid with 2,032 uncirculated (and therefore rare) 1921 silver dollars. You’ll also want to check out its priceless collection of original Western art.

Other Fun Stuff To Do In Downtown Jackson

Local businesses in downtown Jackson, Wyoming.

In addition to its iconic bars, downtown Jackson also boasts a world-class food scene. Highlights include Persephone Bakery, its old-fashioned stone hearth turning out delicious baked goods, including croissants and artisanal bread. Also yummy, Cafe Genevieve occupies an old log cabin and serves breakfast and lunch with a Southern-inspired menu.

The Mountain Trails Galleries in Jackson, Wyoming. Image credit: DXR via Wikimedia Commons.

Jackson’s art scene is also worth a mention. Art galleries are plentiful in the downtown area, with establishments like Astoria Fine Art and Mountain Trails Galleries, both on Town Square, featuring works by local, national, and international artists. The Center for the Arts is another cultural high point and features performance spaces, visual arts studios, and an outdoor sculpture park.

Snow King Mountain

Another unique feature of Jackson’s downtown is its proximity to some of Wyoming’s best (and certainly most accessible) ski hills. The base of Snow King Mountain is just six blocks from Town Square and has been in use since 1936, and really took off when Wyoming’s first chairlift opened here in 1946.

The chairlift ride in Snow King Mountain.

Dubbed the “Town Hill” by locals, Snow King now consists of 500 skiable acres, 41 named runs, three chairlifts, an eight-passenger gondola, and night skiing. In warmer months, the action shifts to a thrilling Cowboy Coaster, a zipline, a treetop adventure ropes course, and an alpine slide.

The Snow King Observatory and Planetarium is another excuse to head for the hills from downtown Jackson. Located at the summit of Snow King Mountain, in addition to its large telescope, this must-see attraction features a planetarium theater and a rooftop observation deck boasting incredible views over Jackson and the Jackson Hole Valley.

Explore Jackson’s Not-So-Wild Side

Downtown Jackson has so much to offer visitors seeking an authentic slice of Wyoming life. From its unique elk antler arches to its art galleries and cowboy culture, as well as its unique position steps from the ski hills, few towns in the USA’s Mountain Region can match the long list of fun things to do in Jackson’s downtown core.

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Wyoming

FROM WYOFILE: Company eyes Wyoming for massive crude oil pipeline

Published

24 hours ago

March 2, 2026

Press Room

FROM WYOFILE: Company eyes Wyoming for massive crude oil pipeline

A pipeline company has proposed a massive new “expansion” to ship Canadian crude to a storage facility and interconnect to other pipelines near Guernsey, potentially giving Powder River Basin producers a leg up in the North American market.Casper-based Bridger Pipeline formed a subsidiary, Bridger Pipeline Expansion to get Canadian crude to Guernsey. The pipeline would stretch 645 miles from Phillips County, Montana, to Bridger’s oil storage terminal and pipeline interconnect near Guernsey.
The expansion would open the spigot for 550,000 barrels per day of crude, the company says. Although the crude would mostly pass through eastern Wyoming, the venture opens opportunities for Wyoming oil producers in the region for more transportation access to U.S. refineries and shipping ports, according to Bridger and local industry officials.“It would be the biggest project in our history, if it comes to fruition,” Bridger Pipeline spokesperson Bill Salvin told WyoFile on Friday. “We are, however, in the really early stages of the project. But we’re very excited about it.”Industry trade groups speculate the Bridger Pipeline Expansion is part of a competitive scramble to fill a gap left by TC Energy’s Keystone XL project. That company, in 2021, abandoned the controversial project in the face of major opposition and protests. It would have transported Canadian tar-sands oil into the U.S. market via a route extending through Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska. Among many challenges for Keystone XL was acquiring new rights-of-way easements. Though the Bridger Pipeline Expansion proposal requires some new rights-of-way, that’s not the case for the 210-mile Wyoming segment, according to Salvin.“All of that distance is within, or parallel to, existing pipeline corridors,” Salvin said.

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The Wyoming segment would pass through Crook, Weston, Niobrara, Goshen and Platte counties.Bridger Pipeline, a subsidiary of Casper-based True Companies, submitted a notice of intent to the Montana Department of Environmental Quality in January and noted it will formally initiate environmental applications to the agency. Salvin told WyoFile he’s uncertain about the full spectrum of regulatory requirements in Wyoming.However, the company regards the Cowboy State as a great fit for the project, he said. “This [project proposal] just highlights how important the region is and how Wyoming is a very good place for energy projects like this.”Reached for comment, the Petroleum Association of Wyoming said the proposed pipeline only stands to benefit Wyoming producers and the state.“Investments like these, along with continued growth in areas like the Powder River Basin, show Wyoming will continue to play an important role in the nation’s energy markets,” PAW Vice President and Director of Communications Ryan McConnaughey told WyoFile. “Connecting in Guernsey allows product to be transported to refining hubs like Cushing, Oklahoma.” WyoFile is an independent nonprofit news organization focused on Wyoming people, places and policy.

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Wyoming

Meyer’s Late Score Lifts Wyoming past Air Force – SweetwaterNOW

Published

1 day ago

March 2, 2026

Press Room

Meyer’s Late Score Lifts Wyoming past Air Force – SweetwaterNOW

Naz Meyer. Mandatory Credit: Troy Babbitt-UW Media-Athletics

LARAMIE — Nasir Meyer converted a three-point play with 35 seconds remaining to give Wyoming Cowboys men’s basketball the lead for good, and Wyoming held Air Force Falcons men’s basketball scoreless over the final two minutes to secure a 66-62 victory Saturday night.

The win marked the 13th home victory of the season for Wyoming, which improved to 16-13 overall and 7-11 in conference play.

“Air Force deserves all the credit and let’s talk about a team that has every reason not to fight, but thats why they are Air Force and the cadets and I have a lot of respect for them,” Wyoming coach Sundance Wicks said. “They were not going to quit, and I didn’t drive that message home enough and hats off to Air Force because they deserved to win. We snuck away with a win. Adam Harakow showed when we need him and he was massive for us. Simm-Marten was made big plays and Naz was clutch for us late.”

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Wyoming shot 35% from the field and went 7 of 28 from 3-point range, making just two from beyond the arc in the second half. Air Force shot 49% overall and 44% from 3, hitting eight shots from long distance. The Cowboys made 13 of 16 free throws (81%) and scored 22 points off 15 Air Force turnovers while holding a 39-36 edge in rebounding.

Damarion Dennis led Wyoming with 16 points and three assists, going 7 of 8 from the free-throw line. Meyer finished with 14 points and tied a career best with eight rebounds. Adam Harakow added 14 points off the bench on 5-of-6 shooting, his first double-figure scoring game since the first meeting with Air Force. Simm-Marten Saadi had nine points in 13 minutes, and Kiani Saxon grabbed seven rebounds.

Air Force opened with back-to-back 3-pointers to take a 6-0 lead. Meyer scored Wyoming’s first basket, and Leland Walker added a 3-pointer to make it 8-5 with 16 minutes left in the first half.

Wyoming responded with a 9-0 run over nearly four minutes, with Saadi and Harakow each connecting from beyond the arc to give the Cowboys an 11-8 lead with under 14 minutes remaining. Air Force regained a 12-11 advantage as Wyoming went scoreless for more than two minutes.

Harakow’s second 3-pointer pushed the lead to 22-16 with nine minutes left in the half, and Wyoming used a 6-0 run while holding the Falcons without a field goal for more than four minutes to build a 28-18 lead with six minutes remaining. The Cowboys closed the half on a defensive stand, keeping Air Force scoreless for the final two minutes to take a 35-25 lead into the break. Wyoming scored 15 first-half points off turnovers.

The teams traded 3-pointers early in the second half, and Air Force cut the deficit to 40-31 with under 17 minutes left before trimming it to seven 90 seconds later. Walker answered with a 3-pointer to make it 43-33 with 15 minutes to go.

Air Force used a 9-0 run during a stretch in which Wyoming went more than 3 1/2 minutes without a point to pull within one with nine minutes left. The Falcons later tied the game at 51-51 with 5:30 remaining after forcing six straight missed shots.

A pair of free throws by Meyer and a basket from Saadi gave Wyoming a 57-53 lead with under four minutes to play. Air Force answered with three consecutive 3-pointers from Kam Sanders to take a 62-59 lead with two minutes left.

Meyer scored with 90 seconds remaining to cut the deficit to one. On the next trip, he converted an and-one to give Wyoming a 64-62 lead with 35 seconds left. The Cowboys added late free throws to close out the 66-62 win.

Sanders led Air Force with 16 points and nine rebounds, going 4 of 5 from 3-point range. Eli Robinson added 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting.

Wyoming closes its home schedule Tuesday against Nevada Wolf Pack men’s basketball at 8 p.m. as part of a doubleheader with the Cowgirls.

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