Episode Details

It's time to take a look at what's happening around Wyoming, for Thursday, October 17th. I'm Wendy Corr, bringing you headlines from the Cowboy State Daily newsroom - brought to you by the Cowboy State Daily Morning Show with Jake! From 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. Monday through Friday, Cowboy State Daily's Jake Nichols brings to life the latest news, weather, sports and in-depth conversations that matter to you.

It's not every day that weather forecasts predicting 7-13 inches of snow cause homeowners to stand up and cheer.

But Cowboy State Daily's Renee Jean was in the Wagon Box restaurant in Story when the patrons, weary from their battle with the nearby Elk Fire, saw the updated weather forecasts coming across their smartphones.

"We were all just kind of enjoying our dinner and chit chatting, and then I heard notifications going off and people looking at their phones. And it was the Billings National Weather Service in Billings releasing their updated snowfall totals, seven to 13 inches. People were just like exclaiming, and it's great, and, oh, man, I hope it's even more than that. But not because they cared about the nearby ski resort. They were all glad, because it might put a damper on this elk fire that they've been living with now for three weeks."

The volatile and unpredictable fire has so far burned more than 92,000 acres and is only 28% contained. The snow is expected to be a huge help to the firefighting effort.

Read the full story HERE.

A defense attorney and judge indicated Wednesday that a 24-year-old man accused of bludgeoning his mother to death in January is sane enough to face prosecution.

Israel Melvin was charged Jan. 10 with one count of second-degree murder after police found his mother dead on the floor of her home with severe trauma to the back of her head and her body covered by gasoline-soaked blankets. Cowboy State Daily's Clair McFarland reports that after several failed competency tests, Melvin's public defender says his client is now sane enough to face trial.

"Brandon Booth, the defender was clear, like, I'm not asking for a second opinion. He's doing well. He's understanding me. We can probably handle this, signaling that that Israel Melvin is competent to participate in this prosecution and to face trial."

The judge did not make a ruling Wednesday on whether Melvin is competent to face trial, but Booth's characterization of Melvin's improved state indicates that Melvin will be found competent to fight the murder charge of murder.

Read the full story HERE.

If a certain Wyoming mule deer doe could talk, she'd have an incredible survival story to tell about how she just barely escaped the catastrophic Elk Fire.

Cowboy State Daily's Mark Heinz says not only does she have the burn marks to prove it, the doe also managed to get her 5-6 month-old twin fawns out, unscathed.

"I talked to a gentleman who has some rural property there, outs