Episode Details

It's time to take a look at what's happening around Wyoming, for Tuesday, April 1st. I'm Wendy Corr, bringing you headlines from the Cowboy State Daily newsroom - Brought to you by the Cowboy State Daily Morning Show! From 6 to 10 a.m., Monday through Friday, we bring you news, weather, sports AND in-depth interviews with news-makers from across Wyoming - and this week we've got a fantastic guest host, Charene Herrera, who will keep the conversation lively! Just click on the Cowboy State Daily homepage to join in.

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Wyoming may have lost a legend with the death of former U.S. Senator Al Simpson, but the 6-foot, 7-inch man who stood larger than life is surely not forgotten.

Simpson died March 14 at the age of 93. On Monday, Simpson's family and friends gathered at Christ Episcopal Church in Cody for his funeral service, the final event in a series of honors that started at the state Capitol last week. Cowboy State Daily's Leo Wolfson was at the service.

"What really struck me was kind of the range of emotions that we saw, everything from laughs, tears, points of inspiration, uplifting things, kind of little, little sand anecdotes, just fascinating stories, hilarious one liners and quips… I found Pete Simpson Al's brothers speech probably the most emotional… it was kind of that brotherly connection, and it brought me to tears, for sure, especially when he said that, you know, I'll see you soon. I think that was extremely moving… I think it just truly encompassed his life, and it was a wonderful send off."

In addition to Simpson's family, around 150 of his closest friends were also in the audience, including U.S. Sens. John Barrasso and Cynthia Lummis, Gov. Mark Gordon, Yellowstone National Park Superintendent Cam Sholly, and University of Wyoming President Ed Seidel. Country music star Clint Black was also in attendance, and sang a song in Simpson's honor.

Read the full story HERE.

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18-year-old WyoTech student Riggin Schaffer checked in with his mother Stephanie on Sunday, March 23rd at around 7 p.m., and told her he was in for the night.

But the young man's plans changed - just a few hours later, Schaffer was killed in a tragic accident 30 miles away from his apartment in Laramie, helping a stranded motorist on Highway 130.

Cowboy State Daily's David Madison spoke to Schaffer's family about the details surrounding the young man's death.

"According to what the Highway Patrol told the family, Riggan was out on this road at 1030 at night on a Sunday, helping another 18 year old who apparently had crashed their car and was stuck perpendicular, blocking one lane of traffic when a 50 something year old motorist came upon the scene and tragically crashed into the crash site, and so Reagan was standing right there and took the blow and died instantly. The other 18 year old was reportedly taken to the hospital as well. The driver of the car who came upon the scene apparently was not injured, but it's a really sad situation, and in talking to the family, it was in keeping with Riggin's character. He was always looking to lend a hand. It was part of his personality to go out of his way for people he just met."

The Wyoming Highway Patrol has not released details about the incident and the drivers involved, but the family was told it is being investigated as two separate crashes.