Episode Details

It's time to take a look at what's happening around Wyoming for Friday, July 11th. I'm Wendy Corr, bringing you headlines from the Cowboy State Daily newsroom - Brought to you by Cheyenne Frontier Days. Ten days of rodeo thrills, Xtreme Bulls, live concerts, carnival rides, western heritage, and unforgettable cowboy spirit in Cheyenne, Wyoming! Don't miss the 129th Daddy of 'Em all July 18-27th.

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Wyoming entrepreneur Reid Rasner on Tuesday filed a lawsuit against a former state legislator for allegedly jeopardizing his "major business acquisition." He told Cowboy State Daily on Thursday that's a direct reference to his reported bid to buy TikTok, and other business ventures.

Rasner on Tuesday filed a defamation lawsuit in Laramie County District Court against former state Sen. Anthony Bouchard, a Republican from the Cheyenne area. Cowboy State Daily's Clair McFarland reports that Rasner's civil complaint alleges that Bouchard launched a, quote, "concerted and well-orchestrated attack" on Rasner.

"Bouchard was on Facebook in 2024 according to screenshots that we've received, talking like raisner had done some sexual misconduct while teaching drama courses at Casper College. And Rasner said, Okay, I was not an instructor. I was in some sort of a student outreach program, and did not do what he says I did. And where this takes a turn in the lawsuit is if you accuse someone of sexual abuse, it actually makes defamation a little easier to prove - on the flip side of that, if you're a public figure, as Bouchard can certainly argue and possibly prove Rasner is, it makes defamation harder to prove."

Rasner's other civil claims against Bouchard are tortious interference with a contract — a reference to Rasner's business endeavors — and negligent and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

Read the full story HERE.

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Wyoming Secretary of State Chuck Gray wants to know why the state isn't doing more to open export terminals for Wyoming coal, while Gov. Mark Gordon says his "all-of-the-above" energy policy is paying off.

An ongoing rift between the Cowboy State's top elected officials was evident Thursday when both appeared separately on the Cowboy State Daily Show with Jake Nichols.

Cowboy State Daily's David Madison reports that the two offered sharply different perspectives on how the state should capitalize on the Trump administration's pro-fossil fuel energy policies.

"The governor wants to see a West Coast port open. We were able to break some news today… some legal wrangling in Oakland, California has swung in the direction of some developers who want to create a new coal export port right there in the bay… the governor clearly has his eye on the ball when it comes to finding a way to export this stuff. Of course, he's not without his critics. One of the guests this morning was also Secretary of State Chuck Gray, who wants to see even more boosterism behind fossil fuels, and the governor sticking to his guns, he's saying, 'Nope, you know, all the above.'"

The political backdrop to the dueling interviews with Gordon and Gray remains the energy industry landscape, and the politics around it in Wyoming.

Read the full story HERE.

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