Episode Details

It's time to take a look at what's happening around Wyoming for Thursday, August 21st. I'm Wendy Corr, bringing you headlines from the Cowboy State Daily newsroom - Brought to you by the Converse County Tourism Promotion Board! Discover Douglas and Glenrock in beautiful Wyoming, where rich history, outdoor adventure, and welcoming communities await. Feel the Energy of Converse County at www.ConverseCountyTourism.com.

–

A Sublette County grand jury on Wednesday greenlit the indictment of Daniel man Cody Roberts for cruelty to animals, a felony punishable by up to two years in prison and a fine of $5,000.

Roberts ran over a wolf with a snowmobile, brought it muzzled into a bar, then shot it in February 2024, according to videos and witness interviews. Although Roberts paid $250 last March toward a citation for violating Wyoming Game and Fish regulations against possessing wildlife, Cowboy State Daily's Clair McFarland reports that he can still be charged with a different law for the same conduct — under certain criteria.

"A judge has to be satisfied that the elements of the crime with which he's now charged are different from the elements underpinning that citation… we actually see that the legal world quite a lot. And in the case of Cody Roberts, the grand jury met the final or the second and third week of August, and they ended by issuing a true bill, which is a green light for an indictment on felony animal cruelty, which is punishable by up to two years in prison."

The incident with the wolf exploded into international headlines, sparking outrage across the globe from sportsmen and animal rights activists alike; and it put both the Wyoming Game and Fish Department and Wyoming's wildlife management laws under scrutiny.

Read the full story HERE.

–

At nearly 120,000 acres and 28% contained, the Red Canyon Fire burning about 11 miles east of Thermopolis has been out of control and challenging to fight since it was ignited by lightning Aug. 13.

Cowboy State Daily's Greg Johnson reports that the next couple of days will be critical in trying to keep the wildfire in check as temperatures soar near triple digits and the fire makes its own erratic, dangerous weather.

"These wildfires, especially as they get larger, can, in a sense, create their own weather. And Don Day, our meteorologist, really explains it well… It's already hot outside. It's like nearing triple digits… So when it's already hot and dry out there, and then you have the heat from the fire, it just creates this little vortex… it's the same thing that creates a dust devil, only it pulls around the smoke and debris and stuff. And they could be really dangerous for people on the ground, for the air attacks. So it's not an insignificant thing, and there's been a lot of this spotted in the Red Canyon fire."

At close to 120,000 acres, the fire's total area is still growing, but at a much slower pace than several days ago when it exploded by tens of thousands of acres a day. It also remains a reported 28% contained, mostly along the fire's western and northern fronts.

Read the full story

Listen Now