Episode Details

It's time to take a look at what's happening around Wyoming for Wednesday, May 6th. I'm Mac Watson.

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Hiker Craig Lerman was the first to find one of two victims of a grizzly bear attack near Old Faithful in Yellowstone on Monday after he stumbled on a bloody hat. Cowboy State Daily's Andrew Rossi reports that two victims were airlifted out of the park.

"We still don't have a lot of information in terms of what actually happened based on what was observed at the scene, and apparently, what Craig said was the conclusion of people at the scene. It was probably a mother grizzly defending her cub. Just these people were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Craig stayed with one of the victims for as long as he could. He called 911 on his own phone because the victim had actually managed to call 911, on his own phone, but it was covered with blood after the attack, and he stayed with that victim until the Rangers arrived, and then both he and the other victim were life flighted from the spot where they were attacked to the eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center where they're receiving treatment."

As of Tuesday afternoon, there's been no update from the Idaho Regional Medical Center on the status of the two victims.

Read the full story HERE.

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Donald Trump is a common theme in a recent blast of mass mailers from U.S. House candidates Chuck Gray, Reid Rasner and Steve Friess. Cowboy State Daily's Clair McFarland reports that the mailers all invoke Trump numerous times and describe how their values line up with the president's.

"These mass mailers are all pretty focused on President Donald Trump. It's no surprise for Wyoming, we outstripped the nation in voting for Trump three elections in a row, and we landed at about 72% in Trump's favor in the 2024 general election. So to call it Trump countries is certainly accurate, and we're seeing that play out in this campaign season."

Of the 10 contenders for the GOP nomination, at least three have dispatched mass mailers. Casper-based Army veteran Kevin Christensen told Cowboy State Daily he's put out mailers, but in localized batches and not as a statewide effort. Christensen's mailer, uniquely, doesn't mention Trump.

Read the full story HERE.

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Wyoming coal is getting an unexpected lift as rising electricity demand, driven in part by data centers. Cowboy State Daily's Kate Meadows reports that is forcing utilities to keep coal-fired power plants online longer than planned.

"This will benefit the coal industry in Wyoming, and especially in the Powder River Basin, because it creates an increase in production of coal. And the Powder River Basin is Wyoming's largest coal mine. Kyle Wentland, the deputy director of the Wyoming Energy Authority, says, right now, demand is outstripping supply. The Wyoming Energy Authority released a study in February on Wyoming coal. And according to that study, 40% of the annual US coal production comes from Wyoming."

Industry insiders tell Cowboy State Daily that the new energy demand is putting Wyoming's signature coal industry back into the conversation and is a good thing for the coal industry.

Read the full story HERE.

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The Powell City Council on Monday condemned Councilman Troy Bray's comment suggesting Wyoming start "hanging judges" in response to a judge halting an abortion ban. Cowb