It’s time to take a look at what’s happening around Wyoming for Wednesday, October 22nd.  Bringing you headlines from the Cowboy State Daily news center, I’m Mac Watson.  “Brought to you by the Wyoming Business Council. Wyoming youth are our future, but they're leaving the state at ALMOST TWICE the national average. What would bring them back home? Share your bold ideas with the Wyoming Business Council at wbc dot P U B forward slash story."

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The Wyoming Capitol building was evacuated and locked down on Tuesday. Cowboy State Daily’s Jackson Walker reports what authorities found.

“Authorities from Wyoming Highway Patrol told Cowboy State daily that they encountered what they suspected of being an IED or an improvised explosive device. Now, out of precaution, they evacuated the Capitol and they placed the surrounding Herschler buildings on a Shelter-In-Place warning. Now currently where I am, the front of the Capitol here is roped off, and it looks as though there are some crews examining the front steps of the cap.”

In addition to the Wyoming Highway Patrol, agencies responding included the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation, Laramie County Sheriff’s Office and a joint bomb squad operated by the LCSO and Cheyenne Police Department. The investigation is on-going.

Read the full story HERE.

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A hunter shot and killed a grizzly in self-defense in the Island Park, Idaho, area, south of Yellowstone National Park early Saturday. Cowboy State Daily’s Mark Heinz reports this isn’t an isolated incident.

“This is the third year in a row that's happened in this area. The other now, this attack, you know, was Saturday, you know, middle of October. The other two in 2024 and in 2023 both times on September 1. Bears, same thing. Grizzly charged hunters and was shot and killed…I talked to a grizzly bear conflict specialist…she said…this sort of thing happens during hunting season.”

The hunter was cleared of any wrongdoing by the agency. Wyoming Game and Fish tells Cowboy State Daily that hunters should always be “bear aware” when hunting.  Always carry and know how to deploy bear spray or have a firearm in case of an attack.

Read the full story HERE.

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After the Weston County clerk failed to show for a Wyoming legislative committee’s subpoena, the panel chair on Tuesday said he would seek a court order compelling her to testify at a later meeting. Cowboy State Daily’s Clair McFarland reports Weston County Clerk Becky Hadlock did not appear for the Sept. 29 meeting — even though she was subpoenaed — of a legislative subcommittee tasked with investigating her office’s mishandling of two races in the 2024 general election.

“So back in July, the management audit committee subpoenaed Becky had locked saying they wanted to hear testimony from her about the botched 2024 election in Weston County, and in September, for the subcommittee's actual meeting where she was supposed to show she didn't so she could potentially face criminal penalties. That's still pending. But then the management audit committee met again Tuesday, and they were like, Okay, so next step is, we're gonna call for a court order to compel her appearance.”

If the Natrona County District Attorney’s Office prosecutes Hadlock and she’s convicted, she could face up to six months in jail and $100 in fines.

Read the full story HERE.

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A Cody man accused of stalking his ex-wife and hoarding homemade explosives has pleaded guilty to two federal firearm charges in a plea deal. Cowboy State Daily’s Scott Schwebke reports Randall Bailey faces sentencing in January on weapons charges.

“ In 2024 he violated a protective order, he went to his wife's vehicle and took some items out, and when the police searched his house, they recovered a cache of 30 weapons, two pipe bombs and some other items, like a silencer was on a handgun. So he was first charged locally with some charges, but then the Fed stepped in and charged him with a bunch of weapons violations, and last week…they had to call the bomb squad out to take the two pipe bombs away.”

State charges are on hold as Bailey was indicted by a federal grand jury in July. He is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 6, 2026, in Casper.

Read the full story HERE.

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I’ll be back with more news, right after this

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Over 800 full-time Wyoming National Guard employees are working for free under the federal government shutdown. Cowboy State Daily’s Clair McFarland reports that they are entitled to back pay, but nobody knows when that will be.

“The adjutant general testified on Monday like there's no end in sight. We don't know, and he also testified that this is in addition to other funding woes, such as the continuing resolution cut back on army funds, prompting a hiring freeze. And also, if the military budget bill passes in accordance with Trump's budget, they'll actually continue to see they'll be nine more positions short, in addition to the 66 there they've already frozen out.”

Maj. Gen. Gregory Porter, Wyoming National Guard adjutant general told the legislative Transportation, Highways, and Military Affairs Committee during its meeting in Cheyenne,  that he had excepted all those employees from being furloughed, keeping them at work because all the duties they perform are deemed “essential.”

Read the full story HERE.

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Rural Cheyenne residents say they’re fed up with drivers taking out their mailboxes. Cowboy State Daily’s Renee Jean reports that taking out a mailbox can have serious consequences for the drivers who leave the scene.

“That's actually, that's on the books, is a crime…you're leaving the scene

of an accident and you're leaving the homeowner with a problem because they're gonna have to replace their mailbox. Probably costs 100 bucks a pop.

Residents tell Cowboy State Daily that it’s not just a prank, but people who aren’t navigating the stretch of road correctly in that area and slam into the boxes. In fact, one resident says even a mail truck has taken out her mailbox. 

Read the full story HERE.

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And that’s today’s news. Get your free digital subscription to Wyoming's only statewide newspaper by hitting the Daily Newsletter button on Cowboy State Daily Dot Com - and you can watch this newscast every day by clicking Subscribe on our YouTube channel, or listen to us on your favorite podcast app.  Thanks for watching - I’m Mac Watson, for Cowboy State Daily.