CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Cap City News has reported on a considerable amount of news relating to crime, city government, business and education over the past year. With 2024 coming to a close, we’re looking back to see what stories received the highest attention from readers.
The following Top 10 list comprises the local news stories that had the most pageviews for the past year. This list does not include the following:
- Obituaries
- Arrest lists
- Closure lists
- Health inspection reports
- Stories from partner organizations such as WyoFile
This ranking also omits category pages, such as Cap City News’s “latest news” section or the website’s homepage, which had around 815,000 pageviews on its own. The stories listed below each received more than 8,000 pageviews by themselves.
Top 10 of 2024
No. 10
In an August weather report that also served as a public safety notice, crime and courts reporter Stew Dyer reported on Cheyenne’s sudden unhealthy air quality levels. At the time of the report, the city’s AQI was hovering around 160. An AQI range of 151–200 poses a threat to public safety, especially for at-risk individuals, Dyer reported.
The decreased air quality was caused by summer wildfires that ravaged parts of northern and western Wyoming. The Aug. 22 report was titled “Air quality in Cheyenne reaches unhealthy levels; caution urged for all.”
No. 9
Reporter Stew Dyer wrote about the outcome of a legal dispute between a former employee and pet clinic that ended in the employee’s favor. The employee sued Cheyenne Pet Clinic for discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and violating Title VII. Following a trial, the jury sided with the employee and the court awarded her $500,000 in damages.
Dyer further outlines details of the case in his Feb. 16 article “Cheyenne Pet Clinic loses Title VII lawsuit to former employee over hostile work environment.”
No. 8
Cap City News shared news in August from the county sheriff’s office regarding wildlife carcasses being deliberately placed on multiple occasions. The office urged members of the public to report any suspicious activity that may be linked to these incidents to Cheyenne Animal Control.
The sheriff’s office made the public announcement in response to at least six reports of carcasses being neatly arranged on South Greeley Highway and East Nation Road. The bodies had been intact and displayed no signs of injury or blood trails. The authorities affirm in the report that anyone who deliberately places an animal carcass in such a manner is violating state statute.
The report from Aug. 21 was titled “Cheyenne residents urged to report suspicious activity after carcass incidents.”
No. 7
In November, the Wyoming School Facilities Commission decided to close eight elementary schools in Laramie County School District 1 despite fierce parental opposition. As part of their decision, the commission also approved improvements to several other local schools, including replacements of some facilities.
The Wyoming State School Facilities Division coordinated with an outside contracting firm to produce a most cost-effective remedy, or MCER, study to opt into closing eight schools. The division then presented its findings and offered its recommendation at public meetings Nov. 6 and 7. The SFC voted in favor of the division’s report.
Community reporter Jared Gendron’s Nov. 7 article was titled “Eight Cheyenne schools to close, commissioners decide; two new schools to be built in South, East triads.”
No. 6
At the time of publication, Cap City News’s sixth most-read story is also the most recent published report on this Top 10 list.
Reporter Stew Dyer published a story on the sentencing of a Nebraska man who received three months in jail for his fourth DUI conviction. The 27-year-old man pleaded guilty to the felony as part of a plea agreement with prosecutors. As part of the agreement, he received 90 days in jail and probation.
The man was initially charged in January after driving on Wyoming Highway 215 and crashing his vehicle. Emergency responders detected the odor of alcohol on the man. A later search of the vehicle showed that the man had an open container of alcohol.
The crime report was published Dec. 28 and was titled “Nebraska man gets 90 days, probation for fourth DUI.”
No. 5
The fifth most-read story of the year centers around a shooting that occurred in late May. Reporter Tommy Culkin reported on an early morning shooting on May 23 that left one person dead and another injured on King Court in Cheyenne. The shooting allegedly stemmed from an argument between the crime suspect and victim at a local bar.
Police officers arrested a 23-year-old man and charged him with one count of first-degree murder and one count of aggravated assault.
The March 23 report was titled “One dead, one in custody following early morning shooting.”
No. 4
Reporter Stew Dyer wrote about routine traffic stop that pivoted to a full-out livestock investigation. In his February report, deputies stopped a vehicle carrying a cattle hauler on U.S. Highway 85 for driving over the speed limit. Instead of receiving a speeding citation, authorities seized 39 cows from the driver.
During the traffic stop, Laramie County deputies noticed discrepancies in cattle branding. An investigation ensued that involved the Wyoming Brand Inspector and Wyoming Highway Patrol. The authorities found unsafe conditions within the truck, as well as other evidence that the driver lacked a commercial driver’s license, insurance or vehicle registration.
The Feb. 7 report was titled “Speeding cattle truck leads to livestock investigation and seizure in Laramie County.”
No. 3
Reporter Tommy Culkin published an article in February about a head-on collision leaving three people dead. News of the three-vehicle wreck came from the Wyoming Highway Patrol. The collision occurred on Highway 130 near the 8.5 mile marker. Three separate people were injured in the incident, while one person involved was not injured.
The article from Feb. 19 was titled “Head-on collision kills three, injures multiple others.”
No. 2
Cap City News shared news that Gov. Mark Gordon ordered the state flag to be flown at half-staff July 27. The order applied to flags at the State Capitol Building and in Goshen, Niobrara and Platte counties. The order was meant to honor Russell Zimmer, who had passed away earlier that month. Zimmer served in the Wyoming House of Representatives from 1973 to 1976 and in the Wyoming Senate from 1977 to 1992.
The article was published July 25 and was titled “Governor orders Wyoming flag to be flown at half-staff July 27.”
No. 1
Cap City News’s most-read story of the year happens to be one of the most recent on this list. It also received more pageviews than Cap City News’s homepage during the week it was published.
Jared Gendron’s story details local parents’ efforts to contest the Wyoming School Facilities Commission’s decision to close eight historic Cheyenne schools. Two parents filed a lawsuit in Laramie County District Court in early December to argue that the commission’s action is “arbitrary and capricious in nature.” The article features comments from parents who pushed back at multiple public meetings on the state’s decision and pointed out flaws in the state’s decision-making process that led to them choosing to shutter the schools.
This story serves as a continuation of the report at seventh place on this Top 10 list.
The story, published Dec. 12, is titled “‘We didn’t want to have to do this’: Cheyenne parents file lawsuit against state’s decision to shutter 8 elementary schools.”
