FARMINGTON, N.M. (AP) – Underground coal mine rescue teams from across the West are gathered in Farmington, N.M., for a three-day safety competition.      More than 250 mine rescue workers who staff 11 underground mines in New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming and Montana are participating.      The Colorado Mine Rescue Association organized and is hosting the competition. Eight-person teams are tested on mine rescue scenarios, first aid and other specialized mine safety skills.      Those participating say it helps sharpen the skills of the rescue teams by giving them real-life scenarios about what can happen deep underground, especially in light of the recent coal mine explosion disaster in West Virginia.      —      Information from: The Daily Times, http://www.daily-times.com      (Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.) … Read entire article »

     POWELL, Wyo. (AP) – Students at Powell’s Northwest College will be fasting to raise money for hospital patients in Africa.      The students will begin a 30-hour fast at noon Friday as part of the “Starving for a Nation” initiative to raise money for hospital patients in Dondo, Mozambique. The students will also knock on doors Friday and Saturday to raise money and accept food donations for Powell Valley Loaves and Fishes.      The students participating in the fast are part of the Campus Ventures group.      —      Information from: Powell Tribune – Powell, http://www.powelltribune.com … Read entire article »

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) – A General Electric executive says a $100 million facility to be built in Cheyenne could open up a range of new uses for Wyoming coal.      The purpose of the High Plains Gasification-Advanced Technology Center will be to find out the best ways to turn Wyoming coal into a synthetic gas. The gas could then be used to make other products or burned to produce electricity.      Keith White with GE spoke about the project Thursday in Cheyenne. White says coal-to-gas technology already is proven, but coal from the Powder River Basin is challenging to turn into gas because of its high moisture content.      The research facility is a joint project of GE and the University of Wyoming. Construction is expected to begin next year. … Read entire article »

GILLETTE, Wyo. (AP) – The Campbell County Sheriff’s office is beginning to record interviews with suspects, victims, and witnesses after being criticized for not doing so in the past.      The sheriff’s office says the decision to begin taping the interviews last week is a response to the 2008 acquittal of a woman on molestation charges because she claimed that her alleged confession was coerced. Defense attorneys in other cases had also criticized sheriff’s investigators for not recording interviews.      The Gillete News-Record says Campbell County was the only sheriff’s department in the state that didn’t record its interviews with suspects at least some of the time.      The video system installed in the sheriff’s department’s four interview rooms cost $15,000.      —      Information from: The Gillette News Record – Gillette, http://www.gillettenewsrecord.com … Read entire article »

CENTENNIAL, Colo. (AP) – A Wyoming man faces life in prison after being convicted of killing his roommate in Colorado last year.      Prosecutors say 22-year-old Corey Ray Albat shot his friend over an argument involving a $250 debt. Albat’s defense attorneys argued he feared for his life and the shooting was self-defense.      Arapahoe County jurors deliberated for about a day and a half before convicting Albat of first-degree murder in the death of 23-year-old Kyle Lathrop, also from Wyoming. The pair had driven from Rock Springs, Wyo., to Aurora a few days before the shooting. Prosecutors say both were in Lathrop’s BMW when the shooting happened.      Albat is scheduled to be sentenced June 25.      —      Information from: The Aurora Sentinel, http://www.aurorasentinel.com/ … Read entire article »

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) – Shelters and emergency programs in Laramie County are receiving $40,000 from the federal government to distribute to non-profits.      County groups have until May 14 to apply for the funding, which is meant to increase capacity at shelters and expand food programs. Non-profits with the highest need will be chosen to receive the funding.      Laramie County agencies have recently provided more than 10,000 meals and 650 nights of lodging for people in need.      —      Information from: KGWN-TV, http://www.kgwn.tv/ … Read entire article »

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) – Wyoming’s participation rate in the census so far is four percentage points lower than the rest of the country.      Census officials say Wyoming’s mail participation rate is 68 percent but that the figure can improve in the coming weeks as workers go knocking on doors to check with the households that did not respond. The census has hired about 600 workers in 11 counties in southern Wyoming to start going to more than 48,000 homes beginning Saturday.      Wyoming’s final participation rate in 2000 was 72 percent.      Census spokesman Doug Wayland says a distrust of the government and the debate on immigration and health care may be contributing to lower participation rates in some areas.      —      Information from: Wyoming Tribune Eagle – Cheyenne, http://www.wyomingnews.com … Read entire article »

POWELL, Wyo. (AP) – The new Powell Aquatic Center is scheduled to open in early May.      The center includes a leisure pool and a 12-foot deep, eight-lane pool.      Construction on the pool began in late 2008. The estimated total cost of the aquatic center’s construction is $10.3 million.      Voters approved a capital-facilities tax in 2006 that provided $7 million for the pool’s construction and more than $1 million in overages. The project also is funded through a State Loan and Investment Board grant and contributions.      —      Information from: Powell Tribune – Powell, http://www.powelltribune.com … Read entire article »