CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) – A report on crimes on or near the University of Wyoming shows fewer sex offenses and burglaries in 2009 on the Laramie campus, but liquor and drug arrests were higher.      The UW Police Department compiles a crime report annually.      Reported sexual offenses, which include rape, dropped to one in 2009, down from two in 2008 and four in 2007. Burglaries fell from 41 in 2008 to 26 in 2009. There were 20 burglaries in 2007.      There were no hate crimes recorded on campus during the three-year period.      However, arrests for liquor violations jumped to 265 in 2009, compared to 159 in 2008 and 221 in 2007.      Drug arrests increased from 13 in 2008 to 32 in 2009. There were 22 such arrests in 2007. … Read entire article »

HELENA, Mont. (AP) – Supporters of a $3.4 billion government settlement with American Indians will have to keep waiting.      The U.S. Senate is scheduled to adjourn Wednesday without giving the Obama administration the authority to settle a class-action lawsuit filed in 1996 by Elouise Cobell of Browning, Mont. The suit accuses the federal government of mismanaging billions of dollars held in trust for Indian landowners.      The Senate will reconvene for a lame-duck session Nov. 15. Cobell says no decision has been made on whether to press for Senate approval in that session.      The House has approved the settlement twice since May.      Cobell says the Senate’s inaction is a great disappointment. She says the plaintiffs believe a majority of senators support the settlement and that even their critics say it’s time to end the 14-year-old lawsuit. … Read entire article »

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) – U.S. Rep. Cynthia Lummis is seeking to stop the federal government from interfering with the legal importation of surplus collectable U.S. made firearms from South Korea.      The Wyoming Republican has joined with Indiana Democratic Rep. Joe Donnelly in introducing a bill called the Collectable Firearms Protection Act.      Lummis’ office says the Obama administration is using the State Department to prevent the importation and sale of collectible, American-made M1 Garand rifles and M1 carbines from South Korea to U.S. citizens.      Lummis says such firearms transactions are already regulated by the Justice Department.      The proposed bill remove the State Department and the Defense Department from the regulatory process. … Read entire article »

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) – Federal and Cheyenne officials have signed an agreement aimed at ensuring that people with disabilities have access to a city arena.      The Department of Justice said Wednesday that the agreement will improve access to the arena, which hosts ice sports, concerts and other events. The department says the city has agreed to make changes so that parking, locker rooms, bathrooms, drinking fountains, game areas and routes to entrances are easily accessible.      Modifications will include an accessible elevator, wheelchair seating in various locations and the ability to buy tickets for wheelchair and companion seating areas. Federal officials say Cheyenne began working to resolve the issues after acquiring the arena in 2008.      The Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities by governments. … Read entire article »

BOZEMAN, Mont. (AP) – Researchers have found what was believed to be a very simple Yellowstone Lake ecosystem actually contains thousands of species far below the surface.      Montana State University researchers recently discovered a colony of moss, shrimp and aquatic worms centered around a geothermal vent about 100 feet below the surface.      John Varley, head of MSU’s Big Sky Institute, said Tuesday the discovery reveals a greater diversity of life than what was previously thought to exist in the frigid lake whose inflow is mostly made up of snowmelt.      Few of the 600 geothermal features on the lake’s floor have been explored.      Varley says this is just the beginning of research into the different types of habitats that may exist in Yellowstone Lake. … Read entire article »

GILLETTE, Wyo. (AP) – Police in Gillette say DNA evidence has led to the arrest of a suspect in a 20-year-old rape case.      The Gillette News-Record reports that the 60-year-old man was arrested Monday. His name won’t be released until a judge decides whether there is enough evidence to proceed to a trial.      The man is accused of breaking into a home in the middle of the night in May 1990 and raping a 26-year-old woman.      Under a law that took effect in 2007, people convicted of certain crimes are required to submit DNA samples. Earlier this month, the state crime laboratory notified Gillette police that DNA taken from the scene in 1990 matched a man listed in the state’s database.      It’s believed to be the first DNA-related arrest in a cold case in Gillette.      —      Information from: The … Read entire article »

CODY, Wyo. (AP) – The Wyoming Game and Fish Department has trapped and relocated another grizzly bear in the northwest part of the state.      The agency says it moved an adult female grizzly bear last Friday because it was damaging apple trees on private land near Cody. Game and Fish also had captured an adult female grizzly bear and her two yearling cubs near Cody last week for the same reason.      The bear caught Friday was relocated to the Blackrock Creek drainage area about 21 miles east of Moran.      The release site is located within currently occupied grizzly bear habitat. … Read entire article »

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) – The “Fire Pelosi” bus is coming to Cheyenne.      Wyoming Republican Party head Ryan Taylor says Republican gubernatorial candidate Matt Mead and Max Maxfield, who is seeking re-election as secretary of state, will be at the “Fire Pelosi” bus this evening.      Taylor says the national Republican bus tour sends a message that Democrat Nancy Pelosi shouldn’t be House speaker any more and should be replaced by Republican House Leader John Boehner.      Taylor says Republicans have a plan to create jobs and put things “back on track.”      The executive director of the Wyoming Democratic Party, Bill Luckett, begs to differ. Luckett says it’s too bad Republicans “drone on” about Pelosi and don’t devote more time to Wyoming issues like worker safety and improving education. … Read entire article »

JACKSON, Wyo. (AP) – Dignitaries from around Wyoming are traveling to Jackson for a robing ceremony to honor a new circuit court judge.      Wednesday’s event is for new Circuit Court Judge James Radda. Gov. Dave Freudenthal recently appointed Radda to the court.      Radda replaces Judge Timothy Day on the Circuit Court. Day recently became a district court judge.      Freudenthal as well as Wyoming Supreme Court justices are scheduled to attend Radda’s robing ceremony.      The Jackson Hole News & Guide reports that Wyoming Supreme Court Chief Justice Marilyn Kite is scheduled to administer the oath of office.      —      Information from: Jackson Hole News And Guide, http://www.jhnewsandguide.com … Read entire article »