CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) – Kid Rock and Sheryl Crow are headlining the opening night concert at Cheyenne Frontier Days this summer.      The Wyoming Eagle Tribune reported Friday that Crow agreed to open for Rock on July 22 after extended negotiations with Frontier Days officials.      Rock and Crow have released two singles together, “Picture” and “Collide.” They also released a video version of “Collide,” which has been nominated for the CMT Music Awards best collaborative video.      Their contracts call for separate acts at Frontier Days, but rodeo officials say they hope they’ll appear together at some point.      This year’s other concerts offer a mixed bag of performers from Motley Crue and Sick Puppies to Toby Keith and the Charlie Daniels Band.      The rodeo, which started in 1897, is dubbed the “Daddy of ‘em All.” … Read entire article »

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) – Environmentalists are asking regulators to consider slowing down the pace of gas drilling in western Wyoming after several days of severe ozone pollution last winter.      Ozone levels in the Upper Green River Basin topped the highest levels in Los Angeles all last year. The ozone results from air pollution from gas drilling, which has picked up with the reviving economy.      Groups including the Wyoming Outdoor Council and Upper Green River Alliance are asking the U.S. Bureau of Land Management to take action including looking at slowing down gas development.      The BLM says a slowdown would be a last resort under the plans that guide drilling.      State regulators are meanwhile looking for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to set lower national limits for ozone pollution within the next few months. … Read entire article »

SALEM, Ore. (AP) – The Oregon Public Utility Commission has cleared the way for NW Natural to enter a joint venture to develop gas fields in Wyoming.      Under the terms of the deal, NW Natural will invest $251 million over five years in return for natural gas for its customers over the next 30 years.      The commission’s decision Thursday approved a settlement it reached with NW Natural, the Citizens’ Utility Board and Northwest Industrial Gas Users.      The commission and the parties to the settlement agreed it offers likely customer benefits of price savings and natural gas price stability over the term of the agreement.      NW Natural says it expects enough natural gas from the fields during the first 10 years to meet 8 percent to 10 percent of its customer needs each year. … Read entire article »

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) – Sen. John Barrasso says the Obama administration is undertaking another power grab with it proposed new guidelines on streams, wetlands and other sensitive waterways.      Administration officials said the goal of the guidelines is to clarify which waters are subject to federal regulation under the 1972 Clean Water Act.      But Barrasso says in a news release that the Environmental Protection Agency is enacting an agenda based on control instead of common sense.      The Wyoming Republican says the EPA’s intends to regulate even the smallest bodies of water, including mudflats, wetlands, sloughs, prairie potholes and natural ponds.      He says responsible landowners and states should have authority over the smaller water areas.      EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers said the plan would not take effect until after a 60-day public comment period. … Read entire article »

POWELL, Wyo. (AP) – Park County and two of its cities have agreed to give the town of Meeteetse a bigger cut of state money so it can buy a much-needed garbage truck.      The Powell Tribune reported Thursday that officials from the county and from Powell and Cody agreed to let Meeteetse have $130,000. It’s part of nearly $1.7 million the county and its municipalities are getting from the State Loan and Investment Board.      It wasn’t immediately clear what Meeteetse’s share would have been based on population.      The county will get about $661,000, Cody about $523,000 and Powell about $347,000.      Meeteetse hauls its garbage 27 miles to a county landfill, and its existing truck has required extensive repairs. It was out of service for three weeks, forcing Meeteetse to borrow a truck from Cody. … Read entire article »