GILLETTE, Wyo. (AP) – Several representatives ofRock Springs attended the National High School Finals Rodeo in Gillette last week to see how the operation worked.     Rock Springswill host the high school finals rodeo in 2012 and 2013.      Larry Lloyd, of the Sweetwater Events Complex inRock Springs, is in charge of managing a makeover at his complex inRock Springs to prepare for the event.      Lloyd tells the Gillette News Record that the Gillette accommodations were impressive with lots of folks and campers.      He and more than 14 representatives ofRock Springsvisited the trade show, measured arenas and camping spaces, reviewed security needs, looked over the stalls and talked to volunteers and visitors. … Read entire article »

WASHINGTON (AP) – The federal government is proposing for the first time to control air pollution at oil and gas wells, particularly those drilled using a method called hydraulic fracturing.      The proposal, issued Thursday to meet a court deadline, addresses air pollution problems reported in the midst of a natural gas drilling boom in places such asWyoming,Texas,Pennsylvania andColorado.      The regulations will nearly eliminate releases of smog- and soot-forming pollutants from fractured wells, those drilled by injecting sand, water and chemicals underground. New controls on equipment and transmission pipelines will reduce toxic and heat-trapping pollution from drilling sites on land.      The gases escape during drilling, along pipelines and from other equipment.      The EPA says the rules will save companies about $30 million annually. … Read entire article »

CHEYENNE,Wyo.(AP) – The state ofWyomingwill oppose a lawsuit filed by environmental groups trying to block the U.S. Bureau of Land Management from proceeding with a plan to round up and castrate hundreds of wild stallions.      The BLM plans gather nearly 900 wild horses in southwestern Wyomingstarting next month. The agency plans to castrate all the stallions it captures and release 177 of them back to the range.      The Western Watersheds Project and American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign and others filed the lawsuit inWashington, D.C., this week. They claim the roundup would violate federal law.      Renny MacKay is spokesman for Gov. Matt Mead. MacKay says Thursday that the state will intervene in the lawsuit to argue the roundup should proceed so an overpopulation of wild horses won’t hurt rangelands. … Read entire article »

BEND,Ore.(AP) – A natural gas pipeline that linksWyomingto Oregonis up and running after three years of construction.      Oregon Public Broadcasting reports the $3.5 billion Ruby Pipeline went online Thursday, running 680 miles from Opal,Wyo.to Malin,Ore.      The pipeline’s parent company, El Paso Corp., says the Ruby Pipeline is environmentally friendly, with emissions offset by carbon credits and other means.      The project had been the target of criticism from some environmental groups and ranchers during construction. ButEl Paso was able to settle the disputes with payments to trust accounts of the various groups.      A company spokesman says the Ruby Pipeline provides Rocky Mountain natural gas producers a pathway to move their gas to Californiaand thePacific Northwest. … Read entire article »

JACKSON,Wyo.(AP) – Jackson Hole Mountain Resort is increasing some of its ticket prices and reducing others.      The resort has announced that it will reduce itsGrandPass price from last year but will increase prices on its 10-day and weekend passes.      TheGrandPassoffers unlimited access to the entire mountain from Nov. 26 through April 8. It will cost $1,195 through August, which is slightly cheaper than last year’s August price of $1,255.      The price of a 10-day pass increased from $595 to $635. The weekend pass price jumped from $790 to $830.      The Jackson Hole News & Guide reports that the resort also is turning its 20-day pass into a 15-day pass.      The 20-day pass sold for $1,015 last year. The new 15-day pass will cost $945. … Read entire article »

DUBIOS, Wyo. (AP) – Smoke and ash coming from a wildfire burning in a wilderness area in northwestWyomingcould continue in the Big HornBasinuntil snow begins falling again.      Fire officials are mostly letting the fire, located 25 miles North of Dubois in the Washakie (WASH’-ah-kee) Wilderness, to burn in heavy downed and standing timber killed by beetles. It has covered over 14 square miles, nearly a week after lightning sparked it.      The fire is spreading farther into the wilderness but crews are monitoring it and will do burn outs if necessary. They want to prevent the fire from moving to the south.      Fire officials said that if the fire reaches some trigger points, they’ll make decisions about what to do next. … Read entire article »