CASPER,Wyo.(AP) – Three proposed wind farms inWyomingare among the projects that the Bureau of Land Management plans to fast-track nationally.      One is the 1,000-turbine Chokecherry and Sierra Madre Wind Energy project south of Rawlins, proposed by the Denver-based Anschutz Corp. The Casper Star-Tribune (http://bit.ly/skkXh1) reported Wednesday that it’s the largest on BLM’s priority list for 2012.      The otherWyomingprojects are the 25-turbine Sand Hills Farm Project northwest ofLaramieand theWhite Mountainproject northwest ofRock Springs. That farm could have up to 240 turbines.      The projects were previously listed as priorities by the state BLM office.      The new national list also includes projects inArizona,Nevada andCalifornia. … Read entire article »

TULSA,Okla.(AP) – Horses could soon be butchered in theU.S. for human consumption after Congress quietly lifted a ban on funding horse meat inspections.      Pro-slaughter activists estimate a slaughterhouse could open in 30 to 90 days with state approval. The meat would be shipped to Europe orAsia.      United Horsemen President Dave Duquette says no site has been picked yet but he’s lined up plenty of investors who have expressed interest in financing an American-owned slaughterhouse.      Congress cut off funding for horse meat inspections in 2006 but lifted the ban earlier this month after a federal report found more horses had been neglected and abandoned since the economic downturn started.      Wayne Pacelle of The Humane Society of theUnited Stateswarns there’ll be a big outcry “over slaughtering Trigger and Mr. Ed.” … Read entire article »

LARAMIE,Wyo.(AP) – Fall commencement ceremonies at the UniversityofWyomingwill be held Thursday through Saturday.      The multicultural graduation celebration will be at 3:30 p.m. Thursday in theWyomingUnionYellowstoneBallroom.      On Friday at 4 p.m., theCollegeofArtsand Sciences will hold its program, along with a ceremony forCollegeofAgricultureand Natural Resources graduates, in the Arts and Sciences auditorium.      Also on Friday, theCollegeofEngineeringand Applied Science will hold its program at 7:30 p.m. in the Arts and Sciences auditorium.      TheCollegeofBusinesswill hold its ceremony on Saturday at 10 a.m. in the Arts and Sciences auditorium. At the same time, the CollegeofHealth Sciencesprogram will be held in theWyoming UnionYellowstoneBallroom. … Read entire article »

JACKSON,Wyo.(AP) – Jackson Hole Mountain Resort is joining the list of ski areas requiring employees to wear helmets.      A resort spokesman told the Jackson Hole Daily (http://bit.ly/u65plu) that the reaction to the new rule has mostly been positive and that newer helmets are lighter and make it easier to hear than older versions.      In 2009,Jackson Holeski patroller Kathryn Miller died of head injuries following a fall in a steep chute in the Rendezvous Mountain area. She wasn’t wearing a helmet and theWyoming Department of Employment cited the resort for failing to protect her.      Earlier this year, Aspen Skiing Co. announced all of its on-duty employees would have to wear helmets while riding any of its four ski areas.      Vail Resorts has required employees to wear helmets while skiing since 2009. … Read entire article »

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) – TheWyomingDepartment of Health is encouraging people to take advantage of free HIV testing available at family planning clinics and public health offices throughout the state.      The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 20 percent of the people who are positive for HIV don’t know that they have it.      Rob Johnston is HIV prevention coordinator for theWyoming Department of Health. He says the CDC reports that more than half of people between the ages of 18 and 64 have never been tested for the HIV virus.      Of those who test positive,Johnstonsaid one third are tested too late to get the full benefit of treatment that could help to prevent or delay the development of AIDS. … Read entire article »

CHEYENNE,Wyo.(AP) -Wyominghas seen an increase in the number of exemptions it grants for required vaccines in children aged 4, 5 and 6 over the last five years.      In 2010, the state granted 168 exemptions, which represents about 2.2 percent of kindergartners that year.      In 2006, the state granted 54 exemptions at those ages, or about 0.8 percent of kindergartners.      In 2010,Wyomingadded vaccinations for chickenpox and a booster shot against tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough to the list of required shots for students.      An Associated Press analysis found more than half of states have seen a rise in the rate of exemptions over the past five years. States with the highest exemption rates are in the West and Upper Midwest.     Wyominggrants exemptions for medical and religious reasons. … Read entire article »

CODY, Wyo. (AP) – A chocolate Lab named “Rampage” is being considered a deadly weapon in Cody, where a man faces an aggravated assault charge for allegedly commanding the pup to attack aWyoming park ranger.      The Powell Tribune reports that aBuffaloBill State Park ranger was cut and bruised by Rampage in September when the ranger tried to interview 31-year-old dog owner Benjamin B. Daniels. Daniels allegedly smelled of alcohol and was trying to drive his Jeep out of a muddy patch.      Daniels allegedly yelled “Get him, Rampage,” and the dog attacked. Another ranger used pepper spray on Daniels and handcuffed him.      At the time, Daniels was free on bond on an unrelated charge. Daniels is being held on that charge and has pleaded not guilty to the dog-related assault. … Read entire article »

CHEYENNE,Wyo.(AP) – Officials say a cloud seeding research project inWyomingneeds two more years and another $2.4 million to be considered scientifically complete.      The state has invested about $11 million in the project since 2005. The project seeks to determine whether cloud seeding increases the amount of snowpack in severalWyomingmountain ranges.      Supporters of the project say increasing the state’s winter snowpack would provide more water for communities and irrigation and would be cheaper than building new dams and reservoirs.      Barry Lawrence, of the Wyoming Water Development Office, says the state Water Commission and Legislature must approve the request to extend the research project to March 2014.      State Republican Sen. Gerald Geis, of Worland, says it’s worthwhile for the state to see the effort completed. … Read entire article »