CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — The Wyoming Department of Health reminds residents that smoke from wildfires can cause health concerns. Some areas of southeastern Wyoming area are seeing smoky air because of a fire burning northwest of Fort Collins, Colo. Dr. Tracy Murphy is epidemiologist at the Wyoming Department of Health. He says smoke can hurt people’s eyes, aggravate respiratory problems and worsen the symptoms of heart of lung disease. Murphy says people should use common sense when the air in their locality is smoky and avoid heavy outdoor exercise. … Read entire article »

CASPER, Wyo. (AP) — Casper police are investigating the deaths of two people after responding to a welfare check. Sgt. Deahn Amend said officers were surprised to find the bodies Thursday morning. According to KCWY-TV, police did not disclose where the bodies were found or the names of the two victims. … Read entire article »

(Cheyenne, Wyo.)   From May 21st thru June 4th law enforcement agencies will be participating in a national campaign to step up enforcement in the area of seat belt use. The Wyoming Highway Patrol will join other participating law enforcement agencies across the U.S. in a “Click It or Ticket May Mobilization” to crack down on all motorists breaking traffic laws with an emphasis on seat belt and child safety seat use. Wyoming statute requires all vehicle occupants to wear a seat belt.  If the passenger is a child who has not reached their ninth (9th) birthday the child must be secured in a properly installed restraint not in the front seat. … Read entire article »

RAWLINS, Wyo. (AP) — The Wyoming Supreme Court has denied the appeal of a Rawlins man sentenced to life in prison for attempted murder. Twenty-five-year-old Timothy Kramer was convicted of shooting Steven Devore in 2009. They had a fight and Kramer went home to get his pistol before returning to Devore’s house. The Rawlins Daily Times reported that Kramer and his lawyer told the Supreme Court that he wasn’t adequately represented. They said the Kramer could have been found guilty of a lesser, heat-of-passion offense if his trial lawyer had argued that the events happened closer together. The Supreme Court said that during the trial an expert and a witness couldn’t account for how long it would have taken for Kramer to go to his house and then back to Devore. … Read entire article »

MOOSE, Wyo. (AP) — The Teton Range will provide one of the more dramatic backdrops for a solar eclipse that will be visible across much of the West this weekend. Grand Teton National Park will host a solar eclipse viewing event starting at 6 p.m. Sunday. Astronomer and park ranger naturalist Bob Hoyle will host the gathering in partnership with the Jackson Hole Astronomy Club. A full solar eclipse will occur across a wide swath of the Southwest. In Jackson Hole, the moon will cover up as much as 80 percent of the sun. That will happen at around 7:30 p.m., when the sun is low in the western sky and not too far above the craggy Tetons. The viewing event will take place at the Willow Flats Overlook north of Jackson Lake Junction. … Read entire article »

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The economy remains strong in rural areas of 10 Midwest and Plains states because of the health of agricultural businesses there. The overall economic index on the new monthly Rural Mainstreet survey rose to 58.5 in May from April’s already healthy 57.1. Any score above 50 on the index suggests growth in the months ahead. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss says even though the May numbers are positive, he believes the region’s economic growth will slow in the months ahead as the global economy weakens and crop prices decline. The survey covers rural areas of Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming. The survey focuses on 200 rural communities with an average population of 1,300. … Read entire article »

(PAVILLION, Wyo.)   A $2.75 million asphalt pavement improvement project is scheduled to begin Monday morning, (May 21), on Missouri Valley Road (Wyoming 134). “Milling of asphalt is scheduled, weather permitting, to commence first thing Monday on the east end of Wyoming 134 at the state highway’s intersection with Wyoming 789,” according to Robert Scheidemantel, Wyoming Department of Transportation resident engineer in Riverton. “Asphalt paving operations are tentatively scheduled to begin Tuesday morning, May 22.” Motorists should expect traffic delays of up to 15 minutes during the highway improvements. … Read entire article »

DENVER (AP) — The Colorado Mining Association is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review a 2001 rule that largely barred new roads on 58 million acres of roadless areas in national forests. The national roadless rule was adopted under former President Bill Clinton. Last fall a three-judge panel of the Denver-based 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the rule. The court in February denied requests from the state of Wyoming and the Colorado Mining Association for a rehearing. Now Wyoming is asking the U.S. Supreme Court for a review, and the Colorado Mining Association said Thursday it also is appealing to the high court. The mining association argues the roadless rule essentially established new wilderness areas, which only Congress can designate. The group Earthjustice has vowed to fight appeals. … Read entire article »

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Gov. Matt Mead says he’s glad a federal agency has for a second time denied a permit requested by a Colorado businessman who wants to build a 500-mile pipeline to carry water from southwestern Wyoming to Colorado’s Front Range. Mead says he remains opposed to the project. The Biodiversity Conservation Alliance, one of the many conservation groups opposed to the project, says the pipeline would hurt endangered species and cost local jobs. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on Thursday denied the request from Aaron Million of Fort Collins, Colo., to reconsider its denial earlier of his permit. Million proposes to draw water from the Green River in southwestern Wyoming and pipe it as far as Pueblo, Colo. Million says he intends to reapply for a federal permit and is working … Read entire article »