Latest Wyoming news, sports, business and entertainment at 9:20 p.m. MDT

NUCLEAR LEGACY-MINORITIES

US official: Research finds uranium in Navajo women, babies

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Officials say federal research shows that about a quarter of Navajo women who participated in a study of uranium exposure had high levels of the radioactive metal in their systems.

Dr. Loretta Christensen, the chief medical officer for Indian Health Service facilities that serve the Navajo Nation, cited the research at a congressional field hearing in Albuquerque.

The Monday hearing centered on the atomic age's legacy on Native American communities. Cleanup of abandoned uranium mines continues decades after they closed.

Christensen says the research also shows some babies born in recent years had high concentrations of uranium. She says research is ongoing.

U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, a New Mexico Democrat, says Native Americans were disproportionately affected by uranium mining and nuclear testing for Cold War weaponry.

COAL BANKRUPTCY

Bankrupt Wyoming coal firm under investigation for fraud

(Information from: Casper (Wyo.) Star-Tribune, http://www.trib.com)

CASPER, Wyo. (AP) — A new court filing has revealed the federal government began a fraud investigation into coal company Blackjewel LLC prior to the company's sale last week of two Wyoming coal mines.

The Casper Star-Tribune reports the document filed Saturday indicates the investigation also preceded Blackjewel's July bankruptcy filing.

Court documents say Blackjewel owes the federal government about $50 million.

The court filing says the government has been investigating Blackjewel's potential violations of the False Claims Act, which holds corporations liable for defrauding the government.

The government has asked a West Virginia federal bankruptcy court to delay discharging Blackjewel of its debts, which would allow the investigation to continue.

A federal judge approved the sale of the Eagle Butte and Belle Ayr mines to Eagle Specialty Materials without Blackjewel's debt obligations.

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IRRIGATION EMERGENCY

Long-term fix to Wyoming, Nebraska tunnel could reach $68M

(Information from: Casper (Wyo.) Star-Tribune, http://www.trib.com)

CASPER, Wyo. (AP) — The cost of long-term repairs to a failed irrigation tunnel serving farmers in eastern Wyoming and western Nebraska could reach $68 million.

Goshen Irrigation District officials say they will seek more Wyoming state funding assistance once they've decided on a long-term solution. Meanwhile, the irrigation tunnel collapse in July raises doubts about two other aging tunnels in the system.

The failure of the century-old tunnel in July imperiled corn, sugar beets and other crops in a 150-square-mile (390-square-kilometer) area.

The Casper Star-Tribune reports a $4 million loan approved by the Wyoming State Loan and Investment Board on Thursday will repay $4 million the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation lent the district for the temporary repairs.

The temporary repairs allowed water to resume flowing Aug. 29.

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ROCKIES WEATHER

Cold, snow to make fall debut in central Rockies region

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — The central Rocky Mountain region is about to get its first dose of wintry weather.

Forecasters predict warm and sunny weather for most areas Monday and Tuesday before things turn cold and wet.

The National Weather Service expects winter storm warnings for western Montana starting Tuesday night. Mountainous areas recently hit by snowfall measured in feet (meters) could get another foot (30 centimeters) or more by Thursday.

The weather service anticipates winter storm watches across southern Montana and northern Wyoming starting Wednesday.

Meteorologists say cold, snowy weather will move into the central Rockies and Front Range region overnight Wednesday, with temperatures falling into the teens (negative 10 Celsius). Many areas won't get above freezing Thursday.

Warmer weather will return this weekend.

INTERSTATE FATALITY

West Nebraska crash kills pickup driver, injures passenger

PAXTON, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a pickup truck driver has died in a rollover crash on Interstate 80 in western Nebraska.

The crash occurred around 5 p.m. Saturday between Paxton and Sutherland. The Nebraska State Patrol says the eastbound pickup ran into the median and rolled several times after the driver overcorrected. The pickup ended up in a ditch on the north side of the westbound lanes.

The driver was pronounced dead at the scene. She's been identified as 70-year-old Agnes Duran, who lived in Maryland.

The patrol says her passenger was taken to a North Platte hospital for treatment of minor injuries. He's been identified as 75-year-old James Roberts, of Wyoming.

MISSILE HISTORIC SITE

Missile facility dedicated as Wyoming state historic site

(Information from: Wyoming Tribune Eagle, http://www.wyomingnews.com)

CHUGWATER, Wyo. (AP) — A former Peacekeeper missile alert facility has been dedicated as Wyoming's newest state historical site.

The Wyoming Tribune-Eagle reports officials dedicated the site, 30 miles (48 kilometers) north of Cheyenne, on Saturday.

F.E. Warren Air Force Base personnel operated the MX intercontinental ballistic missile facility from 1986 to 2005.

Visitors can tour on-site living quarters and take an elevator 60 feet (18 meters) underground to see its guidance systems.

Officials worked with Wyoming State Parks and the State Historic Preservation Office to prepare the public display.

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