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NAVAJO COAL

Navajo company shuts Montana coal mine in dispute with state

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Montana's largest coal mine has been indefinitely shuttered by its new owners from the Navajo Nation in a dispute over whether it should be immune from some environmental regulations.

The Navajo Transitional Energy Company said Thursday that the 275-worker Spring Creek Mine near Decker was being shut down while negotiations continue with state officials.

The company is owned by the Navajo Nation but operates independently. It recently bought Spring Creek and two Wyoming mines in a bankruptcy sale.

A company spokesman says state regulators last week demanded that it waive its immunity as a tribal entity.

A Department of Environmental Quality spokeswoman says officials never sought a complete waiver but wouldn't release further details.

The strip mine produced almost 14 million tons (12.7 million metric tons) of coal in 2017.

OBIT-WATTERS

Barb Watters, former Casper mayor, dies at 56

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

CASPER, Wyo. (AP) — Barb Watters, a former mayor of Casper and advocate for the city's Jewish community, has died. She was 56.

The Casper Star-Tribune reports that Watters died Thursday after battling cancer. The city manager's office announced her death in a memo to city workers.

Watters served as mayor from 2003-2004 and was a city councilwoman from 2000-2004.

She previously served nine years on the Casper police force and was an advocate for the Jewish community.

She founded Congregation Kol Ha'am in Casper in 2007.

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TEEN SUICIDE INCREASES

Report: Teen suicide in Wyoming nearly doubled in 3 years

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

CASPER, Wyo. (AP) — Wyoming health officials say the suicide rate among older teenagers has increased by 40% over the past three years, recording a rate triple the national average.

Casper Star-Tribune reported Wednesday that the UnitedHealth Foundation report released last month details an increase among adolescents between the ages of 15 and 19.

Officials say the report found the suicide rate increased to 31.1 deaths for every 100,000 residents this year from 22.2 deaths in 2016.

Health officials say the rate is the second worst in the nation behind Alaska.

Officials say the report did not examine the causes.

The state Department of Health says the statewide suicide rate is highest among those between the ages of 35 and 44, with about 38 deaths for every 100,000 residents.

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WYOMING STATE ENGINEER

Wyoming governor names new state engineer

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Wyoming is getting a new state official in charge of regulating water use.

Greg Lanning replaces Pat Tyrrell, who retired in January after 18 years as Wyoming state engineer.

The state engineer is a job established by the Wyoming Constitution and has a term of six years.

Gov. Mark Gordon says in a release finding a state engineer is challenging because the job requires a mix of technical, policy and political skills.

Lanning served as deputy state engineer from 2012-2014.

He begins his new job Nov. 25.

COAL BANKRUPTCY-BACK PAY

Attorney: Blackjewel miners to receive back pay this week

(Information from: Bristol Herald Courier, http://www.bristolnews.com)

ABINGDON, Va. (AP) — Coal miners who blocked train tracks in Kentucky demanding to get paid for the coal they mined will benefit from a federal deal with the bankrupt company.

The Bristol Herald Courier reports Blackjewel LLC agreed to pay $5.47 million to mine workers in Kentucky , Virginia and West Virginia. Blackjewel attorney Stephen Lerner said Wednesday that payroll checks should go out this week. Court documents say it covers unpaid wages earned between June 10 and July 1.

The company, which has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, agreed to pay its workers following the sale of two mines in Wyoming.

The U.S. Department of Labor had taken steps to prevent Blackjewel from moving thousands of tons of coal over an alleged violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act.

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BIG PARMESAN ORDER

US tariff prompts Wyoming pizzeria to stock up on Parmesan

(Information from: The Gillette (Wyo.) News Record, http://www.gillettenewsrecord.com)

GILLETTE, Wyo. (AP) — A pizzeria in Wyoming is stocking up ahead of a jump in the cost of Parmesan cheese from Italy.

Pizza Carrello in Gillette usually orders one big wheel of Parmesan at a time but recently bought five.

Restaurant co-owner Ariane Jimison tells the Gillette News-Record she expects the price of Parmesan to go up due to a 25% tariff on European Union products including wine, olive oil and cheese.

President Donald Trump's administration imposed the tariffs in response to EU subsidies for European aircraft manufacturer Airbus.

Each Parmesan wheel Jimison orders sells for $900. Jimison says she would've bought more but only five were available.

Parmesan cheese comes from northern Italy, where it is aged for two years at room temperature.

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