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VAPING ILLNESSES-WYOMING
Wyoming records first 2 vaping illness cases
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Wyoming has recorded its first two cases of vaping-related illnesses.
The cases announced Wednesday occurred in Uinta and Park counties around the second week of September. Wyoming Department of Health spokeswoman Kim Deti says both people were hospitalized.
The illnesses are prompting the department and Gov. Mark Gordon to warn people to avoid vaping products containing THC, the active ingredient in marijuana.
Symptoms of vaping illness include coughing, shortness of breath, chest pain, fever, vomiting and diarrhea.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports over 1,600 lung injury cases and 34 deaths nationwide.
About 80 percent of cases involve THC use.
Gordon says he has told the department to investigate ways Wyoming can address vaping-associated illness.
NEW COAL MINE
Judge sides with coal company in Wyoming permit rejection
(Information from: KUWR-FM, http://uwadmnweb.uwyo.edu/wpr/)
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — A judge has ruled a Wyoming environmental review panel lacks authority to reject a permit for a proposed coal mine.
Laramie County District Judge Catherine Rogers ruled Friday the Wyoming Environmental Quality Council improperly rejected Ramaco Carbon's permit application in 2017.
The company wants the mine near Sheridan to provide coal to research ways to coal into carbon-based products.
The council rejected the state permit amid concerns about subsidence and groundwater problems.
Rogers ruled the council may only make recommendations to the director of the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, who decides whether to issue mine permits.
Ramaco attorney Tom Sansonetti tells Wyoming Public Radio the department will now need to consider either its original application or a revised one it has submitted.
Department officials say they're reviewing the ruling.
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STATEWIDE AID AGREEMENT
Final Wyoming county joins statewide mutual aid agreement
(Information from: Wyoming Tribune Eagle, http://www.wyomingnews.com)
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — A Wyoming safety organization has announced every county across the state can receive assistance from its neighbor in case of an emergency.
Wyoming Tribune Eagle reports that Laramie County became the final county to sign the Wyoming Inter-County Mutual Aid Agreement earlier this month.
The Wyoming All Hazards Association says multiple counties previously helped each other through regional agreements but the statewide agreement was made to clarify the operating plan.
Officials say this arrangement provides guidelines and outlines specifics including workers' compensation, liability and cost.
Officials say Laramie County has a lot to offer because it contains the capital city with a lot of resources and access to state assets.
Officials say the agreement could help in events spanning across multiple counties. It could also be used for special events.
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COAL-JOINT OPERATIONS
US regulators to complete coal merger review by mid-2020
(Information from: The Gillette (Wyo.) News Record, http://www.gillettenewsrecord.com)
GILLETTE, Wyo. (AP) — U.S. regulators plan to finish reviewing a proposed coal mining joint venture in the first half of 2020.
Peabody Energy Corp. and Arch Coal Inc. seek to merge operations in Wyoming and Colorado. The St. Louis-based companies operate some of the world's largest coal mines in northeast Wyoming.
The companies expect to save $120 million a year over the first 10 years of working together.
Peabody officials disclosed the Federal Trade Commission review timeline in an earnings call Tuesday. CEO Glenn Kellow calls the joint venture the centerpiece of Peabody's future U.S. coal operations.
The U.S. coal industry is struggling with decreased demand as utility companies rely more on natural gas and renewable energy to generate electricity.
The Gillette News-Record reports Peabody posted a third-quarter loss of $74 million.
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YELLOWSTONE-ROADS CLOSE
Yellowstone roads to close for season Monday
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. (AP) — Most roads in Yellowstone National Park are about to close to cars and trucks for the year.
The National Park Service plans to close all roads Monday except the route from the North Entrance at Gardiner, Montana, to the Northeast Entrance at Cooke City, Montana.
That road remains plowed year-round.
Roads will reopen to snowmobiles and snow coaches starting Dec. 15, weather permitting.
Park officials already have closed the road over Dunraven Pass for the season. The road closed earlier than planned this year because of snow.
WYOMING BUDGET
Wyoming governor: Revenue drop means 'tough decisions' ahead
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Wyoming's governor says less wasteful spending won't be enough to address budget shortfalls.
A report released Tuesday predicts $185 million less revenue for major state accounts over the next three years.
The Consensus Revenue Estimating Group report comes as Gov. Mark Gordon prepares to release his first state budget Nov. 18.
Gordon says in a release Wyoming may be facing a "fundamental change" in how it will be able to fund government services.
Wyoming officials already have made a series of spending cuts to address declining revenue from the fossil-fuel industries, especially coal and natural gas.
State lawmakers have been reluctant to boost revenue through new and higher taxes. Gordon isn't proposing tax increases yet but says the state faces many "tough decisions" in the years ahead.
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