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WYOMING BUDGET
Wyoming governor signs two-year state budget with 19 vetoes
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon has signed a two-year state budget while vetoing 19 sections that include across-the-board spending cuts to address falling revenue from the state's coal, oil and natural gas industries. Gordon's approval of the fiscal 2021-22 budget in late afternoon gave the House and Senate just 7 hours to override any of his line-item vetoes before lawmakers adjourned for the year at midnight Thursday. One budget area Gordon vetoed sought to save $1 million a year by telling the governor to eliminate unspecified positions. Gordon says should be more specific and targeted. Gordon also vetoed an across-the-board, 1% cut for agency budgets.
AP-US-NAVAJO-COAL
Montana, Navajo company reach deal on mine to waive immunity
BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Montana regulators have reached a deal allowing the state to enforce environmental laws at a large coal mine bought last year by a Navajo-owned company. Company executives and state officials had been at odds for months over demands that the Navajo Transitional Energy Company waive its immunity as a tribal entity from future lawsuits. Thursday's agreement came a day before a temporary waiver for the Spring Creek mine was set to expire. The 275-worker strip mine is one the of the largest in the U.S. Litigation is a key tool to enforce many environmental laws. But tribal entities can't normally be sued in state court.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-WYOMING
Wyoming woman with 'mild to moderate' COVID-19 improving
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Health officials say a woman infected with Wyoming's first known case of the coronavirus has been improving while staying in voluntary isolation at home. Dr. John Addlesperger at Sheridan Memorial Hospital says the woman has “fairly mild to moderate symptoms.” The woman from Sheridan County in northwest Wyoming recently traveled both inside and outside the state but kept within in the U.S. She tested positive for the COVID-19 virus late Wednesday. Officials have identified people who've come in close contact with the woman and say they've been cooperative and willing to stay at home.
VIRUS OUTBREAK
Wyoming identifies first resident with new coronavirus
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Wyoming has identified the first case of a state resident who has the new coronavirus. The Wyoming Department of Health says in a statement Wednesday night that preliminary testing found a woman from Sheridan County who had recently traveled inside the United States has the virus. The department says it ïs following up to learn more details about the person’s exposure risk and to identify and communicate with anyone who may have been in close contact with the patient. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will conduct more tests to confirm that the woman has the virus.
ELECTRICITY RATES
Rocky Mountain Power seeks residential electric increase
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Wyoming regulators will begin planning in the weeks ahead to consider rate changes proposed by the state's largest electric utility. Rocky Mountain Power seeks to cut rates for industrial customers by 0.8%. The PacifiCorp subsidiary also proposes to raise residential rates by about $3.69 per month for the average customer. The rates could take effect by next January. The changes would cover the cost of projects including wind turbine replacement at the Foote Creek I wind project near Arlington in southern Wyoming. Rocky Mountain Power has about 146,000 customers in Wyoming.
WILD HORSES-ADOPTION
About 40 wild horses up for adoption in southwestern Wyoming
ROCK SPRINGS, Wyo. (AP) — The Bureau of Land Management has scheduled multiple adoption events in southwestern Wyoming for about 40 wild horses that were corralled in October. The Rocket-Miner reported people can look over and adopt the horses at the Rock Springs Wild Horse Holding Facility on March 13-14 and April 24-25. Agency officials said in a statement that animals will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Officials say anyone at least 18 years of age and wishing to adopt must fill out an application, have it approved by the agency and pay a $25 adoption fee for each horse.
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