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VIRUS OUTBREAK-WYOMING
Wyoming unemployment claims surge amid COVID-19 restrictions
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Unemployment claims in Wyoming are surging as mandatory business shutdowns and a recommendation for people to stay at home to contain the coronavirus take an economic toll. The 2,339 people seeking unemployment assistance through the state last week was up 350% from the week before. Nationwide, unemployment claims were up over 1,000% to nearly 3.3 million. Wyoming to date has no statewide or local stay-at-home orders to try to limit the COVID-19 illness. Gov. Mark Gordon instead urges people to stay at home for all but essential needs and work from home if possible. Wyoming has at least 53 confirmed cases of the coronavirus.
DAYLIGHT SAVING-SIGNED
Wyoming governor signs permanent daylight saving time bill
GILLETTE, Wyo. (AP) — Wyoming's governor has signed a bill making daylight saving time permanent in the state. The Gillette News Record reports Republican Gov. Mark Gordon signed the bill Monday. Previous measures failed in the Wyoming Legislature, but Republican state Rep. Eric Barlow says residents are fed up with changing the clocks during the year. States currently require federal approval to make changes regarding daylight saving time. The Daylight Act was introduced in the U.S. House in 2019 but stalled in the House Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Commerce. The measure would allow states to institute the time change.
SPECIAL EDUCATION FUNDING
Wyoming lawmakers debate special education funding
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — A bill that would have lifted a cap on special education funding in Wyoming has failed to pass the Senate before the end of the legislative session. The Wyoming Tribune Eagle reported that the majority of K-12 funding comes from state mineral taxes, but state officials discovered that relying on an increasingly unstable industry is not sustainable. Currently, lawmakers are looking for ways to cut the budget, including reducing special education funding. Others are looking for alternatives in funding special education. The vote comes amid growing concerns over the coronavirus pandemic and its effect on the economy.
CASPER SLAYING
Casper man faces murder charge in wife's shooting death
CASPER, Wyo. (AP) — A Wyoming man accused of shooting his wife before calling 911 and confessing to the crime faces a first-degree murder charge. Prosecutors say 49-year-old Edward E. Robertson walked out of his home in Casper and surrendered to police Friday. The Casper Star-Tribune reports police allegedly found 42-year-old Dana Marie Robertson dead of a single gunshot inside the home. Robertson remained jailed Tuesday and didn't have an attorney on file to comment. Robertson allegedly told a detective he kicked his wife out of their home a few weeks ago because he thought she was cheating on him. He allegedly told a detective they reconciled but on Friday she asked for a separation.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-NATIONAL PARKS
Parks officials answer crowding with closures to fight virus
CHEYENNE, Wyoming (AP) — Three of America's best-known national parks _ Yellowstone, Grand Teton and Great Smoky Mountains _ closed their gates Tuesday as parks struggle to keep popular recreation areas open while struggling to prevent spreading the coronavirus at congested sites. They join a growing list of national parks that have closed from New York to California, including the Statue of Liberty and Alcatraz. Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado and Yosemite National Park in California have also closed. Other parks that remain open have closed shuttles, campgrounds, visitor centers and some trails to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
WEST YELLOWSTONE HOMICIDE-PLEA
Montana grandmother pleads not guilty in boy's beating death
BOZEMAN, Mont. (AP) — A Montana woman has pleaded not guilty to charges she beat and tortured her 12-year-old grandson to death at their home. The Bozeman Daily Chronicle reports 48-year-old Patricia Batts is charged with deliberate homicide, aggravated kidnapping, criminal child endangerment, and strangulation of partner or family member in the death of Alex Hurley. Batts has been held on $750,000 bail at the Gallatin County jail since February. Court records say Gallatin County Sheriff’s deputies investigating the boy's death found several videos on phones showing members of the family torturing the boy. Batts claims she does not know how the boy died.
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