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

VIRUS OUTBREAK-WYOMING

Wyoming governor: Still no plan for state stay-at-home order

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon says there are no plans for a statewide stay-at-home order to contain the coronavirus but any order would contain no exemptions. Gordon made the remarks as confirmed cases of the COVID-19 virus in Wyoming approached 100 and two days after the Jackson Town Council approved a stay-at-home order for the resort town. The Jackson Hole News & Guide says the local order is the first in Wyoming since the pandemic began and contains a number exemptions including for domestic violence victims seeking safe haven. Gordon says the local order is little different from a statewide stay-at-home recommendation.

BIRTH CERTIFICATES-GENDER CHANGES

Wyoming court to rule on birth certificate gender changes

The Wyoming Supreme Court is expected to rule on a case that would determine whether transgender residents can change the genders on their birth certificates. The Wyoming Tribune Eagle reported the case could decide if a district court has jurisdiction to recognize a change of sex by a transgender woman. The woman filed to have her gender legally changed in April 2019. The state health department said the request required a court ruling. A Laramie County District Court judge said Wyoming birth certifications identify a person’s sex, not gender, and denied the petition due to a lack of jurisdiction.

AP-US-YELLOWSTONE-BISON-SLAUGHTER

Yellowstone slaughters wild bison to shrink park's herds

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Yellowstone National Park has rounded up nearly 550 wild bison and most have been sent to be slaughtered as part of a bison population control program. Park officials say 442 of the hulking beasts were consigned for slaughter. The meat will be distributed to American Indian tribes. Another 270 or so bison were killed by tribal hunters and 105 are being held for potential relocation to other sites, according to figures released Friday. The culling happens under an agreement between federal and state officials to prevent the spread of the livestock disease brucellosis to cattle. Officials want to reduce Yellowstone's bison by 600 to 900 animals this year.

THREE KILLED

3 found dead in northern Wyoming, man arrested in Montana

BIG HORN, Wyo. (AP) — Three people are dead in northern Wyoming and authorities have arrested a man in southern Montana. The Sheridan County Sheriff's Office got a call Sunday night that a man had contacted a family member and said he killed someone. Sheriff's officials say deputies found three adults dead at the man's house in Big Horn. Sheriff's officials in Big Horn County, Montana, arrested the man Sunday night. He was in custody in Montana. Sheriff's officials didn't identify the suspect or victims in a news release Monday. The Sheridan Press reports Sheridan County sheriff's officials and the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation are investigating.

MISSING BOY-WYOMING

Riders find body of Wyoming teen missing since November

CASPER, Wyo. (AP) — Two people on horseback have found the body of a central Wyoming teenager who went missing in November. Natrona County sheriff's officials say the riders found the body of 16-year-old Joey Peterson 4 miles (6 kilometers) from his family's home Sunday. The Casper Star-Tribune reports Peterson walked away from the house east of Casper on Nov. 10. Snow fell on the area soon after. Peterson had high-functioning autism and officials described him as not self-sufficient. He left without a cell phone or winter clothing. Scores of volunteers and others searched for Peterson before winter halted the effort. Sheriff's officials say Peterson's death appears to have been accidental.

OIL-GAS TAX CUTS

Wyoming governor signs oil, gas tax cut amid low prices

CASPER, Wyo. (AP) — Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon has approved a tax cut for oil and gas producers that would take effect if low prices for the commodities persist. The cut Gordon signed into law Friday would go to into effect when average oil prices fall below $50 per barrel for at least a year. Gas prices would need to average under $2.95 per thousand cubic feet. In either case, severance taxes would drop from 6% to 4%. The Casper Star-Tribune reports the law takes effect July 1. Gordon's energy adviser, Randall Luthi, says the measure is the least the state can do amid low prices

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.