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VIRUS OUTBREAK-WYOMING
Wyoming unemployment claims keep rising amid COVID-19 spread
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Unemployment claims in Wyoming continue to surge as the coronavirus keeps businesses closed and people at home. New claims for unemployment compensation increased 24% last week, topping 4,600. That's on top of a more than seven-fold increase the week before. Wyoming Department of Workforce Services spokesman Ty Stockton says people filing for unemployment have had to wait up to three hours to get through to the department on the phone but the department is adding phone lines and reallocating staff to handle the increase. Wyoming as of Thursday had 150 cases of the COVID-19 virus confirmed in 16 of its 23 counties.
PUBLIC DEFENDER-CONTEMPT
Wyoming high court backs public defender in contempt case
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — The Wyoming Supreme Court has sided with the state public defender, saying two lower court judges could not hold her in contempt of court for refusing to assign attorneys to defendants charged with low-level crimes. The state high court made the ruling Wednesday regarding the 2019 decision by the Circuit Court judges in Campbell County involving State Public Defender Diane Lozano. The high court said judges should have heeded Lozano when she said she didn’t have enough public defenders to represent low-income defendants in misdemeanor cases. The two judges had said Lozano couldn’t refuse to defend clients and was legally required to do so unless relieved by a court.
AVALANCHE-SKIER
Skier found dead day after avalanche near Jackson
JACKSON, Wyo. (AP) — A skier has been found dead a day after an avalanche in northwestern Wyoming. Teton County Coroner Brent Blue has identified the victim as 28-year-old Trace Jordan Carrillo, of Dubois. An official cause of death is pending. Searchers with a rescue dog found Carrillo under 2 feet of snow Thursday. The avalanche caught Carrillo as he began to ski a slope Wednesday afternoon on Taylor Mountain. The Jackson Hole News & Guide reports almost 30 volunteers from Teton County Search and Rescue searched for Carrillo until dark. About 40 people continued to search for him Thursday with the help of dogs.
MISSING BOY-WYOMING
Coroner concludes missing Wyoming boy died of exposure
CASPER, Wyo. (AP) — A coroner has determined that a boy who went missing in central Wyoming last fall died of exposure and it was an accident. Natrona County sheriff's Sgt. Taylor Courtney says no crime was committed in the death of 16-year-old Joey Peterson and the investigation is closed. Two people on horseback found Peterson's body Sunday about 4 miles from his family's rural home. The Casper Star-Tribune reports a coroner concluded from an autopsy he died of exposure and hypothermia. Peterson left home in November wearing only pajamas and a sweatshirt. Peterson had high-functioning autism and officials described him as not self-sufficient.
OIL-GAS TAX SUSPENDED
Wyoming regulators aid oil, gas industry with tax suspension
CASPER, Wyo. (AP) — Wyoming regulators have voted to suspend a tax for six months to help oil and gas companies weather hard times in their industry. Tuesday's vote by the Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission suspended the conservation tax for the first time in its 60-year history. The 5-cent tax on every $100 of assessed value of production helps fund the commission. The state agency regulates the oil and gas industry and in some cases pays to plug and clean up abandoned oil and gas wells. Commission spokeswoman Kimberly Mazza says other existing charges will cover the commission's operational costs during the suspension.
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