Daily news roundup, March 13, 2008
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Mar 17, 2008 Posted by Bill Luckett
After his first tour of duty in Iraq in 2003, local soldier David Julian joined other veterans and servicemen in dedicating a new Fallen Comrade monument in downtown Evanston. Sadly, now his name will be added to the memorial statue:
The Jackson hole News & Guide has this piece on Republican U.S. House hopeful Mark Gordon’s first campaign stop in Jackson Hole on Sunday and Monday:
Gordon stops in valley to campaign for House
The Laramie Boomerang reports that three of Laramie’s state lawmakers attended a luncheon Wednesday to discuss the progress that was made during the biennium budget session that ended last week:
Legislative session less contentious
Gov. Dave Freudenthal signed into law Wednesday a measure that will allow counties to regulate large-acre land developments -- but he said the law may not do enough to protect land buyers:
Gov. Freudenthal signs several bills
Although Gov. Dave Freudenthal has approved long-delayed rules for a housing infrastructure loan program, he said Wednesday he doesn't expect much interest from contractors:
Governor doesn’t expect demand for housing program
Wyoming Public Radio has this piece on Gov. Freudenthal’s take on the bill aimed at cracking down on fraudulent businesses in Wyoming. The bill was watered down too much but it's still better than nothing, according to the governor:
Governor says anti-fraud bill better than nothing
The Wyoming Tribune-Eagle reports that Gov. Dave Freudenthal said construction could start as soon as this summer on a coal research plant the University of Wyoming is developing with General Electric:
Gov. Freudenthal says negotiations progressing on GE coal plant
Coal-bed methane gas drillers in the Powder River Basin were down to 11 rigs last week compared to 28 rigs the week before. The industry averaged 43 active rigs during the month of January, according to the Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission:
Seasonal slowdown hits coalbed methane rigs again
Senators moved a step closer to creating a cleanup program for abandoned hardrock mines on Wednesday as part of a major rewrite of mining law that has not been updated since 1872:
Senators hear case for hardrock-mine cleanup
New, stricter air quality rules could have implications for Wyoming's Pinedale region, which has seen elevated ozone levels in three of the past four winters, air quality advocates said Wednesday:
New air quality rules could affect Pinedale area
Wyoming Public Radio reports that state law enforcement officials will be looking at a cut of over a million dollars in federal money used to combat methamphetamine:
Also from Public Radio: The number of elk dead or paralyzed in the Red Rim area near Rawlins has doubled to 16 animals:
Elk deaths double to 16; poison lichen suspected
The Gillette News-Record reports that the local Chamber of Commerce is attempting to bring back a 2 percent lodging tax to Gillette, and it wants almost $100,000 to promote tourism in the next budget year: