Daily news roundup, Dec. 26, 2007
-
Dec 27, 2007 Posted by Bill Luckett
Today we’ll begin with Gary Trauner’s campaign for U.S. House, and two notable blog entries on the topic. I want to call your attention to this first one, because the blog, hummingbirdminds, is written by Wyoming’s own Michael Shay, an activist from Laramie County. Here’s his take on the latest Trauner news:
Act blue! Contribute to Trauner!
I told you a few days back that the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee recently named Wyoming’s U.S. House race as one of the most competitive in the country. Here is an article posted Sunday on Daily Kos – the world’s most widely read politics blog – about that development:
DCCC goes on offensive, embraces netroots candidates
After that, the news is running a little thin, which is par for the course for this time of year. However, there are some fireworks in far northeast Wyoming. The Gillette News-Record tells us that many residents of one of Wyoming’s fastest growing towns (200 people in 2000; about 500 people today) are trying to oust their mayor:
Citizens petition to recall mayor of Pine Haven
Had the organizer of Wyoming's Republican county conventions gotten his way seven years ago, the state party would be facing a much tougher penalty for holding those conventions a full month before the national party's chosen date to begin selecting national delegates:
In 2000, Sansonetti favored even harsher penalty for going early
The Green River Star reports on the submarine tour that Rep. Stan Blake, D-Green River, took with other Wyoming civic officials:
‘Chance of a lifetime’ – State rep tours USS Wyoming sub
This Wyoming Public Radio story updates us on our junior U.S. senator’s marital plans along with his thoughts on government (and, although he votes the wrong way on some important issues, I wish Dr. Barrasso and his new wife the very best in their life together. Let’s not forget that we’re human beings first and political activists second):
Barrasso: Washington should take a lesson from Wyoming
With Congress' passage of an omnibus spending bill, Wyoming stands to lose millions in revenue from oil, natural gas and coal produced from public lands in the state. The bill includes an appropriations change from the current 50-50 split to a 52-48 split between the federal government and the states from which the minerals are produced:
Funding shift means Wyo could lose millions in federal royalties
The Casper Star-Tribune has a couple stories about energy development in Converse County – one on natural gas, one on wind power. In this first one, the paper reports that energy companies are rapidly securing leases to develop natural gas throughout Converse County, where competition is rising to use new technology to tap into rich deposits:
Meanwhile, wind generation is a great opportunity for some Wyoming ranchers to diversify their income and contribute to a quest for clean energy, but it’s also relatively uncharted territory: