Daily news roundup, Jan. 16, 2008
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Jan 16, 2008 Posted by Bill Luckett
Just a heads up – I will be on vacation tomorrow through Monday, so I don’t anticipate writing any news reports during that time. I put in a requisition for an assistant about two-and-a-half years ago (the day I started this job), so I’m hopeful that any minute now, we can ramp this up to a full-time, round-the-clock service. Meanwhile …
Unexpected news from the Associated Press: Rep. Barbara Cubin has returned to work after just about only four months off. In that time, she has taken in over $50,000 in salary, and Wyoming has had no voice in the people’s house:
Cubin casts first vote since October
However, the Washington Post’s “congressional votes” database keeps records for the two-year term of each congress, rather than the calendar year, securing Cubin’s notoriety as the living member of the 110th Congress with the worst voting record for some time to come:
Congress votes database – vote missers
A number of property tax relief bills are being prepared for the coming legislative session, in addition to Gov. Dave Freudenthal's proposed constitutional amendment to give senior citizens a break on their property taxes. One proposal from Rep. Debbie Hammons, D-Worland, would reduce property tax revenues by $15.7 million a year statewide:
The Casper Star-Tribune opines that it’s not worth the trouble to try to equalize the services each Wyoming county provides its citizens:
All Wyoming counties are not created equal
Also from the Cheyenne paper is this look at upcoming school construction projects:
Schools land spot on $275 million list
One look at these two Gillette News-Record headlines shows us what one of the biggest issues is in that community:
Buying land for affordable housing gets mixed review from council
‘Housing’ the hot topic at WyGEN III hearing
The News-Record also has the latest on the move to oust Pine Haven’s mayor:
Pine Haven residents ready to sue over mayor flap
Two stories from the Casper paper document a town that has sprung from about 250 people to perhaps twice that in five years:
Wamsutter landfill being strained by boom
Wamsutter day care receives financial boost from county
Wyoming Public Radio reports that Sinclair refinery was fined more than $2 million and agreed to make at least $70 million in pollution control upgrades:
The Douglas Budget reports on construction of the new $6 million Wyoming State Fair building that will house 246 horse stalls:
And the Budget has this story on the Roping the Wind conference, which was part of the recent Wyoming Winter Ag Expo in Douglas:
Renewable energy steps from theory toward reality
The Jackson paper reports that Teton County contributes 150 percent the national per capita average of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere: