Daily news roundup, Feb. 19, 2008
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Feb 19, 2008 Posted by Bill Luckett
FROM THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL:
This piece reminds everyone that “robocalls” are prohibited in Wyoming, and it looks at their recent history while mentioning that the Obama campaign also announced some legislative endorsements yesterday:
State gets Obama calls complaint
This Jackson Hole News & Guide reports on a local phenomenon that is actually taking place in many counties across Wyoming – Democratic county parties are securing larger sites for the March 8 county caucuses/conventions, in light of the record turnout Democratic caucuses and primaries have seen all over the country in this wild campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination:
Teton County Democrats choose bigger convention site
Shifting gears a bit, the Wyoming Tribune-Eagle has this piece on a former state legislators looking to return to the State Capitol Building:
Pederson announces state House bid
LEGISLATIVE NEWS:
Again, a quick rundown of stories from the Capitol Building across the state, with self-explanatory headlines and maybe a comment or two thrown in for good measure:
Lawmakers consider low-income health bill (Wyoming Public Radio) One of the more important, yet relatively overlooked, bills this year.
House proposes expanding tax breaks available to vets, disabled, poor (Casper Star-Tribune)
Homemade products bill could be doomed (Gillette News-Record)
Panel backs dogfighting bill (Casper Star-Tribune)
Panel kills DUI jail release bill (Casper Star-Tribune)
Natrona County sheriff to revisit release policy (Casper Star-Tribune) Not really a “legislative” story, but related to the previous piece.
House: Make online filing voluntary (Casper Star-Tribune) Well, it’s a start!
Bill to prohibit gun confiscation advances (Casper Star-Tribune)
Drug lab cleanup bill advances (Casper Star-Tribune)
IN OTHER NEWS:
Wyoming Public Radio reports that Denver-based Rancher Energy Corporation has announced it will use carbon dioxide for enhanced oil recovery in the Powder River Basin. The CO2 will come from ExxonMobil:
Company announces plan to use CO2 for oil recovery
Another Public Radio piece on mineral industry developments:
Local helium attracts interest
The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday said Montana can continue with a lawsuit that charges Wyoming has been using too much water from a pair of rivers that flow between the states. Montana argues Wyoming's agricultural and energy industries are depleting the Tongue and Powder rivers at the expense of downstream residents in Montana:
U.S. Supreme Court allows Montana’s lawsuit against Wyoming to proceed
Bridger Coal officials approached the Sweetwater County Commission Tuesday morning seeking help and support for a state grant application to fund the upgrading of a 1.7-mile portion of a county road to the new mine. The roadway segment is currently a rough gravel/dirt road:
Coal mine looks for paving monies
The U.S. Forest Service's plan for targeted logging in the Medicine Bow National Forest is a knee-jerk reaction which will do nothing to stop the spread of pine beetles, a Laramie-based conservation group says. But a timber industry spokesman said logging should be part of a long-term strategy to improve forest health:
Pine beetles stir logging debate
A related piece:
WildEarth Guardians, a wolf-advocacy group, said it will sue Rocky Mountain National Park over its decision to hire sharpshooters to kill up to 200 elk a year at the park as a way to handle overpopulation. The decision to use the sharpshooters was made in December but signed Friday by Mike Snyder, intermountain director for the National Park Service:
Group plans to sue feds over elk-killing plan
I know this barely qualifies as “politics and government news,” but it’s worth being aware of:
Marathon Oil donates $1 million to UW
As for this excellent piece from the Gillette News-Record, its relation to “politics and government news” is obviously that the Legislature will have a valid justification for wrapping up business before 7 p.m. tomorrow. Let’s pray for clear skies!