Daily news roundup, Feb. 25, 2008
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Feb 25, 2008 Posted by Bill Luckett
ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL
Leading off today is this Associated Press report on the Clinton campaign’s arrival in Wyoming:
Clinton to open two campaign offices in Wyoming (Corrected link!)
Wyoming Public Radio, meanwhile, reports on Obama staffers’ caucus training in Laramie:
Obama campaign explains caucus process to young Dems
Beyond that, and because I just can’t tear myself away from my journalistic roots, I am pleased to offer my own report on some encouraging voter registration figures. I got this information from the Secretary of State’s Office on Jan. 10, and I collected updated figures Friday afternoon, Feb. 22, about an hour before the official deadline to register to participate in our March 8 county caucuses/conventions. In that Jan. 10 to Feb. 22 time span:
Democratic registrations are up 1,711 voters.
Republican registrations are up 12 voters.
Libertarian registrations are up 8 voters.
Independent registrations are up 17 voters.
Over the past six weeks, there have been 142 newly registered Democrats for every new registered Republican, and 100 new registered Democrats for every new registered independent. Honestly, those figures don’t tell the whole story. As of Feb. 19 , according to this update posted on the Secretary of State’s Office Website, Democratic registrations had increased by about 400 since the start of the year, while Republican registrations were up about 300 and independents increased by almost 200. But over the past week, almost 300 registered Republicans and 200 registered independents had switched their party affiliation to Democrat.
Bottom line: We couldn’t have imagined a greater level of excitement over our upcoming March 8 county caucuses/conventions. We’re approaching 2,000 new voters since the start of the year. Both Democratic presidential front-runners have staffs on the ground in the Equality State. Enthusiasm for Democratic Party politics in Wyoming is soaring, and we hope and expect to continue this momentum as we head even deeper into the election season.
MEANWHILE, OVER AT THE STATEHOUSE …
Cowboy Congress: Candidate drop by Capitol (Casper Star-Tribune) This could have counted as “campaign trail” news, but it fits here as well.
Legislature plans to reconcile budget bills this week (Associated Press)
Big debate on city and county funding (Wyoming Public Radio) More on the budget bills.
Committee rejects severing land from underground pore space (Casper Star-Tribune) This is one of the two closely watched carbon sequestration bills.
Bill aims for quieter railroads (Wyoming Tribune-Eagle)
Stiffer DUI law moves on (Casper Star-Tribune)
Bills target DUIs, abuse (Wyoming Tribune-Eagle)
House passes animal abuse bill (Laramie Boomerang) This is the dogfighting bill.
House kills broad tax relief bills (Casper Star-Tribune)
IN OTHER NEWS …
Lots to report on from the weekend, starting with the wolves. Many critics of Wyoming's wolf management plan have predicted the imminent slaughter of up to two-thirds of the state's gray wolf population after the animal loses protection under the federal Endangered Species Act next month. But state action might turn out to be quite a bit more tempered than many have envisioned, one official with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department indicated last week:
‘We’re going to start conservatively’
The Casper Star-Tribune has several more stories on wolves:
‘It’s important that it be here’
Wyoming's mountain ranges now have more snow on them than they've had in the past several years of drought:
Snowpack reaches normal levels
The state of Wyoming paid $350,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by a former prison inmate who claimed he was beaten and sexually assaulted by another inmate at the state penitentiary in Rawlins:
Records show state paid $350,000 to settle prison lawsuit
Campbell County's growing population has awakened a need for child-oriented services, from day care to a new kids’ clothing store:
The Buffalo Bulletin reports that Johnson County, too, sees evidence of growth:
County sees jump in building permit values
The Jackson Hole News & Guide tells us that officials are concerned about the idea of a single entrance to the proposed 500-unit Teton Meadows Ranch (a.k.a. South Park) development:
WYDOT: Traffic review wrong for subdivision
The Jackson paper also reports on regulations that govern changing apartments into condos:
Condo conversions get attention from council
Wyoming Abandoned Mine Lands Division engineers will begin reviewing claims submitted by residents for repairs for damage done to some Rock Springs homes affected by a controversial ground-pounding mine subsidence project conducted last summer, known to locals as the Big Drop:
Torrington residents may soon have the opportunity to vote on whether they want fluoride in the city's water:
Torrington ponders water fluoridation
The Wyoming Tribune-Eagle looks at cell phone service – or lack of – in this eastern Laramie County community: