09/02/08 Wyoming Democratic Party Daily News Roundup
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Sep 2, 2008
***Congressional candidates to appear at Cheyenne forum
PLEASE ATTEND THIS EVENT TO SUPPORT TRAUNER!
He’ll appreciate friendly faces in the crowd!
“The three candidates running for Wyoming’s lone congressional seat will appear in Cheyenne on Sept. 5 in the fourth of a series of congressional forums sponsored by Chambers of Commerce across the state. W. David Herbert (L-WY), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) and Gary Trauner (D-WY) have all indicated that they will attend the forum, which will be held in a tent in Cheyenne’s Depot Plaza from 11:30 am until 1 p.m. The forum panelists will include Dennis E. Curran, executive editor of the Wyoming Business Report, Mick Birge of the Cowboy State News Network/ KFBC Radio, and D. Reed Eckhardt of the Wyoming Tribune Eagle. The moderator will be Rick Schum, board chairman of the Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce. The forum is being held in conjunction with the Kiwanis Rib Fest and will also serve as the Chamber of Commerce’s monthly luncheon. Cost for the luncheon is $25 per person.”***State rep collars shoplifting suspect (and Jones isn’t running for Senate?)
“A state representative helped to capture a shoplifting suspect in Powell after a pursuit that lasted several city blocks. State Rep. Alan C. Jones was loading groceries into his car last Wednesday outside Blair's Market in Powell when a young man came sprinting out of the store. The store owner told Jones that the man was a suspected shoplifter. The 67-year-old Jones got in his car and drove around looking for the man. Jones saw the suspect duck into the back door at the Skyline Cafe. When a cafe patron told Jones that the man had ducked into the bathroom, Jones leaned on the door and held him inside until police arrived. Police cited the suspect on charges of shoplifting and tobacco possession and released him to a parent….”
Local workers remember the past, look toward future
“…Casper's picnic was Gary Trauner's third Labor Day event of the day and scores of people mingled in the banquet room waiting to talk with him about his policies and his candidacy. It's the working people that matter in a state like Wyoming, and in the country, said the Democratic candidate for Wyoming's loan seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. "My wife's father is a 57-year member of the Iron Workers," he said. "I've seen what it's done for his family." What's important, Trauner said, is for people to be able to earn equal pay for equal work, have access to quality health care and be assured they will have the financial ability to retire. Wearing a green Trauner campaign sticker, Thomas said it's that kind of change that he and other workers are hoping to see in the upcoming election.”A powerful legislative icon with a kind soul
“Asked what he disliked the most, Dick Jones would answer, "dishonesty."…”
“Lummis awaits word on speech…”
Casper College Foundation director receives national award
“The Council for Resource Development selected Paul Hallock, executive director of the Casper College Foundation, as the 2008 Campus Impact Award recipient for 2008, according to a news release from the college….”
EDITORIAL: Let's keep working to cut dropout rate
“It's too early to call it a trend, but the Natrona County School District is making some headway in its effort to reduce its dropout rate and boost its graduation rate. In a district where more than a quarter of the students who start ninth grade have been failing to graduate, that's excellent news. But there's still much room for improvement, and further progress will require more effort by the schools, families and the community. NCSD attendance officer Gary Somerville reported to the school board last week that based on attendance reports comparing the 2006-07 and 2007-08 school years, the estimated graduation rate increased from 74 percent to 79 percent. And the dropout rate decreased from 29 percent to 16 percent….”
State to get nursing workforce center
“The center will look at how the nationwide nurse shortage is impacting care in Wyoming….”
State unemployment rate highest since Nov. 2005
“Labor Day is traditionally a day to celebrate and show appreciation for working Americans…”
Stocks rise as oil tumbles on relief over Gustav
“Stocks rose Tuesday as oil prices fell sharply on reports that the Gulf Coast and its oil facilities have been spared heavy damage from Hurricane Gustav. Trading was erratic, though, and the Dow Jones industrial average gave up half its earlier advance to trade up about 110 points….”
Advocate Against Domestic Violence Fills Out Report
An advocate against domestic violence says a state-wide report does not tell the whole story.Republicans Trying to Enjoy Shortened Convention
Wyoming Republicans are trying to carry on at their party convention even though Hurricane Gustav scaled back the fun.Gillette needs 57 more docs by 2013
“The need for primary care physicians will continue to grow in Campbell County over the next five years, according to Campbell County Memorial Hospital’s latest community needs assessment….”
“Although Wyoming’s unemployment rate is still far below the national average, it’s been getting worse….”
Energy group meets Monday to recruit pro-ecology members
“A new pro-energy-development group in the Powder River Basin is gathering steam and will have its first public meeting next week at Cam-plex….”
Old Bill's match fund exceeds last year's
“More than $2 million has already been donated to the Community Foundation of Jackson Hole by Mr. and Mrs. Old Bill and 40 co-challengers….”Mayor contest about growth
“Former Town Councilor Mike Lance decided to accept a write-in nomination for mayor because he wants his grandson to live in the valley and because of the general unrest he senses over Jackson development trends....”Wyoming banks hold strong amidst national mortgage crisis
“A year has passed since the phrase “credit crisis” was first heard, and since economists first explained to us what a sub-prime mortgage is. A year later, national news still reports banks in trouble, however, and the economy is still less than robust, as a result of that sub-prime mortgage crisis. The good news for Wyoming citizens is that Wyoming’s banks, including local banks, are strong and they, as well as the state’s economy in general, have been somewhat immune to the full effects of the economic problems that have plagued the nation.…”Bush: More domestic energy needed
“’One thing is for certain, when Congress comes back, they’ve got to understand that we need more domestic energy, not less,’ Bush said in the Roosevelt Room. ‘One place to find it is offshore America — lands that have been taken off the books, so to speak, by congressional law — and now they need to give us a chance to find more oil and gas here at home. ‘I know that the Congress has been on recess for a while, but this issue hasn’t gone away,’ he said in a nudge to lawmakers who return from recess on Sept. 8….”
State jobless rate highest since 2005
“The Wyoming unemployment rate was 3.6 percent in July compared to the national rate of 5.7 percent. “Unemployment has been slowly increasing from its recent low of 2.6 percent in April,” the Wyoming Department of Employment said in a prepared statement. “July’s rate of 3.6 percent is the highest unemployment rate Wyoming has seen since November 2005.”
Tom Gallagher with the employment department said Wyoming’s labor supply hasn’t been able to keep up with years of economic growth. He said the state has seen an increase in the number of workers commuting into the state for jobs….”
Wind, solar energy built on temporary tax breaks Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM)
“Congress is putting the short-term future of renewable energy companies in jeopardy even as the presidential candidates and most lawmakers hail windmills, solar panels and biofuels as long-term solutions to high gasoline prices and global warming. Some $500 million in investment and production tax credits will expire Dec. 31 unless Congress renews them. Without that help, solar and wind power companies say they will reverse planned expansions and, in many cases, cut payrolls and capital investment. Schott Solar has visions of quadrupling its operation in Albuquerque, N.M., to reach 1,500 jobs and $500 million in investment. But the investment tax credit, company spokesman Brian Lynch said, is what makes solar power cost competitive. Without it, expansion plans must be reconsidered. “We don’t want to build a giant factory that the market doesn’t need or want,’ Lynch said...‘These companies are shutting down projects, firing people and it’s Congress’s fault,’ said Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.’
LTE: Wyoming does not need three rubber stamps in Washington by Tom Lee of Cheyenne
“Wyoming is ready for change. We do not need three Rubber Stamp Republicans in Washington when the Democrats elect a majority, plus a president and vice president. “
Wyofile In Denver: An Outsider at an Unconventional Convention
“Denver -- I made an alarming discovery as I settled into a seat high in Section 133 of Invesco Field during Barack Obama's coronation as the Democratic Party's standard-bearer: I wasn’t there. All day long Thursday I had felt a bit like Claude Rains' invisible man, slipping in and out of the DNC's Women’s Caucus, floating unnoticed through the Youth Caucus, rebuffed at the invitation-only governor's mansion gathering for bigwigs strategizing a Democratic takeover of the West, sitting on a bus to the football stadium among a raucous bunch of ... well, women, not to put it too finely, and mostly older women, and a goodly number of them black….”
Wildfires and Personal Responsibility
“While still on staff at the Casper Star Tribune, I trained for a week with Bureau of Land Management firefighters in Casper, to earn my Red Card -- an interagency certificate signifying that one is minimally qualified to fight wildland fires. I haven't renewed my Red Card for some years -- mostly because as a middle-aged journalist, I'm really not up for the three-mile hike-in- 45- minutes test, while wearing a vest weighted with 45 pounds. (I know I should train, lose weight, and give it another shot, but while the spirit is willing, the flesh enjoys beer too much.)…”
New veterans advocate to service Northern WY (WY Army National Guard)
“Robert Bragg is the newest Wyoming veterans advocate in the northern half of Wyoming, assisting veterans who are transitioning back into civilian life from their war-time assignments. Bragg replaces Leon Chamberlin who, along with Dave Hall, were contracted by the state to help Soldiers and Airmen, along with their Navy and Marine Corps counterparts, on a one-on-one basis. Chamberlin will assist Wyoming National Guard units preparing to deploy. "We would like to give a warm welcome to Bob and are pleased to be a part of making sure our service men, women and their families receive the mental health and substance abuse services they want and need," said Regina Dodson, the Wyoming Department of Health's housing and veteran service coordinator. The advocates provide a bridge for veterans and their families to reach the right source of assistance. That includes counseling through the Veterans Administration, local mental health services and clergy….”
Man accused of Obama threat appears in court, CVN
DENVER (AP) — A federal judge has scheduled an arraignment on drug charges for a man suspected of making racist threats against Barack Obama.Wyoming Helping Gulf Coast
Four Wyoming Air National Guard members are in Louisiana helping those affected by Hurricane Gustav.
Lummis awaits word on RNC speech
“Cynthia Lummis was one of several scheduled speakers who were put on hold Monday when first-day events at the Republican National Convention. ‘We don't know if she's been postponed or canceled,’ said Lummis spokeswoman Annaliese Wiederspahn. ‘It's yet to be determined.…’”
