Latest Wyoming news

VIRUS OUTBREAK-WYOMING

University of Wyoming announces 7 new COVID-19 cases

CASPER, Wyo. (AP) — The University of Wyoming has announced seven confirmed cases of COVID-19 among its school community after it started the new school year online earlier this week. The Casper Star-Tribune reported that none of the cases were on campus and included three employees and two students living off campus in Laramie, one student living off campus in Casper and one student living in Colorado. The university began its fall semester online Monday with plans to return to some in-person classes by Sept. 7 before welcoming back all students by Sept. 28, officials said. Students will then finish off the semester remotely after the Thanksgiving holiday.

COAL MINING-CLIMATE

Groups seek curb on coal, oil extraction in Montana, Wyoming

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Conservation groups allege the Trump administration ignored a court order to consider reductions in coal, oil and natural gas extraction to combat climate change and air pollution. The Western Organization of Resource Councils and other groups filed a federal lawsuit Thursday that seeks to halt development of fossil fuels in the vast Powder River Basin of Montana and Wyoming. The suit challenges approval of land management plans for the region. In 2018, a judge rejected the administration’s arguments that climate change and other environmental issues could be addressed through individual mine expansions. He ordered the agency to consider alternatives, but the groups behind Thursday’s lawsuit say the administration never did before re-approving the plans.

YELLOWSTONE-GASOLINE TANKER

Overturned gasoline tanker closes Yellowstone road

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. (AP) — An overturned tanker truck carrying gasoline has closed a road in Yellowstone National Park. Yellowstone officials say the tanker overturned Thursday morning between Fishing Bridge and Mud Volcano in an area where the Grand Loop Road runs near the Yellowstone River. Yellowstone officials didn’t immediately have information about how the crash happened, whether anybody was hurt and how much gasoline might have spilled but say cleanup crews are on the scene. Another section of the loop road from West Thumb Junction to Old Faithful has reopened after being closed since Saturday due to a wildfire that has is now growing more slowly.

WYOMING-BUDGET CUTS

Wyoming governor: $250M in initial state cuts, more coming

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon says he has finalized initial state spending cuts of $250 million as part of efforts to address an over $1 billion budget shortfall. The shortfall is due to the coronavirus and downturns in the coal, oil and natural gas industries. The cuts announced Wednesday are 10% of the state budget and follow a freeze on state hiring and large contracts announced in April. The cuts will be followed by an additional 10% reduction totaling another $250 million. State Budget Director Kevin Hibbard says the cuts will result in 274 mostly full-time state jobs eliminated this year.

WYOMING HIT-AND-RUN

Woman in suspected Cheyenne hit-and-run dies

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — A woman believed to have been hit by a vehicle in Cheyenne has died. Cheyenne police said Wednesday they continue to investigate what happened to 67-year-old Ann Miner, of Torrington. Police got a report around 8:30 p.m. Monday of a woman lying on a road between a Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant and Staybridge Suites hotel. KGAB Radio reports police arrived to find that Miner had been taken to a hospital with serious injuries.

YELLOWSTONE WILDFIRE

Growing wildfire keeps road closed outside Old Faithful

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. (AP) — A wildfire that has closed a road near Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park continues to grow. The fire 3 miles (5 kilometers) southeast of Old Faithful has grown to well over 1 square mile (1.5 square kilometers) . The fire is spreading away from the busy Old Faithful area but toward a road. Park officials have closed a 19-mile stretch of the road from West Thumb Junction to Old Faithful since Saturday night. Lightning started the fire Saturday and it is burning through lodgepole pine, spruce and fir trees.