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December 11th, 2009 Listen to the Whole Show   Public Assistance Not Available to All Seekers Like a lot of places across the country, Wyoming has seen a massive increase in the numbers of those now on food stamps. Converse County has seen a 62 percent increase since 2007, Sweetwater County a 105 percent hike and Teton County a 119 percent increase. Most of Wyoming’s increase has occurred in the last year, when the railroads, oil and gas drilling and construction jobs shut down. These numbers are up despite the fact that many Wyoming people can’t get assistance. Wyoming Public Radio’s Bob Beck Reports…

A listing of today's stories

Public Assistance Not Available to All Seekers Like a lot of places across the country, Wyoming has seen a massive increase in the numbers of those now on food stamps. Converse County has seen a 62 percent increase since 2007, Sweetwater County a 105 percent hike and Teton County a 119 percent increase. Most of Wyoming's increase has occurred in the last year, when the railroads, oil and gas drilling and construction jobs shut down. These numbers are up despite the fact that many Wyoming people can't get assistance. Wyoming Public Radio's Bob Beck Reports Hiring in Jackson Hole is Slow In Teton County, employment is decreasing. According to the latest figures available, Teton County has the second highest unemployment rate in the state. It's more than 8 percent. While that's still below the national rate, it's triple the unemployment the county reported during this same period a year ago. It's a significant reversal for a county where jobs, not too long ago, outnumbered available workers, and seasonal turnover was common. Now a tight job market has both employers and employees changing their behavior. Wyoming Public Radio's Rebecca Huntington reports. One Sector of Pinedale Housing Market Stays Hot It's a familiar scenario in Wyoming. As extractive industry booms, workers come in needing places to live, and rents and home prices go sky-high. That chain reaction played out in Pinedale with the start of natural gas drilling nearby. These days Pinedale isn't a real estate broker's goldmine - but there is one niche in the market where prices still rival New York City. Wyoming Public Radio's Molly Messick has more. New Political Party Seeks Ballot The Constitution Party is vying for a spot on Wyoming's 20-10 ballot. The party harks back to the Founding Fathers. One of its goals is a limited federal government... based on Biblical foundations. Nan Hinck of Afton is the Constitution Party chair in Wyoming. She is helping mobilize volunteers to get the nearly 5-thousand signatures necessary to become the fourth registered political party in Wyoming in time for next year's elections. She tells Addie Goss that Wyomingites can identify with the Constitution Party's platform. Saratoga Deals with Underage Drinking and Crimes that Come with It Last year during the holidays a group of teenagers in the town of Saratoga got together for a night of drinking. It ended with charges filed and lives changed. Because minors were involved and because of the nature of the crime, the law does not allow us to air many details. What we have is this report from Wyoming Public Radio's Renny MacKay on the aftermath and possible lessons to learn Prosecuting Crimes Like This The Carbon County prosecuting attorney would not return phone calls or emails for this story. But we were able to talk to Sheridan County Attorney Matt Redle. He is a member of the state's coalition against domestic violence and sexual assault. Redle tells Bob Beck prosecuting one of these cases is challenging. Legislature's Plans for Dealing with Workplace Deaths A state task force this week released data on what's causing the bulk of deaths on the job in Wyoming. The group told the legislature's Joint Labor Committee that a lack of seat belts and workers not following safety rules were two of the biggest reasons why Wyoming has one of the highest workplace fatality rates in the nation. Representative Jack Landon of Sheridan chairs the House Labor Committee. He tells Addie Goss what jumped out to him most from the data was how many workplace deaths occur on the road. Vets Get Help Coming Home The transition from war to civilian life is extremely difficult, no matter where a service member calls home. But in a state as rural as Wyoming, veterans don't always come home to towns with counselors, support groups, or even other soldiers they can easily talk to. In Laramie, a veteran of the war in Afghanistan has come up with his own way to help service members return to everyday life. It's a group called Firefighters for Veterans, based at the Laramie Fire Department. Wyoming Public Radio's Addie Goss reports. UW Coach Heads to Iraq to Help Debate Next week, the University of Wyoming's highly acclaimed debate coach will be in Iraq. Matt Stannard is helping to teach debate for the Iraq Debate academy. Coaches from around the world will join to help the Iraq society engage in civil discourse. Mr. Stannard joins Bob Beck