By AP

Jackson, Wyo. – Biologists say elk in Jackson Hole are changing their migration habits in part because of a new hunt on the southern end of the National Elk Refuge.

In past winters, elk showed up at the refuge by the thousands in November. But elk have migrated onto the southern end of the refuge in such large numbers only in recent weeks this winter.

By AP

Jackson, Wyo. – Management of the Jackson Hole Airport plans to try to create a separate law enforcement agency to police the airport despite opposition from some Wyoming sheriffs.

The Jackson Hole Airport board voted last week to try to push through a new state law that would allow the creation of a new law enforcement agency. The board voted to spend $25,000 to hire a lawyer to lobby for the effort.

By AP

Casper, Wyo. – A federal lawsuit that three neurosurgeons have filed against the Wyoming Medical Center is on track for a trial in June.

Drs. Robert A Narotsky, Thomas A. Kopitnik, and Debra Steele contend that the medical center and its overseers forced them and their group Central Wyoming Neurosurgery LLC to resign hospital privileges by creating a hostile work environment.

By Elsa Partan

Laramie, Wyo. – During the last snowstorm, the Tetons received 35 inches of snow in 30 hours. That's making for extreme avalanche danger in the mountains.

Bob Comey of the Bridger-Teton National Forest Avalanche Center says he's only listed the danger level at extreme a few times in his 15 years at the job. Yesterday was one of those times.

Today, Comey reduced the level of avalanche danger from extreme to high. He says backcountry skiers should check the avalanche centers website before heading out. It's at jhavalanche.org.

By AP

Casper, Wyo. – Hunters in the Casper area will have some new areas where they can pursue elk and other big game starting next fall.

The state's Wildlife and Natural Resource Trust Board has purchased a conservation easement on 2,840 acres of the Flying A Ranch. The land is about 50 miles northwest of Casper, on the southern end of the Big Horn Mountains in Natrona County. The easement cost $960,000.

By AP

Worland, Wyo. – Authorities in Worland are monitoring the Big Horn River because of the possibility that recent cold conditions could create an ice jam.

Acting Worland Police Chief Greg Bankert says the ice doesn't appear to be an immediate threat. But he says the city needs to make plans and monitor the situation.

Kimball Croft is local homeland security director. He says the situation usually occurs in January or February, and says ice typically overflows on the west side of the riverbank.

By AP

Cheyenne, Wyo. – Wyoming media have spoken, naming Cynthia Lummis' victory over Gary Trauner to claim Wyoming's U.S. House seat the biggest Wyoming news story of 2008.

The delisting of wolves under the Endangered Species Act - followed by their relisting under the order of a Montana federal judge - came in second.

By AP

Longmont, Colo. – Consumers are being warned not to eat some elk meat sold at a recent farmers' market in Longmont, Colorado.

State and Boulder County health officers issued a recall Wednesday for elk meat sold Dec. 13 at a farmers' market at the Boulder County Fairgrounds.

The meat comes from elk found to have chronic wasting disease at High Wire Ranch in Hotchkiss. Though the disease is thought to be harmless to humans, health officials still warn against eating meat from infected animals.

By AP

Jackson, Wyo. – Avalanche centers around the West are warning that backcountry conditions are already hazardous and likely to become even more dangerous with coming snows.

Centers in Colorado, Montana, Utah and Wyoming have issued warnings.

Bob Comey is director of the Bridger-Teton National Forest Avalanche Center in Jackson. He says area mountains already have an unstable snowpack. He says the area is expecting to see perhaps as much as 2 feet of new snow in coming days.

By AP

Albuquerque, N.M. – An environmental group wants the Environmental Protection Agency to force 16 Western states to revise their air quality rules in an effort to trim ozone pollution.

WildEarth Guardians filed a petition with the EPA on Tuesday, saying large cities in the West have already violated clean air standards limiting ozone and the problem is spreading to rural areas.