By AP

By AP

Cheyenne, WY – State economic analysts say the cost of living in Wyoming didn't rise in the second quarter of 2009.

Thanks to continued drops in the price of gasoline, as well as greatly reduced price increases for housing and food, the state's cost-of-living index was the same as it was in the second quarter of 2008.

Senior economist Justin Ballard says while residents haven't had to pay too much more for housing or consumer items, the stagnant prices are a sign that the state is finally feeling the nationwide recession.

By Addie Goss

Cody, WY – Park County has pulled out of a state program that helps towns and counties upgrade buildings to make them more energy efficient.

The program is known as WYECIP. Communities contract with an energy services company, which identifies possible improvements like lower-energy lights and better-insulated windows. Counties can borrow money to pay for improvements... and pay it back with the money it saves on utility bills.

By Molly Messick

Laramie, WY – The state Department of Health expects Wyoming's first doses of H1N1 vaccine to arrive tomorrow or Friday. Spokeswoman Kim Deti says this initial shipment won't be big: "We're getting 34 hundred doses total for the state, so that the amounts for counties is going to range from 100 doses to 400 doses. So off the bat we're looking at a pretty small amount but we expect that to increase as these weeks go along."

By Bob Beck

By Renny Mackay

By Molly Messick

By Bob Beck

By Renny Mackay

Cheyenne, Wy – The Cash for Clunkers program has essentially wrapped up. The federal government has reimbursed nearly all car dealers who gave out money for older cars. In Wyoming, car dealers got about $2.5 million through the program.

The president of the state's automobile dealers association, Bob Womack, says Cash for Clunkers was a shot in the arm, but business has already dropped off again and may not pick up for a while.

By Renny Mackay

Laramie, Wy – Early reports on Wyoming's summer tourism season show that visitation was up this year but revenue from tourists was generally down. The director of the Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce, Tim O'Donoghue, says people were still drawn to popular areas like the national parks, but they spent less, especially in retail stores.

"People do need roofs over their heads," he says. "They need places to eat and they come here to do activities but it is retail where people are cutting back on their expenses."