Billings, MT – States worried about brucellosis-infected
cattle are imposing strict rules on Montana cattle, especially those from counties surrounding Yellowstone National Park.

Nebraska state veterinarian Dennis Hughes says cattle coming to Nebraska from Madison, Gallatin, Park, Sweet Grass, Stillwater and Carbon counties will have to be certified brucellosis-free. All
animals older than 18 months will have to test negative for the disease, even if they're not going to market.

There are less stringent rules for counties farther away from the park.

Boise, Idaho – The National Interagency Fire Center says
fire activity in the western United States has prompted the agency to raise its national preparedness to level 5, its highest ranking.

John Glenn, spokesman for the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, says burning conditions this fire season are expected to grow more
severe throughout the west.

The agency upped its national preparedness to level 5 early Tuesday.

Jackson, WY – The nation's Western governors are
embarking on a plan to draft a national energy policy, saying the country needs direction and leadership on the issue.

Governors participating in the Western Governors' Association meeting Tuesday in Wyoming say their resource-rich region is well positioned to take the lead on the issue.

They hope their framework will influence whichever presidential administration assumes power in 2009.

By Elsa Partan

Laramie, WY – About 110 firefighters from Wyoming are helping with the fires in California and the Southwest.

The Casper Dispatch Center's Cheryl Carpenter, says her area alone has sent about 36 firefighters to California.

"We're supporting each other," she said.

By Addie Goss

Laramie, Wyo. – The Interior Department announced today it will put one million dollars toward protecting an ancient migration corridor in Wyoming.

Each year, pronghorn antelope migrate 170 miles from southwest Wyoming to Grand Teton National Park. And each year, that path is getting narrower - as wells are drilled, houses are built, and fences go up around them.

By Peter O'Dowd

Laramie, Wyo. – Former University of Wyoming swimmer Scott Usher is one step closer to making the U-S Olympic team for the second time.

Usher will swim in the 100-meter breaststroke finals at the Olympic trials in Omaha tonight.

Two other U-W swimmers have failed to make the finals in that event. C

oach Tom Johnson says making the team will be a long-shot. Regardless, he says the national meet has been a learning experience for his swimmers.

By AP

BILLINGS, Mont. – Two conservation groups have asked the government to impose new restrictions on oil and gas development in the West to protect the greater sage grouse, a popular but declining game bird.

The groups say without such restrictions, the chicken-sized grouse could end up on the endangered species list. That could shut down public hunting - an outcome the groups say they want to avoid.

Last week, the groups filed a legal petition asking the Department of Interior to block drilling within two miles of grouse breeding areas.

Wyoming – Libertarian Vice Presidential Candidate Wayne Root shares some of his views with Wyoming Public Radio's Bob Beck

Wyoming – Since Democrats took over Capitol Hill two years ago, Congress has seen a flurry of proposals to designate more wilderness areas. Among them is one that sets aside millions of acres in the Northern Rockies as Elizabeth Wynne Johnson reports

Wyoming – State veterinarians from Montana, Idaho and Wyoming are discussing recent outbreaks of Brucellosis and what the next move is. Addie Goss speaks with Assistant state veterinarian Jim Logan about some of his concerns.