By Elsa Partan

Laramie, WY – A lot of young, blue-collar workers moved to Wyoming from other states in 2006.

According to new census data, that made Wyoming the fourth most popular state to move to last year.

USA Today analyzed the new data and ranked the District of Columbia in first place, Nevada in second, and Alaska in third.

That's in terms of the percentage of people who moved there from out of state in 2006.

By AP

Dayton, WY – A fire destroyed two houses and a truck in the Dayton area early Monday.

No one was hurt.

The fire broke out in a vacant home about five-and-a-half miles northwest of Dayton at the base of the Big Horn Mountains.

Sheridan Fire Marshal Brian Songer said the flames spread to a carport, destroying a truck. High winds then caused the fire to spread to a neighboring house.

A woman in the neighboring house reported the fire around 4:30 a.m.

Songer said the cause of the fire would be investigated.

By AP

Gillette, WY – A man who drove into a coal mine in the Gillette area has died.

Wyoming Highway Patrol Trooper William Beres said investigators still don't know why 28-year-old Bradley Smith drove off Interstate 90 and into the Wyodak mine on Thursday.

Smith died Friday at Wyoming Medical Center in Casper.

Smith was wearing his seat belt and drove more than half a mile before the sport-utility vehicle went over the mine's 40-foot high wall.

By AP

Jackson, WY – Snow King Ski Area in Jackson is scheduled to open Tuesday after snowmaking crews worked over the weekend.

The other two resorts in western Wyoming have already opened.

Grand Targhee Resort in western Teton County has four of its five lifts open. On Sunday, Grand Targhee reported a 66-inch base, deepest in the Rocky Mountain region.

Jackson Hole Mountain Resort opened its Apres Vous and Teewinot lifts on Saturday. The resort reported a 35-inch base on the upper mountain and 23 inches at mid-mountain.

By AP

Cheyenne, WY – A federal judge has postponed trial for former Campbell County Fire Chief Gary Scott, who's accused of having sex with minors.

Trial for Scott had been scheduled to start Monday. Federal Judge Clarence Brimmer last week rescheduled the trial for next March.

Scott is charged with 12 counts of crossing state lines to have sex with a minor. He is accused of transporting four minors across state lines to engage in illegal sexual activity.

Scott has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

By AP

Cheyenne, WY – The number of people killed on Wyoming's roads and highways is down significantly so far this year.

As of Sunday, 137 people had died on Wyoming roads so far this year. That's down from 177 deaths over the same period last year.

At that rate, the state would finish with 150 traffic deaths this year. Wyoming has averaged 174 deaths on its roads and highways for the past five years, and last year's total was 195.

By Peter O'Dowd

Laramie, WY – Community college leaders are turning to state lawmakers after the governor did not recommend funding campus construction projects. Wyoming law does not require the state to provide money for building residence halls or similar projects, even though education officials say they are badly needed.

By Elsa Partan

Laramie, WY – State Representative Colin Simpson says he will not run for Wyoming's lone congressional seat in the next election.

The position is open next year because of Barbara Cubin's retirement.

Simpson says he thought very carefully over the last few months before making his decision.

"The impact to my family, and I have two boys who are eight and five, I thought was just too great. It was a tough opportunity to pass up, but the time just isn't right for my family," Simpson said.

By AP

Cheyenne, WY – The Bureau of Land Management is pulling 28,500 acres in a south-central Wyoming mountain valley from an oil and gas lease sale scheduled for next week.

Wyoming Gov. Dave Freudenthal, the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission and conservation groups had objected to leasing the land for possible oil and gas development for various reasons.

The state is mainly concerned about sage grouse habitat in the Saratoga Valley.

By AP

Greybull, WY – A lease agreement has been worked out that could provide up to $45 million to build an ethanol plant in Greybull.

Big Horn Basin Ethanol announced it has worked out a lease agreement with Bronte Renewable of Canada.

The Ontario company will own the plant, and Big Horn Basin Ethanol will lease and operate it.

Big Horn Basin Ethanol President Tom Johnson says additional financing will come from a North Carolina banking company.

If the lease agreement becomes final, construction may begin as early as next July.