By Hayley Douglass

Laramie, WY – Governor Dave Freudenthal says he recommends that the University of Wyoming get more than 435-million dollars in the next budget session. He released his budget recommendations today in Cheyenne.

The single largest recommendation was 55-million dollars for a college of business building project. U-W President Tom Buchanan says he's happy the governor chose to support the university's priorities despite the smaller budget.

By AP

Cheyenne, WY – The typical residential customer of Cheyenne Light, Fuel and Power will see a combined monthly increase of about $14.41 in their electric and natural gas bills starting Jan. 1.

The Wyoming Public Service Commission approved increases Thursday in both the natural gas and electric rates of Cheyenne
customers.

Cheyenne Light had requested the rate hike to compensate for increased costs in providing service, particularly to fund the construction of a new generation plant at Gillette.

By AP

Casper, WY – The Bureau of Land Management has rejected a bid to purchase coal reserves in the Powder River Basin because the bid came in below the estimated fair market value.

Cordero Mining, a subsidiary of Rio Tinto Energy America, was the only bidder for the "South Maysdorf" coal tract. The tract
includes about 288 million tons of coal 15 miles south of Gillette.

Cordero's bid was just over 42 cents per ton.

By Addie Goss and Peter O'Dowd

Laramie, WY – A new survey from the University of Wyoming department of Psychology finds that many Wyoming residents attach a stigma to people with HIV/AIDS.

Psychology Professor Anne Bowen and graduate student Sara Clayton conducted the study. They say that about 40% of the people they surveyed said that people with AIDS are responsible for their illness. 20% said AIDS patients get what they deserve.

By Peter O'Dowd

Laramie, WY – Wyoming Governor Dave Freudenthal continues to highlight goals for his state budget, which he is expected to unveil this week.

The governor is proposing an increase in school funding. As he released his plan, the governor called the state's support of education unshakable.

By Bob Beck

Douglas, WY – Douglas officials are starting to see developers building homes again and they are hoping some changes in local requirements will spur more building.

City Development Director Mike Roy says construction costs are keeping developers from building homes in many smaller Wyoming communities so Roy and the city are trying to address that. He is drafting changes in local requirements that will streamline the way developers have to operate and get rid of unnecessary regulations.

By AP

Jackson, WY – A German man attempting to reach
Yellowstone National Park with a GPS device says he nearly froze to death Monday after his vehicle got stuck on a closed forest road.

Tobias Krottenthaler is a 23-year-old medical student from a town near Munich.

He says he walked for roughly seven hours Monday in sneakers, trousers, a T-shirt and a light jacket after his rental car got stuck and then ran out of gas in Caribou-Targhee National Forest in northwest Wyoming. Temperatures Monday were as low as 11 degrees in the area.

Jackson, Wy – The resurgent wolf population in the
greater Yellowstone area is causing a sharp decline in another
predator, coyotes, a new study says.
Since their reintroduction in the 1990s, wolves have killed off
or scared away almost 40 percent of coyotoes in parts of
Yellowstone National Park. In neighboring Grand Teton National
Park, coyote numbers are down 33 percent where wolves have moved
in, the study says.
Both species prey on wildlife and livestock. But because wolves

By AP

Cheyenne, WY – The Wyoming Highway Patrol reports
arresting 40 people over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

The patrol says 20 of the arrests were for impaired driving.

Four individuals were arrested on outstanding warrants and two were arrested for traveling at speeds over 100 mph. Four additional traffic stops resulted in the arrest of wanted subjects sought on outstanding nationwide felony warrants.

Troopers investigated two fatal crashes, 22 injury crashes and 152 property damage crashes.

By AP

Cheyenne, WY – Governor Dave Freudenthal wants Wyoming to spend the largest chunk of its available discretionary cash to help local governments.

Freudenthal announced today that his proposed budget will call on the state Legislature to approve $300 million in new state spending early next year for local governments. That's in addition to $108 million the state would have to spend to continue local government funding at its present level.