Riverton, Wy – The state of Wyoming has signed an
agreement with the Northern Arapaho Tribe to provide for the
delivery of social services to needy families.
Governor Dave Freudenthal and Northern Arapaho leaders approved
the agreement today (Tuesday) on the Wind River Reservation.
The agreement concerns the delivery of services through the
federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program. The
Wyoming Department of Family Services has helped with the delivery
of social services to the tribes since the 1970s and the contract

Casper, Wy – Child abuse and neglect are on the rise in
Wyoming, but drug and alcohol use by youngsters is on they way
down.
That's from a report released today (Tuesday) by the Wyoming
Children and Families Initiative.
The report is called the "Wyoming Family Photo," and it
details how Wyoming is progressing in trying to improve its living
standards for families and children.
The report also shows that the percentage of Wyoming residents
not covered by health insurance declined slightly between 2002 and

Laramie, Wy – An executive with one Wyoming oil refinery explains recent changes in oil and gas prices in Wyoming by saying the market is in transition.
Last week, Governor Dave Freudenthal wrote a letter to three area refineries asking them to explain why gas was more expensive in Wyoming and other mountain states than in states to the East. When Freudenthal wrote the letter, a gallon of regular unleaded cost an average of two-dollars-and-70-cents in Wyoming -- 26 cents higher than South Dakota, and 35 cents higher than Nebraska.

Laramie, Wy – Southeastern Wyoming is about to have its first in-patient hospice center. That's a facility that cares for people at the end of their lives. This one is opening to the public in November at the United Medical Center hospital in Cheyenne. Grant Coordinator, Stephanie Forrest-Yavuzturk, says until now people in the area have had to go out of state for hospice care or they stayed at home, but that's not everyone's preference.

Laramie, Wy – Great Lakes Airlines plans to begin using smaller airplanes on flights to and from Riverton during the winter months.
The manager of the Riverton Regional Airport says starting next month, the airline will replace the 30-seat airplanes currently in use with 19-seaters. The larger planes will return in January.
The manager Bill Urbigkit says the airline told him revenue from the Riverton market in the winter months is only about half what it is in the summer.

Laramie, Wy – U-S District Judge Clarence Brimmer is
retiring today after 31 years on the bench.
Brimmer is 84 years old. He was appointed by President Ford after serving as U-S attorney for Wyoming and as the state's attorney general.
Important cases Brimmer has overseen in recent years include lawsuits against snowmobiling in Yellowstone National Park and efforts to block logging in roadless areas of national forests.
Brimmer suffered a mild stroke in March. Despite retiring, he's planning to continue a full caseload as a senior judge.

By AP

By Kristin Espeland

By Elsa Heidorn

Laramie, WY – Governor Freudenthal has made an unusual request to the state's congressional delegation. He wants them to sponsor legislation that would offer to buy back natural gas leases in southwest Wyoming's Jack Morrow Hills. The conservation group Friends of the Red Desert says it would be a good step forward, but they'd like to see even more done to protect the land.

Laramie, Wy – Sheridan County in northern Wyoming has seen an abundance of mineral wealth from the production of coal-bed methane.
Officials with coal-bed methane companies say wells could produce for another ten to 20 years or so if the market remains strong.
But, some in the community are thinking about the end of the boom Sheridan Mayor Dave Kinskey says the city can survive as long as a "soft landing" takes place.