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.

Laramie, Wy – Today is the 25 year anniversary of the discovery of blackfooted ferrets. A species thought then to be extinct. It all started when a ranch dog in northwestern Wyoming brought home a black-footed ferret, proving that the species wasn't extinct and setting of what some see as among the most effective species recovery efforts in the country.
After the find by the dog researchers found a colony of ferrets -- some 129 of them living nearby. But an outbreak of canine distemper killed all but 18 before they could be captured for a captive breeding program.

Laramie, Wy – A three-week wait just to see a doctor is something people in Gillette have to deal with.
A study done by Campbell County Memorial Hospital found that Gillette is short about 11 primary care physicians. That means the community needs 11 more doctors either in family practice or internal medicine just to meet the current population needs.
Doctor Jim Naramore says it's tough on patients to have to wait that long. But, he says, it's tough on doctors, too.

By Kristin Espeland