By Matthew Brown, AP

Billings, Mont. – A company seeking to build a major port to ship U.S. coal to Asia has cancelled a hearing on the proposal following accusations it concealed plans for a much larger project.

Documents obtained Thursday by The Associated Press show executives involved in the proposal discussed a Columbia River port that could handle 80 million tons of coal annually.

That's about 15 times the volume outlined in the port's development application.

By MEAD GRUVER, AP

Cheyenne, Wyo. – The director of the Wyoming Livestock Board has submitted his resignation amid conflict with board members about how to run the state agency.

The agency is in charge of protecting the state's cattle, sheep and other livestock from disease and rustling.

Jim Schwartz has been director since 2006. The board voted Thursday to accept his resignation effective June 30 and look for a new director.

By Bob Beck

Cheyenne, Wyo. – The Wyoming Senate has taken a major step toward eliminating a driver's right to refuse a blood alcohol test in cases of suspected DUI. Currently, when a driver is suspected of driving under the influence he or she can refuse such a test. Law enforcement officials say that can make it difficult to prosecute repeat offenders who are savvy about the law.

By Bob Beck

Cheyenne, Wyo. – A bill that would strip the Environmental Quality Council of its ability to declare areas of the state "very rare or uncommon" has gained initial support in the State Senate.

By AP

Cheyenne, Wyo. – Former Wyoming Gov. Dave Freudenthal has been elected to the board of directors of St. Louis-based Arch Coal.

The company announced Wednesday that Freudenthal joins the board effective immediately.

Arch Coal sold more than 160 million tons of coal last year, much of it mined from the Powder River Basin in northeast Wyoming. Wyoming produces about 40 percent of the nation's coal, more than any other state.

By AP

Cheyenne, Wyo. – A man has died almost two weeks after he fell 60 feet from an oil rig in Converse County.

The Wyoming state worker's safety office says 50-year-old Mitchell Lemley, of Riverton, fell Feb. 2 at the drilling rig 22 miles north of Douglas. He died Feb. 15.

Lemley worked for Casper-based SST Energy, which was drilling the well for another company.

It was the second death in Wyoming's oil and gas industry this year. An exploding pipe killed a worker at a rig in the Pinedale area in January.

By Bob Beck

Cheyenne, Wyo. – The Wyoming House has taken a step toward allowing citizens to carry concealed weapons without a permit. Supporters say that is a constitutional right. For example, Jackson Representative Keith Gingery says citizens can currently carry weapons openly without a permit, and this measure would simply extend that, to give those who want to conceal their weapons the same right.

By Bob Beck

Cheyenne, Wyo. – The issue of teacher tenure has returned, in a bill being debated by the Wyoming House of Representatives.

In a measure that develops teacher accountability standards, the House decided that teachers should have to work for five years before earning tenure instead of the current three years. If teachers change school districts after acquiring tenure, the bill would now require that they wait another four years before they regain tenure.

By Bob Beck

Cheyenne, Wyo. – Once again, the Wyoming Legislature has voted against raising the fine for not wearing a seatbelt. The House of Representatives declined an attempt to raise the current fine from $25 to $75.

By Bob Beck

Cheyenne, Wyo. – The Wyoming legislature is slated to debate two high-profile bills in conference committees. One bill would keep gay marriages from being recognized in Wyoming. The House version of the bill also bans civil unions from being recognized in the state, unlike the Senate version. And that will be a key topic of discussion.