By Bob Moen, AP

Cheyenne, Wyo. – State schools Superintendent Jim McBride says this year's student assessment testing scores should not be used to judge whether Wyoming schools are meeting federal education goals.

McBride made the announcement Monday after hearing some 30 local school district superintendents from around the state report problems with this year's Proficiency Assessments for Wyoming Students, or PAWS, test.

By Molly Messick

Laramie, Wyo. – A small group in Laramie is working to bring Bill Ayers to speak in the community, weeks after his visit to the University of Wyoming was canceled amid controversy. Ayers is a radical 1960s activist-turned-academic. U-W officials cited security concerns in canceling the scheduled appearance. Nevertheless, that decision set off a debate about academic freedom.

By AP

Cheyenne, Wyo. – U.S. postal inspectors and police are investigating reports of mail being stolen from residents' mailboxes in the south and east parts of Cheyenne.

By Renny MacKay

Laramie, WY – The Wyoming National Guard's largest deployment ever is over. The final group of soldiers landed on state soil last week. All of the more than 700 Guard members who deployed to Iraq and Kuwait survived And most never experienced combat, they escorted convoys, ran an entire base and oversaw troop movement in Kuwait. But this doesn't mean the soldiers don't face challenges as they get used to life back home. Wyoming Public Radio's Renny MacKay reports.

By Bob Beck

Casper, WY – Casper City Manager Tom Forslund says the city will need to layoff 17 people if it wants to balance its budget next year.
Council members were to discuss the matter Monday during an
afternoon work session. In a memo sent Friday, Forslund says the
5.5 percent drop in payroll this year isn't enough to balance the
budget.
Currently there are 30 vacant positions out of 550 city jobs and
the additional cuts will be needed to match expenses with projected
revenue.

By Molly Messick

By Renny MacKay

By Renny MacKay

Cheyenne, Wy – The Wyoming Business Council is about to start giving out rebates for the purchase of certain energy - efficient appliances. The program is funded by the stimulus package , and nearly 500 thousand dollars will be available to state residents starting on April 15th. Heather Tupper with the state energy office says people interested should start researching which appliances qualify and the process of getting the rebate. She says it's important to be prepared, because there is a lot of interest in this program.

By Bob Beck

Laramie, Wyo. – Three members of the International Council of 13 Indigenous Grandmothers are in Riverton this weekend. They'll discuss big topics including how to save the planet. Margaret Behan represents the Arapaho and Cheyenne Indian tribes. She says there are two main goals for the Wyoming visit.

"Our mission is to bring world peace for our grandchildren and great grandchildren and to heal mother earth," she said. "We believe that all of this work can be done as you and I are speaking now."