By Peter O'Dowd

Laramie, Wyo. – Plummeting mortgage rates have caused a spike in business for some banks in Wyoming.

According to a weekly survey by Freddie Mac, rates have fallen more than 1-point-3 percent on a 30-year-fixed mortgage since October. Cheyenne State Bank President Dave Cook says the lower rates of 5.1 percent have made purchasing a home or refinancing more attractive.

By AP and wpr staff

Casper, Wyo. – Wyoming's snow pack is just below normal for this time of year, but a water supply specialist says the state has more snow than it did at this time last year.

Lee Hackleman is with Natural Resources Conservation Service. His office released a report Monday that shows snow pack statewide stands at 93 percent of average. It was 83 percent of average on the same day last year. Hackleman says the best snow pack is in the Northeast Corner of Wyoming.

By AP

Cheyenne, Wyo. – Gov. Dave Freudenthal is sending a wish list to president-elect Barack Obama.

Freudenthal wrote to Obama on Monday laying out more than $1 billion in state projects the governor wants to see funded under Obama's proposed economic stimulus package.

Freudenthal says it's important that Wyoming participate in the stimulus program because Wyoming is often slower entering recessions than the rest of the country but also slower to emerge from them.

By AP

Cody, Wyo. – A 45-year-old man died when he was hit by an avalanche while ice climbing about 40 miles southwest of Cody.

The victim was identified as Keith Spencer, of Laramie.

Authorities say Spencer was climbing Friday near the top of a 1,000-foot frozen waterfall when he was knocked off the ice by an avalanche and fell to his death.

A climbing companion who escaped the avalanche reported the incident. Park County Sheriff Scott Steward described the two climbers are
very experienced.

By AP

Cheyenne, WY – A draft bill would establish a procedure for judges to follow in ordering mentally ill people accused of serious crimes to take anti-psychotic drugs to make them competent to stand trial.

The Select Committee on Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services is sponsoring a bill in the legislative session that starts Jan. 13. The State Hospital in Evanston requested the bill. Officials say the bill would make state law conform with the latest U.S. Supreme Court ruling on the issue.

By Peter O'Dowd

By Peter O'Dowd

Laramie, Wyo. – More than a foot of snow has fallen on parts of Western Wyoming since New Years Day. But National Weather Service Forecaster Kevin Lynott says relief is finally on its way.

"What's clear cut about it, it should end pretty abruptly sometime tonight or at the very latest Saturday morning. And then it looks like it will just be cold, and at the very least a few flurries in the high country."

By Peter O'Dowd

Laramie, Wyo. – The Wyoming Cowboys begin conference play this weekend at Utah. Head Coach Heath Schroyer says this year's Mountain West Conference is ranked 6th in the country. He says it's the most competitive he's ever seen the league.

"I think this league is as good as it's ever been," he says. "From top to bottom, you have to be ready to play 16 nights. And on any given night, anybody can beat anybody."

Schroyer says the Cowboys face an early schedule challenge.

By AP

Cheyenne, Wyo. – A new computer program developed in Wyoming helps energy companies mitigate the effects of drilling on the environment.

The program was developed as a result of work by The Nature Conservancy and BP America Production Co. to replace habitat lost from prolific drilling in the natural-gas-rich Jonah Field in southwest Wyoming.

Their effort was to be included as a case study published this month in the scientific journal BioScience.

By AP

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. – More earthquakes are rattling Yellowstone National Park.

The small earthquakes that began in the park a week ago continue. They include three more earthquakes Friday that measured stronger than magnitude 3.0. A quake of magnitude 3.5 happened at 11:30 a.m., followed by quakes measuring 3.2 and 3.1 at 12:40 p.m. and 1:15 p.m., according to the University of Utah Seismic Stations.