By AP

Pinedale, WY – The Bureau of Land Management has issued its final decision on how to handle the conflicting mineral and wildlife concerns in the Pinedale area of southwest Wyoming.

The new management plan, which was publicly released Wednesday, covers 1,875 square miles of mineral estate the agency owns in the Pinedale area.

By Peter O'Dowd

Laramie, WY – Researchers are learning more about sage grouse habitat to help protect the bird from energy development. Wyoming Audubon's Brian Rutledge says scientists already understand the birds' behavior near their spring breeding grounds, or leks, "but after that, the data becomes less complete on where they spend their summers, where they spend their winters, before they return to the lek again the next spring."

By Bob Beck

Cheyenne, Wy – An assisted living provider is selling five of its eight facilities in Wyoming. Sunwest Management is based in Salem, Ore. and is the fourth-largest provider of senior housing in the country. But it is struggling to survive a financial crisis that left the company unable to pay the mortgage on dozens of its properties
nationwide.
Steve Stradley, a spokesman for Sunwest, said the company has
put some of its properties up for sale as part of a restructuring
plan.
The Wyoming Tribune Eagles reports that the facilities in the

By Bob Beck

Cheyenne, Wy –
A recent survey of Wyoming National Guard members showed strong support for their training and service in the guard. 75 percent were satisfied with topics ranging from promotions and support from employers. Over 90 percent say they are well trained. Wyoming Adjutant General Ed Wright says is pleased with the results but he also credits the support systems around the soldiers, including families and employers.
Wright believes the support for the guard in Wyoming remains at a very high level.

By Bob Beck

Cheyenne, Wy – State officials say the value of Wyoming's investments stabilized in November after falling by roughly $1 billion in the previous two months.
Figures released on Thursday by the Wyoming State Treasurer's
Office say that the market value of the state's investment
portfolio was $9.8 billion at the end of November. That's up just
slightly from its value at the end of October. Those figures don't
include the value of separate funds in the state employee
retirement system.

By Bob Beck

Green River, WY – Sweetwater County Commissioners have voted to approve a resolution that asks to expand protections for the Adobe Town area in southwestern Wyoming.

By Elsa Partan

Laramie, Wyo. – A group in Cody is concerned about plans for increased oil and gas development in Park County. They're meeting on Thursday evening to discuss how to make sure it's done right.

By Bob Beck