Washington D-C – Congress has given final approval to an overhaul of federal higher education programs. Wyoming Sen. Mike Enzi was one of the lawmakers in on years of negotiations.
The bill known as the College Opportunity and Affordability Act, is the result of nearly three years of debate. It expands the number of people who can qualify for government-backed loans and federal stipends called Pell Grants.
It lets students who were home-schooled qualify for grants for the first time. It also streamlines the application process for financial aid.

Pinedale, Wy – The state Department of Environmental Quality says it has created new rules to keep air pollution from getting worse in Pinedale. The DEQ says it will push companies to offset any new minor pollution sources by eliminating pollution elsewhere in their operations. Minor sources would include small pieces of equipment in the gas and oil fields. Director John Corra says it's an interim rule.
"What we mean by interim is, we may make that policy final, but we wanted to make sure that industry knew that we're not done looking at our regulatory tools."

Laramie, Wy – Users of non motorized trails in the Pole Mountain area of the Medicine Bow National forest have been encountering a growing number of off road vehicles this summer. The trails near Laramie, normally feature hikers, mountain bike riders and runners. But lately those people have encountered All Terrain Vehicles and Motorcycles. Laramie District Ranger Larry Sandoval admits there is a growing problem which is why they will be adding a new law enforcement officer next month for that area.

Washington D-C – Wyoming's two senators, John Barrasso and Mike Enzi, are holding on to campaign cash donated by indicted Republican Sen. Ted Stevens of Alaska. Stevens' political action committee has donated $6,000 to
Barrasso since he was nominated to the Senate in June 2007 and $10,000 to Enzi since 2001. Both senators are up for election this November.

Pinedale, Wy – A wildfire north of Pinedale is consuming large swaths of beetle-killed trees. According to fire officials, it's the second big fire in Western Wyoming this season that's doing more good than harm. Another fire is burning beetle-killed trees west of Cody. And so far, neither has threatened any buildings. Bridger Teton National Forest spokeswoman Mary Cernicek says it's the first stage of recovery from the beetle infestation. She says it will help clear out the forest.

Cody, Wy – A wildfire burning in the Shoshone
National Forest east of Yellowstone National Park has grown to more
than 3 square miles.
The Gunbarrel Fire is burning about 20 miles from Yellowstone's
east entrance and 40 miles west of Cody.
A Forest Service spokesman says no buildings face an immediate
threat but crews are taking precautionary measures by creating
defensible space and setting up sprinklers around buildings that
are about two miles from the fire. Those buildings are on the North
Fork of the Shoshone River.

Laramie, Wy – Wyoming's largest electrical utility,
Rocky Mountain Power, is asking state regulators for permission to increase rates by about 7 percent.
Residential rates would increase by a little less than 3 percent.
Company officials say the increase is needed to cover the cost
of Wyoming's growing demand for electricity. They say that money
raised by the rate increase would go toward building new power
generation and power lines.
Utah-based Rocky Mountain Power also is seeking permission from

By Bob Beck

Laramie, WY – Keith Goodenough says part of the nation's energy policy should include conservation. But he's not interested in moving ahead with more drilling, especially in sensitive areas like the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge: "I don't support drilling in ANWR or offshore right now. We're going to need oil in 30 or 40 years more than we do right now. I think we should save that as part of a strategic reserve."

By AP

Lander, WY – Ranchers and livestock officials say a western Wyoming rancher who has seen more than 20 of his cattle test positive for brucellosis would have much to lose and little to gain by slaughtering his entire herd.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is pushing the rancher to slaughter the animals. If he doesn't do that, Wyoming will lose its federal brucellosis-free status.

By AP

Cheyenne, Wyo. – The Anschutz Corp. has taken over as
developer of a $3 billion power line project that would carry electricity from Wyoming to the southwest United States.

Denver-based Anschutz announced Tuesday it has taken over as developer of the TransWest Express Project through an affiliate.

The proposed project involves building a 900-mile, 3,000-megawatt high-voltage transmission line to deliver Wyoming wind-generated power.