By Peter O'Dowd

Laramie, WY – State education officials say they have work to do in reducing the amount of risky behavior among school children. State Superintendent Jim McBride says data from the 2007 Youth Risk Behavior Survey shows an improvement in the percentage of high school students who smoke.

But McBride says he is not satisfied with the prevalence of drinking among teens, and a trend that shows many students don't wear a seatbelt.

By Addie Goss

Laramie, WY – Wyoming stores may be packed with shoppers this holiday season, but many don't have enough workers. There's a higher demand for workers over the holidays, and Wyoming's already low unemployment rate makes hiring harder here than in other states.

The Director of the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services, Joan Evans, says holiday hiring in future years may get even harder.

Cheyenne, Wy – Gov. Dave Freudenthal has endorsed Illinois' bid for a project that aims to refine coal gasification and other
"clean" technologies for coal.
Freudenthal indicated his support for Illinois on the FutureGen
project because officials there have agreed to share research and
other information regarding clean coal technologies.
Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich said it's important that
coal-producing states unite in support of FutureGen because it will
ultimately help preserve the domestic coal industry nationwide.

By AP

Laramie, WY – he University of Wyoming has opened a
center specializing in geriatric education.

The Geriatric Education Center opened last month on the campus in Laramie. It's goal is to make sure UW students and health care workers around the state have access to top geriatric education
programs.

The center operates under a grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The grant is for about $200,000 a year for three years.

By AP

Cheyenne, WY – A three-volume compilation of facts about
the state is being updated for the first time in 17 years and may be made available on the Internet.

State archivist Roger Joyce says the new Wyoming Blue Book is expected to be mailed to libraries and colleges about May 10 and should be available to the public about that time.

The price has not yet been determined.

University of Wyoming professor Phil Roberts is working on the project.

By AP

Cheyenne, WY – A $55 million business college building at
the University of Wyoming is the largest single item in Governor Dave Freudenthal's proposed capital construction budget recommendation
for the 2009-2010 biennium.

Altogether, the governor's recommendations for capital
construction amounts to nearly $153 million in general fund spending.

By Bob Beck

Gilette, WY – After fighting for years to get extra airline service in Gillette, things have changed in a big way. Sky West airlines is going to fly from Gillette into Salt Lake City, and now United Airlines is considering joining Great Lakes Air in offering service to Denver.

Airport Director Jay Lundell says the interest from United came from out of the blue. He says the sudden interest in more flights in and out of Gillette has to do with proof that the economy continues to be strong.

By Elsa Partan

Laramie, WY – Wyoming's wildlife trust fund has received far more requests than it has money. According to the director, the board must now select three-point-two million dollars in projects from a stack of applications totaling more than 17 million dollars in requests. The money comes from state coffers to pay for projects ranging from improving streams to helping sagebrush habitat.

The director of the trust, Bob Budd, says this week the board is visiting the locations where the money would be used.

Laramie, Wy – The National Park Service
has acquired inholding property located on the Moose-Wilson Road,
about five miles south of the park headquarters.
Grand Teton Superintendent Mary Gibson Scott says the
acquisition of the private property was made possible through
funding provided under the Federal Land Transaction Facilitation
Act of 2000.
The 1.4-acre tract was identified as a top priority for
acquisition, in part because it lies within an area that provides
important habitat for wildlife.

Cheyenne, Wy – One of the big problems for those who entire retirement is that they did not save enough money. This is especially true of small business people, who find they need to work well past retirement age. State Retirement Manager Tom Mann says even state employees who have retirement accounts, typically don't save enough. Mann says many don't even consider retirement until they are in their mid 50's. Mann says that is much too late. He says everyone should be investing money for retirement and they should have a savings account.