By Bob Beck

Laramie, WY – Wyoming saw a population increase of over ten thousand people last year and many of them are families.

Since the start of the energy boom, workers have come to the state, but only on a temporary basis. State Economist Amy Bittner says that things have changed.

Bittner says more houses have been built in the state. She adds that they are seeing a growth in young families coming to the state, a trend they have not seen in years.

By Peter O'Dowd

Laramie, WY – At this time next year, the Wyoming Army National Guard could deploy about 15-hundred soldiers to active duty overseas.

That's up from just 16 who are deployed now. They're training Afghan military personnel. Colonel Greg Porter says the Wyoming guard is preparing to send a brigade of soldiers overseas in April 2009.

An additional 16 soldiers will begin a 400-day deployment in May. Porter says they will replace the guard members who are bringing the Afghan military to modern standards.

By Bob Beck

Laramie, WY – For the first time in history the Wyoming Cowgirls will play in the N-C-A-A tournament, but the players want more then one game.

Cowgirl Guard Jodi Bollerjack says the team wants to prove that it belongs. She says the team will need to be physical and rebound well if it expects to be Pittsburgh.

Head Coach Joe Legerski says poor rebounding hurt Wyoming in each of its losses. He says that will probably be a key. Tipoff is Saturday at 2:30. The game will be televised by ESPN-two.

Cheyenne, Wy – A legislative interim committee is set to
study Wyoming's workers' compensation program, which has rebounded
from a deficit in the 1980s to a cash reserve of $925 million this
year.
Worker advocates say the reserve was not the result of
overpayment by employers. Rather, they say the surplus was built on
money that should have been paid to injured workers but never was.
Representative Tom Lubnau says he wants to examine the structure
of premiums and benefits to determine if the program could sustain

Yellowstone National Park – An eight-year-old plan would give bison
grazing room outside Yellowstone National Park. But it's never been
put in place, because promised federal funding hasn't materialized.
The Interagency Bison Management Plan, adopted in 2000, provided
for a 2.8 million dollar, 30-year lease of bison grazing rights on
the Royal Teton Ranch next to the park. The lease would give the
bison another 7,500 acres of winter habitat.
The federal government pledged 1.5 million dollars toward the

Cheyenne, Wy – A lawyer for the state of Wyoming asked a panel of federal judges in Denver to uphold a state law that allows people
convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence to regain their firearms
rights.
But an opposing federal lawyer representing the Bureau of
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives told the three-judge
panel that the state law fails to achieve its objective of making
those with misdemeanor convictions eligible to own firearms again.
To reach a decision in the case, the three judges with the 10th

Cody, Wy – A study group hoping to keep the Sylvan pass open thinks they are making headway in negotiating with Yellowstone National Park. Park officials wanted to close the east entrance to Yellowstone when there was a threat of avalanches. But Park County Commissioner Tim French believes they are willing to budge from that position. French adds that to reach an agreement local officials will also have to budge. "As long as they will do avalanche control and we can have access 80-percent of the time, we can compromise on this."

Laramie, Wy – More communities across the state are taking a closer look at improving their public transportation opportunities. Gillette is the latest to undertake a study to provide more services. State Public transit coordinator John Black says places like Jackson, Casper and Cheyenne have all improved their public transit. He says other towns would like to do the same but the cost of such services is holding them back.

Laramie, Wy – More communities across the state are taking a closer look at improving their public transportation opportunities. Gillette is the latest to undertake a study to provide more services. State Public transit coordinator John Black says places like Jackson, Casper and Cheyenne have all improved their public transit. He says other towns would like to do the same but the cost of such services is holding them back.

Laramie, Wy – More communities across the state are taking a closer look at improving their public transportation opportunities. Gillette is the latest to undertake a study to provide more services. State Public transit coordinator John Black says places like Jackson, Casper and Cheyenne have all improved their public transit. He says other towns would like to do the same but the cost of such services is holding them back.