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.

Cheyenne, Wy –
With many using their home computer to shop during the holiday season state officials say the amount of money they lose in possible sales tax revenue is in the millions. Dan Noble oversees tax collections for the Wyoming Department of Revenue and he says state and local governments have seen a significant loss of close to 80 million dollars. Noble says they are working with other states to try and resolve the issue, but after several years nothing has been approved.

Laramie, Wy – Six conservation groups say they will
challenge the National Park Service's decision to continue allowing
snowmobiles in Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks.
The groups say they will seek a court review of the decision. A
court review means a court would re-examine the case to ensure it
complies with the law. A court has to agree to the review.
The conservation organizations challenging the decision are the
Greater Yellowstone Coalition, National Parks Conservation

Rock Springs – Another Wyoming community has enacted
a smoking ordinance.
The Rock Springs City Council adopted a partial smoking ban in
public buildings, It is the fourth Wyoming community to enact some
type of smoking ban.
Bars, taverns and private clubs are exempt under the new Rock
Springs ordinance.
Meanwhile, neighboring Green River has given preliminary
approval to a similar ordinance and will hold a final vote next
month.
Both city councils have been working for several months on

Baghdad, Iraq – U.S. Sen. John Barrasso ate Thanksgiving
Day meals with Wyoming troops serving in Iraq.
He also filled them in on Wyoming news and delivered some much
sought-after beef jerky and other items.
Barrasso is traveling in Iraq with a small congressional
delegation and others. The group met with the top military
commander in Iraq and the U.S. ambassador and visited a prison.
There was some excitement when mortars struck the U.S.-protected
Green Zone in Baghdad during the time when the Senate delegation

By AP

Craig, CO – A Wyoming teenager is dead after a
one-vehicle rollover north of Craig, Colorado.

The State Patrol says 19-year-old Zachary Bennett of Baggs died from injuries sustained in the Wednesday night crash.

It happened just after 9 p.m. on Colorado Highway 13, some 35 miles north of Craig. Investigators say excessive speed and alcohol are believed to be factors in the crash.

By AP

Rapid City, SD – A South Dakota judge says exploratory
drilling for uranium can continue in southwest South Dakota near the Wyoming border.

Judge Jack Delaney's answer is to a challenge by Defenders of the Black Hills on a permit given to Powertech Uranium Corporation by the South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural
Resources.

Powertech is in the process of drilling 155 test holes and has staked 165 mining claims 8 miles southeast of Edgemont, South Dakota.