By Elsa Partan

Laramie, WY – State Representative Colin Simpson says he will not run for Wyoming's lone congressional seat in the next election.

The position is open next year because of Barbara Cubin's retirement.

Simpson says he thought very carefully over the last few months before making his decision.

"The impact to my family, and I have two boys who are eight and five, I thought was just too great. It was a tough opportunity to pass up, but the time just isn't right for my family," Simpson said.

By AP

Cheyenne, WY – The Bureau of Land Management is pulling 28,500 acres in a south-central Wyoming mountain valley from an oil and gas lease sale scheduled for next week.

Wyoming Gov. Dave Freudenthal, the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission and conservation groups had objected to leasing the land for possible oil and gas development for various reasons.

The state is mainly concerned about sage grouse habitat in the Saratoga Valley.

By AP

Greybull, WY – A lease agreement has been worked out that could provide up to $45 million to build an ethanol plant in Greybull.

Big Horn Basin Ethanol announced it has worked out a lease agreement with Bronte Renewable of Canada.

The Ontario company will own the plant, and Big Horn Basin Ethanol will lease and operate it.

Big Horn Basin Ethanol President Tom Johnson says additional financing will come from a North Carolina banking company.

If the lease agreement becomes final, construction may begin as early as next July.

By Renny MacKay

Cheyenne, WY – Governor Dave Freudenthal today unveiled his budget recommendations for the next two years.

The governor says the state has about as much money as it did two years ago, but there has been a significant increase in ongoing spending. He points to the Department and Health and Community Colleges as two areas that now need more funding every year.

By Hayley Douglass

Laramie, WY – Governor Dave Freudenthal says he recommends that the University of Wyoming get more than 435-million dollars in the next budget session. He released his budget recommendations today in Cheyenne.

The single largest recommendation was 55-million dollars for a college of business building project. U-W President Tom Buchanan says he's happy the governor chose to support the university's priorities despite the smaller budget.

By AP

Cheyenne, WY – The typical residential customer of Cheyenne Light, Fuel and Power will see a combined monthly increase of about $14.41 in their electric and natural gas bills starting Jan. 1.

The Wyoming Public Service Commission approved increases Thursday in both the natural gas and electric rates of Cheyenne
customers.

Cheyenne Light had requested the rate hike to compensate for increased costs in providing service, particularly to fund the construction of a new generation plant at Gillette.

By AP

Casper, WY – The Bureau of Land Management has rejected a bid to purchase coal reserves in the Powder River Basin because the bid came in below the estimated fair market value.

Cordero Mining, a subsidiary of Rio Tinto Energy America, was the only bidder for the "South Maysdorf" coal tract. The tract
includes about 288 million tons of coal 15 miles south of Gillette.

Cordero's bid was just over 42 cents per ton.

By Addie Goss and Peter O'Dowd

Laramie, WY – A new survey from the University of Wyoming department of Psychology finds that many Wyoming residents attach a stigma to people with HIV/AIDS.

Psychology Professor Anne Bowen and graduate student Sara Clayton conducted the study. They say that about 40% of the people they surveyed said that people with AIDS are responsible for their illness. 20% said AIDS patients get what they deserve.

By Peter O'Dowd

Laramie, WY – Wyoming Governor Dave Freudenthal continues to highlight goals for his state budget, which he is expected to unveil this week.

The governor is proposing an increase in school funding. As he released his plan, the governor called the state's support of education unshakable.

By Bob Beck

Douglas, WY – Douglas officials are starting to see developers building homes again and they are hoping some changes in local requirements will spur more building.

City Development Director Mike Roy says construction costs are keeping developers from building homes in many smaller Wyoming communities so Roy and the city are trying to address that. He is drafting changes in local requirements that will streamline the way developers have to operate and get rid of unnecessary regulations.