Cheyenne, Wy – A proposed budget by the Governor would give cities and towns across the state another 150 million dollars. But some wonder about the number especially since local government saw a large budget increase during the last budget session. But Wyoming Association of Municipalities Director George Parks says they still have a lot of needs. He says they have a backlog of nearly a billion dollars that need funding.
Parks adds that putting more of the state surplus towards local government is appropriate. He thanks the Governor for his budget request.

Powell, Wy – A Park County man accused of burning his
home down has been ordered to be committed to the Wyoming State
Hospital for another evaluation.
Forty-six-year-old Troy Brown previously pleaded guilty to arson
for the fire on December 8, 2005. But a psychiatric evaluation in
July concluded that Brown was unfit to stand trial and was a
serious risk to himself and others.
But Brown could yet stand trial if his mental condition improves
in the next three months.

By AP

By Kristin Espeland

Cheyenne, Wy – Governor Dave Freudenthal is recommending the state spend almost a billion more dollars this year in his proposed budget.
Governor Freudenthal says his focus is on getting money to local communities, highways and other construction projects. He says this matches up well with what state politicians said they support before the election.
The Governor's largest request is
for 250 million dollars in property tax relief. However, he expects that request may have a difficult time passing.

Cheyenne, Wy – Wyoming's energy deposits have brought in more than a billion dollars in royalties for fiscal year 2006. That's about double what the next closest energy producing state earned. And it's a record for Wyoming. Budget analyst Steve Sommers with the state's legislative service office says the rate at which Wyoming has been raking in these royalties has increased. The money comes mainly from the 12 and a half percent royalty the federal government charges energy producers on the price of their product. Wyoming gets half of that.

Casper, Wy –

A Wyoming Aids prevention official says more people should be getting H-I-V/Aids tests. Anna Kinder is the Director of the Wyoming Aids education and training center. She says too many people no longer think H-I-V is a problem and so they are not getting tested. Kinder says those who have sex without a condom and needle drug users should be getting tested. She worries that they don't have firm handle on how many people have the illness in the state.

By Elsa Heidorn

By AP

By AP