K2 Radio News: Flash Briefing For January 4th, 2018 – Evening

WASHINGTON (AP) - COLORADO'S U.S. ATTORNEY SAYS HIS OFFICE WON'T CHANGE ITS APPROACH TO PROSECUTING MARIJUANA CRIMES. THAT'S AFTER ATTORNEY GENERAL JEFF SESSIONS ISSUED A NEW POLICY GIVING FEDERAL PROSECUTORS MORE LEEWAY TO ENFORCE FEDERAL LAWS AGAINST POT. BOB TROYER SAYS HIS OFFICE HAS ALWAYS FOCUSED ON PROSECUTING MARIJUANA CRIMES THAT "CREATE THE GREATEST SAFETY THREATS" AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE GUIDED BY THAT GOAL.

WASHINGTON (AP) - THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS MOVING TO VASTLY EXPAND OFFSHORE DRILLING FROM THE ATLANTIC TO THE ARCTIC OCEANS, INCLUDING OPENING UP FEDERAL WATERS OFF THE CALIFORNIA COAST FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MORE THAN THREE DECADES. THE NEW FIVE-YEAR DRILLING PLAN ALSO COULD OPEN NEW AREAS OF OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION IN AREAS OFF THE EAST COAST FROM GEORGIA TO MAINE, WHERE DRILLING HAS BEEN BLOCKED FOR DECADES.
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THE MAN WHO HOLED UP IN A CASPER HOME FOR SEVERAL HOURS AND FIRED FOUR SHOTS DURING AN ARMED STANDOFF WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT IN JUNE WAS SENTENCED TO A TERM OF IMPRISONMENT WEDNESDAY IN NATRONA COUNTY DISTRICT COURT.

JUDGE DANIEL FORGEY SENTENCED 37-YEAR-OLD ZACHARY LOVELACE TO A SEVEN- TO NINE-YEAR TERM IN PRISON. LOVELACE PLEADED GUILTY IN SEPTEMBER TO FOUR COUNTS OF AGGRAVATED ASSAULT, AND SAW TWO OTHER CHARGES DISMISSED AT HIS CHANGE-OF-PLEA HEARING.

COURT DOCUMENTS SAY ON THE MORNING OF FRIDAY, JUNE 2, A MAN WAS FISHING OFF OF BESSEMER BEND ROAD WHEN LOVELACE APPROACHED HIM AND ASKED TO USE THE MAN'S PHONE TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY CALL.

THE MAN LOANED LOVELACE HIS PHONE. IN RETURN, LOVELACE POINTED A GUN AT THE MAN, THREATENED TO KILL HIM AND THEN DROVE OFF WITH THE PHONE.

USING AN APP, THE VICTIM'S WIFE WAS ABLE TO TRACK HIS IPHONE, WHICH WAS INDICATED TO BE INSIDE A HOME IN THE 6800 BLOCK OF SHARROCK ROAD.

THE SPECIAL RESPONSE TEAM WAS LATER ACTIVATED. WHILE THEY WERE INSIDE THE HOME, LOVELACE FIRED TWO SHOTS FROM WITHIN THE ATTIC. HE LATER FIRED TWO MORE ROUNDS.

OFFICERS PUMPED PEPPER SPRAY INTO THE ATTIC THROUGH A VENT.

THROUGHOUT THE FIVE-HOUR STANDOFF, A NEGOTIATOR ATTEMPTED TO GET LOVELACE TO SURRENDER.

LOVELACE EVENTUALLY KICKED A HOLE THROUGH THE CEILING OF A BEDROOM, CLIMBED OUT A WINDOW AND STARTED RUNNING WITH A BLACK GLOCK IN HIS RIGHT HAND. HOWEVER, LOVELACE FELL, AND SRT OFFICERS TOOK HIM INTO CUSTODY.

AS HE WAS BEING DRIVEN TO JAIL, LOVELACE SLIPPED HIS HANDCUFFS TO THE FRONT AND CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE INTERIOR OF A PATROL VEHICLE.

ALTHOUGH THAT CHARGE WAS DROPPED AS PART OF THE PLEA DEAL, LOVELACE DID AGREE TO PAY RESTITUTION FOR THAT INCIDENT, WHICH WILL TOTAL OVER $3,500.

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WELL, IF YOU ARE IN THE OIL BUSINESS, 2018 HAS GOTTEN OFF TO A TERRIFIC START.

THE PRICE OF A BARREL OF OIL IS FINALLY HITTING LEVELS IT HASN'T SEEN IN A COUPLE OF YEARS.

AND PATRICK DEHAAN OF GASBUDDY DOT COM SAYS, YOU CAN PARTIALLY THANK THE WEATHER FOR THAT.

ALSO, HE SAYS THAT OPEC HAS STUCK TO IT'S LOWERED OUTPUT FIGURES FOR A FULL YEAR NOW, AND THAT HAS HELPED PROP UP PRICES.
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RBC
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CHEYENNE, WYO. (AP) - A GROUP OF SOUTHEASTERN WYOMING RESIDENTS VOICED FRUSTRATIONS ABOUT RECENT ENERGY DEVELOPMENTS TO COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, CLAIMING TRUCKS CARRYING OIL AND GAS DRILLING EQUIPMENT CONTINUE TO SPEED THROUGH RESIDENTIAL AREAS.

THE GROUP TOLD LARAMIE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ON TUESDAY THAT EOG RESOURCES' ATTEMPTS TO SLOW THE VEHICLES DOWN ALONG COUNTY ROAD 136 APPEAR TO BE INEFFECTIVE.

EOG RESOURCES SPOKESWOMAN PAM ROTH SAYS THE COMPANY IS WORKING TO MAKE SURE THE SUBCONTRACTED DRIVERS OBEY THE SPEED LIMITS.

THE GROUP ALSO VOICED CONCERNS ABOUT THE COMPANY'S APPLICATION TO SET UP AN INJECTION WELL IN THE AREA, FEARING POSSIBLE WATER CONTAMINATION.

THE GROUP ADVISED THE COMMISSIONERS TO RESEARCH THE ISSUE AND SPEAK UP FOR RESIDENTS WHEN THE MATTER GOES BEFORE THE WYOMING OIL AND GAS CONSERVATION COMMISSION NEXT MONTH.