K2 Radio News: Flash Briefing For June 28th, 2018 – Morning

CASPER DRINKING WATER HAS BEEN DEEMED SAFE AFTER DEAD MICE WERE FOUND IN A WATER TANK ON MONDAY, PROMPTING TESTS FOR POSSIBLE CONTAMINATION.
AFTER THE DEAD MICE WERE FOUND, THE WATER TANK WAS ISOLATED FROM THE WATER SYSTEM. ACCORDING TO THE CITY'S STATEMENT, THE TANK WILL REMAIN ISOLATED UNTIL PRECAUTIONARY WORK IS COMPLETED.
THE CITY SAYS THE WATER SAMPLES WERE SUBMITTED TO AN OUTSIDE LABORATORY FOR ANALYSIS, AND ALL SAMPLES TESTED NEGATIVE FOR CONTAMINATION. THE SAMPLES INDICATED THAT THE WATER IS SAFE TO DRINK.
THE TANK WILL BE RETURNED TO SERVICE ONCE ADDITIONAL PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES ARE IMPLEMENTED, LIKELY EARLY NEXT WEEK.
THE EPA SAYS THERE IS NO NEED FOR RESIDENTS TO USE AN ALTERNATE WATER SUPPLY.
THE AGENCY REMINDS PEOPLE THAT CONTAMINATED WATER MAY CAUSE DIARRHEA, CRAMPS, NAUSEA, HEADACHES AND OTHER SYMPTOMS. THOSE COULD POSE A SPECIAL HEALTH RISK TO INFANTS, YOUNG CHILDREN AND PEOPLE WITH SEVERELY COMPROMISED IMMUNE SYSTEMS.
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THE WYOMING HIGHWAY PATROL SAYS A TROOPER SHOT AND KILLED A DOG THAT ATTACKED WHILE THE TROOPER WAS ARRESTING AN UNCOOPERATIVE WOMAN DURING A CRASH INVESTIGATION.

THE PATROL SAYS THE INCIDENT OCCURRED SUNDAY AFTERNOON ON U.S. 20/26 NEAR CASPER WHILE THE TROOPER WAS INVESTIGATING A SINGLE-VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

THE PATROL SAYS THE TROOPER PLACED THE WOMAN AND HER BOXER IN HIS VEHICLE WHILE HE COMPLETED THE CRASH INVESTIGATION, BUT THE WOMAN DISREGARDED THE OFFICER'S INSTRUCTIONS.

WHEN THE TROOPER ATTEMPTED TO ARREST HER FOR INTERFERENCE, THE WOMAN DROPPED THE LEASH HOLDING THE DOG AND THE DOG ATTACKED THE TROOPER.

THE TROOPER THEN SHOT THE DOG ONCE, KILLING IT.

THE WOMAN WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY AND FACED SEVERAL PRELIMINARY CHARGES, INCLUDING DRIVING WHILE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL AND A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE.

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WYOMING WILL RECEIVE $31.7 MILLION IN FEDERAL PAYMENTS TO COMPENSATE THE STATE FOR NON-TAXABLE FEDERAL LANDS.

U.S. SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR RYAN ZINKE ANNOUNCED WEDNESDAY THE PAYMENTS BEING MADE UNDER THE PAYMENTS IN LIEU OF TAXES PROGRAM.

THE DEPARTMENT SAYS THE NEARLY $553 MILLION IN PILT PAYMENTS AWARDED NATIONWIDE THIS YEAR IS THE LARGEST AMOUNT EVER ALLOCATED IN THE PROGRAM'S 40-YEAR HISTORY.

THE PAYMENTS GO TO COUNTIES IN WYOMING WITH NATIONAL PARKS, WILDLIFE REFUGES AND OTHER FEDERAL RECREATION AREAS THAT CAN'T BE TAXED BY LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

NATRONA COUNTY RECEIVED THE STATE'S HIGHEST PILT PAYMENT AT $3.6 MILLION. SWEETWATER COUNTY WAS NEXT AT $3.4 MILLION, AND FREMONT COUNTY THIRD AT $3.2 MILLION.
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CASPER, WYO. (AP) - THE DEVELOPER OF WYOMING POWER PLANT THAT REMAINS UNBUILT WAS SENTENCED TO 18 MONTHS IN PRISON FOR DEFRAUDING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OUT OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

72-YEAR-OLD MICHAEL RUFFATTO WAS SENTENCED WEDNESDAY BY A FEDERAL JUDGE IN PENNSYLVANIA AFTER PLEADED GUILTY IN 2016 TO FALSIFYING DOCUMENTS RELATED TO $5.7 MILLION IN FUNDING FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY.

MUCH OF THE MONEY WAS TO BE USED FOR A FEASIBILITY STUDY AT THE LONG-DELAYED TWO ELK POWER PLANT IN NORTHEAST WYOMING WHERE ONLY CONCRETE PADS WERE POURED. ACCORDING TO COURT DOCUMENTS, THE MONEY INSTEAD PAID FOR RUFFATTO'S MERCEDES-BENZ, FOREIGN TRAVEL AND LUXURIOUS HOME IN COLORADO.

RUFFATTO MUST PAY $2 MILLION IN RESTITUTION AND WILL HAVE THREE YEARS OF SUPERVISED RELEASE.

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CHEYENNE, WYO. (AP) - THE NEW WYOMING LAW TAKING EFFECT JULY 1 REQUIRES MOTORISTS TO MOVE OVER FOR MAINTENANCE, CONSTRUCTION AND UTILITY WORKERS ON STATE ROADS...