K2 Radio News: Flash Briefing For March 29th, 2018 – Morning

A PARADISE VALLEY RESIDENT LAST WEEK ASKED CASPER CITY COUNCIL TO LOOK AT SUPPORTING THE CREATION OF A POST OFFICE IN WEST CASPER.

U.S. POSTAL SERVICE SPOKESMAN DAVID RUPERT SAID THE CITY SHOULDN'T WASTE IT'S TIME BECAUSE THE ERA OF HAVING POST OFFICES IN EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD IS LONG OVER.

IN FACT, RUPERT SAID WEST CASPER ALREADY HAS A POST OFFICE, AND IT'S IN MILLS WHERE MANY WEST ENDERS ALREADY DO THEIR POSTAL BUSINESS.

RUPERT SYMPATHIZES WITH THE CONCERNS RURAL AMERICANS.

WHILE HE NOW WORKS IN DENVER, HE LIVED IN WYOMING FOR 25 YEARS AND SERVED AS POSTMASTER IN DOUGLAS AND JACKSON HOLE, CARRIED MAIL IN EVANSTON, AND WAS A SUPERVISOR IN CHEYENNE.

RUPERT SAID RURAL ISSUES ALONE AREN'T THE ONLY PROBLEMS VEXING THE U.S. POSTAL SERVICE, BECAUSE IT, LIKE TRADITIONAL BRICK AND MORTAR RETAIL STORES, IS LOSING CUSTOMERS TO ONLINE SHOPPING.
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OPPONENTS OF CLIMATE-CHANGE REGULATIONS THAT FACE REPEAL UNDER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP'S ADMINISTRATION OUTNUMBERED SUPPORTERS AT A HEARING IN WYOMING'S COAL COUNTRY.

TUESDAY'S HEARING IN GILLETTE WAS THE LAST OF FOUR HELD FROM WEST VIRGINIA TO SAN FRANCISCO. ABOUT 40 PERCENT OF THE NATION'S COAL COMES FROM LARGE MINES NEAR GILLETTE.

OVER 200 PEOPLE ATTENDED THE HEARING ON THE PROPOSED REGULATIONS FROM PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA'S ADMINISTRATION. THE RULES WOULD SEEK TO REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS PRODUCED BY COAL-FIRED POWER PLANTS.

SUPPORTERS OF THE PLAN SAID CLIMATE CHANGE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND THAT COAL IS A DYING INDUSTRY THAT EXACERBATES GLOBAL WARMING.

OPPONENTS INCLUDED DON CURTIS, A MANAGER AT COAL COMPANY PEABODY ENERGY. CURTIS SAID THE REGULATIONS PUT HIS FAMILY'S COAL JOBS AND RELATED BUSINESSES AT RISK.
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WYOMING GOV. MATT MEAD HAS SIGNED A K-12 EDUCATION FUNDING BILL INTO LAW.

THE MEASURE WAS THE LAST OUTSTANDING PIECE OF LEGISLATION FROM THE WYOMING LEGISLATURE'S 2018 BUDGET SESSION THAT ENDED MARCH 15. THE REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR SIGNED IT TUESDAY.

EDUCATION FUNDING WAS THE BIGGEST STICKING POINT IN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION BECAUSE OF RECENT DECLINES IN STATE REVENUES. THE SENATE AND HOUSE STRUGGLED WITH HOW MUCH TO SPEND ON SCHOOLS NOW AND HOW TO FUND THEM GOING FORWARD.

VARIOUS PROPOSALS TO INCREASE TAXES WERE QUICKLY DEFEATED BY LAWMAKERS.

MEAD SAYS THAT HE UNDERSTANDS THE OPPOSITION TO NEW STATE TAXES BUT HE SAYS HE WAS SOMEWHAT DISAPPOINTED TAX PROPOSALS DIDN'T GET A MORE COMPLETE HEARING IN THE LEGISLATURE.
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CHEYENNE, WYO. (AP) - WYOMING'S TOP PUBLIC EDUCATION OFFICIAL IS RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION AFTER DECIDING NOT TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR THIS YEAR.

JILLIAN BALOW TELLS THE CASPER STAR-TRIBUNE SHE STILL HAS MORE WORK TO DO AS WYOMING'S SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION, WHO OVERSEES K-12 EDUCATION.

BALOW IS A REPUBLICAN WHO WON DECISIVELY IN 2014 AFTER THE TURBULENT TENURE OF HER PREDECESSOR, CINDY HILL. THE WYOMING LEGISLATURE AND GOV. MATT MEAD STRIPPED HILL OF MUCH OF HER POWER AFTER HILL CLASHED WITH LAWMAKERS.

THE WYOMING SUPREME COURT RESTORED HILL'S POWERS BUT HILL LOST WHEN SHE RAN AGAINST MEAD IN THE 2014 REPUBLICAN GUBERNATORIAL PRIMARY.

BALOW SAYS HER ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE A STATE STANDARDIZED TEST THAT TAKES MINIMAL INSTRUCTIONAL TIME AWAY FROM TEACHERS AND STUDENTS.

NOBODY ELSE HAS ANNOUNCED THEY'RE RUNNING FOR WYOMING STATE SUPERINTENDENT YET.