K2 Radio News: Flash Briefing For March12th, 2018 – Morning

CHEYENNE, WYO. (AP) - THE WYOMING LEGISLATURE HAS APPROVED A PRIMARY STATE BUDGET FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS AND SENT IT TO THE GOVERNOR FOR CONSIDERATION.

HOWEVER, TWO OTHER MAJOR PIECES OF SPENDING LEGISLATION REGARDING CAPITOL CONSTRUCTION AND EDUCATION WERE STILL BEING DEBATED INTO THE EVENING.

THE CASPER STAR-TRIBUNE SAID THE BUDGET PASSED SATURDAY KEEPS FUNDING LEVELS FOR MOST OF STATE GOVERNMENT LARGELY STABLE, WITH INCREASES IN SPENDING ON SOCIAL SERVICES THAT GOV. MATT MEAD ARGUED WERE HIT TOO HARD BY CUTS PASSED DURING THE PREVIOUS LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

THE SENATE PASSED THE BUDGET 19-11, AND THE HOUSE PASSED IT 38-20.

SENATE PRESIDENT ELI BEBOUT, A RIVERTON REPUBLICAN, SAID IT WAS NOT THE COMPROMISE HE SOUGHT BUT HE URGED PASSAGE ON WHAT WAS SCHEDULED TO BE THE LAST DAY OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
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A NORTHBOUND BRIDGE ON INTERSTATE 25 WEST OF DOUGLAS REMAINS CLOSED SUNDAY EVENING AFTER CONSTRUCTION CREWS FOUND POSSIBLE STRUCTURAL PROBLEMS FRIDAY.

WYOMING DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SPOKESMAN JEFF GOETZ SAID FRIDAY SOME ISSUES WERE DISCOVERED WHILE INSPECTING THE CONCRETE BRIDGE COLUMNS AT THE LA PRELE INTERCHANGE, SO THE DEPARTMENT DECIDED TO CLOSE THE BRIDGE UNTIL IT CAN DETERMINE THE ISSUES AND HOW TO FIX THEM.
WYDOT IS DIRECTING TRAFFIC AT THE INTERCHANGE AT MILE MARKER 146 TO THE OFF RAMP AND THEN TO THE ON RAMP.

THIS SUMMER, CONSTRUCTION CREWS WILL CLOSE THE SOUTHBOUND BRIDGE FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND HAVE BOTH NORTHBOUND AND SOUTHBOUND TRAFFIC MOVE ON THE NORTHBOUND BRIDGE.

AGAIN, PLEASE PAY ATTENTION WHEN TRAVELING THROUGH THIS AREA.
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A NEW LAW WILL HELP WYOMING COUNTIES THAT NEED TO COLLECT UNPAID TAXES.

GOV. MATT MEAD SIGNED THE BILL INTO LAW WEDNESDAY.

THE LAW WILL ALLOW COUNTIES TO DEDUCT "EXTRAORDINARY COSTS TO COLLECT TAXES" BEFORE THE TAX IS DISTRIBUTED.

CAMPBELL COUNTY COMMISSIONER RUSTY BELL SAYS THE LAW GIVES COUNTIES ROOM TO SPEND EXTRA TIME AND MONEY ON GETTING THOSE UNPAID TAXES SINCE THEY WON'T BE OVERWHELMED WITH THE BILL.

HE SAYS THE LAW BENEFITS THE ENTIRE STATE BECAUSE AFTER THE UNPAID TAXES ARE COLLECTED, MOST OF THE MONEY COLLECTED IS DISTRIBUTED TO THE STATE'S SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

REPORTING FROM CASPER, I'M NICK LEARNED.
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CASPER, WYO. (AP) - A WYOMING MAN WAS SENTENCED TO MORE THAN TWO YEARS IN PRISON FOR EMBEZZLING MORE THAN $230,000 FROM A CASPER CAR WASH.

THE CASPER STAR-TRIBUNE REPORTS TRAVIS WILSON WAS SENTENCED FRIDAY AND ORDERED TO PAY BACK THE STOLEN MONEY.

WILSON TOLD THE COURT BEFORE SENTENCING THAT HE "WILL DO EVERYTHING IN MY POWER TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT."

HIS ATTORNEY KEITH NACHBAR SAYS WILSON HAS SOLD HIS HOUSE TO BEGIN PAYING RESTITUTION. NACHBAR HAD REQUESTED PROBATION FOR HIS CLIENT, ARGUING THAT PRISON TIME WOULD HINDER THE RESTITUTION PAYMENTS.

PROSECUTOR DAN ITZEN SAYS WILSON HAD GAINED THE TRUST OF THE CAR WASH OWNERS, AND HE DELETED THE RECORDS OF 17,000 CAR WASHES.

WILSON HAD PLEADED GUILTY TO ONE COUNT OF LARCENY BY BAILEE AND ONE COUNT OF THEFT.

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TORRINGTON, WYO. (AP) - A 63-YEAR-OLD INMATE HAS DIED AT THE WYOMING MEDIUM CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION IN TORRINGTON.

THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS SAY TERRANCE WILLIAM RUTLAND DIED FROM A LENGTHY ILLNESS ON THURSDAY.

RUTLAND WAS SERVING THE FIRST OF TWO CONSECUTIVE SEVEN TO 12 YEAR SENTENCES FOR SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF CHILDREN IN SWEETWATER COUNTY. RUTLAND WAS SENTENCED ON JAN. 10 BY DISTRICT COURT JUDGE RICHARD L. LAVERY.

PER DEPARTMENT POLICY, AN AUTOPSY HAS BEEN ORDERED.