K2 Radio News: Flash Briefing For May 31st, 2018 – Morning

A REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR SAID WEDNESDAY THAT HIGH TECH WON'T SAVE WYOMING, BUT STRENGTHENING THE STATE'S LEGACY INDUSTRIES WILL.

AFTER CHEYENNE ATTORNEY HARRIET HAGEMAN MET WITH EMPLOYEES AT MESA NATURAL GAS SOLUTIONS IN EVANSVILLE, SHE SAID SHE'S NOT AGAINST EXPANDING WYOMING'S TECHNOLOGICAL RESOURCES SUCH AS INTERNET ACCESS.

BUT A PRIMARY EMPHASIS ON TECHNOLOGY FOR THE STATE'S FUTURE WON'T BE UNSEATING THE ROLE OF THE STATE'S CORE INDUSTRIES OF ENERGY, TOURISM AND AGRICULTURE.

HAGEMAN'S VISION DIFFERED FROM REPUBLICAN GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE SAM GALEOTOS, WHO TOLD SUPPORTERS IN CASPER LAST WEEK THAT WYOMING HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE A LEADER IN KNOWLEDGE BASED JOBS THAT WILL CHANGE AGRICULTURE, TOURISM, ENERGY AND OTHER ECONOMIC SECTORS.

BUT HAGEMAN SAID A TECH FOCUS WOULDN'T GENERATE MUCH STATE REVENUE BECAUSE OF WYOMING'S LIMITED TAX STRUCTURE OF SEVERANCE, PROPERTY, SALES AND USE TAXES.

SHE'S AGAINST RAISING TAXES, BUT THE PRACTICAL MATTER REMAINS ABOUT HOW TO DO THE STATE'S BUSINESS
HAGEMAN IS AMONG AMONG SIX REPUBLICANS WHO HAVE FILED TO SEEK THEIR PARTY'S NOMINATION IN THE AUGUST 21ST PRIMARY.
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A MAN ACCUSED OF FIRING SEVERAL BULLETS INTO A TRAILER HOME NORTH OF CASPER IN EARLY APRIL PLEADED NOT GUILTY TO A PAIR OF FELONY CHARGES WEDNESDAY MORNING.

43-YEAR-OLD LYLE JAMES CLARK IS CHARGED WITH TWO COUNTS OF AGGRAVATED ASSAULT, AND PROSECUTORS SEEK TO LABEL HIM A HABITUAL CRIMINAL IN EACH COUNT. AS A RESULT, CLARK COULD FACE UP TO LIFE IN PRISON ON EACH COUNT.

ACCORDING TO AN AFFIDAVIT, CLARK TOLD AN INVESTIGATOR WITH THE NATRONA COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE THAT HE AND HIS GIRLFRIEND HAD BEEN DRINKING LATE ON THE NIGHT OF APRIL 6 AND INTO THE EARLY MORNING HOURS OF APRIL 7. THEY TALKED ABOUT HOW THE GIRLFRIEND'S FATHER HAD ALLEGEDLY ABUSED HER AS A CHILD.

SO, CLARK ALLEGEDLY DECIDED TO DRIVE TO THE MAN'S HOUSE TO "SHOOT IT UP" IN ORDER TO "SCARE HIM." CLARK ALLEGEDLY FIRED 7-9 BULLETS INTO THE BEDROOM WHILE A MAN AND WOMAN WERE INSIDE.

ONE BULLET HIT THE FAMILY CAT IN THE FACE. THE ANIMAL LATER HAD TO BE EUTHANIZED.

DISTRICT JUDGE DANIEL FORGEY ON WEDNESDAY DENIED A DEFENSE REQUEST TO REDUCE CLARK'S BOND, WHICH REMAINS SET AT $250,000 CASH OR SURETY. CLARK WAS IN CUSTODY AT THE TIME OF WEDNESDAY'S HEARING.
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CASPER, WYO. (AP) - A LONGTIME WYOMING PROSECUTOR SAYS HE WILL STEP DOWN AT THE END OF HIS TERM IN DECEMBER.

THE CASPER STAR-TRIBUNE REPORTS NATRONA COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY MICHAEL BLONIGEN ANNOUNCED HIS RETIREMENT TUESDAY, CITING PLANS TO PRACTICE LAW PRIVATELY.

BLONIGEN SAYS HE WANTS TO "GET BACK TO A MORE HANDS-ON LAW PRACTICE," SOMETHING THAT HAS FEWER ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES.

BLONIGEN BECAME DISTRICT ATTORNEY IN 2004 AND HAS WORKED IN THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS. HE HAS PROSECUTED SEVERAL HIGH-PROFILE MURDER CASES, LEADING TO CONVICTIONS IN MULTIPLE COLD CASES.

BLONIGEN SAYS HIS RETIREMENT HAS BEEN AN OPEN SECRET AS HE HAD MADE THE DECISION YEARS EARLIER.

ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY DAN ITZEN IS RUNNING FOR THE TOP PROSECUTOR JOB. HE'S CURRENTLY THE ONLY DECLARED CANDIDATE FOR THE OFFICE.
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JEFF PARKINS AND THE ORGANIZERS OF THE 2ND ANNUAL LIGHT OF DAY EVENT WANT VETERANS TO KNOW THAT THEY ARE NOT ALONE.

THE EVENT, WHICH KICKS OFF SATURDAY, JUNE 9TH IS AIMED AT PROVIDING COMMUNITY AND RESOURCES FOR VETERANS IN ALBANY COUNTY.

THE LIGHT OF DAY EVENT WILL BE HELD AT THE MOOSE LODGE ON 409 S. 3RD STREET, FROM 9 A.M. TO 4 P.M. AND THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY IS WELCOME TO ATTEND.

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THE SUMMER IS APPROACHING, AND THAT MEANS WITH VACATIONS AND TOURISM, THE DEMAND, AND THE PRICE OF GASOLINE USUALLY GOES UP.

AND PATRICK DEHAAN OF GASBUDDY DOT COM SAYS, LAST WEEK WE SAW A PRETTY HEFTY JUMP.

AND THE REASON IS A RUMOR COMING OUT OF THE OPEC CARTEL.

MEANWHILE, OIL IS STILL WELL OVER THE $60 A BARREL MARK, BUT SHY OF THE $70 WE SAW JUST A WEEK AGO.