K2 Radio News: Flash Briefing For October 18th, 2018 – Morning

FIVE CANDIDATES FOR THE NONPARTISAN NATRONA COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES SAID WEDNESDAY THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME PRACTICAL ADDITIONS TO WHAT ALL STUDENTS SHOULD LEARN.

THE CANDIDATES SUGGESTED MORE ADVANCED READING COURSES, AND CRITICAL THINKING CLASSES TO SORT THROUGH OUR INFORMATION OVERLOAD DURING A FORUM AT THE LIBRARY SPONSORED BY THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS.

INCUMBENT TRUSTEE DAVE APPLEGATE TOUTED THE DISTRICT'S DUAL LANGUAGE PROGRAMS AND THE FINANCIAL LITERACY COURSES.

INCUMBENT TRUSTEE DEBBIE MCCULLAR MADE A FORCEFUL PITCH FOR TEACHING THE BASICS OF HOW GOVERNMENT WORKS.

THE OTHER CANDIDATES PARTICIPATING IN THE FORUM WERE GERALD KING, KIANNA SMITH, AND CAMERON ALLEN.

CANDIDATES TRAVIS MARSHALL AND INCUMBENT CLARK JENSEN DID NOT ATTEND.

THE DISTRICT'S TRUSTEES HAVE CONFRONTED SEVERAL TOUGH DECISIONS INCLUDING VOTING A YEAR AGO TO CLOSE FOUR SCHOOLS AND MOTHBALL OTHER BUILDINGS.

MCCULLAR AND APPLEGATE DEFENDED THEIR VOTES, BUT KING SUGGESTED POSSIBLY RAISING TAXES TO OFFSET THE REVENUE DECLINES.

THE GENERAL ELECTION IS NOVEMBER 6TH, AND COUNTY RESIDENTS ALSO CAN REGISTER AND VOTE ABSENTEE BEFORE THEN.
=========================
THE PROPOSED STATE OFFICE BUILDING CAMPUS MOVED A BIT FURTHER TOWARD BREAKING GROUND TUESDAY WHEN CASPER CITY COUNCIL SET THE DATE FOR PUBLIC HEARING ABOUT ZONING THE PROPERTY JUST WEST OF DOWNTOWN.
MAYOR RAY PACHECO SAID AFTER THE COUNCIL MEETING HE HOPES THE CAMPUS' DESIGN WILL ALIGN WITH THE CITY'S LARGER VISION OF WHAT DOWNTOWN WILL LOOK LIKE.

THE AGENCY OVERSEEING THE PROJECT IS DRAFTING A SITE PLAN, WHICH WILL BE REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY THE OLD YELLOWSTONE DISTRICT ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE.

COUNCIL SET NOVEMBER 6TH AS THE PUBLIC HEARING DATE FOR THE ANNEXATION AND PLAT OF THE OFFICE BUILDING CAMPUS.

THE $40 MILLION, 11-ACRE OFFICE CAMPUS WOULD OCCUPY MOST OF THE BLOCK BOUNDED BY WEST COLLINS AVENUE ON THE SOUTH, WEST MIDWEST AVENUE ON THE NORTH, AND PORTIONS OF SOUTH ASH STREET ON THE EAST AND SOUTH WALNUT STREET ON THE WEST.

THE CAMPUS WOULD CONSOLIDATE STATE OFFICES THROUGHOUT CASPER IN BUILDINGS, SOME OF WHICH ARE OLD AND RUN-DOWN.

SOME OF THE LOTS ON THE SITE ARE DEVELOPED, SOME ARE UNPLATTED, SOME ARE NOT ANNEXED BY THE CITY, AND SOME ARE VACANT.

DEMOLITION OF THE REMAINING STRUCTURES ON THE SITE IS SCHEDULED TO BEGIN THIS FALL.
============================

THE WYOMING SUPREME COURT HAS PARTLY UPHELD A LAWSUIT FILED ON BEHALF OF A SCHIZOPHRENIA PATIENT LEFT ON A DAYROOM COUCH WITHOUT FOOD OR WATER FOR OVER 24 HOURS.

WYOMING STATE HOSPITAL EMPLOYEES FOUND LINDA GELOK TREMBLING, BREATHING RAPIDLY AND STINKING OF URINE WHEN MAINTENANCE STAFF SAID SHE NEEDED TO BE MOVED SO THEY COULD WORK ON A TELEVISION IN 2015.

THE JUSTICES RULED OCT. 11 THAT THOSE AND OTHER AGREED-UPON FACTS SUFFICIENTLY "SHOCK THE CONSCIENCE" TO ALLOW A CLAIM AGAINST HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATOR PAUL MULLENAX AS A PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL.

THE JUSTICES DISMISSED CLAIMS AGAINST THE HOSPITAL, STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND MULLENAX IN HIS OFFICIAL CAPACITY.

GELOK ATTORNEY DOUG BAILEY SAYS HE'S PLEASED THE CASE CONTINUES.

HEALTH DEPARTMENT SPOKESWOMAN KIM DETI SAYS THE AGENCY CONTINUALLY REVIEWS PATIENT SAFETY AND SUPERVISION PROCEDURES.
=============================

CASPER, WYO. (AP) - INCUMBENT REPUBLICAN U.S. SEN. JOHN BARRASSO HAS INCREASED THE FUNDRAISING GAP BETWEEN HIMSELF AND DEMOCRATIC OPPONENT GARY TRAUNER. CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS SHOW BARRASSO RECEIVED A LARGE INFLUX OF OUTSIDE MONEY FROM POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEES ALONG WITH STEADY FUNDRAISING EFFORTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. WITH $1.2 MILLION IN EXPENSES, BARRASSO RAMPED UP HIS SPENDING SUBSTANTIALLY IN AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER WHILE TRAUNER SPENT $142,000.

===============================

POWELL, WYO. (AP) - THE SUGAR BEET HARVEST IN NORTHERN WYOMING IS NEARING COMPLETION WITH ABOUT 70 PERCENT OF THE CROP IN HAND ON FRIDAY. WESTERN SUGAR COOPERATIVE SENIOR AGRICULTURIST MARK BJORNESTAD SAYS TONNAGE IS GOING TO BE JUST UNDER 29 TONS PER ACRE. THE TONNAGE IS LOWER THAN PREDICTED BUT SUGAR CONTENT IS AT RECORD HIGHS.