K2 Radio News: Flash Briefing For September 25th, 2017 – Morning

WASHINGTON (AP) - WITH PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP'S TRAVEL BAN EXPIRING, THE WHITE HOUSE SAYS IT'S PLANNING NEW RESTRICTIONS THAT WOULD APPLY INDEFINITELY TO CITIZENS OF CHAD, IRAN, LIBYA, SOMALIA, SYRIA, YEMEN AND NORTH KOREA. THE U.S. ALSO PLANS TO BAR THE ENTRY OF CERTAIN VENEZUELAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND THEIR IMMEDIATE FAMILIES. THE CHANGES WILL TAKE EFFECT OCTOBER 18. ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS SAY THE NEW MEASURES ARE REQUIRED TO KEEP THE NATION SAFE.
WASHINGTON (AP) - U.S. SEN. JOHN MCCAIN SAYS DOCTORS HAVE GIVEN HIM A "VERY POOR PROGNOSIS" AS HE BATTLES BRAIN CANCER. MCCAIN UNDERWENT SURGERY IN JULY FOR A BRAIN TUMOR THAT WAS LATER FOUND TO BE A FORM OF GLIOBLASTOMA, THE SAME TYPE OF CANCER THAT TOOK THE LIFE OF HIS FORMER SENATE COLLEAGUE EDWARD M. KENNEDY IN 2009.

WASHINGTON (AP) - REPUBLICANS HAVE RELEASED A REVISED VERSION OF THEIR LEGISLATION DISMANTLING THE OBAMA HEALTH CARE LAW. IT CONTAINS ADDED MONEY AND NEWLY EASED COVERAGE REQUIREMENTS AIMED AT WINNING OVER GOP SENATORS WHOSE OPPOSITION COULD WELL SINK THE BILL.

IRBIL, IRAQ (AP) - TURKISH PRESIDENT RECEP TAYYIP ERDOGAN AND RUSSIA'S VLADIMIR PUTIN HAVE SPOKEN OVER THE PHONE ABOUT THE CONTENTIOUS IRAQI KURDISH VOTE IN SUPPORT FOR INDEPENDENCE AND STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF IRAQ AND SYRIA'S TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY. ERDOGAN'S OFFICE SAYS PUTIN WOULD VISIT ANKARA ON THURSDAY TO DISCUSS DEVELOPMENTS IN THE REGION, INCLUDING THE KURDISH REFERENDUM. TURKEY IS FIGHTING A KURDISH INSURGENCY ON ITS TERRITORY, AND OPPOSES ANY MOVES TOWARD THE CREATION OF A SEPARATE KURDISH STATE.
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K2 RADIO NEWS HAS LEARNED THE NATRONA COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT APPARENTLY HAS RETURNED MUCH OF THE $500,000 DONATED FOR SCOREBOARDS LAST YEAR BY CASPER BUSINESSMAN TONY CERCY, WHO IS NOW CHARGED WITH SEXUAL ASSAULT.

DISTRICT FINANCIAL RECORDS SAY THE MONEY WAS RETURNED ABOUT A MONTH AGO TO THE NCHS MILLENNIUM FUND TO WHICH CERCY MADE THE DONATION.

THIS COMES AT A TIME WHEN STATE FUNDING CUTS HAVE FORCED TIGHTER SCHOOL BUDGETS, INCLUDING THOSE AT THE NATRONA COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT.

K2RADIO ALSO HAS LEARNED FROM ANONYMOUS SOURCES THAT THE TRANSFER HAS OCCURRED.

SEVERAL DISTRICT OFFICIALS SAID THEIR ATTORNEY ADVISED THEM NOT TO COMMENT.

SCHOOL DISTRICT ATTORNEY KATHLEEN DIXON DID NOT RETURN CALLS SEEKING COMMENT.

CERCY DID NOT RETURN A CALL SEEKING COMMENT.

IN DECEMBER, HE AND HIS WIFE, CARYL, ANNOUNCED THE HALF-MILLION-DOLLAR GIFT FOR SCOREBOARDS, ONE OF WHICH STANDS AT THE NORTH END OF THE FOOTBALL FIELD.

THE NONPROFIT NCHS MILLENNIUM FUND WAS CREATED TO RAISE MONEY FOR CONSTRUCTION NEEDS NOT FUNDED BY THE DISTRICT.

JOHN BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE FUND'S THREE-MEMBER BOARD OF DIRECTORS, DID NOT RETURN CALLS SEEKING COMMENT.

THE CERCY GENEROSITY APPARENTLY CAME INTO QUESTION STARTING JULY 28, WHEN SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES ARRESTED HIM ON SEXUAL ASSAULT CHARGES ALLEGEDLY INVOLVING A YOUNG WOMAN AT A RESIDENCE AT ALCOVA LAKE ON THE WEEKEND OF JUNE 24-25.

ON AUG. 17, CERCY WAS BOUND OVER FOR TRIAL FOR FIRST-DEGREE SEXUAL ASSAULT, SECOND-DEGREE SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND ONE COUNT OF SEXUAL CONTACT.

THREE WEEKS LATER, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT'S BOARD OF TRUSTEES MET ON SEPTEMBER 11 AND AMONG OTHER ACTIONS, APPROVED PAYING BILLS INCLUDING $6,099 TO THE NCHS MILLENNIUM FUND AND ANOTHER FOR $281,328 TO THE FUND.

DISTRICT SPOKESWOMAN TANYA SOUTHERLAND SAID IN AN EMAIL THE $6,099 FIGURE WAS FROM TICKET SALES FROM SCHOOL ACTIVITIES.

THE $281,328 FIGURE WAS THE AMOUNT FROM THE FUND FOR THE SCOREBOARDS, AND THE DISTRICT REIMBURSED THE MILLENNIUM FUND FROM CONSTRUCTION DOLLARS.

SHE DID NOT RETURN FOLLOW-UP CALLS TO EXPLAIN WHY THE DISTRICT WOULD TRANSFER CONSTRUCTION MONEY TO AN ORGANIZATION CREATED TO RAISE MONEY FOR THE NATRONA COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL.
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OPPONENTS OF MINING OUTSIDE YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK ARE CHALLENGING A DECISION BY MONTANA ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATORS TO ALLOW A CANADIAN COMPANY TO EXPLORE FOR PRECIOUS METALS JUST NORTH OF THE PARK.

THE PARK COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL AND GREATER YELLOWSTONE COALITION SUED THE MONTANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND LUCKY MINERALS, INC. ON FRIDAY IN STATE DISTRICT COURT IN PARK COUNTY.

LUCKY MINERALS WAS GIVEN APPROVAL TO DRILL ON PRIVATE LAND IN THE ABSAROKA MOUNTAINS SOUTHEAST OF EMIGRANT TO GAUGE ITS COPPER, GOLD, SILVER AND MOLYBDENUM DEPOSITS.

PLAINTIFF'S ATTORNEY JENNY HARBINE SAYS THE STATE'S ANALYSIS OF THE COMPANY'S PROPOSAL SHOULD HAVE CONSIDERED THE POTENTIAL FOR A LARGE-SCALE MINE TO BE BUILT AT THE EXPLORATION SITE.

REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE AND COMPANY DID NOT IMMEDIATELY RESPOND TO REQUESTS FOR COMMENT.