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WYOMING WEATHER

Snow closes portions of I-25, I-80 in Wyoming

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Some highways in southeastern Wyoming are still closed because of the snowstorm that swept the state.

Interstate 80 between Laramie and Cheyenne was closed Tuesday night and remained closed Wednesday. Interstate 25 between Cheyenne and the Colorado line was also closed.

The National Weather Service says the snow fall has lightened and snow showers will stick around through late morning.

The Pacific storm system has moved out of the rest of the state. It brought 14 inches of snow to Reno Hill in Natrona County. Casper got 4 inches and Worland got 1 inch.

OPEN CARRY-MEETINGS

Open-carry ban gets initial OK in Casper

CASPER, Wyo. (AP) — A proposal that would make it illegal to openly carry a deadly weapon at city council meetings has won initial approval in Casper.

The council voted 6-3 in favor of the ordinance after more than two hours of debate Tuesday. It must pass two more votes to become law.

The Casper Star-Tribune (http://tinyurl.com/3jvmmn7 ) reported that only one person at the public hearing openly carried a gun, the leader of Wyoming Gun Owners. The group says the ban isn't legal or necessary.

State law already makes it illegal to carry a concealed weapon at council meetings but it doesn't say anything about people who may openly carry one.

OIL-GAS SALE

Wyo. BLM lease sale brings in more than $3M

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — A federal oil and gas lease sale in Cheyenne has brought in more than $3 million, almost half of which will go to the Wyoming state government.

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management says it sold the rights to drill on more than 48,000 acres in Wyoming on Tuesday. All 47 parcels that were offered for sale sold at the auction.

Bids ranged from the federally mandated minimum of $2 per acre to a high bid of $65.80.

The lease sales are held quarterly and the next one is scheduled for February.

CLEAN AIR-EPA

Group petitions EPA over air in 8 western states

DENVER (AP) — An environmental group has petitioned the federal government to reduce air pollutants in Wyoming and seven other western states.

WildEarth Guardians says that by law, the EPA has to designate areas as "nonattainment" areas if they violate certain air-quality standards and put them on the path to cleaning up.

The group's petition contends 15 areas should be labeled nonattainment areas for violating standards limiting particulate matter to less than 10 microns in diameter, or about one-seventh the width of a human hair. It said the EPA should declare six other areas "serious" nonattainment areas.

WildEarth Guardians' petition says part of Sweetwater County in Wyoming is among the 15 areas that should be labeled nonattainment areas.

JAPANESE-AMERICAN SOLDIERS-WYOMING

Late Cheyenne WWII veteran honored by Congress

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — A late World War II veteran from Cheyenne is among the Japanese-American soldiers being honored in Washington.

Ted Miyamoto and the other veterans will be awarded the Congressional Gold Medal on Wednesday at the Capitol. It's the highest civilian honor given by Congress.

Miyamoto's daughter, Terie, told the Wyoming Tribune Eagle that she would accept the honor on her father.

She told the newspaper that her father loved the United States and celebrated his birthday on July 4th even though it was June 3.

Ted Miyamoto died in 2005 at age 83.

He served in the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, a segregated unit that experienced some of the worst fighting in Europe. It's the most decorated unit for its size and length of service.

FREE BEAR SPRAY

Program provides 200 cans of bear spray to hunters

JACKSON, Wyo. (AP) — The Wyoming Game and Fish Department and the Jackson Hole Wildlife Foundation together provided about 200 cans of bear spray to hunters in the Jackson area over the past two hunting seasons.

The effort is part of the Bear Wise JH program to reduce bear conflicts in Teton County.

The bear spray project was specifically aimed at big game hunters who would not otherwise be carrying bear spray.

As part of their routine field contacts, state Game and Fish wardens and biologists asked hunters if they were carrying bear spray.

If not, they were invited to receive a free can of bear spray if they agreed to carry it while afield and participate in a short survey.