Morning News Update

A MIDWEST MAN WANTED FOR ESCAPE FROM THE CASPER RE-ENTRY CENTER IS BACK IN CUSTODY. The University of Wyoming Board of Trustees has interviewed the four finalists to be the school's next president.

A special election to decide the fate of Casper's public smoking ban could cost the city anywhere from $10,000 to $25,000. THE NATRONA COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS LOOKING FOR AN ESCAPEE FROM THE CASPER RE-ENTRY CENTER.

WYOMING'S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION AND GOVERNOR MATT MEAD WERE ON HAND TUESDAY TO HONOR THE LIFE OF FALLEN CONVERSE COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPUTY BRYAN GROSS, WHO LOST HIS LIFE IN THE SUMMER OF 2011 WHILE SAVING A TEENAGE GIRL FROM THE NORTH PLATTE RIVER. Gov. Matt Mead has launched an inquiry into operations at the Wyoming Department of Education.

WYOMING'S SENIOR U.S. SENATOR IS MAKING HIS WAY AROUND THE COWBOY STATE TO LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE. In a first for Wyoming, a court has ordered a post-conviction test of DNA in a 23-year-old sexual assault case.

A CASPER MAN IS BANNED FROM CARRYING ANY WEAPONS AS A PART OF HIS SENTENCE FROM A GUN INCIDENT LAST SUMMER. The Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody has been renamed to the Buffalo Bill Center of the West.

A CASPER MAN NOW ADMITS THAT HE WAS IN POSSESSION OF CHILD PORN. Fears that working people won't be able to afford a 10-cents-a-gallon fuel tax increase failed to keep the bill from clearing the Wyoming Legislature.

THE FUTURE OF A CASPER NONPROFIT BUSINESS THAT HELPS THE NEEDY IS IN QUESTION. The budget bill pending in the state Legislature would require more lawmaker oversight of the University of Wyoming.

THE MAJORITY OF CASPER CITY COUNCIL IS IN FAVOR OF EITHER REPEALING OR REWRITING THE CITY’S RECENTLY ESTABLISHED PUBLIC INDOOR SMOKING BAN. THE BAN WAS DISCUSSED AT LENGTH AT TUESDAY’S COUNCIL WORK SESSION. A bill that would raise state fuel taxes by a dime a gallon has received preliminary approval in the Wyoming Senate.

The Casper City Council is taking another look at the city's smoking ban. The council will take up the matter at its meeting this evening. Average retail gasoline prices in Wyoming continue to go up. This past week up 10.6 cents a gallon to $3.03 a gallon and became the last state to go back up above that 3 dollar mark.

A MILLS MAN IS HEADING TO PRISON ON CHARGES STEMMING FROM A CASE IN WHICH PROSECUTORS SAY HE SEXUALLY ASSAULTED A YOUNG GIRL. The Wyoming Legislature will concentrate on ironing out differences between the House and Senate versions of supplemental budget bill this week.