News Briefs

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — The Wyoming Senate approved legislation removing the state superintendent of public instruction as administrative head of the state Department of Education in favor of a director appointed by the governor. State Superintendent Cindy Hill opposes the bill, saying it would leave her position mostly ceremonial...

CASPER, Wyo. (AP) — The FBI is investigating an Oklahoma City man accused of making an online threat of violence against Casper, Wyo. The FBI says 34-year-old Glenn Allen Kirkham was arrested in the Oklahoma City area Monday. Casper police spokeswoman Sgt...

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — The Wyoming Senate has given preliminary approval to an education reform bill that would drastically reduce the role of Superintendent of Public Instruction Cindy Hill. The bill would remove her as head of the state Department of Education and create a new director of the agency who would be appointed by the governor...

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — The Wyoming Legislature is set to act on three major issues this week. A proposal to raise fuel taxes is set to go before the House Revenue Committee today. The other major bill moving this week is a measure to reduce the powers of the state's top public schools official...

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Wyoming's state public schools chief says a legislative proposal to strip her office of its role leading the state Department of Education would take away the voice of the people who elected her. The legislation would create a new director of the agency who would be governor appointed...

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Gov. Matt Mead has wrapped up his annual State of the State address to lawmakers in Cheyenne. Mead emphasized that Wyoming's in a strong position, particularly compared to most other states. Wyoming has billions in savings and revenues from energy production remain strong...

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Concerns raised by the American Civil Liberties Union aren't budging Jackson officials to do away with a public prayer said over a loudspeaker before the town's summertime rodeo. Mayor Mark Barron says the council doesn't plan further changes to the prayer...

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Wyoming continues to take applications for state oil and gas supervisor while lawmakers consider loosening up one of the job's requirements. A bill headed for introduction in the Legislature would eliminate the requirement that the supervisor be a registered petroleum geologist or petroleum engineer...

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Wyoming House Speaker-elect Tom Lubnau says crafting a supplemental state budget will be the "overriding concern" as lawmakers open the 2013 session tomorrow. The Gillette Republican says, "With the decrease in income that the state has, there's not a lot of room for legislative initiative...

WASHINGTON (AP) — The latest government employment statistics show that hiring held up during tense fiscal cliff negotiations in Washington and the unemployment rate remained steady. The labor Department says U.S. employers added 155,000 jobs in December, while the unemployment rate stayed at 7...