Wyoming News Briefs

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — A Wyoming Republican Party finalist to succeed the late state Treasurer Joe Meyer was censured by the state Supreme Court for misleading an opposing lawyer in a civil lawsuit. The court censured Rock Springs lawyer Clark Stith in April 2011, saying he failed to tell an opposing lawyer that Stith's client had insurance that could help settle a civil claim. Stith says he didn't mention the coverage because his client didn't want to file an insurance claim.

NEW YORK (AP) — An oil boom that could lead to the U.S. overtaking Saudi Arabia as the world's biggest producer this year has stunned experts. The head of oil markets research at an energy consulting firm says if five years ago, anyone had predicted today's production growth, they would have been derided as "crazy." The boom has been driven by high prices and new drilling methods.

CASPER, Wyo. (AP) — A man who started an apartment fire in Casper thinking he would gain his girlfriend's admiration by putting it out has been sentenced to four to six years in prison. Authorities say Jeff Wayne Oliver started the fire April 19 but fell asleep, and the flames were too large to put out when he woke up. No one was injured.

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — The Wyoming Department of Corrections says an inmate in the State Penitentiary has died of natural causes. The agency says 54-year-old Roger Ford was serving time for sexual assault when he died on Sunday at the prison in Rawlins.