Wyoming News Briefs

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Voter turnout was down in Wyoming this year compared to the election four years ago. Wyoming Elections Director Peggy Nighswonger says unofficial turnout was 57 percent of eligible voters, down from about 65 percent in the 2008 and 2004 elections. Some 62 percent of eligible Wyoming voters cast ballots in 2000.

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Secretary of State Max Maxfield says a proposed constitutional amendment that would have expanded the duties of district court commissioners appears to have failed. Unofficial results from Tuesday's election show Wyoming voters approved two other amendments — one on health care and the other on the right to hunt, fish and trap wildlife.

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Sen. Mike Enzi says he's worried about the natural gas industry in Wyoming after the re-election of President Barack Obama and a Democratic majority in the Senate. Enzi told reporters yesterday he worries that Democrats will abruptly end tax breaks that benefit businesses involved in gas development. Enzi wasn't up for re-election this year.

RANCHESTER, Wyo. (AP) — Bighorn National Forest officials say they are investigating three small fires in the northern Bighorn Mountains they believe were human-caused. Firefighters monitoring an 85-acre blaze northwest of Ranchester noticed another small fire estimated at about one acre. Crews are working to contain a third fire burning outside Parkman.