Wyoming News Briefs

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — A House committee has unanimously endorsed a bill that would change who's in charge of the state Department of Education. The House Appropriations Committee sent the measure to the chamber's floor yesterday evening after hearing nearly two hours of testimony. The measure would remove the state superintendent as administrator of the department and turn the duties over to a governor-appointed director.

CASPER, Wyo. (AP) — A judge has heard arguments in a lawsuit that questions state officials' refusal to publicly release the ingredients in hydraulic fracturing chemicals. The Powder River Basin Resource Council and others say landowners need to know which chemicals could contaminate their groundwater. The energy industry argues that the ingredients are trade secrets. The judge says she'll rule within two months.

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — A coalition of medical groups is urging the Wyoming Legislature to approve expansion of the federal Medicaid program. Wyoming Coalition for Medicaid Expansion representatives point to a state study that concluded adding nearly an additional 30,000 people to the program would save money by reducing demand on other services. A Senate panel will mull expansion today.

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — The state House has defeated a bill that would have allowed the release of names of those charged with sexual assault before they're bound over to district court. Cody Republican Rep. Sam Krone had argued that arrests on sexual assault charges should be treated the same as arrests on charges of murder and other crimes.