Wyoming News Briefs

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Authorities have lifted a mandatory evacuation of the Miracle Mile campground along the North Platte River imposed because of a wildfire burning north of Seminoe Reservoir in south-central Wyoming. However, the popular fishing spot remains under voluntary evacuation status. The Seminoe Fire has burned about 5 square miles of pine, sagebrush and grass in Carbon County since it was started by lightning last weekend.

CASPER, Wyo. (AP) — The National Education Association says Wyoming spent nearly $16,000 per public school student in 2011, ranking it fifth among states in spending. But a recent Harvard study ranked Wyoming 24th out of 41 states studied in growth measured by student scores on a national assessment. Harvard researcher Paul Peterson he tells the Casper Star-Tribune that Wyoming has increased the amount of money it has put into its public education system more than any other state in the country, except New York, over the last 20 years.

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Wyoming's unemployment rate is below where it was this time last year and continues to run far below the national average. The Wyoming Department of Workforce Services reports y that the state's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose from 5.2 percent in May to 5.4 percent in June — not a statistically significant rise.

LARAMIE, Wyo. (AP) — Three Wyoming players have been named to the 2012 Mountain West Football Preseason All-Conference Team. Offensive center Nick Carlson, defensive tackle Mike Purcell and free safety Luke Ruff were all selected to the team. All three are seniors. In the preseason team poll, the Cowboys were picked to finish fourth out of 10 teams.