Wyoming News Briefs

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — A University of Wyoming history professor is dropping his bid to run as an independent for U.S. Senate. Phil Roberts tells the Casper Star-Tribune that he wasn't getting enough support from Republicans to make a successful bid for the office and feared his candidacy would hand victory to incumbent Republican John Barrasso.

TORRINGTON, Wyo. (AP) — The U.S. Department of Education says the Wyoming Department of Education that it should continue administering the state Proficiency Assessments for Wyoming Students test for high school juniors next year. The Wyoming Legislature wants to end the troubled PAWS test for high school juniors and use a standardized test instead. State officials are considering their response.

LARAMIE, Wyo. (AP) — University of Wyoming Extension is holding workshops around the state to discuss drought management options for livestock producers. UW Extension educator Dallas Mount says the situation for livestock producers is severe, especially now that cattle prices have dropped from a high point six weeks ago. Mount tells the Laramie Boomerang that the mood of producers is somber.

GILLETTE, Wyo. (AP) — Union Pacific says it shipped 18 percent less coal from the Powder River Basin in northeast Wyoming in April, May and June. But the Gillette News Record reports that coal shipments during the current third quarter appear to be improving, thanks to climbing natural gas prices. The Omaha, Neb.-based railroad shipped 36.1 million tons of coal from the basin in the second quarter of 2012.