Wyoming News Briefs

FORT CARSON, Colo. (AP) — A Wyoming soldier is among three troops killed in a suicide attack in Afghanistan. The Department of Defense yesterday said 45-year-old Command Sgt. Maj. Kevin J. Griffin of Laramie was killed alongside 38-year-old Air Force Maj. Walter D. Gray, of Conyers, Ga. and 35-year-old Army Maj. Thomas E. Kennedy, of West Point, N.Y. when insurgents detonated suicide vests Wednesday in Kunar province.

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — The Wyoming Democratic Party is having an increasingly hard time fielding candidates in state legislative races. Out of 15 Wyoming State Senate seats in the Aug. 21 primary election, Democrats are running in only three races while Republicans are running in 14. And out of the 60 state House races, Democrats are running in only 22 while Republicans are running in 57.

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — An old case of sibling rivalry could spell trouble at the upcoming AARP National Spelling Bee in Cheyenne. The roughly 50 people signed up this year for the contest open to those age 50 and older include four siblings. The siblings say they're not just having a reunion, they want to see who's the best speller tomorrow.

RIVERTON, Wyo. (AP) — Seven rare chickens have disappeared from the Fremont County Fair. The birds were part of an exhibit by Wind River Healthcare. The health care center's senior citizens had raised the chickens as therapy and considered them pets. The Riverton Ranger reports the health care center's director reported seeing the chickens at the fair's agriculture center building on Aug. 4, but when he returned Sunday, seven were gone.