Wyoming News Briefs

LOGAN, Utah (AP) — A bicyclist competing in a race from Logan, Utah, to Jackson Hole, Wyo. crashed and died when he swerved to avoid a pothole on Highway 89. Authorities say 42-year-old Robert Verhaare was participating in the annual LOTOJA (low-tuh-juh) race when crashed on a bridge about eight miles from the finish line Saturday and fell about 35 feet to his death into the Snake River. Race spokesman Dave Bern says the 206-mile race also was marred by serious accidents in Idaho and Wyoming that sent two bicyclists to the hospital and by flat tires experienced by roughly 200 cyclists early on.

CASPER, Wyo. (AP) — Western Wyoming Community College has lost its national nursing accreditation, which could affect the careers of almost a dozen students who graduated in May. College president Karla Leach tells The Casper Star-Tribune the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission told the Rock Springs school it lost accreditation because not all the faculty had a master's degree. She says the group had previously not enforced the provision, and adds that all of the nursing teachers will have their master's by next year.

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. (AP) — Biologists studying the grizzly bear population in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem plan to set several baited traps in the area beginning tomorrow and continuing until the end of October. Members of the Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team say that once trapped, the bears will be fitted with a radio collar and biological samples will be taken.

LARAMIE, Wyo. (AP) — In a game featuring two spread offenses that gained big chunks of yardage, Wyoming outgained Toledo 526 yards to 504. But three turnovers by the Cowboys and none by the Rockets proved to be decisive in a 34-31 Toledo win on Saturday. Wyoming coach Dave Christensen says the Cowboys have to do a better job of protecting the football and getting its defense off the field.