Wyoming News Briefs

PINEDALE, Wyo. (AP) — Firefighters are making progress against a 400-acre wildfire threating 13 homes in western Wyoming. The 400-acre Chall Creek Fire was 20 percent contained Wednesday. It ignited Sunday 30 miles west of Pinedale and has prompted some evacuation orders. No buildings have been reported lost. The cause remains under investigation. Near Jackson, the nearly 3,400-acre Horsethief Canyon Fire is 82 percent contained.

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Final testing is being done on a National Center for Atmospheric Research supercomputer on the outskirts of Cheyenne that will be used for climate modeling and other Earth sciences. The new computer, called Yellowstone, is among the top dozen or so fastest supercomputers in the world. The roughly $30 million IBM machine is housed in a purpose-built facility. An opening ceremony is scheduled for Oct. 15.

CASPER, Wyo. (AP) — Allegiant Air says it plans to add twice-weekly direct flights from Casper, Wyo., to Phoenix in December. The Casper Star-Tribune reports the flights between the Casper/Natrona County International Airport and Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport will start Dec. 20. Keith Hansen of Allegiant says the flights initially will be offered on Sundays and Thursdays.

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — The American Association of Retired Persons plans to hold a brain health workshop in Sheridan. The workshop is called "Gray Matters: Training the Grownup Brain." It will be held on Thursday, Sept. 27, at the Holiday Inn as part of the annual meeting of the Wyoming Retired Education Personnel. Experts at the workshop will answer questions about the brain as it ages.