Wyoming News Briefs

SHERIDAN, Wyo. (AP) — Sheridan County Republicans have selected two nominees to fill a vacant Wyoming state House seat. The precinct committee members nominated Kathy Coleman and Peter Schoonmaker for the state House District 30 seat left vacant by the early departure of Republican Rep. Jon Botten, of Banner. The Sheridan County Commission will appoint one of the two to fill the seat.

POWELL, Wyo. (AP) — An Indiana man accused of helping to defraud Powell Valley Healthcare in Wyoming out of almost $850,000 has pleaded guilty to federal conspiracy charges. The Powell Tribune reports former youth minister Michael Plake says it was former Powell Valley Healthcare CEO Paul Cardwell's idea to have Plake pose as a recruiter for doctors. Plake says he deposited the recruiting payments and then wrote checks to Cardwell.

DENVER (AP) — A Hampton Inn & Suites franchise in Colorado has agreed to pay $85,000 in back pay and compensatory damages to non-Hispanic employees. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission alleged Rawlins, Wyo.-based Century Shree Corp. fired at least three white housekeeping and laundry workers and replaced them with Latino workers, believing Hispanics work harder. The owners deny wrongdoing.

GILLETTE, Wyo. (AP) — Campbell County Memorial Hospital plans to examine the need for a pediatric psychiatrist in Gillette. One of the only child psychiatrists in the area is planning to move away next year. Hospital trustee Nancy Tarver says the hospital will talk with the psychiatrist about her case load and determine if it should start recruiting.