K2 Radio News: Flash Briefing For December 13th, 2017 – Morning

NEW YORK (AP) - A MAN CHARGED WITH USING A WEAPON OF MASS DESTRUCTION IN THE NEW YORK CITY SUBWAY SYSTEM IS EXPECTED TO HAVE HIS FIRST COURT PROCEEDING IN THE HOSPITAL WHERE HE'S IN CUSTODY. AUTHORITIES SAY AKAYED ULLAH IS RECOVERING FROM BURNS INFLICTED MONDAY WHEN A PIPE BOMB STRAPPED TO HIS BODY EXPLODED IN A PASSAGEWAY UNDERNEATH TIMES SQUARE. OFFICIALS IN BANGLADESH SAY ULLAH WAS INFLUENCED BY THE IMPRISONED LEADER OF A GROUP LINKED TO ATTACKS IN THAT COUNTRY.
ISTANBUL (AP) - TURKISH PRESIDENT RECEP TAYYIP ERDOGAN SAYS THE U.S-LED MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS IS NOW OVER FOLLOWING PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP'S DECISION TO RECOGNIZE JERUSALEM AS THE CAPITAL OF ISRAEL. ERDOGAN SPOKE WEDNESDAY AT THE CLOSING OF THE SUMMIT OF THE 57-MEMBER ORGANIZATION OF ISLAMIC COOPERATION. ERDOGAN SAID IT IS "OUT OF THE QUESTION" FOR WASHINGTON TO MEDIATE BETWEEN THE PALESTINIANS AND THE ISRAELIS. HE SAID: "THAT PROCESS IS NOW OVER."
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CASPER CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS TENTATIVELY CHOSE VICE MAYOR RAY PACHECO FOR MAYOR IN 2018, AND COUNCIL MEMBER CHARLIE POWELL AS VICE MAYOR.
THE NINE COUNCIL MEMBERS SELECTED PACHECO AND POWELL DURING A NONBINDING STRAW POLL BY SECRET BALLOT DURING THEIR WORK SESSION TUESDAY.

CASPER CITY MANAGER CARTER NAPIER SAID COUNCIL WILL MAKE THE DECISIONS FORMAL IN A MINUTE ITEM ON ITS AGENDA FOR THE FIRST MEETING OF THE NEW YEAR.

PACHECO, WHO REPRESENTS WARD 3, WAS ELECTED TO THE COUNCIL IN 2014.

HE UNSUCCESSFULLY RAN IN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY IN 2016 TO REPRESENT HOUSE DISTRICT 57.

POWELL IS A LONG-TIME COUNCIL MEMBER AND WAS MAYOR IN 2015.

THE POSITION OF MAYOR IS A FIRST-AMONG-EQUALS TITLE. THE MAYOR OVERSEES MEETINGS, ACTS AS THE FACE FOR THE CITY, AND APPEARS AT COMMUNITY FUNCTIONS.

THE COUNCIL HIRES THE CITY MANAGER TO OVERSEE THE OPERATIONS OF CITY FUNCTIONS INCLUDING LAW ENFORCEMENT, FIRE PROTECTION, WATER AND SEWER UTILITIES, AND STREETS.
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AFTER WAIVING ENTRANCE FEES FOR 16 DAYS IN 2016 AND 10 DAYS THIS YEAR, THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE ANNOUNCED TUESDAY THAT IT WILL HAVE FOUR NO-COST DAYS NEXT YEAR.

THEY WILL BE MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY IN JANUARY, THE FIRST DAY OF NATIONAL PARK WEEK IN APRIL, NATIONAL PUBLIC LANDS DAY IN SEPTEMBER, AND VETERANS DAY IN NOVEMBER.

THE CHANGE COMES AFTER THE PARK SERVICE SAID IT WAS CONSIDERING RAISING VEHICLE ENTRY FEES AT 17 BUSY PARKS MAINLY IN THE WEST, INCLUDING YELLOWSTONE, GRAND CANYON, YOSEMITE AND ZION.

THE PROPOSAL WOULD RAISE THE COST FROM $25 OR $30 PER WEEK TO $70.

THE AGENCY ESTIMATES THE INCREASE WOULD GENERATE AN ADDITIONAL $70 MILLION TO HELP ADDRESS BACKLOGGED MAINTENANCE AND INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS.
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A PLANNED SCIENCE BUILDING AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING IS OVER BUDGET BY ROUGHLY $11 MILLION.

UNIVERSITY OFFICIALS RECENTLY INFORMED THE STATE LEGISLATURE'S JOINT APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE ABOUT THE SCIENCE INITIATIVE BUILDING BEING OVER-BUDGET.

CONSTRUCTION OF THE BUILDING IS SCHEDULED TO BEGIN EARLY IN 2019.

IT'S ESTIMATED THE BUILDING WILL COST $82 MILLION. THE ORIGINAL ESTIMATE WAS $71 MILLION.

UW OFFICIALS SAY THEY ARE WORKING WITH ARCHITECTS AND ENGINEERS TO TRIM THE COST.

ONE SOLUTION IS TO LEAVE SOME SPACE IN THE NEW BUILDING UNFINISHED.

UW BOARD OF TRUSTEES TREASURER JOHN MCKINLEY SAYS THAT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL BECAUSE THEN THERE WOULD BE SPACE FOR NEW RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES IN THE FUTURE.

BUT SOME LAWMAKERS EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT THIS UNFINISHED SPACE WOULD EVENTUALLY REQUIRE NEW FUNDING IN THE FUTURE.