K2 Radio News: Flash Briefing For November 9th, 2017 – Morning

WASHINGTON (AP) - THE SENATE VERSION OF THE REPUBLICANS' HIGH-STAKES TAX OVERHAUL IS SET TO BE UNVEILED WITH BILLIONS IN TAX CUTS FOR PEOPLE AND CORPORATIONS, REPEAL OF THE FEDERAL DEDUCTION FOR STATE AND LOCAL TAXES, AND A LIKELY COMPRESSION OF THE PERSONAL INCOME TAX BRACKETS FROM SEVEN TO FOUR. THE HOUSE MEASURE, MEANWHILE, NEARS APPROVAL BY THE TAX-WRITING COMMITTEE AFTER LAST-MINUTE CHANGES BY ITS PRIMARY AUTHOR. THE LEGISLATION IN BOTH CHAMBERS WOULD BRING THE FIRST MAJOR REVAMP OF THE TAX CODE IN 30 YEARS.

SUTHERLAND SPRINGS, TEXAS (AP) - VICE PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE HAS TOLD ATTENDEES AT A VIGIL FOR THE VICTIMS OF A MASSACRE IN A SMALL-TOWN TEXAS CHURCH THAT TEXANS COME TOGETHER IN TIMES OF CRISIS. PENCE DECLARED THE KILLING SUNDAY OF AT LEAST TWO DOZEN AT THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH IN SUTHERLAND SPRINGS THE WORST MASS SHOOTING AT A CHURCH IN AMERICAN HISTORY. HE SAYS THE GUNMAN, DEVIN PATRICK KELLEY, FAILED TO SILENCE THE COMMUNITY'S "TESTIMONY OF FAITH."

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THE COST OF CHARITY CARE PROVIDED BY THE WYOMING MEDICAL CENTER HAS DECLINED IN RECENT YEARS BECAUSE MORE PEOPLE OBTAINED INSURANCE THROUGH THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT'S INSURANCE EXCHANGE.

THE HOSPITAL'S CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER YVONNE WIGINGTON MADE HER SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT ABOUT THE HOSPITAL'S CHARITY CARE, BAD DEBT AND OTHER INFORMATION TO THE NATRONA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.

WIGINGTON SAID AFTER THE MEETING THAT THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT HAS HELPED THE HOSPITAL TO REDUCE COSTS AND SERVE PATIENTS.

THE AMOUNT THE WYOMING MEDICAL CENTER HAS WRITTEN OFF FOR CHARITY CARE DECLINED FROM $34.5 MILLION IN 2011 TO $22.2 MILLION IN FISCAL YEAR 2017 THAT ENDED JUNE 30.

ON THE OTHER HAND, THE HOSPITAL HAS HAD TO WRITE OFF AN INCREASING AMOUNT OF BAD DEBT, FROM $19.9 MILLION IN 2011 TO $27.1 MILLION THIS YEAR.

WIGINGTON ATTRIBUTED THE INCREASE IN BAD DEBT TO RISING DEDUCTIBLES OF $5,000 TO $10,000, AND THAT'S TOO MUCH FOR SOME PATIENTS TO PAY.

WIGINGTON'S REPORT IS A REQUIREMENT OF THE NON-PROFIT WYOMING MEDICAL CENTER'S LEASE OF THE NATRONA COUNTY-OWNED HOSPITAL ASSETS, WHICH MOSTLY ARE LOCATED IN THE 1200 BLOCK OF EAST SECOND AND EAST THIRD STREETS.
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WYOMING REGULATORS ARE PROPOSING CHANGES TO HOW COAL COMPANIES SECURE THE COST OF CLEANING UP ANY OF THEIR MINES THAT CLOSE IN THE STATE.

THE STATE'S SELF-BONDING RULES HAVE BEEN CRITICIZED BY SOME AS BEING INADEQUATE, POTENTIALLY LEAVING THE STATE TO PICK UP THE EXPENSIVE COST OF CLEANING UP SHUTTERED MINES.

THOSE FEARS WERE RAISED TWO YEARS AGO WHEN A SHARP DECLINE IN THE COAL MARKET LEAD TO SEVERAL MINING COMPANIES TO FILE FOR BANKRUPTCY.

THE STATE'S PROPOSED CHANGES DON'T END SELF-BONDING, BUT THEY DO MAKE IT HARDER TO QUALIFY.

KYLE WENDTLAND OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY SAYS THE PROPOSED CHANGES MODERNIZE THE RULES.

THE PROPOSED CHANGES WILL BE CONSIDERED BY THE STATE LAND QUALITY ADVISORY BOARD NEXT MONTH IN GILLETTE.
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THE 10TH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS HAS DECLINED TO RECONSIDER ITS RULING THAT THE CITY OF RIVERTON IN CENTRAL WYOMING IS NOT WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE WIND RIVER INDIAN RESERVATION.

A PANEL OF THREE JUDGES RULED 2-1 IN FEBRUARY AGAINST AN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY OPINION THAT SAID RIVERTON WAS ON THE RESERVATION.

THAT PROMPTED THE EASTERN SHOSHONE AND NORTHERN ARAPAHO TRIBES TO ASK FOR A NEW HEARING BEFORE THE FULL 10TH CIRCUIT.

THE DENIAL OF THE REHEARING WAS ANNOUNCED TUESDAY.

THE ONLY RECOURSE FOR THE TRIBES NOW IS TO ASK THE U.S. SUPREME COURT TO HEAR ITS CASE.

THE DISPUTE CENTERS ON WHETHER A 1905 AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE TRIBES AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO ALLOW SALE OF RESERVATION LAND TO NON-INDIANS ACTUALLY CHANGED THE RESERVATION BOUNDARIES.