Latest Wyoming News Briefs

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Wyoming Sen. Bruce Burns is calling it the "best course of action for the state." A panel of state lawmakers has voted to recommend legislative approval of a plan that could lift federal protections from gray wolves in Wyoming as soon as next year. The plan would require Wyoming to maintain at least 10 breeding pairs and 100 wolves outside of Yellowstone National Park.

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — The federal government today plans to release data on samples taken from Pavillion's water wells as it holds a public hearing in the region that blames gas drilling for pollution. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says it won't reveal any conclusion based on the data. A link between the drilling and the pollution has yet to be proven or disproven.

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. (AP) — More than 175,000 people visited Yellowstone National Park last month, marking the second highest October visitation numbers on record and securing the park's second highest annual visitation record. Yellowstone has already hosted more than 3.3 million visitors this year. The park's record was set in 2010 with more than 3.6 million visitors, and before that, the busiest year saw nearly 3.3 million visitors in 2009.

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — The U.S. Bureau of Land Management is seeking public nominations for three open positions on the Wyoming Resource Advisory Council. The council advises the BLM on public land issues. The agency is seeking nominations of people to represent ranching or energy development interests, environmental organizations and representatives of state, county or local governments.