An editorial in today's Casper Star Tribune send mild criticism toward Governor Dave Freudenthal as Wyoming natural gas continues to sell for less than energy produced in other states. The paper argues that "nothing should be off the table", and urges the governor to solve what it calls an "emergency" at all costs. For possible solutions, the paper points to the idea of constitutional amendment to allow state investment in a pipeline, and giving tax breaks to encourage more investment in pipelines...

Gov. Freudenthal joined a bus tour of 125 people last week as on a 12-hour tour of Sheridan County. The group included elected officials, farmers, ranchers, educators, business owners and others, who were selected by county commissioners across the state to attend the annual two-day field trip organized by the state Department of Agriculture...

The average Wyomingite will see home heating costs rise 50% this winter. The Wyoming Public Service Commission will hold a public forum tomorrow afternoon in Jackson to discuss winter heating prices. The Cheyenne-based PSC regulates utility rates and service...

Sen. John Barrasso is the co-author of a bill which would compensate ranchers for livestock lost to wolves. Last week, it passed committee in the Senate and is expected to be voted on by the entire Senate soon. The bill provides some money for ranchers to buy guard dogs to protest their herds. President Bush is opposed to the bill. The White House says it should be up to Wyoming and other states...not the federal government... to provide rancher compensation for animals lost to wolves...

Late last week, the Associated Press reported that Sen. Mike Enzi was one of several Senators who owned holdings in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Elle Pickett from Sen. Enzi's office joins us to say that Enzi inhereted those bonds from his mother...

No charges have been filed against a man police say caused a security scare at the hotel of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi during the Democrat convention in Denver last month. Joseph Calanchini of Pinedale was to appear in court in Denver Monday but that was canceled because prosecutors did not file charges. The 29-year-old was arrested Aug. 23 after he tried checking in to the Grand Hyatt hotel with a rifle-type case that contained two hunting rifles and two pistols, prompting Pelosi's brief evacuation...

Evanston attorney Richard Lavery has been elected president of the Wyoming State Bar. Lavery was born and raised in Rock Springs. He holds bachelor's and law degrees from Creighton University and has practiced law in Evanston since 1981...

State lawmakers are discussing several possible changes to the state's workers' compensation program amid complaints about the system. One proposal is to hire an ombudsman to help workers get any assistance they need. Another proposal would address mental health care. Currently workers' compensation is provided in cases of mental health injuries only if those injuries are associated with a physical injury. Also, increased death and wage compensation benefits are being considered. The measures are before the Joint Labor, Health and Social Services Interim Committee...

Children's advocates in Wyoming are stepping up pressure for new measures to improve the quality of life of the state's youngest citizens. The advocates are planning to hold rallies in communities around the state tomorrow. Jackie Immel, with Children and Nutrition Services, Inc., says there are thousands of Wyoming children who can't afford to go to the doctor and who lack day care and early education. One of tomorrow's rallies will be held in Lander...

John McCain leads Barack Obama 58 percent to 39 percent among Wyoming voters, according to a new Rasmussen poll. A month ago the Denver Post surveyed Wyoming voters and found McCain favored 62 percent to 27 percent on the economy, 74 percent to 21 percent on national security, 63 percent to 19 percent on immigration, 43 percent to 38 percent on protecting the environment, and 62 percent to 26 percent on energy issues. Again, those numbers are Wyoming voters and are about a month old. John McCain leads Barack Obama 58 percent to 39 percent among Wyoming voters, according to a new Rasmussen poll...