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WOLF LAWSUIT
AP Newsbreak: Deal reached on Oregon wolves
GRANTS PASS, Ore. (AP) - Conservation groups and cattle ranchers have agreed to a landmark settlement in a lawsuit that has kept the state of Oregon from killing wolves that prey on livestock.
The agreement announced Friday by the governor's office creates a new rulebook for wolf management in Oregon that makes killing the ones that prey on cattle and sheep a last resort after non-lethal protections have been tried, and livestock attacks have become chronic. It also gives ranchers greater authority to kill wolves that attack or chase their herds as long as certain conditions are met.
Brett Brownscombe, the governor's natural resources adviser, says the agreement will help bring peace to a longstanding and bitter conflict.
The agreement must be endorsed by the Legislature and wildlife authorities before taking effect.
OBIT-ROBINSON
Former NBA guard Flynn Robinson dies at 72
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Flynn Robinson, the former NBA guard who played on the Los Angeles Lakers' 1971-72 championship team, has died after a 2-year fight with cancer. He was 72.
Flynn's wife, Nancy Pitts-Robinson, told the Lakers he died Thursday at Keck Hospital in Los Angeles.
Called "Mr. Instant Point" by late Lakers broadcaster Chick Hearn, the 6-foot-1 Robinson averaged 9.9 points and 2.2 assists in 64 games in 1971-72, helping the Lakers win an NBA-record 33 consecutive games and the franchise's first title in Los Angeles.
"We are very sad to hear of the passing of Flynn Robinson," said Jeanie Buss, the Lakers' executive vice president of business operations. "Flynn played an important role on the 1971-72 Lakers team."
Robinson had his best season in 1969-70 with Milwaukee, averaging 21.8 points and 5.5 rebounds in 81 games and appearing in his lone All-Star game. In seven NBA seasons with Cincinnati, Chicago, Milwaukee, the Lakers and Baltimore, the former University of Wyoming star averaged 14.5 points and 3.1 assists. He finished his career in the ABA with the San Diego Conquistadors in 1973-74.
BOY SCOUTS-WYOMING
Mixed reaction in Wyo. to Boy Scouts gay vote
(Information in the following story is from: Casper (Wyo.) Star-Tribune, http://www.trib.com)
CASPER, Wyo. (AP) - Officials with Boy Scouts of America in Wyoming aren't commenting on the organization's vote to end a ban on gay youths while still excluding gay adults.
Parents of Wyoming Boy Scouts have mixed reactions.
Bern Haggerty, of Laramie, says he gave up Scouting in 1991 after the Boy Scouts banned gay boys and adults. His son is working toward becoming an Eagle Scout.
Haggerty tells the Casper Star-Tribune he's disappointed gay adults remain barred after Thursday's decision.
Heather Garner, the mother of 2 Scouts in Casper, says she is proud to be involved in the organization after the vote.
The executive director of the Central Wyoming Council, Matt Myers, declined to comment on the decision or to identify the Wyoming Boy Scout representatives who took part in the vote.
EAGLE FEATHERS-YELLOWBEAR
Wyoming inmate sues again over eagle feathers
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) - A Wyoming prison inmate is suing the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, claiming agency officials improperly delayed sending him eagle feathers he needed for religious purposes.
Andrew John Yellowbear, Jr., a member of the Northern Arapaho Tribe, is serving a life sentence for the beating death of his 22-month-old daughter in 2004.
Yellowbear filed a federal lawsuit this month charging that the agency refused to send him feathers for several years before it turned some over in December.
Attempts to reach Fish and Wildlife Service officials weren't immediately successful on Friday.
The American Civil Liberties Union represented Yellowbear in a 2008 federal lawsuit against the Wyoming Department of Corrections.
The department entered a settlement agreement saying American Indian inmates could have up to four eagle feathers in their cells.
LARAMIE KILLING
Laramie man faces second-degree murder charge
LARAMIE, Wyo. (AP) - A Vietnam veteran accused in a fatal stabbing in Laramie faces a charge of second-degree murder.
The Laramie Boomerang reports former city of Laramie employee Timothy Ray Harnden was charged Wednesday in the death of 44-year-old Paul Hamilton, of Laramie.
Investigators say Hamilton was stabbed late Sunday in an altercation with Harnden.
Court documents say Hamilton sustained a knife blow that penetrated his heart at a home. Court documents say Hamilton's wife lived upstairs and Harnden lived on the main floor, while Hamilton had been staying in a camper outside.
Police say there have been disputes between Harnden and the Hamiltons before, but Harnden's lawyer says no charges were filed in those disputes.
GLENROCK ABDUCTION
Casper man pleads in girl's kidnapping, abuse
(Information in the following story is from: Casper (Wyo.) Star-Tribune, http://www.trib.com)
DOUGLAS, Wyo. (AP) - A Casper man has pleaded guilty to kidnapping and sexual abuse of a minor in the abduction of a 2-year-old Glenrock girl from her bedroom last year.
The Casper Star-Tribune reports that 22-year-old Robert J. Parks entered the pleas Wednesday in Converse County District Court. Parks had been scheduled for trial starting Tuesday in Douglas.
Parks entered "Alford pleas," which carry the same legal weight as regular guilty pleas but don't require a defendant to admit wrongdoing. Parks faces sentences of up to 20 years for kidnapping and 50 years for sexual abuse of a minor.
Parks' lawyer, Scott Powers, says prosecutors agreed to drop a felony larceny charge against Parks in exchange for his pleas. Powers says prosecutors agreed to allow Parks' sentences to run concurrently.
HUDSON SLAYINGS
Couple get prison terms in double slayings
RIVERTON, Wyo. (AP) - A husband and wife have been sentenced to long prison terms after pleading guilty to abetting the slayings of 2 people in Hudson in 2011.
The Riverton Ranger reports Joseph Jude Jenkins was sentenced to 70 years and Samantha June Hanway received a 25 to 50-year term. The sentences came in hearings Thursday.
They were among five people charged in the deaths of Eric Clinton Likes and his girlfriend, Elva Charlotte Quiver, in November 2011.
A third defendant received a life term and a fourth was sentenced to eight to 16 years. The fifth is awaiting a decision on whether his case will be handled in juvenile court.
Authorities say Clinton and Quiver were killed during a robbery.
YELLOWSTONE-BEARTOOTH
Beartooth Highway opening delayed by snow, ice
JACKSON, Wyo. (AP) - A spring storm bearing snow and ice has delayed the reopening of the Beartooth Highway connecting Yellowstone National Park and Red Lodge, Mont.
The highway was to open Friday morning, but park officials say it might not be ready all day.
Snow and ice also delayed the opening of the road over Dunraven Pass inside the park. All other park roads and entrances have opened for the season.
Yellowstone officials expected plowing to be delayed by two weeks because of federal budget cuts, but the Wyoming Department of Transportation used money raised by local communities to avoid delays.
Jackson contributed $70,000.
Wyoming 70 over Battle Pass in south-central Wyoming opened Friday. Wyoming 130 over the Snowy Range opened Thursday.
GILLETTE AIR SERVICE
Campbell commissioners OK air service subsidy
GILLETTE, Wyo. (AP) - The Campbell County commissioners have agreed to help subsidize air service from Gillette to Salt Lake City and Denver for another year starting July 1.
The Gillette News Record reported Thursday the exact amount isn't yet known because it's calculated quarterly and billed retroactively. It's expected to be about $1.2 million for a year.
Commissioners say they will use the next six months to a year to review options for financing the service.
Utah-based SkyWest provides the service. The company currently gets a total annual subsidy of $1.7 million a year for the Gillette service, with the state paying about two-thirds. SkyWest wants to increase that by $750,000.
The county will ask the city of Gillette to help. Mayor Tom Murphy says the city is considering contributing about $100,000.
FARMERS MARKETS
Farmers markets make economic impact in Wyoming
CASPER, Wyo. (AP) - The Wyoming Business Council says those little farmers markets in the state have a big impact on the economy.
Data compiled by the council's Agribusiness Division says the markets contributed more than $2.2 million to the state's economy in 2012.
There were direct sales of about $1.7 million, which generated secondary sales of more than $527,000. The study found that the markets supported the equivalent of about 20 jobs with income totally nearly $525,000.
Kim Porter, of the Business Council, says there will be at least 46 markets around Wyoming this season, which runs from about June to October in most places. However, a few farmers markets operate in the winter.
HOMELESS COALITION REBOUND
Homeless Coalition rebounds after leader dies
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) - The Wyoming Coalition for the Homeless has rebounded after the death of its founder and a financial crisis.
The Wyoming Tribune Eagle reported Friday that donors have contributed thousands of dollars and contractors are helping convert a formal Naval Reserve building into an education and day-care center for homeless job-seekers and their children.
The coalition's founder and chairwoman Virginia Sellner, died in October. The group had less than $200 and a list of unmet needs that had been on hold as Sellner's health declined.
Board member Rachel Bennett took over leadership, and the group began appealing to the community. She says the response was quick and overwhelming.
One person donated $3,500 to pay the coalition's utilities. Someone else left the group $3,500 in her will.
KIDS' FISHING DAY
Game Department plans kids' fishing day in Casper
CASPER, Wyo. (AP) - The 18th Annual Kids Fishing Day event is set for June 1 in Casper.
The Wyoming Game and Fish Department and the Community Recreation Foundation are hosting the event. It will be held from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. at Harry Yesness Pond at 4100 SW Wyoming Boulevard. The event is free and is for children ages 14 and under. It coincides with Free Fishing Day.
Because of the popularity of the event and limited space, families with last names beginning with the letters A through M will fish from 9 a.m. to noon. Families with last names beginning with the letters N through Z fish from noon to 3 p.m. Registration begins at event start times.
Participants should bring their own poles and lures or bait if possible.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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