Supreme Court says rapist will spend life in prison

CHEYENNE – The Wyoming Supreme Court said today a 54-year-old rapist will spend the rest of his life in prison.

Warren W. Rathbun, who had two prior first-degree sexual assault convictions, tried to kidnap a woman in a parking garage east of the state Capitol in Cheyenne.

Rathbun, who is incarcerated now, had been out of prison about two weeks before he punched the woman in August 2009.

He ran when the woman screamed.

She was the third woman he had approached in the parking garage that day, supposedly seeking directions.

Rathburn had been held for more than 19 years in the Wyoming State Penitentiary for first-degree sexual assault. He had first-degree sexual assault convictions in 1989 and 1990.

The Wyoming Tribune Eagle reported during Rathburn’s sentencing that Laramie County District Attorney Scott Homar argued for the life sentence. Rathbun had a “long criminal career” that began in 1977.

Rathbun has spent three to five years out of incarceration in 30 years and tried to reentered society five or six times, Homar said.

In his appeal, Rathbun argued that an attempted kidnapping charge amounted to double jeopardy.

Rathbun had been sentenced to six months for battery of the woman after a circuit court judge said there was not enough evidence to warrant a felony kidnapping charge. Homar, however, filed the felony charge a second time based on new evidence.

The Supreme Court said that battery and kidnapping are different crimes.

He also unsuccessfully argued that the judge used the wrong penalty range when sentencing him.

Protections return for the Preble’s mouse in Wyoming

CHEYENNE – As of Saturday, the Preble’s meadow jumping mouse is again protected in Wyoming under the Endangered Species Act.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is reinstating protections for the mouse in the Cowboy State to comply with an order issued by a federal court in Denver.

The mouse is found only by streams on the plains and among the hills along the Front Range of Colorado and southeastern Wyoming.

While found in both states, the number of human beings and related development affecting habitat differs in the two states.

The Fish and Wildlife Service had listed the Preble’s meadow jumping mouse for protections in Colorado in 2008 that it felt were unneeded in Wyoming.

Five local and national conservation organizations, however, filed a lawsuit challenging U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s interpretation of the law.

U.S. District Judge John I. Kane reversed the agency’s decision. The ruling reinstates protections that date back to 1998 when the mouse was first listed.

The Fish and Wildlife Service is reviewing the status of the mouse. It plans to have that review done by June 2013.

Special regulations will now govern some agricultural operations, landscaping, weed control, ditch maintenance and other activities that affect the mouse’s habitat.

University offers freshmen opportunity to prepare for study

LARAMIE – University of Wyoming fall semester classes begin August 22.

Students will be able to move into UW residence halls at 7 a.m., August 18. Freshman students living in the residence halls and parents are invited to the Washakie Center’s Welcome to Wyoming Dinner at 3 p.m.

University President Tom Buchanan will welcome freshmen at 7 p.m. August 18 in the Arena-Auditorium as part of the Summit Transitions Program. Buchanan will also host a free welcome barbecue at 5 p.m. August 22 in Fraternity Mall.

Activities during the Summit Transitions Program are meant to help freshmen with the transition to UW and have fun with their peers. The program features guest speakers and small group time with returning students and faculty.

A schedule of summit activities can be found here.

University of Wyoming sets new record for private donations

LARAMIE – Private donations to the University of Wyoming set a new record at $43.1 million for the fiscal year ending June 30.

This is only the second time in the university’s 125-year history that giving has surpassed $40 million. In fiscal year 2008, UW raised just over $43 million.

The fiscal 2011 total includes contributions of 24,018 donors and brings the UW five-year fundraising average to more than $38 million a year.

The university’s endowment, managed by the University of Wyoming Foundation, now totals more than $303 million.

In addition to the endowment, the UW Foundation manages cash, reserve balances, trusts and gifts.

The assets add to public funding to provide the full spectrum of services of Wyoming’s only four-year, state-supported university.

Forbes ranks UW in top 10 for value

LARAMIE – The University of Wyoming has been ranked as one of the best value colleges in the United States by Forbes.

In its annual rankings, released this week, Forbes ranks UW at No. 10 on its list of “Best Colleges for the Money.”

The “value” ranking, prepared exclusively for Forbes by the Center for College Affordability, measures the overall cost of each school relative to the quality of education.

The highest ranked schools offer free tuition to all students. They are the U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Naval Academy and Cooper Union in New York.

The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy was fifth in the “value” rankings, followed by College of the Ozarks (Mo.), Berea College, U.S. Coast Guard Academy and Brigham Young University-Idaho.

Wyoming payroll data shows improving jobs market

CHEYENNE – The latest numbers on payrolls in Wyoming released by state economists show an improving jobs market.

The Research & Planning section of the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services reported Wednesday that in the fourth quarter of 2010 the number of jobs covered by unemployment insurance increased noticeably for the first time in nearly two years.

The report shows an increase in unemployment insured jobs of 2,918 or 1.1 percent more than recorded in fourth quarter 2009.

Additionally, total payroll increased by $174.5 million – 6 percent. Unemployment insurance covered payroll represents about 91 percent of all wages and salaries and 43 percent of personal income in the state, according to federal statistics.

Job growth of 1.1 percent and payroll growth of 6 percent were very similar to their five-year averages of 1.2 percent and 6.6 percent respectively.

That suggests, the state’s economy was recovering, according to the press release from David Bullard, senior state economist.

As in third quarter, the largest number of new jobs and the greatest growth in total payroll occurred in the mining sector, which includes oil and gas extraction. On an annual average basis, employment fell by about 3,700 jobs or 1.3 percent from 2009 to 2010.

The decrease was much smaller than the job losses that occurred between 2008 and 2009 – about 11,600 fewer jobs or a decline of 4 percent.

Employment increased in 15 counties and decreased in 8 counties, according to the report.

The fastest growth was in counties with mining operations.

Total payroll rose in 20 counties and fell in 3 counties.

Tables are here.

Natrona County gained 1,200 jobs – 3.2 percent – and its total payroll grew by $38.9 million – 9.1 percent). Mining, including oil and gas, added 847 jobs – 31.6 percent – and its total payroll increased by $24.3 million – .5 percent. Notable job growth was also seen in accommodation and food services, other services, health care & social assistance, and manufacturing. Retail trade lost 419 jobs – or a decline of 8.1 percent – and its total payroll also decreased by $3.5 million or a decline of 9.6 percent.

Sweetwater County gained 1,187 jobs – 5.1 percent – and its total payroll increased by $31.5 million – 10.4 percent. Construction employment rose by more than 400 jobs and mining, including oil and gas, added more than 350 jobs. Growth was also seen in administrative and waste services, local government including public schools and colleges, transportation and warehousing, and accommodation and food services.

Fremont County added 497 jobs – 3 percent – and its total payroll rose by $12.2 million – 8.1 percent. Job gains were seen in many sectors, such as mining, construction, educational services, health care & social assistance, and local government.

Uinta County’s employment increased by 390 jobs – 4.2 percent – and its total payroll rose by $18.3 million – 18.6 percent. It appears that the Ruby Pipeline project had a large impact on the county as the construction sector added about 450 jobs. Smaller job gains were seen in manufacturing, transportation and warehousing, professional and technical services, and local government. Job losses were noted in mining and retail trade.

Albany County lost 505 jobs – 3.2 percent – and its total payroll fell by $3.1 million – 2.2 percent. State government and construction each lost about 200 jobs. More modest job losses occurred in federal government, local government, and manufacturing.

Teton County’s employment fell by 291 jobs – 1.8 percent – but its total payroll increased by $5.9 million – 3.6 percent. Job gains in accommodation and food services of about 120 jobs were more than offset by job losses in construction of about 320 jobs.

Study: State budget in better condition than any other

CHEYENNE – Wyoming’s state budget is in better condition than any other in the nation.

On Wednesday, the Chicago-based Institute for Truth in Accounting issued its full report on all 50 states’ assets and liabilities, including pension and retirement health-care obligations.

Unlike most states, the difference between Wyoming’s assets – less capital and restricted assets – and all its obligations on-and-off the balance sheet exceed the state’s obligations. Wyoming’s liquid assets exceed the obligations by $15,100 per taxpayer, the non-partisan, non-profit Institute reported.

Initial results of the independent budget analysis showed Wyoming as one of only four states capable of covering health-care and pension promises to retired state-employees without incurring debt. More detailed results were issued Wednesday.

The study determined that six states carried a burden of more than $20,000 for each taxpayer in the state.

Those “Sinkhole States” are Connecticut – $41,200, New Jersey – $34,600, Illinois – $26,800, Hawaii – $25,000, Kentucky -$23,800, and Massachusetts – $20,100.

The “taxpayer burden” represents the money needed to pay commitments the state has accumulated divided by the state’s taxpayers.

Only Nebraska, North Dakota, Utah and Wyoming have assets available to pay their debt and obligations related to pension and retirees’ health care.

The analysis called those states plus South Dakota the “Sunshine States” because of their favorable budget positions. South Dakota taxpayers owe a $300 “taxpayer burden.” That is relatively low, the analysis says.

Wyoming has promised to pay more than $3 billion in pension and health-care benefits to retirees.

The study reviewed each state’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report to offset assets against liabilities.

Employee compensation packages include retirement benefits. Those benefits are earned each pay period and should be included in the current budget as a portion of current employee compensation costs, according to the analysis authors.

Most states handle many benefits on a “pay-as-you-go” basis. That hides the costs of the benefits from current budgets, pushing them into future budgets.

“The lack of truth and transparency in state budget processes has concealed the accumulation of $1 trillion of outstanding bills,” the analysis says.

A breakdown of state obligations is here.

Fair attractions include new opportunities for local goods

CASPER – The Wyoming Business Council Agribusiness Division is hosting three opportunities for Wyoming producers and vendors to sell or show their goods during the Wyoming State Fair.

The Fair is Aug. 13-20 in Douglas.

The Mercantile will be open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday.

For more information about the new Wyoming Mercantile, contact Terri Barr at 307.777.2807 or terri.barr@wyo.gov.

The Agribusiness Division will host a hay show at the fairgrounds’ Ag and Natural Resource Pavilion Aug. 15-20. Judging will be Aug. 16.

Producers who have already received their forage analysis from the lab must deliver samples, along with Wyoming State Fair entry forms and $2 per sample, to the pavilion by noon, Aug. 15.

Producers with the top five Relative Feed Values are automatically entered in the World Dairy Expo Forage Super Bowl Challenge Oct. 4-8 in Madison, Wis.

The Business Council will also send the top five grass hay samples to the Super Bowl to enter in the newly added Grass Hay category.

Other Wyoming forage producers may submit a hay sample and business card to Randall for display in the Wyoming Premium Hay booth at the World Dairy Expo, as well. For more information, contact Randall at 307.777.6578 or donn.randall@wyo.gov.

People are encouraged to visit the 9th Annual Wyoming State Fair Farmers Market in the Event Tent, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Aug. 20. More than 10 vendors will offer fresh produce, jams/jellies, skin-care products, honey products, plants and other value-added agriculture products.

For more information, contact Kim Porter at 307.777.6319 or kim.porter@wyo.gov.

Applications available for Kids Xtreme Cave Exploration

CHEYENNE – Applications are available for the Third Annual Wyoming Kids Xtreme Cave Exploration Adventure at Sinks Canyon State Park on Aug. 13.

Through the Wyoming Kids Xtreme program, developed by the Wyoming Division of State Parks, Historic Sites and Trails, kids will get the chance to participate in real cave exploration.

On August 13, State Park employees will take kids and their parents on a tour of a Sinks Canyon State Park cave.

Applications are available on-line here and must be turned in by Aug. 11. Once the application is accepted, participants will be notified of their time slot for the Cave Adventure.

For more information, please contact Christie Christensen at 777-2416, or email Christie.Christensen@wyo.gov.

Missouri to get 91 million tons of Wyoming coal

CHEYENNE – Peabody Energy said today that it has a six-year contract to deliver Wyoming Powder River Basin coal to Missouri for electricity generation.

Peabody Energy and Ameren Corporation have entered into an agreement to provide 91 million tons of low-sulfur coal to serve multiple electricity generating plants in Missouri through 2017.

Extension of the contract beyond 2017 is also possible.

“The contract represents a major commitment between the largest Powder River Basin producer and the largest Powder River Basin customer,” said Gregory H. Boyce, Peabody chairman and chief executive.

Ameren Missouri serves 1.2 million electric and 126,000 natural gas customers in central and eastern Missouri.

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