Episode Details

It's time to take a look at what's happening around Wyoming, for Thursday, April 10th. I'm Wendy Corr, bringing you headlines from the Cowboy State Daily newsroom - Brought to you by Wyoming Community Gas. The Choice Gas selection period ends on Wednesday April 23rd – This is your opportunity to select your Natural Gas Provider for the coming year. For more information, visit Wyoming Community Gas dot ORG."

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A scheduled three-week trial for a former award-winning foster parent accused of sexually abusing four female victims under his care got underway Wednesday in Natrona County District Court.

Steven Marler faces 26 charges, including two counts of first-degree sexual abuse of a minor, seven counts of second-degree sexual abuse of a minor and 11 counts of third-degree sexual abuse of a minor. Cowboy State Daily's Dale Killingbeck was in the courtroom for the first day of arguments in the case.

"Steven Marler and his wife had adopted eight foster children as their own, plus there were other foster children in the home, and he painted a picture of a home that initially was from the outside looked great… but then it just devolved into a place where there was severe discipline, lack of food, and then just it devolved further into encounters and massages with Marla, they're alleging, and those became sexual contacts with individual female children in the home. And he also faces charges of child endangerment and battery related to discipline, including allegedly kicking one of his adopted sons off a roof."

The trial will include details from over 15 years, from when Marler first took in foster children until last year, when the investigation began.

Read the full story HERE.

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A Senate committee voted 10-9 along party lines Wednesday to advance Brian Nesvik's nomination to lead the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Nesvik had a long career with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, ascending to the agency's top post. He is also a decorated military veteran with many years of service in the Wyoming National Guard, retiring as a brigadier general.

Nesvik sailed through the Senate EPW Committee's March 26 confirmation hearing, with few concerns raised by Democrats. But Cowboy State Daily's Sean Barry reports that his nomination made it out of the committee Wednesday by only the narrowest of margins.

"People fully expected Brian Nesvik's nomination to be approved, and there would be some Democrats opposed, but no one, no one saw a strict party line vote, because the hearing on March 26 showed no evidence of that whatsoever… this is a 19 member committee, and… It's a good thing the Republicans all showed up to vote on that Senate Environmental Public Works Committee, including Senator Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming… there's some bipartisanship in Congress here and there on some things. And after all, another EPA nominee was just approved by the same committee today 15 to four. So that's pretty bipartisan, but Brian Nesvik squeaked by on a 10 Nine count."

EPW's strictly party-line vote sends the nomination to the full Senate for final confirmation at a date not yet scheduled. With the GOP holding a 53-47 edge in the chamber, final approval is not in doubt.

Read the full story HERE