Episode Details

It's time to take a look at what's happening around Wyoming for Wednesday, August 20th. I'm Wendy Corr, bringing you headlines from the Cowboy State Daily newsroom - Brought to you by the Converse County Tourism Promotion Board! Discover Douglas and Glenrock in beautiful Wyoming, where rich history, outdoor adventure, and welcoming communities await. Feel the Energy of Converse County at www.ConverseCountyTourism.com.

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The Wyoming Highway Patrol voiced its official support Tuesday in Casper for a state-level law decommissioning non-English proficient commercial truck drivers.

As a result, the legislative Transportation, Highways and Military Affairs Committee asked its staffers to draft a bill that would expand Wyoming Highway Patrol inspectors' current enforcement of federal English proficiency regulations to all law enforcement agents in the state. Cowboy State Daily's Clair McFarland has been following this story.

"In the past, I've asked Wyoming Highway Patrol about this issue, and … I've gotten hard data and figures and things about enforcement of the non English speaking truckers… but Tuesday, the agency took a stand and came out big and said, We want to enforce on this issue, and we want to see state legislation that would help us, because it would expand enforcement capabilities beyond just our inspectors, out to our troopers, out to county sheriffs, out to city police to where any trekkers that are taking county roads to try to avoid a port of entry could then be decommissioned if they cannot read the signs, converse with the general public, fill out log books in English."

Committee Co-Chair, Representative Landon Brown, said he wants to solicit as much input as possible before the committee's third and final interim meeting in Cheyenne Oct. 20.

Read the full story HERE.

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Black Hills Energy announced a blockbuster $15.4 billion merger Tuesday with another regional energy provider that the companies say will help them compete with larger utilities.

Cowboy State Daily's Greg Johnson reports that the all-stock merger with Sioux Falls, South Dakota-based NorthWestern Energy will serve about 2.1 million customers across eight states to form a single company that hasn't been named yet.

"It's a true merger. They're both good companies. Have low debt. It's not one strong company buying out another, or anything like that. And they both serve rural areas, so they're similar in that regard… I asked them the number one question… What are our rates going to look like? And the CEO from Black Hills said, Yeah, nothing is happening. The rates are staying the same… however, with the merger, it is likely... any future rate increases could be less and farther apart."

Along with Wyoming, the new company will provide electricity and natural gas across parts of Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska and South Dakota.

Read the full story HERE.

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The Wyoming Department of Health has reached out to hundreds of people they believe may have been exposed to rabies during their stay at a Grand Teton National Park lodge over the last four months when a bat colony infected with the disease was discovered in the attic.

Cowboy State Daily's Andrew Rossi reports that they still need to reach hundreds more, and the sooner the better.

"It's a virus, but it's not spread virally. You can't get it from breathing the air or from surface contac