UW Making Budget Cuts/Wyoming News Briefs

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — The University of Wyoming has eliminated 54 faculty and staff positions to meet state budget cuts. UW also is reducing non-personnel support budgets and scholarships. UW's operating budget is being cut by $11.8 million.

 RIVERTON, Wyo. (AP) — A company has filed an application to drill oil wells and use steam to help release the oil from the ground in central Wyoming. Denver-based Richardson Operating Co. proposes to drill nine wells in southern Fremont County. The Riverton Ranger reports that the company would inject steam underground to heat the oil and make it runnier.

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — State officials in the Northern Rockies are opposing a federal proposal that cites climate change as a threat to the carnivorous wolverine, which depends on deep mountain snows to survive. The pending U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposal would declare the animal a threatened species across the Lower 48 states. But Montana, Idaho and Wyoming officials say new protections aren't necessary.

GRANTS PASS, Ore. (AP) — The U.S. Forest Service is gearing up for wildfire season by adding to its large air tanker fleet seven planes that fly faster and will drop a bigger payload of fire retardant than in the past. The contracts announced yesterday total $158 million.

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