Commission supports UW arts center

CHEYENNE -- The State Building Commission has voted to support building a new fine arts center at the University of Wyoming.

The commission, made up of statewide elected officials, gave UW authority last week to seek up to $33 million in revenue bonds to fund construction of the new facility.

Though the university does not expect to have a firm price until January, it is committed to spending less than $33 million. The final number will be available before the Legislature produces its biennium budget in a session that begins in February.

The university plans to repay the bonds using federal mineral royalties.

The commission also authorized UW to spend up to $6 million to renovate the Downey residence hall.

Lawmakers target invasive mussels

GILLETTE -- A draft bill meant to prevent boats from bringing invasive mussels into Wyoming waters will be reviewed by the Legislature's Joint Travel, Recreation and Wildlife committee next month.

Wyoming Game and Fish Department Director Steve Ferrell said the draft legislation is on the Nov. 6 meeting agenda.

It's part of an effort to keep aquatic invasive species such as zebra and quagga mussels from getting into Wyoming. The small mussels reproduce quickly and can cling to almost any underwater surface, quickly overwhelming ecosystems and clogging pipes and other infrastructure.

Ferrell says the mussels have been found in most western states but haven't yet been found in Wyoming, Idaho or Montana waters.

Earlier this year Idaho lawmakers approved a program to inspect boats for the mussels at about 17 stations across the state.

Companies pay for Medicaid fraud

CHEYENNE -- Four pharmaceutical companies have reached a nearly $50,000 settlement with the state of Wyoming for allegedly submitting false claims to the Medicaid program.

Wyoming Attorney General Bruce Salzburg said the companies failed to pay appropriate rebates for drugs that were paid for by Medicaid.

The companies are Mylan Pharmaceuticals, UDL Laboratories, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals and Ortho McNeil Pharmaceutical. Nationwide, the companies will pay a total of $124 million to resolve charges that they violated the False Claims Act.

Emergency planners consider communication

CHEYENNE -- Some Cheyenne and Laramie County officials are looking into ways to improve emergency communications after the region's primary Emergency Alert System radio station was knocked off the air during a power outage.

Dave Thompson, deputy director of the Cheyenne/Laramie County Emergency Management Agency sent out a survey to all local media on Friday, asking if they lost power and if they have backups in place. He decided to survey the stations after a recent power outage also knocked out power to KFBC-AM.

Reece Monaco, news director at KFBC, said the station needs to get a backup generator.