Snowboarder faces manslaughter charge

JACKSON - A Maryland teenager was charged with manslaughter after a fatal collision with a skier at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort.

Authorities would not release the name or hometown of the 16-year-old snowboarder, who also was charged Friday with reckless endangering. Teton County Sheriff's Sgt. Lloyd Funk said the county attorney would decide whether the teen should be tried as a juvenile or an adult. The manslaughter charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

According to witnesses, Heather Donahue, 28, of Shrewsbury, Mass., was skiing slowly on an intermediate slope on Thursday when the boy collided with her. Witnesses said the boy was going fast and had ample room to turn, but didn't do so.

Donahue was airlifted to an Idaho Falls, Idaho, hospital, where she died Friday, apparently from head injuries.

The boy, who was wearing a helmet and had only minor injuries, was released to an adult friend of the family, and has since returned to his family in Maryland.

House votes against governor's veto

CHEYENNE - The Wyoming House voted Monday to override Gov. Dave Freudenthal's veto of a bill that gives more power to the other elected state officials.

The Senate will vote today whether to override the governor's veto of House Bill 291.

The bill gives hiring and firing power over the director of the state Office of State Lands and Investments to all five elected state officials - the governor, secretary of state, auditor, treasurer and state superintendent of public instruction. Under current law, the governor appoints the director with the advice and consent of the Senate.

In his veto message, Freudenthal said the bill was designed to fix a problem that no longer exists.

The House override vote Monday was 44-14 with two excused, enough to meet the two-thirds vote requirement.

The bill passed the Senate 17-13, meaning supporters need to pick up three more votes to meet the two-thirds override requirement.

Under legislative rules, if the house where the bill originated votes to override a veto, the second house also must vote.

Police break up poker game

CHEYENNE - Officers from the Cheyenne Police Department cited seven people at a bowling alley for playing Texas Hold 'em, a poker game, a news release said.

Officers went to Two Bar Bowling to investigate potential gambling offenses Friday. When the officers arrived, seven people were playing Hold 'em for money.

Each of the players was issued a summons and a $250 fine for gambling.

The establishment's owner was also cited for giving the gamblers a place to play.

The Cheyenne police told bar owners throughout the city on Nov. 19 not to allow bar-goers to play Texas Hold 'em. The game is considered gambling and a violation of state law, according to the press release.

Corrections

A story in Saturday's newspaper contained incorrect information about the new Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Sheridan. The Sheridan store is Habitat's second such store in Wyoming; a ReStore also operates in Jackson.

A story in Thursday's newspaper gave incorrect information about the percentage of those who were lynched in Wyoming from 1878 to 1918 who were African-Americans. The actual percentage was 11 percent - four of 36 total hangings.