UW reports swine flu

LARAMIE -- University of Wyoming officials say a dorm resident has tested positive for swine flu.

The school issued a release Thursday saying the student has recovered from the first reported case of the virus in the university's residence halls.

Universities can be fertile ground for swine flu because of the large number of people living in close quarters.

The American College Health Association reported last week that the national average is 18 swine flu cases per 10,000 college students.

UW Director of Environmental Health and Safety Nancy Fox said the institution is at level two of its pandemic plan, which involves informing the campus of ways to slow down the spread of the virus.

The university says it has identified space for ill students to move temporarily.

$5M for carbon capture

LARAMIE -- The U.S. Department of Energy is awarding nearly $5 million in stimulus funds to the University of Wyoming for carbon sequestration projects at two western Wyoming sites.

The federal agency on Wednesday announced $62 million for carbon capture and storage research and development.

Wyoming will use its share to design commercial-scale sequestration projects at the Rock Springs Uplift and the Moxa Arch.

Carbon sequestration involves capturing and storing underground the carbon dioxide emitted by power plants and other facilities that burn coal and gas.

The university is contributing $11.9 million to the three-year project.

The Energy Department is also awarding $275,000 to train UW students in technologies related to sequestration.

Riverton woman waives hearing

RIVERTON -- A Riverton mother accused of strangling her newborn infant has waived her right to a preliminary hearing.

Lorene Quist Gines will now be bound over to state District Court for arraignment on a charge of first-degree murder.

Police say the 21-year-old gave birth to a baby girl and then strangled the baby with a string on the morning of Sept. 8.

Police say Gines told them the baby was born dead with the umbilical cord around its neck, but an autopsy revealed a string around the baby's neck.

A pathologist ruled the death a homicide caused by ligature, strangulation and suffocation.

Gines' bail is set at $500,000.

Public defender Kerri Johnson on Thursday declined to comment on the charge against her client.

Air service agreement continues

GREEN RIVER -- The Green River City Council has decided to continue participating in a cooperative agreement for air service between Rock Springs and Salt Lake City.

The contract is for one year of air service by SkyWest Airlines.

A year ago, SkyWest agreed to provide air service to Salt Lake City if Sweetwater County and the cities of Rock Springs and Green River would guarantee a revenue base. Green River's share of the subsidy is 22 percent, or about $31,396.

Rock Springs will provide $47,000 toward the subsidy and Sweetwater County $64,000.