Rollover kills two children

Even though they were properly restrained in their mother's minivan, two children died from a rollover crash Friday in Weston County, the Wyoming Highway Patrol reported Monday.

Kyle Aylesworth, 5 months, died at the scene of the crash on State Highway 116 a mile north of Upton, and Kody Aylesworth, 4 years, died after being taken to Rapid City Regional Hospital in Rapid City, S.D., the patrol said.

The driver of the 2006 Chevy minivan, Kristie Aylesworth, 26, was taken to the Rapid City hospital. Information about her injuries wasn't available, and the hospital reported Monday she had been discharged.

According to the Highway Patrol, Kristie Aylesworth was driving north on Highway 116 when the minivan drifted off onto the right shoulder of the road. She overcorrected her steering to the left, causing the van to come back onto the highway and cross over both lanes in a broadside slide. The vehicle went off the road and into the borrow ditch, rolling one and a half times.

Kyle Aylesworth, in a child restraint seat in the left rear of the van, was ejected, the patrol said. Brother Kody was in a child restraint seat in the right rear and was trapped in the van, requiring extrication.

It appears that the infant's child seat separated during the crash, said patrol spokesman Sgt. Stephen Townsend. The lower part of the seat stayed in the vehicle, while the upper portion came out. Troopers are looking into why the seat separated.

Legislator plans to run for Congress

CHEYENNE - State Rep. Dan Zwonitzer, a 28-year-old Cheyenne Republican, will explore a bid for Wyoming's only U.S. House seat.

The youngest member of the state Legislature, Zwonitzer will announce today his intention to run and members of his exploratory committee through a press release.

A few other Republicans have said they are considering or intend to run for the seat to be vacated by Rep. Barbara Cubin, who is not seeking re-election in 2008.

Democrat Gary Trauner of Teton County has said he will be a candidate again for the U.S. House. Trauner lost the election last year to Cubin.

Zwonitzer has served three years in the Wyoming House.

Corrections agency seeks housing bids

RAWLINS - The Wyoming Department of Corrections is requesting proposals from developers to build 50 housing units in Rawlins.

The Department of Corrections has been struggling to fill correctional officer positions at the State Penitentiary in Rawlins. State officials say the tight housing market has contributed to a vacancy rate of up to one-third of officer positions at the Rawlins prison this year.

Penitentiary Warden Michael Murphy says that both the type and the location of the housing would be up to the developer. He says many correctional officers say they're looking for housing they could move into quickly.

Developers have until Dec. 21 to submit proposals.