Coroner: Killer took drugs

CHEYENNE -- The Laramie County Coroner says a woman who killed her husband and toddler son before committing suicide had a cocktail of prescription drugs in her system.

Toxicology test results released by the coroner's office on Wednesday show that 31-year-old Joy M. Hofer had opiates, tranquilizers, anti-depressants and pain killers in her system.

Some of the drugs were in her blood at levels from twice to as much as 1,200 times the therapeutic level, according to the report.

Laramie County Coroner Marty Luna said Hofer should have been unable to function after taking that many drugs.

Her husband, Kelly J. Hofer, and 2-year-old son Gunnar, were both found July 25 in at the family's Cheyenne home. Kelly Hofer was shot in the head; Gunnar Hofer died from suffocation and strangulation, according to the autopsies. Forensic tests indicate Joy Hofer shot herself after killing the other two.

Report says Yellowstone healthy

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK -- A new report says natural resources at Yellowstone National Park are generally doing well. However, the report also concludes that the park faces challenges from both within and outside its boundaries.

The report measures the vital signs of natural resources in the park. It tracks research on plants and wildlife to monitor the health of its natural resources.

The report says that the recovery of the grizzly bear shows that time, money and effort can achieve success on complicated issues. But it also says that more attention and effort are needed to deal with remaining issues such as the decline of native cutthroat trout and the possible effects of air pollution on the park's plant habitat.

Sheridan hospital limits visits

SHERIDAN -- Sheridan Memorial Hospital is trying to protect patients from swine flu by limiting visitors to the women's and children's health departments.

Hospital officials say only immediate family members including parents, grandparents, siblings, children and spouses will be allowed to visit patients in the two departments.

Manager of women's and children's health Linda Benth said pregnant women, infants and small children are particularly sensitive to swine flu risk.

The Wyoming Department of Health says there are 179 confirmed cases of swine flu in Wyoming, including five in Sheridan County.

YNP records busiest summer

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK -- Yellowstone National Park hosted a record number of visitors this summer and remains on track for its busiest year ever.

Park officials said Thursday that nearly 2.3 million people visited Yellowstone in June, July and August. That's up about 5 percent from the previous summer high set in 1999.

For the year, more than 2.6 million people have visited the park.

Park officials attribute the large number of visitors this year to factors like good weather, a drop in gas prices and the travelers' ability to tailor a Yellowstone trip to their budgets.