TRIBAL HOUSING GRANTS

Tribes plan to use grants for housing

By KVOW/KTAK News Director Leslie Stratmoen

RIVERTON, Wyo. – The two tribes on Wyoming’s Wind River Reservation in Fremont County plan to renovate old homes, build some new ones and help tribal members get into affordable housing.

Executive Director Danielle Taylor of the EasternShoshone Housing Authority says that’s how the $1.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will be spent.

Through the HUD grant, the Northern Arapaho Housing Authority also got $2 million.

In addition to housing, the grant money can also be used for crime prevention and safety and to model activities to provide creative approaches to solve affordable housing problems.

With Contributions from The Associated Press

WEEK AHEAD

Wyoming Legislature settles down to discuss budget

Staff and Wire Reports

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – After kicking off the Legislative session last week, Wyoming lawmakers come face to face this week with the reality of setting a budget under the auspices of falling natural gas prices

Last week, the Joint Appropriations Committee recommended a $3.2-billion state funds budget bill for the two-year funding cycle that starts in July. That proposed budget is up just a shade from the $3.1 billion budget for the current cycle.

Under the proposal, there’s no money allotted for state employee pay raises and it leaves funding flat for the Wyoming Department of Health even as federal economic stimulus funding ends.

House Speaker Ed Buchanan, a Republican from Torrington, says the House could start consideration of the budget bill on Tuesday.

ELK FOUNDATION

Wyoming is No. 1 fundraising state for elk group

By KVOW/KTAK News Director Leslie Stratmoen

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Wyoming has finally edged out California in raising the most money for elk herds and their habitat. The state’s chapters of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation raised $1.4 million last year, beating California by about $11,000, making Wyoming No. 1 in fundraising efforts. The Cowboy State had consistently come in second to that most populous state in the previous six years running.

Elk forage on the refuge near Jackson. Photo by Leslie Stratmoen

The international conservation foundation is based in Missoula, Mont., set on a mission to ensure the future of elk, other wildlife and their habitat. Foundation President David Allen says Wyoming residents are proud of their wild country, elk herds and hunting heritage, and they’re clearly willing to invest to keep them all in top shape.

This year, Wyoming could become the first state to reach 1 million acres of foundation funded habitat stewardship and protection projects.

From information provided by The Associated Press