The Wyoming Women’s Foundation said providers also are having trouble hiring and retaining quality child-care workers. The group is part of the nonprofit Wyoming Community Foundation that generally seeks to help with community improvements in the state.

A statewide tour of child-care facilities by the group found that some areas had no licensed child-care facilities. Even in areas with facilities, coverage was often spotty, and many facilities close for the summer or only offer child care for part of the day.

But foundation’s Executive Director Rach(Click to hear commentfrom Rachelle Kenrath)elle Kenrath says an even bigger problem than a shortage of child care workers in Wyoming is the difficulty of paying quality child-care workers enough to remain in their jobs…

The Wyoming Children’s Action Alliance said the state had only 17,564 licensed child-care slots in 2008 to accommodate the 40,293 children up to age 12 that need child care.

Now its Wyoming turn to try its hand at healthcare reform.  Governor Freudenthal has formally signed into law legislation that will set up a pilot program that will help 500 low-income working state residents. The program will identify chronic conditions that can be controlled at a lower cost. Governor Freudenthal this morning says the program is Wyoming’s attempt at healthcare reform…(Click to hear comment from Gov. Freudenthal)

Last year the passed the Senate but was labeled “socialistic” by some House members and died. Casper Republican Senator Charles Scott is the sponsor of the measure.

Meanwhile the governor pointed out that health care costs are increasing by 11 to 15 percent per year, compared to government growth of less than 4 percent and wages at less than 2 percent.

Randi Rchardson Drives Against UNLV in MWC Tournament

The Wyoming Cowgirls were out rebounded and shot poorly from the free throw line, but made enough plays down the stretch for a 6-55 over UNLV in the first round of the Mountain West Conference basketball tournament.  The Cowgirls led by 11 points to open the second half, but UNLV made a charge and tied the game, but the Cowgirls never gave up the led.  Junior Jade Kennedy hit two big three point shots in the second half, the second one breaking a 51-51 tie and the lead which Wyoming never gave up again.  Junior Aubrey Vandiver led the Cowgirls with 24 points and 7 rebounds and head coach Joe Legerski says she was outstanding………JOE LEGERSKI  The Cowgirls were 10-21 at the free throw line, and were out rebounded 53-34, including 24 offensive boards.  Legerski says despite that the Cowgirls found a way to win…….JOE LEGERSKI  The win was just the third ever for the Cowgirls int he MWC tournament.  They will play 3rd seed San Diego State tonight at 8pm MST.

The Wyoming Office of Consumer Advocate has reached an agreement with Montana Dakota Utilities regarding MDU’s requested rate increase. The agreement is for a $3.2 million and would be phased in over a three year period. This means that the average residential customer would incur an increase of 7.1% in phase one of the increase which is the first year, and up to 8.4% in phase two which would be spread over the second and third years.

Secretary and Chief Counsel for the Wyoming Public Service Commission Chris Petrie tells affiliate KROE in Sheridan, the agreement still needs to be approved by the commission…(Click to hear from Chris Petrie)

The $3.2 million increase is down from the $6.1 million that MDU initially proposed, and later dropped to just over $5 million in January.

Commodity chefs are making their way across Wyoming this month.

The chefs tour is part of the Centsible Nutrition Program. CNP is a federally funded, low income program to help families eat better for less.

Mary Kay Wardlaw is with the University of Wyoming one of the Commody Chefs tours sponsors…(Click to hear from Mary Kay Waidlaw)

The commodity chefs tour starts this morning at Evanston High School. It continues with stops later this month in Lusk, Casper and Cheyenne.

 Over the weekend, Representative Jack Landon of Sheridan announced his retirement.

Photo: Ross Diercks

Laramie County Community College officials continue work on the school’s 2010-2011 operating budget. School officials, under orders from Governor Freudenthal trimmed 10% from last year’s budget, which cost two professors their jobs. Those positions have not been filled. The new budget is similar in size as last year’s trimmed-down budget… about 40 million dollars. LCCC spokesperson Lisa Murphy says this year’s spending plan is being put together with lessons learned a year ago…(Click to hear from Lisa Murphy)

Murphy also says LCCC continues to enjoy increased enrollment and one of the challenges facing school officials is making sure all students receive the best possible education during these tough economic times.

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Wyoming’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose slightly to 7.6 percent in January.

The rate is up from December’s 7.5 percent, although state officials say the increase is not statistically significant. The national rate is 9.7 percent.

The state shed 14,400 jobs over the last year, a 5-percent decline.

All but two employment sectors lost jobs in Wyoming over the last year. Only the government and educational and health services sectors escaped the job losses.

Construction lost 2,800 jobs, and natural resources and mining lost 4,700 jobs.

The highest unemployment rates in December by county were found in Lincoln County at 11 percent and Big Horn at 10.8 percent.

Albany County posted the lowest unemployment rate at 5.7 percent, followed by Sublette at 5.8 percent.

Tom Ninneman of affiliate KMTN in Jackson tells us this one tries to get consumer credit card information by selling an illegal, and nonexistent, certificate…(Click to hear story from Tom Ninneman)