Wyoming delegates in Washington are responding to President Obama‘s state of the union address.

 Wyoming’s republican congresswoman Cynthia Lummis says the president’s policies have not only failed they’ve actually made matters worse.

Lummis and Wyoming senator John Barrasso both criticized President Obama on his actions against the Keystone XL pipeline saying it is both safe and creates 20,000 jobs almost right away.

Barrasso says Americans can appreciate a good speech from the president, but he says Americans also want results.

In his speech, the president said he wants to close the gap between rich and poor. Obama once again proposed higher taxes for the wealthy.

Obama also said the American Dream is under siege saying republicans have an all-out assault on the middle class. He encouraged republicans to join him in fixing the country’s problems but warned he intends to fight if he feels more political impasse continues.

Governor Mead says it’s frustrating to have to trim his budget proposal to the state Legislature in response to recent state revenue projections calling for a $100-million decline in state revenues due to lower natural gas prices.

Mead (pictured) in December proposed a $3.4-billion state funds budget for the two-year funding period that begins in July. This month, the state’s Consensus Revenue Estimating Group lowered revenue projections on falling natural gas prices.

Mead this week submitted proposed spending cuts to state lawmakers that reduce his spending proposal by nearly $70 million, including cutting money for state employee pay raises.

Mead’s still proposing that the state maintain $168 million in funding to local governments. He says the spending is critical to maintaining the state’s infrastructure.

Wyoming’s new wolf management plan will go before the State Legislature during next month’s budget session.  Some say the plan could be a lightning rod for controversy.

One of those is State Senator Bruce Burns of Sheridan who tells our affilaite KROE.

The current plan agreed on by Governor Mead and U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar is requiring Wyoming maintain a population of 100 wolves and at least ten breeding pair outside of Yellowstone National Park and the Wind River Indian Reservation.

The plan also implements a flex zone for northern Sublette and Lincoln counties, as well as southern Teton County that would protect wolves in that area from October 15th until the end of the following February.

University of Wyoming officials plan to ask trustees in March to approve tuition rates for a two-year period.

At a meeting on Friday, Vice President of Administration Doug Vinzant told trustees adopting a two-year planned tuition program would provide certainty for students.

Currently, annual full-time undergraduate tuition and fees are $4,125 for residents and $12,855 for non-residents.

Vinzant says increases will likely be based on what the university receives in appropriations from the Legislature.

Governor Mead has recommended providing the university with less than what it requested for faculty salaries and boosting the university’s library collections, prompting school officials to look at raising tuition.

Vinzant says that since 2000, tuition has increased 3.9 percent per year on average, or about $130.

The Discount Grocery store in Rawlins is closing at the end of March.

Owner Ken Heisey bought the store in 2002. He says he’s ready to try something different and wants to spend more time with his kids.

However the West Winds Bakery and Deli in the same building was sold to new owners and will stay open. The new owners of the bakery and deli are Keith and Emily Wass, who worked behind the counter for eight months for the previous owners. The new owners plan to maintain the same menu.

There is still a City Market in Rawlins.