Free Republic

Governor's beheading threat real - Lummis By Doug Hecox For the Wyoming Tribune-Eagle Published in the Wyoming Tribune-Eagle CHEYENNE - Wyoming Treasurer Cynthia Lummis has confirmed Superintendent of Public Instruction Trent Blankenship's account of a threat made by Gov. Dave Freudenthal to the other state officials. At a private meeting of the state's top officials in December 2002, Freudenthal, then governor-elect, allegedly threatened to behead Lummis, State Auditor Max Maxfield, Secretary of State Joe Meyer and Blankenship, then superintendent-elect, if they went against him. In a phone interview, Lummis corroborated Blankenship's story, which first was reported last year in the...

Blankenship points to thorny relationship with governor By Jessica Lowell rep5@wyomingnews.com Published in the Wyoming Tribune-Eagle CHEYENNE - Reaction was mixed Friday in the wake of Trent Blankenship's announcement that he's giving up his post as the state's top educator. The announcement came at a news conference in Casper, where Blankenship confirmed he has been hired as superintendent for the North Slope Borough School District in northern Alaska. He said he is leaving his Wyoming state post Aug. 1 but assuming his new duties July. Blankenship has about a year and a half left in his term. Even before the...

Group rallies for higher teacher salaries By Becky Orr rep6@wyomingnews.com Published in the Wyoming Tribune-Eagle CHEYENNE - Freya Butterfield says she would like to teach in Wyoming when she graduates this spring from the University of Wyoming. But she won't, because she can't, she said. "I'm not going to get paid enough," Butterfield said to a crowd of hundreds gathered Monday on the steps of the state Capitol. The group came in support of the Legislature providing more money for salaries for support staff and teachers. Many at the rally told emotional stories about low teacher salaries. They urged people...