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May, 15th 2009 Listen to the Whole Show   Poet Craig Arnold University of Wyoming poet Craig Arnold disappeared on April 26th, while hiking a volcano on a small southern Japanese Island. For more than a week, searchers combed the island to no avail. Then, four professional trackers from the United States flew in and picked up Arnold's trail. The trackers said it appeared Arnold suffered a leg injury and then walked into an area with steep cliffs. Their opinion was that Arnold could not have survived a fall from where his trail led, but they could not find his body before they returned to the United States. This week, a group of climbers from Japan said they would travel to the island and search the cliffs for any other clues as to what happened to Arnold. Arnold won awards for his two published works of poetry and essays. Here, he reads from his collection, "Made Flesh," a book of love poems that draws heavily on Greek Mythology. Craig Arnold's reading is courtesy of Writer's Block, a weekly reading series and podcast from KQED.org

A Listing of Today's Stories

Sizing up cap and trade The House Energy Committee is scheduled to vote on a climate change bill next week. Democrats on the panel say they are finally closing ranks after weeks of internal bickering. Wyoming Republicans have turned up their volume, calling the bill a big tax on consumers. Sara Sciammacco sets off to find out the true cost of cap and trade. Protections for the Sage Grouse Sage Grouse numbers have decreased so much in parts of the west that they have become a candidate for the endangered species list. In Wyoming, much has been done to try to address the diminishing numbers of Sage Grouse in areas where energy development is occurring. Many energy companies have changed their practices, and the Governor has developed a task force to come up with possible solutions for keeping Sage Grouse numbers from declining. Wyoming Public Radio's Bob Beck talks with Audubon Wyoming Director Brian Rutledge, who says more work still needs to be done. Cities and counties try to cut back This is the season when cities and counties must set their budgets for the coming fiscal year, which starts July first. With the downturn in the economy, revenue from the state and other sources is down, and the budgeting process won't be easy. Wyoming Public Radio's Renny MacKay hosts this Reporters Roundtable, joined by Riverton Ranger Publisher Steve Peck, Jackson Hole News and Guide co-editor Angus Thuermer, and Wyoming Tribune Eagle city and county reporter Jodi Rogstad. Tourism in the down economy Earlier this spring, tourism groups from Cheyenne to Cody were expressing concern that the economy could hurt Wyoming's summer tourism season. Add to that, a poll this week found that fewer Americans are planning to vacation this summer. Still, there are glimmers of hope. Wyoming Public Radio's Bob Beck has this story. Poet Craig Arnold University of Wyoming poet Craig Arnold disappeared on April 26th, while hiking a volcano on a small southern Japanese Island. For more than a week, searchers combed the island to no avail. Then, four professional trackers from the United States flew in and picked up Arnold's trail. The trackers said it appeared Arnold suffered a leg injury and then walked into an area with steep cliffs. Their opinion was that Arnold could not have survived a fall from where his trail led, but they could not find his body before they returned to the United States. This week, a group of climbers from Japan said they would travel to the island and search the cliffs for any other clues as to what happened to Arnold. Arnold won awards for his two published works of poetry and essays. Here, he reads from his collection, "Made Flesh," a book of love poems that draws heavily on Greek Mythology. New trails in Teton National Park Next week, Grand Teton National Park plans to open the first section of a much discussed Pathways project. That first leg is eight miles of paved Pathways from Dornan's to Jenny Lake. Some people are concerned about the trails while others are anxiously awaiting their arrival. Wyoming Public Radio's Bob Beck spoke to Jackie Skaggs of Grand Teton National Park. Health services on the Coeur d'Alene Reservation The federally run Indian Health Service has been so chronically mismanaged and under-funded that many tribes are taking control of their own health care. One facility in Coeur d'Alene is succeeding, in part, because it opens its doors to non-Indians too. Amanda Loder reports. Wind River casinos keep growing It has been almost three and a half years since Las Vegas style gambling first started on the Wind River Reservation. In that short amount of time, four casinos have opened and employment has grown from about sixty people to over 600. Wyoming Public Radio's Renny MacKay reports that so far the positives of the casinos far outweigh the negatives. The University of Wyoming's one Iraqi student There is one Iraqi student at the University of Wyoming - just one. His name is Ali Hamodi, and he's 21 year's old. Ali grew up in a middle-class suburb in western Baghdad, which, after the invasion in 2003, became one of the city's most dangerous neighborhoods. Ali endured the violence for two years before good luck, a good friend, and a series of letters paved him a road to Laramie. Wyoming Public Radio's Addie Goss reports.