Mead Gruver.

FILE - Former Philippine First Lady Imelda Marcos and her attorney Gerry Spence arrive at U.S. District Court in New York, March 22, 1990. (AP Photo/David Cantor, File)

Fringe-wearing Wyoming trial lawyer Gerry Spence dies at 96

Well-known Wyoming trial lawyer Gerry Spence has died at age 96. Spence’s 1979 court victory against an Oklahoma plutonium processor was turned into the 1983 movie “Silkwood” starring Meryl Streep. The fringe jacket-wearing Spence won numerous other high profile cases over the years. They included successfully defending former Philippines first lady Imelda Marcos against federal racketeering charges and Randy Weaver in connection with the 1992 Ruby Ridge shootout in Idaho. Spence died late Wednesday at his home in Montecito, California, surrounded by friends and family. He is survived by his wife, six children, 13 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

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FILE - Energy Secretary Chris Wright listens during a hearing of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on Capitol Hill, June 18, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File)

Wyoming’s first new coal mine in decades to extract rare earths

Wyoming’s first new coal mine in 50 years is said to be operating soon but it won’t rely on the fossil fuel to make money. Ramaco Resources plans to process the coal to extract rare earth elements it says are present in profitable quantities. Rare earths are a family of 17 metallic elements used in technologies like wind turbines, electric car batteries, and military targeting hardware. Energy Secretary Chris Wright and others attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday for the Brook Mine in northern Wyoming. China supplies almost 90% of the world’s rare earth elements, and the Trump administration is seeking to encourage more U.S. production.

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