"Judge Hears State's Request To Dismiss Trespassing Challenge"

"CHEYENNE, Wyo. — A federal judge is set to hear the state's request to dismiss a lawsuit filed by groups challenging Wyoming laws enacted this year that restrict data collection on open land.

U.S. District Judge Scott Skavdahl of Casper has set a hearing for Friday on the state's request to spike a lawsuit filed this fall by a coalition of groups involved in conservation, animal protection and press freedom.

The groups are the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, Center for Food Safety, National Press Photographers Association, Natural Resources Defense Council and Western Watersheds Project.

The groups claim the new state laws unconstitutionally prohibit their members from reporting concerns to government agencies about pollution and treatment of animals, even on public lands. The groups claim the laws violate the constitution by prohibiting collection of information about natural resources without permission from a landowner or lessee."

Ben Neary reports for the Associated Press December 11, 2015.