Good evening. Here's a look at how AP’s news coverage is shaping up in the Rockies. Questions about coverage plans are welcome and should be directed to:

The Denver AP Bureau at 303-825-0123 or apdenver@ap.org

The Cheyenne AP Bureau at 307-632-9351 or apcheyenne@ap.org

The Helena AP Bureau at 406-442-7440 or apmontana@ap.org

Rockies News Editor Matt Volz can be reached at 406-442-7440 or mvolz@ap.org.

A reminder: this information is not for publication or broadcast, and these coverage plans are subject to change. Expected stories may not develop, or late-breaking and more newsworthy events may take precedence. Advisories and digests will keep you up to date. For up-to-the minute information on AP's coverage, visit Coverage Plan at newsroom.ap.org.

All times are Mountain.

Some TV and radio stations will receive broadcast versions of the stories below, along with all updates.

___

COLORADO:

ARMY OFFICER-RANDOM SHOOTING

COLORADO SPRINGS — A Colorado judge on Friday sentenced a man to 74 years in prison for the shooting death of a U.S. Army officer, a killing the judge said was committed at random and for “fun.” Fourth Judicial District Chief William Bain referred to Capt. Daniel Chamberlain Lehman's parents, who were in the courtroom, as he admonished Gilberto Chavez Jr. for killing “a wholly innocent victim.” SENT: 240 words.

DOCTOR-FILMED EXAMS

DENVER — A Colorado doctor who pleaded guilty to a child pornography charge for secretly filming boys' medical exams faces between 15 and 30 years in prison, federal authorities said Friday. Justin Neisler, 31, pleaded guilty to the production of child pornography in federal court on Thursday under a plea deal in which he admitted video recording the exams of five boys — one of them 16 but the others under 12. SENT: 280 words.

DOG-HOUSING LAWSUIT SETTLED

ASPEN — The U.S. attorney's office has ordered a Colorado homeowner's association to pay $50,000 to a couple after they violated the Fair Housing Act by failing to allow a woman to stay in the complex with her emotional support dog. A judge approved a consent order resolving the dispute between Creekside Condominium Homeowner's Association and Creekside owner Jason Neilson and his partner Kirsten Swick, The Aspen Times reports. SENT: 250 words.

AP POLL-AMERICAN OUTLOOK

WASHINGTON — A new poll finds that most Americans think their lives will stay the same or improve in 2020, but many believe the country's situation will worsen. The poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research also found widespread dissatisfaction about the direction of the U.S., its politics and whether government will address the issues people deem most important. By Nicholas Riccardi and Hannah Fingerhut. SENT: 960 words, photo.

ELECTION 2020-INDEPENDENT VOTERS

SACRAMENTO, Calif. —In the battle for the Democratic presidential nomination, no prize is bigger than California, which offers more delegates than any other state. And as candidates plot their strategies here, there's an overlooked group of voters who could be key to victory: independents. Colorado, meanwhile, will mail every independent voter a ballot for both the Democratic and Republican primaries, letting them choose which to vote in. By Kathleen Ronayne. SENT: 980 words, photos.

SPORTS:

BBO-ARBITRATION

NEW YORK — Boston's Mookie Betts is expected to break the record arbitration request of $30 million set by Colorado's Nolan Arenado last year, while Cody Bellinger, Aaron Judge, Kris Bryant, George Springer, Francisco Lindor, Trevor Story, Trevor Bauer, Noah Syndergaard and Corey Seager also are likely to ask for big money. By Baseball Writer Ronald Blum. UPCOMING: 800 words by 6 p.m.

FBN--PRO PICKS

The best of college football will be on display Saturday night. Huh? Well, consider that five Heisman Trophy winners will be featured when the Titans visit the Ravens. And one of those Heisman recipients might just his send his team to the AFC championship game. By Pro Football Writer Barry Wilner. SENT: 800 words, graphic.

HKN-PENGUINS-AVALANCHE

DENVER — The Pittsburgh Penguins hope to have Sidney Crosby back Friday night when they play the Colorado Avalanche. By Michael Kelly. UPCOMING: 650 words, photos. Game time is 7 p.m.

MONTANA:

MONTANA TROOPER SHOT-PLEA

MISSOULA — A Montana man has pleaded not guilty to a new homicide charge in a fatal shooting where two people died and two people were wounded, including a Montana Highway Patrol trooper. Johnathan Albert Bertsch, 28, now faces two counts of deliberate homicide in the deaths of Julie Blanchard and Shelley Hays and two counts of attempted deliberate homicide in the March shooting, Missoulian reported Thursday. SENT: 300 words.

EXCHANGE-HOMELESS SHELTERS-METH CONTAMINATION

GREAT FALLS — The only two homeless shelters on the Fort Peck reservation have been closed for months under order of Tribal Chairman Floyd Azure, who said they were contaminated with methamphetamine. Azure said that a general lack of supervision and stolen items were also factors in his decision to shut the shelters down. SENT: 1,530 words.

GREAT SALT LAKE-RARE FORMATIONS

SALT LAKE CITY — Rare salt formations have been documented for the first time on the shores of the Great Salt Lake, and they could yield insights about salt structures found on Mars before they disappear for good. They’re showing up now in part because water levels at the largest natural lake west of the Mississippi have been lowered by drought and water diversion, exposing more shoreline. It’s a story that’s playing out throughout the American West as a growing population puts more demand on scarce water resources. By Lindsay Whitehurst. SENT: 760 words, photos.

___

WYOMING:

WYOMING SCHOOL-OFFENSIVE FLYERS

CHEYENNE — A Wyoming coalition has asked a school district to make multiple changes to better protect students from racism and homophobia after hateful flyers were spread at a junior high in Cheyenne last year. The Wyoming Independent Citizens Coalition has asked Laramie County School District 1 to hire more minority teachers, involve community members in diversity training and change disciplinary policies against hateful actions, the Wyoming Tribune Eagle reported. SENT: 320 words.

GREAT SALT LAKE-RARE FORMATIONS

SALT LAKE CITY — Rare salt formations have been documented for the first time on the shores of the Great Salt Lake, and they could yield insights about salt structures found on Mars before they disappear for good. They’re showing up now in part because water levels at the largest natural lake west of the Mississippi have been lowered by drought and water diversion, exposing more shoreline. It’s a story that’s playing out throughout the American West as a growing population puts more demand on scarce water resources. By Lindsay Whitehurst. SENT: 760 words, photos.

IN BRIEF:

— TETON PASS AVALANCHE — A busy mountain road in western Wyoming is back open after two avalanches closed it for about 10 hours, including one that trapped a delivery box truck.

— ANIMALS REMOVED FROM HOME — Casper police officials have removed 62 animals that were subjected to what authorities described as unsanitary and neglectful conditions from a Natrona County home.

___

If you have stories of regional or statewide interest, please email them to apdenver@ap.org, apcheyenne@ap.org or apmontana@ap.org. If you have photos of regional or statewide interest, please send them to the AP state photo center in New York, 888-273-6867. For access to AP Newsroom and other technical issues, contact AP Customer Support at apcustomersupport@ap.org or 877-836-9477.