CASPER, Wyo. (AP) — Coal production in Wyoming has increased in the first three months of the year, but employment at coal mines in the state is still down by nearly 700 workers.

The figures were released as Wyoming's coal industry has been working to come back from a low point in 2016, when hundreds of miners were laid off as the three largest producers went through bankruptcy, the Casper Star-Tribune reported (http://bit.ly/2oYe80l ) Sunday.

Annual coal production in the state slipped below 300 million tons, the lowest since 1998.

Production began to rebound in late 2016, and the 18 coal min...