AGP Executive Report

School Funding & Activities: Wyoming High School Activities Association leaders are weighing how to handle an 8.4% reduction in state school funding, with concerns that athletics and other student activities could be cut. Defense & Aviation Industry: Bell says it has finished the first two MV-75 Cheyenne II wing structures for test aircraft, a key step in the Army’s tiltrotor replacement program. Renewables vs. National Security Review: A lawsuit says Pentagon siting reviews for new wind farms have stalled, threatening $47 billion in investment and jobs across 21 states. Wyoming Data Centers & Market Volatility: MTAR Technologies shares jumped after management told investors it has received no communication about a pause tied to Bloom Energy’s Wyoming AI project, easing earlier selloff fears. Energy Infrastructure Watch: CG Power’s major Tallgrass transformer order faces new overhang tied to reported difficulties with the Wyoming data center project behind it. Immigration Enforcement: The ACLU is pursuing Wyoming agencies after a lawsuit challenges Laramie County Sheriff’s 287(g) ICE agreements. Public Health & Wildlife: Teton County is exploring testing town water after CWD was detected on the National Elk Refuge. Fire Risk: Park County officials warn drought conditions are worsening and expect stricter fire management decisions.

School Funding & Activities: Wyoming school and state association leaders are weighing how to respond to an 8.4% reduction in statewide school funding, with concerns that athletics and other activities could be cut. Aviation Governance: The Wyoming Aeronautics Commission will hold its regular June 16 videoconference meeting at 1:30 p.m. to vote on agenda items. Public Health & Wildlife: After chronic wasting disease was found on the National Elk Refuge, Teton County is considering testing options for town drinking water to stay ahead of potential concerns. Cattle Industry & Biosecurity: The beef industry says it’s prepared for the newly confirmed “New World” screwworm threat after USDA detections, citing tools like sterile fly technology. Energy & Uranium Supply Chain: Strata Energy has completed a processing facility near Oshoto that finishes the “from ground to packaged product” step, boosting throughput flexibility for uranium projects. Data Center Power Push: ZincFive, a nickel-zinc battery maker, is set to go public via a SPAC, aiming to scale systems for the data center market. Local Business Leadership: The Wyoming County Chamber of Commerce and Tourism named Jennifer Sealy as its next president and CEO. Legal/Immigration: The ACLU says it’s expanding its review of Wyoming agencies with 287(g) ICE agreements after a lawsuit challenging Laramie County’s contract. Transportation: Huron Shores Area Transit described 2025 as a transition year, with funding secured through 2030 and ridership down amid travel and marketing changes.

Coal push and grid ripple effects: President Trump’s $700M investment in coal—using the Defense Production Act to extend 13 plant lives, fund upgrades, and support a new Oakland export terminal—could reshape Mountain West power and fuel flows, with Wyoming and New Mexico supplying coal to funded plants. Utility rates hit Wyoming irrigators: Rocky Mountain Power is seeking a $71M rate hike that would average 8.8% statewide, but irrigators could face a 37.7% increase, raising alarms for drought-stressed ag operations. Cheyenne data center uncertainty: Crusoe paused its 1.8GW “Project Jade” in Cheyenne at a customer’s request, sending shockwaves through the Bloom Energy-linked supply chain and rattling related market sentiment. Colorado River talks stay tense: Wyoming leaders met with Utah and federal counterparts on basin management as Arizona warns of major conservation-aid consequences if states sue over allocations. Cheyenne annexation debate: City Council held a hearing on annexing nearly 3,460 acres tied to a Microsoft project, with residents and officials weighing services, zoning, and phasing. Wyoming business and policy backdrop: Montana ranked 12th for starting a business while Wyoming placed 28th; meanwhile, national politics and surveillance-law fights (FISA Section 702) continue to complicate the broader policy climate. Local public safety and community: A Wyoming judge ordered a transgender bartender to stand trial in a Laramie felony case; and in Baggs, an officer remains in critical condition after a shooting that ended with the suspect killed.

Rare Earth Watch: Rare Element Resources says its Bear Lodge Rare Earth Project permitting is on track under FAST-41 and expects full demo-plant processing to start in late summer 2026, targeting high-purity neodymium/praseodymium for permanent magnets. Uranium + REE Targets: Myriad Uranium acquired 15 mineral leases and 8 split-estate claims in Arizona’s uranium district, adding 23 breccia-pipe uranium targets with potential rare earths. Colorado River Talks: Gov. Mark Gordon and Utah Gov. Spencer Cox met with Sen. John Barrasso, Sen. Cynthia Lummis, and others in Washington on long-term Colorado River management, with Flaming Gorge and Lake Powell in focus. Data Center Pushback: Wyoming and other states are weighing how to handle data center growth as regulators face rising power and water concerns; one New Mexico town delayed a data center moratorium decision. Wyoming Business + Community: Rock Springs URA leader Chad Banks won a statewide economic development award; RE/MAX Big Country announced a new owner in Moriah Teuscher. Energy Infrastructure Update: Black Hills Corp. provided a progress update on a proposed 1.8-gigawatt Cheyenne-area data center project, still aiming for early 2028 service. Public Safety: Fremont County’s DUI Task Force will patrol during Lander Brewfest, citing five impaired-driving fatalities in 2026.

Corrections Tech: GUARDIAN RFID launched a Medication Manager for Command Cloud aimed at cutting high-risk errors in inmate medication administration and improving compliance. Local Safety & Business: A report says Aramark’s Teton Tour Company guided two fatal snowmobile trips in four days, raising questions about winter safety and permitting. Energy & Permitting: Rare Element Resources says its Bear Lodge rare earths project in Wyoming is on track for a clear permitting timeline, targeting completion of federal and state requirements by early 2028, while noting delays tied to its demo plant operations. Housing Funding: The Wyoming State Loan and Investment Board approved $8.8M in Business Ready community grants for housing projects in Douglas and Wright, tying the push to workforce and business growth. Broadband Policy: Sen. John Barrasso introduced a bill to streamline broadband permitting on federal land, including a standardized process and an online portal. Water Watch: Colorado River talks remain deadlocked, with federal planning framed as a short-term approach that could drive major cuts if states can’t agree. Wyoming Community: Casper sandcastle artist Catherine Morris is drawing attention with large outdoor sculptures made from Wyoming sand.

Colorado River: Federal officials say they’ll manage the Colorado River with a shorter-term, more flexible 10-year framework, updating operations every two years while states still can’t agree on a basin-wide deal—setting up new 2027-28 guidelines. Wyoming Governance: Lawmakers are weighing potential reforms to the Wyoming Business Council, including reviving consensus block grant funding and drafting changes to underused programs. Wyoming Healthcare: Campbell County Health is preparing to absorb primary and specialty care after Hoskinson Health and Wellness Clinic announces it will close July 31, with patients urged to line up new providers. Energy & Industry: The NRC chair says advanced nuclear reactors could be operating by 2030, pointing to a Wyoming small modular reactor project moving through final design. Data Centers: A “man camp” plan for thousands of out-of-state data center workers in Cheyenne is drawing backlash from residents. Rural Economy: NFWF announced nearly $18.5M in Great Plains grassland grants aimed at supporting ranching communities and habitat for species like sage-grouse. Local Business: Scottsdale Mint promoted 1-ounce copper rounds in Casper as a lower-cost entry for bullion collectors.

Wildfire smoke and cattle breeding: New research links wildfire smoke exposure to higher rates of bull sperm samples being discarded for quality, raising questions about long-term reproductive impacts for people too—especially for Mountain West ranching operations and wildland firefighters. Colorado River stalemate: Negotiators for the seven-state basin met publicly but still can’t agree on voluntary cuts, with federal officials saying a formal plan could come as soon as mid-summer. Wyoming election rules and AI: Wyoming’s secretary of state rejected an AI bot’s bid to run for U.S. Senate, and the case is headed to federal court—another sign the state is drawing hard lines on who can be a candidate. Energy and business litigation: Summit Carbon Solutions faces trial over a $15 million pipe contract dispute tied to delays in its carbon capture pipeline. Local business watch: Cheyenne’s Asher Building won a historic preservation award, highlighting ongoing adaptive reuse in the city’s commercial core. Fuel prices: GasBuddy reported Wyoming premium and diesel pricing trends for the week ending May 30, with some counties seeing notable low points. Corporate update: Titan Machinery posted fiscal first-quarter results, citing inventory and margin progress but a still-challenged demand environment.

Election Policy: The Trump administration is moving to restrict voting by mail, with DHS allowing states to access federal citizenship data by June 30 and planning monitoring for signs of fraud—an effort critics call unconstitutional election meddling. Wyoming Infrastructure: Wyoming DOT and contractors will hold a public meeting on the Cheyenne Streets Project Tuesday (6-8 p.m.) to walk through phasing for Whitney Road, Dell Range Blvd. and a new South Frontage Road, including stormwater, sidewalks, traffic signals and a schedule that runs into fall 2027. Energy & Power: Seminoe Power Company (under Anschutz) is hosting open houses on a proposed natural gas Miller Generating Station in Carbon County, tied to rising demand including AI data centers. Healthcare & Rural Costs: A $3.2 million grant launches a Civica Rural Hospital Program to pool purchasing power for cheaper generics, aiming to reduce drug shortages hitting rural hospitals hardest. Crypto & Markets: More than 200 crypto firms and groups are urging Senate leaders to schedule a floor vote on the CLARITY Act before August recess, as the bill’s momentum continues. Business & Finance: Hazel Network co-founders tied to Vantage Bank and Custodia landed top spots in American Banker’s “Most Innovative People in Finance” ranking. Local Economy: Wyoming’s lodging tax reportedly brings in more than $60 million annually, but enforcement gaps mean not everyone is paying. SNAP Rules: New SNAP restrictions are rolling out in multiple states, with Wyoming expected to follow within the next two years.

Wyoming Business & Economy: Wyoming collected $5.9 million in public utilities sales taxes in 2024, up from $3.8 million the year before, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. Energy & Water: The U.S. Ogallala Aquifer—spanning parts of Wyoming and other Great Plains states—is being depleted faster than it can recharge, raising alarms for irrigation-reliant farms. Business Growth: Sheridan-based Total Botanical Solutions says it’s expanding an industry-focused growth model for botanical, supplement and wellness brands, aiming to help companies navigate ad restrictions, shifting platform rules and tougher competition with SEO, affiliate marketing, email/retention, conversion optimization and ecommerce support. Small Business Relief: The SBA opened low-interest Economic Injury Disaster Loans for Wyoming small businesses and private nonprofits hit by drought starting May 1, covering multiple counties including Albany, Natrona, Sheridan and others. Crypto & Courts: A New York judge paused a lawsuit seeking ownership of 39,069 dormant Bitcoin wallets, setting a July 14 hearing and blocking any default judgment before then. Wyoming Outdoors & Wildlife: Wyoming plans to cut wolf hunting by 50% after a canine distemper outbreak drove wolf numbers to their lowest level in two decades. Local Markets: Gas prices updates from GasBuddy show Wyoming regular averaging $4.49 per gallon for the week ending May 30, with county-level lows reported across multiple areas.

Wyoming Energy & Costs: GasBuddy reports show midgrade and diesel prices staying volatile across Wyoming in the week ending May 30, with midgrade lows as low as $4.80 in Sheridan County and diesel averaging about $5.46 statewide. Tribal Finance: Lakota Funds secured $764,000 through USDA’s Single Family Housing Direct Home Loans relending demonstration program to expand Pine Ridge mortgage lending and working capital for Native homebuyers. AI Adoption (Regional): Microsoft data finds Vermont near the bottom for AI tool use, while counties tied to professional services and finance show higher adoption—an indirect read-through for where Wyoming’s workforce may be more ready for AI-driven business tools. Wildlife Management: Wyoming plans to cut the wolf hunt cap by 50% after a canine distemper outbreak drove wolf numbers to the lowest level in two decades. Crypto & Courts: A New York court set a July hearing in a lawsuit seeking control of 39,069 dormant Bitcoin wallets, including claims tied to Wyoming-based entities. Coal Policy: The Trump administration is set to push nearly $700 million into the U.S. coal industry, including potential support for a California export terminal that could affect Wyoming coal flows.

Wildlife Management: Wyoming wildlife managers are cutting the wolf hunt by 50% after a canine distemper outbreak pushed the state’s wolf numbers to the lowest level in two decades, setting a 22-wolf cap for the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem trophy hunt. Energy & Costs: Gas prices remain volatile across Wyoming, with multiple counties reporting single lowest stations for regular, midgrade, premium and diesel in the week ending May 30—Cheyenne County regular at $4.12 and Sheridan County diesel at $5.28 were among the lowest. Coal Push: The Trump administration is moving nearly $700 million into the U.S. coal industry, including Defense Production Act funding for existing plants and support for an Oakland export terminal that could boost coal shipments from Wyoming and Montana. Water Policy: Federal officials say Colorado River management will shift to a shorter-term 10-year framework with new operational guidelines every two years, with a final environmental review expected mid-to-late summer. Local Business/Community: Wyoming’s economy and workforce backdrop continues to be shaped by shifting labor and investment signals, while community events and public projects keep rolling forward.

Coal push hits Wyoming-linked export plans: The Trump administration is moving nearly $700 million to revive the coal industry, including Defense Production Act funding for 13 existing coal plants and $75 million tied to an Oakland, California export terminal that could ship up to 12 million tons annually—potentially including Wyoming and Montana coal. Energy policy ripple effects: The same week, federal water officials said Colorado River management will shift to a shorter, 10-year framework with new operational guidelines every two years, as states still can’t agree on a long-term deal. Crypto court fight: A New York lawsuit seeking ownership of dormant bitcoin wallets—valued at about $285 billion—has advanced after a long-idle bitcoin address moved coins, with Wyoming LLCs named among the holders of assigned interests. Labor market snapshot: U.S. employers issued fewer mass layoff notices in May while job growth stayed solid, with unemployment steady at 4.3% and WARN filings showing a downward trend. Wyoming business pulse: Wyoming’s gas prices stayed volatile, with GasBuddy reporting some of the week’s lowest midgrade and diesel prices in select counties. Wildfire readiness: Fire mitigation efforts are being tracked as experts warn conditions could still produce an intense season, even where thinning and prescribed burns are showing mixed results.

Coal Policy & Jobs: President Donald Trump announced nearly $700 million in federal support for coal power infrastructure, including $75 million for a long-delayed Oakland export terminal, with Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon touting the plan’s jobs and “clean” coal message. Energy Costs: New data show residential electricity prices rising fast in many states; Wyoming’s average is up about 9.5% year over year, while the biggest jumps are in the District of Columbia and parts of the East. Gubernatorial Race: At a Greater Cheyenne Chamber forum, candidates focused on keeping young people in Wyoming, rural health care, housing, and how data centers could shape the state’s economy. Rural Health Funding: The UW School of Medicine received a $25 million gift to expand rural and Indigenous medical training through a new scholarship program. Water & Drought: Federal officials say Colorado River management will shift to a shorter, two-year renegotiation cycle as conditions worsen, with Lake Powell and Lake Mead at the center of the plan. Local Business & Community: Cheyenne’s Downtown Development Authority says flower thefts are continuing ahead of summer events, while Casper’s Nic Fest and Art Walk collaboration drew large crowds downtown. Environment & Land Use: Wyoming researchers warn cheatgrass is increasing fire frequency in the Bighorn Basin, and a rally at the Capitol highlighted concerns about wind projects’ impacts on wildlife.

Wyoming Wind Energy: A Capitol rally in Cheyenne drew ranchers and wildlife advocates warning that expanding wind farms could harm birds and wildlife, with speakers citing the “Wyoming Wind Wall” concern and the Laramie Range Wind Project’s legal fight and revised proposal. State Fiscal Health: Wyoming again placed near the top for fiscal stability in a national report, ranking 3rd for 2025 budget health and credited to strong reserves and relatively low long-term obligations. Wyoming Data Centers: Wyoming’s push to guide AI data center development continues to draw attention as officials and communities weigh growth, power needs, and local impacts. Regional Water Costs: In a separate development, Kentwood households faced phased water and sewer rate hikes tied to regional infrastructure costs—another reminder that utility spending is showing up in bills. Business & Tech: Banner Health named a new chief AI, data and infrastructure officer, signaling continued investment in AI-driven operations. Energy Markets: National coverage highlighted volatility in housing and electricity costs, while broader energy policy debates—especially around coal—kept moving markets.

Coal policy shake-up: The EPA proposed freeing a Wyoming coal plant from a 12-year shutdown deal, while President Trump announced nearly $700M for coal power and exports nationwide, including potential support tied to Wyoming’s Dave Johnston unit and coal supply chains. Energy transition debate: Wyoming leaders backed the coal investment for jobs and reliability, even as critics warn it could raise costs and environmental risk. Nuclear pivot for AI demand: TerraPower’s Kemmerer SMR project in Wyoming is framed as the next power source for data centers and AI growth, with industry leaders pointing to rising electricity needs. Ranching pressure from drought: USDA data shows drought is tightening cattle and hay supplies nationwide, with pasture stress spreading beyond the West and pushing ranchers toward selling or moving herds. Wyoming workforce bottleneck: A new report finds collision repair training pipelines fill only 42% of demand, with WyoTech ranking among top collision-program producers. Local business support: Wyoming’s childcare start-up grant returns for a fourth round, offering up to $10,000 to help new or expanding providers get licensed and add capacity. Wildlife-friendly fencing: In Jackson, eight local firms became Certified Wildlife-Friendly Fence Professionals, aiming to reduce harm to wildlife while keeping fences functional for landowners.

Wyoming Data Centers: Cheyenne LEADS says there are 10 operational data center locations in Cheyenne and Laramie County, 5 under construction, and 9 more in planning or due diligence—pushing back on higher “all proposals” counts and renewing the debate over water and power use. Coal Push: President Trump says he’ll use Cold War-era emergency powers to direct nearly $700 million toward coal-fired power plants and a West Oakland export terminal, with Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon calling Asian demand “essential for the lifeblood” of the state’s coal industry. Road Funding Pressure: A new national look at roadway conditions highlights how deferred maintenance is still hurting safety and shipping costs, with IIJA road money set to expire in October 2026. Public Health & Agriculture: Researchers report wildfire smoke can degrade bull sperm quality, raising questions about long-term reproductive impacts for people and workers. Local Governance: Crook County Clerk Melissa Jones received the Benjamin Franklin Award for Open Government for routine transparency and fast public records access. Social Security: A report warns benefits could drop by about $500 a month on average by 2032 if Congress doesn’t act.