AGP Executive Report

Wyoming Infrastructure: WYDOT will close the Belt Loop (WYO 376) from Dewar Drive to Blair Avenue for two days starting Sept. 23 for concrete slab grinding and repairs, with signals at Blair set to flashing red and local access to West Center Street maintained. State Transportation Contracts: The Wyoming Transportation Commission awarded about $44.5 million in September highway work, including a $17.8 million Highway 59 project near the Montana border and multiple bridge and slide repairs across Uinta and Teton counties. Rare Earths Development: American Rare Earths says initial certified assay results from its Red Mountain feasibility drilling in Wyoming show broad near-surface mineralization, with pooled average grades well above its cut-off. Workforce Watch: Wyoming’s workforce report projects about 28,000 jobs added by 2034, but raises the question of whether enough workers will be available to fill them. Business & Policy: Wyoming’s business community also has its eye on data-center growth and local guardrails, as community concerns continue to shape how projects move forward.

Colorado River Water Cuts: The Interior Department released a final framework that would force Lower Basin states to cut Colorado River deliveries by 1.25 million acre-feet annually in 2027-28, with up to 3 million acre-feet in deeper cuts if reservoirs keep falling. Wyoming Data Center Fight: Cheyenne’s council committee advanced key steps for the Orchard Hills data center while postponing one item after the Planning Commission recommended denial—showing how local zoning decisions can still swing big projects. BLM Carbon Storage in Wyoming: The Bureau of Land Management offered right-of-way grants for two southwest Wyoming carbon storage projects totaling nearly 650,000 acres of federal pore space. Endangered Species Rollback: A new U.S. Fish and Wildlife directive would expand what activities can do to endangered animals, raising alarm among conservation groups. WYDOT Online Scam Warning: The state transportation department warned of cloned dealer and auction websites targeting vehicle buyers. Local Business/Community: Cheyenne residents are already leaning into fall spending, while United Way of Southwest Wyoming marked “Give Like Dolly Day” tied to the Imagination Library.

Colorado River business risk: Amazon is pledging $20 million to a new Colorado River Basin Collaborative, joining a broader $100 million corporate push (with Aldi and the Coca-Cola Foundation among participants) as federal plans call for mandatory Lower Basin cuts while Wyoming and other Upper Basin states rely on voluntary conservation. Wyoming legal/finance: Lowey Dannenberg is pursuing a securities class action against Ramaco Resources tied to its Brook Mine rare-earth project in Sheridan, Wyoming. Wyoming consumer protection: WYDOT warns of rising online vehicle and auction scams, including cloned dealer sites that can’t be easily taken down. Crypto market move: Coinbase shares jumped after the SEC issued a five-year conditional exemption for certain tokenized stock trading venues, helping revive crypto-linked equities. Wyoming education dollars: Wyoming began distributing $7,000 vouchers under its Education Savings Account program, with Teton County among the first to move forward after court delays. Energy infrastructure: Regulators delayed a final decision on the Seminoe Pumped Storage Project after BLM said more studies are needed. Healthcare business leadership: Banner Health named Kevin Manemann executive VP and chief operating and transformation officer. Local ballot: Sweetwater County Conservation District voters will decide a proposed mill levy on Nov. 3.

Rare Earths Feasibility Drilling: American Rare Earths says its 2026 feasibility drilling at the Cowboy State Mine area in Wyoming returned broad near-surface mineralization, including a pooled average grade of 3,497 ppm TREO and a top sample of 9,084 ppm TREO over 3.02 meters, with 93% of assay intervals above a 1,000 ppm cut-off. Nuclear Project Shake-Up: Bechtel and TerraPower are moving forward separately on Wyoming’s Natrium reactor project after failing to reach an agreement, adding uncertainty to a sector already dealing with shifting timelines. AI Antitrust Suit: Paying subscribers to major AI services filed a class action alleging Anthropic, OpenAI, SpaceXAI and Google colluded by endorsing a slower pace of AI development, raising new legal risk for the industry. Wyoming Housing Snapshot: Zillow data shows Laramie County’s typical home value rose 3.3% to $393,715 in August 2026, while Wyoming’s statewide figure edged up to $371,854. Local Mental Health Funding: Sweetwater County prevention work continues through Wyoming’s Community Prevention Grant, with Southwest Counseling Service connecting schools and community partners to suicide and substance-misuse prevention.

Federal Reserve & inflation: The Fed raised rates a quarter-point to 3.75%–4.00%, citing sticky inflation and rising bond yields, adding pressure to household budgets and borrowing costs. Wyoming politics & affordability: Sen. John Barrasso said Republicans “need to do more” on the economy and affordability, pointing to gas prices hitting ranchers and farmers ahead of the midterms. Data centers & local impacts: A Wyoming-related debate over data centers continues as critics warn of noise, health effects, and real-estate pressure, while others push for clearer guardrails for development. AI antitrust: Anthropic, OpenAI, SpaceXAI and Google face a federal antitrust lawsuit tied to calls for slowing advanced AI development, with plaintiffs arguing coordination could limit competition. Community prevention: Sweetwater County partners with Southwest Counseling Service to connect schools, businesses, and residents to suicide-prevention and substance-misuse resources through the state’s Community Prevention Grant program. Local history & downtown economy: The F.M. Kirby Center marked 40 years, highlighting how the arts venue has become an economic pillar for downtown Wilkes-Barre.

AI Antitrust: Anthropic, OpenAI, SpaceX and Google are named in a federal antitrust lawsuit tied to calls by top executives to slow advanced AI development, with plaintiffs arguing coordinated action could limit competition and affect paid AI subscriptions. Press Freedom: CNN, MS NOW and Politico reporters were denied White House access after President Trump’s ban, escalating a constitutional fight over the First Amendment. Wyoming Wildlife Research: University of Idaho and USGS researchers say prairie rattlesnakes in Sinks Canyon State Park were repeatedly found shedding in groups—an unusual behavior never before documented for the species. Wyoming Economy & Housing: Zillow data shows Platte County’s typical home value rose 0.6% to $278,336 in August 2026, while Wyoming’s typical value climbed to $371,854. Energy & Water: Lake Powell hit a record low as a weak 2026 snow season left too little runoff to refill the reservoir. Local Business/Community: A Wyoming Valley Mall event brought back “Vinnie the Mall Walker” memories and raised funds for pancreatic cancer research.

White House press fight: President Donald Trump moved to bar CNN, MS NOW and Politico from White House grounds, with reporters’ badges confiscated—setting up another First Amendment showdown. Wyoming housing snapshot: Zillow pegged Platte County’s typical home value at $278,336 in August 2026, up 0.6% year over year. Cybersecurity hits local banking: A Hilltop Bank incident forced the bank offline, disrupting online banking, mobile access and customer service—an urgent reminder for Wyoming businesses to tighten cyber readiness. Tax pressure in the background: Wyoming’s combined tax revenues fell 2.5% from Q4 to Q1 2026, while a separate op-ed argues property-tax windfalls are quietly growing with inflation. Data center debate: Wyoming leaders face mounting community pushback over AI data centers, with calls for transparency and guardrails. Cheyenne economic development: Cheyenne leaders highlighted ongoing work tied to major projects and local growth. Wyoming leadership: WYDOT named Maj. KC Ramsey as the next Wyoming Highway Patrol colonel/administrator.

Data Centers & Local Control: The Wyoming Outdoor Council held a Cheyenne-area forum on hyperscale data centers, with residents pressing for “reasonable guardrails” as projects like Tallgrass/Google’s Tembo could scale from 2.7 gigawatts to 10. Housing & Rates: Mortgage rates rose again nationwide, and Wyoming brokers say the impact is showing up as homes taking longer to sell rather than a sudden crash. Cheyenne Development: West End Flats opened in downtown Cheyenne with 101 apartments, aiming to boost foot traffic for nearby businesses. AI Antitrust: Anthropic, OpenAI, SpaceXAI and Google face a federal antitrust lawsuit alleging they coordinated to slow AI development. Energy Costs: Diesel prices are climbing, pushing trucking and food-aid groups toward a “tipping point” for smaller operators. Wyoming Education/Business: UW hit record fundraising and a $1B+ endowment milestone in FY26, while Wyoming students and local employers continue to tie workforce training to real industry needs.

Wyoming Housing & Credit: VA data shows Wyoming VA home purchases fell to 227 in Q2 FY2026 (about $85.2M) from 279 in Q1 (about $108M), a sign of tighter borrowing conditions. Mortgage Pressure: Nationally, Freddie Mac reports the 30-year fixed mortgage rate rose to 6.76%, the highest in 14+ months, likely weighing on homebuying. Sage-Grouse Policy: Gov. Mark Gordon signed an updated executive order on greater sage-grouse management, setting a 5% surface disturbance cap and seasonal limits in core areas while preserving state authority. Community College Funding Fight: Gillette College’s board opposes a ballot measure that would create a 50% residential property tax exemption, warning it could cut its funding by about $670,000 per year. Energy & Land Use: USDA detailed a $50M “Stand-Up” initiative to expand state meat inspection programs, including Wyoming’s. Outdoor & Climate: NOAA reports record-breaking heat across the West, with Wyoming shattering records in July. Local Economy: A new 2026 Wyoming Aviation Economic Impact Study says Southwest Wyoming Regional Airport supports $59.3M in annual economic activity, up more than 60% from 2020.

Wyoming Education: The Wyoming Supreme Court ruled the state must spend more on K-12 teacher salaries and account for inflation, while striking down parts of a lower-court order tied to computers, nutrition and school resource officers. School Finance: The decision lands as lawmakers recalibrate the funding model after a 2022 lawsuit by the Wyoming Education Association and multiple districts. Energy & Permitting: Sen. Cynthia Lummis’ MORE American Fuel Act advanced in the Senate, aiming to modernize uranium enrichment licensing rules. Data Centers & Local Control: Cheyenne City Council moved the Cox Ranch data center annexation/rezoning toward a final vote, while Uinta County approved a conditional use permit for a data center power grid and Greybull corrected an open-meeting-law violation after a special meeting. Renewables: Cheyenne is negotiating a lease for a Hanwha solar-plus-storage project at Belvoir Ranch, and Gordon signed an updated sage-grouse executive order. Community & Business: LCCC trustees approved a name change to Wyoming State College, and the college also opposed a 50% property tax exemption initiative. Healthcare Workers: Nursing home employees protested alleged benefit-payment lapses tied to Embassy Healthcare. Mortgage Rates: Freddie Mac reported U.S. mortgage rates rose again, pushing the 30-year fixed rate to 6.76%.

Housing & Rates: Freddie Mac says the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate rose for a third straight week to 6.76%, up from 6.71%—a headwind for Wyoming homebuyers already facing tight purchasing power. Local Energy Planning: Cheyenne City Council advanced the Cox Ranch annexation and zoning steps for a proposed data center campus, as nearby residents raised concerns about noise, water use, wildlife and traffic. Tech & Water in Cheyenne: Google’s Project Tembo open house outlined a closed-loop, air-cooled approach and a pledge to replenish 120% of freshwater used by 2030, with the site planned about eight miles south of Cheyenne. Public Lands Pressure: Utah leaders joined a broader West-wide letter urging Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to protect public lands, citing budget cuts and rollbacks to monument and roadless protections. Healthcare Costs: A Wyoming-focused report highlights that, without Medicaid expansion, some residents saw the largest ACA premium increases in the country in 2026, underscoring access gaps for marketplace coverage. Community & Education: Rocky Mountain High School launched Wyoming’s first GRIZZ CAPS Center for Advanced Professional Studies program, pairing students with local businesses on real-world projects.

Fed & Housing: The Federal Reserve raised rates again, and mortgage costs followed—Freddie Mac says the 30-year fixed rate climbed to 6.76%, the highest in over 14 months, squeezing homebuyers’ budgets. Wyoming Education & Families: The Wyoming Community Foundation’s “Wyoming Counts Kids” data book shows gains in graduation, teen birth rates, and math/reading, but highlights rising poverty and big access gaps for services, especially in rural areas. Property Taxes: A broader grassroots property-tax revolt is pressuring lawmakers to limit assessment growth, cut rates, expand senior exemptions, or issue refunds—an effort aimed at easing tax bills after sharp home-value increases. Wyoming Energy & Infrastructure: Emigration Canyon residents are pushing back on HF Sinclair’s proposed refined-fuel pipeline expansion that would boost capacity and reduce truck traffic. Local Business & Regulation: Wyoming’s Gaming Commission and Bally’s Cheyenne Park delayed the inaugural live horse racing meet to 2027, citing remaining construction and safety prep. Health Costs: A Medigap switch can get much harder after the six-month enrollment window, leaving some seniors stuck with pricier plans. Wyoming Courts/Deals: Billionaire Joe Ricketts sued over alleged real-estate fraud tied to a federal land swap, claiming $33.6 million was taken through a scheme.

Fed & mortgages: The Federal Reserve raised its benchmark rate to 3.75%-4.00% and signaled more hikes ahead, pushing the 30-year fixed mortgage average to 6.76%—its highest in over 14 months—raising borrowing costs for Wyoming homebuyers and businesses. Wyoming policy & energy: Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon welcomed the EPA’s move to repeal power-plant greenhouse-gas rules, a shift that could reshape energy costs and investment expectations for the state’s fossil-fuel economy. Local property taxes: Western Wyoming College’s trustees approved a resolution warning that Initiative 1’s proposed 50% property tax cut could reduce funding for community college operations, staffing and student services. Teton County immigration message: Jackson-area residents urged Teton County commissioners to draft a resolution supporting immigrants, aiming to build trust and a welcoming local climate. Cheyenne-area housing & planning: Cheyenne City Council advanced the Cox Ranch data center project toward a final vote, keeping local tax and infrastructure questions in focus. Energy efficiency tool: A new Teton County “digital twin” model lets residents explore estimated building energy use and potential upgrades, targeting efficiency and peak-demand reductions. Business & jobs: Mountain West Farm Bureau Insurance acquisition was finalized, expanding coverage across Idaho, Washington, Montana, Wyoming and Colorado. Wyoming business pulse: Plains to acquire Powder River Basin assets from Silver Creek for $585 million, boosting pipeline connectivity and storage capacity in key Wyoming counties.

Mortgage Rates: Freddie Mac says the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate rose to 6.76%, the highest in over 14 months, pushing borrowing costs higher for Wyoming homebuyers. Federal Reserve Watch: Markets are bracing for a Fed rate hike as inflation stays sticky and oil prices remain elevated, with Asian stocks wavering ahead of the decision. Crypto Regulation: Bitcoin slid about 3.8% after the U.S. Senate rejected the Clarity Act, a setback that also triggered heavy outflows from major spot Bitcoin ETFs. Wyoming Energy & Uranium: Premier American Uranium agreed to sell non-core Colorado projects to DISA Uranium for $2 million, while Wyoming-focused uranium and AI power demand stories continue to drive investor attention. Local Business & Growth: Cheyenne City Council advanced the Cox Ranch annexation and rezoning process for a proposed data center, despite resident concerns over noise, traffic, water use and pace of development. Community Impact: A Casper man and UW student, Ethan Romero, faces a long recovery after a Sept. 1 vehicle crash in Laramie. Higher Ed: Laramie County Community College faces opposition over its proposed name change to Wyoming State College.

Mortgage Rates & Housing: Freddie Mac says the average 30-year fixed mortgage rose to 6.76% for the third straight week, the highest in 14+ months, pushing up monthly costs and cooling homebuying power. Healthcare Costs & Refunds: The White House says nearly 1 million Americans in 30 states, including Wyoming, will get $500 Obamacare overcharge refunds tied to federal exchange “user fees.” Wyoming Transit Funding: Jackson and Teton County approved a plan to cover a $1.5 million START budget shortfall, including service reductions and a fare jump to $4 starting Oct. 1, while directing work on a more durable regional funding model. Maternal Care Policy: A growing number of western states now let Medicaid reimburse doulas; Wyoming lawmakers and advocates are watching as Colorado’s program shows demand and potential outcome benefits. Insurance Transparency: A Public Citizen push urges state insurance regulators to make homeowners insurance data public, arguing it’s an “information crisis” amid rising premiums and shrinking coverage. Local Food Access: Campbell County’s Edible Prairie Project is expanding operations from one acre to 41 acres to address food insecurity. Sports Betting Harassment: Major U.S. leagues and players’ unions are asking regulators for lifetime sportsbook bans for people who harass or threaten athletes and officials. Federal Rate Decision: The Fed is widely expected to raise rates again, with oil prices above $100 and stubborn inflation keeping pressure on policymakers. Wyoming Business & Broadband: Clearwave and Visionary Broadband announced a definitive deal to combine fiber operations across multiple states, including Wyoming. Energy & Infrastructure: Wyoming Energy Authority selected Energy Strategies for a statewide electricity transmission study.

Stablecoin Security Switch: Wyoming’s Stable Token Commission says it completed a full migration of the state-issued FRNT stable token from LayerZero to Chainlink’s CCIP after repeated LayerZero security lapses, including mishandled production authorization and loss of control of a critical private key tied to the live deployment. Federal Policy & Costs: The Federal Reserve is widely expected to raise its benchmark rate, pushing borrowing costs higher as inflation remains stubborn and oil prices stay elevated. Healthcare & Coverage: Guardant Health’s Shield blood test for colorectal cancer screening is set to be covered by EviCore by Evernorth starting Jan. 1, 2027, expanding access for eligible patients. Local Government & Pay: Sweetwater County commissioners will weigh cost-of-living adjustments for county employees, with options from 1% to 6% based on Wyoming’s cost-of-living index. Community Support: The Food Bank of Sweetwater County kicked off its Thanksgiving drive, targeting about 600 families and releasing a specific wish list of holiday staples. Cyber Resilience: Hilltop Bank is reopening branches after a cyber incident, with limited services returning first and a reminder that small institutions are not immune. Wyoming Business & Growth: Rock Springs URA launched “Rooted in Rock Springs,” a shop-local campaign spotlighting local storefronts and businesses.