AGP Executive Report

Local Government: Cheyenne’s Finance Committee advanced a $275,000 purchase agreement for a Vietnam War Memorial Wall at Freedom Point in Lions Park, with the project part of a broader veterans complex that includes other tributes and a Soldier’s Cross. Public Works/Business Climate: Wyoming’s Building Resilient Communities (BRC) grant/loan program rolled out a rebuilt application portal, aiming to make infrastructure funding for water, sewer, roads and utilities easier for communities to pursue. Energy/Tech Growth: Prometheus Hyperscale won unanimous conditional use permit approval for a 1.25GW data center campus near Evanston, with expansion potential to 5GW. Higher Ed/Water Management: The University of Wyoming is set to negotiate a nearly $400,000 DOE award to improve wastewater management at coal-based power plants. Housing Market: Redfin analysis looks at how long it takes to buy a house in Cheyenne in 2026, using days on market and sale-to-list metrics. Community/Health: Food Bank of Wyoming’s WyoGives Day push will direct 10% of donations to buying local produce from Wyoming farms.

Property Tax Fight: Gov. Mark Gordon sued the Wyoming State Board of Equalization to force certification of 2026 residential property tax values after the board said a 2024 tax cap created disparities. Food Security & Local Agriculture: WyoGives Day will direct 10% of Food Bank of Wyoming donations to buying Wyoming-grown produce, boosting access for nearly 90,000 people facing food insecurity. Public Safety & Health: Teton County is weighing testing town drinking water after chronic wasting disease was found on the National Elk Refuge, while officials say the human risk appears low. Wildfire Planning Tech: UW’s WyGISC launched WyldFire, a public wildfire risk tool that helps residents and utilities assess burn probability and mitigation options. Education Funding Recalibration: A legislative school finance recalibration committee is holding public meetings in Lander this week as districts push back on stricter spending silos. Rural Economy: Historic drought in Johnson County is forcing ranchers to sell part of their herds early and make tough feed decisions. Local Business Spotlight: Central Wyoming College is expanding its Controlled Environment Agriculture program to build workforce and food innovation capacity. Community Loss: Wyoming flags will be lowered for two young people killed in a Fremont County crash, with services set for June 23-24.

Social Security Pressure: A new trustees report warns Wyoming beneficiaries could see Social Security checks cut by as much as 22% by 2032 unless Congress acts, adding to already-tight household budgets. Healthcare Costs & Transparency: The Trump administration is moving to enforce hospital price transparency, with Wyoming among Mountain West states where hospitals failed to meet requirements. School Funding Fallout: In Lander, budget strain tied to Wyoming’s new school funding bill is already hitting community services, including the discontinuation of a popular water aerobics class and broader pool access cuts. Energy & Jobs Watch: A study on dam removals challenges the idea that local economies automatically collapse after aging dams come down, a key point as debates continue in the West. Wind Power Bird-Safety Test: PacifiCorp is running a Wyoming wind-farm trial painting turbine blades to reduce bird deaths, aiming to scale only if results hold up. Crypto & Banking: A community-bank group is pushing the Kansas City Fed to review Kraken Financial’s limited-purpose account before renewal, raising the stakes for how crypto firms access payment rails. Local Business Climate: Rock Springs approved a balanced $44.39M budget after a prior structural deficit, citing improved revenue projections and conservative management.

Wyoming Property Tax Fight: A Wyoming judge sided with Gov. Mark Gordon on the property tax cap question “for now,” keeping the dispute over residential valuation certification in play and raising stakes for 2026 local revenue. Rock Springs Budget: Rock Springs City Council approved a balanced $44.39 million FY2027 budget after a $3.15 million structural deficit, citing improved forecasts and conservative spending. Wyoming Waste & Infrastructure: Sweetwater County’s landfill open house highlighted how the district is managing about 60,000 tons of waste a year while planning to stretch limited space. Wind Power & Wildlife: PacifiCorp is testing whether painting wind turbine blades black at its Glenrock site can cut bird deaths, aiming to replicate earlier research. Wyoming Crypto Watch: Wyoming’s Frontier Stable Tokens are drawing attention as the state’s stablecoin experiment continues, with local payments now tied to the new token. College Sports Policy: A Senate push would set national NIL standards and curb transfer chaos, a major shift for college athletics nationwide. Severe Weather Outlook: Central and eastern U.S. communities remain on alert for damaging storms and flooding through the week.

Wyoming Crypto Watch: Wyoming’s Frontier Stable Tokens are now live, letting shoppers and businesses pay with a state-issued stablecoin—an effort aimed at making the Cowboy State a destination for “money of all kinds.” Energy & Legal Fallout: A decade after Standing Rock protests, federal officials approved the Dakota Access pipeline’s Missouri River crossing to keep operating, but with added leak-detection and groundwater monitoring conditions; the tribe says it will keep fighting in court. Healthcare Costs: Wyoming Medicaid Durable Medical Equipment spending rose to $14,443 in 2024, up 4.6% from 2023, underscoring how billing trends can shift where public health dollars go. Caregiver Support: AARP and United Way expanded the 211 Caregiver Support Program into 10 more states and added regional service in California and Colorado, bringing coverage to 32 states plus Puerto Rico, including Wyoming. Local Business & Community: Human Bean in Cheyenne ran a Food Drive Giveback, donating $1 per drink sold to local food banks. Public Finance & Housing: Indicators point to ongoing housing pressure and limited new development, with costs and affordability still a major concern.

Property Tax Fight: A Laramie County judge ordered the Wyoming Board of Equalization to certify residential property values while a lawsuit over the 4% cap plays out, warning noncertification could block 2026 collections tied to K-12, roads and public safety. Data Center Push: Uinta County commissioners approved Prometheus Hyperscale’s AI data center near Evanston after public pushback, setting up a major power-and-water debate for Wyoming’s growth plans. Healthcare Costs & Transparency: Wyoming Medicaid Durable Medical Equipment spending rose to $14,443 in 2024, while Arapahoe’s Evaluation and Management bills jumped to $8,111—plus a broader national report says many hospitals missed federal price transparency requirements, including 19 in the Mountain West (3 in Wyoming). Agriculture Economics: A Federal Reserve Beige Book update found farm conditions mostly steady but cost pressures rising as fuel and fertilizer stay elevated. Workforce/Training: Wyoming’s elder care and healthcare cost pressures stayed in focus, while West Side CTC highlighted career-tech pathways at its commencement. Community Support: Human Bean in Cheyenne ran a food drive giveback, donating $1 per drink to local food banks. Education Leadership: Eastern Wyoming College added Julia Newman to its board of trustees, continuing a long career in student counseling. Local Business/Events: Milward Simpson Award winners were named in Cody and Sheridan, spotlighting student achievement.

Property Taxes Fight: A Laramie County judge ordered the Wyoming Board of Equalization to certify the 4% residential property tax cap “for now,” after Gov. Mark Gordon sued over constitutionality and warned noncertification could disrupt 2026 local revenue for services like K-12, roads and law enforcement. Local Governance: Lawmakers are also weighing a bill that would let the state Department of Audit withhold use, sales and lodging tax funds from public institutions that miss financial reporting deadlines for multiple years. Energy & Industry: Uinta County commissioners approved a 1.25-gigawatt AI data center near Evanston, with residents raising environmental concerns and the project planning to start construction within six months of final permitting. Business & Labor: A Broadview, Mont. data center developer says it has a preliminary agreement with local unions to prioritize stable wages, benefits and apprenticeships. Agriculture: Severe drought is pushing Wyoming ranchers to sell cattle earlier than planned, with some counties facing extreme conditions and irrigation days running out. Community & Philanthropy: Cheyenne’s Human Bean held a food drive giveback, donating $1 from every drink sold to local food banks.

Tax enforcement push: Wyoming lawmakers asked the Legislative Service Office to draft a bill that would let the state Department of Audit withhold sales, use and lodging taxes from public institutions that repeatedly miss financial reporting deadlines—after hearing the department can’t effectively punish noncompliant towns and special districts. Data center boom in the Cowboy State: Uinta County commissioners unanimously approved Prometheus Hyperscale’s 1.25-gigawatt AI data center near Evanston, despite local concerns about environmental impacts and the project’s heavy electricity use. Drought hits ranching hard: Severe drought across northwest Wyoming is forcing ranchers to sell cattle early and cut herds, with producers warning water shortages could end irrigation sooner than usual. Energy and jobs in the spotlight: The University of Wyoming is set to negotiate a nearly $400,000 DOE award aimed at improving water efficiency at coal-based power plants. Outdoor business and tourism: A 1.25-gigawatt data center approval and a Western Governors’ Association meeting in Park City both underscore how energy and regional policy are driving major economic activity across the region.

Uinta County Data Center Move Forward: Uinta County commissioners approved a conditional use permit for Prometheus Hyperscale’s long-proposed data center east of Evanston, setting conditions including a five-year start timeline and compliance with state and federal environmental requirements. Healthcare Costs & Compliance: A national review finds more than 500 hospitals, including 3 in Wyoming, missed federal hospital price transparency requirements, keeping costs high and triggering warning letters or corrective action requests. AI Infrastructure Deal: Meta secured new agreements to buy about 1.6 gigawatts of AI computing capacity from Crusoe data centers in Texas and Missouri, underscoring the race for power-hungry AI buildouts. Local Business & Community: SBA announced low-interest disaster loans for small businesses and private nonprofits in drought-impacted areas, including Wyoming counties Niobrara and Weston. Wyoming Events & Tourism: Cheyenne’s Wyoming Brewers Festival returns for its 30th anniversary this weekend, alongside other downtown events. Safety & Public Awareness: AAA is pushing “Slow Down, Move Over” compliance during roadside worker appreciation week, citing deadly hit-and-run risks for tow and roadside crews.

Wyoming Tax Fight: Gov. Mark Gordon’s office is suing the Wyoming Board of Equalization over how the state’s 4% property tax cap is applied, arguing the board’s approach could create unequal assessments and disrupt residential property owners and county workloads. Wildfire Policy: The U.S. House passed the Cross-Boundary Wildfire Solutions Act, directing the GAO to identify and remove barriers to prescribed fires and fuels-reduction projects across multiple jurisdictions. Energy & Industry: BLM approved ExxonMobil’s Shute Creek CO2 disposal and pipeline project near Kemmerer, a move that would permanently sequester excess CO2 and support regional jobs tied to oil and gas. Local Education & Workforce: Central Wyoming College launched a “CWC Restart Award” to help adult learners return to school with tuition support for an initial course, plus a Controlled Environment Agriculture program aimed at building workforce skills. Community & Business: Platte Valley Bank Wyoming pledged $100,000 to Eastern Wyoming College’s Lancer Rodeo to help fund centralized horse boarding for student-athletes.

Wyoming Property Tax Fight: Gov. Mark Gordon sued the Wyoming Board of Equalization to force certification of 2026 residential property values after the board said a 2024 tax cap created unconstitutional assessment disparities—raising the risk that counties can’t collect key funding for K-12, roads, sewers and law enforcement. Critical Minerals & Drilling: American Rare Earths is pushing ahead with up to 3,050 meters of core drilling in 19 holes at its Halleck Creek rare earths project near the Cowboy State Mine, aiming to support feasibility work and future reserve estimates. School Funding Pressure: Across states, leaders are scrambling to protect athletics and other activities as Wyoming faces an 8.4% reduction in school funding, with WHSAA discussing strategies to keep programs alive. Energy & Permitting Context: A broader permitting reform push is being framed as a major shift for energy projects—relevant to Wyoming’s industry as federal approvals remain a recurring business bottleneck. Uranium Exploration Update: Strathmore Plus Uranium staked new claims at its Agate project in Wyoming’s Shirley Basin after spring drilling expanded uranium mineralization, signaling a continuing exploration push.

Property Tax Fight: Gov. Mark Gordon sued the Wyoming Board of Equalization to force it to certify 2026 residential property tax values after the board said a 2024 tax cap created disparities. The state argues the cap is within legislative authority and that exemptions reduce assessed value rather than fair market value. Elder Care Crunch: A new report says Wyoming’s elder care landscape is in crisis, citing high costs and access gaps for long-term support. School Funding Pressure: Wyoming school leaders are weighing cuts after reports point to an 8.4% reduction in state school funding, raising the risk of trimming athletics and other activities. Agriculture & Workforce: FNBO announced nearly $40,000 in agricultural education support across the Midwest and Rocky Mountain region, including $24,450 to Wyoming-area FFA chapters. Community Spotlight: The Wyoming Association of Municipalities honored Mick Pryor with a Community Hero Award for decades of service in Fremont County.

Education Funding Pressure: Wyoming High School Activities Association leaders are weighing how to handle an 8.4% reduction in school funding, with concerns that athletics and other student activities could be cut. Rural Health Investment: The University of Washington Medical School is receiving a $25 million donation to reduce tuition burdens for students committing to rural and Indigenous primary care across the WWAMI region, including Wyoming. Property Tax Fight: Gov. Mark Gordon sued the Wyoming State Board of Equalization to force certification of residential property tax values after the board cited constitutional issues tied to the 2024 residential tax cap. Agriculture Cost Crunch: Rocky Mountain Power’s proposed rate increase could hit irrigators hardest—up to 37.7% on “Schedule 40”—as drought pushes farmers to start pumping earlier and rack up already massive power bills. Data Center Backlash: A new report highlights how Wyoming-area data center plans are stalling amid local opposition, transmission limits, and NIMBY concerns, with projects pausing or shifting. Local Business & Safety: WYDOT launched an online public meeting for the Statewide Freight Assessment, inviting industry input through July 15. Community Notes: Cheyenne’s Atlas Theater is finally repairing hail-damaged windows after the 2025 storm.

Wyoming Freight Planning: WYDOT launched an online, self-guided public meeting for its Statewide Freight Assessment, open for input through July 15, laying out how Wyoming goods move and a draft project list. Local Government & Public Safety: Cheyenne approved updated restrictions on Flock Safety license-plate reader camera data use, after residents raised privacy concerns and questioned outside access. Higher Ed Budget: Northwest College in Powell says its next fiscal year budget will rise nearly $2.5 million, with most of the increase going to staff raises and benefits. Energy & Land Use: Wind and solar developers are racing toward a July 4 federal tax credit deadline, while Wyoming-area opponents push back on “wind” impacts. Recreation Economy: Flaming Gorge’s drawdown is buckling boat ramps and hitting marina revenue, with owners warning the summer could be worse. Business & Crime: A Cheyenne auto shop manager faces felony theft allegations after investigators say $105,000 was embezzled. Workforce & Community: Rural Iowans’ top concerns include healthcare costs and a weakening rural economy, with Wyoming included in the broader listening effort. Education Funding Pressure: Across states, school leaders are weighing cuts to athletics and activities as budgets tighten, including Wyoming’s funding reduction discussions.

Education Funding Crunch: Wyoming school districts are bracing for budget shortfalls after the Legislature’s revamped “silo” education funding model, with some districts weighing cuts to activities and athletics as they hit July 1 deadlines. Local Governance & Taxes: A Wyoming State Board of Equalization report says a 2024 property tax cap created “value inversions,” leaving the board unable to certify residential values—raising the risk that counties can’t collect 2026 residential property taxes. Aviation & Economic Development: Casper/Natrona County International Airport says it’s negotiating new routes after Delta’s 2024 exit, but airlines need proof of demand, aircraft availability, and fuel economics. Community & Workforce: Wyoming jumped to 12th in a national child well-being ranking, while a separate report highlights Wyoming’s child poverty and math proficiency gaps. Public Health & Care: Wyoming Dementia Together will host a free Zoom for caregivers, reflecting growing demand for local support networks. Business & Growth: A proposed “Panhandle Market” near 52nd and Wilson in Wyoming is drawing traffic concerns after a planning commission vote to deny rezoning. Food Safety: The FDA upgraded an Alfredo sauce recall to Class I over potential Salmonella contamination, affecting distribution across 41 states.

Aviation & Tourism: Casper/Natrona County International (C/NCIA) is negotiating new flights after Delta’s 2024 exit, but airlines need proof of demand, aircraft availability, and route viability—so public input is key. Education & Local Economy: Wyoming districts are weighing cuts to school activities as the state’s revamped education funding model and “silo” restrictions squeeze budgets, with smaller districts facing shortfalls that could hit athletics and other programs. Public Finance: Wyoming’s property tax system is in limbo after a 2024 tax cap created assessment “inversions,” leaving the State Board of Equalization unable to certify residential values—raising the risk local governments can’t collect 2026 residential property taxes. Energy & Jobs: The Wyoming Energy Authority opened applications for the Wyoming Rare Earths Fund, offering up to $16 million in matching grants to spur rare earth processing projects in-state. Community & Quality of Life: Wyoming Dementia Together will host a free Zoom Q&A for caregivers June 17, and Game and Fish urged residents to secure attractants after multiple bear conflicts. Business Spotlight: A luxury real estate broker, Latham Jenkins, ranked No. 1 in Wyoming in RealTrends Verified for 2026.