AGP Executive Report

Wyoming Labor Snapshot: Wyoming ended 2025 with modest job losses—employment down 1,413 jobs (-0.5%) from Q4 2024 to Q4 2025—while payroll rose $177.5 million (3.9%), with gains in counties like Laramie, Sheridan and Converse. Cheyenne Downtown Leadership: The Cheyenne Downtown Development Authority is seeking an executive director to drive downtown revitalization, economic development and public-private partnerships. Data Center Water & Power Scrutiny: At a Cheyenne Chamber luncheon, developers and utilities faced questions on water use, electricity costs and environmental impacts, including claims that closed-loop cooling can limit freshwater demand. Food Bank Discrimination Fight: A Riverton church says it was cut off from Food Bank of Wyoming supplies after a viral sermon, and it has filed a federal discrimination complaint. Elections & Local Governance: Laramie County clerk retirement has three GOP candidates—Laura Pate, Connie Czarnecki and Misty Tinney—vying for the 2026 seat; filings also opened for school and community college trustee races. Business Community Notes: Western Wyoming College earned a 2026-2027 Military Friendly Schools Bronze designation; WyoLotto unveiled a new “big boot” at its Cheyenne headquarters.

Wyoming Water & Wildlife: Wyoming Game and Fish is urging anglers to shift trout fishing earlier in the day and stop catch-and-release after noon as warm water and low flows push stream temperatures above safe levels. Local Business & Finance: Cheyenne’s Better Business Bureau reported just one scam for the week ending Aug. 1, with the biggest loss tied to an online purchase scam. Energy & Infrastructure: A new report says coal generation rose as data centers reshape the U.S. power grid, while analysts warn utilities face “more of everything” needs—generation plus transmission. Natural Resources & Land Use: Crook County residents raised concerns about a proposed Rare Element Resources mine on Bull Hill in the Bearlodge, with the company saying it will follow strict permitting and that access routes aren’t finalized. Food Safety: A multi-state Salmonella outbreak linked to recalled jalapeños continues to expand, with retailers and restaurants pulling affected product as health officials track illnesses across dozens of states. Governance & Regulation: A U.S. judge struck down federal registration and transfer requirements for certain NFA items after Congress eliminated the tax that had supported the rules.

Data Center Debate: A nationwide fight over new data centers is intensifying as communities weigh water use and grid reliability against promised tax windfalls, with growing concern about what happens if projects become obsolete and how local governments can protect themselves in contracts. Wyoming Business Council: The Wyoming Business Council is launching a statewide virtual listening tour, “Team Wyoming Huddle,” Aug. 13, aiming to gather input from residents, businesses and community leaders for a focused hour of polling on what Wyoming needs next. Public Lands Vote: A new poll finds Wyoming voters strongly oppose selling federally managed public lands, with 91% backing keeping them in public hands—an issue that cuts across outdoor, hunting, ranching and business groups. Small Business Hiring: NFIB reports small business employment sentiment improved in July, with more owners citing job openings they can’t fill, pointing to labor availability as a key constraint. Energy & Water: Wyoming’s drought and reservoir stress remain in focus, including Seminoe Reservoir slipping toward “near-worst case” scenarios amid debate over a pumped-storage hydro project. Local Economy & Permitting: A Ronan, Montana native-owned coffee shop story highlights how grants, permitting and utility hookups can make or break small business launches. Wyoming Courts: Gov. Mark Gordon appointed Jeremy Kisling to Wyoming’s Fourth Judicial District Circuit Court, filling a vacancy in Johnson and Sheridan counties.

Food Safety: The CDC says a Salmonella Javiana outbreak tied to recalled jalapeños has sickened 345 people across 27 states, with 36 hospitalizations and no deaths reported; Wyoming is among the affected states, and Chipotle and Qdoba have removed the peppers after tracing them to Sinaloa, Mexico, via Coast Citrus Distributors. Energy & Industry: A federal report finds coal use rose as AI data center electricity demand reshaped the U.S. power grid, helping keep some coal plants online longer while utilities race to add generation and transmission. Local Housing: Laramie city officials held an open house on a possible West Side housing development, stressing the plan isn’t finalized and would still face zoning, floodplain rules, and other public review steps. Business Growth: The SBA toured Fading West’s modular home factory in Western Colorado, highlighting how federal lending supports rural manufacturing expansion across the West. Wyoming Policy & Wildlife: Wyoming Game and Fish renewed its warning not to release fair goldfish into the wild, citing illegal introductions’ harm to fisheries and potential penalties.

Wyoming Agriculture & Transportation: Gov. Mark Gordon issued an executive order authorizing emergency oversize/overweight transportation permits for livestock feed and livestock to help ranchers cope with drought, heat, low humidity and wildfires; WYDOT says fees may be waived but permits and routing coordination with ports of entry are still required, with the order in effect for 30 days. Local Business & Development: Rock Springs City Council approved the sale of the old First Security Bank building for $75,000 “as-is,” a move aimed at shedding an estimated $8 million city liability tied to the property. Workforce & Training: Laramie County Community College is launching an Emerging Agriculture Technology Program this fall, teaching hands-on skills like farmbots, drones and AI cameras, with enrollment due Aug. 22. Community Finance & Fundraising: Cheyenne Kiwanis’ 50/50 raffle is nearing its Sept. 3 drawing deadline, with 425 of 500 tickets sold as of Tuesday. Policy & Regulation (Wyoming-linked): U.S. Sen. Cynthia Lummis says the Senate could vote on the CLARITY Act before August recess, as negotiations continue over CFTC authority, ethics and enforcement. Food Safety: Walmart shoppers in Wyoming are among those affected by the Bettergoods pistachio nut butter recall over possible salmonella contamination.

Wyoming Library Spotlight: Goshen County Library in Torrington was named the Best Small Library in America by Library Journal, with the award crediting community support and expanded programming after schools shifted to a four-day week. Energy & Growth Watch: In Logan, the Municipal Council tabled a workshop on proposed electric rate hikes while residents pressed concerns tied to data-center impacts; the city’s utility is seeking about a 2.5% overall increase starting Sept. 1 and is developing a separate framework for very large loads under a 180-day moratorium. Hemp Policy Push: South Dakota AG Marty Jackley joined a bipartisan coalition urging Congress to keep the November 2025 federal hemp definition in place, warning that reopening loopholes could boost youth access to intoxicating hemp products. Colorado River Uncertainty: A new federal Colorado River framework sets broad limits but leaves operating rules to be revisited every two years, raising planning risk for water agencies and potentially steepening cuts for Lower Basin states. Banking Leadership: Hilltop Bank announced CEO Greg Dixson will retire after 11 years, with COO Darren Cantlay set to succeed him. Wyoming Economy & Jobs: Sheridan/Johnson County unemployment rates fell in June, while Wyoming’s license taxes collections hit $212.8 million in 2024. Uranium Development: Strathmore Plus Uranium said it will prioritize its Agate project in Wyoming’s Shirley Basin, postponing exploratory work at Beaver Rim as it advances permitting and field studies. Community & Business Life: Pinedale’s free Soundcheck Summer Music Series continues into August with two concerts.

U.S. Senate politics in Wyoming: Congresswoman Harriet Hageman picked up a U.S. Chamber of Commerce endorsement, with backers highlighting her support for small business as she seeks Cynthia Lummis’ seat. Local governance and transparency: Cheyenne Ward 1 council candidate Rhianna Brand says delayed disclosure tied to the Meta data center shows why city leaders must share information faster and more clearly. State legislative race: Meagan Herrington, running for Senate District 5, leans on her business background and nonprofit leadership, pitching herself as a grounded voice for overlooked issues. Wyoming business and industry support: Manufacturing Works says it has sharpened its focus after funding hurdles, aiming to strengthen Wyoming manufacturers tied to energy and industrial supply chains. Community and health: The Meridian Trust North Star Foundation kicked off its annual Flags for Heroes fundraiser, while the American Red Cross warned of a summer blood shortage, especially for O-type. Energy and land use: American Prairie filed suit to challenge a Bureau of Land Management decision to revoke bison grazing permits, arguing the agency is breaking with past practice.

Hemp Policy Fight: Wyoming and 33 other state attorneys general are urging Congress to keep the 2025 federal hemp definition in place and reject any move to reopen the loophole that let intoxicating hemp products spread. Energy & Grid: A U.S. Department of Energy emergency order is pushing some power producers—including parts of Wyoming’s grid footprint—to keep backup generation ready as heat strains demand, while PacifiCorp customers are already seeing early savings from the West’s new Extended Day-Ahead Market. Wyoming Business & Tech: Casper and AmericanFortress announced a partnership bringing quantum-safe, compliant privacy tools to Casper’s regulated real-world assets ecosystem. Food Safety: Walmart recalled a Bettergoods pistachio nut butter lot sold in 19 states, including Wyoming, after salmonella was detected. Workforce & Logistics: The “Freedom Haulers” initiative aims to funnel veterans into trucking jobs with streamlined licensing and apprenticeship access. Local Impact: A Rawlins family opened a Bank of Commerce donation account for an 8-year-old killed in a bicycle crash. Wyoming Economy Watch: Wyoming’s coal-fired generation share hit an all-time low despite peak demand, underscoring shifting power economics.

Colorado River Water Cuts: The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation released a final 10-year plan that could mean steep reductions for Arizona, California and Nevada, setting up fresh negotiations as reservoirs hit record lows. Wyoming Housing & Elections: Cheyenne’s mid-year housing snapshot shows median prices up to $401,377 (+4.6% YoY) while active listings fall, and Laramie County’s campaign finance and school trustee filing periods kick off this week. Local Government & Infrastructure: Campbell County is moving ahead with a courthouse security checkpoint later this year, while Green River City Council weighs a $3 million loan for water tank rehab plus a federal grant for wetlands and diversion dam work. Jobs & Economy: Sheridan and Johnson County unemployment rates dipped in June, with Wyoming’s statewide rate at 3.2%. Energy & Environment: A Wyoming Rescue Mission recovery ranch mural repurposes discarded wind turbine blades into a 120-foot installation that also functions as a snow fence. Business & Consumer Watch: Walmart-linked pistachio nut butter recall expands to 19 states after Salmonella was found, and a multi-state antitrust settlement in principle with Sandoz totals $400 million.

Wyoming Sports: Laramie’s Samuel “Tote” Harris was added to the Maxwell Award Watch List, a big branding moment for the Cowboys after a rookie season that included 558 rushing yards and 16 catches out of the backfield. Energy & Industry: Peninsula Energy named Gary Birch chief technical officer and formed a technical committee to ramp up low-pH in-situ recovery at its Lance uranium project in Wyoming. Regulatory & Business Risk: A federal appeals court ruling could make it harder for consumers to fix credit-report errors, especially in identity theft cases—an issue that hits lenders and local businesses too. Wyoming Economy & Infrastructure: Basin Electric says Wyoming’s Laramie River coal plant is helping meet spiking demand during a heat wave, as a U.S. Department of Energy emergency order pushes some power producers to stay ready. Food & Safety: The FDA says a peach recall tied to potential Listeria contamination has been terminated, after earlier high-risk classification. Public Safety: Multi-state commercial truck enforcement actions put dozens of drivers and vehicles out of service, including operations that reached Wyoming. Local Governance: Astoria Park Conservancy and the Snake River Sporting Club ISD resolved litigation over costs tied to a 2022 crash into the Astoria Bridge. Health & Finance: South Dakota AG Jackley announced its share of a $400 million-in-principle Sandoz antitrust settlement, with Medicaid receiving part of the payout.

Wyoming Business Council outreach: The Wyoming Business Council is holding state listening sessions and hitting the road (and virtual stops) to hear what communities need to grow local business, after lawmakers cut its funding to one year and pushed for less “interfering” with free-market principles. Search-and-rescue funding push: Big Horn County Search and Rescue is one of five finalists for the 2026 Land Rover Defender Service Awards, hoping to win a customized SUV and $30,000 to replace equipment after budget cuts. Wildfire response: A lightning-caused Lumen Fire near Clearmont has burned about 7,200 acres, threatened structures, and brought in a Type 3 incident management team as crews build firelines amid tough weather. Water and risk for the West: A new federal Colorado River plan is driving fresh alarm across the Southwest as headwaters dry and reservoirs fall, raising pressure on water-dependent economies and farms. Wyoming business climate policy: Rep. Harriet Hageman is introducing the “Stop Climate Shakedowns Act” aimed at limiting climate-related lawsuits targeting energy companies. Local business calendar: The Laramie County Fair continues this week with events ranging from youth shows to rodeo and a salsa showdown.

Energy & Jobs: A new U.S. Geological Survey report estimates about 356 billion tons of coal could be developed under federal land in the lower 48, with roughly half of the undeveloped resources in Wyoming—though the study doesn’t guarantee new mines will follow. Water Policy: Federal managers unveiled a 10-year Colorado River plan that sets the stage for steep, recurring cuts for Arizona, California and Nevada after states failed to agree, keeping Wyoming and other basin users in a long negotiation cycle. Climate & Industry: Frontier Infrastructure Holdings and Carbonfuture announced a major ethanol-based carbon removal effort, planning 750,000 credits from CO₂ captured at ethanol plants and shipped to Wyoming for underground storage. Wyoming Politics: Rep. Harriet Hageman is pushing the “Stop Climate Shakedowns Act,” targeting climate-related lawsuits she says function like backdoor taxation. Local Economy: The 2026 Laramie County Fair runs through Saturday, spotlighting youth projects, ranching events and local business activity. Wyoming Business Watch: Wyoming’s lone congressional seat remains in play as a crowded GOP primary heats up ahead of the Aug. 18 vote. Risk & Resilience: A heat dome is driving extreme heat and elevated wildfire danger across parts of the West, raising pressure on public health and emergency services.

Colorado River Plan: Federal water managers unveiled a 10-year Colorado River framework after states failed to agree, setting up two-year renegotiations that could trigger steep cutbacks for Arizona, California and Nevada. Wyoming Politics: The GOP primary for Wyoming’s lone House seat is heating up as candidates jostle to replace Rep. Harriet Hageman, with voters focused on public lands, Social Security and energy. Local Governance & Health: Natrona County’s hospital board is no longer overseeing a hospital, raising questions about what authority remains as the system shifts. Wyoming Business Climate: Laramie officials and Albany County are set for a joint work session on data center development, with residents weighing potential investment/jobs against water, power and community impacts. Community & Finance: Sen. John Barrasso highlighted local milestones, including Jonah Bank of Wyoming’s 20th birthday and community events in Casper and Johnson County. Business & Security: Bitcoin’s worst month narrative grows after a Coldcard hardware wallet exploit reportedly drained about $38M from roughly 500 wallets.

Colorado River Water Plan: A new federal framework would require Arizona, California and Nevada to cut Colorado River use by up to 40% in worst-case conditions, with details for the first two years expected soon—Arizona officials call the options “unacceptable.” Data Center Fight in Wyoming: Laramie leaders and Albany County are set for a joint Aug. 11 work session on whether to slow or stop data center development, citing water, power costs, noise and community impacts. Nuclear Workforce Boost: The Intermountain-West Nuclear Energy Corridor Tech Hub won U.S. Commerce EDA implementation funding, with UW’s Manufacturing Works helping assess regional supply chains and workforce gaps for advanced reactors. Cheyenne Local Tax Vote: Cheyenne voters are urged to approve an Aug. 18 optional sixth-penny sales tax to replace the aging Johnson Pool with a new public outdoor facility. Wyoming Business & Culture: Gov. Mark Gordon will keynote Cheyenne LEADS’ “Economic Essentials — The Wyoming Way” luncheon Aug. 10, and the Wyoming Office of Tourism named inaugural “Mavericks of Wyoming,” including Cheyenne tech entrepreneur Heather Morgan Shoemaker. Community & Health: Natrona County’s hospital board says it no longer oversees the hospital, raising questions about why the board still exists; and Cheyenne Animal Shelter is cutting adoption fees for adult dogs through Aug. 9. Energy & Markets: Spot gold held near $4,050/oz after a Fed pause and softer inflation helped stabilize bullion. Heat Alert: A Western heat dome is pushing record-level temperatures and raising public health and fire risks across multiple states, including Wyoming’s region.

Colorado River Water Cuts: The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation released a long-awaited 10-year Colorado River management framework that could require Arizona, California and Nevada to reduce use by up to 3 million acre-feet annually through 2036, with operating plans updated every two years; Upper Basin states including Wyoming are not facing mandatory cuts in the near term, but the plan still raises major business and agriculture stakes across the basin. Wyoming Local Governance & Business Climate: Cheyenne’s City Council and county races are drawing attention to growth, infrastructure and economic development, including a forum where candidates debated data centers, water and property rights, and the Greater Cheyenne Chamber highlighted “business-friendly” endorsements for the Aug. 18 primary. Community & Workforce: Central Wyoming College and Wind River Sage Fund announced free Recompete open houses Aug. 5 for adults seeking training and certifications, while the Wyoming Children’s Society gala spotlighted adoption support for families. Cheyenne Animal Shelter: The Cheyenne Animal Shelter cut adoption fees to $26.27 for dogs 6 months and older through Aug. 9 to move more adult animals into homes. Public Safety/Operations: RiverStone Health explained how food inspections work as reports of spoiled milk continue, and Wyoming’s unemployment rate kept falling in June.

Wyoming GOP infighting: A Wyoming Republican Party leadership committee meeting drew notable internal pushback over whether party leaders should endorse primary candidates, despite the panel backing Harriet Hageman for U.S. Senate, Chuck Gray for U.S. House and Brent Bien for governor—marking the first non-neutral primary stance in decades. Energy & industry: American Rare Earths says it accelerated feasibility work at its Halleck Creek project in Wyoming, advancing drilling, pilot processing and steps toward a planned NASDAQ listing. Rare earth supply chain: American Rare Earths also continues to position itself for U.S. rare-earth magnet demand as the broader push to reduce China’s dominance gathers momentum. Water policy: A federal report outlines Colorado River management for the next decade, including severe downstream cuts and a conservation target that Upper Basin states including Wyoming will have to plan around. Grid reliability: The DOE issued an emergency order to help the central U.S. power grid manage extreme heat and reduce blackout risk across 17 states. Local business calendar: Cheyenne and Laramie County event listings highlight the Laramie County Fair and major downtown music programming.