AGP Executive Report

Fed Watch in Jackson Hole: Cleveland Fed President Beth Hammack said rates must stay restrictive because inflation is still too high, with the Fed’s preferred PCE gauge at 3.7% in July—while markets wait for new Fed Chair Kevin Warsh’s first Jackson Hole keynote. Markets & AI Power: Nvidia’s strong results lifted U.S. stocks, with tech leading as investors weigh what Warsh will signal for rates and mortgage costs. Wyoming Infrastructure: Wyoming DOT crews started I-80 bridge repairs in Cheyenne, with lane and road closures, then plan to move to Rawlins for additional structural work. Education & AI: Laramie County School District 1 is expanding staff access to ChatGPT Edu to support lesson planning and admin tasks, with teacher oversight and privacy focus. Local Agriculture & Food: Wyoming Farm Bureau criticized Trump’s beef import increase plan, warning it won’t lower retail prices and could disrupt domestic herds. Consumer Safety: Botticelli Foods recalled Bettergoods pistachio nut butter sold at Walmart in 19 states, including Wyoming, due to Salmonella. Big Tech Child Safety: Meta’s multistate $17.1B settlement is driving sweeping Instagram/Facebook limits and “productive pauses,” with Wyoming expected to receive about $13M.

Federal Policy & Rates: Fed Chair Kevin Warsh faces a Jackson Hole spotlight Friday, with markets hunting for clarity on inflation and whether rates will rise as the Fed dials back communication. AI & Tech Supply Chain: Nvidia’s results and upbeat data-center outlook lifted global tech sentiment, with Asian markets rising after the company forecast strong growth. Wyoming Energy & Mining: American Uranium says it completed large-scale aquifer pump testing at its Lo Herma project in Wyoming to support in-situ recovery planning. State Government & Environment: Gov. Mark Gordon announced DEQ Director Todd Parfitt will retire Oct. 1, setting up leadership change at the agency overseeing air, land, and water permitting. Consumer & Youth Safety: Wyoming Attorney General Keith Kautz announced a $17.1B multistate Meta settlement; Wyoming gets about $13.3M and Meta must add child-safety limits for Instagram and Facebook. Local Business & Services: Laramie County Library System is rolling out new community-designed library cards for September sign-up month. Food Industry: Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream recalled select Outshine Fruit Bars due to possible glass contamination.

Big Tech & Youth Safety: Meta agreed to pay up to $17.1B in a multistate settlement over claims Instagram and Facebook were designed to addict minors, with sweeping teen protections like night and school modes and default time limits. Wyoming Higher Ed: The University of Wyoming’s new president, Shane Reeves, says UW is positioned to keep growing as a “premier” land-grant institution while navigating state budget pressures. Energy & Defense Nuclear: The U.S. Army’s $2.2B Janus program picked BWXT and other firms to deploy more than 20 commercial microreactors at military sites. Wyoming Public Lands Access: The Forest Service is seeking to change how it designates motorized use, including a proposal to loosen rules for certain e-bikes. Wyoming Agriculture: Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream recalled select Outshine fruit bars sold in Wyoming and nationwide due to possible product issues. Wyoming Business & Infrastructure: Wyoming Business Council hosted national site selectors in Cody to spotlight the state’s business advantages. Wyoming Mining & Finance: A securities class action targets Ramaco Resources over its Brook Mine rare-earth project in Sheridan, Wyoming.

Federal Lands Access: The Trump administration is pushing to revise the U.S. Forest Service Travel Management Rule, potentially shifting national forests from “closed unless designated open” to “open unless designated closed,” a move Wyoming Wilderness Association leaders say could broaden motorized use like e-bikes and ATVs. Public Lands Protection: At the same time, the USDA has proposed rescinding the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule, which would lift nationwide limits on road building and some logging across inventoried roadless areas—drawing strong conservation pushback. Energy & Power Costs: Black Hills Energy is seeking a rate increase and surcharge tied to its Lange II plant, with the average South Dakota customer facing about a $45 monthly jump if approved. Agriculture & Trade: GOP lawmakers, including Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso, are rebuking Trump’s plan to increase lower-tariff beef imports, warning it could undercut ranchers. Local Wyoming Business: Cheyenne City Council discussed a liquor license transfer that would support a new liquor store, restaurant, and off-track betting at a former Big Lots site. Education & Workforce: Casper College approved new bachelor’s degrees in Human Services and Agribusiness, aiming to keep more students in-state. Wyoming Economy Watch: Wyoming’s school facilities committee reviewed a potential minor capital projects funding program for small renovations. Industry Spotlight: Sheridan’s LuLu Packaging is expanding custom beauty packaging, touting materials, finishes, and sustainability options.

Public Lands & Forestry: The USDA filed a proposal to rescind the 2001 Roadless Rule, which would open nearly 45 million acres of national forest to road building, logging and other development—sparking pushback from conservation groups and wildfire-risk reduction advocates. Recreation Access: The Trump administration also moved to revise the Forest Service Travel Management Rule, potentially flipping rules from “closed unless designated open” to “open unless designated closed,” a shift Wyoming Wilderness Association leaders say could expand motorized use like ATVs and e-bikes. Wyoming Environment: Wyoming DEQ released its FY27–FY28 Strategic Plan, laying out goals for air, land and water protection plus compliance and regulatory consistency. Local Government/Tech: Cheyenne City Council scheduled a work session on Cox Ranch annexation for a data center, with public comment off the table for the Aug. 28 session. Energy & Trade: Wyoming ranchers and Sen. John Barrasso criticized Trump’s plan to pause tariffs on foreign beef, warning it could undercut western cattle producers. State Parks: Seminoe State Park will see intermittent water system interruptions during upgrades, with campers urged to arrive with tanks filled.

Colorado River Fight: Nevada sued the federal government over Colorado River cuts, arguing the Record of Decision targets Lower Basin states like Nevada while sparing Upper Basin states including Wyoming, with officials warning of major economic harm to Las Vegas and the broader state economy. Water & Food Security: A lawmaker warning flags that blue-state water failures could ripple into U.S. food supplies, as drought pressure grows across the West. Public Lands & Industry: Colorado again sidestepped a Trump-era push to open roadless areas, keeping protections on 4.2M acres while the Forest Service moves to rescind the broader Roadless Rule—raising new questions for logging, mining and oil-and-gas permitting. Wyoming Preservation & Local Business: Preserve Wyoming Conference returns to Casper Sept. 17–19 after 15 years, adding industry vendors and focusing on turning historic buildings into funded projects. Cheyenne Community Commerce: Harrington’s Pub opened on Cheyenne’s south side, with a Sept. 19 grand opening planned. Markets Watch: Grain traders see a “turnaround Tuesday” as corn, soybeans and wheat slip, while investors brace for Nvidia earnings and Jackson Hole remarks from Fed Gov. Kevin Warsh.

Wyoming Construction & Infrastructure: U.S. 14A paving is underway north of Cheyenne, with crews starting the north-half work between Powell and Ralston and expecting short delays as traffic shifts. Higher Ed & Workforce: Central Wyoming College launched the Jackson Campus Campaign, aiming to turn its leased-program setup into a permanent Jackson campus with new health care, culinary, and student success priorities. Local Governance & Permitting: Cheyenne residents are set to hear directly from state officials at a Cheyenne forum on industrial development, environmental reviews, and permitting tied to data centers. Energy & Environment: Nevada filed the first lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s Colorado River operating plan, arguing the federal cuts would hit the Lower Basin hard while Wyoming and other Upper Basin states face no mandatory reductions. Community & Agriculture: Kiowa County 4-H Exhibit Day highlighted 28 project areas, with divisional champions named and a food auction raising $1,915. Business & Retail: Aldi is moving into the former Price Chopper site in Taylor near Scranton, signaling continued grocery turnover in the region. Public Safety & Health: A new report flags a rise in chronic wasting disease concerns, including questions about whether hunting could increase human risk.

Rare Earth Mine Process: Locals in northeast Wyoming say the Trump administration is fast-tracking a federal review for a Bull Hill rare-earth project, with only a 30-day public comment window raising concerns about health, wildlife, and air and water impacts. Energy & Markets: Global markets wobbled as investors awaited new U.S. sanctions on Iran and Nvidia’s upcoming results, with oil easing and tech stocks under pressure. Colorado River Water Cuts: The federal government finalized mandatory Colorado River reductions for 2027–2028, hitting California, Nevada and Arizona while upper-basin states including Wyoming avoid cuts for now. Uranium Update: Myriad Uranium issued a correction to preliminary radiometric resource figures for its Lucky Cliff drilling. Local Industry Leadership: Geoff Hinds was named general manager of the Will Rogers Memorial Center, moving the venue toward private management. Wyoming Business & Trade: Axis Sourcing, a Wyoming-registered commodity desk, says its active pipeline has topped $2 billion as it expands buyer-led sourcing and logistics across 40+ countries. Road & Safety: A serious Teton Pass RV crash involving a child remains under medical care, with a fundraiser launched for the family.

Colorado River Water Cuts: The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation has finalized mandatory reductions for the Lower Basin, cutting California, Nevada and Arizona by a combined 1.25 million acre-feet per year for the next two years as Lake Mead and Lake Powell hit record lows; Wyoming Impact: Wyoming is listed among the Upper Basin states that won’t face set cuts under the 2027–2028 operating guidelines, even as the broader crisis threatens the region’s water-dependent economy; Local Agriculture & Food Systems: Jackson Hole’s nonprofit The Farm JH is preparing to open a year-round local food market and education hub, with contracts lined up with 50 businesses across six western Wyoming counties; Health Insurance Affordability: Wyoming saw the biggest ACA premium jump in the country for a 60-year-old (421%), pushing thousands out of coverage and keeping pressure on lawmakers’ “BearCare” catastrophic plan talks; Community Services Funding: Cheyenne-area libraries could expand into makerspaces, telehealth and workforce support if Laramie County voters approve two Sixth Penny sales tax measures; Fraud Watch: Wyoming County property owners were urged to stay alert after scam activity, while national fraud totals keep climbing.

Energy & Trade: Trump’s Keystone XL talk is back in the spotlight, with TC Energy floating the “Prairie Connector” concept that could move Alberta crude toward Wyoming using some existing Keystone XL infrastructure, while the project’s fate hinges on U.S. permit stability. Water & Agriculture: Federal officials finalized Colorado River operating rules for 2027–2028, cutting deliveries to Arizona, California and Nevada by about 1.25 million acre-feet per year as reservoirs hit historic lows—an issue Wyoming stakeholders are watching closely. Wyoming Public Services: Laramie County Library System is pushing two Sixth Penny sales tax measures on the ballot that would fund major repairs and expand services like makerspaces and telehealth booths. Wyoming Infrastructure & Growth: Tallgrass announced an open season for incentive crude oil shipping on the Pony Express Pipeline, signaling continued investment in regional energy logistics. Public Lands & Recreation: The Trump administration’s move to rescind the 2001 Roadless Rule would open more road-building across Wyoming’s national forests, drawing sharp pushback from conservation and hunting groups. Wyoming Education: UW trustees reappointed Scott Beaulier as dean of the College of Business, extending leadership for another four years.

Colorado River Water Cuts: The Interior Department finalized a new 2027–2028 operating plan that orders California, Nevada and Arizona to cut a combined 1.25 million acre-feet per year, with Arizona taking the biggest hit, as reservoirs hit historic lows and the current rules expire. Public Lands Grazing: The BLM is drafting a major overhaul of public lands grazing rules that would expand grazing across 155 million acres while narrowing public participation in permit decisions. Forest Roadless Rule: Trump’s administration moved to rescind the 2001 Roadless Rule, opening the door to new motorized road building across about 4% of Wyoming’s national forest roadless areas. Energy & Industry: Tallgrass announced a 30-day open season for incentive tariff rates on the Pony Express Pipeline for crude oil shipments from its Guernsey Hub. Workforce & Research: A $40 million Intermountain-West Nuclear Energy Corridor tech hub (spanning Idaho and Wyoming) is set to grow small modular reactor workforce pipelines, including Laramie and Rock Springs. Wyoming Policy: Sen. John Barrasso named Wyoming native Erin Dempsey as his new legislative director, overseeing healthcare policy. Local Economy: Wyoming’s gas prices dipped, with one county reporting regular at $4.19 in the week ending Aug. 15.

Colorado River Water Cuts: The Interior Department finalized a 10-year Colorado River decision framework and 2027–2028 operating guidelines, ordering major Lower Basin reductions as Lake Powell and Lake Mead hit record lows; Wyoming’s allocation is preserved, with no added mandated cuts for state users under the plan. Federal Land-Use Rules: A BLM proposal would reduce notice and public comment for drilling under private land, drawing sharp backlash from Wyoming ranchers and Democratic Senate nominee James Byrd, who argues split-estate owners are being treated like second-class property holders. Cheyenne Growth & Agriculture: Cheyenne City Council reviewed proposed Unified Development Code updates for urban agriculture, while WY Fresh co-owners said they’re unsure the changes will fix ongoing concerns tied to annexation and farm operations. Energy & Uranium: Myriad Uranium completed its acquisition of Rush Rare Metals, and another report notes a first shipment of uranium from Wyoming’s Shirley Basin mine. Infrastructure: WYDOT begins concrete repairs on eastbound I-80 lanes in Rock Springs starting Aug. 24, with lane closures and a short off-ramp closure. Healthcare Policy: A Wyoming task force is keeping “BearCare” catastrophic public health insurance ideas alive for possible future legislation. STEM in Hospitals: Meta grant expands Cheyenne Regional Medical Center Foundation’s Reading is Key STEM book program for kids during hospital stays.

Energy & Mining Dealmaking: Myriad Uranium says it has completed its acquisition of Rush Rare Metals, a Wyoming-linked move that keeps uranium development and consolidation in the spotlight. Infrastructure & Construction: WYDOT will start concrete repairs on eastbound I-80 lanes in Rock Springs Monday, with single-lane closures and a two-day daytime closure of the Exit 103 off-ramp at College Hill. Water & Agriculture: The Interior Department finalized 2027-2028 Colorado River operating rules, ordering Lower Basin cuts totaling 1.25 million acre-feet annually, with Arizona taking the biggest share, while setting a 10-year framework aimed at keeping the system running through prolonged drought. Local Education & STEM: Meta funding is expanding Cheyenne Regional Medical Center Foundation’s Reading is Key program, adding STEM books for kids during hospital stays and well-child visits. Ranching & Land Rights: Wyoming ranchers are alarmed by a federal proposal that could change how the BLM notifies landowners about drilling under private land. Community & Culture: The Pioneer Museum in Lander welcomed a new historical donation after a road-trip collector stopped by with a Masonic-inscribed leather sword scabbard.

Uranium & Mining: Ur-Energy says it has completed the first shipment of uranium from its Shirley Basin mine to the Lost Creek processing plant in Wyoming, marking a shift into full operations and highlighting its “hub-and-spoke” model. Ranching & Federal Land Use: A federal proposal could reduce ranchers’ ability to comment on drilling under private land, with Wyoming-area cattle owners warning about impacts from pipelines and orphaned wells. Energy Infrastructure & Training: LCCC in Cheyenne will return to the Metallica Scholars Initiative, using a $50,000 grant to expand hands-on training for plumbing, electrical, and HVAC careers. AI Power Demand: A new look at AI data centers warns electricity needs are rising fast—data centers already take 4.4% of U.S. power and could surge much higher—pushing local grid and rate concerns to the front. Forestry Policy: USDA moves to rescind the 2001 Roadless Rule, arguing it will give local managers more flexibility for wildfire risk reduction, while critics warn it could increase development and harm wildlife. Rangeland Stewardship: The U.S. Forest Service and Thunder Basin Grazing Association sign a 20-year shared stewardship agreement for grasslands in northeast Wyoming. Local Roads: Cheyenne council weighs a $186,500 study to improve a Pershing Blvd./Converse Ave./19th St. roundabout after collision concerns. Housing Trades: A Casper affordable-homes project will build 24 units using prefab walls, aiming to tackle both housing shortages and skilled trades gaps.

Roadless Rule Fight: The U.S. Forest Service has opened a public comment period to roll back the 2001 Roadless Rule, a move that could affect millions of acres of protected forest land in Western states including Wyoming, with supporters citing wildfire mitigation and opponents warning of higher risk to wildlife and water. Rangeland Stewardship: In northeast Wyoming, the Forest Service and the Thunder Basin Grazing Association signed a 20-year shared stewardship agreement aimed at improving grassland forage and soil health while coordinating grazing and vegetation management. Cheyenne Infrastructure: Cheyenne council members are weighing a $186,500 professional services deal with Ardurra Group to study operational changes to the Pershing/Converse/19th Street roundabout, with possible construction in summer 2027. Wyoming Energy & Finance: At the Wyoming Blockchain Symposium, the OCC signaled stablecoin rulemaking by November and crypto licensing processing starting in January, while the broader CLARITY Act remains stalled in the Senate. Agriculture Support: USDA expanded emergency haying and grazing authority on CRP acres for wildfire-impacted livestock producers, including Wyoming counties. Local Events: UW is bringing back its Cowboy Kickoff Concert Sept. 11, and Centennial will mark 150 years with a Sept. 12 sesquicentennial celebration featuring a parade and live chainsaw carving.

Energy & Utilities: Cheyenne County’s fight with Xcel Energy over whether a utility can condemn a farm easement for transmission lines is headed to the Colorado Supreme Court, with two wind farms poised to add 1,000+ MW if the Power Pathway connection moves forward. Nuclear & Power Planning: North Dakota lawmakers are weighing early community outreach for advanced nuclear siting, including a possible bill to allow temporary on-site storage of high-level waste. Federal Land Policy: The USDA is proposing to rescind the 2001 Roadless Rule covering 45 million acres, arguing it blocks wildfire work; environmental groups warn it could increase fire risk and threaten water and habitat. Wyoming Crypto & Finance: At the SALT Wyoming Blockchain Symposium, Sen. Ruben Gallego urged lawmakers not to rush the CLARITY Act, citing unresolved ethics and stablecoin issues ahead of a September cloture vote; meanwhile, OCC Comptroller Gould said GENIUS Act final rules are due by November. Wyoming Business Climate: NFIB says 63 Wyoming lawmakers earned 100% voting records on small-business issues, including tax, energy, and retail theft penalties. Local Economy: Knock expanded its bridge-loan product to Texas, aiming to help homeowners access equity for moves—an example of how housing finance is evolving beyond traditional lending.