AGP Executive Report

Crypto regulation clock: The U.S. Senate is set to vote Sept. 15 on the CLARITY Act, with passage now looking unlikely as unresolved disputes over ethics rules, DeFi developer liability, and stablecoin yield provisions remain. Water stress in the West: A report highlights how drought-driven Colorado River cutbacks are reshaping Arizona’s water future, with the Central Arizona Project among the systems facing first-in-line reductions. Wyoming business & community: Cheyenne Central High School inducted its second Athletics Hall of Fame class, spotlighting local sports legacy and community ties. AI in retail food: Restaurants are increasingly using AI-generated food images for menus and storefronts, but customers say the results can be misleading and erode trust. Consumer fraud watch: BBB Scam Tracker data shows scam reports remain a persistent problem nationwide, with multiple cities tied for high counts in July. Energy costs: Gas prices are projected to hit record levels for Labor Day weekend, adding pressure to household budgets.

Energy Costs: Americans are bracing for record Labor Day gasoline prices, with GasBuddy projecting a national average around $4.03 a gallon—up sharply from last year and a new late-year high. Wyoming Economy & Housing: Wyoming’s average VA purchase loan amount fell from Q1 to Q2, a sign of shifting affordability pressures for would-be buyers. AI & Consumer Impact: Restaurants are increasingly using AI-generated food images, and diners are pushing back hard when the results look uncanny or misleading—turning menu design into a reputational risk. Local Business & Community: Powell Economic Partnership’s VISTA volunteer program is running a “Loose Change for Local Change” campaign to fund local food access, agriculture education and outdoor recreation. Water & Growth: Data center expansion is colliding with water realities, with reports of projects facing leaks, contamination disputes and well-water problems—raising new costs for small-town utilities. Cybersecurity: Wyoming’s judicial branch is warning of a cybersecurity breach, adding pressure on state systems and vendors.

Energy Costs: With the Middle East conflict still pushing prices up, Americans are heading into Labor Day weekend facing record-high gasoline costs, with GasBuddy projecting a national average around $4.03 a gallon—potentially topping $4 for the first time this late in the year. Wyoming Housing Finance: Wyoming’s average VA purchase loan amount fell to about $375,195 in fiscal 2026 Q2, down from roughly $386,992 in Q1, according to the VA Home Loans Index. Local Development & Water: Fremont County commissioners are weighing how much authority they should have over a Lost Cabin data center proposal near Boysen Reservoir, as residents raise concerns about water use, noise, and impacts. Wyoming Business & Tech: Wyoming is expanding Chainlink integration for FRNT reserve verification, adding reserve transparency checks tied to state-issued stable token disclosures. Community & Workforce: A new Student Life “Bulldogs in Balance” wellness series kicks off with a cornhole fundraiser focused on relational wellness, with weekly events planned through fall break.

Federal policy & markets: The Fed is heading into a fresh showdown with President Donald Trump after August jobs data came in strong, pushing rate-hike bets back into focus and rattling bond markets. Energy costs: With the Middle East still driving supply worries, U.S. gas prices are set to hit about $4.03 a gallon on Labor Day—an all-year pain point for consumers and a political headache. Wyoming housing finance: Wyoming’s average VA purchase loan amount dipped to about $375,195 in Q2 2026 from roughly $386,992 in Q1. Wyoming business & fraud risk: Wyoming residents are also watching consumer scams closely as national fraud losses keep climbing; in neighboring Michigan, BBB Scam Tracker showed losses in July even as report counts stayed low in some cities. Local infrastructure & development: Cheyenne’s data-center discussion continues as city leaders weigh growth, water, and annexation impacts. Wildlife policy: Trump’s order to review gray wolf and Mexican wolf protections could reshape ESA rules nationwide, including in Wyoming.

Housing & Community Input: Cheyenne opened a 15-day public review for its draft 2025 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER), with comments due Sept. 19. Infrastructure Costs: Green River’s new wastewater treatment plant is projected to land at just under $40 million after ARPA grant support and interest savings, with final invoices expected to be confirmed by the state in November. Home Affordability: Freddie Mac reports the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate rose to 6.71%, the highest in more than a year, adding pressure for Wyoming homebuyers. Local Business & Finance: BMO completed the sale of 138 U.S. branches to First Citizens, including locations in Wyoming. Agriculture & Trade: Wyoming cattle ranchers are watching tariff-free imported beef closely after Trump’s move, with economists warning the supply share may not quickly translate into lower retail prices. Energy & Regulation: The Wyoming Industrial Siting Council approved the Laramie Range Wind permit after a lengthy hearing, clearing the path for the project. Public Safety & Health: A multi-state recall includes Chocolatey Eyeballs sold at TJ Maxx and Marshalls in Wyoming due to undeclared milk allergen. Workforce Pressure: New data shows a record number of people leaving the labor force, raising concerns about consumer demand and long-term economic capacity.

Teton Pass Safety Upgrades: WYDOT says new “Must Stop Brake Check” and “No Parking” signage is set to go up the week of Sept. 21, with “all vehicles” wording replacing “truckers” on curve/grade warnings after residents pushed for faster action following a fatal rollover. Wyoming Property Tax Ballot Fight: Initiative 1 would exempt half of a home’s assessed value for residents living there at least six months (land excluded), with state estimates of roughly $93M-$96M revenue impact in 2028-29—raising fresh questions about school and local service funding. Fed, Rates and Wyoming’s Cost of Money: A hotter-than-expected August jobs report (162,000 jobs; unemployment steady at 4.1%) is reviving odds of a September rate hike, keeping inflation data in the spotlight. Fuel Shock Hits Rural Economies: Diesel hit a record $5.85 a gallon as Middle East tensions tighten supply, threatening higher transport and food costs—especially for agriculture and trucking. Mental Health Access in the Rural West: Crisis Text Line reports Wyoming texters are more likely to mention suicide in crisis chats, pointing to rural barriers like fewer resources and less community programming. Livestock Feed Relief Extended: Gov. Mark Gordon signed an order extending emergency permits for oversize/overweight livestock feed hauling through at least Oct. 6 amid drought and wildfire impacts.

Mortgage Rates: Freddie Mac says the 30-year fixed mortgage rate hit 6.71%, the highest in more than a year, squeezing homebuyer purchasing power as bond yields stay elevated. Cybersecurity: Thomson Reuters confirmed a cybersecurity incident tied to its C-Track court case platform, with unauthorized access affecting court records across multiple states including Wyoming and Canada. Local Economy & Housing: Casper dining is taking a hit, with multiple restaurant closures and a local survey suggesting people are eating out less as prices rise. Energy & Finance: Goldman Sachs highlights dividend energy plays, pointing to Devon Energy and HF Sinclair as valuation-driven opportunities amid a strong energy rally. Wyoming Business & Growth: Laramie County approved a zone change for Vantage’s proposed 480-megawatt data center south of Cheyenne, advancing the industrial campus plan. Community & Labor Day: Cheyenne outlined Labor Day schedule changes for city services and sanitation pickups. Public Safety & Health: Cheyenne’s Children’s Clinic keeps a free clothing closet stocked, while a sock drive with Beach Please supports local needs. Sports & Tourism: Wyoming Downs and 307 Horse Racing wrapped a record-breaking 2026 season with strong attendance and purse payouts.

Federal Reserve Watch: Gov. Christopher Waller said he’s leaning toward holding rates steady at the Sept. 15-16 meeting if August inflation keeps cooling, but would consider a hike if price pressures “come in hot.” Wyoming Higher Ed & AI: The University of Wyoming selected BoodleBox for a secure enterprise AI platform for faculty, staff and students, aiming to expand responsible AI use across campus. Public Safety Tech: Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office in Tennessee is pausing its Flock license-plate camera use and suspending payments while it seeks clearer answers on data sharing. Wyoming Courts Cybersecurity: Wyoming Judicial Branch said a vendor breach tied to West Publishing’s court case management systems exposed limited personal data from historical court records; courts are operating normally. Wyoming Energy/Permitting: The state Industrial Siting Council approved the Laramie Range Wind Project permit after nearly 18 hours of review, clearing the way for 139 turbines. Local Business & Economy: Wyoming Downs and 307 Horse Racing reported a record 2026 live season with the largest purse payouts in state history and strong attendance. Food Safety: Crystal Temptations Halloween Chocolatey Eyeballs were recalled in 13 states, including Wyoming, due to an undeclared milk allergen.

Uranium Exploration: Noble Plains Uranium says a University of Wyoming IP geophysical survey at its Duck Creek property in Converse County detected both known shallow Wasatch Formation mineralization and a deeper Fort Union target, with a major anomaly extending about 380 meters at roughly 200 meters depth. Cybersecurity: Wyoming’s Judicial Branch joined a broader Thomson Reuters C-Track incident affecting multiple states, saying limited personal data (names, addresses, dates of birth) tied to contacts with district courts or the Supreme Court from 2015-2025 may have been compromised; West Publishing is offering 12 months of credit monitoring. Data Center Debate: Natrona County residents packed a meeting as Prometheus Hyperscale pitched a 940-acre, $500M data center and asked for an industrial park zoning path to bypass state industrial siting review, while commissioners took no action. Stablecoin Transparency: Wyoming’s Stable Token Commission adopted Chainlink Proof of Reserve for FRNT, moving verified reserve backing onto the blockchain near real time beyond the monthly GENIUS Act disclosure baseline. Fed Watch: Commentary on Fed Chair Kevin Warsh’s Jackson Hole messaging focused on inflation-fighting commitments and the market impact of elevated Treasury yields. Agriculture & Livestock: Gov. Mark Gordon extended emergency oversize/overweight transport permits for livestock feed and animals through Oct. 6 amid drought and wildfire impacts.

Frontier Mall shake-up: Renzio’s Greek Food, a long-running Cheyenne restaurant, permanently closed its only local location, leaving the Frontier Mall spot vacant and raising questions about what comes next. Banking expansion: FNBO (First National Bank of Omaha) agreed to acquire InBank in a $200M-plus deal, expanding FNBO’s footprint across Colorado Springs and Southern Colorado pending regulators. Wyoming nuclear supply chain: TerraPower selected 12 supplier awards to support the Natrium project in Kemmerer, with construction aimed to finish by 2030. Payments tech in focus: At Jackson Hole, BIS leaders pushed “tokenized deposits” as a more credible alternative to stablecoins for large-scale payments, keeping funds inside the banking system. Local public finance pressure: Black Hills Energy sought a rate increase and surcharge in South Dakota tied to the Lange II plant, with potential higher monthly bills for average customers. Community needs: Food Bank of Wyoming highlighted rising hunger statewide during Hunger Action Month, calling for donations and volunteering. Education politics: Four candidates are running for three Teton County School District board seats, including newcomer Ashley Sinclair. Data center water planning: Big Sky Digital Infrastructure released water use plans for a Yellowstone County data center, including projected drilling from the Madison Group Aquifer.

Wyoming Tax Policy: The Wyoming Legislature’s Joint Revenue Committee weighed proposals that could reshape the state’s tax mix, including taxes on electricity from solar and nuclear, and a plan that would replace property tax with a 2% sales tax—sparking investor-cost concerns from economic development leaders. Energy & Infrastructure: The state’s Industrial Siting Council approved the Laramie Range Wind Project after nearly 18 hours of review, clearing a path for a 139-turbine project that county commissioners previously rejected. Community & Workforce: Wyoming Hunger Initiative kicked off its 2026 “Food from the Field” program, letting hunters donate deer, elk, moose and antelope to help feed families, with CWD testing built in. Local Business & Services: Cheyenne Fire Rescue added its first dedicated ambulance to boost medical transports when AMR units are tied up. Small Business & Capital Access: A proposed change to the SBA’s small business definition could let some much larger firms access federal small-business resources, raising questions for Wyoming chambers about who benefits. Agriculture Policy: Sen. John Barrasso and Sen. Roger Marshall urged USDA and Interior to expand grazing access and strengthen cattle risk management and meat processing capacity. Markets & Costs: With Middle East tensions pushing oil higher, the dollar held near a two-week high and bond yields rose, feeding inflation worries that can ripple into borrowing costs.

Fed Watch: Fed Gov. Michael Barr told G20 leaders that inflation is still too high and, if it doesn’t cool, the Fed should “act decisively” with a rate hike—setting up a high-stakes September decision. Wyoming Energy & Water: Jackson Lake is running low, with dam managers preparing for very low fall levels that could affect power and irrigation as drought tightens the Upper Snake River system. Business Climate Fight: Wyoming AG Mike Hilgers joined a coalition that helped knock out New York’s $75 billion Climate Change Superfund Act, arguing states can’t override federal air rules. Local Economy Signals: Job openings rose slightly in July to 7.27 million, while layoffs fell and quits also declined—steady demand, tighter household pressure. Consumer Safety: Crystal Temptations recalled Halloween Chocolatey Eyeballs sold in 13 states, including Wyoming, due to undeclared milk/whey allergens. Energy Prices: GasBuddy reports Wyoming midgrade and diesel prices remain elevated, with Carbon County midgrade at $4.10 and Sheridan County diesel at $5.24 in the week ending Aug. 22. Wyoming Growth: Frontieras North America and Western Fuels signed an MOU to develop a mine-mouth FASForm™ processing facility at Dry Fork near Gillette. Community & Workforce: Food Bank of Wyoming is urging help during Hunger Action Month, while Western Wyoming College posted for a custodian role.

Higher Rates, Gold Pullback: Jackson Hole’s hawkish tone from Fed Chair Kevin Warsh pushed Treasury yields up and knocked gold lower, with Australia’s gold miners like Northern Star sliding alongside the broader materials complex. Local Education Branding: Laramie County Community College president Joe Schaffer is urging a name change to Wyoming State College to boost statewide recognition; trustees will vote Sept. 16. Insurance Deal in Pinedale: Crest Insurance Group is acquiring Tegeler & Associates, a 14-location Wyoming agency founded in 1943. Wyoming Business & Policy: Sheridan voters will decide a property tax initiative that could affect college funding; Sheridan College warns reduced revenue may mean fewer services. Cheyenne Development: Cheyenne is considering a liquor license transfer that could bring a restaurant, liquor store and off-track betting to the former Big Lots site. Energy Costs Watch: Cox Automotive reports parts and repair costs rising faster than vehicle prices, while Fed signals keep financing rates elevated. Safety & Public Alerts: Wheatland police investigated an emailed bomb threat that triggered evacuations before being cleared. Sports: Wyoming opens the 2026 Border War against Colorado State, the first non-conference matchup since 1967.

Fed & Rates: Fed Chair Kevin Warsh’s hawkish Jackson Hole message is pushing up rate-hike odds and rattling markets, with gold pressured toward lower levels as investors price September action. Energy & Markets: Oil jumped after renewed U.S.-Iran strikes around the Strait of Hormuz, lifting Brent back above $90 and weighing on stocks. Local Politics: Teton County conservative Rebecca Bextel says she’s “reaffirmed” her bid for governor, setting up a November ballot against GOP nominee Eric Barlow. Public Lands & Energy: BLM oil-and-gas lease rule changes drew massive opposition, with critics arguing the agency would cut public input and weaken protections. Wyoming Business & Jobs: Casper-based Main Gate Auctions launched an online platform selling bank-repossessed vehicles and equipment directly to the public. Community & Growth: Innosphere, based in Fort Collins, named ARID and SHIELD accelerator cohorts tied to wildfire, grid resilience, and soil health, with access to Colorado-Wyoming testbeds. Legal/Immigration: A judge dismissed a lawsuit challenging Laramie County Sheriff Brian Kozak’s 287(g) immigration agreements. Transportation: Colorado’s Front Range Passenger Rail District voted to put a sales-tax measure before voters to fund the Colorado Connector rail build-out.

Fed Watch: Kevin Warsh’s hawkish Jackson Hole message from Wyoming—“we have work to do” if inflation doesn’t move fast enough—pushed markets toward higher September rate expectations, rattling stocks and lifting Treasury yields. Energy & Geopolitics: Oil jumped after U.S. strikes on Iranian rocket launchers near the Strait of Hormuz, adding fresh inflation pressure and boosting crude prices. Metals: Gold slid toward a two-week low as rate-hike bets rose, with analysts pointing to higher yields and the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding bullion. Wyoming Data Points: A Wyoming ZIP-code snapshot showed 82605 with about 280 Social Security beneficiaries in Dec. 2024, underscoring how localized demographics track federal benefit rolls. Healthcare Spending: Medicaid billing in Newcastle for “Temporary National Codes (Non-Medicare)” surged to $5,485 in 2024, up 1017.1% from 2023—an example of how provider coding shifts can move local totals. Local Business Angle: Cheyenne Medicaid anesthesia payments reached $126,383 in 2024, rising 78% year over year.

Fed Watch: Fed Chair Kevin Warsh used Jackson Hole to warn inflation is still too high and said policymakers will have “work to do” unless underlying price pressures move clearly toward the 2% target, pushing markets to price in a possible September hike. Global Finance: European central bankers left the Wyoming summit uneasy about U.S. Treasury market moves, saying the Fed can’t guarantee against sudden policy shifts under President Donald Trump. Wyoming Health Costs: Medicaid billing data show Wyoming providers charged $31 for “Temporary Codes” services in 2024 (up 19.2%), while Sheridan surgery claims rose to $17,139 (up 26.9%) and Cheyenne anesthesia payments jumped to $126,383 (up 78%). Local Economy & Energy: A Fish Creek Watershed Plan in Wilson lays out 38 projects from 2027-2032 to cut E. coli and nutrient pollution. Business & Markets: Callan Power agreed to buy oil and gas leases in the Williston Basin and rename the unit Reger Energy LLC. Tech Backlash: Data-center power and noise concerns are turning into a midterm political issue, with ads in multiple states targeting Big Tech.