AGP Executive Report

Federal Consumer Protection: South Dakota AG Jackley joined 49 other attorneys general urging the FCC to tighten “Know Your Customer” rules to curb illegal robocalls and protect consumers. Wyoming Elections: A guide to Wyoming’s Aug. 18 closed primary lays out who’s on the ballot (U.S. Senate, U.S. House, governor, county commissioner, coroner), plus early and absentee voting details. Energy & Grid Reliability: The DOE authorized emergency backup power for 17 states, including Wyoming, to reduce blackout risk during an extreme heat wave. Water Policy: Lake Powell and Lake Mead hit record-low combined levels, underscoring how the Colorado River crisis is tightening pressure on Western water management. Courts & Immigration Enforcement: An ACLU of Wyoming lawsuit challenging Laramie County Sheriff Brian Kozak and 287(g) agreements heads to a judge’s decision on whether to dismiss. Local Governance: Cheyenne’s South Side Recreation Center project continues behind the scenes, with demolition tentatively set for September. Public Safety & Weather: Cheyenne broke its hottest July 26 record at 99 degrees, with more heat possible after a brief cooldown.

ACLU vs. Laramie County immigration enforcement: A judge in Laramie County District Court heard arguments on whether to dismiss the ACLU of Wyoming’s lawsuit targeting Sheriff Brian Kozak and the LCSO over 287(g) agreements with ICE, with the federal government backing the sheriff’s cooperation. Local governance & public safety: The ACLU also alleges several Wyoming sheriffs and the Wyoming Highway Patrol signed ICE-related agreements without county commission approval or public comment, raising questions about required process. Cheyenne courts and community impacts: The dispute centers on how 287(g) operations forced local groups to change normal operations after immigration enforcement actions. Wyoming campaign trail: Meeteetse rancher Allen Hogg filed to run for House District 28, pitching public lands, agriculture, and education with a focus on local control. State politics & federal water: Wyoming is pulled into a looming Colorado River fight as a Reuters report says a U.S. plan could require major Lower Basin cuts and deeper reductions later, with Wyoming among the deadlocked states. Cheyenne weather and civic life: Cheyenne hit a record 99° on July 26, while Frontier Days reported 283,138 attendees for its 130th year. Public services update: Cheyenne’s South Side Recreation Center remains in planning—site work is done, but demolition is tentatively set for September. Law enforcement gear: Cheyenne Police’s K-9 Uzi received a new bullet- and stab-resistant vest via a national nonprofit donation.

Statewide Election Watch: Wyoming’s primary is Aug. 18, with early and absentee voting already underway, and voters can grab sample ballots through county clerk links or offices. Cheyenne Frontier Days: Attendance jumped to 283,138 for the 130th CFD, up from 249,587 in 2025, with the 10-day rodeo and “Year of the American Indian” theme drawing record crowds. Judicial Appointments: Gov. Mark Gordon will choose one of three finalists—Joel H. Defebaugh, Jeremy K. Kisling, or Tucker J. Ruby—to fill a Sheridan County Circuit Court vacancy, after the judicial nominating commission’s merit-based process. U.S. House Race Money: In Wyoming’s GOP U.S. House primary, candidates are self-funding heavily, with four men each loaning their campaigns over $1 million. Wyoming Economy & Work: New workforce reporting warns Wyoming’s job growth may still outpace available workers, keeping pressure on hiring. Public Safety & Courts: A multi-agency pursuit near Box Elder ended with the suspect taken into custody after crossing into Wyoming. Climate/Weather Research: UW is part of a DOE-backed effort to improve forecasting of dangerous thunderstorm clusters.

Wyoming Elections & Campaigns: With less than a month until Wyoming’s primary, Republican legislative hopefuls are centering their pitches on property tax relief, how to pay for it, and the state’s economic future. Water & Federal Policy: The Colorado River fight is hitting a wall as Lake Mead and Lake Powell hit record lows and basin states can’t agree on post-2026 cuts; the federal government is set to release its preferred plan this week. Wildlife Management: Interior Secretary Doug Burgum announced a revised approach to return more grizzly bear management to Western states, including Wyoming, citing recovery benchmarks and aiming to reduce conflicts and improve public safety. Crypto Regulation: Ripple and other industry backers are rallying behind the CLARITY Act as Senate debate continues, while Democrats raise ethics concerns tied to President Trump’s crypto profits. Public Safety: A new national analysis says drunk driving remains the deadliest reckless-driving behavior, driving about 30% of traffic crash deaths. Wyoming Community & Governance: Laramie residents and city officials are clashing over a proposed Greenbelt-area development, with disputes over flood risk, conservation, public money, and neighborhood input. Statewide Civic Reminder: Cathedral Home is urging Wyoming voters to “remember kids at the polls” via a nonpartisan youth mental health candidate guide as early voting begins.

Wyoming Elections: Rachel Williams, a Cody state representative, launched her first campaign ad for Wyoming Secretary of State, pitching herself as a retired law enforcement officer and pro-life conservative while promising to secure elections, end ballot harvesting, cut regulatory burdens, and block foreign acquisition of Wyoming land and energy. Federal Policy & Broadband: U.S. Sen. John Barrasso joined Luján and Thune in backing the Accelerating Broadband Permits Act of 2026, now headed to the full Senate to streamline federal reviews and push broadband to unserved communities. State Government & Health Costs: Wyoming Medicaid payments for “Medical and Surgical Supplies” jumped to $12,665 in 2024, up sharply from 2023, highlighting shifting local billing patterns. Public Safety & Courts: A 50-year-old man from Rapid City was arrested after a Friday pursuit that crossed into Wyoming, ending when a patrol unit pinned the vehicle against a tree. Local Governance: Laramie residents and city officials are clashing over a proposed West Side “greenbelt” development, with concerns over flooding, conservation, wildlife, and public financing. Tech & Privacy: Oak Forest Robotics published an open “Robotics Guardian Standard” for home robots, aiming to set privacy and safety requirements alongside a manufacturer pledge. National Politics: A Supreme Court Voting Rights decision is expected to ripple far beyond Congress, potentially reshaping local districting nationwide.

Broadband Permitting Push: U.S. Sens. Ben Ray Luján, John Thune, and John Barrasso say the Senate Commerce Committee unanimously advanced the Accelerating Broadband Permits Act of 2026, aimed at speeding federal reviews for broadband in unserved areas and enforcing a 270-day processing deadline. Wyoming Primary Focus: With Aug. 18 primaries nearing, Wyoming House hopefuls are spotlighting property tax relief, how to pay for it, and the state’s economic future at a Casper forum. Data Center Fight in Cheyenne: A Laramie Greenbelt town hall shows residents pressing flood, conservation, wildlife, and public-money concerns as city officials lean on state law and TIF to move development forward—echoing broader Wyoming anxiety about big projects. Voting Access Under Pressure: Cathedral Home in Laramie is urging voters to “remember kids at the polls,” while separate reporting flags worries that federal changes to the Election Assistance Commission could affect accessible voting tech. Energy & Coal: Interior released a USGS coal resources update highlighting massive coal potential beneath federal lands, with Wyoming mines dominating reported reserves. Local Governance Calendar: Cheyenne City Council and other state meetings are set across the week, including gaming and agriculture/public lands committees.

Data centers and local control: Cheyenne-area residents are pushing to force a public vote on a major southeast annexation tied to Microsoft data center growth, after council approved annexing and rezoning land for development; petitioners say the council didn’t represent community concerns and are racing to gather signatures by Aug. 2. Campaign trail focus: At a Casper forum, Wyoming House hopefuls zeroed in on property tax relief, how to pay for it, and the state’s economic future—while separate commentary argues data centers are a permanent land-use shift that can’t be “undone” like ranching. County commission race: Laramie County newcomer Julie Christen is pitching “transparency, accountability, and responsible growth,” with data center management at the center of her bid. Voting access warning: A disability-rights advocate says federal moves to restructure the U.S. Election Assistance Commission could threaten ballot-marking access for voters with disabilities. Federal energy headline: Interior released a USGS update estimating vast coal potential beneath federal lands, with Wyoming highlighted as the biggest producer. Outdoor funding: Lovell won $300,000 from the Wyoming Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Trust to build about half of a 26-mile non-motorized trail plan in Big Horn County. Statewide politics: Wyoming GOP endorses candidates ahead of the primary but says it won’t spend party funds backing endorsees.

Cheyenne City Politics: Travis French says he’s running for Ward 1 to push back on “government overreach,” including surveillance, data-center growth, annexations, and even a vehicle noise ordinance. Local Elections: Julie Christen is campaigning for Laramie County commissioner on transparency and “responsible growth,” with data centers front and center. City Council Race: Janelle Rose seeks Cheyenne Ward 2, pitching more public engagement and clearer communication as the city grows. Wyoming Primary Prep: Early voting and absentee options are now available ahead of the Aug. 18 primary, and a Wyoming district court dismissal keeps the state’s closed primary system in place. Statewide Campaigning: Candidates took the stage at a Sheridan County Chamber forum, answering questions across major contested primaries. Energy & Federal Policy: A USGS report highlights massive coal potential under federal lands, while Interior’s endangered species rollback renews the fight over habitat protections. Water: The federal government is preparing post-2026 Colorado River operating guidelines, with major stakes for basin states and tribes. Outdoor Funding: Wyoming’s outdoor recreation board awarded $1.9M for trail building and campground fixes. Public Safety: Wyoming Highway Patrol urged visitors to keep marijuana out of state, since it remains illegal under Wyoming law. National Politics: Harriet Hageman promoted a bill targeting climate “shakedowns” through the courts, framing it as energy security.

Federal Investment Watch: NSF is rolling out 12 new Regional Innovation Engines awards, with up to $160M each over 10 years, and the EDA added six more Tech Hubs—another sign the place-based federal push is still expanding. Healthcare Consolidation: Intermountain Health agreed to acquire Idaho Falls Community Hospital and take full ownership of Mountain View Hospital’s Idaho Falls partner, keeping operations largely separate. Wyoming Elections: Frank Chapman withdrew from the GOP race for Wyoming’s open U.S. House seat, saying he’ll keep focusing on Wyoming priorities as Chuck Gray heads into the endorsement spotlight. Local Government: Rawlins will dedicate a new Higley Boulevard pedestrian underpass to a 10-year-old killed crossing the highway in 1983. Energy & AI Costs: Trump expanded the Ratepayer Protection Pledge with 200-plus signatories, aiming to keep AI data-center buildout costs off utility bills. Wildfire Response: National Guard aviation units from multiple states, including Wyoming, are supporting wildfire suppression across the West. Wyoming Public Safety: A Wyoming man was arrested in a joint drug trafficking operation after warrants turned up meth and cocaine in multiple locations. Health Alert: Cyclosporiasis cases are rising across the Mountain West; Wyoming reports five confirmed cases and one under investigation.

Federal Energy & Public Lands: The Interior Department released a new USGS coal assessment, highlighting major coal resources beneath federal lands and underscoring Wyoming’s outsized role in federal coal production. Western Governance & Land Policy: Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and Gov. Mark Gordon met at Cheyenne Frontier Days’ Western Day, tying mineral rights, grazing, water, and energy to “energy security” and land-lease stewardship. Elections Law: A Wyoming district court judge dismissed a lawsuit challenging the state’s closed primary system, backing Secretary of State Chuck Gray’s defense of election integrity. Secretary of State Race: A national anti-abortion PAC endorsed Rachel Williams for Wyoming secretary of state, framing the role as key to administering elections. Wyoming Tech & Storm Forecasting: UW, Planette AI, and PNNL launched a DOE-backed Genesis Mission project aimed at improving weeks-ahead forecasting of dangerous thunderstorm clusters. Data Center Power Fight: Congress and the White House advanced efforts to stop large data centers from shifting grid upgrade costs to regular ratepayers, expanding the Ratepayer Protection Pledge. Local Housing in Jackson: Jackson Town Council approved the Virginian Lodge apartment development plan for 32 units, including employee-focused market-rate housing. Public Safety: Cheyenne police arrested three teens after an armed robbery at an Ace Hardware & Paint parking lot. Courts & Transparency: A Lander-area dispute over secret ballot appointments to a library board is headed to litigation after commissioners used an improper process.

War Powers Showdown: The House passed a war powers resolution targeting Trump’s Iran actions (214-208), with the Senate preparing its own vote as the $1.15T defense bill heads into a tougher fight. Defense + Cross-Party Voting: The House cleared the NDAA with the SAVE America Act attached, but 13 members broke ranks—highlighting how immigration/citizenship policy is driving unusual coalition splits. Wyoming Energy + Data Centers: Wyoming is weighing rules for power supply tied to AI and data centers, as regulators debate how to handle customer-specific generation without shifting costs to everyone else. Colorado River Pressure: Federal officials say new Colorado River rules are coming next week, but states still can’t agree on how to share cuts as Lake Powell and Lake Mead hit historic lows. Endangered Species Rollback: The Trump administration is removing federal habitat protections, and states argue they can’t replace the lost safeguards. Wyoming Local Politics: Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe sets an Aug. 11 primary; Wyoming’s Aug. 18 primary voting is underway/approaching, with candidates answering local questions. Public Safety + Courts: A Carbon County deputy returned home after a long hospital stay following an ambush; separate Wyoming cases include serious charges tied to child abuse and other arrests.

Wyoming Elections & Campaigns: The Wyoming GOP endorsed governor candidate Eric Barlow’s slate while stressing it won’t spend party funds in the August primary, citing a state law that bars pre-primary spending “in aid of the nomination.” Local Government: In Cheyenne, Mayor Patrick Collins is seeking a path to about $700,000 in impact assistance tied to the Laramie Range Wind Project, as the Industrial Siting Council weighs approval this August. City Hall Race: Cheyenne City Council Ward 3 candidate Matthew Hurt pitched a “younger perspective” agenda at a recent forum, tying leadership to long-term community needs. U.S. Senate Race: Sheridan Democrat Billy Benavidez is running for Wyoming’s open U.S. Senate seat on a “one term” theme, framing his campaign around limited government and personal freedom. Water Crisis: Colorado River reservoirs Lake Mead and Lake Powell hit record-low combined levels, with federal officials expected to release new rules next week—an issue that directly affects Wyoming and the rest of the basin. Wildlife & Public Lands: Wyoming Game and Fish urged reversal of Grand Targhee expansion approval, warning it threatens Teton Range bighorn sheep habitat. Military: Two senior Wyoming Air National Guard commanders were relieved for a “loss of confidence,” with interim leadership assigned.

Endangered Species Act Rollback: The Trump administration is removing federal protections for critical endangered species habitat, arguing states can manage wildlife instead—Wyoming and other states face a legal and practical gap critics say they can’t fill. Colorado River Crisis: With Lake Powell and Lake Mead at record lows, a federal plan on how states will cut water use is expected soon, with Wyoming in the Upper Basin watching for workable terms. Cheyenne Data Center Fight: Cheyenne voters may get a say after opponents launched a referendum petition to overturn the council’s 3,460-acre annexation vote tied to a Microsoft data center expansion. Local Budgets Under Pressure: Sheridan County School District 2 approved an $80.4M budget for 2026-27, citing new K-12 finance changes, while Carbon County Weed and Pest warns property tax relief could shrink mosquito-control funding. Public Safety & Surveillance: A Cheyenne-area high-speed chase ended with 12 charges, and Green River officials are weighing whether to fund license plate readers. Yellowstone Hot Spring Rules: Tourists walked across Grand Prismatic’s restricted thermal clay, sparking backlash over damage to the fragile ecosystem.

Grizzly Bear Management Shake-Up: Governors from Montana, Wyoming and Idaho and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum say they’re pushing to “return management to the states,” but the Yellowstone-area grizzlies stay on the Endangered Species Act list after court fights. Election Rules at the Polls: Laramie County Clerk Debra Lee is enforcing Wyoming’s campaign buffer zones for early voting, warning candidates and petition circulators to stay 100 feet from entrances or face misdemeanor penalties. Wyoming GOP Endorsements Under Scrutiny: Wyoming Republican Party leaders backed Brent Bien for governor, Chuck Gray for U.S. House and Harriet Hageman for U.S. Senate, a move critics say may raise legal questions. Cheyenne Data Center Fight: Opponents are collecting signatures for a referendum to overturn Cheyenne’s annexation tied to a Microsoft data center expansion. Immigration Enforcement Questions: ACLU says counties’ 287(g) immigration agreements in Wyoming vary widely and often lacked public notice; it’s tied to a lawsuit over Laramie County contracts. Wyoming Courts & Rights: A federal appeals court revived a First Amendment lawsuit by a Wyoming doctor removed from the medical board after contacting lawmakers. Federal Money for Nuclear: Idaho-Wyoming’s nuclear tech hub coalition won $31M to support advanced fuel work and workforce training. Public Safety & Crime: Two more arrests in Victor, Idaho, followed a multi-agency drug investigation; Wyoming also saw a separate child endangerment arrest in Rock Springs.

Healthcare affordability push: Healthy Wyoming’s Cost of Care Summer Roadshow landed in Laramie County Community College, pressing lawmakers on Wyoming’s high cost of care and the coverage gap tied to Medicaid expansion. Local election access: Sweetwater County clerk candidates Dale Davis and Cindy Lane-Swenson answered questions on election administration and public communication, with only one candidate submitting responses by deadline. Public safety and policing: A Michigan man wanted in a stolen-vehicle case linked to a Wyoming homicide was arrested in Indiana after a pursuit that topped 100 mph. Nuclear energy funding: Idaho and Wyoming’s Intermountain-West Energy Corridor Tech Hub won a $31M federal CHIPS-and-Science Act award to build the nuclear supply chain, including fuel fabrication and workforce training. Surveillance controversy: Gillette officials and WYDOT denied rumors that “Flock” automatic license plate reader cameras are in town, saying the marked camera is for traffic-signal monitoring only. Wildfire air quality: Western heat and wildfire smoke are worsening air quality, with ozone and particulate pollution raising health risks. Property rights/data centers: A new report highlights how utilities may use eminent domain to secure transmission-line access when landowners refuse data-center projects.

Cheyenne Data Center Fight: Cheyenne residents are collecting signatures for a referendum to overturn City Council’s 3,460-acre annexation vote tied to a Microsoft data center expansion, aiming for a November ballot decision. Public Utilities Accountability: Cheyenne’s Board of Public Utilities released a detailed timeline and records on the Cupriavidus gilardii contamination traced to the Meta data center, including suspending reclaimed water irrigation and ending Meta discharge privileges. Wildlife vs. Development: Wyoming Game and Fish Director Angi Bruce says she’s “thoroughly disappointed” by the Forest Service’s approval allowing Grand Targhee expansion into bighorn sheep habitat. Elections Administration: Wyoming Republicans are vying for secretary of state, with the role’s election oversight and business regulation duties front and center ahead of the Aug. 18 primary. Federal Wildlife Management: Interior is revising grizzly bear rules via the ESA’s 4(d) framework, giving Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming more say in human-bear conflict. U.S. House Race: The crowded GOP field for Wyoming’s lone House seat keeps growing, with multiple candidates filing for the primary. Local Courts: Fremont County’s secret ballot dispute over library board appointments is headed through court after arguments over the Public Meetings Act.