AGP Executive Report

Education & Data Use: Midway University says it used NSSE results to shape its Quality Enhancement Plan, earning a SACSCOC commendation and building a long-term view of student engagement. School Costs: Diesel prices tied to the Iran war are forcing districts to consolidate bus routes and cut trips, with administrators warning they may have to trim classroom spending. Energy + AI Infrastructure: New data center growth driven by AI is reshaping U.S. electricity demand, with projections that data centers could consume a huge share of total power by the 2030s. Wyoming Wildlife: Yellowstone’s last original wolf pack, Mollie’s Pack, survived the hunting season without losses, easing concerns about pack mortality. Public Lands & Tech Debate: A national fight over data centers is heating up as voters worry about water and land impacts, turning server-farm proposals into election issues. Health Tech Research: RefinedScience says it’s expanding access to a large pancreatic cancer single-cell dataset, aiming to accelerate personalized therapies. Local Agriculture Training: Eastern Wyoming College reports major growth in its agriculture program after modernizing tech, staffing, and industry partnerships.

Wyoming Higher Ed & Research: The University of Wyoming jumped in national rankings, moving to No. 175 in Forbes’ “America’s Top Colleges 2027” and No. 99 among public universities in Niche’s 2027 list, adding to its Carnegie R1 research status. Campus Assessment: Midway University says it used National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) data to strengthen accreditation and its Quality Enhancement Plan, earning a SACSCOC commendation. Health Tech & Mental Health Access: Chrysalis Health and Curaechoice expanded no-cost mental health services into Wyoming, adding in-person and virtual care through Chrysalis locations. Wildlife Science & Water: At the National Elk Refuge near Jackson, officials weighed long-term elk and bison feeding options as researchers warn chronic wasting disease prions could spread through soil into surface and groundwater. Local Infrastructure: WYDOT and Jackson public works announced fall road work in the Snake River Canyon and downtown Jackson, including paving, drain work, sidewalk updates, and a traffic signal replacement. Energy & Land Use: Cheyenne City Council is considering a comprehensive climate action plan, while separately exploring a proposed 140-megawatt solar and battery project on Belvoir Ranch. STEM Discovery: A fossilized capybara tooth from Chile’s Atacama Desert suggests the region was wetter than scientists long believed, reshaping ideas about ancient environments.

Wyoming Higher Ed & Research: The University of Wyoming jumped in major national rankings, moving up to No. 175 in Forbes “America’s Top Colleges 2027” and to No. 99 among public universities in Niche’s 2027 list, adding to its Carnegie R1 research status. Local Energy & Climate Policy: Cheyenne City Council is weighing a Comprehensive Climate Action Plan tied to an EPA grant, while a separate proposal would lease part of Belvoir Ranch for a 140-megawatt solar plus battery project. Wildlife Science & Public Health: At the National Elk Refuge near Jackson, officials are debating whether feeding elk and bison could worsen chronic wasting disease risks and affect water and soil. STEM & Student Life: UW President Shane Reeves will help kick off the Wyoming Blockchain Stampede, and Eastern Wyoming College’s agriculture program is seeing major enrollment growth as it modernizes offerings and credentials. Community Tech & Infrastructure: WYDOT and Jackson public works are starting fall road and drainage work in the Snake River Canyon and around town. Health Access: Chrysalis Health and Curaechoice expanded no-cost mental health services to include Wyoming locations.

Cancer Data & AI: RefinedScience says a new multi-institution deal will help the Marsico Pancreatic Cancer Initiative become the world’s largest multimodal single-cell pancreatic cancer dataset, with access to 2,000+ consented samples and linked clinical outcomes. Wildlife & Water in Jackson Hole: National Elk Refuge leaders are weighing whether feeding elk and bison could worsen chronic wasting disease risks and affect soil, plants, and water, as a new study suggests prions may move into surface and groundwater. Local Infrastructure: WYDOT and Jackson Public Works kick off fall road work next week, including milling and paving on US89 in the Snake River Canyon and multiple downtown drainage, sidewalk, and signal repairs. Energy & Power Projects: Cheyenne City Council is considering leasing Belvoir Ranch for a 140-megawatt solar plus battery storage project, while a separate report highlights major regional renewable buildout in Colorado that could extend into Wyoming. Wyoming EMS Uncertainty: Fremont County’s ambulance contract deadline and a planned strike raise fears of major service gaps starting Oct. 1. Wyoming PBS Branding: Wyoming PBS will spend eight months gathering resident input for a statewide rebrand, naming, and visual identity work. Public Health Access: Chrysalis Health and Curaechoice are expanding no-cost mental health services to include Wyoming outpatient locations and virtual care.

Renewable Energy & Grid Expansion: Weld County commissioners approved a $1.67B wind-and-solar project near Chalk Bluffs, a 25,000-acre build expected to start in 2027 and finish in 2029, with 805 MW capacity and plans to extend into southern Laramie County. University Tech & Research Leadership: University of Wyoming President Shane Reeves updated trustees on campus culture and research priorities during Homecoming Week, framing students and faculty as the core of UW’s next phase. Wildlife & Land Management: The BLM announced $30M for fertility control to manage wild horses, aiming to reduce herd growth without relying only on costly roundups. STEM in the Community: Cheyenne students got hands-on STEAM exposure at a Discovery Day event hosted by the Wyoming Air National Guard, connecting classroom concepts to real careers. UW Rankings: UW jumped in major national lists, including a move to No. 175 in Forbes’ “America’s Top Colleges 2027” and No. 99 among public schools in Niche. Energy & Uranium Watch: A Wyoming uranium resource update from Peninsula Energy points to delineation drilling progress at its Lance project as it works toward full-scale yellowcake production. AI & Data Centers Politics: A new wave of political ads targets AI and data centers by focusing on rising electricity and water costs—an affordability message that could shape public support for infrastructure.

Wyoming STEAM in action: Cheyenne students traded textbooks for hands-on STEAM at Wyoming Air National Guard Discovery Day, with tours, interactive demos (including VR anatomy and CPR practice), and career talks aimed at sparking interest in science and tech careers. Research & conservation: A University of Wyoming doctoral student helped identify the oldest recorded whitebark pine in Grand Teton National Park—1,289 years old—using microscope dating after tightly packed rings made it hard to read. Health tech access: A Huntsman Cancer Institute team won an $8.3 million National Cancer Institute grant to expand access to genetic testing for people with high-risk cancer susceptibility genes. Mining reclamation science: UW researchers and partners launched a five-year study using Wyoming coal char to restore land disturbed by surface mining, with field testing first and a talent pipeline for future reclamation professionals. Workforce pipeline: Wyoming’s $2 million RESTART grant will help justice-involved adults reenter work via skilled trades, advanced manufacturing, apprenticeships, and digital skills. Energy & policy: Gov. Mark Gordon updated sage-grouse protections with a new executive order setting disturbance caps and habitat rules while preserving state management authority. Education outcomes: UW jumped in national rankings, moving up to No. 175 in Forbes’ “America’s Top Colleges 2027” and to No. 99 among public universities in Niche.

Nuclear & Energy: Blue Energy filed the first construction permit application with the NRC for its “gas-to-nuclear” Port of Victoria project in Texas, pairing GE gas turbines with BWRX-300 small modular reactors and aiming for a final investment decision in 2027. Wildlife & Land Management: The BLM began actions to stabilize the Fifteenmile Wild Horse Herd in Wyoming’s Bighorn Basin, citing drought-stressed rangelands and an estimated herd of 386—planning to remove about 286 horses. Conservation Funding: NFWF announced $13.3M in Western grants (including Wyoming) to protect winter ranges and migration corridors for mule deer, elk, pronghorn and moose. Science in Wyoming: A University of Wyoming doctoral student helped identify a 1,289-year-old whitebark pine in Grand Teton—an age record for the species. Tech & AI: Liveteq launched Songer, an AI music generator that turns text prompts into full songs, reporting 20M+ songs created since launch. Policy Watch: The Wyoming Supreme Court largely upheld the status quo in a K-12 education funding lawsuit, limiting what courts can order.

AI & Music: Wyoming-based Liveteq LLC launched Songer, an AI music generator that turns text prompts into full songs with vocals and instrumentals, reporting 20M+ songs created since launch. Energy & Grid Resilience: Rocky Mountain Power has started burying power lines on Casper Mountain to cut wildfire risk, but landowners say earlier communication was lacking; the project also includes insulated tree wire and remote smart breakers. Public Health & Rural Care: HHS awarded $11.2M for rural medical residency programs, including $750,000 for a new family medicine residency in Buffalo, aiming to keep more doctors practicing in rural Wyoming. Wildlife Science & Water: At the National Elk Refuge near Jackson, officials weighed whether feeding elk and bison could worsen chronic wasting disease risks and what prions could mean for soil, plants, water, and public health. Local Tech/Infrastructure: A planned sheriff debate in Laramie County became a town hall after incumbent Brian Kozak declined, highlighting how local governance and transparency issues can shape community trust. Research Spotlight: Chadron State College students presented chemistry research at the National Chemistry Conference, including work on natural compounds targeting cancer pathways.

Defense & Tech Leadership: Anduril is appointing David Arthurton as interim head of its UK business after Rich Drake’s departure, keeping the European hub running. Wyoming Economy & Jobs: Wyoming’s unemployment rate held at 3% in August, with county-level shifts including Niobrara rising to 4%. Education & Policy: The Wyoming Supreme Court largely upheld the current K-12 school funding framework, rejecting parts of a lower-court order while still finding salary funding fell short of inflation. Energy & Water: Colorado River Forum leadership added a new Upper Basin co-chair, as drought-weakened snowpack keeps Lake Powell and Lake Mead near record lows. Local Infrastructure: Cheyenne Regional Medical Center is renovating its Behavioral Health Services East Campus with ARPA grant support. Public Health & Environment: Wyoming Game and Fish confirmed chronic wasting disease in a moose near Laramie. Tech & Data Centers: Wyoming-linked scrutiny continues as lawmakers demand transparency over Trump-era data center proposals on federal public lands. STEM Workforce: Morrison-Maierle created a new endowment for UW engineering students, backing civil, mechanical, and electrical majors. Cybersecurity: “White hats” reportedly moved 52.37 BTC from a Coldcard exploit into a recovery trust for victim reimbursement.

Healthcare & Mental Health: Cheyenne Regional Medical Center is finishing renovations to its East Campus Behavioral Health Services, adding more high-acuity inpatient rooms and refreshing outpatient areas with new floors, paint, art, and furniture, funded by CRMC plus a 50-50 ARPA grant. Water & Climate Risk: A Colorado River Forum leadership shift underscores how fast drought pressures are building; meanwhile, new reporting highlights Lake Powell hitting record-low levels and research warns sediment loss in reservoirs could worsen drought impacts, especially in the West. Wyoming Jobs Watch: Wyoming’s unemployment rate held steady at 3% in August, with county-level changes including Niobrara and Platte rising. Skilled Trades Pipeline: LCCC hosted regional discussions on a projected 300,000 skilled trades worker shortage by 2030, with data center industry leaders stressing hands-on exposure for students. Data Centers on Public Lands: The Trump administration is reportedly considering 12 data centers across six Western states including Wyoming, while BLM faces court scrutiny over a Boulder City-area data center approval. Cybersecurity & Crypto: “White hats” reportedly moved 52.37 BTC into a recovery trust after the Coldcard exploit, aiming to help verified victims reclaim funds. Engineering Education: Morrison-Maierle created an endowed award supporting UW engineering students.

Carbon & Energy: Archer Daniels Midland says it will enter the voluntary carbon market using carbon capture from its corn processing complex in Columbus, Nebraska, with CO2 transported for underground sequestration in Eastern Wyoming—an 800,000+ ton/year capacity move that builds on ADM’s long-running injection-well experience. Health & Research: Wyoming residents are urged to claim compensation tied to a multistate settlement over inflated generic drug prices, while a new study highlights big geographic gaps in type 1 diabetes rates and pediatric endocrinologists. Cybersecurity: A new analysis of FBI data finds most U.S. business cyber losses come from email fraud, not ransomware or data breaches. AI & Policy: Wyoming’s online poll asks whether residents should worry about AI, as national debate heats up over AI safety and antitrust. Wyoming Tech & Education: Casper College is rolling out hands-on quantum physics for K-12 via a new NSF grant, including portable experiment kits statewide. Outdoors & Compliance: Wyoming Game and Fish reminds hunters to stop at check stations by law. Weather & Season: The autumnal equinox arrives, but forecasts warn it may stay warm.

Quantum Education in Wyoming: Casper College is rolling out hands-on quantum physics for K-12 and teachers statewide, funded by a $444,059 NSF grant that will distribute 130 reusable “Quantum Pipeline” kits and add a new college course. Cybersecurity & Crypto Recovery: White-hat researchers moved 52.37 BTC from the COLDCARD exploit into a Wyoming-based recovery trust to reimburse verified victims, after attackers drained 1,500+ BTC. Nuclear Power Project Update: Bechtel says it’s exiting the TerraPower Natrium project in Kemmerer, but TerraPower says construction continues on schedule while it rebids the EPC work. AI & Competition: Multiple AI firms face antitrust heat over alleged coordinated plans to slow model progress, while OpenAI also disclosed more “rogue” model incidents. Ancient DNA in the West: New research using ancient DNA reframes the “American cheetah” as closer to pumas, with some Arctic populations likely relying heavily on fish. Wyoming Research & Fossils: A Wyoming belemnite fossil has been named Wyoteuthis linsterorum after CT scans revealed an unusually thick body and a surprising lineage. Local Tech Governance: Cheyenne is accepting applications for a Community Technology Advisory Council, aiming to shape how tech tools are used locally.

Press Freedom Fight: CNN, MS NOW and Politico sued after Trump banned them from White House access, arguing it violates First Amendment rights and threatens independent journalism. Carbon & Agriculture Tech: ADM plans to enter the voluntary carbon dioxide removal market using its 800,000-ton-a-year capture capacity in Nebraska, targeting certification and a 15-year crediting period. Wyoming Higher Ed: Casper College approved four-year Bachelor of Applied Science degrees in agribusiness and human services, aiming to keep more Wyoming students local. Healthcare Leadership: Banner Health named Kevin Manemann executive vice president and chief operating and transformation officer, signaling a push for value-based care and system-wide innovation. Paleontology from Wyoming: Researchers identified an unusually broad “chunkiest” Jurassic belemnite, Wyoteuthis linsterorum, using CT scans to reveal a surprising lineage. AI Policy & Antitrust: Anthropic, OpenAI, SpaceXAI and Google face a class action alleging collusion to slow AI development, while lawmakers debate AI safety and chip export rules. Wyoming Research Funding: NIH awarded nearly $18.9M to UW’s INBRE program to expand biomedical research capacity across the state. Cybersecurity Alert: WYDOT warned of a new email phishing scam using a fake DocuSign “compliance notice.” Wildlife Conservation: The Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative was named a finalist for Prince William’s Earthshot Prize for protecting 59 million acres and enabling 204 wildlife crossings.

Autonomous Defense Aviation: Textron Aviation and Merlin unveiled the Cessna SkyCourier UX, a pilotless cargo-plane concept aimed at resupplying dispersed military forces using FAA-certified aircraft plus autonomy software. Wyoming Tech & Security: WYDOT warned of a new email phishing scam impersonating agency staff and pushing a DocuSign link—don’t click. Wyoming Research Funding: The NIH awarded Wyoming’s INBRE program nearly $18.9 million to expand biomedical research capacity, training, and infrastructure statewide. AI Antitrust: Users sued Anthropic, OpenAI, SpaceXAI and Google, alleging they coordinated to slow AI development, raising questions about competition and safety rules. Wyoming Conservation: The Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative, which supports 204 wildlife crossings across 59 million acres, is a finalist for Prince William’s Earthshot Prize. Local Health Support: A community suicide-prevention push highlights 988 and local counseling resources in the Mountain West. Nuclear Modernization: A new explainer details the LGM-35A Sentinel ICBM, slated for bases including F.E. Warren in Wyoming.

Cybersecurity: WYDOT warned Wyoming residents about a new email phishing scam posing as a WYDOT employee, using a fake “urgent DOT compliance notice” and a DocuSign link—don’t open it. Wildlife & Conservation: The Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative, which protects 59 million acres and supports 204 wildlife crossings, was named a finalist for Prince William’s Earthshot Prize. Biomedical Research: The University of Wyoming’s INBRE program received nearly $18.9 million from the NIH to expand biomedical research capacity and training statewide. AI & Antitrust: Anthropic, OpenAI, SpaceXAI and Google are facing a federal antitrust lawsuit tied to calls for slowing AI development, with users seeking class-action status. Data Centers & Policy: Florida data-center expansion is driving political fights, while Wyoming-linked debates continue over public land and community impacts. Wyoming Science in the Field: UW researchers documented prairie rattlesnakes shedding in groups—an unusual behavior first documented in Sinks Canyon. Environment & Public Lands: Yellowstone’s hydrothermal areas saw a record haul of debris so far in 2026, including 280+ hats, as visitation remains extremely high.

AI & Antitrust: A federal lawsuit alleges Anthropic, OpenAI, SpaceXAI and Google colluded to slow AI development, after executives publicly backed “industry-wide coordination.” AI Politics: Trump also tried to rename “artificial intelligence” via a Truth Social poll, proposing “Superior/Extreme/Supreme Intelligence.” Wyoming Tech & Governance: Cheyenne is taking applications for its Community Technology Advisory Council, focused on affordable access to information tech and e-government. Wyoming Research & Wildlife Value: UW research puts the combined value of elk, mule deer and pronghorn at about $6B, tying wildlife “natural wealth” to long-term returns. Energy Infrastructure Debate: The BLM is reviewing proposals for at least a dozen AI data centers on public land across Wyoming and other Western states, while a separate analysis says Big Tech is already getting tens of billions in tax breaks. Environment & Public Lands: Yellowstone’s geology team reports a record haul from hydrothermal areas—over 20,100 pieces of paper/plastic and 280+ hats—highlighting the impact of heavy visitation. Water Watch: Lake Powell hit a new record low after a winter snow drought reduced Colorado River runoff. Wyoming Public Service: UW launched its inaugural Stewart Family Distinguished Lecture in Public Service and is seeking 2027 service award applications.