Rare Earths Development in Wyoming: American Rare Earths named Andrew Conover chief development officer to push the Halleck Creek Rare Earths Project from pre-feasibility through final feasibility, permitting, and construction planning. Energy + AI Grid Rush: Lancium says it secured ERCOT-approved interconnects for two gigawatt-scale AI data center campuses in Texas within a week, highlighting how power access is becoming the real bottleneck. Water Stress Across the West: A new report details how Colorado River drought is forcing fights between farms, towns, industry, and power-hungry data centers as federal officials consider major water cuts. Wildlife Rule Shake-Up: The Interior Department canceled an Endangered Species Act rule, shifting threatened species toward individualized protection plans and drawing criticism that it could slow conservation. Wyoming Science in the Wild: UW and UBC researchers tested puzzle boxes with wild raccoons near Laramie; the animals solved them in different ways, showing flexible problem-solving. Wyoming Tech + Education: Eastern Wyoming College board updates included new hires and a director of research transition, while UW Art Museum and Albany County Public Library teamed up for dinosaur-themed art-and-science activities for kids. Local STEM/Research Note: A King Air 350 research aircraft in Utah is mapping ozone precursors with help from universities and federal partners—an example of applied atmospheric science relevant to the region’s air-quality concerns.