AGP Executive Report

Transportation & Safety: CDOT wrapped up an I-70 bridge rehabilitation and deck repair southeast of Byers ahead of schedule, with final seeding and punch-list work slated for late September. Rail Safety Campaign: During “See Tracks? Think Train® Week,” CDOT and partners urged Coloradans to obey crossing lights and gates—reminding that trains can’t swerve and crashes often happen when people try to beat warnings. Workforce & Education: Adams 12 broke ground on a 36,000-square-foot FutureForward at the Bollman expansion, adding new learning spaces and a public-facing salon. Local Governance: Englewood City Council will interview seven applicants tonight to fill the vacant District 3 seat. EV Charging Buildout: Colorado awarded $23.2M for 270 fast-charging ports across 35 sites, expanding corridor coverage. Energy Tech: ExoPower won a $1.25M NSF Phase II grant to advance in-motion wireless charging for industrial robots. Cybersecurity for Utilities: New reporting says credential-stealing malware has hit nearly 1,800 U.S. water and wastewater organizations, raising supply-chain risk for critical infrastructure. Healthcare & Finance: InnovAge launched an underwritten stock offering by selling stockholders.

Media & Antitrust: Paramount Skydance cleared a major hurdle after settling a states-led antitrust fight over its Warner Bros. Discovery merger, with commitments tied to more domestic film output, worker support, and safeguards for news editorial independence. Entertainment Labor: The Writers Guild also settled its own lawsuit, saying it opposed the deal but had to move forward to avoid fighting alone. Colorado Water Leadership: State Sen. Dylan Roberts was named co-chair of the Colorado River Forum’s Upper Basin, as the basin heads toward the Sept. 30 expiration of interim operating guidelines. Corporate Water Moves: Amazon pledged $20 million to a new Colorado River Basin conservation coalition, joining other firms targeting $100 million over two years. Infrastructure & Roads: CDOT scheduled two-week paving on CO 159 near San Luis with daytime one-lane alternating traffic and up to 15-minute delays. Tech & Industry: Inoapps launched a deterministic AI assistant for JD Edwards, aiming to deliver consistent, auditable answers for enterprise users. Aerospace/Engineering: AIAA named its Class of 2027 Associate Fellows, highlighting new leadership across aeronautics and astronautics.

AI & Data Centers: Colorado’s drought and power demand backdrop keeps fueling debate as a new report claims there are already 60 data centers operating in the state, while experts warn the water and energy footprint is getting underestimated. Water & Agriculture: CSU research says irrigation’s climate math can be net positive because it boosts yields and avoids massive land-use change emissions—while Colorado farmers still feel the pinch as diesel prices climb and silage harvest costs rise. Western Slope Water Planning: Colorado River District leaders urged cross-industry, cross-border cooperation during a Grand Junction seminar, arguing the 2026 drought can’t be “run from” and that water use must keep adapting. Local Infrastructure: CDOT bridge repairs are set to disrupt I-70 in Wheat Ridge with detours and lane closures, with impacts expected for commuters and nearby businesses. Housing for Teachers: Colorado’s CHFA Schools To Home program is being promoted as a practical fix for educator housing stress, aiming to help teachers buy where they work. Business & Finance: A Denver historic 1907 bank building remains vacant after a $22.4M renovation, with JLL pitching office, adaptive reuse, or residential conversion. Securities: A York Space Systems class action was filed in federal court in Colorado, with a lead plaintiff deadline of Oct. 30, 2026.

Energy & Courts: Michigan’s “Campbell” coal plant fight escalates as the U.S. Energy Department used emergency powers to keep it running, while the state AG and environmental groups challenge the move in federal court—at a reported cost of about $1M a day to ratepayers. Colorado Water Policy: The Colorado Water Conservation Board approved a one-year, state-run conservation program for 2027, using $100M from the Bureau of Reclamation to pay Upper Basin users for voluntary cutbacks, with rules aimed at avoiding harm to local systems and tribes. Data Centers & Water Use: A new report spotlights data centers’ “biggest and least visible” water use, adding fuel to Colorado’s ongoing debate over whether the sector is driving river cuts. Local Finance Partnerships: Douglas County School District renamed its Halftime Help Stadium to Canvas Credit Union Stadium under a partnership focused on student financial literacy. Health & Accountability: A former Intermountain Health employee in Colorado was sentenced to 18 months for stealing 100+ prescriptions from patients in severe pain. Outdoor & Tourism: Golden Gate Canyon State Park earned Colorado’s first Urban Night Sky Place designation from DarkSky International after retrofitting 96 light fixtures to cut light pollution.

Agriculture & Water Policy: Rep. Jeff Hurd and Sen. Michael Bennet introduced companion bills to keep Colorado farmers eligible for USDA “prevented planting” help when drought-driven irrigation shortfalls stop them from planting. Public Health & Consumer Safety: Colorado will receive nearly $2 million from Abbott Laboratories after a settlement over alleged misrepresentations about powdered infant formula safety, with state and federal claims tied to contamination risk. Western Slope Politics: Mesa County officials met with AG nominee Phil Weiser ahead of Club 20 debates, focusing on Western Slope visibility, unfunded mandates, and local concerns including wolves and water. Local Governance & Housing/Development: A new apartment-style hotel concept, StayAPT Suites, is moving into Yuma—an example of how lodging models are expanding to serve business and military travelers. Rural Fraud Watch: A Calhan-area farmer says he lost $20,000 after wiring money for a backhoe scam that used a fake-looking equipment listing. Environment & Land Use: Butterfly Pavilion wrapped up field surveys for a Broomfield pollinator corridor along Northwest Parkway, guiding habitat planting and long-term management.

Data Centers & Water: Arizona water experts say data centers aren’t the main driver of Colorado River cuts, but they are growing fast and do use a lot of water—raising local pressure as reservoirs hit record lows. Local Land-Use Fight: Los Angeles County paused new hyperscale AI data centers in unincorporated areas while it drafts a permanent ban, with a permanent ordinance expected to move through the Board of Supervisors. Colorado Industry Watch: In Rangely, residents are questioning a geothermal plan that could be funded by modular data centers, pushing for transparency, oversight, and possible moratoriums over water and community impacts. Critical Minerals Push: USA Rare Earth partnered with Pasqal and Riven Systems to use quantum machine learning and lab automation to speed rare-earth separation and cut energy use. Retail Expansion: Littleton is set for a 159,000-square-foot Costco warehouse opening in 2027, part of the Mineral Place redevelopment. Workforce & Privacy: Michigan’s upcoming pilot to track drivers’ miles via GPS and phones faces privacy concerns, with participation framed as voluntary.

FDA & Health: FDA specialists warned at a public workshop that testosterone prescriptions for menopausal women are rising, but key long-term safety questions remain unanswered since there’s no FDA-approved product for women. Cartel & Courts: A senior Sinaloa Cartel leader pleaded guilty in federal court to decades of cocaine trafficking and money laundering tied to the “Los Rusos” faction. Colorado Economy: Colorado’s cost-of-living pressure stayed front and center as lawmakers pointed to inflation, rising household strain, and Medicaid growth in the latest state economic outlook. Water & Power: At the Colorado River District seminar, leaders highlighted the $99 million Shoshone Power Plant water-rights purchase effort, citing progress and ongoing negotiations. Housing: Grand Junction approved terms for 48 affordable homes in the Salt Flats subdivision, moving a long-awaited project forward despite debate over pricing. Energy Costs for Industry: Diesel hit a new Colorado high around $6.12 a gallon, pushing trucking and small businesses toward a “tipping point” as costs flow into food and everyday prices. Public Health: Pueblo County reported two separate rabies-positive bats and urged pet vaccination and avoiding wildlife. Tech & Infrastructure: A Senate Democrat blocked a bill aimed at shielding Americans from data-center power-cost hikes.

Cybersecurity & Water Safety: Foreign hackers breached two Colorado water utilities last month, tampering with pumping cycles and alarms but not drinking-water quality, underscoring how cyber risk is spreading across U.S. water systems. AI & Energy Costs: The U.S. House advanced the Ratepayer Protection Act, pushing big data centers to cover incremental power and grid upgrade costs so families and small businesses aren’t stuck with the bill. Colorado Recycling Fight: Colorado’s top environmental regulator urged a judge to reject a wholesalers group’s bid to block the state’s recycling program. Local Power Reliability: Colorado Springs Utilities is moving ahead with major transmission work to strengthen electric reliability for the city and Fort Carson. Public Health: Pueblo County reported two separate rabies-positive bats and urged pet vaccination and avoiding wildlife contact. State Broadband Strain: Colorado’s BEAD implementation is hitting a wall as state broadband officers juggle shifting guidance, lagging maps, and rising costs. Elections & Policy: Colorado lawmakers and advocates continue pushing for cost-of-living relief and TABOR reform as household finances deteriorate. Business & Growth: Colorado Springs City Council postponed a decision tied to the Project Taurus data center appeals, while Raeden weighs its partnership.

Colorado River & Water Policy: Researchers say data centers aren’t the main driver of Colorado River cuts, but they’re growing fast and do use a lot of water—adding pressure as states face mandated reductions. Local Government & Data Centers: Colorado Springs delayed a vote on Project Taurus, pushing the decision to after the April election amid noise and disruption concerns after a chaotic public hearing. Real Estate & Retail Incentives: Littleton City Council approved a 30-year sales tax incentive for a new Scheels mega-store, a major retail expansion tied to the Mineral Place development. Tech & Infrastructure: Crusoe secured $3.9B to expand modular AI infrastructure, aiming to deploy “truck-ready” data centers faster by building its own power and facilities. Healthcare & Business: Strive Health earned a TIME/Statista HealthTech top ranking for its value-based kidney care platform serving 165,000 patients. Cybersecurity: A surge in airline impersonation scams is targeting travelers on social media to steal credit card details. Agriculture & Markets: Cattle futures fell again as margins softened ahead of the USDA cattle-on-feed report. Energy & Industry Growth: DOE launched a Geothermal Center of Excellence at the National Laboratory of the Rockies in Golden to speed geothermal deployment.

Housing Watch: Colorado’s housing market slid further into a buyer’s market in August as sales fell and marketing times stretched, while prices stayed steady—metro Denver closed sales dropped 14.3% year over year and the median sales price held at $574,000. Energy Policy: The U.S. House passed the Ratepayer Protection Act to push regulators to shield consumers from electricity bill spikes tied to nearby AI data centers, sending it to the Senate after a 417-3 vote. AI Infrastructure Funding: Denver-based Crusoe raised $3.9 billion in a Series F at a $30.9 billion valuation to expand AI “factories” and cloud capacity, citing 6+ gigawatts of contracted capacity. Local Energy Costs: Colorado’s Public Utilities Commission approved Xcel Energy’s $157 million annual electric rate increase, lifting typical residential bills about 4.77%. Environment & Land Use: Colorado agencies asked the Bureau of Land Management to reconsider December oil-and-gas lease parcels overlapping big game habitat and the Roan Plateau, citing wildlife and water-quality concerns. Business & Jobs: MJ Companies’ Denver office earned a spot on Business Insurance’s Best Places to Work in Insurance list. Agave Spirits: Entries opened for the 2026 Tequila Mezcal Challenge in Broomfield, with judging set for Nov. 7–8.

Utility Relief: Xcel Energy filed for Colorado electric rate adjustments that it says will cut residential bills by about $3 per month and small business bills by about $4.72 for the final quarter of 2026. Higher Ed Housing: Colorado Mesa University landed a record $10 million donation from ZOMALAB to build the 288-bed Formation Commons dormitory. Local Economy & Community: Lyons opened Creative Grounds, a renovated Main Street space adding a café, pottery studio, and a youth “third space” for ages 14–21. Water & Industry Pressure: Experts say data centers aren’t the cause of Colorado River cuts in Arizona, but they’re growing fast and do use significant water—adding urgency to how the region manages scarcity. Public Safety Updates: Boulder County reduced unincorporated-area fire restrictions to Stage 1 after improved conditions, while Lyons’ wildfire mitigation rules continue to draw resident debate. Legal & Business Watch: A multi-agency lawsuit targets Amazon over alleged secret ad overcharging, and Arthur J. Gallagher acquired Englewood-based Innovise Business Consultants, focused on construction, energy, real estate, and manufacturing insurance. Tech in Colorado: Splunk used its Denver .conf26 to push agentic AI security and observability upgrades for enterprises.

Water Infrastructure: The 10th Circuit cleared the way for Denver Water to finish and fill its expanded reservoir, keeping the city’s supply project on track. Energy & Climate Courts: Former AG Bill Barr says climate-damage lawsuits could end up helping China and Russia, as the Supreme Court takes up a Boulder County case tied to Suncor and ExxonMobil. Data Centers & Power: Colorado Springs and the broader Front Range keep wrestling with data-center growth; in Colorado Springs, residents and officials are weighing impacts as Project Taurus moves forward, while Lackawanna County hired a Denver firm to study cumulative air and health effects from data centers and power plants. Construction & Permits: CDOT scheduled weekday traffic holds for rock mitigation on US 40 over Berthoud Pass, with up to 20-minute delays. Local Business Expansion: Colorado Springs’ Delta Crown Hair Extensions signed new franchise deals in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Tech & Governance: Brightfin added a new Chief Customer Officer as it pushes agentic AI into regulated workflows with human approval gates. Rural Connectivity: Ooma partnered with Starlink to offer home phone service for remote areas. Agriculture: USDA Deputy Secretary heard farmer concerns about fertilizer markets as antitrust scrutiny ramps up.

Climate & Health: NOAA says this summer was the hottest on record for the contiguous U.S., and a Climate Central analysis links extreme heat to human-driven climate change—meaning Colorado’s drought-and-fire backdrop is getting even more dangerous. Energy Policy: The Trump administration is weighing expanded oil and gas leasing beneath Utah’s Ouray National Wildlife Refuge, using “no surface occupancy” directional drilling to open 5,200 acres for development. Elections & Law: DOJ is investigating election practices in multiple states, including cases involving people allegedly voting while ineligible, as the administration pushes voter-roll enforcement ahead of November. Colorado Water & Infrastructure: Aurora is moving toward permanent drought rules, including bans on most outdoor spray irrigation and limits on water-intensive landscaping. Local Government & Safety: Boulder County plans prescribed burns on open space lands, with operations starting Wednesday near Lagerman Reservoir. Business & Industry: Premier American Uranium is selling non-core Colorado projects to DISA Uranium for $2 million, with DISA taking an 8.7% stake in PUR. Tech & Power Costs: The U.S. House is fast-tracking a bill to curb data-center-driven power bill hikes tied to AI demand. Consumer & Food: Colorado’s “Tamale Act” raises the home-cook sales cap from $10,000 to $150,000 starting Jan. 1, 2027.

Manufacturing Investment: Coca-Cola says it and bottlers will pour $10B into U.S. infrastructure by 2030, including a Colorado Springs bottling plant and other major production and distribution projects. AI Backlash in Colorado: A new survey finds 81% of Coloradans ages 18–44 have an unfavorable view of artificial intelligence, with women and Democrats more likely to oppose it. Local Housing & Tourism Oversight: Chaffee County commissioners heard an STR update: 286 active licensed rentals, 17 applications pending, and staff pushing for stronger tools to curb unlicensed listings. Workforce Support: Pinnacol Foundation raised nearly $700,000 to help children of Colorado workers seriously injured or killed on the job. Energy & Grid Policy: A federal appeals court ruling undercuts the Trump administration’s “energy emergency” push that kept a Michigan coal plant running, a decision that could affect similar Colorado cases. Public Safety & Courts: A Colorado federal grand jury indicted a Thornton man for interstate threats to kill law enforcement and for ammunition possession by a felon. Denver Business: HW Home opened a 10,000-square-foot flagship showroom at 9+CO in Denver, expanding its fabric and design offerings.

Geothermal Push: The U.S. DOE opened a Geothermal Center of Excellence in Golden to speed up cost-competitive, gigawatt-scale geothermal power, pairing federal labs with industry. Data Center Backlash: In Philadelphia, protesters demanded a moratorium on new AI data centers, adding to a fast-growing national fight over water use and local impacts. Colorado Tech Funding: Grand Junction’s ExoPower won a $1.25M NSF grant to commercialize capacitive wireless mobile charging tech for robotics and future EV charging concepts. Space & Defense Software: Colorado Springs firm Auria signed with Mitsubishi Electric to deliver mission management software for next-gen software-defined satellite communications. Local Water Planning: Castle Rock is asking residents for input as it updates its Water Resources Strategic Master Plan amid drought and growth pressures. Business & Consumer Watch: CBS Colorado reported questions about downtown Denver parking enforcement tied to app-based rates and ticketing. Healthcare Rankings: U.S. News marked 20 years of Best Children’s Hospitals, expanding specialty and behavioral health evaluations. Sports Economy Angle: Colorado Springs bars are gearing up for Broncos-Chiefs crowds, betting game-day demand will keep them busy.

Renewables in the Rockies: JUWI Inc. says it has started commercial operations at its 145 MW Axial Basin Solar Project in Moffat County, owned by Tri-State Generation and Transmission, aiming to power tens of thousands of homes. Healthcare & biotech: Biodesix (Louisville) announced QA/Regulatory VP Brianna Phillips will speak at upcoming RAPS and SOCRA annual meetings. Office market shake-up: Newmark reports about 125,000 sq. ft. of leasing activity at Denver’s 1800 Larimer over the past year, following a lender takeover and renovations. Legal fight with national impact: Colorado is among states suing to block a new federal “public charge” rule that would let immigration officials deny green cards based on use of public benefits. Local dining wins: Boulder’s Casa Juani earned a recommendation in Colorado’s 2026 Michelin Guide. Business growth: MAG Capital Partners bought a 45,583 sq. ft. Denver industrial facility at 3939 Kearney St., fully leased as an HVAC services HQ. Workforce & training: An HVAC contractors forum in Denver focused on financial strategy as labor costs and reporting demands rise.