AGP Executive Report

Housing affordability squeeze: A new decade-in-review analysis finds U.S. home values have jumped more than 81% since 2016—far outpacing wage growth (+47%)—leaving affordability worse even as price growth cools somewhat by 2025. Mortgage pressure: Freddie Mac says 30-year fixed mortgage rates climbed to 6.51% this week, the highest since August 2025, with uncertainty tied to the U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict. Utah broadband push: Utah Broadband is using $23M in USDA loan/grant funding to build 315 miles of fiber in rural Cache Valley and parts of Box Elder, targeting areas where most households lack reliable high-speed service. Local tourism playbook: Grand County approved an extra $236K for a summer Moab marketing push aimed at flattening the usual June–August booking dip. Memorial Day pet risk: A national analysis flags Utah as among the states most at risk for lost dogs over the holiday weekend. Park City pay debate: Park City approved higher salaries for elected officials, with the mayor’s pay rising to $149,397 and council members to $88,064.

Higher Ed Leadership: Utah’s Board of Higher Education unanimously picked Chris Mallett as the next president of Weber State University, tapping a Utah-rooted leader with experience at Northeastern and Western Governors University. Water Crisis Response: Gov. Spencer Cox issued a statewide drought emergency, activating the state emergency plan, directing agencies to follow the weekly water guide, and urging cities and water suppliers to tighten local conservation rules. AI Data Center Backlash: A new poll finds Utah voters are split but lean against Box Elder County’s Stratos Project, with concerns about water, energy, and local control driving opposition. Energy & Permitting Pushback: Cox also pushed against federal red tape that slows major energy projects, arguing permitting is stuck in overly long reviews. Public Safety & Justice: A restitution payment in a porch-pirate sting finally arrived a decade late, highlighting how hard it can be to collect court-ordered restitution. Business & Mobility: bp pulse opened Utah’s first EV charging hub near the Salt Lake City airport, adding 24 ultra-fast chargers.

Geothermal Push: Fervo Energy’s Cape Station geothermal project in Beaver County is moving toward first power in 2026, targeting 100 MW by early 2027 and 500 MW by 2028—aimed at powering roughly 355,000 homes a year. Housing & Self-Reliance: Community Action Services and Food Bank is renovating the HART Apartment Complex in Provo into six furnished transitional units for families, with a $10,000 donation from the Utah Central Association of Realtors helping fund efficiency upgrades. Health-Care Fraud Case: A federal case alleges a former health payment CEO stole about $30 million through embezzlement and risky trades, including luxury purchases. Mental Health Access: Intermountain Health opened a new Behavioral Health Center at Alta View Hospital in Sandy, doubling beds to 56 and expanding local care starting in June. Drought Pressure: Utah’s governor declared a statewide drought emergency as 100% of the state faces severe conditions. Data Center Backlash: County officials are set for a public meeting on data-center rules, while Utah’s broader fight over massive AI data centers keeps heating up.

Great Salt Lake Watch: A fresh water-rights filing tied to a proposed northern Utah mega data center is reigniting fears for the Great Salt Lake, with opponents saying even a smaller 11 acre-feet request could be used to build toward the larger project plan backed by Kevin O’Leary. Travel & Airports: St. George Regional Airport is set for a short runway/taxiway disruption—Runway 01/19 will close July 28–Aug. 1, 2026—while the airport rehabilitates aging taxiway pavement. Retail Expansion: Trader Joe’s says it’s adding 25 new stores across 14 states this year, including a West Jordan location, with opening dates still to be set. Tech & Energy: Utah’s geothermal push gets a boost as the Mountain West Geothermal Consortium lines up with neighboring states to streamline development. Sports: Utah’s Park City boys lacrosse is one win from the 5A title after a 12-6 win, while the NHL playoffs narrow to four teams heading into conference finals.

Education & Workforce: Russell County High School’s JAG program just brought home national honors from Utah, placing 10th in both the LOVE Project and Business Plan competitions, winning a Digital Outstanding Chapter Award, and crowning Jayden Huffman as the first national champion in Financial Budget Development. Historic Preservation: The National Trust for Historic Preservation named 11 U.S. sites—including Utah’s President’s House Site and the Stonewall National Monument—as “most endangered” for 2026, tied to America’s 250th anniversary and the push to protect equality stories. Consumer Privacy: California’s new “Right to Delete” system now lets residents send one request to remove data from registered brokers, with enforcement ramping up later this year. Local Business & Community: Wasatch Food Co-op opened in Salt Lake City after nearly 18 years of planning, aiming to keep more dollars local with a growing member base and local sourcing. Tourism & Transit: Grand County voted to commit $500,000 toward an Arches shuttle pilot as timed-entry reservations are set to end for 2026.

Politics & Power: Trump’s latest purge targets Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy after his impeachment vote, with the message to GOP lawmakers: fall in line or get primaried. Courts & Privacy: California’s Supreme Court says people can sue over medical data breaches without proving who actually viewed their records, even as it narrowed one student’s case. Tech & Kids: Senators are pushing a crackdown on AI companion chatbots, aiming to bar them for minors amid fears of emotional manipulation and self-harm encouragement. Utah Business & Community: Bank of Utah is back with its 7th annual “My Utah” photo contest, running through July 6. Sports: NBA draft talk is heating up around Giannis and other stars, while Utah’s high school scene is in full swing with lacrosse semifinals setting up state-title matchups. Public Safety: Washington road deaths fell again in 2025, continuing a downward trend.

Data Center Fight in Utah: The Stratos hyperscale project in Box Elder County is back in the spotlight after new reporting and scientists’ calculations warn the plan could dramatically alter local temperatures and stress the Great Salt Lake ecosystem—while critics say the approval process moved fast, with little public input and limited environmental review. Local Government & Power: Opponents argue the project’s backing includes semi-secret state authority that can weaken local land-use and taxing control, turning a local vote into a broader democracy and accountability fight. Business & Tech: Salt Lake City is also modernizing utility operations, selecting Systems & Software to unify billing, field work, customer self-service, meter data, and payments. Sports Betting Fallout: A lawsuit by Brendan Sorsby against the NCAA could reshape how courts handle athlete eligibility after gambling rules—raising stakes for college sports nationwide. Retail Watch: Kwik Trip keeps stacking awards for best gas-station food, while Target continues expanding store footprints.

Data Center Fight: A new water-right transfer application has surfaced for Kevin O’Leary’s proposed Stratos hyperscale data center in Box Elder County, adding fresh fuel to the backlash over Great Salt Lake impacts—after an earlier, much larger water request was withdrawn. Local Energy Shift: Even as federal clean-power plans stall, a coalition of conservative Utah communities is pushing more renewables onto the grid by 2030, betting local action can outpace Washington. Business & Growth: Qualtrics is buying Press Ganey Forsta for $6.75B, a major Utah tech deal tied to healthcare experience data and AI-ready platforms. Consumer/Operations: Dry Box expanded in Salt Lake City with refrigerated containers for rent or purchase, aiming to help food and event businesses handle cold storage without building new space. Sports & Culture: The Smashing Pumpkins announced the fall “Rats in a Cage” tour, with a Salt Lake City stop on Oct. 29.

Data Center Firestorm: Box Elder County’s commission has approved the Stratos hyperscale project—about 40,000 acres and 9 gigawatts of power—without a public hearing, and critics say the rush plus MIDA’s semi-secret authority is a betrayal of local democracy. Environmental Alarm: Scientists warn the facility’s waste heat and water needs could push parts of Utah toward “Sahara-like” conditions, worsen Great Salt Lake impacts, and intensify dust and wildlife harm. Political Backlash: Opposition drew chants of “People over Profit!” and national attention, while supporters like former Rep. Jason Chaffetz argue it’s a net positive for jobs and Hill Air Force Base. Policy Context: The week also spotlighted Utah’s broader infrastructure and governance pressures—from Provo shifting toward smaller lots to keep up with growth, to federal moves reshaping land and oversight.

Data Center Backlash Escalates: A hyperscale Stratos project in Box Elder County is still drawing fire after reports say commissioners approved it without a public hearing, while scientists warn the heat and power demand could dramatically worsen local conditions near the Great Salt Lake. Political Pressure Point: The fight is also turning personal—an investor behind the project publicly labeled Utah activists as “cells” or “proxies,” sparking a fresh round of debate over foreign influence and who gets a say. Legal Showdown: Porn giant Aylo sued Utah over the state’s tougher age-verification rules for adult sites, arguing states can’t enforce requirements beyond their borders. Utah Courts: A West Jordan man was found guilty in federal court for selling homemade drug kits used to make opiate “tea.” Money Skills Spotlight: Utah high schoolers are getting national attention for financial literacy requirements tied to graduation. Sports: Donovan Mitchell and the Cavaliers punched their ticket to the NBA Eastern Conference finals with a Game 7 rout of Detroit.

Data Center Clash: Box Elder County commissioners have moved the Stratos hyperscale project forward fast—no public hearing, no meaningful environmental review—despite a growing backlash over secrecy, local power being stripped, and fears the 9-gigawatt build could radically worsen Utah’s already-stressed climate and Great Salt Lake impacts. Public Safety & Health: A measles outbreak that began in Texas has now spread into Mexico, where officials report thousands of cases and dozens of deaths, underscoring how quickly vaccine gaps can turn into catastrophe. Housing Pressure: New analysis says most Americans can’t afford new homes, with many states seeing 80%+ of households priced out—fueling pressure on builders and policymakers. Energy & Jobs: Utah’s geothermal momentum continues as Fervo’s IPO highlights a push to make round-the-clock clean power more mainstream. Politics Watch: Supreme Court redistricting rulings are keeping Republicans positioned for major House gains, while Utah’s own data-center fight is becoming a proxy battle over democracy and control.

Data Center Fight: Box Elder County’s Stratos hyperscale project is still roiling Utah politics, with critics warning of major water and heat impacts and supporters pushing jobs and national-security claims—while Kevin O’Leary escalated the dispute on Fox News by saying he’ll publish IRS Form 990 documents alleging opponents are tied to China. National Politics: Across the U.S., Republicans are positioned for major House gains as court rulings and new congressional maps reshape the 2026 battlefield. Energy & Tech: JCB unveiled a 32-foot hydrogen-powered vehicle aimed at a land-speed record at Utah’s Bonneville Salt Flats, reviving the hydrogen race for headlines. Community & Culture: Kilby Block Party 7 is back, with organizers projecting a crowd near 90,000 over three days. Utah Outdoors: Wasatch Back leaders urged residents to engage with the 2034 Winter Games, arguing the region can’t afford to sit out again. Public Health: Blackstone Parmesan Ranch seasoning was recalled nationwide over possible salmonella contamination.

Data Center Backlash in Box Elder: Utah’s hyperscale Stratos project is now colliding with a louder, more organized fight—scientists are warning the facility’s heat and power needs could reshape local climate, while residents say the approval process moved too fast and with too little public input. Democracy vs. Secrecy: Critics point to MIDA’s unusual authority and the lack of meaningful hearings as the real flashpoint, turning a land-use vote into a trust-in-government showdown. Public Health Watch: A nationwide recall hit Walmart shelves—Blackstone Parmesan Ranch seasoning blends were pulled over possible Salmonella exposure tied to recalled dry milk powder. Community Services: In Provo, the Food & Care Coalition is expanding mental health support through Wasatch Behavioral Health’s WATCH program, aiming to help people move into permanent housing. Rural Delivery Race: Walmart and Amazon are pushing faster delivery into rural America, betting on untapped demand.

Data Center Backlash: Box Elder County’s Stratos hyperscale project is moving forward after a fast, no-public-hearing approval—while critics warn the plan could trigger major environmental harm and deepen distrust in local decision-making. Water Rights Fight: One landowner tied to the project, Bar H Ranch Inc., has withdrawn a water-rights reallocation application after thousands of protests, but says it plans to refile soon. Public Pressure Escalates: The project has also sparked national attention, including investor Kevin O’Leary calling out Utah groups as “proxies” for China—fueling a fresh round of debate over transparency and who benefits. Local Business Wins: Trove broke ground on a third Lehi headquarters building, adding 100,000 square feet for its growing team. Tech & Defense: Lockheed Martin invested $25M in Lindon’s Fortem Technologies to scale counter-drone security. Policy & People: Utah’s SBA drought disaster loans are now available statewide for eligible small businesses and nonprofits. Quick Hits: JCB unveiled a hydrogen-powered Hydromax aimed at a new speed record; Utah’s kratom rules tightened with new “pure leaf” requirements.

Hyperscale Data Center Backlash: Box Elder County commissioners approved the Stratos hyperscale project in Hansel Valley with little public input, and Utah scientists are now warning the facility’s massive power draw and waste heat could dramatically shift local temperatures—raising fresh alarms about impacts on the Great Salt Lake ecosystem and environmental oversight. Cybercrime Focus: A new national study released on National Senior Fraud Awareness Day says Utah ranks near the very bottom for protecting seniors from scams, citing rising sophistication and digital targeting. Local Business & Talent: Duncan Aviation is tackling the aviation maintenance talent gap with high school outreach and on-site work-study exposure. Park City Growth Debate: Park City Mountain’s proposed ski lift upgrades face scrutiny over traffic and parking, even as supporters argue the changes improve access for adaptive athletes. Workplace Recognition: Mountain America Credit Union earned a statewide award for its workplace culture and professional development for Hispanic employees.

Data Center Backlash in Utah: Box Elder County’s Stratos hyperscale project is now facing fresh fire after reports say it was approved with little public input and minimal environmental review, while scientists warn the power and waste-heat demands could dramatically shift local temperatures and strain the Great Salt Lake ecosystem. Democracy vs. Secrecy: Protesters and critics argue the deal’s speed and the role of Utah’s semi-secret MIDA authority are undermining local control and trust. National Pressure Point: A new Gallup poll finds 71% of Americans oppose new AI data centers near them, with energy and water use leading concerns. Local Tech Push (Counterpoint): Meanwhile, XRDNA and the University of Utah announced a multi-year defense and aerospace research partnership. Other Utah Notes: Oakley extended its AI data-center moratorium to April 2027, and Utah leaders marked Deer Creek Dam upgrade completion.