AGP Executive Report

SNAP Court Fight: A federal judge blocked the Trump administration’s effort to let states restrict SNAP purchases of soda and candy, ruling USDA lacked authority to change Congress’s definition of “food,” a setback for the “Make America Healthy Again” push that could have hit millions in Colorado and four other states. Energy Costs & Solar Access: A new “balcony solar” approach is gaining attention as a lower-cost way to generate power for renters and homeowners, aiming to blunt rising electricity bills. Colorado Roads: CDOT says resurfacing on US 40 in Fraser Flats starts June 29 with up to 20-minute delays, plus guardrail and striping work. Local Business & Community: Anythink Libraries opens its free Community Concert Series across Northglenn, Arvada and Thornton, while the Cross Orchards Farmers Market returns June 27 for weekly summer shopping. Industry Recognition: Johnson Storage & Moving, a Denver-founded logistics firm, earned a spot on SuperMoves’ Fortune 30 list of moving and storage companies. Tech & Materials: Ferric announced ISO 9001:2015 certification as it advances integrated voltage regulator tech for next-gen computing systems.

Local Infrastructure & Housing Finance: Aurora City Council approved three bond measure questions totaling $264 million under Build Up Aurora, sending them to voters Nov. 3; the plan funds 65 projects across public safety, transportation, and community facilities, including traffic calming, signal upgrades, and a police station facility. Energy & Environment Grants: Gov. Polis and the Colorado Energy Office announced $30 million in grants for 18 local and tribal governments to cut emissions and improve air quality through building, land use, transportation, and waste projects. Aerospace Deal: MDA Space will buy Lafayette-based Blue Canyon Technologies for $620 million from Raytheon, expanding Colorado’s defense space manufacturing footprint. Construction Safety: OSHA is investigating the death of a worker at the Denver Broncos’ new training facility; the contractor says the victim was employed by a subcontractor. Water Costs for New Builds: Denver Water raised tap fees via a higher System Development Charge starting July 1, a roughly 30% jump tied to drought conditions. Data Centers & Power/Water Pressure: Colorado Springs residents filed appeals against Project Taurus, challenging administrative approval and raising concerns about electricity demand and utility impacts. Workforce & Youth Housing: The Launchpad in Colorado Springs marked a year of helping 18–24-year-olds move out of homelessness, including construction trades training graduates. Business & Procurement Reform: Denver is considering “best-value” contracting to weigh factors beyond lowest price, including safety, workforce practices, and past performance.

Front Range Rail Push: Littleton’s mayor backed the Front Range Passenger Rail District’s “Colorado Connector” stop at RTD’s Mineral Station, citing potential 25-year station-area grants tied to voter-approved funding. Local Energy & Land Use: Erie’s town council is set to reconsider a vote on selling municipal mineral rights tied to SM Energy’s “Draco Pad” oil-and-gas project, after residents raised concerns about property values, health, and the environment. Defense Tech in Colorado: The U.S. Army moved Next Generation Command and Control from validation toward delivery by setting a common data layer baseline, with Anduril leading and Palantir and Raft partnering. Colorado Business & Waste: WM completed its acquisition of HBS Trash Services’ Colorado residential and commercial operations, keeping contractor and roll-off services while shifting HBS back toward home-building customers. Energy Costs: Xcel Energy urged Coloradans to cut summer electricity bills through thermostat settings, efficient cooling habits, and simple upgrades like LED bulbs and filter changes. Public Health Watch: Residents near the Lincoln Park/Cotter Colorado Superfund site reported mixed private-well results, with some uranium readings above federal limits. Global Trade Tensions: China announced export curbs on 10 U.S. military-related firms and procurement restrictions on 46 companies after U.S. defense blacklist moves.

Energy & Trade Tensions: China announced sanctions on 10 U.S. military-related companies and said it will block exports of “dual-use” items tied to drones and some rare earth mining, while also restricting U.S. company purchases by Chinese government entities—another escalation in the tech-and-defense tit-for-tat. AI Data Centers & Power Costs: U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor filed the Ratepayer Protection Act, aiming to stop utility regulators from letting families and small businesses pay for new power plants and grid upgrades needed for AI data centers; Colorado GOP Gabe Evans backed the consumer-protection push. Water Infrastructure: Breckenridge is holding public meetings on its Silver Queen waterline replacement and extension, a 16-inch main project meant to boost reliability and pressure ahead of planned treatment plant work. Local Resilience: A Colorado nonprofit is organizing mountain pine beetle removal on private land to slow spread and reduce wildfire risk. Agriculture Impacts: Fruit farmers in Colorado are still dealing with fallout from an April freeze that wiped out crops and forced difficult financial decisions. Construction & Transportation: Crews continue work on the I-70 Exit 203 interchange in Frisco, with overnight Dillon Dam Road closures for stormwater line installation. Community & Events: The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb crowned new record-setting drivers, including Dan Novembre in Open Wheel and Emelia Hartford as fastest female.

Energy & Grid Modernization: Platte River Power Authority is partnering with EnergyHub to build a virtual power plant, linking customer devices like smart thermostats and EV chargers to help balance renewables while keeping the grid reliable. Space & R&D: NASA’s JPL is running desert tests of ERNEST, a rover prototype designed to drive farther and handle steep, obstacle-heavy terrain for future Moon and Mars missions. Public Safety & Infrastructure: Timberline Fire Protection District opened a new Fire Station 3 after renovating the old Fritz Peak Observatory into a full fire station with ADA upgrades, vehicle bays, and wildfire response gear. Renewables Policy Backdrop: A Colorado renewable energy lab is facing tough times amid political pressure and renaming/reshuffling that critics say slows momentum for clean power research. Transportation Funding Debate: Colorado lawmakers passed a roads funding adjustment tied to a ballot measure, but critics argue it largely protects other General Fund programs instead of delivering new highway money. Water & Efficiency: New data shows U.S. homes cut indoor water use by 43% over three decades, driven mainly by more efficient fixtures and appliances. Wildlife & Tourism: Sandhill cranes keep drawing visitors to rural Colorado, but drought risks threaten both the birds and local businesses. Local Education: Colorado Connections Academy honored about 364 graduates statewide, including students from Kit Carson County, with scholarships and college/career plans.

Energy & Environment: A massive federal oil-and-gas lease sale in Colorado is drawing backlash after critics say it overlaps winter habitat and migration corridors for the nation’s largest elk herd, with concerns also raised about dark-sky tourism and rare species. Water Infrastructure: Rural Colorado communities are facing repeated water failures tied to aging pipes and limited emergency storage, with recent outages in places like Victor and Walsenburg highlighting how drought pressure meets infrastructure fragility. Defense Tech: At Camp Shelby, Army Reserve tech teams evaluated counter-drone systems and fire-control tech using commercial and next-gen hardware as part of a large-scale readiness exercise. Space & Science: NASA advanced a Mars rover prototype that can lift its wheels to climb obstacles, after testing in the Colorado Desert. Local Business & Safety: Thornton’s Pre Action Fire expanded 24/7 fire alarm monitoring for commercial properties, touting NICET-certified staff and real-time alerting. Arts & Culture: The Denver Art Museum announced a new exhibition on John E. Thompson and Colorado Modernism, running through summer 2028.

Energy & Water Policy: Erie Town Council may reverse a split vote on a deal tied to SM Energy’s Draco oil-and-gas project, with a reconsideration meeting set for June 23. Climate & Infrastructure: Forecasters warn El Niño could worsen long-term drought risk as data centers expand across the U.S., raising fresh pressure on already-stressed water supplies. Power Reliability: Xcel Energy’s coal transition plans face delays as outages and repair needs keep units running longer than expected, including Comanche 3 and other coal assets. Housing & Local Growth: A new Colorado law is empowering local governments to support housing development, while Colorado Springs weighs next steps on police oversight and tax-related measures. Cannabis Industry: A new global review argues the key question is how cannabis is regulated—not whether it changes—while Colorado’s adult-use market continues to generate major tax revenue. Agriculture: After a fruit crop loss, North Fork farmers look to what’s next, as drought and freeze damage continue to challenge Colorado winter wheat production. Community Leadership: Leadership Northern Colorado will graduate its 16th class June 23 with a leadership-focused keynote in Severance.

Colorado Energy & Housing Policy: The U.S. DOJ is weighing a Statement of Interest in a Denver-area lawsuit over Colorado and Denver building energy performance standards, arguing federal law preempts local rules—another sign the state’s electrification push is headed for a legal fight. Water & Local Government: Dove Creek is switching drinking-water sources after a state enforcement order over contaminant levels; the town says it will move to Montezuma Water Company on July 13, but residents are already upset over the price increase and even closed Town Hall amid threats. Transportation & Construction: CDOT says traffic holds on Vail Pass won’t derail the busy Fourth of July weekend, even as West Vail Pass auxiliary lane work continues. Business & Industry: MDA Space signed a deal to buy RTX’s Blue Canyon Technologies for $620M, aiming to expand U.S. satellite component manufacturing. Public Safety & Community: A Fort Collins family is celebrating after a son donated stem cells to save his father’s life from leukemia.

Aerospace & Defense Deal: MDA Space has signed a definitive agreement to buy RTX’s Blue Canyon Technologies for $620 million, adding Denver-area manufacturing and 400+ jobs while boosting its U.S. defense space pipeline by about $3.5 billion. Energy Policy & Courts: A judge restored $82.1 million in cancelled DOE clean-energy grants, including projects tied to Colorado, after plaintiffs argued the cancellations violated equal protection and free speech. Oil & Gas on Public Lands: The BLM held one of Colorado’s biggest recent oil-and-gas lease sales, covering 134,173 acres and raising $35 million, with Mesa County parcels drawing bids from the $10 minimum up to $311 per acre. Water & Agriculture: Grand Valley irrigators voluntarily cut usage to build storage and help upstream users during historic drought, allowing Colorado River District releases from Wolford Reservoir to delay senior water calls. Infrastructure: CDOT road work in Mesa County is progressing on the I-70 Business Loop, with lane closures and zipper-merge guidance as crews install waterline and storm drainage. Community & Food Security: Mesa County summer hunger relief ramps up with nearly 19 meal sites plus library and backpack programs for kids when school meals pause. Tourism & Recreation: Hanging Lake Trail in Glenwood Canyon fully reopened after reconstruction following the Grizzly Creek Fire and flooding, with reservation-based access returning.

Weather & Water: El Niño is pushing a hot, dry pattern across the U.S. West and parts of the South, with wildfire risk rising toward Colorado and the northern Rockies, while drought is expected to persist through summer. Energy & Utilities: Colorado Springs Utilities says demand stayed within system limits during a heat wave, but it’s seeing record interest in its Peak Energy Rewards thermostat rebate program; the utility is also proposing new billing options for solar customers that could raise bills by about $30/month. Space & Defense: Schriever Space Force Base is planning for growth as Space Force expands, with new buildings and nearby housing on the agenda. Health & Innovation: Craig Hospital is joining SCI Ventures as an alliance partner to speed new therapies for spinal cord injury. AI & Privacy: A new debate is emerging over “neural data” in education tech and whether schools could someday infer students’ mental states. Local Growth & Housing: Littleton’s 1st Street Farms—backed by Peyton Manning—plans to break ground this fall, adding a restaurant, event venue, green space, trails, and a youth sports field. Construction & Legal: Colorado mine and I-70 contractor disputes are headed back into court after claims of permitting delays and a $1.3M subcontract damages verdict.

K-12 Cybersecurity: FETC 2027 named IT Leaders Featured Speakers as schools face rising cyber threats and shrinking federal support. Labor & Courts: A Colorado hotel operator won an early edge in an H-2B housekeepers wage suit, while a shuttered Colorado security firm agreed to pay $85K to settle overtime and meal-break claims. Construction & Safety: Fort Collins crews will shift lanes for concrete repairs starting June 22, and OSHA is investigating a construction worker death at the Denver Broncos’ new training facility. Wildfire Preparedness: Leadville and Salida ranger districts entered Stage 1 fire restrictions through Aug. 1. Water & Energy: Lake Mead projections suggest an accelerating drop, and Colorado Springs continues to weigh data-center growth against water and power constraints. Business Moves: Moeris acquired Stay Safe Traffic Control to expand work-zone safety services in the Southeast. Industry & Health: A Colorado-based biomaterials firm won a NeoCon sustainability award for its Shoreline Flooring Collection.

Aviation & Manufacturing: Bye Aerospace says it’s only weeks from the first flight of its all-electric eFlyer 2 trainer at its Centennial-area site, aiming for faster certification and more pilot training capacity. Energy & Utilities: Colorado Springs Utilities is proposing changes to solar net metering for new customers—either a grid access fee under Energy Wise rates or a demand charge—potentially raising bills about $30/month. Public Safety & Construction: A worker was found dead in a confined ceiling area at the Denver Broncos’ $175M practice facility; Turner Construction has paused work pending investigation. Water & Climate: State and federal water managers expect a “Super El Niño” to boost Colorado monsoon moisture this summer, though it won’t end the drought. Housing & Community Services: Family Life Services in Colorado Springs broke ground on an expansion that will more than double transitional housing for single moms. Land & Energy Leasing: The Colorado BLM’s June oil-and-gas lease sale pulled in $35.26M across 147 parcels. Local Business & Culture: Denver’s Mecca Sports Bar can reopen after a settlement, with a $5,000 fine and added employee training.

Defense Manufacturing: Beehive Industries says it’s boosting production of its Frenzy™ 8 3D-printed jet engines with a $50M investment in EOS metal additive manufacturing—30 EOS M4 ONYX systems headed to its Colorado and Tennessee sites. Aviation Innovation: Bye Aerospace is nearing eFlyer 2 first flight, rolling out supplier and tech partners for its all-electric, FAA-certified 2-seat training aircraft. Workplace Safety: A construction worker died after being found unresponsive in a confined ceiling space at the Denver Broncos’ new training facility, prompting emergency response and a site investigation. Commercial Real Estate: CoStar faces another antitrust lawsuit alleging price-fixing of commercial rents, with a Denver tenant claiming “artificially inflated” rates tied to near-real-time lease data. Utilities & Affordability: Colorado regulators heard public comment on Xcel Energy’s electric rate case, where a proposed settlement would cut the original increase and still mean about a 5.86% monthly bill hike for average customers. Broadband: Kenergy’s Connect fiber network hit 15,000 subscribers, expanding high-speed access across western Kentucky. Housing Finance: Housing Resources of Western Colorado won a 9% Low-Income Housing Tax Credit for Crawford Commons, a 60-unit affordable project in Clifton.

SNAP & Food Security: Michigan AG Dana Nessel joined a coalition of 22 attorneys general urging Congress to restore SNAP benefits and block new Farm Bill cuts, warning the changes would increase hunger and push costs onto states. Education & Housing: Roaring Fork Schools wrapped the 2025-26 year with a new board president, approved the 2026-27 budget, and advanced a staff housing proposal in El Jebel. Public Safety: U.S. Highway 6 reopened between Rifle and Silt after a small grass fire near Powerline Road caused brief closures and power outages. Local Business: Denver’s IronCrest Painting completed its rebrand from Leo’s Painting Solutions while continuing interior, exterior, commercial, and cabinet painting services. Defense & Manufacturing: GM Defense is in talks with Lockheed Martin on scaling munitions production, as the federal government leans on the Defense Production Act. Healthcare Costs: Colorado received FDA approval to import lower-cost prescription drugs from Canada, a move aimed at saving patients money. Energy, Water & Planning: Colorado Springs’ Project Taurus data center cleared an administrative step, but residents can appeal, keeping a monthslong review in play. Workplace Tragedy: A construction worker died at the Broncos’ $175M training facility site; work was suspended pending an investigation. Housing Pressure: Manitou Springs officials are trying to address a growing “can’t afford to live here” problem tied to limited infrastructure and rising costs. Drought & Health: A new national drought snapshot shows nearly half the U.S. in drought, raising risks from drinking water quality to wildfire smoke and heat illness. Sports & Community: Colorado Eagles assistant coach Kim Weiss is set to become head coach of a new PWHL Las Vegas team.

Defense & Space: Space Force finalized a $514M Lockheed Martin contract modification to produce GPS IIIF Space Vehicles 23 and 24, boosting anti-jamming capability for the next-gen positioning network. Energy & Water: Colorado Springs Utilities says drought is hitting watersheds hard, with water yield projected at 41% of average, while rafting outfitters plan to keep trips running by adjusting itineraries. Housing & Construction: Colorado streamlined rules for modular and factory-built homes, with new statewide standards taking effect June 30 to cut red tape and speed affordability. Wildfire Resilience: A microgrid advocate argues communities need faster, practical grid-hardening options now, not years from “bury the lines” alone. Local Governance & Infrastructure: Colorado’s drought and housing pressures show up in execution—like Colorado Springs Utilities’ conservation push and statewide modular rule changes—while communities also fund upgrades such as LED signage and safer facilities. Industry & Jobs: Frontier’s growth after Spirit’s collapse is mapped through schedule data, while Colorado’s online school graduation highlights continued workforce pipeline efforts. Agriculture & Compliance: A Colorado grand jury indicted seven in a Basalt-linked drug operation, and an FDA inspection in Weld County found one food/cosmetics firm needed voluntary corrective action.

Energy & Utilities: Colorado Springs Utilities’ Energy Wise summer rates kick in June 1, shifting customers to higher on-peak pricing (5 p.m.–9 p.m. weekdays) and lower off-peak rates to cut bills. Workplace & Courts: Colorado’s Supreme Court ruled workers can use self-defense at work even with “don’t chase or confront” policies, while federal cases move forward on issues ranging from Haitian meatpacking workers’ discrimination claims to Amazon workers’ unpaid COVID screening suit and an EEOC deal over a no-beard policy. Wildfire Insurance: New Colorado law takes effect July 1 requiring insurers to be more transparent about wildfire risk models and giving homeowners a chance to appeal scores. Data Centers & Water: Neighbors in Colorado Springs are preparing appeals after planning approval for Project Taurus, citing power, water, and noise concerns; across the West, Lake Mead is projected to sink back to record lows, underscoring pressure on Colorado River supplies. AI Infrastructure Funding: Boulder-based Hydra Host raised $100M to help data centers pool and manage GPUs for AI workloads. Housing & Community: Denver-area residents protested teardown activity in Virginia Village as investors pursue duplex development near Colorado Boulevard, and families at George Washington High School urged faster funding for aging athletic facilities. Food & Industry Recognition: Colorado chefs and restaurants continued to rack up James Beard honors, including Penelope Wong’s win for Best Chef: Mountain.