AGP Executive Report

NBA Playoffs: Victor Wembanyama is rewriting the “rookie growing pains” script, posting a monster Game 1 (41 points, 24 rebounds) as the Spurs push deep into the Western Conference finals—while rival teams start plotting how to slow him down. Utah Sports (Prep + BYU): Box Elder forces a Game 3 in the 5A softball title series with a 2-1 win over No. 1 Salem Hills, and BYU adds transfer middle blocker KJ Burgess to its women’s volleyball roster. Housing + Community: Hunt Capital Partners and CJM Development Group open Homestead Landing in Price with 168 affordable apartments for households up to 60% of area median income. Local Culture: Salt Lake County’s America250 CANstruction brings 27,994 canned-food sculptures to public buildings through July, with donations benefiting the Utah Food Bank. Business/Tech: ProSat Networks expands Starlink installation and managed wireless/IT services across Utah.

Military Funding Pitch: Army Secretary Dan Driscoll told senators Utah’s data center plans are part of how the service wants to “innovate” its spending, even as GOP leaders questioned whether the proposal is too one-time and too vulnerable to budget delays. Drought Emergency: Gov. Spencer Cox declared a statewide drought emergency, unlocking emergency coordination and pushing weekly watering rules and conservation plans. Higher Ed Shakeup: Weber State’s board unanimously picked Chris Mallett as the next president, while Mountainland and Bridgerland technical college presidents stepped down the same week. AI Data Center Backlash: A new poll finds Utah voters are split but lean against Box Elder’s proposed “Stratos Project,” with water and energy concerns driving opposition. School Culture Fight: House Republicans advanced a bill tying federal school funding to parental consent for changes to gender markers, pronouns, and names. Sports & Music: Zach Top announced his 2026 “Cold Beer & Country Music” tour with a Salt Lake City stop, and UCF kept rolling toward the Women’s College World Series after a regional win.

High School Sports Spotlight: Provo’s 4A girls lacrosse run ends with a 14-3 loss to Bear River, but the Bulldogs still celebrate a 19-2 season and another finals trip. More Lacrosse Drama: Skyridge falls 8-7 in overtime to Riverton for the 6A girls title, while Riverton also edges out Provo-area rivals in tight postseason matchups. Big-Time College Sports: BYU’s baseball season takes a hit as Baylor knocks the Cougars out of the Big 12 Tournament, and the NCAA hoops world keeps buzzing over eligibility—LSU’s Will Wade signs former St. John’s star RJ Luis Jr., who’s currently not eligible. Utah Health & Community: Intermountain Health opens a new Behavioral Health Center at Alta View Hospital in Sandy, adding beds and aiming to cut access barriers. Utah Policy Watch: Utah declares a statewide drought emergency as 100% of the state sits in severe drought, with emergency coordination and water-use reductions encouraged. Entertainment & Culture: LifeWave’s “Code of Creation” wins two Telly Awards, adding to its festival momentum.

Tour News: Post Malone just added major momentum to his BIG ASS World Tour with Australia and New Zealand dates in October, including Melbourne (Oct. 9), Brisbane (Oct. 12), Sydney (Oct. 15) and Auckland (Oct. 21), with Don Toliver joining at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium and tickets for the new shows going on sale May 28. Sports Fallout: In college hoops, LSU’s Will Wade is getting more heat after the program’s latest move—signing former St. John’s standout RJ Luis Jr.—while the NCAA eligibility debate keeps simmering. Utah Watch: A fresh water-rights filing tied to a proposed northern Utah mega data center is reigniting Great Salt Lake fears, with opponents arguing the smaller request could still be part of the same larger plan. Local Sports: BYU football landed a commitment from Granger High defensive lineman Maa’imoa “Moa” Havili, a late-rising recruit after a showcase surge. Weekend Picks: Memorial Day plans are getting a boost from Utah event roundups, including Southern Utah’s TGIF Show adventure guide.

Local Food Access: Wasatch Food Co-op just opened in Salt Lake City, ending nearly 18 years of planning with a community-owned grocery and a push for local inventory. Water Quality Watch: Utah’s warm, dry winter is raising the odds of harmful algal blooms in the Jordan River, where slow, shallow, heated water can concentrate pollution. Privacy Push: California’s “Right to Delete” system now lets people submit one request to remove data from every registered broker—raising the bar for how states handle personal data. Sports Spotlight: BYU baseball erupted for an 18-8 Big 12 Tournament win over Texas Tech, while Aaron Rodgers says 2026 will be his last NFL season with the Steelers. Utah College Sports: UVU hired Snow College’s Andrew May as assistant coach/offensive coordinator. Entertainment & Faith: Great American Family actress Shae Robins is leaning into family-friendly faith-based storytelling. Business/Legal: A Utah condo builder says its insurer stalled a $1.2M water-damage claim, and lawmakers are also scrutinizing prediction market oversight.

NHL Spotlight: The Vegas Golden Knights open the Western Conference Final against the Colorado Avalanche Wednesday in Denver, with Vegas riding a 4-2 run past the Utah Mammoth and a high-powered offense led by Mitch Marner. Utah Sports: The Utes’ first-ever Big 12 baseball tournament run hit a wall Tuesday as Kansas State broke things open with a four-run eighth to beat Utah 9-5. Local Arts & Culture: “Navajo Highways,” a Navajo-language kids series, earned two Emmy nominations—one for instructional content and another for set design—highlighting Indigenous language and storytelling. Music Buzz: The Hu announced their new album “Hun,” due July 24, with the single “Lost Soul” featuring Jonny Hawkins. Community Heart: Utah’s Survivors at the Summit marks its 30th year this July, bringing cancer survivors and caregivers together at Brighton Resort.

Utah Data Center Fight: A new wave of backlash is building around the Stratos hyperscale data center in Box Elder County, with critics saying it was approved fast and without meaningful public input, while scientists warn the project’s massive power draw and waste heat could push parts of Utah toward “Sahara-like” conditions and worsen Great Salt Lake impacts. College Sports Chaos: Former St. John’s star RJ Luis Jr. has reportedly signed with LSU—but eligibility is the real storyline, since the NCAA generally bars players who signed NBA contracts from returning, setting up a likely legal fight. Sports Business & Local Life: BYU and Utah baseball players cleaned up with Big 12 honors, while Salt Lake’s Bees snapped a series skid and kept rolling at home. Media & Courts: In Utah’s Charlie Kirk case, prosecutors are facing contempt arguments after a judge heard claims about misleading media statements. National Watch: The NHL denied the Vegas Golden Knights’ appeal over media-access sanctions, and Minnesota moved to outlaw prediction markets—prompting a federal lawsuit.

Hyperscale Data Center Fallout: Nevada’s AI-driven data-center boom is now threatening electricity for 49,000 Californians, and the ripple effect is fueling Utah’s own fight over Kevin O’Leary’s Stratos project in Box Elder County—where critics say approvals moved fast, public input was thin, and environmental review is lagging behind the scale of power and heat the facility would generate. Local Governance & Energy: Even as Utah communities push back and demand answers, a separate Utah coalition story highlights how some cities are doubling down on clean power anyway. Courts & Cameras: In Utah, lawyers for Tyler Robinson—accused in the killing of Charlie Kirk—ask a judge to seal parts of a July preliminary hearing after the court rejected a bid to ban news cameras. Public Safety: Across the country, a San Diego mosque attack left three men dead; police say the case is being investigated as a hate crime. Temple Square: Salt Lake City’s new Temple Square Visitors’ Center is now open to the public, with “Inside a Temple” tours requiring reservations.

Starbucks Layoffs: Starbucks says it’s cutting 252 corporate jobs in Seattle, with the first wave starting July 17 and the process finishing by Feb. 1, 2027. Forest Service Shake-Up: The Trump administration is overhauling the U.S. Forest Service—closing many regional offices and cutting research funding—while critics warn public lands won’t be protected. Utah Data Center Firestorm: The Stratos hyperscale project in Box Elder County remains the flashpoint, with renewed national attention on claims it was approved fast, with limited public input, and could worsen heat and Great Salt Lake impacts. Native Culture Spotlight: Hundreds packed BMCC’s Spring Powwow in Pendleton, with 123 dancers and visiting drums bringing generations together. Arts & Live Music: Kilby Block Party keeps growing—this year’s lineup included Lorde—while Dan + Shay announced “The Young Tour” with a Phoenix stop on Nov. 5. Sports: Donovan Mitchell and the Cavaliers punched their ticket to the conference finals after a Game 7 rout of Detroit.

Hyperscale Data Center Backlash: Box Elder County’s Stratos project—backed by Kevin O’Leary—has reignited Utah’s fight over democracy and the environment, with scientists warning the 9-gigawatt plan could turn Hansel Valley into a heat-and-climate problem and critics saying it moved through approval without meaningful public input. Proxy Fight: O’Leary also publicly targeted Utah women behind Elevate Utah, calling them “cells” or “proxies” for China, escalating a national debate over who’s really funding opposition. Legal Fallout: A federal lawsuit seeks $20M over a teen’s park-stabbing case, alleging he was maliciously prosecuted and jailed for 18 months before charges were overturned. Utah in the Spotlight: Utah’s high school financial literacy push earned national praise, while Cedar High teacher Cleve Weaver is retiring as the “last man standing” from his 1993 start. Music: The Smashing Pumpkins announced fall 2026 “Rats In a Cage” tour dates celebrating Mellon Collie’s 30th anniversary.

Utah Data Center Firestorm: Box Elder County commissioners approved the Stratos hyperscale data center in Hansel Valley in a fast, closed-door style vote that critics say bypassed public input and environmental review—while scientists warn the project’s massive power draw and waste heat could seriously disrupt Utah’s climate and Great Salt Lake ecosystem. Local Sports Spotlight: Weber’s Josh Hamblin capped a standout career with a big performance at the 2026 boys state track meet, and Timpview’s boys tennis team rallied for the 5A state title after emotional wins. Community & Family Picks: Central Utah has a full slate of kid-friendly and family events May 17–23, plus the Soldier Hollow Classic Sheepdog Championship returns over Memorial Day weekend. Entertainment: Prime Video’s “Jack Ryan: Ghost War” and Hulu’s “Alien: Romulus” are among the week’s must-watch releases.

Data Center Clash: Kevin O’Leary says he’ll release IRS documents to back claims that Utah groups opposing the Stratos hyperscale project are tied to China—fueling a fresh round of backlash over power, water, and Great Salt Lake impacts. Public Safety: Utah and federal officials are urging bear awareness after record-low snowpack is pushing earlier human-bear encounters. Sports Spotlight: Real Salt Lake grabbed a 2-1 first-leg lead over Colorado in the Rocky Mountain Cup, with Zavier Gozo and Sergi Solans starring. Redistricting Watch: Republicans are positioned for major House gains as court rulings and map redraws reshape the 2026 fight. Community & Culture: Kilby Block Party 7 is in full swing, and Salt Lake City is also seeing a growing push for family-friendly travel upgrades at the airport. Food Recall: Blackstone Parmesan Ranch seasoning is recalled over possible salmonella contamination.

Data Center Backlash: A new wave of outrage is hitting Utah’s Stratos hyperscale data center plan in Box Elder County, with critics saying it was approved without meaningful public input and warning of major environmental fallout, including heat and Great Salt Lake impacts. Local Sports: SUU has named alum Myndee Kay Larsen as its next athletic director after a national search. Public Safety: A 20-year-old Garfield County school employee was arrested and charged with 17 felonies tied to alleged child sexual exploitation. Food Recall: Blackstone Parmesan Ranch seasoning blends are being recalled nationwide over possible Salmonella contamination. Politics: Donald Trump escalated attacks on Sen. Bill Cassidy, calling him disloyal and a “sleazebag.” Utah Economy Watch: Gas prices stay volatile statewide, with diesel and premium deals showing up in multiple counties in the week ending May 9.

Data Center Firestorm: Box Elder County’s Stratos hyperscale project is back in the spotlight after fresh reporting and scientific warnings about massive power demand and heat impacts—while opponents keep pushing for real public input and independent environmental review. Local Power Struggle: The fight is getting personal and political, with land and water-rights questions swirling around the project and officials facing scrutiny over how fast it moved. Courts & Consequences: In Utah, Kouri Darden Richins was sentenced to life without parole in the “black widow” case tied to the fentanyl poisoning of her husband. Sports & Community: Real Salt Lake and Colorado kick off the Rocky Mountain Cup weekend, with RSL Unified and Colorado Unified launching a Special Olympics Unified two-leg matchup at America First Field. Entertainment & Culture: Soundgarden’s European run hit a rough patch on the road, and Eurovision’s final day is set for Vienna after a record boycott wave.

Data Center Fight: Utah’s hyperscale “Stratos” project in Box Elder County is back in the spotlight as critics say it was rushed through with little public input and could worsen Great Salt Lake conditions—while lawmakers and scientists warn the power demand and heat waste could reshape local climate. Sports Biz & Local Buzz: The Utah Jazz are turning the NBA Combine into a youth event with a first-of-its-kind “Jazz Skill Lab,” and draft talk is heating up after Utah moved to No. 2—plus the NFL is pushing back on claims the Vrabel-Russini scandal affected Patriots scheduling. BYU Football: Bear Bachmeier lands on Athlon’s 2026 College Football Preview cover, continuing BYU’s recent run of national spotlight. Community & Culture: A father-daughter team just launched Salt Lake City’s first indoor art expo, and Park City Mountain is weighing ski lift upgrades with accessibility supporters and traffic critics both showing up. Weather Watch: Great Salt Lake concerns grow as a late-season heat spike threatens lower levels.

Stratos Data Center Firestorm: Utah’s hyperscale Stratos project in Box Elder County is drawing fresh alarm after scientists warn its 9-gigawatt power draw could create extreme waste-heat warming—potentially shifting the region toward “Sahara-like” conditions—while critics say it was approved with little public input and rushed local process. Local Governance vs. Secrecy: The fight is also turning into a democracy question, with opponents pointing to MIDA’s semi-secret authority and residents’ claims of being sidelined. National Backlash on AI Power Use: A new Gallup poll finds 71% of Americans oppose new AI data centers near them, with energy and water use leading concerns. Sports—Vegas Rolls: The Vegas Golden Knights punched back into the Western Conference finals, beating Anaheim 5-1 in Game 6 as Mitch Marner sparked the rout. Entertainment—UK Tour Tickets: Kacey Musgraves and Paris Paloma both go on sale in the UK today for major arena legs tied to their latest tours.