Advanced Nuclear in Utah: U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright visited Idaho National Laboratory as the “Reactor Pilot Program” celebrates new-age reactor milestones, with Antares Nuclear hitting criticality at INL and Valar Atomics’ Ward 250 reaching criticality at Utah’s San Rafael Energy Lab in Emery County. Critical Minerals on Military Bases: The Army is moving to expand domestic processing, with provisional deals for rare-earth separation and other mineral work planned at bases including Utah’s Tooele Army Depot. Wildfire and Drought Pressure: Western fire conditions stayed tense with 37 large fires reported nationwide, while Utah’s Cottonwood Fire was flagged as the largest active incident amid record-dry fuels and the state’s lowest snowpack on record. Water Risk for Power and Ecosystems: Lake Powell is entering summer at its emptiest level ever, with federal projections warning of “minimum power pool” next spring and the looming risk of “dead pool.” Utah Agriculture Health Alert: Rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHDV-2) was confirmed in wild rabbits in Summit and Tooele counties, raising concerns for predators that rely on rabbits. AI Workforce Politics: A new nonprofit, Raise Us, backed by major tech and employers, is launching worker retraining pilots including Utah, aiming to blunt AI-driven job disruption. SNAP Accuracy Watch: USDA data shows Utah’s SNAP payment error rate is relatively low (5.54%), helping it avoid the worst cost-sharing impacts tied to higher error thresholds. Local Land-Use Fight: Provo’s Planning Commission voted against recommending approval for the Vesper Amphitheater project, citing traffic, parking, and environmental concerns.