AGP Executive Report

Beaufort County Jobs: Gov. Josh Stein says Boater’s World Manufacturing Group will invest $6M to build a NauticStar Boats facility and create 179 jobs in Chocowinity, with Beaufort County Community College offering related training. Nuclear Power for Bases: The U.S. Army will award up to $2.2B for portable “microreactors,” aiming for a first deployment by Sept. 2028; Antares Nuclear is tied to Fort Bragg, NC. Mail Voting Fight: Democratic-led states and voting groups are suing again to block USPS from carrying out Trump’s mail-voting order, arguing it oversteps federal authority and could disrupt state election systems. Local Economy & Research: Greensboro’s Chamber highlights university research and growth at its State of Our Community luncheon, including concerns about keeping research-driven jobs in North Carolina. STEM Spotlight: Labor Commissioner Luke Farley honored NASA astronaut Christina Koch with the Order of the Tar Heel, praising her STEM advocacy. Healthcare Capacity: In WNC, regulators are weighing 92 acute-care hospital beds, with multiple health systems competing for the certificate of need. Election Ads Ruling: A 4th Circuit decision blocks an FCC plan that would have let parties buy broadcast TV ads at candidate-only discounted rates.

North Carolina Jobs & Industry: Ziehl-Abegg says its North American HQ in Winston-Salem is still ramping up, growing from 321 employees to 662 since mid-2024 and targeting about 1,600 workers by 2030. Local Education & Workforce: Asheboro City Schools partners with Edustaff for substitute staffing, aiming to strengthen recruiting and reduce day-to-day staffing gaps. Military Readiness: At Marine Corps Air Station New River, FRCE’s V-22 maintenance team reports a long run of on-time deliveries—“more aircraft, faster”—to keep squadrons mission-ready. Tech & Health Care: Femasys will roll out its FemVue fertility diagnostics and FemaSeed treatment option across UNC Health OB/GYN locations. State Politics & Voting: The Supreme Court cleared the way for possible implementation of Trump’s mail-in voting restrictions, raising uncertainty for states including North Carolina as ballots head out soon. National Legal/Consumer Protection: Meta reached major settlements over alleged harms to children on Instagram and Facebook, with required safety changes and large payments to states. Community & Culture: Boone’s High Country Beer Fest returns for its 19th year on Aug. 29, with proceeds supporting App State’s Fermentation Sciences program. Public Safety & Fraud: BBB Scam Tracker data shows Mount Holly tied for 123rd among NC cities for July scam reports, with losses tied to an online purchase scam. Women’s Rights: Gov. Josh Stein marked Aug. 26 as Women’s Equality Day, highlighting ongoing work on ballot access and disparities facing women and families.

South Carolina Politics: Darline Graham won the GOP Senate runoff to replace her late brother Lindsey Graham, with Trump’s endorsement and a Tim Scott boost helping flip support in the Myrtle Beach area. North Carolina Elections: A new look at early voting plans shows more sites and hours statewide than 2022, but Sunday voting was cut and some campus polling options were rejected. Healthcare & Medicaid: NC Democrats are pressing on Medicaid cuts as families warn changes could disrupt care for children with complex needs. Housing & Affordability: A Realtor.com analysis finds “affordability refugees” are increasingly shopping outside their local markets, with Durham highlighted among metros feeling priced-out pressure. Workforce & Industry: GE Aerospace marked one year of its Wilmington apprenticeship program, and NC State is joining a major NSF push for biobased manufacturing. Community & Culture: A new Charlotte LGBTQ history coalition launched to preserve local queer landmarks, and Wilmington’s Suds for Sharks event raises money for shark conservation.

Mail Voting Fight: The U.S. Supreme Court lifted part of a Trump mail-in voting order but left another nationwide block in place, keeping North Carolina’s September absentee ballot rollout in legal limbo. Healthcare Costs: A new national study ranks states by how much healthcare spending drains income; North Carolina is flagged as 10th highest for the burden. Port Watch: Fewer container ships have been calling at the Port of Wilmington, with the drop tied to changes in ship routes and a broader decline in container volume. Opioid Funding: Rowan County Public Health is asking residents how to prioritize opioid settlement money, with about $28 million a year expected through 2039. Local Business & Jobs: Great Southern Wood plans a new pressure-treated lumber treatment plant in Scotland County, backed by a $200,000 One North Carolina Fund grant and expected to create 43 jobs. Entertainment & Growth: Six Flags says it will move its corporate headquarters back to Arlington, Texas, after relocating to Charlotte following a merger. Courts & Scrutiny: A judge ordered review of grand jury records in the Don Lemon indictment case, adding to broader concerns about DOJ handling of grand jury proceedings. Pageant Lawsuit: Former Miss North Carolina USA Brittany Boltinhouse filed a defamation suit after losing her title, alleging she was targeted over social media and political views.

Elections & Courts: The U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way for President Trump’s mail-voting restrictions to move forward, leaving states scrambling as North Carolina ballots go out Sept. 4 to overseas and military voters. Politics & Campaigns: North Carolina’s NC-1 House race remains a national spotlight rematch, with Republicans viewing it as a must-win seat after redistricting. Public Safety & Justice: Two Lenoir County women pleaded guilty in a $187,000 COVID-era rental assistance fraud scheme tied to fake tenant leases. Local Governance & Community: Raleigh-area readers also got a look at how teen “takeovers” are reshaping policing and city responses after a July surge of shootings. Workforce & Energy: UNCW is joining a regional nuclear workforce initiative led by N.C. State, aiming to train the next wave of nuclear professionals. Consumer Fraud Watch: BBB Scam Tracker data shows Raleigh and Charlotte leading scam reports in July, while New Bern and other smaller cities logged fewer reports. Environment: Record ocean heat is raising alarms for storms, fisheries, and coastal communities.

Diabetes Care Recognition: UNC Health Appalachian’s “Moving Forward with Diabetes” program earned a four-year American Diabetes Association Education Recognition Program certificate for meeting national DSMES standards. Community Colleges Overhaul: North Carolina’s 58 community colleges are pushing a workforce-focused transformation under new acting president Monty Sullivan, including Propel NC funding changes and new short-term Pell options. Election Transparency Fight: Attorneys general nationwide are withholding 2024 emails tied to early planning for lawsuits against the Trump administration, raising questions about secrecy and coordination. Early Voting Politics: A Center Square report says NC election board decisions on Sunday voting hours largely followed GOP-leaning plans, despite local whistleblower claims. Housing & Jobs: Greenville expanded an affordable housing rehab partnership with Pitt Community College and the NC Housing Finance Agency, while a separate report highlights workforce housing progress in other communities. Local Business Banking: KS Bank plans a full-service branch in Roseboro, restoring in-person banking after nearly four years. Entertainment & Culture: North Carolina native Daniel Peddle is set to adapt the thriller “Cold Moon Rising” for the big screen. Education Enrollment: Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Public Schools saw slight enrollment growth in 2024-25, even as NC funding ranks near the bottom nationally.

Immigration & Health Care: Advocates renewed calls to free Pauline Binam from Georgia’s Stewart Detention Center, after lawmakers visited and raised concerns about medical care and conditions, including her fear of seeking treatment and the push to reunite her with her 17-year-old daughter. North Carolina Politics: Guilford County commissioners spent months fine-tuning 52 words of ballot language for a proposed quarter-cent sales tax hike, as election officials prepare to print ballots for a November vote. AI Infrastructure & Power: A North Carolina–linked expansion in data-center power supply is moving forward, with Gaon Cable’s U.S. unit investing to double production capacity in Tarboro to meet hyperscale demand. Public Health: A multistate E. coli and Salmonella outbreak tied to alfalfa sprouts has sickened 55 people and reached North Carolina, prompting a recall of Calco and Everything Sprouts brands. Local Government: Hamlet council approved a resolution urging a speed-limit drop on Hylan Avenue, seeking a change from 45 mph to 35 mph. Workforce & Education: Mayland Community College is offering a September start with new Culinary Arts and Medical Laboratory Technology programs for students who missed the August start.

Local Roads & Safety: Hamlet City Council approved a resolution urging the state to cut the speed limit on a 1-mile stretch of Hylan Avenue from 45 mph to 35 mph after resident complaints about speeding. County Government: Sampson County hired Kevin P. Lowther as assistant county manager, a newly created role meant to strengthen staffing and oversight for planning, zoning, inspections and public works. Politics & Elections: North Carolina remains a key Senate battleground as Democrats look for a narrow path to regain control, with third-party and independent vote splits potentially deciding races. Education & School Choice: Teachers unions took another hit in court, with a ruling in Arizona rejecting an anti-school-choice ballot effort over signature problems and alleged illegal hiring. Public Health: Federal health officials are investigating a multistate alfalfa sprout outbreak tied to Everything Sprouts LLC, with 55 illnesses reported across 15 states, including cases in North Carolina. Business & Jobs: Manufacturing is rebounding, but growth is concentrated in tariff-protected sectors rather than a broad “golden age,” according to economists. Community & Leadership: Black Women’s Leadership Collective and Emerge Action Fund launched a second cohort of a nonpartisan candidate training program for Black women across North Carolina, with applications due Sept. 18.

Election Watch: The North Carolina elections board voted to drop Sunday early voting hours in 10 more counties, continuing a broader contraction of weekend voting options. Public Safety & Health: Federal health officials are investigating a multistate E. coli and Salmonella outbreak tied to alfalfa sprouts distributed by Minnesota-based Everything Sprouts LLC, with 55 illnesses reported across 15 states, including cases in North Carolina. Politics & Courts: A court filing says the FBI questioned former Gambino underboss Salvatore “Sammy the Bull” Gravano about whether ex-FBI director James Comey understood “86” as mob slang for killing, tied to Comey’s “8647” Instagram post. State Politics: Michael Whatley accused Gov. Roy Cooper of “blood on his hands” over prisoner releases, as the campaign attacks Cooper ahead of the 2026 election. Local Business: The Triad Business Expo in Winston-Salem brought small business owners together to network and share strategies for growth. Community & Culture: Granville County’s “Granville Gold: Mock Tobacco Auction” returns to Oxford later this month, spotlighting the region’s rural tobacco heritage.

Prison & Politics: A Roy Cooper attack ad campaign is trying to recast the governor’s court-ordered release of 3,500 inmates as reckless, but the pushback says Cooper fought the orders and took a tougher anti-crime line than many red-state governors. Election Watch (NC Senate): A new poll from High Point University shows Roy Cooper slipping to a 5-point lead over Michael Whatley, tightening the race as Election Day nears. Immigration & Courts: U.S. Rep. Deborah Ross says ICE is holding Venkata Vasamsetty illegally, arguing the green-card holder is being denied medication and should not be in detention. Public Safety Tech: North Carolina’s expansion of automatic license-plate readers is under renewed scrutiny after misuse allegations in Charlotte and Mooresville. Food Safety: Alfalfa sprouts tied to a multi-state Salmonella and E. coli outbreak have spread to 15 states, including North Carolina. Local Economy: Rural Infrastructure Authority grants are sending nearly $700,000 to Claremont and Lenoir for expansions expected to add hundreds of jobs. Sports Business: Greensboro’s PGA Tour event is set to move into the tour’s top Championship Series tier in 2028 with a new sponsor.

NC Supreme Court & Education: Charlotte Latin School’s “politicized curriculum” lawsuit was revived after the state’s GOP-led Supreme Court said lower courts should have allowed more proceedings on claims tied to admissions, hiring and curriculum. Elections 2026: A new High Point University poll shows Roy Cooper within striking distance of Michael Whatley for the open U.S. Senate seat, tightening the race. Workforce & Cost of Living: Even with low unemployment, many North Carolinians say hiring is still hard and living costs are squeezing budgets. Transit Safety: One year after Iryna Zarutska was killed on Charlotte’s light rail, her family filed a wrongful-death suit alleging “systemic failures,” including lack of security and fare enforcement. Public Health: CDC reports a multistate E. coli and salmonella outbreak linked to alfalfa sprouts, now tied to cases across 15 states. Energy & Permitting: North Carolina added a new DEQ role in the federal FAST-41 permitting process for certain critical energy projects. AI & Power Concerns: Coverage highlights community worries that AI-driven data centers could raise electricity costs and strain local infrastructure.

Elections 2026: A High Point University poll shows Roy Cooper leading Michael Whatley for the open U.S. Senate seat, with Cooper up 5% and the race tightening after earlier polls. State Politics: Gov. Josh Stein vetoed multiple GOP-backed election and judicial bills, arguing they would weaken voting rights and court protections. Courts & Contracts: North Carolina’s Business Court largely denied a motion to dismiss indemnification claims tied to a fatal carbon monoxide incident involving rented equipment, finding online terms may be incorporated through a purchase order. Energy & Data Centers: TVA approved higher rates for data centers seeking grid connections, a sign of how utilities are responding to fast-growing power demand. Local Housing & Tenants: Durham residents in two affordable housing communities are pushing the City Council to strengthen support for tenant unions amid ongoing maintenance and security complaints. Business & Jobs: Alamance Foods won a $500,000 rural building-reuse grant for an expansion expected to add 94 jobs. Tech & Privacy: Asheville is moving to end its contract with Flock Safety and remove license plate reader cameras, with a council vote set for Aug. 25.

Rural Jobs Boost: Gov. Josh Stein announced grants tied to rural infrastructure and business expansion, including funding for Eastern Carolina firms expected to create 113 jobs and attract $51M+ in private investment. Pollinator Watch: This weekend’s Great Southeast Pollinator Census is inviting citizen scientists across six states, including North Carolina, to count bees and other pollinators to track long-term declines. Coastal Fisheries Court Ruling: A judge found North Carolina failed for decades to properly manage coastal fisheries, setting up a remedy phase that could reshape how shrimp trawling and other fishing rules are handled. Durham Freeway Reimagination: Durham is weighing options to “reimagine” the NC-147 corridor, reopening debates about how the freeway reshaped Hayti and displaced residents. Small-Business Financing: Wells Fargo announced a $1.3M grant to Ascendus to expand loans and coaching for growth-ready small businesses in North Carolina and three other states. Education & Workforce: Appalachian State’s business school earned major national and global rankings, while Central Carolina Community College opened a new biotech training facility to support life-sciences workforce needs. Elections & Politics: Roy Cooper rallied supporters in a downtown stop, pitching a message aimed at working families as Senate race dynamics tighten.

Elections & Governance: The North Carolina State Board of Elections has picked ReFrame Solutions to replace the state’s 20-plus-year campaign finance reporting system, aiming for a more secure, searchable, and easier-to-use platform for candidates and the public. Public Safety & Local Policy: Raleigh leaders are weighing whether to move from calls for a youth curfew after summer “teen takeovers” to actual enforcement, as debate grows over civil liberties and whether curfews will curb violence. State Politics: A new analysis highlights high-stakes races for North Carolina’s Supreme Court, where Democrats are pushing to regain control of the court majority that shapes future electoral maps. Economy & Infrastructure: North Carolina’s rail work ramps up as Mebane prepares for railroad crossing closures starting Aug. 24 for federally funded track replacement between Greensboro and Raleigh. Energy & Environment: A USGS study says the Carolinas may hold enough lithium to offset U.S. imports for centuries, boosting mineral-security hopes as mining debates continue. Business & Tech: AtkinsRéalis will keep supporting NCDOT’s statewide traffic operations and TSMO program, extending a 14-year partnership.

Elections & Voting Rights: North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein vetoed a Republican-backed omnibus elections bill that would have tightened early voting and added new election audits and voter-roll reporting requirements. Public Safety: Federal prosecutors say the Trump administration didn’t influence their decision to charge former FBI director James Comey over the “86 47” seashell post, arguing whether it was a true threat is for a jury. Local Economy & Jobs: Prysmian announced a $1 billion expansion in Claremont, adding 385+ jobs and boosting fiber optic cable and R&D capacity. Healthcare & Consumer Impact: The FDA upgraded a Publix frozen blueberry recall to the highest risk level after E. coli concerns, with products shipped to North Carolina among other states. Environment & Agriculture: Spotted lanternfly has been confirmed at a North Carolina commercial winery, and officials say monitoring will expand across Wine Country. Community Life: Jackson County leaders moved forward with public hearings for a federal grant to expand the Tuckaseigee River Greenway and add flood mitigation after Hurricane Helene.

Surveillance & Public Safety: North Carolina approved statewide use of fixed license plate reader cameras, letting the DOT make rights-of-way available for ALPRs and expanding who can act on the data. Education & Budgets: A teacher argues the new NC budget boosts pay on paper but leaves many educators worse off after higher living costs and fewer supports. Health & Research: UNC-linked ACTG opened a trial testing alendronate to target the HIV reservoir, part of broader cure research. Local Economy & Growth: Catawba County tourism topped $363M in 2025, supporting thousands of jobs and millions in payroll and tax revenue. Business & Community: A new beekeeping course starts Sept. 24 in Cumberland County Cooperative Extension, and a Wilmington hurricane-shutter firm expands after acquiring Port City Hurricane Shutters. Fraud Watch: BBB Scam Tracker shows Raleigh logged 42 scam reports in July, with Charlotte leading statewide.