AGP Executive Report

Housing & Debt: A MoneyLion study finds mortgage debt is hitting households hardest in states including California, with 29 states topping $75,000 per household—an affordability pressure point for North Carolina buyers. Local Economy & Jobs: John Hood reports North Carolina job growth is beating the national trend, even as broader labor-market concerns linger. Real Estate & Retail: Publix has signed a lease for a new store near Brandermill in Chesterfield County, signaling continued retail expansion in the Carolinas’ region. Business & Courts: A North Carolina fintech lender has escaped a “bait-and-switch” suit in state court, a reminder that consumer claims can still be tough to win. Tech & Privacy: North Carolina’s Flock license-plate camera debate keeps growing, with residents questioning how surveillance tools get used and who’s accountable. Healthcare & Biotech: Duke-linked dry-eye research highlights a more targeted treatment pipeline, while Novonesis plans a major enzyme expansion in India. National Policy: Trump’s proposed $5,000 “dividend” if Republicans hold Congress is raising immediate questions about cost and funding—likely to shape campaign messaging that affects NC voters.

Robocall Crackdown: North Carolina AG Jeff Jackson is joining a bipartisan push urging the FCC to tighten “Know Your Upstream Provider” rules, aiming to stop scam calls from slipping through phone-company chains that helped drive nearly $2B in losses last year. TikTok in Court: The NC Supreme Court heard arguments on whether the state can sue TikTok and ByteDance over alleged addictive design for minors, with the fight centered on whether NC courts have jurisdiction. Raleigh Growth: Brightmont Academy opened a new Cary campus, expanding its one-to-one private school model, with a grand opening set for Sept. 17. Local Business Expansion: Sam Jones BBQ plans a second Raleigh location inside Morgan Street Food Hall, bringing a limited menu near its original whole-hog smokehouse. Transportation Disruptions: U.S. 421 in New Hanover County is reopening in stages after a gas leak shut lanes earlier this week, with repairs continuing on the closest lanes. Energy Prices: GasBuddy data shows Rockingham County diesel hit a weekly low of $5.27/gal, while statewide diesel averaged $5.46/gal. G20 & Medicaid: A G20 finance meeting in Asheville is paired with new Medicaid work and renewal requirements that could affect many North Carolinians.

Retail Expansion: Tractor Supply is planning a new $2.5 million store in northern Davidson County, according to county permit records, adding another rural lifestyle option near Highway 150. AI & Safety: An Anthropic researcher says he’s quitting over fears the industry is racing toward “out-of-control” self-improving systems, underscoring mounting safety concerns. Workforce & Training: Harnett County students are getting hands-on skills through a Siemens-funded “Careers Electric Summer Academy” pre-apprenticeship program. Crypto Policy: North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis warns the CLARITY Act could hit an ethics roadblock in the Sept. 15 Senate vote—raising the stakes for XRP holders. Local Economy: A North Carolina job-growth report says the state saw no net job growth in July, with payrolls down versus earlier months. Tech Infrastructure: Durham residents are pushing for a stricter data-center pause, arguing smaller facilities can still strain energy and communities. Energy & Global Markets: The Bank of Japan is set to raise rates to 1.25%, while U.S. fuel prices show mixed movement in North Carolina counties. Healthcare: UNC Health Pardee is emerging as a bigger player in Western North Carolina, opening an adolescent mental health unit and receiving Level III Trauma Center status. Business Growth: Gaon Cable says it’s entered Canada’s public power grid market, using its North Carolina manufacturing base to scale North American sales.

Aviation Safety & Jobs: A Miami cargo-jet crash that killed five is now tied to a North Carolina-linked operator, 21 Air, which faced prior safety complaints from former employees alleging retaliation and unsafe practices; investigators are still probing what went wrong. Local Government & Privacy: New Hanover County is ending its Sheriff’s Office access to Flock Safety cameras, disabling sharing and removing employee access after commissioners voted to cancel the contract. Energy Costs: AAA says diesel prices in North Carolina hit a new record, up 32 cents to $5.82 a gallon, a key hit for trucking and consumer goods. Housing & Development: Toll Brothers announced a new building release at Iron Creek, a Charlotte luxury townhome community with four-story designs priced from the low $400,000s. Education & Access: UNC Charlotte is distributing 250 free laptops to first-generation students via a partnership aimed at closing the digital divide. Food & Health: A frozen triple berry blend sold at Walmart in 16 states was recalled as an E. coli precaution, including North Carolina. Business & Finance: Huntington named Brant Standridge president of both the holding company and its bank subsidiary, expanding leadership after a long succession-planning process. Local Economy: FEMA approved nearly $33 million in North Carolina Hurricane Helene recovery aid for road, bridge, and mitigation projects.

Aviation Safety: Federal investigators and the NTSB are digging into the deadly Amazon Air cargo crash at Miami International Airport, where a Boeing 767 overran the runway and struck vehicles; NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy said all five victims were in a van tied to an airport cleaning contractor, with the wreckage spread across a wide area. North Carolina Economy: A new CNBC “America’s Top States for Business” ranking puts North Carolina second overall but No. 1 for the economy category, citing strong fundamentals like an Aaa credit rating and major anchors such as Duke Energy and Labcorp. Workers & Pay: Oxfam’s latest “best states to work” assessment ranks North Carolina 52nd, pointing to issues like a $7.25 minimum wage and lack of state-guaranteed paid sick leave or paid family/medical leave. Tech & Telecom: India has joined a US-led alliance of 25 countries to shape next-gen 6G networks, with talks tied to the G20 Innovation Ministerial hosted in Chapel Hill. Local Business & Growth: Raleigh-based TARGAN, an AI hatchery tech firm, says it’s expanding its global footprint after a deal to be acquired by Merck Animal Health, with systems now operating across multiple countries. Energy Prices: GasBuddy reports show North Carolina regular gas averaging $3.73 per gallon for the week ending Aug. 29, with county-level lows like $3.59 in Madison County. Tourism Recovery: A new report says western North Carolina’s outdoor tourism is rebounding two years after Hurricane Helene, with visitor spending losses slowing after a sharp drop in the most impacted counties. Workplace Safety on the Road: Wilmington police say two pedestrian deaths over Labor Day weekend are renewing concerns about nonmotorist safety on busy corridors, as the city pushes Vision Zero.

G20 Tech Pact: India pushed for deeper global cooperation on AI, semiconductors and emerging tech at the G20 Innovation Ministers’ meeting in Chapel Hill, securing a consensus statement built around six pillars (pro-innovation policy, workforce, IP for AI, standards, and industrial investment) plus “Carolina Principles” for research and trusted adoption. Politics & Markets: Nate Silver’s forecast flags Republicans as vulnerable in the Senate, with Democrats ahead in North Carolina and other states in 9 of 12 competitive races—raising stakes for the November midterms. Local Economy & Growth: Governor Josh Stein announced $9.8M+ in Parks and Recreation Trust Fund grants for 25 projects, including $235,175 for Jefferson’s Foster-Tyson Park/Northern Peaks Trailhead and major awards to Duplin towns Wallace and Warsaw. Public Safety & Aviation: Federal investigators are zeroing in on the landing moment after an Amazon cargo jet overran a Miami runway and hit vehicles, killing at least five—an issue that could ripple into airline and airport safety spending. Energy Watch: GasBuddy price reports show sharp local variation across NC counties, with some of the week’s lowest regular and midgrade prices concentrated in smaller markets. Business Services: Ascend acquired Charlotte accounting firm GreerWalker, expanding its regional footprint as the deal shifts attest and non-attest services into separate practice structures. Green Funeral Options: Endswell Funeral Home opened a third Triangle location in Chapel Hill for aquamation and green burial, supported by a USDA grant for solar to help move operations toward carbon-neutral cremation.

Aviation Safety & Local Economy: A North Carolina-based cargo airline, 21 Air, operated an Amazon Air Boeing 767-300 that overran a runway at Miami International Airport on Sunday, killing at least five people and injuring five more after striking vehicles; investigators are now focused on what went wrong during landing and why the aircraft left the runway at high speed. Healthcare Policy: North Carolina Medicaid covered nearly 34,500 people using GLP-1 weight-loss drugs in June, with claims topping $47.8 million, while the State Health Plan says the same medications remain too expensive to cover for teachers and state employees. Energy & Utilities: Duke Energy laid out a long-range Carolinas plan through 2041 that leans into major solar, gas, storage, and new nuclear—aiming to meet rising winter peak demand and reshape generation across both states. Labor Market: North Carolina’s job growth cooled, with July showing no net growth and a slower year-over-year pace, raising questions about how aging and labor-force shifts are affecting the state’s economy. Sports & Community: T-Mobile’s Friday Night 5G Lights handed $5,000 each to Jacksonville and Havelock high school football programs, part of a broader push to fund equipment and travel.

Election Access: Alamance County will keep Sunday early voting on Oct. 25 (1-5 p.m.) while other NC counties drop Sunday hours amid 2026 midterm schedule changes. Local Enforcement & Costs: Raleigh’s new fall yard-waste rules start Tuesday, with $150 base fines for putting trash out at the wrong time or leaving it past 7 p.m. Hemp/Cannabis Policy Fight: A Winston-Salem hemp coalition push is pressuring North Carolina to rethink cannabis rules as federal limits threaten the industry. AI & Data Centers: Nscale is selling Figure $3.5B of compute and buying a stake, aiming to scale Nvidia GPU power for Figure’s robotics push. Public Safety & Courts: A Raleigh man, Isiah Naaquan Weeks, was convicted on 14 federal counts tied to fentanyl trafficking and firearms, with sentencing set for Oct. 19. Consumer Watch: Walmart frozen berries recalled in multiple states over possible E. coli contamination. Business & Community: UNC Asheville’s Community Lumber Project and wildlife-crossing efforts received nearly $395K in Western NC conservation grants. Fraud & Scams: Apex logged five scam reports in July, tying for 33rd among NC cities.

Childhood Cancer Fundraiser: Kannapolis pizza shop Corner Crust is partnering with Pizza Bib’s “Taking a Slice Out of Cancer” campaign, donating $0.43 per slice (plus round-ups) to the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation through September. Local Business Growth: Crossroads Automotive Group expands its footprint with the acquisition of Bartow Ford, adding a 15th Ford dealership to its portfolio. North Carolina Policy Watch: Lawmakers are looking ahead to how to regulate intoxicating hemp products, with the state navigating a patchwork of federal rules and possible future cannabis changes. Energy & Cost Pressure: GasBuddy reports show spotty but notable price swings across NC counties for E15, midgrade, and premium fuel in the week ending Aug. 29, underscoring how global oil and refinery conditions keep hitting drivers. Sports & Community: Blue Ridge Rising’s two-state summit drew nearly 200 attendees to coordinate tourism and economic development across NC and Virginia mountain counties.

Ukraine Peace Talks: US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner arrived in Moscow and are expected to head to Kyiv as Russia and Ukraine agree not to strike each other’s capitals during the talks, with Putin ordering a three-day pause on strikes on Kyiv. Auto Retail Expansion: Crossroads Automotive Group is expanding its footprint with the acquisition of Bartow Ford in Florida, adding a 15th Ford dealership to its portfolio. Gas Prices Watch: GasBuddy reports show spotty but lower prices for drivers across North Carolina—E85 hit $3.44 in Orange County and E15 hit $3.23 in Surry County for the week ending Aug. 29, while premium and diesel prices stayed higher statewide. Local Fraud Signals: BBB Scam Tracker lists Sneads Ferry among 120 NC cities tied for 123rd in July scam reports, with one report and a $300 loss. Workforce & Education: North Carolina A&T says it enrolled its largest freshman class ever for fall 2026, with 15,700 total students and record first-year numbers.

G20 & Housing: At the Asheville G20, North Carolina’s housing crunch stayed front and center, with a state auditor dashboard saying recovery spending has reached $5.1 billion and 347 projects completed after Hurricane Helene—but the region still faces a shortage of more than 5,000 homes, pushing renewed calls to cut zoning and permitting barriers. Workforce & Community Colleges: North Carolina lawmakers boosted community colleges in the latest budget, adding $99 million for enrollment growth and $57.5 million for Propel NC to better align training with in-demand jobs. AI in Schools: NC lawmakers are backing AI tools to lift student performance, with supporters pointing to studies and lawmakers planning to measure results through the state’s learning research office. Data Centers Tax Fight: A new NC budget bill ends one data-center incentive while keeping other tax breaks, as Gov. Josh Stein weighs whether to veto amid local concerns over power, water, and permitting. Elections & Mail Voting: North Carolina began widely distributing mail ballots for the midterms as legal fights over Trump’s limits and Postal Service changes raise uncertainty for voters and election officials. Cybersecurity: The U.S. military disabled advertising location trackers on government devices after concerns that commercial location data could be used to target troops. Fraud Watch: A new report says 700 NC residents lost more than $8.4 million in 2025 to a major fraud scheme, highlighting how scammers use digital pressure and AI to impersonate real people. Energy Costs: Diesel hit a new U.S. record, squeezing farmers and other businesses—an added pressure point ahead of November.

Election & Courts: The U.S. Supreme Court backed Republican groups’ push to keep discounted TV ad rates for this year’s midterms, rejecting claims the FCC guidance was improperly applied. Disaster Recovery: Gov. Josh Stein says North Carolina is getting an additional $15M in FEMA aid for Hurricane Helene recovery, as the state presses for faster reimbursements. Transportation Costs: A looming vote on reviving Charlotte’s I-77 toll lane plan could force local leaders to repay nearly $70M to NCDOT if the project is permanently halted. Healthcare Workforce: Cape Fear Community College and UNCW are expanding nursing capacity by 77.5% via a New Hanover Healthcare Career Partnership, aiming to grow local nurse pipelines. Energy Prices: Diesel hit a new U.S. record of $5.85 a gallon amid Iran-war fuel disruptions, adding pressure on North Carolina families and farmers. Food Safety: The E. coli-linked frozen blueberry recall has expanded to 17 cases nationwide, with Walmart frozen berry products now included. Business & Investment: Sheridan Capital Partners invested in Durham-based Carolina Components Group, a bioprocessing parts supplier serving biopharma manufacturers. International Trade/Tech: The U.S. and China are preparing mid-September talks focused on AI safety risks, including monitoring AI-linked cyberattacks.

Semiconductor Tariffs: U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick says targeted chip tariffs are coming that would penalize companies unless they build manufacturing in the U.S., a move that could complicate South Korea’s planned mega chip projects discussed at the G20 Innovation Ministerial in Chapel Hill. Federal Land Fight: The Trump administration moves to end protections for roadless national forest areas in North Carolina, including Wilson Creek, raising concerns about wildlife and the outdoor recreation economy. State Budget & Taxes: North Carolina’s budget deal includes teacher pay raises and no money for a Raleigh baseball stadium, while lawmakers advance a constitutional amendment to cap the individual income tax rate at 3.5% for voters to decide in November. Elections Watch: North Carolina begins mailing 2026 midterm ballots Friday as legal challenges to Trump’s mail-voting limits and Postal Service changes create uncertainty. Business Growth: Supreme Nonwoven will invest $25.8M to open its first U.S. manufacturing facility in Lexington, creating 200+ jobs. Local Government: Kristin Jones was appointed assistant Kannapolis city manager, overseeing finance, budget, HR and customer service. Tourism: Cabarrus visitor spending hit $682.8M in 2025, underscoring the county’s travel-driven economy.

State Grants & Small Business Boost: Gov. Josh Stein announced nearly $10 million in Parks and Recreation Trust Fund grants for 25 local projects, plus $2.4M in 50 grants to 46 North Carolina small businesses to commercialize new tech—extra support included for Hurricane Helene-impacted counties. Education Funding Pressure in Durham: A new report says Durham’s economy is growing, but Durham Public Schools remain underfunded, with major building repair needs and staffing/retention strain—urging big employers like Duke to help close the gap. Solar Deal: Inox Solar Americas landed a 767-MW PV module supply agreement for three utility-scale projects in North Carolina and Texas, with deliveries starting in 2027. Data Centers & Power Costs (National angle): California lawmakers advanced bills aimed at stopping large data centers from shifting grid and power costs to residents—an issue that’s increasingly relevant as NC weighs data-center growth. Public Health Alert: A traveling petting zoo tied to rabies exposures in Western North Carolina is raising questions about vaccination and livestock safety. Local Business: A new furniture shop is opening in Blowing Rock, bringing custom/local pieces and design services to the High Country. Elections Update: North Carolina begins mailing absentee ballots Friday, kicking off the state’s early mail-in voting timeline for the 2026 general election.

AI Regulation Clash at G20: Nvidia’s Jensen Huang and OpenAI’s Sam Altman urged G20 leaders to keep AI rules focused on real-world harm, while Elon Musk pushed even looser guard rails—setting up a direct fight over how fast the US and China can deploy AI. Data Center Pressure in NC: US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick warned communities that moratoriums on data centers will cost investment and jobs, as protesters and local concerns about power and costs keep growing. Local Housing Bottleneck: A North Carolina housing dashboard tied to Hurricane Helene recovery highlights thousands of units still missing, with renewed calls to cut zoning, permitting, and land-use barriers. Power for AI Buildout: Vertiv agreed to buy Raleigh-based microgrid firm UtilityInnovation Group for about $1.45B cash to help data centers secure power faster amid grid constraints. Digital Assets, No Details: G20 finance leaders backed “responsible” digital asset rules but avoided specifics, leaving implementation to national regulators. Iran Sanctions Warning: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said countries helping Iran evade sanctions could face penalties. Corporate Governance Risk: Wall Street is flagging “key person” risk at SpaceX and Tesla as investors worry about what happens if Elon Musk steps back.

AI & Data Centers: Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang used the G20 Innovation Ministerial in North Carolina to push leaders to treat AI as “infrastructure” and build more data centers, while OpenAI’s Sam Altman argued adoption is “non-negotiable” and warned against overregulating. Local Business & Jobs: North Carolina Labor Commissioner Luke Farley announced a record $889,640 recovered for workers in retaliation cases. Health & Safety: A Halloween candy recall hit North Carolina after undeclared milk allergen was found; separately, hospitals were told to pull certain IV saline bags after fiberglass/rust particles were detected. Energy Costs: State Rep. Rodney Pierce urged the NC Utilities Commission to reject Dominion’s proposed electric rate increase, saying families can’t absorb another hike. Hurricane Recovery: Gov. Josh Stein and NCDHHS opened the path for $20 million to expand child care in Helene and Debby-impacted communities. Courts: AG Jeff Jackson asked a judge for default judgment in the Holly Christina Photography case, seeking delivery of undelivered photos/videos. M&A: Amwins acquired firearms-insurance specialist Joseph Chiarello & Co. Local Economy: A board game cafe, The Cheeseboard, is set to open in Black Mountain later this year.