AGP Executive Report

Energy Demand & Grid: Davidson County heard Duke Energy, Piedmont Natural Gas and EnergyUnited warn that North Carolina’s population and manufacturing growth is forcing new power capacity, including a proposed $2B LNG facility in Tyro and two gas plants in nearby Davie County. Data Centers & Local Impact: Amazon Web Services says it will invest $1B+ over five years in communities with data centers, pledging help on electricity and water concerns amid growing local backlash. Medicaid Fraud Crackdown: North Carolina’s four Medicaid managed-care companies are forming a joint fraud task force to share billing-pattern leads and speed up investigations. Sports Betting: North Carolina’s online sports betting handle topped $500M again in August, hitting $520.5M despite the state raising its tax rate to 23% earlier this year. DMV Modernization: NCDMV ended license plate stickers and printed registration cards as digital vehicle registration rolls out Oct. 1. Local Economy/Infrastructure: Charlotte and NCDOT moved forward on the I-77 South toll lane plan, with community benefit commitments tied to a $300M+ deal.

Sports Betting: North Carolina’s sports wagering tax take dipped in August, with the state collecting about $11.23M in gross wagering revenue under the 23% rate, down from July but still above last year. Energy & Industry: Caterpillar is planning a major $1 billion expansion in North Carolina to grow compact manufacturing capacity, adding to a busy stretch of big-ticket investment announcements. Healthcare Policy: A new look at North Carolina’s certificate-of-need law revisits how the state’s CON approach has long been debated as a “healthcare guardrail,” with legal history still shaping today’s arguments. Education Funding: Pitt County Schools is seeking more than $60M in state support for a new D.H. Conley High School, with officials saying grant approval could speed up a multi-year timeline. Local Business: A new leather and shoe repair shop opened in Lexington, aiming to bring back a service many residents say has been missing. Public Safety: Henderson County authorities arrested four people after seizing 15 illegal gambling machines and nearly $10,000 in cash in a Flat Rock crackdown. Elections Watch: Early voting data shows Democrats gaining ground in ballot requests, including in North Carolina.

Big Business Investment: Caterpillar says it will put about $1 billion into North Carolina to expand compact equipment manufacturing, including a new Sanford facility for compact track loaders and telehandlers. Energy & Utilities: Entergy received $13.7 million in federal funding to upgrade power delivery and boost transmission capacity across multiple states, a move aimed at reliability and avoiding costly grid projects. Local Government & Schools: A former Mecklenburg County manager raised conflict-of-interest concerns involving a CMS contractor and related county-funded work tied to the district. Workforce & Growth: North Carolina’s economic development board appointments add new leadership to EDPNC, while the state’s school finance officials push for more flexible funding rules that affect planning and spending. Public Safety & Courts: Four women were arrested in Henderson County after deputies seized cash and gambling machines during a gambling investigation. Business Climate: Commentary and reporting point to how data center buildouts and utility planning could shape long-term power costs. Consumer/Local Economy: Gas prices updates show midgrade and diesel pricing staying volatile across counties, with some stations hitting notably low weekly lows.

AI Workforce Crunch: A new report warns the U.S. needs 1.7 million skilled-trades workers annually through 2035 to build the data-center backbone for AI, but training pipelines currently produce only 55 workers per 100 needed—raising pressure on North Carolina’s workforce and training partners. Court System Privacy Failure: North Carolina’s jury duty website leak exposed Social Security numbers, driver’s licenses, and medical records, and courts still haven’t told the AG about the breach—another reminder that state tech rollouts can turn into business risk fast. Local Housing Funding Fight: Buncombe County is pushing back after Helene-recovery affordable housing funds were allocated with “extreme disparities,” leaving the county feeling shortchanged on rebuilding. Real Estate Fallout: A judge is weighing next steps for the stalled Cedars Lodge & Spa development in Hendersonville, where depositors fear they could lose money if a buyer isn’t found. Workforce & Training: Central Carolina Community College and FleetForce launched a CDL training program in Sanford, aiming to feed trucking employers with faster, certified pathways. Public Safety & Community: Raleigh’s proposed teen curfew was shot down after a July “teen takeover” tied to multiple shootings and injuries. Environment & Health: Cape Fear River Watch says Chemours is violating its PFAS consent order, escalating pressure on regulators to hold the company accountable.

Workforce & Energy: NC State opened a Battery and Energy Storage Technology Makerspace to train students for fast-growing battery and AI-linked storage jobs. Public Safety & Growth: Durham County expanded its sheriff’s presence with a new annex in Research Triangle Park to improve response times as the area adds residents and businesses. Local Economic Development: TripStop will build a new travel center at I-81 Exit 105 in Radford, a $5M project aimed at creating jobs and serving interstate drivers. Coastal Innovation: UNCW hosted its Ocean Innovation Conference, spotlighting ocean science and coastal resilience. Business Expansion in Charlotte: Capital Group opened an East Coast hub in Uptown Charlotte, promising 600 new jobs and $5B in economic impact. Real Estate: Windsor Square Shopping Center in Matthews sold for $87M, signaling continued retail investment in the Charlotte suburbs. Corporate/Finance: Daimler Truck Financial Services opened a North American HQ in Ballantyne, adding 276 jobs. Fuel Prices: GasBuddy reported the cheapest diesel in Rutherford County at $5.89/gal for the week ending Sept. 19.

Hurricane Helene recovery in WNC: Two years after Helene, NCDOT says it has finished repairs on Helene damage to roads and bridges in Wilkes County and is 97% done across other Division 11 counties, highlighting how the storm exposed weaknesses in communications, infrastructure, and forecasting. Trade & tariffs: Canada retaliated after Trump’s new tariffs, targeting politically sensitive products like Harley-Davidson motorcycles and dairy—raising fresh pressure for North Carolina’s furniture industry. Local tech policy fight: Apex Town Council weighs what to do about Flock’s license-plate camera network amid privacy concerns, with Axon emerging as a possible alternative. Election pressure on voters: A fact check challenges an RNC claim that 54% of NC commercial driver’s licenses were issued illegally to noncitizens, while officials also warn about misleading voter registration information ahead of deadlines. State services & jobs: Gov. Josh Stein opened the largest DMV office in east Charlotte, aiming to cut wait times with added positions and expanded online services. Business & growth: Lenoir Community College and Elizabeth City State University signed an aviation co-admission agreement to create a clearer path from associate training to a bachelor’s degree. Consumer costs: GasBuddy reports show diesel and midgrade prices varying by county in the week ending Sept. 19, with statewide diesel averaging $6.14.

State Politics: A new AARP poll shows Roy Cooper leading Michael Whatley by 25 points among independents in the NC Senate race, underscoring how tight the race could be for Democrats. Public Safety & Courts: A WBTV investigation found a flaw in the NC Administrative Office of Courts website exposed jury summons data, including Social Security numbers and medical records, and the NC DOJ says it hasn’t yet received a breach notice. Transportation & Coastal Recovery: NCDOT is running emergency ferries to keep Hatteras Island connected as NC-12 stays closed, with a partial reopening planned for Wednesday via a one-lane detour. Local Accountability: A Cleveland County family is pushing transportation leaders to change pedestrian safety after a fatal hit-and-run near the county fair. Business & Cyber: North Carolina businesses reported 890 cybercrimes in 2025 with $69.1M in losses, as lawmakers and regulators keep pressing for stronger protections. Food Safety: A Lucama meat supplier recalled 167,639 pounds of raw goat, beef and pork after USDA inspection labels were found to be improperly used. Workforce & Education: University of Mount Olive won nearly $3M in federal Title III funding to expand AI-enabled student success and workforce training. Consumer Costs: GasBuddy data shows some of the lowest regular prices in the state hovering in the high $3s to low $4s in select counties.

Energy & Grid: The U.S. Department of Energy announced $1.9B in federal grants under its SPARK program to speed up transmission upgrades in 26 states, aiming to add 23 gigawatts and ease congestion—an issue that matters for North Carolina’s power reliability and bills. AI Infrastructure & Water: A new push to cool AI data centers is colliding with water limits, with reports highlighting how operators are turning to alternatives like liquid cooling and how PFAS-linked supply chains are expanding to serve the boom. Politics & Voting Rights: A Supreme Court ruling could make it harder to challenge majority-minority voting districts, raising concerns that Black representation in the South could weaken. North Carolina Business & Workforce: NC East Alliance named Steve Bastian its new COO to expand workforce and employer partnerships across eastern NC. Consumer Legal Funding: A growing legal-funding industry faces scrutiny as states move to regulate or ban third-party litigation funding—relevant to North Carolina’s courts and consumers. Local Crime: A Newark homicide suspect wanted in a June shooting was captured in Raleigh, ending a months-long search. Gas Prices Watch: GasBuddy reports show weekly price swings across NC counties, with regular and diesel averages tracking broader national fuel-market volatility.

Energy Prices: Diesel and gas prices stayed volatile across North Carolina in the week ending Sept. 19, with local lows like diesel at $5.85 in Currituck County and $5.95 in Caldwell County, plus regular gas as low as $3.95 in Bertie County and $3.84 in Wilkes County. Western NC Recovery: Two years after Hurricane Helene, Gov. Josh Stein and GROW NC unveiled a long-term economic recovery plan focused on workforce, infrastructure, and diversifying Western North Carolina’s economy, aiming to coordinate existing regional priorities rather than add new funding. Tourism & Storm Impact: Asheville marked the Helene anniversary while leaders said recovery is uneven, even as tourism spending in Buncombe County reached about $2.6B last year. Outer Banks Logistics: With parts of NC-12 still damaged after a nor’easter, NCDOT launched emergency ferry service between Stumpy Point and Rodanthe and reopened Ocracoke-area ferry routes on limited schedules. Education & Housing: Wake Forest students face rising off-campus rent pressure as Winston-Salem one-bedroom averages jumped to about $1,027, while Charlotte-Mecklenburg’s superintendent Crystal Hill was nominated for superintendent of the year days before her firing. Local Business/Workforce: myFutureNC’s regional education-to-career push drew attention from Lenoir Rotary, highlighting collaboration as a competitiveness strategy.

AI Regulation Push: North Carolina AG Jeff Jackson is urging Congress to set federal guardrails for AI after a string of bot attacks, arguing states can’t keep up alone. Cybersecurity & Health Data: Maryland and other attorneys general reached a $2.3 million multistate settlement with Labcorp over a 2019 breach tied to its debt collector, exposing data tied to 27.5 million people. Local Business & Community Giving: Savers thrift is opening a new Donation Drop Spot in Salisbury for American Red Cross donations, aiming to make reuse easier for residents. Hurricane Recovery Watch: Two years after Hurricane Helene, Buncombe County says FEMA’s housing mission is set to end soon, while longer-term case management and rebuilding still leave many families in limbo. Energy & Weather Disruption: A powerful nor’easter is battering the East Coast with major flooding risk and widespread power outages, with impacts rippling into travel and local operations. Politics & Money: Republicans are pouring fresh cash into dozens of “safe” House races as internal polling shows vulnerability ahead of Nov. 3.

Storm & Power: A powerful nor’easter battered the U.S. Northeast with heavy rain, high winds, flooding and widespread outages, canceling hundreds of flights and leaving tens of thousands without power. Helene Recovery: In Swannanoa, the Swannanoa Resilience Hub is still running case-management support nearly two years after Tropical Storm Helene, alongside a market and community programs. Western NC Economic Plan: Gov. Josh Stein shared a new Western North Carolina Economic Recovery Plan in Chimney Rock, pushing for a $10 billion congressional appropriation to keep rebuilding transportation, water systems and housing. Workforce Education Funding: North Carolina was approved for U.S. Department of Education Workforce Pell grants, aimed at expanding federal aid for career and technical training. Rural Economy Mood: A new AP-KFF poll finds economic frustration is testing Trump’s standing with rural voters, with many citing costs like groceries, gas and healthcare. Fuel Prices Watch: GasBuddy reported the lowest diesel in Davidson County at $5.37/gal for the week ending Sept. 19, underscoring ongoing regional price swings. Retail Pressure: Charlotte-based Cato plans to close 120 stores as shoppers rein in discretionary spending.

Gas Prices & Politics: With voters focused on cost of living, Republicans are scrambling as diesel and gas pressures loom over key Senate races, including North Carolina, where GOP strategists worry about slipping support. Midterm Anxiety: National coverage highlights a broader GOP panic as candidates distance themselves from Trump amid polling headwinds and anger over tariffs and the Iran war. Electric Aviation in NC: Gov. Josh Stein joined an eLIFT-NC showcase at Raleigh Executive Jetport, flying on an electric aircraft to spotlight faster connections between airports, hospitals, and rural communities. Housing Incentives: Redfin reports home sellers are leaning harder on concessions—often $10,000 to $20,000—to move properties as mortgage rates hover near 7%. Public Health & Opioids: ECU research is expanding free Narcan vending machines across rural counties to improve overdose response readiness. Local Business & Recovery: Two years after Hurricane Helene, western NC businesses are still rebuilding, with one Chimney Rock shop reopening after major damage. Food Safety: USDA recalled meat from a Lucama, NC company after false inspection labels and lack of proper federal inspection. Cyber/Consumer Data: Labcorp reached a $2.3M multistate settlement tied to a 2019 breach affecting 27.5M people, including millions of Labcorp patients. Retail Tech: Lowe’s launched drone delivery in North Carolina with DoorDash and Wing, aiming for small-item drops in about 20 minutes. Local Government/Jobs: North Carolina’s Main Street program reported $500M in new investments, 300 new businesses, and nearly 2,500 new jobs.

Retail & Courts: A North Carolina federal judge ordered Apple to stop contract payments tied to a repair company over a $1.69M wage-and-hour class action judgment, underscoring how labor disputes can hit vendor relationships. Retail Pressure: Charlotte-based Cato plans to close 120 women’s apparel stores by year-end as it battles demand headwinds. Housing & Recovery: Gov. Josh Stein handed a Leicester homeowner the keys to a rebuilt house through Renew NC, saying the program has repaired or rebuilt 1,250 homes since Hurricane Helene. Legal/Healthcare Data: North Carolina is among states in a multistate settlement with Labcorp over a 2019 patient-data breach tied to a debt collector, with stronger vendor oversight required. Energy/Infrastructure: NCDOT is laying out steps to reopen NC-12 after storm damage, with access still disrupted on the Outer Banks. Policy/Markets: Kalshi’s “backroom” tax win in North Carolina gives it leverage in legal fights over prediction-market fees. Storm Watch: A nor’easter is expected to intensify along the East Coast, with climate change making coastal flooding and erosion worse.

Rural Healthcare Innovation: BETA Technologies launched all-electric flight operations in North Carolina’s eLIFT program, running simulated deliveries of medical supplies to rural access points as part of a push to speed care between regional hospitals and community clinics. Consumer Safety: Star Meat Delivery, based in North Carolina, is behind a nationwide recall of more than 167,000 pounds of raw pork, beef and goat products made with false USDA inspection labels. Energy & Local Control: Chatham County commissioners opposed Enbridge’s proposed 28-mile natural gas pipeline, citing property rights, farmland and environmental impacts, while Enbridge says it’s needed for growing home and business demand. Healthcare M&A: Wake County commissioners voted 5-2 to let WakeMed join Atrium, with critics warning the deal could raise already-high prices under North Carolina’s certificate-of-need system. Workforce & Agriculture: A North Carolina-focused workforce theme shows up in coverage elsewhere as farmers increasingly rely on H-2A visas amid domestic labor shortages. Business Growth: Orange County supervisors debated protections for a technology district zoning ordinance tied to battery storage proposals, while an NC EHR startup launched a one-time-fee platform for solo mental health practices. Retail & Travel: Buc-ee’s announced six more 2027 openings, and a new international grocery chain plans to open in Greenville. Local Economy & Community: Martin County leaders highlighted $160M in grant-backed projects aimed at boosting the tax base without raising taxpayer costs.

Workforce & Banking: Bank of America says it will hire 1,000 more apprentices over two years and invest $150M in workforce development, building on its existing 800-apprentice pipeline and aiming to keep skills growing alongside AI. Small Business Recovery: Gov. Josh Stein announced $5M in infrastructure grants for western North Carolina small businesses as communities continue Helene recovery, with the goal of strengthening Main Streets. Energy & Cost of Living: GasBuddy data show regular prices dipping to $3.69 in Cabarrus County and $3.72 in Catawba County (week ending Sept. 19), while diesel remains higher, with Warren County’s low at $5.89. Consumer Watchdog: A national investigation finds major convenience-store chains repeatedly fail price-accuracy checks, including high failure rates reported in North Carolina. Food Safety: USDA announced a nationwide recall of more than 167,000 pounds of raw pork, beef and goat from Star Meat Delivery in North Carolina after false USDA inspection labels were found. Local Business/Tech: Lowe’s launched a drone delivery pilot in Matthews via DoorDash and Wing, promising select items in about 20 minutes. Aviation/Innovation: Joby’s J208 completed a fully autonomous cross-country flight from California to North Carolina, landing at Dare County Regional Airport.

Workforce & Skills: Bank of America will hire 1,000 more apprentices over two years and invest $150M in workforce development, expanding its skills-based hiring in Charlotte and beyond. Manufacturing Jobs: Aluma-Form is bringing a new plastic injection molding operation to Mocksville, investing $6.7M and targeting 100+ jobs. Broadband Resilience: NCDIT extended the deadline for its $1M Broadband Satellite Resiliency Grant to Sept. 30, aiming to help western NC public institutions keep connectivity during emergencies. Legal/Environment: The U.S. and North Carolina filed suit against Domtar over alleged decades of water contamination tied to the Weyerhaeuser mill site near Plymouth. Healthcare Policy: NC Medicaid launched expedited, off-cycle reverification for certain high-risk providers, creating new compliance deadlines that could affect enrollment and deal diligence. Elections: A new federal lawsuit challenges NC absentee ballot rules requiring inner return envelopes to be sealed, arguing it wrongly discards “immaterial errors.” Food Safety: Star Meat Delivery recalled 167,639 pounds of raw pork, beef and goat produced with false USDA inspection marks.