AGP Executive Report

Mail Voting Fight: A federal judge in Boston extended a nationwide block on Trump-era USPS mail-ballot changes as North Carolina begins sending its first midterm ballots, keeping the dispute alive heading into Election Day. Pentagon Security: The U.S. military disabled advertising trackers on government devices after concerns that commercial location data could help target troops. North Carolina Fraud Watch: Oriental ranked among the state’s higher BBB scam-report cities in July, with online purchase scams driving reported losses. Local Culture & Community: Downtown Raleigh is gearing up for the 17th annual African American Cultural Festival, with organizers expecting 35,000–40,000 attendees. Workforce: Greenville’s Better Skills, Better Jobs Fair returns Oct. 1 with more than 110 employers and training partners. Science Giving: A Hobart graduate donated $4.5 million to fund summer science research programs.

Mail Voting Fight in Court: A federal judge extended a block on Trump-backed USPS rules that would have tightened mail-in voting, saying the changes likely violate the Constitution and could disenfranchise eligible voters; the administration is expected to appeal. NC Election Rules on the Ground: North Carolina’s first mail ballots went out as the state Board of Elections approved “numbered memos” that can spoil ballots with improperly sealed inner envelopes and limit who can return ballots for voters. Tax Limits on Ballots: A new poll finds strong, bipartisan support for two constitutional amendments on Nov. 3—capping the state income tax rate at 3.5% and limiting property tax increases by local governments, though support for property-tax limits drops when voters hear about possible service cuts. Local Fire Displacement: Forest City businesses hit by a downtown fire tied to the old Farmers Hardware building are searching for temporary locations while investigators continue looking into the cause. Arts & Culture: A North Carolina children’s history book, “Blue’s March,” was selected for the Library of Congress National Book Festival reading list. Business & Jobs: Boater’s World Manufacturing Group plans a Beaufort County boat campus in Chocowinity, aiming to create 179 jobs.

Mail-ballot fight heats up: The U.S. Supreme Court is again being asked to block or allow new limits on USPS mail voting as North Carolina begins mailing absentee ballots, with the State Board of Elections weighing last-minute guidance that could affect how counties handle and cure ballots. Election stakes in NC and beyond: National midterm voting is underway, and forecasts keep pointing to a tight Senate and a possible House shift—while NC voters report confidence in the process but ongoing fraud concerns. Cyber and privacy: The Pentagon says it disabled advertising trackers on military devices after concerns that commercial location data could be used to target troops. Iran sanctions and costs: Treasury says the EU has “officially joined” a major Iran sanctions push, while diesel prices hit a new U.S. record, squeezing farmers and voters. Local North Carolina: Ashe County took ownership of Deep Ford River Access Park, creating the first formal public access near Lansing; McDowell County also moved toward a six-month moratorium on data centers amid water, noise, and jobs concerns. Tech policy: The U.S. backed OpenAI in its copyright dispute with the New York Times, arguing training AI on copyrighted text can be fair use.

Iran Conflict & Gas Prices: VP JD Vance said the Iran fight isn’t a “war” because there’s “no active shooting,” while the Pentagon reports 18 U.S. deaths and hundreds wounded since the conflict began. Elections & Voting Rules: The House cut its work schedule to one more stretch before midterms, while DOJ and courts keep battling over USPS mail-ballot changes. North Carolina Politics: A First Alert investigation fact-checks an attack ad linking Roy Cooper to a 22-year-old’s murder, and NC Republicans face fresh scrutiny in state politics. Local Governance: Cabarrus County’s school bathroom policy fight is escalating worries about LGBTQ harassment. Public Safety & Health: FDA expanded a frozen berry recall tied to E. coli to Walmart’s Great Value product in 16 states including North Carolina. Economy & Jobs: NC A&T joined an NSF clean-economy push to turn rural-grown crops into materials for vehicles, construction, and packaging. Energy & Environment: DMF opened public input on possible new sea mullet harvest limits. Community: Governor Stein proclaimed September Smart Start Month, highlighting early childhood support across all 100 counties.

G20 in Asheville: Finance ministers and central bank chiefs are meeting in Asheville, putting post-Helene recovery and federal aid frustrations in the international spotlight, with local leaders calling it a “tale of two cities.” Surveillance backlash in WNC: Residents in Western North Carolina are pushing back on Flock license-plate cameras, raising privacy concerns and complaining about difficulty getting records. AI and data centers: At the G20, U.S. officials and tech leaders are urging a lighter touch on AI rules while arguing data centers need faster permitting and more power. Road safety: North Carolina’s “Booze It & Lose It” Labor Day crackdown runs through Sept. 13, with officials citing alcohol-related crash deaths. Local business: Little Mama’s is opening a third location in Cornelius on Sept. 7, bringing brick-oven pizza to Lake Norman. Arts: High Point Arts Council’s free Day in the Park festival returns Sept. 12, celebrating John Coltrane’s 100th birthday.

Semiconductor Tariffs Watch: U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick says Washington is shaping a “targeted” and “thoughtful” chip tariff plan, with relief for firms that build in the U.S., while South Korea says it’s closely monitoring impacts. G20 Tech Rules: G20 ministers meeting in Chapel Hill agreed on “Carolina Principles” urging governments to avoid inflexible new AI rules and instead use existing regulations while backing research and commercialization. Charlotte Immigration Trial: A federal jury in western North Carolina split verdicts in a protest case tied to an ICE confrontation, convicting two protesters on petty offenses and finding one not guilty of assault. Markets Under Strain: A global bond rout is raising fears of a disorderly correction, with attention on leverage, sovereign debt fragilities, and AI-related investment risks. Local Governance: Pender County Commissioner Brett Springer was elected to the NC Association of County Commissioners board for 2026-27. Public Health: North Carolina health officials are tracking a rare brain-eating amoeba case after a teen was critically ill, with the exposure source still under investigation.

G20 in Asheville: U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent used the finance meeting to press allies on Iran, warning airlines, maritime and even digital assets could be targeted and saying the U.S. has “quiet” talks with China and Russia about keeping the Strait of Hormuz open. AI policy fight: Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang urged G20 countries to avoid AI rules focused on “theoretical harms,” pushing for real-world, practical guardrails instead. North Carolina courts: The NC Supreme Court ruled a defendant knowingly and voluntarily waived his right to counsel after filing handwritten waivers and speaking with the trial judge. Transportation funding tension: NCDOT hasn’t given local governments a clear cost breakdown for possible reimbursement tied to the I-77 toll lanes, leaving leaders unsure ahead of a Sept. 23 vote. Public safety and health: Wake County plans to remove about 400,000 mugshots from its website; and a new analysis finds food insecurity in North Carolina is rising, with 15.5% of residents affected. Tech in traffic: NCDOT is rolling out ClearGuide® dash-cam imagery to improve traffic operations and visual verification.

G20 in Asheville: U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says the U.S. held “quiet” talks with China and Russia about Iran, but China offered no specific commitment to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Trade & debt: G20 finance chiefs (except China) backed action to curb “non-market” policies that fuel export overreliance and worsen imbalances, as bond markets reel and sovereign-debt worries grow. AI policy: At a parallel G20 innovation meeting, the U.S. pushed the “Carolina Principles” to avoid new AI rules and rely on existing law for truly novel issues. Japan/yen: Bessent urged the Bank of Japan to keep decisive steps to address yen weakness and inflation, while BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda said the board will weigh upside price risks at its next meeting. North Carolina impact: State Fire Marshal Brian Taylor was elected president of the National Association of State Fire Marshals. Public safety: Orange County named its new crisis diversion facility the Jamezetta Bedford Crisis Care Center. Food recall: Over 10,000 cases of Hodo Lightly Fried Chili Crisp Tofu were recalled in 29 states over possible ink contamination.

NC Utilities Commission: Dominion Energy North Carolina’s proposed base rate hike is headed to a public hearing in Halifax County on Sept. 28, with the utility seeking an 11.99% overall increase (about $36.8 million) for roughly 129,000 customers. AI & Local Economy: Halifax County residents heard plans for a Quiet Data Centers AI data center in Enfield, including projected investment, jobs, and questions about water use. Health & Work: The EEOC sued Family Dollar of North Carolina over alleged pregnancy discrimination after a Greenville employee was fired following pregnancy-related medical limits. Education & Research: UNCW welcomed the 78-foot research vessel Osprey to expand coastal and marine science and hands-on learning. Public Safety & Courts: A judge ruled former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Michael Jeffries is mentally competent to stand trial in a sex trafficking case. G20 in Asheville: U.S. and Japan officials emphasized “orderly” yen moves and coordinated efforts as finance leaders meet, while the U.S. pushes a lighter-touch approach to AI regulation. Community Events: The N.C. Mountain State Fair announces special themed days (including student, senior, first responder, and food drive admission deals) running Sept. 11–20 in Fletcher.

G20 in Asheville: Finance chiefs opened a two-day meeting with growth and debt on the agenda, but Iran tensions and a surprise Russian presence set the tone. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent pushed a growth-first message while warning of pressure on Iran’s economy; European officials said Russia can’t be “normalized” while Ukraine’s war continues and even skipped a group photo. Press freedom at the summit: The Treasury Department barred some outlets, including Bloomberg and the Wall Street Journal, from covering the G20. North Carolina voting fight: The Trump administration asked an appeals court to revive parts of a USPS mail-ballot rule blocked by a judge, with North Carolina ballots scheduled to go out Sept. 4. Amazon lawsuit: The FTC and 22 states, including North Carolina, sued Amazon over alleged hidden ad surcharges that inflated prices. Public safety: Lundberg Family Farms expanded a white rice recall to more states over possible foreign material. Local business: Malone is set to welcome Marshalls, Shoe Dept. Encore, and Five Below at the former Big Lots site.

G20 in Asheville: UK Chancellor John Healey urged allies to “step up” on Middle East tensions, energy prices and cost-of-living as finance chiefs gathered in North Carolina. Middle East fallout: Trump said the U.S. will “hit Iran hard” after renewed exchanges of fire; oil jumped on the escalation. AI and markets: Bank of England chief Andrew Bailey warned frontier AI could destabilize the global financial system, with cyber risk a top concern. North Carolina courts: A Business Court case was dismissed without prejudice after a former employee and LLC member’s alleged theft claims were found too vague on contract, fiduciary duties, and fraud/conversion specifics. PFAS lawsuit: Two Swepsonville families filed a class action over groundwater contamination tied to “forever chemicals” from industrial and sludge-spreading operations. Public health alert: NCDHHS confirmed rabies in baby goats at a mobile petting zoo; officials released exposure locations and urged anyone who touched the animals to call local health departments. Local community: Asheville’s “Building Bridges” event is set for Sept. 23, and a new Goodwill “Rewind” store opens Sept. 4 in Matthews focused on music and vinyl.

G20 in Asheville: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is pushing G20 finance leaders to prioritize growth and rethink trade terms with China to shrink global imbalances, while also warning of tougher economic pressure on Iran. Iran pressure and risk: The U.S. carried out its first strike on Iranian rocket launchers in weeks, and Bessent says more sanctions on banks tied to Iran transactions are coming. Local spotlight and backlash: Asheville’s Helene recovery is front and center at the summit, with some residents saying federal help still falls short. Press access fight: The U.S. Treasury blocked credentials for some journalists from covering the G20 finance meeting, drawing criticism over press freedom. NC education policy: A new state budget rule bars schools from lunch-shaming practices by requiring equal meal options regardless of lunch debt. Medicaid spending snapshots: New Bern’s “Temporary Codes” Medicaid bills rose to $11,695 in 2024, and Greensboro saw chemotherapy-drug spending nearly double.

Rabies Alert: North Carolina health officials say baby goats at a mobile petting zoo in Harmony tested positive for rabies, and anyone who had close contact between July 28 and Aug. 27 should contact their local health department; officials say there’s no broad public threat beyond attendees and close contacts. Medicaid Watch: New federal spending data shows sharp local swings in Medicaid billing across the state, including surgery and care categories rising in places like Halifax, Bessemer City, Havelock, Bayboro, and Harrells, with some towns seeing steep jumps in specific service lines. Cost-of-Power Politics: Democratic Senate hopeful Roy Cooper is leaning on data-center affordability, arguing companies should pay for their own power and build energy sources to prevent higher rates for consumers. G20 in Asheville: U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is hosting G20 finance meetings in North Carolina amid trade disputes, Iran-related sanctions pressure, and worries about debt and bond markets. Local Arts & Revitalization: Bethel received a $20,000 public art grant for a mural at the Bethel Pitt Stop, tying downtown renewal to the town’s agricultural and faith roots. College Football in Dublin: UNC opened the season against TCU at Aviva Stadium, with Bill Belichick leading the Tar Heels in an international matchup.

Meta Settlement for Teens: North Carolina is set to receive up to $645 million through 2035 in a landmark child-safety deal with Meta, with a guaranteed minimum of $451 million, plus major changes to Facebook and Instagram defaults like tighter teen time limits, overnight feed limits, and more parent controls. Public Health Alert: NCDHHS confirmed rabies in baby goats at the Farm Adventures mobile petting zoo in Harmony; officials say people who had close contact between July 28 and Aug. 27 should call their local health department for a risk check and possible preventive medicine. Elections Watch: Gov. Josh Stein vetoed HB 958, a sweeping elections reform bill that would have cut early voting days and expanded the state auditor’s role, sending it back to the House. Voting-by-Mail Court Fight: A federal judge temporarily blocked a USPS rule that would have required states to get federal approval for vote-by-mail ballot and return-envelope designs ahead of the Nov. 3 election. Local Business & Jobs: Winterville Machine Works won a $100,000 state Building Reuse grant to renovate its facility and add nine jobs. Consumer Fraud Snapshot: BBB Scam Tracker data shows multiple NC cities tied near the bottom-middle ranks for July scam reports, with Charlotte and Raleigh leading the state totals.

Business & Community: Ayden bottler Jeff Minges was honored with a PepsiCo Lifetime Achievement Award, spotlighting decades of leadership and eastern North Carolina community support. College Football (NC-focused): Week 0 kicks off Saturday with UNC vs. TCU in Dublin, a major early test for Bill Belichick’s Tar Heels as fans look for odds and predictions. Local Economy & Jobs: Boater’s World Manufacturing Group plans a $6M waterfront manufacturing operation in Chocowinity, aiming to create 179 jobs with state support. Public Safety (Labor Day): North Carolina launches its Labor Day “Booze It & Lose It” enforcement push, urging drivers to plan ahead for a safe ride home. Tech & Teens: Meta’s settlement would pay up to $17.1B and promises changes to Facebook and Instagram aimed at reducing harm to children and teens. State Policy Watch: A new report says North Carolina’s film grant program likely won’t award significant new funding until 2029, raising concerns for local production work. Health & Services: Miller Cushing Holladay expands family law services across North Carolina, adding more specialists for divorce, custody, support, and related cases.

Vocational Education: Wayne Community College again landed on USA Today’s Top Vocational Schools list, earning top-tier stars for graduation outcomes and career value. College Football (UNC): UNC opens Week Zero in Dublin against TCU, with the international matchup framed as a bigger university showcase and a key test for Bill Belichick’s second season. Public Health: Iredell County issued a potential rabies exposure alert tied to a mobile petting zoo after baby goats tested positive following a skunk incident; officials are urging anyone who attended recent events to contact the health department. Disaster Recovery: FEMA announced $16.8 million for Hendersonville Affordable Housing Corporation repairs to Helene-damaged apartments, aiming to speed residents back into safer homes. Energy & Defense: The Army selected Fort Bragg, NC, as one of five bases for nuclear microreactors under the Janus program, with contractors developing and operating the systems. Utilities: Duke Energy reached an agreement to cut its proposed NC rate increase to 3.4% over two years. Food Safety: A lettuce-linked cyclosporiasis outbreak has expanded into three more states, pushing the total beyond 11,000 illnesses. Elections & Courts: DOJ appealed a court order blocking USPS mail-voting rule changes, keeping the legal fight in motion ahead of November.