AGP Executive Report

AI & Manufacturing: Unilever is partnering with Accenture to scale AI-enabled digital twins across its global factories, aiming to improve quality and efficiency and respond faster to demand. North Carolina Economy & Industry: Gaon Cable says its U.S. subsidiary will invest $50M to double AI-data-center power cable production at its Tarboro plant, with new lines coming online in October and next April. Energy & Tech Infrastructure: AiOnX is buying a 77% stake in Genesis Digital Assets and converting 15 North Carolina-area data centers to AI/HPC workloads, highlighting how power capacity is driving the next wave of growth. Agriculture & Public Health: USDA is stepping up New World screwworm monitoring as cases expand in Texas, including new efforts involving dogs, drones, and AI. Local Government & Elections: A North Carolina bill (HB 958) targets ranked-choice voting statewide, drawing criticism from voting-rights advocates. Education: Moore County Schools announced multiple principal appointments effective July 1. Business & Community: Charlotte’s mayoral hopefuls introduced themselves to City Council as the selection process moves forward. Food Safety: FDA elevated a recall of Alfredo sauce sold in 41 states to Class I over potential Salmonella contamination. Animal Welfare: Federal and state officials euthanized more than 250 game birds in a Traphill farm case tied to a cockfighting investigation.

Aerospace Jobs: Gov. Josh Stein joined officials to break ground on JetZero’s first manufacturing and final assembly campus at Piedmont Triad International Airport, a $4.7 billion project projected to create 14,500 jobs over the next decade. Public Health: NC Attorney General Jeff Jackson urged the EPA to require microplastics monitoring in drinking water, after the agency added microplastics to its contaminant research list. Community Care: Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Wilkes Medical Center earned Becker’s Hospital Review recognition as one of 100 “Great Community Hospitals.” State Politics/Services: Congressman Don Davis said his office helped eastern North Carolinians recover about $2.45 million from federal agencies since the start of 2026. Local Culture: A Juneteenth NColor celebration is set for June 20 at Seabreeze in Carolina Beach, highlighting Black coastal history with music, art, and community events. Drought Watch: Beekeepers warn North Carolina’s drought is cutting nectar and could weaken colonies heading into winter, with possible grocery price impacts. Business/Bankruptcy: West Marine filed for Chapter 11 and plans to close 59 stores nationwide, including locations in North Carolina.

Health Costs & ACA Fallout: In western North Carolina, the Tobiassens say their Affordable Care Act premiums jumped from about $130 to over $550 after enhanced tax credits expired, forcing them to cancel coverage—an example of how rising costs are pushing more families to go uninsured. Medical Oversight: A North Carolina medical board disciplinary order criticized a surgeon’s work on a 13-year-old, saying the procedure shouldn’t have been done at that age and that the family wasn’t properly informed or documented. Medicaid Work Rule: North Carolina waited nearly a year for federal guidance on its Medicaid work requirement, but CMS’s interim final rule adds new complications by narrowing exemptions for “medically frail” enrollees. State Budget Timing: GOP leaders say the long-awaited NC budget may not be finished as quickly as hoped, with final dates still uncertain as lawmakers review the full spending plan. Sports & Community Pride: The Carolina Hurricanes won the Stanley Cup again, beating Vegas 3-0 in Game 6, with Jordan Staal taking Conn Smythe honors and Rod Brind’Amour lifting the Cup as coach. Local Crime Update: A Sun Drop murder suspect from 2008 was arrested in Washington state and faces extradition back to Cabarrus County. Business & Jobs: Amazon’s multibillion-dollar fiber deal with Corning will add 1,000 jobs in North Carolina and expand fiber training with Catawba Valley Community College.

Public Safety & Local Budgets: Richmond County commissioners approved the 2026-27 budget with a 4% pay increase for full-time staff, more support for first responders, and a 25% boost for county rescue organizations. Training for Emergency Response: Richmond County first responders finished autism training led by the Autism Society of North Carolina, aimed at improving recognition and communication during calls. Health & Food Safety: Clover Hill Dairy voluntarily recalled all cheese products after Listeria concerns; the Maryland health department had suspended its license. North Carolina Economy & Jobs: Amazon’s multibillion-dollar fiber deal with Corning is expected to create 1,000 jobs at Corning in North Carolina and expand fiber-optic training at Catawba Valley Community College. College Sports: UNC landed 3-star DL Kaiden Robinson-Vickers over NC State and UCF. Ebola Response: Samaritan’s Purse opened Ebola Treatment Centers in Bunia and Nyankunde in the DRC to expand care capacity. Elections & Immigration: ICE Homeland Security Investigations obtained voter files from Webb County, Texas, and Forsyth County, North Carolina, as part of efforts to remove noncitizens from voter rolls. Sports & Community: Preservation North Carolina’s Hillsborough Ramble highlighted the town’s layered history, including a stop at Dickerson Chapel after a major grant.

Lottery Results: The NC Lottery posted Saturday, June 13 Powerball (03-13-44-50-53, Powerball 02, Power Play 4) plus Pick 3, Pick 4, Cash 5, Double Play, and Millionaire for Life numbers. Courts & Business: A Durham Superior Court fight over a charging order tied to a Delaware LLC in a $524M Universal Life Insurance Company case heads into the appeals process. Local Elections: New Hanover County Board of Elections rescheduled its August 2026 regular meeting to Aug. 19. Community & Health: Durham’s Triangle Park chapter of The Links Inc. held its White Rose Luncheon, raising money for education, health, and wellness programs. Public Safety & Preparedness: Leland hosted a Hurricane Expo to help residents get kits, know resources, and use StormTrack-3. Sports: North Carolina and West Virginia both advanced in the College World Series, setting up a Sunday matchup for a national semifinal berth. Environment: A Southeast “Great Pollinator Census” is set for Aug. 21-22, and North Carolina State University is inviting residents to count pollinators for 15 minutes a day.

Data Centers & Politics: A new analysis says more than 200 data centers are being built across competitive House districts, turning AI-driven growth into a midterm flashpoint over power bills, water use, farmland, and local influence. Federal Courts & Parks: A judge ordered the Trump administration to restore altered exhibits and displays at national museums and parks, pausing further changes tied to an executive order. North Carolina Elections: An opinion piece questions a push to cut NC early voting from 17 days to 10, arguing the state’s current system is widely used across party lines. Health Care Access: A UNC Health Pharmacy-led effort highlights how community pharmacists can screen for social needs like housing and food insecurity to help manage atrial fibrillation. Sports (NC): North Carolina baseball is set for a Sunday College World Series showdown after a win that kept its season alive. Community & Storm Prep: Leland held a hurricane expo to help residents prepare, with local officials and the National Weather Service offering guidance. Food Safety: The FDA announced a recall of a frozen snack product sold in more than 20 states, including North Carolina, over possible metal contamination.

State Housing & Infrastructure: Gov. Josh Stein announced $13.7 million in Community Development Block Grant–Neighborhood Revitalization awards for 13 North Carolina communities, targeting housing rehab, reconstruction, and public infrastructure for low- and moderate-income residents. Local Government & Elections: Republicans on the Wake County Board of Elections rejected NC State’s Talley Student Center as an early voting site, citing parking access and swapping in a nearby building instead. Public Safety Policy: A North Carolina Senate committee advanced the Prohibit Unauthorized Camping Act, which would ban camping or sleeping on government property without authorization, with limited local-designated areas and exemptions for cars. Tech & Growth: Sanford/Lee County/Broadway’s Technical Review Committee will review a proposed $900 million data center from PointOne Data Centers, with Phase One planned at 300,000 square feet. Workplace Tech Ethics: A North Carolina software engineer received approval to opt out of using AI tools on religious grounds, highlighting a growing push for workplace accommodations. Sports Betting & Taxes: North Carolina lawmakers moved toward increasing the sports betting tax rate, with operators facing potential higher costs under the budget plan. Lottery: NC Lottery Pick 3 and Mega Millions results were posted for June 11 and June 12.

State Housing & Infrastructure Grants: Gov. Josh Stein and the NC Department of Commerce announced $13.7 million in Community Development Block Grant–Neighborhood Revitalization awards for 13 communities, targeting housing rehab, reconstruction, public facilities, and neighborhood improvements for low- and moderate-income residents. Water Pollution Lawsuit: The NC Department of Environmental Quality and the NC attorney general sued Brenntag Mid-South to stop alleged illegal contamination of state waters tied to a tributary flowing toward Jordan Lake, seeking a cleanup plan within 30 days. Courts & Public Safety: A federal judge rejected requests for extra input in James Comey’s criminal case tied to social media threats; separately, an extradition review is set for a North Carolina cold-case suspect in a 2008 Sun Drop bottling plant double murder. Community Impact: Federal authorities charged an Indian Land, SC man with antisemitic vandalism at a Charlotte Jewish complex. Local Crime: Delaware State Police arrested a North Carolina man accused of stealing nearly 2,000 feet of copper wire from a solar construction site. Digital Policy: The NC Senate advanced a bill restricting social media access for younger teens, with parental consent rules and classroom AI literacy requirements.

Hurricane Recovery & State Funding: Gov. Josh Stein is seeking an additional $10B from the federal government for Helene recovery, as North Carolina continues to plug “significant gaps” left by the storm. Energy & Power Costs: Duke Energy’s proposed rate hike is drawing fresh scrutiny, with advocates pushing for data centers to be billed separately rather than folded into general ratepayer costs. Workforce Development: The Duke Energy Foundation is awarding $600,000 to expand Central NC’s energy and advanced manufacturing talent pipeline, including grants tied to community college training and apprenticeship support. Public Health: A new report says rising costs are pushing more Mecklenburg County families into financial hardship, with many delaying or skipping having children. Legal & Business: Federal authorities accuse a North Carolina man and his lawyer of fraud tied to the Napster acquisition, alleging a fake $3.36B funding claim. Local Governance: A North Carolina bill to pause property reappraisals is headed to the governor, as some cities weigh higher tax rates if moratoriums take effect.

Local Grants & Community Spaces: Preservation Warrenton, NC, Inc. won a $15,000 Duke Energy Foundation grant to turn a donated historic lot into the Macon & Main Historic Park, with landscaping, interpretive signage, and school/community programming. Election 2026: U.S. Senate candidate Michael Whatley says his campaign centers on jobs, lower taxes/costs, and public safety, pointing to North Carolina’s large veteran and military footprint. Energy & Courts: A federal appeals court denied groups’ requests to pause water-quality certifications for the Mountain Valley “Southgate” natural gas pipeline extension from Virginia into North Carolina. Hurricane Helene Relief: Gov. Josh Stein sent Congress an updated request for $10 billion in Helene recovery funding, cutting about $3 billion from the earlier ask and warning of major infrastructure and housing impacts without more help. Health & Education: Forsyth Tech highlights new Workforce Pell Grants that expand federal aid for job training beyond traditional degree programs. Environment: Severe long-term drought persists across central North Carolina, with Raleigh and other areas reporting major rainfall deficits and water-supply conservation measures.

Hurricane Helene Relief: Gov. Josh Stein met with North Carolina’s congressional delegation to press for more than $10 billion in additional funding, laying out needs for housing, water systems, local infrastructure, economic recovery, private roads and federal highways. Election Rules: A State Board of Elections hearing focused on voter ID rule changes that could affect how counties handle provisional ballots and absentee cures, plus how ID-exception affidavits are judged. Property Taxes: The NC House approved a reappraisal moratorium (Senate Bill 889), pausing new property values for Guilford and Davidson this year while the governor reviews the bill. Data Center Backlash: Davie residents gathered to organize opposition to a proposed data center, citing water use, noise, and health concerns. Food Safety: A pet food recall expanded over possible vitamin B1 (thiamine) deficiency risk, including lots sold in North Carolina. Local Community: NC Volunteers in Public Schools held an end-of-year celebration in Brunswick County, and Dosher Memorial Hospital marked its 96th anniversary. Practical Help: Cooperative Extension is offering free pressure canner gauge testing in Bolivia, and Caldwell seniors can apply for $50 farmers market vouchers via Thrive.

N.C. Higher Education & Sports: NC State says it’s investigating whether LSU improperly induced Will Wade to leave and whether LSU violated North Carolina’s Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices Act, after LSU asked NC State to sign a release of claims. Energy & Utilities: A solar industry report ranks North Carolina fifth for installed solar, but regulators’ pause on Duke Energy’s new solar procurement is raising worries about future supply and higher bills. Public Safety & Health Costs: A new report warns many NC counties face a recurring pattern of inmate healthcare overruns driven by off-site hospital visits and specialty pharmacy needs that strain budgets. Consumer Protection: A Raleigh wedding photography company accused of ghosting couples is facing a court deadline to turn over files after the state attorney general’s lawsuit. Local Growth & Jobs: Buc-ee’s broke ground on North Carolina’s first location in Mebane, targeting an opening by November 2027 and about 200 full-time jobs. State Politics & Health Equity: Lawmakers and advocates pushed the latest “Momnibus” push to improve Black maternal health outcomes, citing persistent disparities.

Business & Jobs: Amazon and Corning announced a multibillion-dollar fiber optics deal that will create 1,000 advanced manufacturing jobs in North Carolina and expand training with Catawba Valley Community College. Public Health: FDA says Revlon didn’t properly test some products for cancer-causing chemicals or mold, warning of higher risk and asking for a remediation plan. Consumer Safety: A Salmonella outbreak tied to moringa supplements has expanded to 119 cases across 36 states, prompting an expanded recall. State Politics: The NC House advanced a bill to freeze some counties’ property tax assessments for a year after revaluations, setting up a final vote and possible governor action. Healthcare Costs: A new report says counties are seeing a recurring pattern of inmate healthcare overruns driven by off-site hospital visits and specialty pharmacy needs. Local Governance: Wake County commissioners heard details on the proposed WakeMed–Atrium merger, with questions about how it could affect costs. Tech & Finance: NC lawmakers moved a crypto ATM consumer protection bill forward, aiming to curb kiosk scams as the machines spread.

North Carolina Economic Push Abroad: Gov. Josh Stein and Commerce Sec. Lee Lilley promoted the state in Switzerland and Germany, citing 120+ company projects and nearly $5.2B in capital investment over the past decade. State Courts & Business: A biopharma co-founder won a North Carolina business-court fight over nonsolicitation terms, with the judge finding the restrictions void under California law. Public Safety & Health: AG Jeff Jackson recognized Eddie Caldwell Jr. with the Dogwood Award for decades of work supporting sheriffs and law enforcement, and warned residents about a workers’ compensation fraud scheme that pressures victims to pay to access fake hearings. Environment: Jackson and NCDEQ sued Brenntag Mid-South to stop illegal contamination of state waters tied to Third Fork Creek and demand a cleanup plan. Food & Consumer Alerts: Clover Hill Dairy recalled soft ricotta/requeson cheese due to possible Listeria risk, and pet food recall coverage expanded after FDA updates. Local Growth & Housing: Brunswick County’s planning board approved a 400-home development for Shallotte despite resident concerns about traffic and rapid buildout. Business Expansion: Publix announced five new store openings across Florida and the Southeast, including additional locations in North Carolina. Tech & Privacy: A rural Wilson founder opened preorders for HYVE Ether OS, an AI system pitched to run on local hardware instead of data centers.

Data Center Debate in Charlotte: Charlotte council approved a five-month moratorium on new data center construction after residents raised concerns about quality of life, while city attorneys noted it can’t block projects already approved. Big Tech + NC Jobs: Amazon and Corning announced a multibillion-dollar fiber deal expected to create 1,000 manufacturing jobs in North Carolina and expand fiber training with Catawba Valley Community College. Higher Ed Retreat on Pride: Colleges including UNC Chapel Hill and UNC Greensboro reportedly posted and then deleted Pride Month messages, with some campuses stepping back amid new state rules and neutrality policies. Justice Department Shake-Up: Trump formally nominated Todd Blanche for attorney general, setting up a tough Senate confirmation fight. Immigration Court Ruling: A federal judge struck down Trump’s $100,000 H-1B visa fee as an unlawful tax, with an appeal expected. Local Public Safety Funding: Volunteer fire departments in Lenoir County received more than $180,000 in state grants for equipment and capital improvements. Raleigh Music Moment: Dave Matthews pushed back on claims his Israel criticism is antisemitic, saying he has deep respect for Jewish culture and history. Lottery Results: NC Lottery Powerball and Pick 3 results for June 8, 2026 were released.

Duke Energy & Power Bills: Nearly 200 people packed a Durham hearing to oppose Duke Energy’s proposed 18% electricity rate hikes, with residents warning they can’t afford higher bills. Fiber Optics Jobs: Amazon and Corning announced a multibillion-dollar fiber deal that will add about 1,000 advanced manufacturing jobs in North Carolina and expand technician training with Catawba Valley Community College. Rural EMS Funding: NCDHHS is awarding $10 million to 39 local EMS agencies to strengthen the EMS workforce and expand access to mental health and substance-use treatment in rural areas. Immigration Court Ruling: A federal judge struck down Trump’s $100,000 H-1B visa fee as an unlawful tax, a win for tech employers that rely on skilled foreign workers. Coal Plant Grant: The Trump administration is giving Duke Energy a $28.4 million grant to upgrade a North Carolina coal plant, drawing criticism from conservation groups. Local Business & Community: A new Heritage BBQ smokehouse opened in Wilmington’s Monkey Junction; and in Welcome, a Tribute to Women Veterans event is set for June 10.