AGP Executive Report

Amazon & Corning Manufacturing: Amazon’s fiber push is getting a boost via a multibillion-dollar Corning pact aimed at expanding U.S. fiber optics manufacturing, with 1,000 advanced manufacturing jobs in North Carolina. Energy & Solar: A Solar Energy Industries Association report ranks North Carolina No. 5 for installed solar capacity, but regulators have paused Duke Energy’s new solar procurement, raising concerns about future supply and customer bills. Power Projects: MN8 Energy says its 260 MW of Microsoft-contracted solar is now operating, including American Beech (140 MW) in Halifax County. Construction & Local Growth: Buc-ee’s broke ground on its first NC location in Mebane, targeting a November 2027 opening and bringing 200 full-time jobs. Health Costs in Jails: A UNC Chapel Hill-commissioned report finds NC counties face a recurring pattern of inmate healthcare cost overruns, driven by off-site hospital visits and specialty pharmacy needs. Public Input: NC DEQ is taking comments on an air permit modification for Egger’s Lexington Particleboard plant in Davidson County. Water & Compliance: Greensboro published its 2025 drinking water quality report, saying testing meets state and federal standards.

Fiber Optics Jobs: Amazon and Corning struck a multibillion-dollar deal to expand U.S. optical fiber manufacturing, with 1,000 new North Carolina jobs and a new training push with Catawba Valley Community College. Food & Ag Innovation: Appalachian State won a $1.82M grant to turn surplus sweet potatoes into plant-based milk and dairy alternatives. Public Health Recalls: Clover Hill Dairy’s soft ricotta/requesón recall widened after a Listeria outbreak tied to multiple Mid-Atlantic states. Consumer Protection (Crypto): The NC House advanced a bill to regulate crypto kiosks after rising scam complaints. Local Enforcement: Wrightsville Beach is weighing higher fines for dog waste violations. Courts & Safety: A federal judge ruled a Charlotte train-stabbing defendant incompetent to stand trial, ordering treatment to restore competency. Workforce/Industry: High Point x Design launched an educators tour to connect local teachers to careers in the design and home furnishings sector.

International Business Push: Gov. Josh Stein and Commerce Sec. Lee Lilley promoted North Carolina in Switzerland and Germany, citing 120+ German/Swiss company projects and nearly $5.2B in capital investment tied to job growth. Real Estate & Consumer Protection: NC AG Jeff Jackson and the Real Estate Commission warned renters about fake online listings and impersonation scams, urging people to verify before paying deposits. Courts & Public Safety: A federal judge found Charlotte light-rail stabbing suspect Decarlos Brown Jr. incompetent for now and ordered treatment to restore competency, delaying the federal case while the state case pauses. Healthcare Construction: Novant Health marked a topping-out milestone for a new 20-bed Greenville hospital campus, targeting a late-2027 opening. Food Safety: Clover Hill Dairy recalled soft ricotta/requeson cheese over possible Listeria contamination, with distribution including North Carolina. Local Development: Brunswick County approved a planned 400-home subdivision near Shallotte, despite resident concerns about traffic and pace of growth. Tech/AI (Local): A rural Wilson founder opened preorders for HYVE Ether OS, an AI system designed to run on household hardware instead of remote data centers. Energy/Infrastructure: Hubbell completed its acquisition of NSI Industries, headquartered in Huntersville, expanding electrical components manufacturing.

Data Center Policy: Charlotte approved a five-month moratorium on new data center construction as residents push for more scrutiny of air and water impacts, while city lawyers note it can’t block projects already approved under state law. AI Supply Chain Jobs: Amazon and Corning signed a multibillion-dollar fiber deal to expand U.S. data-center infrastructure, with Corning adding 1,000 advanced manufacturing jobs in North Carolina and hundreds of construction roles plus a fiber-optic training expansion with Catawba Valley Community College. Housing + Sustainability: Durham broke ground on North Carolina’s first Living Building Challenge-certified affordable development, using modular zero-energy-ready homes with solar and EV-ready prep. Local Business Growth: Road Haugs Moving & Storage expanded services in Huntersville, leaning on 40+ years of experience and local knowledge for residential and office moves. Manufacturing Leadership: Domtar named John Graves general manager of its Sanford mill, overseeing tissue and converting assets and capital investments. Energy + Costs: Consumer advocates urged NC regulators to create separate data-center rates for ratepayers as the construction boom continues. Legal/Workforce: A federal judge struck down Trump’s $100,000 H-1B fee as an unlawful tax, a potential relief for employers relying on skilled foreign workers.

Fiber Manufacturing Boost: Amazon and Corning announced a multibillion-dollar fiber optics deal that will add about 1,000 advanced manufacturing jobs in North Carolina and expand 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 rural access to mental health and substance use treatment. Energy Policy Watch: The Trump administration is granting Duke Energy $28.4 million to upgrade a North Carolina coal plant, a move critics call a costly push away from clean energy. Utility Cost Pressure: Duke Energy customers are bracing for proposed rate hikes after the Utilities Commission held final hearings on an 18% increase over two years. Workforce & Education: N.C. A&T will launch a Ph.D. in bioengineering, adding concentrations in neurotechnology and molecular/cellular/systems engineering. Consumer Safety: NC officials warned renters about rental scams, urging people to verify listings and avoid pressure to send deposits. Immigration Court Update: A federal judge struck down the proposed $100,000 H-1B visa fee as an unlawful tax, setting up an appeal. Local Business: Downlite International will close a Union County bedding plant in Monroe, leaving about 113 workers jobless.

Rural Health & EMS: Martin County’s hospital closure and limited emergency coverage leave residents facing long drives for higher-level care, highlighting the stakes of the $50B rural health push tied to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Healthcare Delivery: Blue Cross NC says its value-based care work has generated more than $1B in savings since 2019, with 3M members in programs and 70+ active agreements across specialties like kidney care, cardiology, maternity and GI. Public Health & Pharma Supply Chain: A new forecast projects the global prefilled syringes market to jump from $11.58B (2026) to $29.68B by 2035, driven by biologics, GLP-1 therapies and stricter safety rules. Higher Ed & Civil Rights: DOJ launched 15 new investigations into potential race discrimination in medical school admissions, expanding a crackdown that follows earlier actions against UCLA and Yale. Local Government Finance: Onslow County budget talks face uncertainty as Senate Bill 889 could delay 2026 property tax revaluations, risking a roughly $20M revenue shortfall. Nursing Home Quality: The Laurels of Greentree Ridge in Buncombe County earned a CMS five-star overall rating in Q1 2026, above the state average. Energy & Costs: GasBuddy data shows North Carolina fuel prices easing in late May, with notable lows reported across multiple counties for regular, premium, diesel and E15/E85. Film & Entertainment Incentives: NC approved a $15M grant for MrBeast’s “Beast Games” Season 3, signaling at least $60M in expected in-state spending. Defense & Jobs: Rep. Don Davis advanced 29 provisions through the FY2027 NDAA committee passage, aiming to bolster eastern NC installations like Seymour Johnson AFB and Cherry Point.

Healthcare & Rural Access: Blue Cross NC says its value-based care deals have generated more than $1B in savings since 2019, with double-digit gains in chronic care quality, while a separate report highlights how hospital closures and limited emergency services leave counties like Martin County struggling to reach higher-level care in time. Obesity Drug Pipeline: Pfizer is recruiting for a phase 3 pivotal trial of berobenatide, a potential once-monthly GLP-1 for weight loss, after phase 2b results showed sustained weight reduction with a tolerable safety profile. Energy & Environment: The Trump administration is dismantling the Ocean Observatories Initiative, a 900+ sensor deep-ocean monitoring network, with instruments being removed from waters off Oregon and North Carolina, raising alarms ahead of major ocean shifts. Data Centers & Power Costs: North Carolina’s House advanced a Ratepayer Protection Act aimed at stopping utility rate hikes tied to data center growth, with bipartisan support. Local Economy & Infrastructure: Durham announced nighttime downtown street closures in June for a waterline replacement project. Business & Community: Bitty & Beau’s launched a lower-cost Mini Cruiser mobile franchise model in Wilmington. Transportation Costs: GasBuddy price reports show E85 and diesel deals in multiple counties, with E85 lows around $3.27–$3.43 and diesel lows near $4.62–$5.19 in the week ending May 30.

Teen Driving Safety: Retired drag racer Doug Herbert turned a family tragedy into B.R.A.K.E.S. teen driver safety classes, bringing the program to EchoPark Speedway June 13-14. Healthcare Costs: Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina reported a $497M loss, warning customers to expect premium increases as the insurer calls the system “broken” and too expensive. Nursing Home Oversight: Stonecreek Health and Rehabilitation in Asheville received a CMS 2-star rating for Q1 2026, with CMS citing staffing and care factors behind the score. Local Business & Real Estate: Raleigh is weighing a deal to sell naming rights for the Convention Center to Atlantic Union Bank, with $525,000 a year plus 2% annual growth. Defense & Manufacturing: Fleet Readiness Center East at MCAS Cherry Point completed the first F-35B Technology Refresh-3 upgrade, supporting future Block 4 work. Energy & Transportation: Gas prices around Asheville eased to about $3.95 on average June 6, though still well above last year; meanwhile, Duke Energy rate-hike pressure continues to ripple through utility planning.

Energy & Fuel Prices: GasBuddy data for the week ending May 30 shows North Carolina’s average midgrade price at $4.50/gal and regular at $4.03/gal, with notable local lows like premium at $4.42 in Mecklenburg and midgrade at $3.96 in Alamance. Public Safety: A multi-agency manhunt is underway for two escaped inmates from Vance County Detention Center, with authorities saying they may have outside help and offering up to $40,000 for tips. Foreclosures: A Craven County notice lists a June 16, 2026 foreclosure sale for property at 351 Saints Delight Church Road in New Bern. Health & Medicaid Spending: New federal Medicaid billing figures highlight rapid growth in specific service categories in small NC communities, including Taylorsville’s $587,925 in “National Codes Established for State Medicaid Agencies” claims in 2024. Power & Industry: The Trump administration is set to route nearly $700M into the U.S. coal industry using the Defense Production Act, including support tied to Duke Energy and other utilities. Local Resilience: Rescuers report a seriously injured man was found after being stuck in the Watauga River for days following a cliff fall near Beech Mountain.

Energy Policy & Jobs: The Trump administration is pushing a $700M coal boost via the Defense Production Act, including $425M for upgrades/extension of coal plants nationwide and a $28.4M grant for Duke Energy’s Roxboro plant in Person County, with additional funding tied to other states’ coal facilities. Fishing Rules Fight: A court order has halted what would have been the longest red snapper season in years, as recreational anglers face commercial and environmental groups in a dispute tied to efforts to loosen federal fishing rules. Healthcare Costs: Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina reported a $497M loss, signaling premium pressure for its 4.3M members, while WakeMed is also moving toward a strategic combination with Atrium Health. Utilities & Reliability: A new map shows residential electricity prices rising fastest in some states; North Carolina is up 8.1% year over year, with grid investment and demand growth cited. Local Industry & Construction: Granite Falls authorized talks for a contract to build its second fire station after securing a $5M state grant. Public Safety & Fraud: Authorities say two men stole about $591,000 in electricity from a Duke Energy substation near Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Data Centers & Power Costs: North Carolina lawmakers are pushing new rules for data centers, including Senate Bill 730’s noise and water-use requirements, while Charlotte weighs a 150-day moratorium to protect residents amid drought and rising demand. Energy & Rates: Duke Energy’s proposed rate hike remains a flashpoint, and the broader debate over how utilities should handle large-load customers is playing out in other states too. Workforce & Industry Growth: AbbVie announced a $1.4B, 185-acre Durham campus expected to create 730+ jobs by 2028, boosting North Carolina’s life-sciences manufacturing footprint. Public Health & Oversight: A New York Times investigation spotlights autism therapy clinic scrutiny in North Carolina, adding pressure on state oversight of Medicaid-funded ABA services. Environment & Agriculture: A new study links Parkinson’s disease risk to pesticide exposure, raising concerns for farmworkers and nearby communities. Business & Construction: Lane (Charlotte) and Brayman won a $1B Ohio River tunnel job, underscoring continued heavy-civil demand. Safety & Compliance: NC AG Jeff Jackson warned of workers’ compensation fraud scams impersonating Industrial Commission officials.

Energy & Utilities: Durham residents and allies staged a teach-in and public comments against Duke Energy’s proposed residential rate hikes, arguing the utility is “frontloading” economic development—especially data centers—while seeking a 10.10% return on equity. Manufacturing Incentives: Hendersonville’s City Council approved up to about $3.52M in property tax refunds to lure “Project Crown,” a $124M healthcare components plant creating 148 jobs. Industrial Policy & Jobs: A new TechForce report says collision repair training is meeting only 42% of technician demand, with North Carolina’s Fayetteville Tech cited as the top collision-program producer nationally. Transportation: Hendersonville also backed renewal of passenger rail linking Asheville to Salisbury, aiming to unlock federal infrastructure dollars with a state match. Real Estate & Housing Costs: A multifamily market analysis says rent concessions are weakening effective rents, with discounts concentrated in supply-pressured pockets even as REITs report fewer incentives. North Carolina Business & Tech: Spectrum named Ken Cooper as western NC field operations VP, highlighting leadership experience and diversity focus. Public Safety: A former Newton police lieutenant pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the 2025 shooting of Camden Childers after a motorcycle chase. Retail & Infrastructure: Buc-ee’s plans a new travel center in Mebane (and broader expansion), with local job and infrastructure details continuing to emerge.

Coal & Energy Policy: President Trump is set to announce a $700M push for “clean, beautiful coal,” using the Defense Production Act to fund upgrades at 13 existing coal plants (including a North Carolina site) and a new Oakland export terminal, plus plans for new plants in Alaska and West Virginia and a restart in Maryland. Data Centers & Local Control: North Carolina lawmakers are moving ahead on data center regulation, while a separate push would make it easier for homeowners to build backyard cottages—sparking a zoning power struggle between the state and cities. Public Health & Work Safety: A North Carolina-linked rare-earth magnet startup, Vulcan Elements, is at the center of Democrats’ questions about a $620M Pentagon loan tied to Trump Jr., and a separate national focus highlights pesticide exposure risks tied to Parkinson’s. Community & Industry: The Carolina Hurricanes Foundation is funding 150,000 meals for Central and Eastern NC families through summer hunger relief. Local Business & Growth: Kinetic says it has surpassed 2M fiber premises passed across its footprint, including North Carolina. Crime & Courts: NC authorities recovered $630K+ in stolen vehicles and arrested two men in a multi-state theft scheme. Housing/Infrastructure Watch: A new 0.9-mile trail connection is underway at Graveyard Fields in western NC to support restoration and storm recovery.

Data Center Policy: The NC House advanced a broad data center bill that would restrict local incentives, push noise limits, and require data centers to address grid reliability and help curb rate impacts—while also setting up a faster path for nuclear power. Energy & Water Demand: A separate forum on a proposed $6B data center near Maryville highlighted plans to use reclaimed wastewater, but also raised questions about higher-than-expected water needs and who the end user will be. Telecom Resilience: As hurricane season ramps up, cellphone carriers are beefing up storm readiness with tools like AI and drones to keep service running during outages. Food & Agriculture: FDA is investigating new listeria and cyclospora outbreaks, while Jones County warns residents that controlled wheat-field burns may bring smoke over the next few weeks. Consumer & Legal: BBB warns of America 250 merchandise scams, and a NC Business Court ruling blocked a Bojangles data breach class action. Local Health Care: HUD’s homelessness funding shift in Charlotte prioritizes housing plus addiction treatment and mental health services, changing how programs compete for dollars.

Data Centers & Power Costs: Sen. Mark Warner backed Virginia-focused legislation aimed at stopping data centers from pushing electricity-price and grid-upgrade costs onto residents. Local Governance: Surry County approved a 60-day data center development moratorium while it drafts tighter local rules. Housing & Construction: Asheville residents weighed duplex expansion and accessory dwelling unit changes, plus possible shifts in Tropical Storm Helene recovery spending. Workforce Development: A Modern survey highlights widespread warehouse maintenance hiring and retention strain, with a look at career paths for automation and materials-handling technicians. Public Safety & Transportation: A North Carolina semi-truck driver was arrested in a kidnapping case involving a woman allegedly kept in the cab; separately, a Virginia bus crash is drawing renewed scrutiny of commercial driver safety practices. Energy & Courts: New York and other states sued over the Trump administration’s offshore wind cancellations tied to payouts to TotalEnergies, including a project affecting North Carolina. Science & Infrastructure: Funding cuts will force major ocean monitoring equipment to go dark, including arrays off North Carolina. Business & Hiring: Bank of America plans to keep hiring, bringing 2,000 summer interns and 2,000 full-time recruits to its Charlotte-based workforce pipeline.

Public Health: The CDC’s National Wastewater Surveillance System faces a major funding cut under the Trump budget plan, raising alarms as a new COVID “cicada” variant spreads and early-warning monitoring could be weakened. Healthcare & Aging: CMS data show Swannanoa Valley Health and Rehabilitation (Buncombe) earning a 4-star rating in Q1 2026, while Clapps Nursing Center (Guilford) also posted a top CMS rating in Q1; other Guilford-area nursing homes saw lower scores. Legal/Healthcare Costs: A North Carolina doctor convicted in a Medicare fraud case is asking a federal court to exclude conduct she says she was acquitted of from sentencing. Rural Hospitals: Rep. Don Davis is pushing for federal help to reopen Martin General Hospital in eastern NC after its closure left residents traveling farther for emergency care. Energy/Jobs: Seven Democratic states sued over a Trump administration deal that cancels a New York offshore wind project tied to payouts involving North Carolina leases, arguing it threatens clean-energy goals and jobs. Policy/Industry: NC Democrats introduced bills aimed at government transparency and judicial standards, while separate coverage highlights growing pressure on data center regulation and oversight.