AGP Executive Report

Data Centers & Power Costs: Gov. Josh Stein and AG Jeff Jackson urged the N.C. Utilities Commission to make Duke Energy’s federal “Ratepayer Protection Pledge” legally binding, not just verbal, pushing for enforceable large-load tariffs so data centers pay for new generation and grid upgrades. Utility & Policy Pushback: Public Staff also backed “bring your own capacity,” arguing Duke should file an enforceable commitment and separate rate class for large users. Public Health: North Carolina schools are pulling fresh produce from cafeterias as cyclospora cases rise nationwide; Durham is set to remove items until September while officials investigate the source. Food Safety: FDA updates say a Taylor Farms lettuce link was a false positive, but the recall remains in place as health officials continue sorting out what’s driving illnesses. Local Justice & Jails: Union County approved a bond referendum for a new ~500-bed detention center after the current facility runs over capacity and faces costly structural issues. Crime & Fraud: Union County deputies arrested a man tied to identity theft and money laundering after he tried opening business accounts using multiple IDs across North Carolina. Logistics Jobs: Freight Handlers plans to cut 168 jobs in Florida after Publix ended third-party unloading services at distribution centers. Aviation/Manufacturing: Ontic is expanding its engine and APU aftermarket push via a partnership with UK firm CFS Aero. Environment & Water: DEQ says Asheboro wastewater discharge showed elevated 1,4-dioxane levels, 91 times the safe monthly average, renewing pressure on the city and its treatment plant. Agriculture & Rural Industry: A new Christmas tree seed center opened in Ashe County to improve Fraser fir genetics, supporting a major North Carolina tree industry.

Severe Weather Disruptions: Central NC is bracing for more heavy rain and flooding through Friday, with Duke Energy reporting thousands without power in the Triangle as storms roll in. Food Safety & Supply Chains: The cyclosporiasis outbreak tied to iceberg lettuce continues to expand, with FDA updates keeping consumers and retailers on alert across multiple states, including North Carolina. Local Business Growth: GMJ Accounting in Jacksonville says it’s taking on new clients for bookkeeping, tax and advisory services across eastern NC and the Carolinas. Banking Watch: HomeTrust Bancshares reported preliminary Q2 results and a quarterly dividend, while Carter Bankshares also released its latest quarterly financials. Construction, Infrastructure & Tech: ZenaTech completed its 26th Drone-as-a-Service acquisition, adding a surveying firm licensed in Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee and North Carolina. Corporate Moves: SPX Technologies closed its acquisition of Neptronic to expand precision thermal management for data centers and other mission-critical markets. Cybersecurity: Chick-fil-A confirmed a data breach tied to credential-stuffing on its Chick-fil-A One loyalty accounts. Housing Policy: A new federal housing law targets NC’s home shortage by encouraging construction and limiting large institutional purchases of single-family homes.

Housing & Growth Rules: North Carolina moved to curb local parking minimums, limiting most off-street parking requirements for new developments (coastal exceptions), a bid to make projects pencil out and ease rents. Local Planning Tension: Residents in Elizabeth City urged council to avoid “Anywhere USA” growth that they say would erase local character and strain infrastructure. Energy Costs in the Heat: Dominion Energy warned northeastern NC customers to expect higher bills as record summer power demand drives more air-conditioning use, even without major outages. Severe Weather Watch: Charlotte-area storms and heavy rain are forecast for Thursday, with localized flooding and dangerous driving conditions possible. Food Assistance Pressure: SNAP enrollment fell while North Carolina food pantries saw rising demand, reflecting broader eligibility changes. Public Safety Tech: Wilmington and UNCW installed SmartBurners in student housing to reduce cooking-fire risk. Health Alert: Cyclospora cases in NC kept climbing, with health officials investigating sources as outbreaks expand. Business & Legal: A federal judge barred Chubb and Lowe’s experts from testifying in a $90M settlement fight tied to wrongful-death coverage. National Defense: The House advanced a $1.15T defense bill keeping expanded U.S.-Israel defense tech cooperation language despite controversy.

Food Safety & Retail: Taylor Farms expanded its iceberg lettuce recall to 27 states as cyclospora cases climb, with FDA later walking back a key lab finding as a “false positive” while still stressing implicated product removal—leaving consumers and retailers juggling confusion and cleanup. Energy & Utilities: Duke Energy Carolinas cut its proposed rate hike to about 3.7% after a settlement, easing pressure on North Carolina households and businesses. Water & Drought Resilience: Oak Island updated its water shortage plan to match Brunswick County’s tighter conservation rules as drought continues, with officials urging visitors and residents to reduce use. Local Infrastructure: Pitt County road resurfacing begins this week on Highway 102, with phased lane closures expected to run through Aug. 10. Community & Development: Canton is drafting a comprehensive plan through 2050 after major flood and redevelopment shocks, with residents pushing for flood-resilient housing and a future for the former mill site. Public Safety & Enforcement: ALE and Durham police targeted illegal alcohol operations tied to violent crime, seizing firearms and drugs during a weekend operation.

Public Health: North Carolina health officials report cyclosporiasis (Cyclospora) surging past 560 cases, with hospitalizations rising to 16, and the source still not pinned down; schools in the Triangle have pulled fresh produce from lunch menus as investigators keep tracing exposures. Food Safety & Retail: A 27-state iceberg lettuce recall tied to the outbreak continues to ripple through grocery and foodservice, with guidance stressing that many whole-leaf lettuces are still considered safe while consumers should check affected products and “best if used by” dates. Energy & Utilities: NC Attorney General Jeff Jackson rejects Duke Energy’s proposed rate settlement, arguing it would raise bills again, as the utility faces continued pressure over rate hikes. Legal/Real Estate: A Rockingham County casino rezoning lawsuit heads to a new stage at the North Carolina Supreme Court, turning on who can challenge zoning decisions. Infrastructure & Construction: NCDOT closes the Dave Heafner Road corridor in Lincoln County for an aging drainage pipe replacement through Aug. 17, with detours via nearby secondary roads. Community & Agriculture: A $10,000 grant helps Feast Down East expand its Farmers Fighting Hunger program in New Hanover County, connecting local farms to food pantries and other partners.

Industrial Real Estate: Rocky Mount Industrial Village is taking shape with a new 45,000-square-foot light industrial building near Betts and Peele, built in about seven months and aimed at attracting new tenants. Manufacturing & Jobs: Century Furniture in Hickory added three roles—creative director, product line manager, and upholstery merchandising/creative coordinator—signaling continued investment in design talent. Banking: United Community Banks reported second-quarter results with loan growth and margin expansion, while also pointing to the Peach State Bank acquisition and the planned Navitas equipment finance sale. Workforce & Training: Trane is expanding HVAC technician training with a 45,000-square-foot Advanced Technology Training Center in Davidson, built for large-scale hands-on upskilling. Public Health & Food Supply: North Carolina’s cyclospora situation remains fluid as officials track cases and schools adjust produce handling amid the broader national outbreak linked to Taylor Farms. Energy & Infrastructure: Duke Energy Carolinas reduced its proposed rate hike request in a new settlement, while FEMA approved additional funding for North Carolina Hurricane Helene/Tropical Storm Chantal recovery. Local Community & Development: Canton is drafting a comprehensive plan through 2050 after major flood-related tragedies, with residents pushing for flood-resilient growth and redevelopment. Environmental Science: N.C. State research finds insecticide resistance in Asian tiger mosquitoes is spreading widely—raising questions about how backyard spraying may be shaping survival.

Food Safety: Taylor Farms expanded its iceberg lettuce recall tied to cyclospora risk to 27 states, including North Carolina, after lettuce linked to the outbreak was traced to central Mexico; the FDA later walked back one positive lab result as a false positive, but the recall and investigation continue. Utilities & Energy: Duke Energy Carolinas cut its proposed rate increase to an average 3.7% over two years after stakeholder pushback, with an expert witness hearing set before the NC Utilities Commission. Housing & Growth: Southport Planning Board approved a 291-unit expansion for Southport Meadows, adding traffic and congestion concerns from residents. Local Governance: Mecklenburg County Commissioner George Dunlap was named president of the National Association of Counties, launching a youth-focused initiative and a youth housing task force. Public Health & Schools: Wake and Durham school districts pulled salads from menus as cyclospora cases climbed, citing caution while guidance is monitored. Community & Workforce: Forsyth County Cooperative Extension held an open house for its new center at the Forsyth County Agricultural Park. Business/Legal: NC pool companies settled a trademark infringement dispute in federal court.

Aerospace Manufacturing Financing: JetZero and the U.S. Export-Import Bank will explore up to $3B in financing support for JetZero’s Greensboro, NC manufacturing campus, with the plan tied to facility construction and production equipment as the company targets type certification this year and commercial production before 2030. Rural Childcare Funding: North Carolina’s new budget boosts rural childcare subsidies with $97M in federal funds, including a “rate floor” meant to raise payments for providers that have historically received less per child. Food Safety & Supply Chain: The FDA says a Cyclospora test tied to Taylor Farms de Mexico was a false positive after lab re-review, while the broader outbreak investigation linked to shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell locations continues. Industrial Growth in NC: NN, Inc. says it has entered U.S. Tier 1 contract manufacturing for firearm components, citing titanium machining, laser welding, and compliance programs including ATF/FFL and ITAR. Energy Transition Watch: XCF Global will join a Water Tower Research fireside chat on July 21 about SAF demand and who’s buying beyond airlines, as it pursues expansion opportunities including North Carolina. Local Government & Utilities: A state audit cleared Rocky Mount residents of double-billing concerns but flagged more than $30,000 in outstanding utility bills from two city council members, now paid off. Public Safety Pressure: NC Health News reports more than one-third of NC jails exceeded capacity at some point in 2026, with Mecklenburg’s uptown jail operating well above its designed capacity.

Public Finance Scrutiny: The NC Office of the State Auditor released an investigative report on Cary’s spending, flagging questionable purchases, weak oversight, and heavy use of town VISA cards—828 cards and 60,000+ transactions totaling $24.2M from 2024-2025. Food Safety & Local Agriculture: Taylor Farms expanded its voluntary iceberg lettuce recall tied to a Cyclospora outbreak, listing 27 states including North Carolina; health officials say cases in NC are linked to the broader outbreak, while farmers report shoppers shifting toward local produce and asking more about food handling. Consumer Protection: NC DOJ and licensing boards warned consumers about freelance design and home-related services from sites like Upwork/Fiverr, citing unlicensed work, fake credentials, and unsafe or substandard results. County Budget Pressure: Counties that run SNAP will absorb higher administrative costs starting Oct. 1, after a federal shift raises local responsibility from 50% to 75%, with NC counties estimating tens of millions in added burden. Tech & Land-Use Tension: Residents in Lee County say a project marketed as a light industrial business park was presented later as a large data center campus, and they’re pushing for a pause and more records. Water Infrastructure: The Local Government Commission approved a $2M installment financing deal for Calabash’s new town hall, bringing the project to $3.1M.

Defense Innovation: Gov. Josh Stein and the NC Department of Commerce launched NC ALIGN, a statewide advisory council to connect defense research, advanced manufacturing, tech innovation, and national security—aimed at attracting federal investment and high-paying jobs. Food Safety & Agriculture: Taylor Farms expanded a 27-state recall of shredded iceberg lettuce tied to a growing cyclospora outbreak; North Carolina is on the list, and officials say NC cases are not linked to the Taco Bell cluster—still, shoppers are urged to take extra produce precautions. Public Health Update: NCDHHS reported 307 NC cases and 13 hospitalizations (May 1–July 14) and said commonly reported foods in NC include lettuce, cilantro, and parsley. Local Government & Infrastructure: Winston-Salem adopted a $700.9 million budget after trimming a proposed property tax increase, while an open-records request in another city highlighted asbestos cement pipes in water lines. Workforce & Housing: Concord held a ribbon cutting for The Sanctuary affordable workforce apartments, converting a church into homes for residents seeking stability.

Food Safety Recall: Taylor Farms expanded its iceberg lettuce recall to 27 states, including North Carolina, after potential Cyclospora contamination tied to a multistate outbreak; the company says it’s actively removing affected product and suspended distribution from central Mexico, with shredded lettuce shipped June 29–July 16 and use-by dates through Aug. 3. State Health Update: North Carolina reported more than 300 cyclosporiasis cases and 13 hospitalizations as officials narrow the investigation; parsley, cilantro and lettuce are most often reported by patients, though no single source is confirmed. Energy Costs: An Energy Innovation analysis projects higher household electricity rates this year, including an 18% increase for North Carolina, adding pressure on already-stretched budgets. Workforce & Power Grid: Duke Energy Carolinas reached an agreement tied to a proposed rate increase, while broader grid modernization and energy planning efforts continue across the state. Local Business & Housing: Cleveland County home prices fell in April, with the median sale price down 2.9% from March, signaling softer demand. Weather Watch: Severe storm and flood risk is in play across parts of the Carolinas, with heavy rain possible later today.

Food Safety: Federal health officials say shredded iceberg lettuce from Mexico served at Taco Bell locations in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia is linked to a cyclospora outbreak, with CDC reporting cases across 30+ states and FDA tracing pointing to a single lettuce supplier; Taco Bell says it will stop using that supplier’s lettuce. Public Health (NC): North Carolina DHHS reports 307 cyclosporiasis cases since May 1 (13 hospitalizations), with Wake County leading; officials say the surge doesn’t appear tied to the Taco Bell multistate outbreak, though many patients report parsley, cilantro and lettuce. Energy & Local Planning: A fight over AI data centers is pushing counties to act—Edgecombe County is weighing a 24-month moratorium, while Mount Airy approved a 60-day pause on new data center applications. Housing & Growth: Greensboro’s planning agenda includes rezonings that could clear the way for at least 430 new homes across major developments. Workforce & Construction: Pitt Community College launched a Construction Careers Summer Bootcamp to train teens for carpentry, masonry and electrical work amid retirements and skilled-worker shortages. Water Infrastructure: Newport won a $13.42M state loan to replace its water treatment plant, and Greenevers is set for $2M for water and sewer upgrades. Retail Jobs: Publix is holding a job fair for a new Mills River store, targeting 140 hires.

Food Safety Watch: North Carolina health officials say the state’s rising cyclosporiasis cases (307 since May 1, 13 hospitalized) don’t appear tied to the Taco Bell-linked outbreak in other states, but common reported foods here include parsley, cilantro, and lettuce; DHHS is working with agriculture and local partners on ingredient tracebacks and urges residents and restaurants to remove or fully cook those items to 165°F. Public Health & Local Impact: Henderson and Buncombe counties reported additional cyclosporiasis cases this week with no shared source identified yet, as Wake County remains the hotspot. Water Infrastructure: Gov. Josh Stein approved $244M for drinking water and wastewater projects across 28 counties, including major support in the Sandhills and Pitt County funding for sewer and septic repairs. Local Planning: Southport’s planning board backed a 15-month data center moratorium after residents questioned a proposed zoning amendment. Energy & Reliability: A tree downed power lines on Raleigh’s Glenwood Avenue, leaving hundreds of Duke Energy customers without power amid extreme heat. Business Moves: Collision Partners acquired K&M Collision in Hickory, adding leadership and expanding its collision repair platform. Consumer/Driving Research: A new study finds speeding wastes fuel and money while saving little time—an issue for North Carolina drivers facing high summer gas costs.

Food & Health Policy: FDA and USDA are still wrestling over a federal ultra-processed food definition, with thousands of public comments showing a sharp split between public health groups and industry over how fast to move and how disruptive a final rule could be. Workforce & Education: Central Carolina Community College named SECU Foundation Bridge to Career scholarship recipients for 2025-26, backing credentials tied to local wage careers. Local Higher Ed Housing: ECU canceled plans for a new chancellor’s residence after Chancellor Philip Rogers bought a home near Grimesland, shifting to a stipend option under updated UNC System policy. NASCAR & Local Economy: North Wilkesboro Speedway hosts a Cup points race for the first time in 30 years, with a full weekend schedule drawing fans back to the historic track. Public Health & Food Safety: Cyclospora concerns continue to drive scrutiny of produce as case counts rise across North Carolina. Community Services: Martin County’s N.C. Cooperative Extension highlights hands-on research-to-farm support for growers and residents. Business Growth: Willowood Ventures opened a new Apex headquarters after 584% year-over-year growth, expanding its dealership-focused marketing operations.

Drought & Water Management: Brunswick County moved to Stage 3 mandatory water restrictions as drought worsened, with nearly a third of the county now in exceptional drought. Stormwater Funding: Brunswick County commissioners approved a feasibility study for a county stormwater utility to help manage runoff and flooding after major 2024 rainfall. Transportation & Freight: NCDOT launched an interactive “Projects Near Me” map so residents can track state transportation work by address, county, and project type; separately, NCDOT projects major freight growth for the Cape Fear region through 2055. Housing & Development Rules: A new North Carolina law blocks local governments from requiring minimum off-street parking for new developments, a change supporters say could cut costs and reduce impervious runoff. Real Estate Distress: Foreclosure activity rose in North Carolina in the first half of 2026, with the state among the biggest year-over-year increases. Public Media: Elizabeth City State University’s WRVS expanded via a Black Public Radio Network collaboration and a statewide initiative to strengthen public radio. Local Safety & Security: Saint Augustine’s University says “urban explorers” are trespassing at night and damaging property, while SLED investigated scratch-off ticket thefts with arrests. Industry Watch: A class-action lawsuit targets RealPage and Willow Bridge over alleged algorithmic rent price coordination in Philadelphia.

Healthcare Access: Novant Health is rolling out 24/7 primary care access across North and South Carolina, using a mix of in-person, hybrid, and virtual-first visits through MyChart and NovantHealth.org. Energy & Utilities: NextEra and Dominion filed for regulatory approval to merge, aiming to serve about 10 million customers across FL, NC, VA, and SC—while regulators review the deal’s impact on reliability and rates. Power Costs & Data Centers: A PJM analysis says surging data-center demand could add about $6.3B in wholesale power costs across 12 states plus D.C., raising pressure on utility customers. Biotech Manufacturing: OXB will support Plowshare Therapies with AAV process development and GMP manufacturing from OXB’s FDA-approved Durham facility. Food Safety: Health officials are investigating a growing cyclospora outbreak; CDC has confirmed 1,645 cases since May 1 and expects more through August. Consumer Protection/Drugs: Multistate actions continue after the 23andMe genetic data breach and Glenmark generic drug price-fixing settlement, with states pursuing compensation and reforms. Local Education/Construction: Lee County Schools approved new lighting for Southern Lee High School’s football field, funded through the North Carolina Lottery.