AGP Executive Report

Data Centers & Power Rules: Gov. Josh Shapiro ordered new Pennsylvania restrictions on data center projects, requiring local approval and removing them from fast-track permitting, with developers also expected to cover their own power needs, hire locally, keep transparency with communities, and meet water-conservation standards. Utilities & Household Costs: Pennsylvania American Water’s new water and wastewater rates take effect this week, with the company citing plans to invest $1.2 billion through mid-2027, including replacing 117 miles of mains, eliminating lead service lines, and addressing PFAS. Local Infrastructure Funding: Lackawanna County will receive more than $7 million in state transportation grants for bridge work, road widening/signage, and campus pedestrian and drainage improvements. Public Oversight Fight: A Lancaster Watchdog report says Susquehanna Regional Police won’t share ICE records, while another story details ICE tactics to sidestep local oversight of detention facilities. Business & Community: Alvernia University welcomed its largest first-year class in school history, and Lancaster Amtrak station unveiled a new public art installation featuring local artists. Health & Safety: FDA warned of a nationwide recall of compounded glutathione injections after elevated endotoxin levels were found.

Data Center Policy Clash: Gov. Josh Shapiro launched a website for Pennsylvanians to report concerns about AI data center projects, aiming to stop “bad-faith” developers after his executive order tightened requirements and sparked political backlash. Food Safety & Retail Impact: Federal health officials linked a multistate E. coli and salmonella outbreak to alfalfa sprouts from Everything Sprouts (Calco and Everything Sprouts brands), with 55 illnesses in 15 states including Pennsylvania and four hospitalizations; recalls and retailer exposure are under scrutiny. Banking Stress Signals: Tioga-Franklin Savings Bank, a $68 million Philadelphia-area savings and loan, failed and will be absorbed by Second Federal Savings and Loan; the FDIC estimated a $5.5 million hit to the Deposit Insurance Fund. Local Government & Recovery: Lancaster County issued a disaster declaration after a storm damaged Columbia, unlocking state and federal relief and setting a public meeting for residents to discuss mitigation and uninsured losses. Healthcare Fraud: A King of Prussia-area home care owner was sentenced in a $1.7 million Medicaid fraud case tied to ComfortZone Home Health Care, ordered to pay restitution. School Safety: State Sen. Lisa Baker pushed legislation to strengthen penalties and stopping-distance rules for drivers passing stopped school buses. Sports/Business Spotlight: IndyCar’s Freedom 250 brings major attention to Washington’s Pennsylvania Avenue route, with large fan turnout and high-profile sponsors.

Data Centers Policy: Gov. Josh Shapiro says his new executive order sets the “strictest guardrails in the nation” for Pennsylvania data centers, adding GRID standards and new consent requirements that critics say could slow projects while supporters call it protection for communities and power costs. Local Government & Courts: Radnor Township is moving to buy a former Wayne-area veterinarian’s office to convert it into a magisterial district court, aiming to bring hearings closer for residents and reduce police travel time. Business Expansion: PMG Pennsylvania (Powder Metal Goldschmidt Group) announced a major customer-driven expansion in Philipsburg, its third since 2003, signaling continued automotive manufacturing growth. Energy & Finance: PPL will pay a quarterly common stock dividend of $0.2850 per share on Oct. 1, 2026. Labor Market Rules: Pennsylvania lawmakers are pushing “ghost jobs” transparency bills to require clearer hiring intentions and faster removal of listings once roles are filled. Community & Housing: Butler County commissioners approved state Housing Finance Agency grants totaling $400,000 for eviction prevention and acquisition/rehab programs. Sports & Tourism: IndyCar’s Freedom 250 takes over Washington, D.C.’s National Mall this weekend, with major corporate sponsors including Boeing, Starlink and Delta.

Data Center Policy Shake-Up: Gov. Josh Shapiro signed an Aug. 18 executive order tightening Pennsylvania’s rules for large data centers (over 25 MW), removing them from the state’s fast-track permitting and conditioning tax benefits on meeting new energy, infrastructure, environmental, workforce, and community requirements. Local Business & Real Estate: Willow Grove Park Mall in Montgomery County is moving toward a lender-directed sale, with PREIT’s 725,000-square-foot portion expected to be sold to a New York partnership (details and price undisclosed). Agriculture Funding: Pennsylvania will open grant applications Aug. 24 for fruit growers hit by early spring freezes; the $10 million program targets losses of at least 30% in eligible crops across 57 counties. Healthcare & Courts: A study led by Penn researchers finds HIV medication adherence among low-income SNAP recipients rises after benefit payments and drops as the next payment nears. Public Safety: The NTSB says pilots were communicating before a deadly midair collision between a small plane and a Pennsylvania police helicopter. Community Projects: Warren is breaking ground on a fully accessible playground and pavilion at Point Park, funded through a DCNR grant.

Workforce & Training: Pennsylvania’s workforce development push got a $75M boost over three years, with the Shapiro administration highlighting career and technical education and pre-apprenticeships like the LEAF Project Home Farm. Public Health & Food Safety: Cyclosporiasis cases topped 15,000 nationwide, with CDC reporting the biggest outbreak tied to lettuce supplied by Taylor Farms—prompting fresh scrutiny for Pennsylvania consumers and businesses. Local Safety & Business Impact: One suspect was arrested after a shooting at the Conewago Inn in Newberry Township; the chef was reportedly targeted but not injured, with charges pending. Healthcare Business Moves: SleepScriptMD, a physician-founded sleep care platform in Haverford, rolled out a redesigned website aimed at faster, asynchronous access to prescription sleep treatment. Cannabis Retail: Jushi Holdings opened a relocated Beyond Hello dispensary in Belle Vernon, expanding access in southwestern Pennsylvania. Corporate Leadership: Exyn Technologies appointed Ben Williams as interim CEO and Gregory McNeal as board chair as it accelerates defense and national security deployments. Policy Watch (Energy/AI): The AI data center backlash keeps heating up, with new Pennsylvania rules and broader national concerns tied to electricity costs and local approval fights. Settlement & Ethics: Harvard agreed to pay $53M over stolen donated body parts sold through a black-market scheme, underscoring compliance and oversight risks for research institutions.

Data Center Policy: Gov. Josh Shapiro signed executive order GRID standards that tighten Pennsylvania’s data center approvals, requiring earlier community outreach, transparency on end users and power/water use, and limits on fast-track perks and NDAs—aimed at stopping “speculative” projects and giving local communities more leverage. Local Governance & Public Safety: Abington Township is ending its contracts with Flock Safety over data security concerns and is seeking replacement vendors. Healthcare & Consumer Impact: A CDC update says U.S. cyclospora cases tied to a lettuce outbreak are trending down from record highs, though thousands of confirmed and probable cases remain under investigation. Finance & Banking: QNB Corp., parent of QNB Bank, priced a common stock offering of 1.07 million shares at $42/share, targeting about $42.3M in proceeds for capital and growth uses. Education & Housing: Temple University will require most freshmen under 21 to live on campus starting fall 2027, citing retention and first-year support. Business & Retail: Wawa will roll out Wawa-branded DC fast chargers at eight Pennsylvania stores using Electrify America’s platform, with up to 400 kW speeds at some sites. Legal/Antitrust: A Pennsylvania judge rejected a $360M offset request in a generics antitrust case involving Humana. Real Estate: Toll Brothers opened a model home at its Franklin Ridge development in Pennsylvania, with prices starting at $1.58M.

Data Center Rules: Gov. Josh Shapiro signed an executive order tightening Pennsylvania’s AI data center development under “GRID” standards, requiring legally enforceable commitments, local approvals before state permits, and developer-funded power infrastructure—while removing data centers from fast-track permitting. Local Impact & Politics: The order lands amid rising community backlash and polling showing broad voter opposition to new data centers in their neighborhoods. Labor & Wages: A study-backed warning says a proposed $25 federal minimum wage (with elimination of the tip credit) could cut nearly 5 million jobs, with Pennsylvania among the hardest-hit states. Healthcare Access: Haven Behavioral Hospital launched a virtual intensive outpatient program in eastern Pennsylvania for eligible adults who need structured care without inpatient hospitalization. Business & Tech: Accion Labs was named a Leader in ISG’s 2026 Digital Engineering Services Provider Lens study, citing AI-led innovation and application services. Public Safety Grants: State Farm’s Good Neighbor program awarded $10,000 each to three Pennsylvania volunteer fire departments for equipment and responder safety. Local Economy: Allentown received a $545,750 state grant to connect Trexler Park and Cedar Creek Park via safer bike routes. Legal/Criminal Justice: Pennsylvania AG allegations say a Penn State fraternity-linked cocaine ring made regular trips to New York and Philadelphia to supply drugs for campus distribution.

Data Center Crackdown: Gov. Josh Shapiro signed an executive order tightening Pennsylvania’s AI data center rules, removing projects from fast-track permitting and requiring local zoning approval before state environmental permits move forward, with GRID standards focused on energy affordability, transparency, workforce benefits, and pollution controls. Rural Hospitals Watch: A PHC4 analysis of 63 rural hospitals in fiscal 2025 shows operating income up to $1.05B and average operating margins rising to 8.7%, but the gains could be undercut by expected federal funding cuts. Food Safety Lawsuit: A Mercer County woman sued Taco Bell and Taylor Farms after an Avocado Ranch Chicken Stacker allegedly led to hospitalization from cyclosporiasis, as the broader outbreak continues to draw scrutiny. Local Government & Infrastructure: St. Marys City Council moved ahead with a $1.398M bid for a new fire station and began in-person interviews for a replacement city manager. Cybersecurity: Federal and state officials warned about cyberattacks targeting water and wastewater systems, including incidents that disrupted operations and triggered boil-water notices. Business Moves: Gopuff expanded its private-label lineup with new fall seasonal items, while Americold said it will idle an automated retail fulfillment center in Plainville. Health Policy: CDC data show kindergarten vaccine coverage slipping slightly while exemptions exceed 4% nationwide.

Workforce & Construction: The Keystone Contractors Association launched a “Build the Future Video Challenge,” asking Pennsylvanians in construction to post 30-second videos highlighting careers in trades, engineering, project management and more. Data Centers & Power: A new look at why data centers are surging points to electricity as the real bottleneck, with forecasts of rapidly rising U.S. power demand as AI scales. Higher Ed Costs: Pitt’s 2027 budget adds tuition/fee increases and boosts funding for new first-year housing as the university targets enrollment growth. Agriculture Grants: Pennsylvania awarded $9.7M in Agricultural Innovation Grants, including $550K+ for three Lancaster County projects tied to fruit processing, greenhouse upgrades and cottage cheese production. Local Business & Compliance: JS Benefits Group in Newtown earned BBB accreditation and an A+ rating, emphasizing trust and transparency. Tech & HVAC: Industry coverage highlights the next generation of Variable Refrigerant Flow systems as contractors adopt connected controls and lower-GWP refrigerants. Public Health: CDC data shows a sharp rise in nonmedical vaccine exemptions among kindergartners, raising measles-immunity concerns. Transportation: SEPTA’s Route 47M is set to end Aug. 22, drawing criticism for cutting access to major hospitals and senior shopping trips.

Public Safety & Infrastructure: Punxsutawney Area High School is rolling out metal detectors for the 2026-27 school year, shifting morning door timing and moving breakfast to the cafeteria to reduce delays. Workforce & Health Care: WVU Medicine Uniontown welcomed six students into its Aspiring Nurse Program, offering stipends up to $25,000 in exchange for three years of work after graduation. Food & Consumer Protection: FDA recalled Kettle Cuisine’s Marketside Tomato Bisque Soup Kits sold at select Walmart stores in 29 states over possible Listeria risk (UPC 194346474004; best-by Aug. 22, 2026). Transportation & Travel Tech: PennDOT upgraded 511PA with real-time traffic and alternate-route info for Little League World Series travelers in Williamsport. Local Economy & Grants: Wesleyville Borough won a $605,720 Multimodal Transportation Fund grant for Edison Avenue reconstruction plus pedestrian safety improvements. Energy & Reliability: PPL Electric highlighted reliability work ahead of major regional events, including inspections and preventive maintenance for its 1.5 million customers. Housing & Taxes: A judge ordered Allegheny County to complete a full property reassessment by July 2027, reshaping property tax bills for many owners.

AI Data Centers & Power Demand: Google, Amazon and Meta again lifted AI capex guidance, underscoring that the infrastructure buildout—and its power needs—won’t be a short-term fad. AI Infrastructure Deals: Duos Technologies and Axe Compute inked five-year hosting agreements totaling 55 MW of new AI data center capacity across multiple U.S. sites, valued at over $500 million, with readiness targeted for late 2026 into early 2027. Local Tech & Energy: Chester County won a Center for Digital Government AI 50 Award for an AI-powered self-service court kiosk rollout, aiming to speed access to forms, hearing searches and payments. Healthcare M&A: Union Community Care announced plans to merge with Berks Community Health Center, expanding services into a fourth county with no immediate changes to care locations. Workforce & Training: Manufacturers and 70-plus schools partnered to train HVAC workers on heat pumps, using manufacturer-backed coursework and equipment funding to close a skills gap. Public Safety & Fraud: Federal prosecutors unsealed charges tied to a multi-state organized retail-theft ring affecting Maryland, Delaware and Pennsylvania. Business & Community: Grocery Outlet’s Independence from Hunger drive raised more than $4 million for local food banks, including support for Central Pennsylvania partners.

Data Privacy & Health: Edelson Lechtzin LLP says it’s investigating two healthcare data breaches tied to Texas patients—Lone Star Community Health Center (250,130 people) and Baylor Genetics—both linked to third-party or network incidents and now triggering patient-notification and potential claims. Public Safety & Local Business: A man accused of burglarizing nearly 30 Philadelphia stores was arrested in Florida and faces extradition, underscoring ongoing pressure on small businesses from repeat theft. Health Watch: Pennsylvania’s measles outbreak is accelerating, with nearly 300 cases statewide and heavy concentration in Lancaster County, pushing counties to expand vaccination efforts. Philadelphia Tech & Operations: A local health information exchange meeting highlighted how patient data is shared only after HIPAA waivers, with officials also discussing consumer issues like property assessment appeals. Urban Economy: A new look at Philadelphia’s Broad Street planters argues the design could either help foot traffic or turn the corridor into a “highway” for drivers—an issue for retailers and street life. Politics & Business Climate: A 12th district special election is heating up after tax lien revelations tied to a candidate’s business, raising questions about fiscal oversight and campaign credibility. Crypto & Banking: Wall Street banks are pushing back against a crypto bill (CLARITY Act), warning that stablecoin yield rewards could drain deposits and reshape how state and local banks operate. AI Election Spending: AI-focused super PACs are flooding midterm races with large sums, including major tech players, as lawmakers debate federal versus state AI rules. Consumer Protection: Kentucky AG joined a coalition urging tougher federal penalties for ATM thefts, aiming to modernize laws that currently treat many ATM robberies differently than bank robberies. Sports & Community: The Little League World Series is set for Williamsport, with officials citing major economic impact for the region.

Science & Talent: State College teen Connor Hill won the 2026 Regeneron Science Talent Search’s top $250,000 prize for a computer-based proof classifying rare noble polyhedra. Energy & Industry: Aternium selected Dover for its first U.S. heavy water and electrolytic hydrogen production facility, targeting mid–late 2026 closing and bringing major investment and jobs. Workforce & Education: Delaware County Community College says low-cost AI and computer science certificates are feeding high-growth career paths, with students landing internships and industry certifications. Public Health & Food Safety: Dauphin County restaurant inspections flagged moldy cooked chicken and other handling issues, while other spots passed—another reminder that compliance is still uneven. Courts & Health Care: Luigi Mangione pleaded guilty in federal court in the UnitedHealthcare CEO killing, adding new details about how he planned the attack. Local Governance & Data Centers: A developer’s bid to force Archbald borough officials to recuse themselves over a massive data center campus is raising fresh questions about bias and oversight. Consumer Finance: NewRez LLC is tied to a multistate $15.5M mortgage-servicer settlement over improper force-placed insurance charges. Business & Community: Wilkes-Barre POWER! highlighted networking and nonprofit spotlighting as a way to grow regional connections and opportunities.

Food Safety: Kettle Cuisine is recalling 3,240 Marketside Tomato Bisque Soup Kits sold at Walmart in 29 states, including Pennsylvania, after routine testing flagged possible listeria contamination; no illnesses reported. Consumer Finance: Newrez reached a $15.5 million multistate settlement over force-placed insurance charges on borrowers who already had active homeowners coverage, with Pennsylvania included in the review period. Energy & Utilities: A Pa. Senate hearing focused on how to prevent future electric bill spikes, weighing generation retirements, grid reliability, and regulatory policy. Environmental Cleanup: Northeast Pennsylvania groups highlighted the Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization program, noting major shares of the state’s AML and refuse sites but limited revitalization projects in some counties. Local Business & Growth: Kilgore EDC named Randy Seitz as its new executive director after a search, bringing decades of economic development experience. Surveillance Oversight: Flock Safety says it’s tightening controls on its license plate reader network, including shorter data retention and limits on data sharing, as scrutiny grows. Sports & Entertainment: UFC 330 heads to Philadelphia with Islam Makhachev vs. Ian Machado Garry, while local tourism and retail promotions continue to drive weekend buzz.

Healthcare Finance: Jefferson Health reported a $181.5 million operating loss for fiscal 2026, with the drag concentrated in its insurance business, while management warned commercial insurers in Pennsylvania are threatening recent quarterly improvements. Employer Health Costs: Aramark and Penn Medicine launched a direct-contracting health plan for Philadelphia-area employees, aiming to cut costs by negotiating prices directly with Penn rather than through an insurer. Labor & Utilities: Vicinity Energy steam-plant workers in Philadelphia voted to authorize a strike, citing pay and safety concerns tied to the city’s 41 miles of underground steam infrastructure. Data Centers & Local Impact: A new AI “factory” plan in Schuylkill County is drawing resident pushback, while another report highlights how data-center noise is becoming a growing Pennsylvania flashpoint. Water Rates: Pennsylvania American Water urged customers to review new water and wastewater rates and expanded bill-assistance programs tied to a $1.2 billion mid-2027 modernization plan. Food & Consumer Safety: Pennsylvania restaurant inspections in Lebanon County showed complaints but no violations in the latest round, as the state continues risk-based monitoring. Policy & Industry: Congress’s debate over a nationwide hemp ban has Lancaster County retailers exploring workarounds as rules tighten. Local Business/Community: Hancock County commissioners hired outside counsel for opioid-funding negotiations with Family Care Ministries.

Food Safety Recalls: Walmart’s Marketside tomato bisque soup kit is being recalled in 29 states after testing flagged possible listeria contamination, with no confirmed illnesses reported. More Recalls: Lidl is recalling a Vitasia Asian Style Wok Spice Mix in multiple states including Pennsylvania due to potential salmonella risk; separately, Oma’s Pride recalled frozen raw dog food in 11 states after salmonella was found. Healthcare & Legal: Luigi Mangione pleaded guilty in federal court to stalking charges tied to the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson; his plea could affect a separate Pennsylvania murder case. Pennsylvania Workforce & Community: Pennsylvania L&I highlighted its MY Work program in Scranton, celebrating students with disabilities who earned paychecks while improving local parks. Data Centers & Local Control: Upper Merion supervisors denied multiple data center land development proposals, citing insufficient plans, dealing a setback to a major King of Prussia project. Education & Health Access: PA Health Secretary Debra Bogen promoted a statewide free period products program, with new budget funding expanding access for hundreds of thousands of students. Business Growth: Duquesne University broke ground on an $68 million health sciences building slated to open in fall 2028. Cybersecurity: Baylor Genetics disclosed a cybersecurity incident affecting a limited portion of its systems and certain individuals’ personal information.