AGP Executive Report

World Cup Economics: PropertyShark says World Cup ticket prices in 11 U.S. host cities have jumped to levels comparable to monthly rent and mortgages, with some tiers reaching four-figure prices and thousands of tickets still unsold or listed on resale. Missouri Livestock & Biosecurity: Missouri has activated a New World screwworm detection and containment plan after USDA confirmed the pest in south Texas, tightening movement rules for warm-blooded animals. Agriculture & Pests: University of Missouri’s Pest Monitoring Network reports first Japanese beetle captures of 2026 and urges soybean and corn growers to start scouting as peak activity may hit in 2–4 weeks. Housing Finance: Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines will accept VantageScore 4.0 mortgage collateral scores, expanding access for about 1,200 member banks. Small Business & Hiring: ProducifyX’s “Coffee to Connect” LinkedIn outreach service hit 100 active users in four months, betting on human-first recruiting and business development. Energy & Costs: AAA reports the national regular gas average fell to $4.24, down 18 cents from last week, as crude prices cool. Local Governance & Waste: Pettis County rewrote landfill rules after a judge struck down key setback and permitting provisions, potentially clearing the way for a new waste facility.

Missouri School Safety: The Missouri State Highway Patrol wrapped up its 2026 annual school bus inspections, with 10,239 buses initially “approved,” 849 “defective,” and 283 “out-of-service,” and districts earning the Total Fleet Excellence Award for safe fleets. Health Policy: Missouri lawmakers are advancing a bill that would bar insurers from imposing time limits on anesthesia coverage, after an Anthem proposal sparked backlash. Local Infrastructure: Columbia is working through a timeline for a new $34 million transmission line, with public input and a planned council discussion in November. Business & Consumer: Yesway reported strong inside merchandise sales in Q1 2026 despite higher fuel prices, while CFOs and other leaders keep focusing on practical, responsible AI use in healthcare. Public Safety & Crime: The FBI took over a manhunt for an “armed and dangerous” suspect tied to a $1.3 million Isle of Capri Casino robbery in Boonville. Energy & Costs: Gas prices stayed volatile statewide, with multiple Missouri counties reporting some of the week’s lowest regular and E15 rates. Community & Growth: St. Louis was named host of the 2028 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, a major sports tourism boost expected to drive local economic activity.

Community Grants: Scopus Solar awarded $10,000 in first-quarter 2026 grants to five Bollinger County organizations, backing public health, recycling equipment, food access, and emergency help. Local Government Oversight: Missouri State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick released an audit of the City of Elsberry, citing fixes needed in utility-rate handling and city fund transparency, while saying no fraud was found. Housing & Rents: Yardi Matrix reports U.S. advertised rents ticked up in May, but occupancy fell to 94.1%—the lowest since 2013—signaling softer pricing power; Kansas City, Mo. showed 2.1% year-over-year rent growth. Data Center Watch: Scale Microgrids held a public open house in Maryville on its White Cloud Acres data center plan, with water use emerging as the top concern. Consumer Protection: Missouri AG Catherine Hanaway said American Shaman will suspend all in-state kratom and 7-OH sales and stop Missouri-targeted advertising, with potential enforcement and a $5 million penalty. Workforce & Culture: Health Payer Consortium (HPC) earned Inc.’s 2026 Best Workplaces for Nursing recognition and multiple workplace categories.

Missouri Tax Fight: A Delaware nonprofit reportedly gave $1.9 million to a Missouri PAC backing Amendment 5, which would phase out the state income tax by expanding sales taxes—raising questions about who’s funding the campaign ahead of the Aug. 4 vote. Big Projects & Power: Ameren broke ground on the $900 million Big Hollow gas plant and lithium-ion battery storage in Jefferson County, aiming to strengthen the grid. Data Center Watch: A proposed $6 billion data center near Maryville drew fresh questions at a public forum, with details still unclear on the end user and wastewater needs. Local Business Growth: Allegiant launched new flights from Columbia Regional Airport to Florida, with state economic leaders calling it a “gamechanger” for mid-Missouri travel and jobs. Retail & Real Estate: Aritzia opened its first Missouri boutique at Plaza Frontenac, while Kansas City’s World Cup “Open Doors” storefront program is helping new businesses move into vacant spaces. Public Safety & Accountability: Missouri AG Hanaway settled with Liberty Utilities after a fatal Lexington gas explosion and also announced felony charges against a contractor accused of defrauding consumers of $330,000. Regional Infrastructure: MoDOT awarded Southeast District road and bridge contracts, and Boone County Fire Protection donated two pumper tankers to rural fire districts.

Real Estate Dealmaking: MARIS is waiving MLS application fees through June 30 and subscription fees through Nov. 30 for new Realtors, aiming to attract brokerages amid data-feed uncertainty and a planned switch to Paragon in Q3 2026. State Budget & Food Costs: Missouri’s new budget cuts $2 million from Double Up Food Bucks, limiting expansion of the SNAP-linked program that helps shoppers buy more fruits and vegetables. Tax Fight in Missouri: Missouri Realtors and other groups are pouring money into the campaign against Amendment 5, which would steer lawmakers toward eliminating the state income tax via sales-tax triggers. Agriculture Leadership & Tech: GreenPoint Ag names Athens resident Amy Winstead as CEO, while MU’s Hundley-Whaley Center upgrades precision agriculture tools with new grid soil sampling to improve fertilizer and lime recommendations for Missouri growers. Farm Economics Pressure: A new analysis finds the hardest thing to grow in 2026 isn’t corn or soybeans—it’s profit margins, as global competition and tight finances squeeze U.S. farmers. Health & Safety: Federal health officials reopened a salmonella investigation tied to imported moringa leaf supplements after additional illnesses were reported. Workforce & Industry: UAW workers at Dauch Corp.’s Three Rivers plant are on strike seeking higher pay, raising concerns about GM pickup production if the stoppage lasts.

Missouri Medicaid Crackdown: Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway announced seven Medicaid fraud convictions tied to more than $133,000, including false timesheets, billing for services not provided, and claims involving hospitalized or deceased patients. College Sports NIL: Senators Ted Cruz and Maria Cantwell unveiled a bipartisan bill aimed at reshaping college athletes’ NIL compensation rules, as Congress wrestles with a patchwork of state laws and ongoing antitrust fallout. Kansas City Health & Safety: Kansas City leaders are considering a new ordinance targeting paid therapeutic practices that claim to promote suicide risk in LGBTQ youth, after the city repealed its earlier conversion therapy ban. St. Louis Water Budget: St. Louis Water Division is seeking customer rate increases after years of spending more than it brings in, with aging infrastructure blamed for record water main breaks. Human Trafficking Tech: Missouri partnered with an AI-powered app, Simply Report, to let people discreetly report suspected trafficking ahead of World Cup events in Kansas City. Local Business & Growth: Joplin City Council advanced a redevelopment plan around Northpark Mall and Missouri Southern State University, aiming to add new business and housing. Agriculture Markets: A proposed class action in federal court accuses major fertilizer companies of conspiring to inflate NPK prices, filed in the Western District of Missouri.

Workforce & Rural Training: Great Jobs KC is expanding into Nodaway County with a $3.845M Patterson Family Foundation grant, bringing tuition-free skills training and support for adults in healthcare, manufacturing, construction and CDL. Education Finance: Missouri’s school funding overhaul is running into trouble as county property assessments lag market values, leaving state aid math harder to get right. Health Care Investment: Kawasaki Motors Manufacturing is donating $25,000 to expand women’s health services in Maryville, including new 3D mammography equipment. Local Development: Howard County commissioners approved $20,057 to help finish a new fairgrounds events center, aiming for use by the Howard County Fair. Medicaid Policy Costs: States are pushing back on the high price tag of Medicaid work requirements as CMS moves ahead with an 80-hours-per-month rule for some adults. Tax Overhaul Ballot Fight: A Cole County judge ruled Missouri’s income-tax replacement plan can proceed to the Aug. 4 ballot as Amendment 5, setting up a major campaign. Hospitality & Alcohol Hours: Missouri and other states are extending bar and restaurant hours for the World Cup, with Kansas City allowing some venues to stay open as late as 5 a.m.

Local Workforce & Youth Jobs: Columbia’s CARE program is placing about 130 teens ages 14–20 into summer jobs, treating them as volunteers on the city payroll while training and rotating them across worksites as teen hiring cools nationwide. Public Transit Expansion: Kirk-Tran added four new stops in Kirksville (including the Adair County Health Department, library, industrial park and senior center) and trimmed low-ridership stops, with buses still looping hourly. Legal & Consumer Protection: Missouri’s anti-SLAPP bill would strengthen protections for free speech by letting judges more quickly toss lawsuits meant to silence critics. State Tax Politics: A Cole County judge ruled Missouri’s plan to replace the income tax with expanded sales taxes can stay on the Aug. 4 ballot as Amendment 5, setting up a costly campaign and fast appeal. Business Climate Watch: Creighton’s Mid-America Business Conditions Index stayed above growth-neutral but showed weaker hiring and inflation pressure in the nine-state manufacturing survey. Economic Development: Zenith Aircraft will host a June 20 “Fly-In to Summer” open house after completing a 12,000-square-foot expansion at its Mexico, Mo., kit manufacturing facility.

St. Louis Economic Development: Mayor Cara Spencer named Stephen Davis as the city’s new chief economic development officer, tapping his St. Louis Development Corporation experience to drive business growth and neighborhood-focused projects. Missouri Policy & Outdoors: The Missouri Conservation Commission approved changes to nonresident deer hunting rules, including a lower antlered buck bag limit for most nonresidents and a proposed new public-land permit starting with the 2027 season. World Cup in Kansas City: Argentina’s national team arrived at Kansas City International ahead of its World Cup title defense, as local hotels and restaurants gear up for a major visitor surge. Transit & Household Budgets: Kansas City bus riders are weighing the return of fares as the free ride program ends, with some warning higher costs could reduce ridership and service quality. Insurance & Consumer Costs: COUNTRY Financial announced auto insurance rate reductions in Missouri and 10 other states after improved driving and claims trends. Agriculture & Food Prices: Rabobank warned U.S. food inflation could rise to 4%–6% by late 2026 into 2027, driven by energy costs tied to geopolitical tensions. Local Business & Tourism: A Kansas City hotel manager says World Cup match days are nearly sold out, with room rates up as the city prepares for hundreds of thousands of visitors.

US Food & Agriculture: USDA plans to close the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center’s Beltsville Bee Research Lab, a major threat to U.S. bee health as beekeepers already battle pesticide-resistant varroa mites and rising costs that squeeze pollination. Public Health: A new AI study in JAMA Network Open finds long COVID may affect about 1 in 6 Americans—more than double what federal code-based tracking shows—raising pressure on how health systems measure the burden. Missouri Utilities: Missouri’s Hot Weather Law starts June 1, extending protections against utility shutoffs to 72 hours when extreme heat is forecast, though customers still must pay bills. Missouri Economy & Housing: Missouri restores tax credit provisions after a poultry-related panic, while Jefferson City home sales data and other local business items point to a busy spring market. Healthcare Costs: A report argues hospital mergers are driving up prices by reducing competition, even as hospitals say consolidation is needed to survive. Local Business & Community: Independent bookstores are multiplying nationwide, with the American Booksellers Association reporting membership at a late-1990s high.

Lake of the Ozarks Business: Shawnee Bend Sand is shipping white sand “by the ton” across the Lake area, turning brown shorelines into beach-ready spots for restaurants, playgrounds, volleyball courts and more. State Budget & Health Policy: Missouri lawmakers and other GOP-led states are wrestling with Medicaid work requirements as costs rise, forcing cuts to health care and education. World Cup Logistics: Argentina’s national team has arrived in Kansas City for World Cup base-camp setup, with Lionel Messi featured at the team’s hotel and training center. Higher Ed Leadership: Garnett Stokes is retiring as UNM president after eight years, including pandemic-era and financial turbulence. Missouri Real Estate: April Jefferson City-area home sales and statewide Missouri sales both rose year over year, with average prices up. Historic Preservation Finance: Missouri restored and expanded its historic preservation tax credit after a “chicken fiasco,” boosting credits and streamlining applications. Utility Relief: Missouri’s Hot Weather Law protections start June 1, expanding the forecast window to 72 hours to prevent utility shutoffs during extreme heat. Local Government Ops: Jefferson City is moving yard-waste drop-off to a private contractor, citing hauling costs and staffing strain. Missouri Agriculture/Extension: Lincoln University named John Kessell to lead its cooperative extension, overseeing key ag, food, and youth programs. Sports & Community: Missouri’s Central Cattle Battle drew 167 entries in Jefferson City, while Missouri State University announced Rainn Wilson will headline its Public Affairs Conference.

Missouri Energy & Grid: The Missouri Public Service Commission set a June 12 intervention deadline in Ameren Missouri’s request to build three battery energy storage sites plus new solar and transmission upgrades—an early test of how the state balances reliability, costs, and clean-energy growth. AI & Concrete Supply Chain: Missouri S&T won a $2 million U.S. Department of Energy grant to use AI to build a 20,000-plus entry database of alternative cementitious materials, aiming to cut reliance on conventional cement and strengthen construction inputs. Public Safety & Courts: A Sweet Springs man, Jordan Derrick, was federally indicted over alleged explosive-making videos tied to a New Orleans terror attack, facing charges including unlicensed explosive manufacturing and distributing explosive instructions. Immigration Detention Scrutiny: An AP investigation highlights an “alarming” spike in ICE detainee suicides, including a Missouri jail case, raising pressure on oversight and mental-health handling. Local Business & Tourism: Adventure Boat Rentals moved to Adventure 3 Marina at Lake of the Ozarks, expanding its fleet and adding slip rentals and fuel—another sign of summer demand driving upgrades. Labor Market Snapshot: A new map shows unemployment gaps widening across states, with coastal areas showing weaker labor conditions while other regions remain tight.

Local Workforce Boost: St. Louis Internship Program (SLIP) is placing about 200 Missouri high school students into paid, eight-week internships starting June 8, aiming to steer teens toward stable career paths as leaders respond to youth crime concerns. Roads & Business Disruption: MoDOT is moving ahead with the Providence Road bridge demolition over I-70 in Columbia, with I-70 reduced to one lane near the exit and delays possible for up to an hour. City Maintenance Plan: Columbia will apply Reclamite pavement treatment to 55 streets starting Monday, bringing temporary lane closures and no-parking zones through June and July. Consumer Cost Pressure: Tomato prices are up about 40% over the past year, with experts pointing to shipping costs from the Iran war and tariffs affecting Mexico-grown supply—hitting restaurants and grocery budgets. Missouri Legal/Consumer Protection: Missouri AG Tim Griffin led a multistate amicus brief challenging the SEC’s Consolidated Audit Trail, arguing it poses privacy and security risks for Americans’ investment data. Regional Tourism: The Bonne Terre Space Museum is set to relocate to Neosho, bringing more than $40 million in artifacts and a potential new southwest Missouri destination.

Missouri SNAP/SuN Bucks Restrictions: Missouri plans to restrict SNAP and SuN Bucks purchases of candy, sugary drinks, and prepared desserts starting Oct. 1, but grocers say they need a clear banned-items list to apply the rules consistently. State Courts & Legal Climate: A Missouri bill would strengthen anti-SLAPP protections by letting judges dismiss lawsuits meant to chill public speech faster, replacing the state’s narrower law with a broader model. Local Business & Growth: Andy’s Frozen Custard is rethinking its Springfield headquarters after development costs jumped 30–40%, with options including buying an existing building and possibly moving operations toward Kansas City. Public Safety & Infrastructure: Missouri awarded $1.455M in equipment grants to 108 rural volunteer fire departments, targeting gear like turnout suits, SCBA, radios, and extrication tools. Agriculture & Energy Costs: War-related fuel pressures and fertilizer supply risks are being watched by Missouri farmers, though many pre-purchased fertilizer for the season. Food Prices: Tomato prices are up about 40% year over year, with Missouri businesses that rely on tomatoes bracing for higher costs. Elections & Voting Rights: A U.S. Supreme Court ruling on Louisiana’s voting map is prompting states to redraw districts, raising concerns about Native Americans’ access to the ballot. Sports & Aviation: The FAA is warning World Cup fans about strict “No Drone Zones” around stadiums, with fines up to $100,000 for violations.

Police Reform Spotlight: A criminal-justice professor points to Camden, New Jersey’s homicide-free summer as a blueprint for police reform, crediting not just new policing structures but community and activist groups plus local media. Rural Safety Funding: Missouri awarded $1.455M to 108 volunteer fire departments for equipment like turnout gear, extrication tools, SCBA and interoperable radios—aimed at small rural agencies with tight budgets. Consumer Protection: Evergy is warning customers about scams using fake search ads, look-alike websites and bogus phone numbers that try to steal credit card and personal info; pay only via evergy.com and verify by calling official numbers. State Policy for Rural Care: Sen. Jill Carter was appointed chair of a new Missouri Senate Select Committee on Rural Healthcare to tackle hospital sustainability, provider shortages and access barriers. Local Business Disruption: Columbia’s Providence Road bridge closure over I-70 starts Friday night and lasts about five months, raising concerns for nearby shops like a music store that depends on summer instrument rentals. Economic Development Personnel: Jefferson County’s Economic Development Corporation says Executive Director Donna Litton is leaving for a new role at Freedom Bank. Entrepreneur Incentive: Dairy Queen is offering Missouri franchise applicants a $150,000 lump-sum incentive—alongside steep franchise fees and capital requirements. Agriculture Market Watch: The FTC launched an investigation into possible anti-competitive practices in the U.S. fertilizer industry, with Missouri Corn Growers Association leaders arguing farmers may be paying more.

Missouri Tax & Budget: The 2026 session ended with a GOP push to put income-tax repeal on the August ballot, asking voters to phase out the state income tax by 2032 while allowing capped taxes to rise if needed. SNAP Rules: Missouri plans to restrict SNAP purchases of candy, sugary drinks and prepared desserts starting Oct. 1, but grocers say key details still aren’t clear. Corporate & Jobs: General Mills is issuing final WARN notices for its St. Charles plant closure, with layoffs expected around June 30. Health Insurance Earnings: Highmark Health reported $8.3B revenue and $216M operating income for Q1 2026, citing a turnaround at Highmark Health Plans. Local Economy & Infrastructure: Missouri’s penny supply is improving after the Fed resumed ordering, and lawmakers are weighing a bill to let businesses round cash purchases when exact change is unavailable. Agriculture Stress: Farm bankruptcies hit a six-year high in April as costs and fuel pressures squeeze producers. Business & Growth Watch: Tyson Foods named Jeff Schomburger as CEO effective Oct. 4, signaling a new leadership chapter. Data Center Debate: Ozark County commissioners discussed AI data center concerns and said they’re tracking state-level talks ahead of a June 17 meeting.