AGP Executive Report

Federal Crime & Banking: Missouri AG Chris Carr is leading a 15-state push for the Safe Access to Cash Act, aiming to strengthen federal penalties for ATM robberies—especially at standalone machines outside bank branches. Food Safety: A salmonella outbreak tied to Mexican jalapeños has sickened at least 345 people across 27 states, with Chipotle and QDOBA removing the ingredient after FDA/CDC traceback. Public Health & Supply Chain: The cyclospora/iceberg lettuce outbreak keeps widening; CDC/FDA now link cases to 15 states, including Missouri, as health officials warn consumers and restaurants to watch for recalled products. Missouri Workforce: The state’s Fast Track Workforce Incentive Grant application is open, helping Missouri adults cover education costs in high-demand fields. Local Infrastructure: MoDOT crews restored eastbound I-44 to two lanes early in Pulaski County as part of the widening project, though ramp closures continue. Business & Growth: Steris plans a $600M North Carolina manufacturing hub, moving St. Louis operations to expand capacity for healthcare chemicals. Retail Competition: Meijer is preparing its first Metro East Illinois stores, signaling tougher grocery competition for the St. Louis region.

Food Safety: The CDC says the iceberg-lettuce cyclospora outbreak now involves 15 states, with Missouri added among six new states; officials report 6,358 linked cases, 278 hospitalizations and two deaths in Michigan, as investigators keep tracing the source to Taylor Farms produce. Crypto Regulation: Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley says he’ll vote “no” on the Clarity Act unless changes protect community banks, drawing pushback from Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong and adding pressure ahead of the Senate’s August recess. Local Business & Growth: Columbia REDI named Kaylee Paffrath as its new vice president, focusing on site development and business recruitment, as the group continues project work in mid-Missouri. Public Health: Missouri health officials report 1,095 cyclosporiasis cases as the outbreak expands, while a separate FDA recall warns consumers about Bettergoods pistachio nut butter due to possible salmonella contamination. Civic Finance: Columbia’s Proposition 1 sales tax measure is still being certified after a razor-thin margin, with dozens of ballots left to process. Community Support: Southeast Missouri Foodbank says its “Summer Meals for Kids” campaign topped its goal, delivering 320,000 meals.

Missouri Ballot Results: Voters resoundingly rejected two GOP-backed constitutional amendments in Tuesday’s primary—Amendment 4 (citizen-initiative process changes) and Amendment 5 (phasing out the state income tax)—with both measures losing by about 80%, and every county voting no. State Policy & Costs: The Missouri Department of Natural Resources will raise solid-waste tonnage fees starting Oct. 1, 2026, a 3.5% increase (sanitary landfills $2.11 to $2.18 per ton; demolition/construction $1.40 to $1.45). Local Infrastructure: Nodaway County’s U.S. 71/340th Street intersection is set for a J-turn conversion beginning Aug. 10, with one-lane traffic and an early-November 2026 target. Business & Growth: Emerson appointed Rudy Sengupta as chief technology and AI officer, effective Aug. 15, as the company pushes AI-enabled automation. Community & Economy: Ozark Fisheries marked 100 years of family farming with a Century Farm ribbon-cutting in Camdenton. Tech & Industry: St. Louis CITY SC and Spire teamed up for energy-efficiency education at Energizer Park.

Missouri Tax Vote: Missouri voters soundly rejected Amendment 5, keeping the state income tax in place and turning back a plan to phase it out while expanding sales taxes—opponents warned the shift would hit everyday costs hardest. State Politics & Business Climate: The same election also rejected Amendment 4, which would have tightened the initiative petition process by requiring approval in each congressional district, a move critics said would reduce voters’ ability to change state policy. Local Housing & Costs: Kansas City approved an ordinance to fund emergency apartment repairs at North Lawn Ave. properties after tenants raised health and safety concerns, with the city seeking to recoup repair costs from the owner. Retail & Jobs: Walgreens’ restructuring continues to reach Missouri, with two St. Louis-area stores already permanently closed this year as the chain trims underperforming locations. Consumer Savings: Missouri’s back-to-school tax-free weekend runs Aug. 7-9, offering sales-tax exemptions on qualifying school supplies, clothing, and computers within set price limits. Elections Watch: In Missouri’s primaries, Rep. Wesley Bell won a Democratic rematch in the 1st District, while Missouri Republicans advanced multiple congressional and state races for November.

Medicaid Watch: Missouri is heading into tougher MO HealthNet renewals where paperwork failures—not eligibility changes—are driving coverage losses; federal data shows most terminations are “procedural,” and 2027 brings twice-yearly checks plus new work requirements for expansion adults. Ag & Markets: Hot, variable July weather left some Missouri corn short on full pollination, while rains are improving soybeans; USDA condition ratings show corn slipping slightly and soybeans edging up ahead of next week’s yield estimates. Biofuels & Soybeans: Biofuel blending demand is keeping soybean crush expansion hot, with ADM planning upgrades adding 700,000 metric tons of annual crush capacity across plants including Missouri. Local Retail: Save A Lot is expanding its Hispanic-focused “y Mas” banner into St. Louis’ Gravois Park neighborhood, aiming for more culturally tailored, affordable grocery options. Community Health Access: Kansas City councilman Crispin Rea says Costco leaders will keep pharmacy services at the Midtown store for now, even as the location shifts toward a business center. Food Safety: CDC is expanding the largest known cyclosporiasis outbreak to 15 states, with Missouri reporting 1,095 cases tied to shredded iceberg lettuce.

Retail & Food Safety: Walmart-exclusive Bettergoods pistachio nut butter is being recalled in 19 states after FDA testing found Salmonella, including Missouri. Healthcare Oversight: Missouri’s Sen. Josh Hawley and Sen. Richard Blumenthal demanded Medicare Advantage insurers hand over internal records on post-hospital care denials, including how algorithms are used. AI & Consumer Data: 15 state attorneys general urged OpenAI to preserve materials tied to the Hugging Face hack, arguing the company’s sandbox controls failed. State Budget & Infrastructure: Jefferson City voted to raise hourly parking rates to $1 starting in September and adjust time limits near the Capitol to boost revenue and retail activity. Local Economy & Growth: S&P Global Ratings cut University of Central Missouri’s bond rating to “A” from “A+,” while assigning an “A” to planned 2026 bonds tied to campus upgrades. Agriculture & Jobs: Walmart, General Mills and ADM are expanding regenerative farming practices on wheat acres across Illinois, Indiana and Missouri. Politics That Hits Business: Missouri voters decide Tuesday whether to phase out the state income tax; Catholic bishops are urging support for Amendment 5. Public Safety & Travel: MoDOT begins the next phase of the Route 36/Bob Griffin Road intersection project in Cameron Aug. 4, with lane closures and detours.

Missouri Medicaid Pressure: Advocates say Missouri could save up to $259M a year by cutting private insurer middlemen, as a new federal law threatens big penalties unless the state lowers its error rate by 2029. Local Government Watch: State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick found Carterville’s water and sewer fund in “poor” financial shape, with a $634,000 negative balance, high water loss, and budgeting and bidding failures. Housing Court Win: Springfield-area LIHTC tenants won a preliminary injunction blocking eviction and rent hikes tied to the Cedarwood Terrace/Rosewood Estates removal plans, with a 2027 jury trial set. AI Accountability: Missouri AG Brenna Bird is leading a 15-state push for OpenAI to preserve records and explain a Hugging Face-linked hack, warning of potential sanctions. Tax Ballot Stakes: Missouri voters face Constitutional Amendment 5, which would let lawmakers phase out the income tax while expanding sales/use taxes and potentially taxing services. Retail Expansion: Nordstrom Rack is coming to Columbia this fall, opening Oct. 29 at the Shoppes at Stadium. Energy Grid Fight: Missouri lawmakers are pushing back on a utility bid to bypass competition for new power lines tied to growing AI/data-center demand.

Missouri Tax Vote: Missouri voters head to the polls Tuesday on Amendment 5, which would phase out the state’s individual income tax and bar it from coming back, with lawmakers potentially replacing revenue through expanded sales taxes—an issue supporters frame as competitiveness and opponents as a shift onto working families and schools. AI + Data Centers: Nodaway County commissioners are weighing zoning options as two data centers look to locate in the area, with residents raising concerns about water and quality of life while officials discuss legal pathways for a moratorium. Energy + AI Economy: A Missouri energy model is being pitched as built for the AI economy, tying regional power planning to new demand from data centers. Food Safety: A federal egg recall is expanding after drug-resistant Salmonella linked to cartons distributed across 17 states, with shoppers urged to check specific codes and sell-by dates. Local Business Resilience: Lilly’s Cantina in Kansas City narrowly avoided closing after months of road construction hurt parking and regular traffic—then a community push helped sales rebound. Healthcare Fraud: An adult day care provider was indicted for allegedly defrauding Missouri Medicaid out of $1.47 million through false reimbursement claims.

Local Tax Relief: Kirksville’s sales tax holiday runs Aug. 7-9, cutting sales tax on qualifying back-to-school items like supplies under $50, clothing under $100, and computers/peripherals up to $1,500. Community Support: Crossing Church’s Back-to-School Fair drew long lines, offering backpacks, school supplies, and kids’ physicals/vision screenings to ease the cost burden for families. Missouri Health Policy: Missouri Medicaid faces tougher budget pressure after a new federal law raises penalties tied to error rates, pushing debate over whether to extend managed-care contracts or shift more care in-house. State Tax Fight: Missouri voters head into the Aug. 4 primary with Amendment 5 on the ballot, which would phase out the state income tax and expand sales/use taxes—an issue driving heavy campaign ads. Business & Fraud: An adult day care provider was indicted for allegedly defrauding Missouri Medicaid of $1.47 million through false reimbursement claims. Ag Leadership: The Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council elected Kevin Mainord as chair, steering checkoff-funded research and market development. Local Business Resilience: Lilly’s Cantina in Kansas City nearly closed after road construction hurt parking and foot traffic—then a community push helped it turn the corner.

Health Insurance Watch: Missouri’s Department of Commerce and Insurance released preliminary 2027 health plan rates, starting a public review process and showing multiple insurers will offer ACA-compliant coverage in every county. Housing & Tenants: Kansas City renters at the North Lawn Apartment Complex launched a rent strike, citing weeks without power, sewage flooding, infestations, and broken heating/AC. Public Safety & Infrastructure: Missouri 811 enforcement hit a record in July, as the attorney general’s office pushes compliance ahead of peak summer digging. Energy & Industry: Boeing posted a larger-than-expected Q2 loss tied to Air Force One replacement costs, while generating positive free cash flow and highlighting Missouri-area military production. Business Climate: A new report ranks states’ business tax rates, keeping low-tax states in the spotlight for companies weighing where to grow. Cybersecurity: A fresh warning flags cyberattacks on water systems across multiple states as a growing risk to critical infrastructure. Local Economy: Columbia’s Dog Days Sidewalk Sale drew shoppers downtown, with shelters partnering to boost foot traffic for small businesses. Sports Business: Link Academy in Branson hired coach Michael Peck on a multi-year deal, underscoring how Missouri prep programs keep attracting national attention.

Health Insurance Watch: Missouri’s Department of Commerce and Insurance released preliminary 2027 health plan rates for the individual and small-group markets, with reviews still ongoing and final numbers subject to change. Cost Pressures: A St. Louis Fed report says prices are rising at a robust pace, with electricity and food costs driving the squeeze as consumers trade down. Cybersecurity & Utilities: A new look at recent cyberattacks on water systems highlights how critical infrastructure remains vulnerable, especially where basic cybersecurity steps aren’t in place. Missouri Trade Exposure: With Trump’s Canada tariff talk back in focus, Missouri’s economy—heavily tied to Canadian exports and parts—faces potential ripple effects for manufacturers. Local Giving: Callaway Bank secured a Federal Home Loan Bank match to expand support for housing, arts, food security, and local entrepreneurs. Transit Upgrades: Fairview Heights unveiled a new MetroBus bench and shelter improvements, adding safer, more accessible waiting areas for riders. Food Safety Alert: Cyclospora illness linked to produce concerns is affecting Kansans and Missourians, prompting some shoppers to rethink where they buy.

Missouri Primary Spotlight: Data centers are emerging as a top issue for voters ahead of the Aug. 4 primary, with residents in Pacific and other areas raising concerns about water use, energy demand, environmental impact, and public input. Energy & Utilities: The Missouri Public Service Commission set an Aug. 14 intervention deadline for Evergy Missouri Metro’s Fuel and Purchased Power Adjustment Clause request, with a proposed Oct. 1 tariff change. Grid Reliability: The U.S. Department of Energy issued an emergency order for Missouri and 16 other states to reduce blackout risk during extreme heat, allowing the Southwest Power Pool to dispatch generation and use backup resources. Courts & Sports: A judge granted Missouri football defensive tackle Sterling Webb a temporary restraining order, making him eligible to play in 2026 under the NCAA’s eligibility fight. Agriculture Costs: Missouri rice growers say fertilizer and fuel costs are outpacing rice prices, with council leaders pointing to potential federal aid and trade efforts. Local Business Impact: Joplin businesses say MoDOT’s Seventh Street construction is blocking access and hurting customer traffic. State Politics & Taxes: A Cole County judge is set to rule soon on a lawsuit challenging Missouri property tax caps tied to stadium funding, a decision that could affect tax notices across many counties.

Soybeans & Renewables: ADM says it will upgrade four soybean crush plants—Frankfort (IN), Deerfield (MO), Lincoln (NE) and Spiritwood (ND)—to add 700,000 metric tons of annual crush capacity, creating demand for more than 25 million additional bushels for U.S. farmers. Local Food Manufacturing: Mid-State Specialty Eggs is opening a new Sedalia processing plant by year-end to expand egg grading and breaking for liquid, frozen and dry products, aiming at global growth. Barbecue Supply Chain: Kansas City Hickory Provisions will build a 72,000-square-foot production and distribution facility in Harrisonville on a former Walmart site, targeting a Q1 2027 opening and up to 20 local jobs. Business & Finance: Kansas City Life reported $7.8 million in Q2 profit (80 cents per share). Legal/Markets: Lowey Dannenberg says it’s investigating EquipmentShare (NASDAQ: EQPT) over potential federal securities-law violations tied to alleged undisclosed related-party transactions. Energy Costs: AAA reports the national gas average holds near $4.09 as crude stays around $80. Health Policy: Missouri’s Medicaid program faces tougher federal error-rate rules starting in 2029, with the state weighing how to manage costs and insurer contracts. Local Politics: Platte County presiding commissioner GOP primary pits Gena Ross vs. Jason Maki ahead of the Aug. 4 vote.

Toxic Exposure Settlement: Doe Run-linked companies agreed to a $150M settlement with 1,373 Peruvians over alleged childhood lead exposure near the La Oroya smelter, ending nearly 20 years of litigation as defendants deny wrongdoing. Local Housing & Health: Residents at Minneapolis’ Heritage Park Apartments say mold, water damage and rodents remain unresolved while they wait for relocation and repairs after a $2.5M city approval. Agribusiness Pressure: Newton County residents rallied against rapid CAFO expansion after four nearby poultry permits were approved, arguing Missouri rules don’t add up cumulatively for setbacks. Missouri Workforce & Food Security: USDA launched a veteran hiring initiative tied to SkillBridge and a “100 Hires in 100 Days” push; meanwhile, a new study finds food insecurity rising across southwest Missouri, especially in rural counties. Rural Growth Funding: Fulton, Maryville and Rolla won grants through a Heartland Rural Innovators initiative aimed at downtown revitalization and tech-driven economic development. Energy & Infrastructure: Missouri’s PSC set an Aug. 18 intervention deadline in a Confluence Rivers water/sewer infrastructure rate case. Business Climate Watch: Missouri dealerships brace for the Feb. 2027 phaseout of temporary license plates under the FUSION system, saying guidance is thin.

Retail & Delivery: Uber Eats is adding more regional grocers, including Busch’s Fresh Food Market, Hays, Lowe’s Market, Marc’s and Piggly Wiggly, expanding grocery delivery options across participating stores in the Uber and Postmates apps. Energy & Data Centers: Scale Microgrids’ White Cloud Generating filed a construction permit for a 600-megawatt natural gas power plant tied to the White Cloud Acres data center project near Maryville; the developer says the plant is expected to run about 2–4 hours per day even though it’s permitted for 24/7. Local Business Growth: Express Oil Change & Tire Engineers opened a new Kansas City, Mo. location at 9051 NW Skyview Ave., adding services like alignments, battery testing, brakes and diagnostics. Construction/Markets Watch: EquipmentShare set its fiscal Q2 2026 results call for Aug. 13 after reporting Aug. 12. Public Safety & Courts: Clay County’s hit-and-run death of John Paul “JP” Scheidecker remains unsolved three years later. Healthcare: ArchWell Health opened a new clinic in Brentwood, focusing on primary care for underserved Medicare Advantage patients age 60+. Elections & Money: Missouri’s Aug. 4 primary is seeing heavy spending, with the most expensive race in the state Senate District 20 GOP contest at about $2.4M.

Robocall Crackdown: A coalition of 50 state attorneys general is urging the FCC to tighten “Know Your Customer” rules so phone providers better screen who’s behind calls used for illegal robocalls. Bar Exam Tech Fallout: Washington’s first NextGen Uniform Bar Exam was canceled after localized on-site technology problems left hundreds of test takers in limbo, while Missouri sites reported earlier network issues that were resolved. Local Government & Costs: Metropolis, Illinois approved ordinances affecting residential water service rates and adding administrative tow fees for impounded vehicles. Public Safety Tech Debate: Columbia residents are pushing back on Flock Safety cameras, raising privacy and data-sharing concerns and asking the city to cancel its contract. Economic Development & Media: Zimmer Communications and Mid-West Family plan a Springfield radio cluster merger pending FCC approval, and Big Whiskey’s announced new franchise deals including in Missouri. Defense Jobs: Whiteman Air Force Base was selected for 24 new F-15E Strike Eagles, a move expected to protect jobs as the A-10 fleet is phased out. Missouri Tax Vote: Amendment 5 would phase out Missouri’s personal income tax by 2032 while expanding sales tax—voters decide Aug. 4.