AGP Executive Report

AI Energy Costs & Data Centers: States including New Jersey are pushing “fair share” rules so data centers pay more of the power bill and grid costs tied to the AI boom, with NJ’s Data Center Fair Share Act taking effect July 7. Surveillance Backlash: A Princeton resident is urging a ban on Flock Safety cameras and more transparency around automated license plate readers, even as police say Princeton doesn’t use Flock tech. Worker Classification Risk: A new federal push to make it easier to classify contractors is colliding with stricter state standards, with New Jersey recently settling a misclassification case tied to truck drivers. Fraud & Enforcement: The FBI added a Filipino real estate executive with New Jersey ties to its Most Wanted Fraudsters list over an alleged $650M Ponzi-style scheme. Consumer Safety: Walmart-linked Marketside tomato bisque soup kits were recalled over possible listeria contamination. Local Tech/Schools: Districts are struggling to decide which AI tools are worth buying as education tech spending rises. Community & Culture: India’s 80th Independence Day celebrations in the NJ/NY tri-state area included a Guinness World Record in Parsippany.

Mortgage Servicing Accountability: New Jersey and 46 other jurisdictions reached a $15.5M settlement with Newrez over improperly charging borrowers for force-placed insurance despite active homeowners coverage, after a multistate review found violations of federal rules; the servicer says it already remediated affected accounts and will pay additional costs and penalties. Food Safety & Retail: Walmart is recalling 3,240 Marketside Tomato Bisque soup kits in 29 states, including New Jersey, after testing flagged possible Listeria contamination; no illnesses were confirmed. Fraud & Enforcement: A Filipino fugitive tied to a $650M real estate investor fraud scheme has been added to the FBI Most Wanted list, with authorities saying the alleged Ponzi operation ensnared about 2,000 investors, including hundreds in New Jersey. Consumer Protection Watch: BBB Scam Tracker data shows Forked River logged one scam report in July, ranking it tied for 120th among NJ cities with at least one report. Local Business Growth: JRM Construction Management completed the relocation and consolidation of MJH Life Sciences headquarters in Monroe Township, delivering a 107,000 SF facility built for scaling operations.

Gig-Worker Crackdown: New Jersey is reviving the push to reclassify gig workers as employees, signaling a tougher stance on misclassification after California’s ABC-Test era. Healthcare Cost Experiment: Aramark and Penn Medicine launched a direct-contracting health plan for Philadelphia-area employees, aiming to cut costs without traditional insurer pricing. Meta Youth-Safety Trial: A coalition of states, including New Jersey, is seeking about $200B in damages in the Meta case over alleged addictive design for children, with remedies potentially forcing product changes. Data Center Pressure: Bayonne is moving to ban data centers after months of resident pushback, adding to the growing local resistance to hyperscaler projects. AI Infrastructure Watch: CoreWeave, a Livingston-based AI infrastructure provider, is in the spotlight after strong Q2 results and a massive $104B backlog, fueling a buy/sell debate. NJ Housing & Labor: A new report argues unauthorized immigration is worsening New Jersey’s already tight, high-cost housing market—adding fuel to the state’s affordability fight. Food Safety: Walmart recalled Marketside tomato bisque soup kits in nearly 30 states, including New Jersey, over possible Listeria contamination. Sports Business Tie-In: The Giants’ preseason opener at MetLife Stadium is drawing attention, with local sports betting promos circulating in New Jersey.

Social Media Legal Fight: A federal appeals court cleared the way for more than 3,000 lawsuits accusing Meta and TikTok of fueling addiction and harming minors, rejecting arguments that Section 230 blocks the cases. Food Safety Recalls: Walmart’s Marketside tomato bisque soup kits were recalled in 29 states, including New Jersey, after routine testing showed possible listeria contamination; a separate Lidl spice mix recall also hit NJ over potential salmonella risk. Local Business & Growth: K. Hovnanian broke ground on 38 waterfront townhomes and condos at Absecon Inlet in Atlantic City, signaling renewed residential investment in the shore market. NJ Consumer/Community: Ocean County’s first 24/7 harm-reduction vending machine launched in Toms River, offering free overdose-prevention supplies around the clock. Sports & Entertainment: Five Nights at Freddy’s is set to open a permanent immersive restaurant experience at American Dream in East Rutherford, adding another major draw to the retail-entertainment hub. Corporate/Finance: Embecta investors face an Aug. 17 deadline tied to a securities class action alleging misstatements about its insulin pen needle business.

Social Media Lawsuits: A U.S. appeals court cleared the way for more than 3,000 lawsuits against Meta and TikTok over claims their platforms are addictive and harmful to young users, rejecting arguments tied to Section 230. Consumer Costs: Car insurance is rising again nationwide, with New Jersey still among the most expensive states even after a midyear dip. Food Safety: Oma’s Pride recalled dog food in multiple states due to possible salmonella contamination, and Walmart’s Marketside soup kit recall over listeria risk includes New Jersey. Privacy/Regulation: NJ Attorney General Matt Platkin joined a coalition suing the Trump administration over demands for sensitive driver data from AAMVA, arguing federal agencies violated privacy laws. Real Estate & Housing: Fairways at Cranford hit 93% leased, signaling continued demand for amenity-rich luxury rentals. Business & Growth: Edible Garden reported Q2 results with revenue up 12.8% and sales up 31.2% as it pushes its Farm-to-Formula strategy. Public Policy: NJ advocates urged stable state funding for cancer research, proposing $10 million annually from tobacco tax revenue. Tech/Work: A new look at how remote work reshaped employment law and workplace expectations.

Big Tech Accountability: A federal appeals court cleared the way for more than 3,000 social media addiction lawsuits against Meta and TikTok, rejecting a bid to stop the cases under Section 230 and keeping the focus on how platforms are designed for minors. Labor & Courts: New Jersey joined a multi-state fight to block a Trump administration subpoena seeking 17 million commercial drivers’ personal records, arguing the demand violates privacy laws. Cannabis Regulation: NJ cannabis regulators plan to appeal a federal ruling that struck down a state requirement for marijuana businesses to enter labor peace agreements with unions to win licenses. Consumer & Public Safety: Walmart recalled a Marketside tomato bisque soup kit in multiple states including New Jersey over potential listeria contamination; Henkel recalled Schwarzkopf hair mousse sold in NJ due to explosion risk from packaging defects. Local Economy: Gas prices eased in New Jersey, with Morris County’s lowest regular reported at $3.67 in the week ending Aug. 8. Business & Growth: NJEDA and Nuveen Green Capital closed a $101M Garden State C-PACE loan for Lionsgate Studios Newark, backing major facility upgrades. Politics & Community: New York and New Jersey proclaimed Aug. 15 as India Independence Day, highlighting the Indian-American community’s role in the region.

Social Media Accountability: A federal appeals court cleared the way for more than 3,000 lawsuits accusing Meta and TikTok of fueling “addiction” harms to minors, rejecting arguments that Section 230 blocks the cases. Consumer Protection & Housing Finance: New Jersey joined a $15.5 million multistate settlement with mortgage servicer NewRez over improper “force-placed” insurance charges; NJ borrowers received about $225,783 in restitution. Fraud Watch: Newark led a July BBB Scam Tracker list among NJ cities with 11 reports, with online purchase scams driving the biggest losses. Tech & Kids Privacy: Gov. Mikie Sherrill signed New Jersey’s Kids Code Act, setting stricter rules for how platforms design and handle children’s accounts, with the core requirements starting in 2027. Energy Costs: JCP&L is seeking an electric rate hike that could raise bills by nearly 9%, regulators weighing timing and impact. Business & Growth: Edible Garden won Target fresh-cut herb distribution through a key Midwest center, aiming to expand its premium herb footprint. Sports Business: The Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly being sold for a record $12.5 billion to Josh Kushner and Bob Iger.

Lakers Deal: Bob Iger and Josh Kushner have agreed to buy the Los Angeles Lakers for a record $12.5 billion, a second sale in a year that puts a major sports-and-media ownership shift in motion. Meta Youth Trial: Jury selection began in Oakland for a landmark federal case accusing Meta (Facebook/Instagram) of harming children and illegally collecting minors’ data; New Jersey is among the states in the first phase. NJ Antitrust: New Jersey sued Amazon over claims its delivery network suppresses driver pay and stifles organizing, targeting the Delivery Service Partners model. Consumer Data & Privacy: A McDonald’s app “dossier” story highlights how loyalty programs can generate predictive profiles of customers—raising new questions as states tighten privacy rules. Healthcare & Education: J&J is funding a $300,000 upgrade to Rutgers-Camden’s nursing simulation lab, adding advanced training tools and scholarships. Public Safety Recalls: Schwarzkopf Professional Osis Grip hair mousse is recalled in multiple states, including New Jersey, over an explosion risk; Lidl also recalled a wok spice mix due to possible salmonella contamination. Economic/Community: Battleship New Jersey is set for a $24.25 million redevelopment, including an expanded visitor center and parking structure. Business Growth: NurExone signed an MOU to partner with Made Scientific for U.S. GMP exosome manufacturing in Princeton, aiming for first batches in H1 2027.

Meta Youth Social Media Trial: Meta is set to face a landmark, multi-state trial in Oakland over claims Facebook and Instagram were engineered to keep minors hooked, with New Jersey among the lead states seeking major remedies. Energy & Utilities: JCP&L filed for an 8.8% rate hike that would raise the typical bill by about $170 a year, but it wouldn’t take effect until January 2028—months after a rate freeze and after the July blackout backlash. Antitrust & Labor: New Jersey sued Amazon in federal court, arguing its delivery-driver labor model suppresses pay and blocks organizing, framing the case as a monopsony-style labor-market challenge. AI & Enterprise Tech: SELECCIÓN Consulting acquired Pillir to bring agentic AI into SAP and ServiceNow delivery work, positioning the firm as an “AI-first” transformation partner. Local Governance & Growth: Manchester Township residents packed meetings to push for a data center ban, citing water limits, power reliability concerns, and zoning questions. Food & Consumer Safety: Henkel recalled Schwarzkopf Professional Osis Grip hair cans in multiple states, including New Jersey, due to a packaging issue that could cause leakage or explosion risk. Public Health Policy: Arizona and other Democratic AGs sued the Trump administration over 2027 Affordable Care Act marketplace changes they say will push people toward costlier coverage.

Immigration & Public Safety: House Minority Leader Jeffries joined New Jersey lawmakers and immigrant families to push back on ICE tactics, as federal court and detention-center scrutiny continues, including reports of new tools and ongoing concerns around Delaney Hall. Regulation & Consumer Impact: New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill signed new social media restrictions for minors, while separate coverage flags a potential JCP&L electric rate hike of nearly 9% (about $170/year) tied to storm-cost recovery. Business & Markets: Roseland-based CoreWeave surged after beating Q2 expectations on AI compute demand, lifting shares more than 13% after hours and raising full-year guidance. Real Estate & Development: Hammonton residents and officials raised zoning and capacity concerns over a proposed 251-unit D.R. Horton development, with water/sewage and school/utilities front and center. Data & Privacy: A new NJ.com report highlights concerns that license plate reader tech could detect nearby wireless signals, raising fears of more intrusive tracking. Corporate Moves: Lyons & Associates landed on the Inc. 5000 list again, ranking No. 2,234 nationwide.

Broadband Buildout: GoNetspeed has started $43M of fully funded fiber construction in Rahway, with rollout planned next in Clark, Linden and Woodbridge—aiming to connect first customers this winter. Pharma & Courts: Novo Nordisk sued Eli Lilly in New Jersey federal court over claims that Lilly’s GLP-1 ads use outdated dose comparisons for Zepbound/Mounjaro vs. Wegovy/Ozempic. Healthcare Business: Medicare cataract payments are pushing some doctors toward higher-revenue laser-assisted procedures, raising out-of-pocket costs for patients. Life Sciences & Jobs: Bristol Myers Squibb will build a $2.3B, 600,000-square-foot manufacturing campus in Houston, targeting 500 skilled jobs, as part of its $40B U.S. manufacturing push. Energy Policy: A Delaware task force says small modular nuclear reactors aren’t a quick fix and argues taxpayers shouldn’t take on project financial risk. Local Economy & Growth: NFI named Dan Guenther president of freight brokerage and intermodal, betting on security- and safety-focused operations. Entertainment/Consumer: Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza is set to open at American Dream in 2027, bringing an immersive FNAF concept to New Jersey. Environment & Cleanup: A federal settlement forces DuPont-related companies to complete the Pompton Lakes cleanup, with up to $350M set aside for remediation.

Pharma & Consumer Costs: New Jersey Attorney General Aaron D. Ford joined a 43-state coalition announcing a $400 million settlement in principle with Sandoz over alleged generic-drug price inflation and reduced competition, with about $469 million total payments to state enforcers if approved. Trade & Tariffs: Ford also joined a 25-state lawsuit challenging Trump administration tariffs on more than 80 countries, arguing the costs will hit U.S. consumers and businesses. AI Infrastructure in NJ: Vineland’s DataOne data center faces fresh legal and public pushback over zoning and an approval process tied to a plan to generate electricity on-site. Cybersecurity: Cape May County municipalities Woodbine and Cape May disclosed their water utilities were hacked in late July, though officials say water quality and delivery were not affected. Local Business Crime: Woodbridge jewelry store 9lakha Jewelers was hit in a smash-and-grab stealing about $1 million in gold and diamonds. Energy & Industry: Bristol Myers Squibb, based in NJ, announced a $2.3 billion Houston manufacturing campus. Regulation & Gambling: Ford led a coalition telling the CFTC it lacks authority to regulate sports event contracts on prediction markets, defending states’ rights over sports betting.

Pharma & Biotech Dealmaking: Amneal completed its acquisition of Kashiv BioSciences, building a fully integrated biosimilars platform and extending growth into the 2030s. Corporate Leadership: B&G Foods named Robert “Rob” D. Mills as president and CEO, replacing Casey Keller as the Parsippany-based company focuses on portfolio reshaping, margins, cash flow and debt reduction. Higher Ed Finance: Lincoln Educational Services reported strong Q2 results, with revenue up to $142.6M, adjusted EBITDA rising, and student population and starts increasing, while reiterating full-year guidance. Medical Product Update: Aquestive Therapeutics reported human factors and pharmacokinetic results for Anaphylm (dibutepinephrine) sublingual film, supporting a planned FDA NDA resubmission. Politics & Industry: In NJ-7, both parties are pushing Big Pharma attacks tied to candidate ties to major drugmakers, setting up a high-stakes campaign issue in a district with deep pharma employment. Legal/Markets: Embecta faces a securities class action in the District of New Jersey with an Aug. 17 lead-plaintiff deadline. Housing Demand: Realtor.com’s hottest ZIP codes list again spotlights New Jersey—Montclair (07042) ranks near the top—reflecting tight supply and strong buyer demand. Public Policy: NJ enacted broad data-broker and algorithmic rent-setting laws, adding new compliance pressure for businesses.

Restaurant Expansion: Jersey Mike’s Subs is set to open in Ithaca, with a Aug. 12 ribbon-cutting and a fundraiser for the SPCA of Tompkins County, underscoring how fast-casual chains keep using community tie-ins to drive local demand. Aviation & Tourism: Arajet says it has already carried more than 100,000 passengers between New York and the Dominican Republic in 2026 and plans a fourth daily Newark frequency, a potential boost for regional travel and tourism spending. Corporate Earnings: RadNet reported record Q2 revenue and raised 2026 guidance, while also highlighting growth in its digital health segment—watch this as a signal for imaging and healthcare services demand. Food Safety: Taylor Farms’ lettuce recall now totals 236,192 cases in an FDA update tied to potential Cyclospora contamination, with major retailers named. Energy & Costs: GasBuddy data shows diesel at $5.24 in Hunterdon County in the week ending Aug. 1, reflecting ongoing pressure from fuel supply and oil-market volatility. Sports Business: Trump’s LIV Golf event at Bedminster continues to draw high-profile attention, including Saudi-linked funding questions as the league seeks new backers.

Food Safety & Recall: Taylor Farms’ July 2026 lettuce recall is getting more detail in a new FDA report, naming “Potential Cyclospora contamination” and listing specific case counts and retail/foodservice brands tied to the affected iceberg and romaine lots. Cybersecurity & Utilities: A federal warning highlights how water systems are increasingly targeted, with attacks reported across multiple states including New Jersey, raising the risk of manual operations and service disruptions. Immigration Enforcement & Civil Rights: New Jersey’s attorney general opened a civil rights investigation into the privately run Delaney Hall ICE detention center in Newark after multiple in-custody deaths, as public scrutiny grows over conditions and use of force. Energy & Offshore Wind: Offshore wind’s job pipeline is under pressure as federal policy shifts and canceled projects ripple through supply chains, leaving workers scrambling and delaying promised economic gains. Retail & Deal-Making: Spencer Spirit Holdings agreed to acquire Hot Topic from Sycamore Partners, consolidating mall-focused brands under a New Jersey-based holding company, with a Q3 close expected. Business Litigation & Regulation: Amazon’s delivery model faces renewed legal scrutiny, including a major antitrust lawsuit filed by New Jersey’s attorney general alleging the company abuses buying power in its delivery network.

Immigration Detention Oversight: New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport launched a civil rights investigation into GEO Group’s Delaney Hall in Newark after reports of poor conditions and detainee deaths, with subpoenas issued through the state Division on Civil Rights. Local Public Safety: A day at a Newark pool turned into a life-saving moment when a nonverbal autistic camper suffered a seizure; teenage lifeguards performed CPR and the child is recovering. Energy & Costs: GasBuddy data shows diesel prices easing in parts of the state, with Warren County’s lowest reported diesel at $5.29 for the week ending Aug. 1, while NJ’s statewide average rose to $5.43. Sports & Business: LIV Golf says it has secured new funding and will keep its 2026 schedule on track, including the league’s New Jersey stop at Trump National Bedminster. Consumer Tech/Policy: NJ’s Fair Price Protection Act targets “surveillance pricing,” aiming to curb personalized price tags built from personal data. Real Estate/Development: American Dream in East Rutherford is set to open a permanent Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza immersive restaurant experience in 2027, signaling another major retail-entertainment play for the state.