AGP Executive Report

Consumer Safety Recall: Henkel’s Schwarzkopf Professional Osis Grip Extra Strong Mousse is being recalled nationwide over pressurized aluminum cans that could leak or burst; affected units are limited to 25 specific lot codes. Regulatory Crackdown on Misconduct Cover-Ups: New Jersey regulators are proposing rules to let licensing boards discipline professionals who use confidentiality or non-disparagement agreements to block victims and witnesses, or who intimidate or improperly influence them. AI vs. Poison Control: A NJ Poison Control case shows an AI platform correctly routed a pregnant patient to the Poison Help line for expert, situation-specific guidance. Energy Prices Watch: GasBuddy reports Warren County’s lowest premium price at $4.46/gallon for the week ending Aug. 8, with NJ’s premium average at $4.85. Sports Turf Note: Bills’ new grass at Highmark Stadium showed early divots and wear, but officials say it’s normal “Year 1” settling. Meta Trial Looms: A landmark Oakland trial begins over claims Meta designed Facebook/Instagram to be addictive for kids, with NJ among the suing states seeking up to $1.4T. Workforce Funding: NJ awarded nearly $7.5M in training grants, including construction pre-apprenticeships and digital skills programs.

Consumer Costs & Politics: A new look at Trump’s 2024 grocery photo op in Bedminster shows food prices are still squeezing households, keeping affordability front and center for the midterms. Digital Trust in Services: Equinox Cleaning rolled out the Equinox Local Trust Framework in Nutley, pushing beyond star ratings toward longer-term consumer confidence in local service markets. Distributed Solar Financing: Dimension Energy secured $857M in new capital to expand distributed solar, including a 149 MW portfolio spanning New Jersey and other states. Insurance Product Launch: Prudential introduced Prudential Protection IUL in Newark, adding a more flexible indexed universal life option with living benefits. Industrial Real Estate: Terreno Realty bought a 36,000 sq. ft. Torrance industrial building for about $14.7M, leased to a maker of floating sensors for autonomous maritime drones. Tech & Kids Lawsuit: States including New Jersey are seeking up to $1.4T in penalties and operational changes in a landmark Meta child-safety trial in California. NJ Solar Access: Voorhees Township is set to host a 13.5-acre community solar field, expanding New Jersey’s Community Solar Energy Program for lower- and moderate-income subscribers. Local Connectivity Expansion: Pilot Fiber completed its acquisition of Extenet’s enterprise fiber business, extending its network into New Jersey. Beauty & Health Research: A Rutgers study links teen beauty influencer engagement to higher personal care product use, raising exposure to hormone-disrupting chemicals. Strategic Review: Ocean Power Technologies began a review of strategic alternatives to maximize value for stockholders.

Energy & Data Centers: Nebius raised contracted power guidance again, now targeting 5 gigawatts by year-end, as AI power demand keeps driving rapid buildouts. Real Estate & Fraud: The FBI added Rey E. Grabato II to its Most Wanted list in a $650M real-estate investment fraud case tied to NRIA, alleging a Ponzi-style scheme. Healthcare Costs: Union saw a 24.9% jump in Medicaid dental payments in 2024, reflecting how taxpayer-funded care spending is shifting locally. Logistics & Labor: A New Jersey-focused piece highlights how states can’t just rely on federal contractor rules as companies scale, pointing to misclassification enforcement risk. Consumer & Food Safety: Walmart-linked Marketside tomato bisque soup kits were recalled over possible listeria contamination, including sales in New Jersey. Public Safety & Community: Barnegat’s “Casting With a Cop” youth tournament returns Aug. 22 with fishing, crabbing, and first-responder activities. Transportation: Pennsylvania DOT posted road work affecting the New Jersey State Line corridor on I-80, with overnight lane restrictions.

Data Centers & Energy Costs: States including New Jersey are pushing “fair share” rules for AI data centers, with NJ’s Data Center Fair Share Act signed in July and set to reshape who pays for power and grid impacts. Transportation Safety: A serious early-morning I-280 crash in Harrison left multiple people injured, including one critically hurt, prompting a State Police investigation. Workforce Compliance: A new NJ settlement highlights the risk of misclassifying truck drivers as contractors, even as federal rules on independent contractor classification shift. Fraud Watch: A Filipino real estate investment executive tied to Hoboken and accused in a $650M scheme has been added to the FBI’s Most Wanted Fraudsters list, with rewards up to $150,000. Hydrogen & Advanced Manufacturing: Aternium selected Dover for a secure heavy water and electrolytic hydrogen production facility, aiming to boost domestic supply for strategic industries. Agrivoltaics: Solar panels paired with farming are gaining traction as a way to produce energy without giving up crop output. Food Safety: Walmart Marketside tomato bisque soup kits were recalled over possible listeria contamination. Local Tech in Schools: Districts are struggling to vet AI tools as education budgets chase new software and safety guidance lags behind.

Fraud & Housing Finance: A Filipino former real estate executive, Rey E. Grabato II of National Realty Investment Advisors, was added to the FBI’s Most Wanted Fraudsters list over an alleged $650M Ponzi-style scheme that ensnared about 2,000 investors, including hundreds in New Jersey. Consumer Safety: Walmart recalled 3,240 Marketside Tomato Bisque soup kits in 29 states, including NJ, after possible listeria contamination; no illnesses were confirmed. Mortgage Servicing: New Jersey joined a $15.5M multistate settlement with Newrez over improperly charging borrowers for force-placed insurance. Local Business & Real Estate: JRM Construction Management completed a 107,000-square-foot headquarters relocation for MJH Life Sciences in Monroe Township, adding a production studio for advanced content work. Community & Workforce: Hoboken Public Library Director Jennie Pu was reappointed to lead the Urban Libraries Council advocacy task force, with a focus on broadband access and literacy. Arts & Youth: Centenary Stage launched “Stage Bound,” a youth musical theatre program in Hackettstown with auditions set for Sept. 19. Public Safety & Health Policy: NJ regulators and lawmakers continue pushing reforms tied to consumer protection and affordability, while national attention grows on hot-car child safety and other enforcement issues.

Gig Worker Crackdown: New Jersey revives the fight to reclassify gig workers as employees, leaning on the same ABC-test logic that reshaped California’s delivery-driver rules. Labor & Infrastructure: Steam workers in Philadelphia are voting on a potential strike over pay and safety at the city’s steam system—an example of how utility labor pressure can ripple through major metro services. Data Centers Under Fire: Bayonne bans data centers after months of resident pressure, while Pennsylvania’s Allentown weighs a second data-center proposal and nearby communities debate overlays and zoning. AI Power Demand: Livingston-based CoreWeave, an AI infrastructure provider, reports big revenue growth and a massive backlog, but investors are split after a volatile week. Truck Driver Records Fight: States sue to block a federal demand for 17 million CDL records, arguing privacy overreach. Public Safety/Crime: Paterson prosecutors charge three men in a fatal shooting and alleged gun trafficking operation tied to weapons brought from North Carolina. Food Safety: Walmart Marketside tomato bisque soup kits are recalled in 29 states over possible Listeria contamination, including New Jersey. Real Estate/Finance: An FBI Most Wanted case targets a New Jersey-linked real estate investment figure accused in a $650M fraud scheme.

Food Safety: Walmart’s Marketside tomato soup kits are recalled in 29 states, including New Jersey, after routine testing found possible listeria contamination; no illnesses reported yet. Public Health: A measles surge is accelerating as the Trump administration overhauls childhood vaccine guidance, with CDC data showing the highest caseload in decades and new outbreaks spreading across many states. Legal/Tech: A federal appeals court cleared the way for thousands of social media addiction lawsuits against Meta and TikTok to proceed, rejecting efforts to stop the cases under Section 230. NJ Business & Real Estate: K. Hovnanian broke ground on 38 waterfront townhomes/condos at Absecon Inlet, signaling renewed Atlantic City housing investment. Consumer/Workplace: NJ’s e-bike rules remain in flux as lawmakers debate registration and safety enforcement. Transportation Privacy: New Jersey and other states are suing to block the Trump administration from demanding CDL driver personal data from states. Healthcare/Investing: Embecta faces a securities-fraud class action with an Aug. 17 lead-plaintiff deadline. Local Industry: Ocean County’s 24/7 harm-reduction vending machine in Toms River expands access to overdose prevention supplies.

Privacy & Data Access: New Jersey and other states sued the Trump administration over demands for CDL drivers’ personal information, alleging a secret federal database built from state records without proper guardrails. Food Safety: Walmart recalled a refrigerated soup kit in 29 states over possible Listeria, and separate dog-food recalls in multiple states cite salmonella risks. Housing & Development: Fairways at Cranford hit 93% leased, signaling continued demand for amenity-rich luxury rentals; an auction is set for a municipally owned Gloucester County site zoned for inclusionary affordable housing. Energy & Utilities: Electricity bills are spiking again this summer, while gas prices ticked up nationally; NJ regulators also face renewed scrutiny over utility rate hikes. Health & Biotech: Hackensack Meridian earned Joint Commission AI certification; Lantheus won FDA approval for a new tau PET imaging agent for Alzheimer’s evaluation. Broadband: Hawaii moved ahead with BEAD builds, while Texas paused its program amid audit concerns. Local Life: Rahway opened the Wheatena Dog Park.

Social Media & Youth Harm: A federal appeals court cleared the way for more than 3,000 lawsuits accusing Meta and TikTok of designing addictive platforms for minors, rejecting a bid to stop the cases under Section 230. Maritime Industry: The U.S. Maritime Administration awarded $35.18M to 45 small shipyards across 24 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands for equipment, infrastructure, and workforce training. Labor & Construction: Two unions sued contractors over alleged wage theft tied to workers who built luxury Journal Square towers in Jersey City. Cannabis Regulation: New Jersey cannabis regulators filed a notice to appeal a ruling that struck down the state’s requirement for marijuana businesses to enter labor peace agreements with unions to get licenses. Food Safety: Lidl recalled Vitasia Asian Style Wok Spice Mix over possible salmonella; Henkel recalled Schwarzkopf hair mousse due to explosion risk; Oma’s Pride recalled frozen raw dog food bags over salmonella concerns. Privacy & CDL Data: NJ AG Nick Brown joined a coalition suing to block the Trump administration from demanding sensitive CDL driver records from AAMVA. Energy Costs: Gas prices eased in NJ’s Morris County (lowest regular at $3.67 in the week ending Aug. 8) while the national average climbed back to $4.07.

Social Media Accountability: A federal appeals court cleared the way for more than 3,000 lawsuits accusing Meta and TikTok of designing addictive platforms that harm minors, rejecting arguments that Section 230 blocks the cases. Consumer & Fraud Watch: Newark tied for the top spot in July BBB Scam Tracker reports among NJ cities, with 11 reports and $792.71 in losses, mostly from online purchase scams. Healthcare Costs in NJ: New Brunswick Medicaid spending on orthotic procedures jumped 51% in 2024, reaching $1,842, highlighting how local billing patterns shape public health costs. Public Finance & Benefits: New Jersey reached a $15.5M settlement with mortgage servicer NewRez over improper “force-placed” insurance charges; impacted NJ borrowers received $225,783 in restitution. Infrastructure & Climate Risk: A Rutgers study warns Bergen County could see more roadway flooding over the next 75 years as sea levels rise, threatening travel and goods movement. Education Facilities: Passaic High School is set for demolition after NJ Schools Development Authority awarded a $17.5M contract, paving the way for a new $328M school. Business Growth: Edible Garden won fresh-cut herb distribution through a Target Midwest distribution center, aiming to expand its premium herb portfolio.

Sports & Ownership: Bob Iger and Joshua Kushner agreed to buy the Los Angeles Lakers in a record $12.5B deal, with the NBA still needing to approve the transfer. Privacy & Consumer Data: A new report on McDonald’s loyalty app shows how companies can generate detailed consumer “dossiers” and predictions without warrants, raising fresh questions about surveillance-by-points. Legal Watch: A New Jersey appellate panel upheld dismissal in a death suit after parents allegedly failed to file required notice for a public-employee doctor. Workplace & Veterans: Former bartenders at a NJ VFW post sued over claims of harassment and underpayment. Food Safety: Lidl US recalled Vitasia Asian Style Wok Spice Mix in multiple states, including New Jersey, due to possible Salmonella contamination. Health Tech Manufacturing: NurExone inked a binding MOU with Made Scientific for exclusive U.S. GMP exosome manufacturing, with Made Scientific’s Princeton, NJ facility at the center. Energy/Infrastructure: Battleship New Jersey is set for a $24.5M redevelopment to expand visitor access, including a new visitor center and parking upgrades. Cybersecurity: A World Cup-driven coordination effort highlighted how NJ-linked cybersecurity groups helped host cities avoid major incidents.

AI & Compliance: Anthropic’s new watermarking for Claude text is meant to meet transparency rules, but critics warn it may confuse “marked by AI” with “written by AI,” especially after editing. Consumer Safety: Henkel recalled Schwarzkopf Professional Osis Grip hair cans in 12 states (including NJ) due to a packaging pressure issue that could leak or explode. Social Media & Youth: Meta faces a landmark, multi-state trial in California over claims Facebook/Instagram were engineered to keep minors hooked; NJ is among the plaintiffs seeking major remedies. Energy Costs: JCP&L is seeking an 8.8% rate hike (about $170/year) tied to grid and tree-outage fixes, but the increase wouldn’t start until January 2028. Labor/Logistics: NJ sued Amazon in a federal antitrust case alleging it used its leverage over delivery drivers to suppress pay and organizing. Data Centers & Local Power: Residents in Manchester Township are pushing for a data center ban as developers explore converting approved warehouse space, citing Pinelands limits and power reliability concerns. Food Security: A new analysis says food insecurity in NJ nearly doubled since 2020, reaching 13% of residents in 2024.

Aviation Safety: The FAA is rolling out a new surface movement radar at Newark Liberty International Airport to track aircraft and vehicles on runways and taxiways in all weather, aiming to cut runway-incursion risk. Public Safety Tech: The U.S. is also funding a major missile-warning radar digitization push, with SciTec in Princeton, NJ among the contractors. Cybersecurity & Energy: A State Affairs Insider panel says data center opponents are winning for now, but more transparency on power and water use plus earlier community engagement could ease backlash. Healthcare Leadership: Dale Maxwell, former Presbyterian Healthcare Services CEO, is named interim CEO of Risant Health, which runs Geisinger and Cone Health. Legal/Policy: Gov. Sherrill signed three child online safety bills, and NJ’s grand jury declined criminal charges in a Jersey City police shooting death. Business Growth: Lyons & Associates in NJ ranks No. 2,234 on the Inc. 5000 for the second straight year. Consumer/Compliance: FDA recalled a Henkel Schwarzkopf Professional Osis Grip hair product sold in 12 states, including NJ, due to packaging that could leak under pressure.

Fiber Expansion: GoNetspeed has started $43M of construction in Rahway, with plans to bring 100% fiber to 34,000+ homes and businesses across Rahway, Clark, Linden and Woodbridge, aiming for first connections this winter. Industrial Manufacturing Pipeline: New industrial manufacturing planning activity stayed strong, with 165 new projects logged in July and 632 total over four months—signaling continued plant builds, expansions and equipment upgrades. Pharma & Biotech Jobs: Bristol Myers Squibb is moving ahead with a $2.3B, 600,000-square-foot manufacturing campus in Houston, targeting nearly 500 skilled jobs and construction from 2027-2030. GLP-1 Court Fight: Novo Nordisk sued Eli Lilly in New Jersey federal court over claims tied to Zepbound/Mounjaro advertising, escalating competition in the $100B obesity market. Water Security: The U.S. is investigating cyberattacks on water and wastewater systems in at least seven states, including reports involving New Jersey. Food Industry Leadership: B&G Foods named Robert Mills as its new president and CEO as it targets long-term growth and margin/cash-flow improvements. Consumer Tech & AI Services: Compunnel Digital is reorganizing as an AI-native engineering partner, consolidating teams under an AI-OS delivery framework. Local Housing Access: A new Affordable Homes New Jersey portal lets residents join affordable housing waitlists across 40+ municipalities. Energy Policy Watch: A Delaware task force says small modular nuclear reactors aren’t a quick fix and warns against shifting financial risk to taxpayers. Business & Logistics: NFI appointed Dan Guenther president of freight brokerage and intermodal, emphasizing security and safety-focused operations. Cyber/Compliance: NJ’s voter-list controversy over 6,600 noncitizens is driving renewed debate on voter ID.

Cybersecurity & Utilities: Cape May-area water systems were hit again, with Woodbine and Cape May reporting hacks that forced manual operations after midnight but didn’t affect water quality. AI & Data Centers: Vineland’s DataOne AI center faces fresh zoning and approval challenges as residents question noise, water use, and emissions while the city reviews a revised expansion plan. Courts & Property: The New Jersey Supreme Court ruled municipalities don’t have to spell out the public purpose in condemnation authorizations, backing an eminent-domain move tied to a motel redevelopment. Public Health: Cyclospora linked to Taylor Farms de Mexico is now confirmed in 15 states; NJ wasn’t listed, but recalled lettuce sold in NJ between June 29 and July 16 should be discarded. Energy & Industry: Bristol Myers Squibb announced a $2.3B manufacturing campus in Houston, signaling continued biopharma investment momentum. Workplace/Legal: A proposed class claims NFI Industries unlawfully imposed a tobacco surcharge without required wellness-program alternatives. Local Environment: Maplewood students cut school drop-off idling from ~90% to under 11% through a student-led “Engine Zero” campaign.

Sports Betting & Media: A new look at how the U.S. sports betting boom reshaped broadcasts—odds, branding, and commentary all moved mainstream fast, but regulation still varies state by state. Camden Food & Local Business: NJ Gov. Mikie Sherrill spotlighted Donkey’s Place in Camden, where the cheesesteak (with poppy-seeded rolls) has been a South Jersey staple since 1943. Native Landscaping in the Shore: Cape May gardeners are boosting wildlife by planting native species, with local experts sharing how to build habitat that supports birds and pollinators. Construction & Infrastructure: Photos and updates show Haddon Avenue in Camden under construction, with traffic impacts near Kaighn Avenue. Pharma & Biotech Growth: Amneal completed its Kashiv BioSciences acquisition to build an end-to-end biosimilars platform, while Aquestive reported human factors and PK results supporting a planned Anaphylm NDA resubmission. Transit for Seniors/Disabled: Gov. Sherrill signed a law expanding NJ Transit accessibility funding so counties can add on-demand microtransit options. Retail/Real Estate Demand: Realtor.com’s hottest ZIP list puts Montclair (NJ) among the nation’s top markets, signaling strong buyer demand in parts of the state. Weather Watch: NJ faces another hot stretch with late-day thunderstorm chances and a heat advisory for parts of the urban corridor.