AGP Executive Report

Major Construction: Work has started on 2 World Trade Center, the final big office tower at the World Trade Center site, a 55-story, 1,226-foot building that will become American Express’s global headquarters by 2031. Energy & Courts: A federal appeals court vacated New Jersey’s water-quality approval for Williams Cos.’ $1B Northeast Supply Enhancement gas pipeline, sending the Clean Water Act Section 401 certification back to NJDEP over unresolved monitoring and dredging compliance details. Healthcare Policy: A survey tied to the RID competitive bidding program warns of major layoffs and reduced access for home medical equipment suppliers, estimating thousands of impacted companies and potential service-area shrinkage. Inflation Watch: August CPI came in hotter than expected as gasoline costs rebounded, lifting rate-hike expectations and sparking a stock-and-bond rally. Local Commemoration: Jersey City marked the 9/11 anniversary with multiple memorial sites, including Empty Sky in Liberty State Park, honoring victims from the city and the broader tri-state response. Business Litigation Deadlines: Kaplan Fox flagged several investor class-action deadlines (Pentair, Capricor, Bloom Energy, Rackspace, and others) as courts and investors continue to track alleged disclosures and market moves.

Legal & Courts: A New Jersey federal judge refused to end a former Princeton University student’s Title IX claim tied to alleged gender bias in his expulsion after an investigation into his ex-romantic partner’s violence allegations. Sports & Health: A New Jersey judge dismissed claims against two NFL doctors in a former player’s lawsuit over medical benefits, finding the league’s plan doesn’t give the physicians fiduciary authority. Public Safety: Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office is accepting applications for a newly formed Mental Health Diversion Program that routes eligible defendants into community-based treatment instead of incarceration. Energy & Environment: Attorney General Nick Brown and a coalition of states reached a settlement blocking the Trump administration’s latest attempt to dismantle AmeriCorps; in NJ, lawmakers also pushed for oversight after lithium-ion battery fires at an EMR Camden scrap site. Finance & Tech: Valley National Bank launched Valley Foundry, a tech platform aimed at accelerating adoption of AI and cybersecurity with startups and fintech partners. Food & Retail: De Todito mixed chip snacks were recalled after pork cracklings were traced to Colombia, which isn’t eligible to export meat to the U.S. Business: A New Jersey District Court upheld a bankruptcy sale order that kept legacy product liability claims behind in the Bowflex case. Entertainment (NJ production): Netflix’s spy comedy starring Henry Cavill and Kevin Hart began filming in Glen Ridge, New Jersey.

PFAS Accountability: North Carolina and 11 local governments reached a $590M settlement with Chemours, DuPont and Corteva over forever-chemical contamination, adding to a broader push that totals nearly $2B in value for the state and residents. Environmental Enforcement: The deal follows earlier Chemours obligations and underscores how PFAS cleanup and drinking-water protection are driving major legal recoveries. Corporate Finance: Ocean Power Technologies announced a 1-for-30 reverse stock split to boost its share price and trading liquidity, with split-adjusted trading starting Sept. 14. Consumer Protection & Online Safety: New Jersey AG and Division of Consumer Affairs secured a $650,000 settlement with Match Group over alleged failures to disclose criminal background screening practices for NJ users. Telecom Policy: A coalition urged the FCC to strengthen “Know Your Upstream Provider” rules to curb illegal robocalls, pushing accountability upstream in the phone-routing chain. Energy & Infrastructure: EVgo plans ultra-fast 500 kW V4 chargers at grocery sites this fall, aiming to pair high-power charging with high-traffic retail locations. Business Growth: High Performance Systems Corp expanded specialized commercial kitchen flooring services across New Jersey markets, targeting hygiene and durability needs for food operations. Local Economy: The U.S. Chamber named three New Jersey small businesses to its CO—100 list, highlighting growth and hiring plans. Gaming Expansion: Play’n GO partnered with Ember Entertainment to roll out its online casino portfolio first in West Virginia, with further launches planned for Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Historic Preservation: Twenty-three properties and districts were nominated for state and national historic registers, reflecting ongoing preservation momentum across the region.

Utilities & PFAS: NJ American Water won a $68M rate increase, but many customers may see a net bill drop thanks to a $79M PFAS settlement credit (about a $9.88 monthly reduction for eligible customers). Real Estate Fraud: The NJ State Commission of Investigation urges lawmakers to overhaul how property transactions are recorded, warning deed fraud and seller impersonation are rising and current safeguards often catch victims too late. Healthcare Access: RWJBarnabas Health and Monmouth Medical Center opened a “Food Farmacy” in Long Branch, pairing fresh NJ-grown groceries with dietitian counseling for chronic disease prevention. Housing Rights: NJ AG Dana Nessel’s coalition secured relief from unlawful conditions tied to Fair Housing Assistance Program funding, clearing the way for fair housing enforcement. Food & Retail: Just Salad rolled out a fall menu nationwide, led by a new Adobo Chicken Wrap, while Jersey Mike’s announced UK expansion. Consumer/Regulatory Watch: FDA-authorized fruit-flavored Vuse pods still appear in stores without authorization, raising youth access concerns. Weather: NJ faces warm, humid conditions with rain chances Thursday and again late Saturday into Sunday. Sports Betting: BetMGM named the Minnesota Vikings official sports betting and online casino partner in Canada.

Energy & Courts: The U.S. Third Circuit reversed a key NJ water permit for Williams’ NESE natural gas pipeline, vacating NJDEP’s water quality certification and sending the case back for further review. Local Tech & Zoning: Glassboro’s City Council voted to ban data centers in all zoning districts and also barred battery energy storage systems in and around the city. Public Health Oversight: A state audit says NJ nursing home surveys are falling “significantly short,” with inspections delayed due to staffing shortages and expired outsourcing contracts. Consumer Protection: NJ Attorney General Jennifer Davenport urged the FCC to strengthen “know your upstream provider” rules to curb illegal robocalls before they reach consumers. Opioid Spending Scrutiny: Washington Township spent nearly $60K in opioid settlement funds on Flock Safety cameras instead of treatment or prevention programs, according to municipal records. Food Supply Chain: Ferrarini USA of Hoboken and Prime Line Distributors recalled imported ready-to-eat pork jowl (guanciale) over possible listeria contamination, including shipments to NJ. Business Growth: Sago launched SagoVerify to improve data quality in research surveys, and Focus Crossroads acquired Zintro’s B2B expert network and concierge program assets. Retail Expansion: Wawa opened its first Salem, Va. store as it pushes further into the I-81 region.

Senior Living Investment: SLTC closed a $300M recapitalization of the Prime Care portfolio, covering 957 assisted living and memory care units across NJ and other states, with a $15M capital improvement plan and a new tech-enabled care coordination push. Biopharma & Clinical R&D: Bracco expanded BubbleGen cell selection with a CD3+ T Cell Selection Kit aimed at scaling CAR-T workflows, while Bayer began a Phase II trial of a GIRK4 inhibitor for atrial fibrillation. Healthcare Innovation in NJ: RWJBarnabas Health and Monmouth Medical Center opened a “food farmacy” to deliver nutrition education for patients. Energy & Environment: Ocean Power Technologies is running a U.S. Army surf-zone demo of its WAM-V maritime drone, and Stone Harbor’s Wetlands Institute is relocating temporarily as sea-level rise forces its main trail to be raised. Local Business Moves: Nourison Home relocated its corporate HQ to Ridgefield Park after 30+ years in Saddle Brook. Public Safety: NJSP reported a Glen Gardner DUI case after a man allegedly struck a pedestrian with a truck. Tech/Infrastructure: GoNetspeed plans a $10M fiber expansion in Amsterdam, targeting spring 2027 service.

Bankruptcy & Restructuring: LIV Golf filed for Chapter 11 in New Jersey to restructure and pivot to a majority player-owned model, listing $500M–$1B in liabilities and $100M–$500M in assets, with BC Partners named as a new backer and player contracts now in legal limbo. Retail & Food Safety: USDA recalled about 1,513 pounds of ready-to-eat pork products distributed to NJ after possible listeria contamination; the recall is Class 1 and traced to an Italian producer with NJ-linked distributor Ferrarini USA in Hoboken. Legal/Regulation: A Third Circuit ruling lets the National Shooting Sports Foundation keep challenging New Jersey’s gun-industry liability law, reviving the fight over whether the state can sue manufacturers under federal limits. Energy/Infrastructure: A federal court blocked key steps tied to a controversial NESE fracked gas pipeline approval, keeping the project’s legal hurdles alive. Labor/Business: Amazon told a NJ federal court it doesn’t need expedited discovery in the NJ AG’s delivery-driver competition case, arguing the matter belongs before the National Labor Relations Board. Public Safety/Consumer Fraud: A Bergen County lawsuit alleges a Paramus psychic used spiritual rituals to pressure a widow into handing over $78,500.

Food Safety: USDA/FSIS issued a Class I recall of about 1,513 pounds of imported Italian pork guanciale (jowl) after routine testing found possible Listeria monocytogenes; products were distributed through NJ-based Ferrarini USA and Florida-based Prime Line Distributors to multiple states including New Jersey. Aerospace/Trade: President Trump threatened to block Bombardier jet sales in the U.S. unless the company builds production in America, prompting Bombardier’s pushback citing U.S. operations and supply-chain jobs that include New Jersey. Local Transit: Lakewood students face major changes as bus service ends for many families under NJ’s distance-based courtesy-busing rules, leaving some with up to a 2.5-mile walk. Infrastructure: Delaware Memorial Bridge northbound work begins with continuous lane closures on the NJ-bound span as crews replace bridge joints through Nov. 24. Business/Tech: LiveU and AP expanded live connectivity in a rollout that will support AP’s global newsgathering, including a large deployment of LiveU production units.

Port & Logistics: Port Authority of NY and NJ and CALSTART launched a $45M incentive push to electrify drayage and terminal heavy-truck fleets, pairing vouchers for zero-emission trucks with plans for new EV charging hubs. Manufacturing & Trade: Bombardier is in the crosshairs after Trump threatened to ban sales of its aircraft in the U.S., escalating a broader tariff fight; Bombardier says it supports tens of thousands of U.S. jobs and a large supplier network. Food Safety: USDA issued a Class I recall for about 1,500 pounds of imported Italian ready-to-eat pork guanciale (Listeria risk), with distribution including New Jersey. Local Business & Fraud: BBB Scam Tracker ranked Barnegat tied for 57th in NJ for July scam reports; other NJ cities also logged reports, with online purchases the most common scam type. Aviation Incident: A NJ gun range owner was identified as one of the passengers who helped restrain an unruly American Airlines passenger duct-taped to his seat after an alleged racist/homophobic outburst. Energy/Tech: A new genetic study led by Rutgers researchers expands shared risk genes for OCD and Tourette-related disorders, linking brain circuits tied to impulse control and movement.

Transportation & Infrastructure: Construction continues on the Hudson Tunnel Project, with boring set to ramp up by end of 2026 and seven of 10 Gateway Program contracts already complete or in progress, while the Delaware Memorial Bridge enters a new joint replacement phase with lane closures starting this week. Food Safety: USDA issued a Class I recall for imported ready-to-eat pork guanciale (Listeria risk) distributed to New Jersey and seven other states, urging consumers and food service to stop serving affected lots. Labor & Workforce: New Jersey’s labor landscape gets a boost as an NJDOL-funded Pathways to Recovery employment program launches, and New York City’s new Office of Worker Power aims to help non-union workers organize and report violations. Housing/Finance Regulation: The Mortgage Bankers Association sued New Jersey over the state’s disparate-impact fair-lending rules, arguing constitutional harm and regulatory overreach. Energy/Defense/Industry: Northrop Grumman won an $862.8M Army contract for precision guidance kits, and Orchard Audio (NJ) rolled out a new GaN-based home theater amplifier line. Local Business & Consumer Tech: Culineer expands its local food directory across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Maryland to connect home cooks with nearby farms and markets.

EV Trucks & Energy Costs: East Coast and West Coast states are pushing electrification plans for electric trucks as Iran-linked fuel shocks keep diesel expensive, with analysts pointing to long-run operating savings. Crypto & Cybersecurity: Liquid Network says “white hat” hackers drained about 4,000 BTC (roughly $319M) from its sidechain, prompting a pause of bridge nodes and deposit/withdrawal controls. NJ Real Estate & Housing Economics: Manhattan’s luxury rental market is hitting record $100K-plus monthly levels, with policy like the pied-à-terre tax reshaping demand toward renting. Sports Betting Policy: A new national look at app-based gambling finds public sentiment turning more negative as states and leagues monetize online betting—relevant to NJ’s long-running market. Fraud Watch (NJ): BBB Scam Tracker ranks multiple NJ cities around July 2026 scam counts, with losses tied to phishing schemes. Aviation Disruption (NJ): American Airlines resumed/adjusted routes tied to a high-profile unruly passenger incident involving slurs, with Newark-area travel impacted. Manufacturing/Construction Legal How-To: A NJ-focused contract management explainer highlights how weak oversight can drive cost overruns and disputes, and why better governance matters for project delivery.

Public Safety: A head-on crash on Route 206 in Andover Township left one person dead and two injured as Labor Day enforcement ramped up in Northwest New Jersey. Retail & Security: New Jersey State Police charged an Orange man after he allegedly threw a pocketknife at a victim inside American Dream mall in East Rutherford, causing minor injuries. Infrastructure: Delaware River and Bay Authority says the next phase of Delaware Memorial Bridge joint replacement on the New Jersey-bound span starts Sept. 7, with lane closures and overnight work that could affect rush-hour travel. Energy & Industry Policy: As Trump pushes for more data centers, voters in key races—including a Republican county supervisor in Iowa—say they don’t want them, citing land and water concerns. Local Economy & Services: Labor Day closures and schedule changes are set for banks, courts, schools, and postal services across New Jersey. Food & Culture: A roundup spotlights several New Jersey delis for their corned beef sandwiches, including Edison’s Harold’s New York Deli.

Aviation Disruption: An American Airlines flight from Dallas to Newark was diverted to Baltimore after a passenger allegedly used racial and homophobic slurs and turned violent; fellow travelers restrained him with zip ties and duct tape before authorities took him into custody. Public Safety & Industry: A toddler fell from the Sky Ride at Casino Pier in Seaside Heights; NJ officials confirmed an investigation, with no sign of a ride malfunction so far. Workforce & Tech Restructuring: Searches for tech layoffs surged as companies including TikTok, Apple, AT&T and Zoox restructure amid AI and automation—though broader job data doesn’t show a sweeping crisis. PFAS Accountability: A new ProPublica investigation revisits how 3M scientists detected PFAS in human blood but faced internal pressure to downplay the findings. Local Business & Regulation: Hoboken approved a permit system for outdoor amplified sound in its Industrial-Waterfront zone, targeting venues like Pier 13 with a 10 p.m. cutoff. Energy & Agriculture: A late-spring freeze wiped out apple crops at Freehold’s Battleview Orchards, shifting the farm to a year-round market instead of picking. Sports & Defense Manufacturing: Marotta Controls won Navy Next Generation Jammer–Low Band work supplying subsystems for the electronic warfare pod.

Energy & Permitting: Researchers say 2027 could be the “biggest year yet” for state energy siting bills as data-center growth and affordability concerns drive more legislative fights, with most enacted measures still generally permissive. Solar in NJ: Lower Towamensing Township approved AMPAL’s conditional use permit for 10 solar arrays, expected to take about two months once site work starts. Education Costs: NJ school districts face a potential crisis as the School Employees’ Health Benefits Commission deadlocks again on a proposed 34% health insurance rate hike, raising fears of a “death spiral” for the plan. Public Safety: A Monroe Township school-bus crash sent 14 to the hospital, including 12 children, after a dump truck failed to stop for traffic. Aviation Disruption: An American Airlines Newark-bound flight diverted after a passenger allegedly made racist and homophobic outbursts and was restrained with duct tape and zip ties. Local Development: Haddon Heights advanced the first step toward its first retail liquor license, prequalifying a developer for a Station Avenue restaurant and luxury apartments project.

Election & Courts: NJ Attorney General Nick Brown and a 25-state coalition won a preliminary injunction blocking USPS from forcing states to get federal approval for mail-ballot designs and to feed voter data into a USPS portal ahead of Nov. 3, with the administration expected to appeal. Healthcare & Safety: Two separate 0.9% sodium chloride IV recalls hit multiple states including New Jersey after particles were found in sealed bags—fiberglass in Baxter lots and iron oxide in B. Braun—prompting FDA action despite no reported injuries. Ports & Shipping Risk: The Coast Guard’s Key Bridge follow-up review warns U.S. ports, including the New York/New Jersey area, face growing risks as larger ships stress older infrastructure and current risk tools are underused. Energy & Utilities: A federal audit found Atlantic City Electric improperly billed customers and mishandled tax write-offs from 2021-2025, spurring calls for refunds. Labor & Organizing: Rutgers research says New Jersey’s union membership is holding steady and even rising in some sectors heading into Labor Day. Local Business/Real Estate: Burlington Stores is moving its HQ from New Jersey to Philadelphia, continuing the state’s corporate pullouts. Consumer/Recall: Halloween Chocolatey Eyeballs sold at TJ Maxx/Marshalls were recalled in 13 states, including NJ, over undeclared milk allergen.

Broadband Buildout: Louisiana says it’s targeting early 2027 to finish BEAD construction to 15,000 broadband serviceable locations across 23 parishes, aiming for statewide access by 2028. Higher Ed & Tech: Montclair State opened a 2,450-square-foot VR learning lab for 24,000+ students, backed by a $1M NJEDA grant and built with Dreamscape Learn. Food & Farming: Edible Garden began shipping verified USDA Organic basil to Wakefern for ShopRite stores, using its controlled-environment model to cut reliance on long-distance supply chains. Energy & Utilities: New Jersey Resources turned last year’s loss into a guidance raise after a fiscal Q3 swing to net income and higher net financial earnings. Retail & Jobs: Burlington Stores plans to move its HQ from Burlington, NJ to Philadelphia, relocating 1,500 employees and keeping NJ distribution centers. Biotech/Manufacturing: Cohance Lifesciences is investing $13M in NJ Bio and $5M to gain control of Princeton-based Aruka Bio to deepen its ADC push. Public Health: A pilot study of NJ teens links social media influencer product content to higher use of personal care products, with few routinely checking labels. Legal/Policy: New Jersey’s Climate Superfund Act faces a cautionary backdrop after a similar New York law was struck down in federal court.