AGP Executive Report

Balcony Solar Push: Gov. Mikie Sherrill signed the Garden State Balcony Solar Act, making it legal for qualifying plug-in solar units up to 1,200 watts to be used without utility interconnection or metering approvals—while barring landlords, HOAs, and municipalities from broadly banning or requiring permits for the devices; Sherrill says typical bills could drop by as much as $50 a month. Food Safety Recalls: Panorama Produce recalled mangos sold at Walmart locations in Pa. and NJ (plus other states) after salmonella was found on fruit from the same Mexico farm; no illnesses reported. Separately, Crystal Temptations recalled “Chocolatey Eyeballs” sold at TJ Maxx/Marshalls and other retailers because milk wasn’t properly disclosed on packaging. Consumer Tech & Retail: Best Buy is expanding “shop-in-shop” Meta Labs in stores, including a New Jersey location in Woodland Park, as it leans into VR and AI glasses. Local Housing Demand: Voorhees’ affordable housing pipeline moves forward as a 120-unit project seeks planning board approval, with developers citing strong interest for similar nearby units. Scam Watch: BBB Scam Tracker data shows Beachwood and New Milford among NJ cities with reported scam activity in July.

Public Safety Funding: New York officials and Rep. Grace Meng urged the Trump administration to release $87M in overdue federal counterterrorism funds, warning cuts would weaken NYPD/FDNY readiness. Food Safety: FDA recalled Martina-brand mangoes sold at select Walmart stores in CT, NJ, NY, and PA after Salmonella was found in fruit from the same farm; no illnesses reported. Energy & Storage: Monmouth Junction-based TreadStone said its DOE-backed DuraC coating can cut flow-battery electrode and plate costs by up to 53%, aiming for commercialization. Real Estate: JLL reported the nearly fully occupied Valley View Apartments in Paterson (79,661 sq. ft.) sold for an undisclosed price. Data Centers in NJ: Gov. Sherrill signed legislation expanding transparency on data center energy and water use and added statewide guidance for community benefits agreements. Cybersecurity: CISA said a coordinated Iranian-attributed attack hit 100+ water systems via internet-exposed controllers, including confirmed impacts in NJ. AI Governance: NJ-based Responsible AI Usage Foundation named Jan Eule as senior advisor as it pushes voluntary AI disclosure standards.

Food Safety Recall: FDA announced a multistate recall of Martina-brand mangoes sold at select Walmart stores in NJ, NY, PA and CT after salmonella was found in mangoes from the same farm; no illnesses reported. Allergy Alert: Crystal Temptations of North Arlington recalled Chocolatey Eyeballs sold at Marshalls/TJ Maxx/HomeGoods/Sierra Trading Post in 13 states, including NJ, because milk (whey) wasn’t declared; no illnesses reported. Big Tech / Consumer Protection: FTC and 22 states, including NJ, sued Amazon alleging it secretly inflated Sponsored Ads prices for years via undisclosed surcharges, potentially costing advertisers tens of billions; Amazon denies wrongdoing. Energy & Grid Policy: Coverage highlights NJ’s approach to the AI/data-center power surge: separate rate structure and rules so grid upgrade costs don’t hit other customers, plus new requirements for data centers to report energy and water use. Education & Arts: Paper Mill Playhouse won a $150,000 Disney grant to bring Disney Musicals in Schools to NJ elementary districts, with applications due Oct. 2. Retail / Business: Subaru of Cherry Hill plans to relocate its dealership on Route 70 in Cherry Hill, with amended plans tied to DEP flood-hazard rules. Local Business: No Bull Mattress & More filed Chapter 11; it has one NJ store.

Retail & Real Estate: Toms River’s Walmart (Route 37 West) won approval for a 48,190-square-foot expansion, adding online-order pickup space and parking changes, with no opening date yet. Food Safety: A mango recall tied to Salmonella has reached select Walmart stores across NJ and nearby states; separately, Hodo Chili Crisp Lightly Fried Tofu is recalled nationwide due to possible printing-ink contamination. Public Health & Safety: A Newark Liberty employee shuttle bus crash early Monday injured 13 people, prompting an investigation into the cause. Energy & Data Centers: A Vineland AI data center (DataOne) is accused of violating federal law after a probe found dozens of unpermitted generators operating near schools, reigniting noise and permitting concerns. Law & Policy: A federal appeals court ruling deepens the Kalshi prediction-markets fight, setting up a potential Supreme Court showdown that could affect how NJ and other states regulate sports betting. Agriculture: Rutgers researchers in Pittstown are decades into tomato variety development, including disease resistance and farmer-friendly traits, behind NJ’s famed tomatoes. Local Business: Woodbury couple plans to open Freckled Jawn Brewing in October after buying and renovating a former brewery site. Sports: New Jersey 5 captured its first Major League Pickleball season title with a sweep over St. Louis.

Medicaid Spending Watch (NJ): New Jersey communities are seeing sharp shifts in Medicaid billing, from Roselle’s $792,410 in 2024 claims for national code services (+24%) to big local jumps in categories like Westfield’s medicine services ($50,846, up 5,581%) and Linden’s medical/surgical supplies ($690, up 34,400%). Health Care Costs (NJ): Toms River reported $175,311 in 2024 surgery-related Medicaid claims (+11.8%), while Newark logged $102,390 for pathology and lab services (+23.7%). Public Safety & Courts: A New Jersey family is suing a sports equipment maker after a 6-year-old died in Maine when a badminton racket shaft pierced her skull. Sports & Local Pride: Ridgewood native Scottie Scheffler won the Tour Championship and passed Tiger Woods on PGA Tour earnings. Weather Impact: Forecasters warn of renewed heavy-rain and flash-flood risk across parts of the Northeast, including northern New Jersey. Consumer Safety: Walmart stores in the tri-state area pulled Martina-brand mangoes over possible salmonella contamination.

Medicaid spending watch (NJ communities): New Providence saw Medicaid bills for ambulance and other transport jump 29.8% in 2024 ($74,669), while Hopatcong’s same category surged 142.9% ($1,834). Health services mix: Monmouth Junction’s pathology and lab procedures soared 510.2% ($29,766), and South Plainfield’s vision services rose 18.5% ($237). Care intensity signals: Union City’s chemotherapy drugs climbed 50.5% ($10,360), and Rahway’s surgery spending nearly doubled (+99.2%) to $57,094. Local billing spikes: Spotswood’s procedures/professional services rose 215.3% ($659), Englewood’s dental services jumped 180.1% ($3,272), and Secaucus’s temporary national codes (non-medicare) jumped 739.7% ($487). Policy + industry: Gov. Mikie Sherrill signed a law requiring data centers to report water and energy use, as towns continue battling new facilities. Business/health R&D: Bayer presented Phase III REVEAL results for investigational PET tracer iodine 124 evuzamitide for diagnosing cardiac amyloidosis. Weather: The NWS warns of a renewed heavy-rain threat for parts of northern NJ and the Northeast into early September.

Data Centers & Local Control: Gov. Mikie Sherrill signed a law requiring data centers to report their water and energy use, as towns including Jackson continue to clash with proposed facilities amid community concerns and even threatening messages. Consumer Tech & Retail Ops: GeoMe is pushing a “virtual drive-thru” curbside model that aims to deliver the same car-service experience without new lane construction or permits. Healthcare Supply Chain: B. Braun and Baxter issued nationwide recalls of 0.9% sodium chloride IV bags due to particulate contamination concerns, prompting hospitals to pull affected lots. Fuel Market Fallout: A Mansfield Oil lawsuit alleges a supplier wasn’t paid for gasoline delivered to Freedom Fuel Network stations, a claim tied to how the brand sold at unusually low prices. NJ Business & Industry: Rep. Rob Menendez highlighted support for local manufacturing and disaster relief, pointing to a North Bergen visit with the New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program. Pharma Watch: Bristol Myers Squibb presented long-term Camzyos results at ESC 2026, reinforcing sustained effects up to five years for symptomatic oHCM patients. Port & Logistics: Norwegian Cruise Line is back in Philadelphia after a 15-year gap, with a new multi-year berthing plan at the reopened PhilaPort Cruise Terminal.

Aviation & Innovation: New Jersey’s neighbors are pushing next-gen flight—Louisiana officially launched FAA-backed electric and autonomous aircraft trials, aiming to study air-taxi and cargo operations. Local Business & Culture: Red Bank marked the Count Basie Center’s centennial with a street renaming and new heritage trail marker, plus a big Basie Orchestra finale. Food & Tourism: A new NJ poll crowns boardwalk saltwater taffy as the state’s ultimate summer comfort food. Public Safety: A Denville man faces federal charges after investigators say he stockpiled explosives in a home bomb lab. Hospitality & Retail: Gov. Sherrill made NJ cocktails to-go permanent, while Target plans Beauty Studio openings in 24 NJ stores. Regulatory Watch: The Ninth Circuit dealt another blow to Kalshi’s bid to block Nevada oversight of sports prediction markets, setting up a wider legal fight that could affect NJ’s own stance. Industry & Infrastructure: Port Authority and Sen. James Skoufis are pursuing a minimum revenue guarantee strategy to attract airlines to Stewart Airport. Community Impact: Flood damage forced Ridgewood to cancel home football and soccer games this fall.

To-Go Alcohol Becomes Permanent in NJ: Gov. Mikie Sherrill signed a bill making COVID-era rules permanent, letting licensed restaurants, bars, hotels and craft distilleries sell and deliver mixed cocktails and other alcohol in sealed containers for off-premises consumption. Data Center Rules: NJ also moved to require data centers to report energy and water use to the state, aiming to track utility spikes and manage impacts. Courts vs. Prediction Markets: A federal appeals court backed Nevada regulators, ruling Kalshi’s sports event contracts are gambling subject to state oversight—setting up a bigger fight with New Jersey’s earlier ruling. Meta Child-Safety Settlement: Nevada AG Ford announced a landmark $17.1B multistate settlement with Meta over Instagram/Facebook child harms, with required safety changes. Healthcare Recalls: Baxter issued multiple nationwide IV recalls, including saline and dextrose solutions, tied to possible fiberglass or stainless-steel particle contamination. Workplace/Benefits Legal Risk: A Kyocera subsidiary faces a NJ retirement-savings lawsuit alleging it kept a faulty 401(k) fund. Local Safety: A NJ boat operator was charged after a deadly Barnegat Bay crash that killed a man and injured others.

Teen Social Media Crackdown: Meta agreed to pay up to $18B and impose new limits on Facebook/Instagram for teens, including a two-hour daily cap and overnight blocks without parental consent, as states including New Jersey push child-safety changes. Data Center Pressure in NJ: A new NJ law requires data centers to report energy and water use to the BPU, while residents continue fighting issues like utility spikes and noise pollution tied to large facilities. Industrial Real Estate: Kuiken Brothers is buying Paramus Building Supply, keeping employees and expanding inventory across NJ/NY. Biotech Jobs in Morris County: Celularity will manufacture Dezawa MuseCells at its Florham Park site under a deal with Singapore’s MuseCell Innovations, with potential for $300M+ and 200+ high-tech jobs. Broadband Buildout: GoNetspeed kicked off a $4.5M network expansion in Parlin/Old Bridge and Sayreville, targeting service for 3,100 locations this winter. Workforce Watch: NJ reported 25,600 preliminary job losses in July, the steepest monthly drop since early-pandemic months. Energy Costs: AAA/EIA data show gas prices staying elevated as August nears record highs. Public Safety: Freeport officials and MADD urged drivers to avoid impaired driving ahead of Labor Day.

Data Center Transparency: Gov. Mikie Sherrill signed a law requiring New Jersey data centers to report water and energy use to the Board of Public Utilities every six months, including cooling and IT power, peak daily water, water sources, and backup power—aimed at stopping “operate in the shadows” practices and supporting community benefit talks. Regulatory Scrutiny: A new investigation alleges a Vineland, NJ AI data center (DataOne) ran dozens of unpermitted gas generators, raising health and compliance concerns while NJDEP says it’s investigating. Cybersecurity: CISA warned that in July alone, malicious activity targeted 100+ internet-exposed systems in the U.S. water sector, with PLCs hit across multiple states including New Jersey. Public Safety/Health: Baxter recalled multiple injectables nationwide after potential fiberglass/metal contamination was found, including shipments to NJ. Local Infrastructure: Phillipsburg’s Black Bridge repair work is progressing after negotiations involving NJ DOT and Norfolk Southern, with a senator helping bridge gaps between demands and safety provisions. Consumer/Legal: A suit says an importer duped a NJ distributor to steal a grocery business. Community & Workforce: Seton Hall launched a Peace Corps Prep program for undergrads, building sector training and field experience for international service.

Big Tech & Youth Safety: Meta agreed to pay up to $18B in a landmark settlement with states, including New Jersey, ending the federal trial over claims Facebook and Instagram were built to addict kids; the deal also requires new teen guardrails like default two-hour daily limits, nighttime app blocks, muted school-hours notifications, and removal of public “like” counts. Local Politics & AI/Data Centers: More than 100 students marched in Summit urging Rep. Tom Kean Jr. to return a $7,000 donation tied to Palantir and to stop taking money from AI firms, linking AI growth to higher energy costs and data-sharing concerns. Weather & Infrastructure: A new round of severe storms is set to raise flood risk across NYC and Northeast New Jersey, with damaging wind and an isolated tornado possibility. Water Security: CISA says 100+ internet-exposed water and wastewater systems were targeted in July, including in New Jersey, highlighting ongoing OT cyber risk. Business & Retail: Burlington Stores reported strong Q2 results with 11% sales growth and 15th straight quarter of double-digit EPS growth. Food & Farming: Edible Garden won an expanded Target fresh herb program for the holiday season, signaling continued growth in controlled-environment produce.

Big Tech & Youth Safety: Meta agreed to pay up to $17.1B (and in some reports up to $18B) and overhaul Facebook/Instagram for teens, including default daily time limits, nighttime blocks, stronger age checks, and tighter content/parent controls—a settlement led by states including New Jersey that ends a high-profile federal trial. Local Governance & Energy Infrastructure: New Jersey is nearing 40 municipal data-center bans, with Jackson becoming the latest (plus Stafford, North Brunswick, and East Brunswick), as residents cite electric bills, resource strain, and environmental impacts. Healthcare Costs: A Medicare GLP-1 “$50 bridge” program is leaving some eligible patients out—KFF reports denials can hinge on whether a person’s diagnosis matches FDA-approved uses beyond weight loss. Public Safety & Weather: A flood watch is in effect for the broader Philadelphia region, with the risk of 3–5 inches of rain and possible severe storms. Workplace Safety: Reuters reports Taylor Farms repeatedly failed to submit required workplace injury logs, raising questions about transparency around safety performance. Transit & Local Culture: NJ TRANSIT is temporarily branding the North Jersey Coast Line as the “Bleachers Coast Line” for the band’s Asbury Park festival.

Child-Safety Crackdown on Social Media: Meta agreed to pay up to $16.68B–$17.1B and roll out major Instagram/Facebook reforms after a landmark lawsuit by states, including New Jersey, alleging addictive design and improper data practices involving minors. Local Real Estate Negotiation: A Princeton/Essex-area Compass agent urged buyers and sellers to stay composed in competitive NJ home deals, warning against adrenaline-driven overbids. Cannabis Retail Expansion: LEVIA launched its THC seltzers in New Jersey dispensaries, expanding beyond its Massachusetts base. Aging-in-Place Care: Applause Home Care opened a new Maplewood office to expand non-medical in-home caregiving. Aviation & Jobs: United Airlines said 8 of 10 new international destinations in 2027 will originate in Newark, signaling continued growth for NJ air travel. World Cup Economic Boost: A final analysis put the 2026 World Cup’s economic impact at $3.5B across New York and New Jersey. Health Costs Watch: Reporting highlighted that Medicare’s $50 GLP-1 pilot can still exclude some patients, including cases like severe sleep apnea. Public Safety: A Trenton house fire killed two children, and separate reporting described a fatal crash in Mays Landing after teens allegedly stole a G-Wagon.

Logistics Expansion: GOFO opened a bigger Dallas Central Primary Hub, adding 200,000 sq. ft. and a double-deck cross-belt sorter that doubles capacity to 800,000 parcels per day, with NJ’s Super Hub and a Los Angeles anchor forming its U.S. network. Courts & Insurance: A Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling says public policy won’t automatically block insurance coverage for sex-trafficking-related claims, a decision tied to questions from the Third Circuit. Transportation Safety: Two women died after a tractor-trailer overturned onto a stopped sedan on I-78 in Newark; the crash remains under investigation. NJ Transit Finance: NJ Transit’s World Cup shuttles ended with a $4M loss, but cost recovery hit 93%—with losses capped at 7 cents per dollar spent. Tech & Kids Safety: Instagram head Adam Mosseri testified in Meta’s teen addiction trial, saying the “Take a Break” feature helped but had low uptake before becoming a default. Energy & Grid: Clean-energy advocates argue renewables are the fastest path to lower NJ power bills, warning against building more fossil infrastructure. Industrial Services: Tri-State Laser Cleaning announced mobile laser cleaning across NJ/NY/PA for rust, coatings, and surface prep at customer sites. Public Health & Agriculture: Scientists warn about the spread risk of the Asian longhorned tick, first found in NJ in 2017, as it expands through more states. Workplace Safety Policy: Oregon proposed a healthcare workplace violence prevention rule, requiring assessments, programs, and annual training.

Paid Leave Policy: A new expert look at permanent paid family and medical leave highlights how the federal Employer Credit for Paid Family and Medical Leave (45S) can help businesses manage costs while improving recruiting and retention. Public Health & Retail Pharmacy: Stop & Shop says flu vaccines for 2026-2027 are now available at all its Northeast pharmacies, with pharmacists administering shots and other respiratory vaccines. Healthcare Access & Costs: A Medicare GLP-1 “Bridge” pilot is leaving some New Jersey patients out, with one denied applicant citing obstructive sleep apnea as a disqualifier. Blood Supply Crunch: New Jersey Blood Services reports an “unprecedented” shortage and urges donations; the state health commissioner is scheduled to donate at a Freehold center. Cybersecurity & Critical Infrastructure: A policy-focused warning flags cyberattacks as a major threat to water, pipelines, supply chains, and power grids, pointing to recent port disruptions. Last-Mile Delivery Rules: A NYC push tied to the Delivery Protection Act could reshape gig and subcontracted delivery models nationwide, with Amazon at the center of the fight. Tech, Finance & Growth: Capital Numbers completes a New Jersey-based Epitome Cloud acquisition to expand Salesforce and enterprise transformation services. Community & Services: Paterson’s library plans a 24-hour self-service kiosk to extend access for residents without nearby branches. Local Education Disputes: Deptford’s Gloucester County Institute of Technology faces fresh lawsuits over staff cuts and alleged discrimination. Construction Watch: A slow Watertown construction season shows how permitting delays can stall retail projects. Business & Labor: Valley National Bancorp signs to acquire Providence Financial in a deal aimed at accelerating retail and small-business growth. Lottery: Seventeen NJ players won $10,000+ in recent Powerball/Mega Millions/New Jersey Lottery drawings.