AGP Executive Report

Weather & Infrastructure: The National Weather Service confirmed five tornadoes tied to Thursday storms, including an EF-1 near Dover, plus additional tornadoes in Marydel (Kent County) and Estell Manor (Atlantic County), with damage reported to homes, a motel, and a warehouse. Energy Security: Iran-linked hackers reportedly shut down a UK power plant for four days, raising alarms about foreign cyber threats to critical infrastructure. Immigration Courts: A federal judge vacated a Trump policy that suspended visa processing from 75 countries, saying it exceeded statutory authority and improperly blocked eligible applicants. NJ Public Life & Industry History: Paterson unveiled “Carriers of Light and Labor,” a public art exhibition funded by a Mellon Foundation grant and tied to Rutgers’ work on immigrant labor history and industrial roots. Manufacturing/Materials: Princeton Critical Minerals says its brine-based lithium platform is scaling from pilot to active production in Chile, targeting higher yields for a growing critical-minerals demand. Retail/Real Estate: Fogo de Chão announced a new New Jersey location in Monmouth County at Freehold Raceway Mall, adding to its Paramus, Wayne, and Bridgewater footprint.

Local Land Use: Jersey City Council voted to ban data centers as a primary use of industrial property, joining Howell and other NJ towns that say the facilities bring heavy power and water demand with limited local jobs. Consumer & Privacy Policy: New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill signed a children’s online safety package, including an Age-Appropriate Design Code that adds privacy and design requirements for covered platforms starting Sept. 1, 2027, plus a Social Media Research Center and related studies. Tech & Courts: A former Meta product design manager sued in NJ, alleging retaliation after he refused to sign an immigration support letter for a Chinese engineer and raised concerns about Meta’s immigration assistance practices. Real Estate: A 334-unit West Orange complex tied to Thomas Edison’s battery work sold for $131M, highlighting continued demand for historic industrial-to-mixed-use conversions. AI/Manufacturing Talent: A 17-year-old Swedesboro student used AI and 3D-print cooling patterns to predict plastic strength, aiming to improve how parts are tested.

Defense & Media: The Pentagon moved to fire Stars and Stripes editor-in-chief Erik Slavin, escalating a fight over editorial independence inside the Department of Defense. NJ Manufacturing & Defense Tech: U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Rep. Tom Kean Jr. visited Hunterdon County’s Magna-Power Electronics, touting a $17.8M Air Force grant tied to hypersonic wind-tunnel power systems. Consumer Protection & Health Policy: A federal trial is underway over whether Meta designed Facebook/Instagram to addict youth, while separate coverage highlights Medicare payment pressure that’s pushing cataract surgery toward higher-cost laser options. Energy & Data Centers: Project Gold’s data-center plan in Pennsylvania was scaled back after community pushback over density and power/water impacts, and NJ’s own data-center debate continues with local bans and state-level scrutiny. FTC & Pricing Rules: The FTC is seeking public comment on “personalized pricing,” signaling potential enforcement if consumer data-driven pricing isn’t clearly disclosed. NJ Courts & Privacy: NJ Medicaid fee rules face legal challenges, and a separate privacy fight blocks a federal push for massive CDL driver data. Local Business & Community: Bayonne advanced in the Little League World Series with a 3-1 win over host East Side.

Abortion Policy Clash: Gov. Mikie Sherrill signed S2260 expanding protections for NJ abortion providers while limiting cooperation with investigations tied to out-of-state abortion laws, drawing sharp criticism from pro-life groups. Data Centers & Local Power: Howell Township became the 33rd NJ municipality to ban data centers, adding to the growing fight over energy demand and grid strain. Energy & Costs: AAA says crude-driven fuel prices pushed the national regular gas average to $4.10, with California at $5.59. Housing Wealth Snapshot: A LendingTree study finds Americans hold a record $34.9T in home equity; NJ ranks mid-pack with a median reported equity of about $295K. Consumer Pricing Watch: The FTC warned businesses that secretly using personal data to set individualized prices could violate federal law. Aviation & Tourism: BermudAir will launch nonstop Newark–South Caicos service this winter, boosting regional connectivity for travelers. Business Growth: Core Development Group, an NJ EPC firm, landed on the Inc. 5000 list for fast growth in complex energy projects. Local Safety/Enforcement: Point Pleasant council said it had “no information” about an ICE-related incident that led to a pedestrian being struck while fleeing agents. Healthcare Community Grant: Atlantic Health Overlook Medical Center’s advisory board awarded $10,000 to Summit Area YMCA’s LIVESTRONG® at the YMCA cancer-survivor program. Tech & Legal Pressure: A landmark Meta youth-addiction trial is underway, with NJ among states participating in the case. Bankruptcy Watch: Poolin’s Bitcoin mining assets are headed toward a court-supervised auction process in NJ, with a September 10 target date.

Meta Child-Safety Trial: A former Meta engineering director testified that Zuckerberg’s culture put growth and engagement ahead of child safety, as states including New Jersey press claims Meta designed Instagram and Facebook to hook users under 13 and mishandled data/privacy. NJ Weather & Power: Thursday’s severe storms hit New Jersey with flash-flood warnings, heavy rain (over 1.5 inches in multiple towns), road flooding, and power outages affecting more than 9,000 customers. Reproductive Health Law: Gov. Mikie Sherrill signed a bill creating new criminal and civil penalties for alleged “interference” with abortion and transgender medical procedures, drawing warnings from pro-life groups about chilling prayer outside clinics. Local Economy: New Jersey reported a July nonfarm jobs drop of 25,600, though the state labor department says the decline may be overstated due to seasonal adjustment issues. Clean Water Tech: A NJ-linked research nonprofit partnership highlights simpler, community-ready clean water treatment approaches for places struggling with turbidity and unreliable water access. Education: Newark Public Schools outlines the new school year’s priorities and budget pressures as literacy remains a top issue and leadership changes roll out.

Meta Child-Safety Trial: A former Meta engineering director testified in Oakland that Instagram used a “don’t ask, don’t tell” approach for kids under 13, with product design driven by profit and engagement despite internal mental-health concerns; the multi-state case led by California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey seeks major penalties and could force platform changes. Consumer Data & Pricing Rules: The FTC is seeking public comment on how “personalized pricing” should be disclosed, warning that undisclosed data-based price differences could be unfair or deceptive. Cybersecurity for Water Systems: Federal agencies warn hackers are targeting Siemens S7 controllers used in water and wastewater, with AI helping generate exploit scripts—raising risks for downtime and safety. Local Tech Infrastructure Fight: Jersey City’s council voted unanimously to ban standalone data centers, while developers are increasingly taking similar bans to court. Energy Jobs in NJ-Linked Supply Chains: INNIO announced a $300M Waukesha expansion tied to decentralized power demand, including for data centers. Business & Housing: Hovnanian reported fiscal Q3 results; and NJ’s cannabis labor peace agreement mandate was ruled preempted by federal law.

Meta Child Safety Trial: A landmark federal case in California opened with states including New Jersey alleging Meta designed Facebook and Instagram to hook kids and mishandled data, with whistleblower Arturo Béjar telling jurors executives knew about harms but didn’t act. Public Health Compliance: New Jersey’s new Legionella law sets a Sept. 12 deadline to develop water management programs and a Dec. 12 deadline to put them into practice for covered buildings, with penalties for noncompliance. Energy & Agriculture: The NJ Board of Public Utilities approved 16 dual-use agrivoltaic projects moving forward, totaling 52.06 MW while keeping farmland in production. Transit Modernization: NJ TRANSIT held an industry day on using real-time data to modernize customer communications, following an RFI for a unified platform. STEM Pipeline: Monmouth County’s High Technology High School in Lincroft was ranked No. 1 STEM school in the U.S. by U.S. News. Legal/Insurance: Zurich asked a NJ judge to force Exxon to turn over unredacted defense billing and related records in benzene-related suits. Business Watch: Ocean Power Technologies updated preliminary results after revising accounting treatment, including lower revenue and higher net loss.

Meta Youth Safety Trial: A 29-state coalition led by California, Colorado, Kentucky, and New Jersey opened a landmark federal case in Oakland accusing Meta of designing Facebook and Instagram to keep kids hooked and allegedly hiding internal research; the jury’s verdict is advisory, but the stakes include major penalties and possible product changes. Port Electrification: APM Terminals Elizabeth ordered 34 battery-electric Konecranes RTGs (with an option for six more) for the Port of New York and New Jersey, aiming to boost yard capacity and reliability with deliveries through end of 2028. Fiber Buildout: GoNetspeed broke ground in Parlin on a $4.5M expansion to bring symmetrical 100% fiber to 3,100+ homes and businesses, targeting connections this winter. Healthcare Identity Tech: 1Kosmos launched EpicCare Link identity verification in Epic Toolbox, targeting safer onboarding for external clinicians accessing patient systems. Business Services Growth: Ocean County’s VJD Financial Solutions is expanding fractional CFO and bookkeeping support for small and midsize firms. Local Consumer/Community Notes: A Passaic County garage door repair firm added overnight hours for fall/winter breakdowns; and a Union Public Library program highlighted New Jersey inventions and history through museum artifacts. Energy & Renewables Watch: Orsted CEO Rasmus Errboe said the company “should have stepped back sooner” amid US offshore wind setbacks, including Ocean Wind write-downs.

Meta Trial in the Spotlight for NJ: A landmark federal case in Oakland opened this week as 29 states—including New Jersey—accuse Meta of designing Facebook and Instagram to hook children and of improperly collecting kids’ data, with opening arguments framing the fight as a potential reshaping of how social media is built and governed. Consumer & Privacy Pressure on Tech: Meta rejected the claims as the trial proceeds, while the broader legal risk keeps investors and regulators watching closely. NJ Legal/Regulatory Hurdles for Professionals: New Jersey’s AG office and Division of Consumer Affairs proposed tweaks to how licensed professionals must cooperate with licensing board investigations, aiming to raise stakes when confidentiality deals or parallel criminal probes are involved. Electric Trucking in NJ Corridors: Einride says it will deploy 500 Tesla Semis across North America, including routes in New Jersey, as Amazon ramps freight services. Food Safety Recall: Lidl pulled a specific lot of wok spice mix after its lab found Salmonella, including distribution to New Jersey stores. Local Public Works: Montclair closed Nishuane Pool early for a months-long, inclusive playground replacement next to the facility.

Fusion Power Funding: Thea Energy closed an extension of its Series B, adding new backers to scale its stellarator fusion push and expand magnet manufacturing and a second Northern New Jersey facility. Distributed Solar Capital: Dimension Energy secured $857M in additional funding to grow its distributed solar portfolio, including 29 projects totaling 149 MW across NJ and neighboring states. Real Estate Heat (Montclair): Realtor.com ranked Montclair’s 07042 as the No. 2 hottest ZIP in America for 2026, reflecting fast sales and strong demand. Luxury Home Sales (Saddle River): New Jersey Proper reported a $9.25M Saddle River closing—NJMLS’s highest-priced residential sale reported in 2026 so far. Big Tech in Court (Meta): A landmark youth-safety trial begins in Oakland, with New Jersey among states seeking major damages and changes to Facebook/Instagram features. Early Childhood Funding Risk: Proposed Head Start rule changes could disrupt NJ programs serving about 12,400 children, with operators warning of major staffing and schedule impacts. STEM Spotlight: High Technology High School in Lincroft was named the No. 1 STEM high school in the U.S.

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.