AGP Executive Report

Utility Accountability: PUCO is proposing a $3.05 million penalty and corrective actions against FirstEnergy after repeated Lakewood power outages left thousands without power during hot summer months. Local Business & Consumer Watch: Buc-ee’s is suing Beaver’s Mini Mart over a beaver logo/trademark dispute, while the mini mart owner disputes Buc-ee’s claims and the fight is drawing community backlash. Jobs & Economy: A Dayton-area Morning Briefing reports the metro has topped 400,000 jobs for the first time in more than two decades, citing preliminary federal labor data. Housing & Development: The NRP Group broke ground on a 336-unit apartment project in Columbus, adding to the region’s multifamily push. Energy & Industry: PPG is investing $280 million in an Ohio plant expansion, adding about 100 jobs. Tech & Policy: Ohio governor candidates are converging on data-center limits, with proposals ranging from moratoriums to conditional approvals tied to taxes, environmental standards, and community power costs. Health & Food Safety: U.S. outbreaks tied to recalled lettuce and jalapeños continue to climb, with officials urging consumers to check recalls and avoid eating affected products. Community & Culture: A Vermilion Chamber Foundation grant went to 7-year-old Luca Cammarata for his “Luca’s Candy Cartel” business.

Trademark Fight: Buc-ee’s is suing Beaver’s Mini Mart in Beavercreek, arguing the store’s beaver logo is too close to Buc-ee’s and could confuse customers—fueling local backlash after the chain’s Huber Heights opening. Local Governance: Ontario City Council voted to pursue a five-year, zero-interest Ohio EPA loan to build its own wastewater treatment facility, with feasibility work aimed at potentially detaching from Mansfield services. Infrastructure & Growth: A model of the new Brent Spence companion bridge is on display in Cincinnati, with the project designed to handle I-71/75 traffic while the existing bridge becomes local-only. Public Health: A jalapeño-linked salmonella outbreak tied to a Mexico grower has sickened 345 people across 27 states, including Ohio. Retail & Consumer: Ohio’s back-to-school sales tax holiday runs Aug. 7–9 with tighter limits on clothing and school supplies. Energy & Environment: Ohio’s electric bills are hitting record highs in multiple cities, while a separate national look highlights coal’s continued U.S. rebound. Business & Labor: Wendy’s reported Q2 results and outlined a turnaround, including withdrawing guidance and reducing its dividend.

Lottery & Personal Finance: Mega Millions nears $70M, and Ohio-based advisers urge winners to stay anonymous if possible, keep details off social media, and line up a tax attorney/accountant/financial adviser before choosing cash vs. payments. Housing & Vacancy: A new national look at vacant homes highlights the tension between a housing shortage and roughly 14.5M vacant units, with state vacancy rates driven by rentals, seasonal homes, and listings. Local Business & Community Access: Washington-Centerville Public Library installed an adult, height-adjustable changing table funded with ARPA dollars to improve accessibility. Sports & Local Economy: The Cincinnati Open in Mason is rolling out a first-ever “Community Weekend” plus hometown wild cards and a broader fan experience push ahead of the tournament. Energy & Infrastructure: Toledo Edison is making changes after PUCO scrutiny over roundabout delays in Lucas County that could disrupt school timelines, including adding oversight for utility relocations. Agribusiness Payments: Nebraska regulators filed a complaint against Ohio-based The Andersons over alleged late grain payments, urging other producers to report similar delays. Public Safety: University Heights police updated a Cedar Center shooting case, saying it’s not random and sharing suspect descriptions.

Workers’ Comp Dividend: Gov. Mike DeWine asked the BWC Board to approve a projected $1 billion dividend to Ohio employers, bringing total dividends under his administration to $10.2 billion, with rates at the lowest level in 65 years. Food Safety: The CDC says cyclospora linked to iceberg lettuce is now tied to 15 states, with Ohio among them, as investigators focus on Taylor Farms after a growing outbreak. Retail & Consumer Savings: Giant Eagle and Market District are running a limited-time myPerks promotion for the Ohio sales tax holiday weekend, offering 50 cents off per gallon at GetGo for every $100 spent. Local Business Fight: Buc-ee’s is suing Beaver’s Mini Mart in Beavercreek over beaver logo trademark claims, drawing public support for the small business and a response deadline of two weeks. Healthcare Leadership: Rochester Regional Health’s president/COO Jennifer Eslinger will leave to become president and CEO of Summa Health in Akron. Canton Economy/Events: The Panthers and Cardinals kick off the NFL preseason in the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, a major regional draw.

Ohio Politics & Ethics: House Speaker Mike Johnson declined to weigh in on embattled Rep. Max Miller’s domestic abuse allegations, calling them “domestic events,” as pressure mounts from within the GOP. Food Safety & Supply Chains: The CDC says cyclospora linked to iceberg lettuce now involves 15 states, with investigators focusing on Taylor Farms after earlier confusion over testing. Manufacturing & Jobs: Cincinnati-area vertical farm 80 Acres Farms entered acquisition talks before closing; it now expects 145 local job losses by Aug. 17. Real Estate Development: NRP Group broke ground on OSU East, a 336-unit upscale Columbus community (plus 138 for-sale townhomes). Healthcare & Workforce: A federal judge allowed the Trump administration to end TPS for 350,000 Haitians, a move that could ripple through Ohio employers relying on immigrant labor. Business Finance: Park-Ohio reported Q2 earnings of $12.1M (86 cents per share; adjusted 93 cents). Agribusiness: NCBA named ESAP regional winners, including LB Porteus Farms in Coshocton, Ohio.

Food Safety: Ohio’s cyclosporiasis count jumped again to 4,013 as the multistate outbreak linked to iceberg lettuce expands, with health officials urging people to wash hands and be cautious with produce. Workforce & Agriculture: 80 Acres Farms is shutting down after a collapsed acquisition deal, cutting 145 Hamilton jobs after negotiations fell apart when the prospective buyer withdrew. Manufacturing: Wardjet launched the APEX-90, a new 5-axis waterjet cutting head aimed at helping Ohio manufacturers tackle more complex parts. Local Business & Legal Fight: Buc-ee’s sued Beavercreek’s Beaver’s Mini-Mart over a beaver logo, claiming copyright infringement; the small shop says it will fight back. Healthcare Business: Modular Medical will showcase its tubeless Pivot insulin patch pump at the ADCES conference in Columbus, targeting an October launch across five U.S. markets. Community & Economic Development: Cleveland Clinic pledged $1 million to support a teaching kitchen at Cleveland’s West Side Market, expanding food education and nutrition programs. Public Safety & Infrastructure: Defiance County commissioners awarded a contract to renovate their Elliott Road office building, with work set to move county services into the updated space. Business Climate: A new Delta Media survey says AI adoption among real estate brokerages is nearly universal, with “no plans” dropping to about 2% in 2026.

Data Centers & Power: Ohio’s debate over AI-driven data centers keeps heating up, with local governments weighing moratoriums and zoning changes as builders chase grid access and residents push back on costs and impacts. E-commerce Logistics: Amazon Business is rolling out dedicated, branded delivery trucks in 13 states including Ohio, aiming to better match how businesses receive palletized orders at loading docks. Food Safety: A cyclosporiasis outbreak tied to iceberg lettuce has expanded to 15 states with more than 10,000 confirmed cases, raising new questions about produce sourcing and processing. Local Business Fight: Buc-ee’s is suing a Beavercreek mom-and-pop convenience store over beaver logo and branding, and the Dayton area is responding with a wave of beaver-themed logo swaps. Public Safety & Crime: A Grove City father faces felony charges after allegedly posing as his 11-year-old daughter on TikTok to lure a suspected rapist—then shooting him. Real Estate Development: Elyria is considering annexing Amherst Township farmland for housing, while a separate Butler County zoning dispute could decide whether Garver Family Farm Market can expand its deli/bakery/event operations. Consumer Protection: Lorain County warns of a sophisticated bank impersonation scam that uses spoofed numbers and claims of “card pickup” at home.

Ohio Politics & Courts: A lawyer for GOP Rep. Max Miller admitted accidentally releasing sensitive photos of his daughter while assembling Miller’s defense materials, calling it “completely unintentional,” as the abuse allegations fight continues. Energy & Utilities: Enbridge Gas Ohio filed for an increase in base rate natural gas charges; if approved, a typical residential bill would rise about 8.8% ($7.60). Local Government: Lakewood schools agreed to reopen its district-wide elementary restructuring process after a settlement over Ohio Open Meetings Act violations, including new public votes and training. AI & Data Centers: Anthropic signed a reported $10B computing-capacity deal with Nvidia-backed cloud startup Volta Infra, underscoring the arms race for AI power. Healthcare Logistics: Cleveland Clinic launched a long-term drone prescription delivery program with Zipline in Cleveland east-side suburbs, with plans to expand to lab samples and meals. Retail & Consumer: Ohio’s back-to-school sales tax holiday runs Aug. 7-9, but this year’s break is more limited than 2024-25. Business & Finance: Sequoia Financial (Akron) acquired Minneapolis-based All Star Financial, adding about $1.36B in AUM and tax services. Ag & Industry: Scoular is investing in a soybean dehulling facility in Covington, Ohio, targeting mid-2027 operations.

Data Centers & Power Costs: A new Ohio-focused debate is heating up over whether AI data centers are driving up electricity bills, with regulators and utilities arguing about who should pay for grid upgrades. Local Business & Community: Milford residents are pushing to convert empty downtown storefronts from “eyesores” into new businesses, while Cleveland’s lakefront plan is getting a fresh master-plan push after the Browns’ Brook Park move expands the development footprint. Public Safety & Health: A cyclosporiasis outbreak has turned deadly, with Michigan reporting two deaths tied to the parasite. Politics & Accountability: Ohio Rep. Max Miller is refusing to step aside amid domestic abuse allegations, as GOP lawmakers publicly hedge and some privately urge him to resign—raising fears about electoral fallout in Ohio’s 7th District. Ohio Economy & Jobs: Hamilton’s 80 Acres Farms says it’s closing after failing to secure capital to continue vertical farming operations. Corporate Finance: Commercial Vehicle Group (New Albany) reported a Q2 loss, while the Guardians made multiple deadline trades to reshape the roster.

Antitrust/Pharma: Ohio’s AG coalition secured a $400M settlement in principle with Sandoz over alleged generic-drug price inflation and reduced competition, with total state payments expected around $469M and a 2027 trial looming if finalized. Labor/Manufacturing: Youngstown-area Schwebel Baking’s Teamsters bid for a temporary restraining order was denied as the company moves through receivership and liquidation tied to a lender lawsuit. Ohio Tax Policy: Ohio’s back-to-school sales tax holiday returns Aug. 7-9 but is narrower than last year—clothing up to $75, school supplies and instructional materials up to $20 each. Energy/Utilities: Ohio’s consumer watchdog is urging federal regulators to stop residential customers from footing PJM grid-upgrade costs driven by data center growth. Housing/Finance: JPMorgan Chase says it will deploy $750B through 2035 to build or preserve about 1M affordable homes and expand home lending. Corporate Moves: ATSG named Matthew Scagnelli CHRO, while PPG tapped Justin Epler to lead Industrial Coatings Americas. Local Business/Development: Franklin, Ohio is weighing a proposed 1,200+ unit, $1M-plus home community plan.

Ohio Energy & Land Use: Ohio’s Egypt Valley Wildlife Area is set for fracking after the Ohio Oil and Gas Land Management Commission approved final bids for 13,000 acres, drawing fresh backlash from conservation groups that say the land is still recovering from decades of strip mining. Cybersecurity & Utilities: U.S. Rep. Mike Turner says Congress hasn’t been told whether Ohio is among states hit by cyberattacks targeting water utilities, as federal investigators look at possible foreign involvement and warn civilian infrastructure is increasingly a target. Statehouse Tech & Benefits: Ohio advanced a cybersecurity upgrade for SNAP EBT cards, requiring chip-enabled cards and new security procedures, with $10.6 million appropriated for the transition. Public Safety Policy: Ohio lawmakers also moved forward with “Katelyn’s Law,” creating a felony for moving or removing human remains to prevent discovery, and with HB251, tightening rules for law-enforcement drone use. Immigration & Local Impact: Hundreds rallied at an ICE office in Blue Ash as Haitians face the fallout from the end of Temporary Protected Status, with organizers arguing the economic and humanitarian costs are immediate. Federal Politics Spillover: Ohio’s U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur was hospitalized after a hit-and-run crash in Toledo, with injuries reported as non-life-threatening.

Broadband Investment: Ohio awarded $20 million for a Route 30 “middle mile” fiber project, with Com Net building a network linking colleges, local governments, health care and other institutions across 15 counties in northwest Ohio. Public Safety & Crime Policy: The Ohio Senate advanced HB210, tightening catalytic converter theft and scrap rules with new theft/receiving offenses, higher penalties for repeat offenders and businesses, and stricter proof-of-ownership and recordkeeping for buyers. Cannabis Regulation: Rep. Levi Dean backed HB611, which folds certain medical marijuana processors into Ohio’s adult-use market and expands licensing for cultivators, dispensaries, processors and testing labs. Homelessness Costs: HB472 moved forward to waive ID and birth certificate fees for people experiencing homelessness, with multiple lawmakers voting yes as the measure clears key legislative steps. Energy & Data Centers: Veolia is set to operate a 350-MW gas-powered microgrid for an Ohio data center campus, underscoring how power reliability is becoming a core business issue for AI infrastructure. Workforce & Community: University Hospitals and Clasp launched a student loan repayment program aimed at strengthening the Northeast Ohio workforce. Local Business Boost: Bluffton’s weekly farmers market continues through October, highlighting how local vendors use the market to grow into brick-and-mortar businesses.

Broadband Buildout: Ohio awarded $20 million to Com Net for a Route 30 “middle mile” fiber project, aiming to connect colleges, local governments, and health care across 15 northwest Ohio counties in a two-year build. Workforce & Training: Meta’s America’s Workforce Academy is expanding data-center construction training with cost-free programs and job offers, including Ohio—another sign the state’s economy is tying more closely to AI and infrastructure hiring. Data Center Politics: A growing revolt against AI data centers is pushing back on local approvals and moratoriums, with Ohio projects reportedly paused amid tighter construction rules and community distrust. Higher Ed & Campus Spending: University of Akron is moving ahead with major renovations, including $1.5–$2 million stage repairs at E.J. Thomas Hall, plus residence hall and Polsky Building upgrades. State Budget Watch: Ohio’s budget news includes mental health funding momentum in the broader region, while Ohio lawmakers also advanced multiple bills tied to utilities, education, and public safety. Local Legal/Business: Buc-ee’s sued a Beavercreek shop over alleged trademark infringement of its beaver logo, while Springfield’s mayor urged residents to wait for an investigation into the city manager’s conduct. Sports Business Angle: Big Ten and SEC leaders backed a federal college sports bill, keeping NIL and transfer rules in the policy spotlight.

Ohio Policy Watch: The Ohio House passed HB611 to fold certain medical marijuana processors into the adult-use market, with Rep. Ismail Mohamed voting yes (87-5) and Rep. Diane Mullins voting no. Homelessness & Utilities: HB472 cleared the House 60-34 to waive state and local birth record and ID fees for people experiencing homelessness; Rep. C. Allison Russo voted no. Separately, HB173 passed 56-35 on “behind-the-meter” utility services; Rep. Cindy Abrams voted yes. Education & Health Workforce: Ohio advanced SB276, ratifying an Interstate Compact for School Psychologists; Rep. Anita Somani voted no while Rep. Kevin Ritter voted yes (60-38). The Senate also backed SB162, tightening health insurer recoupment deadlines; Sen. Michele Reynolds voted yes (33-0). Capital Spending: SB450, a capital appropriations package, moved through the House 95-3; Rep. Daniel P. Troy and Rep. James M. Hoops both voted yes. Defense Economic Development: HB292 to create an Ohio Defense Commission and fund passed the Senate 33-0; Sen. Casey Weinstein voted yes, while Rep. Tristan Rader voted no in the House (86-7). Fraud & Consumer Risk: BBB Scam Tracker data put Mount Vernon at one report in June, tied for 124th among Ohio cities. Elections & Markets: Prediction markets show North Carolina’s Roy Cooper leading for the 2026 Senate race, with Ohio listed among other battlegrounds. Tech/Defense Procurement: The Air Force is moving toward “open architecture” standards to reduce vendor lock-in for upgrades.

Public Works & Infrastructure: Paulding Village approved an engineering agreement for a U.S. 127 (Williams Street) reconstruction, backed by a $500,000 OPWC grant and a no-interest loan up to $750,000, with a $2.6 million project plan that includes base, curb and sidewalk work. Healthcare Workforce: University Hospitals launched a student loan repayment program for new graduate radiologic professionals and respiratory therapists, offering up to $20,000 over two years to help fill Northeast Ohio clinical roles. Education Finance: Lakota Local Schools won more than $76 million in state funding tied to a revised 37-year, $223 million bond plan; officials say the local share is timed to roll off with existing bonds, aiming for no tax increase if voters approve in November. Food Safety: Health officials are tracking a major cyclosporiasis outbreak linked to contaminated shredded iceberg lettuce; Ohio is among states reporting additional cases under investigation. Consumer Fraud: An Ohio AG-linked I-Team alert says losses tied to the Facebook group “Women Who Want It All” top $482,000 from nearly 60 complainants. Local Business & Services: Priority Waste CEO promised fixes after pickup delays sparked frustration in multiple communities, including missed routes. Transportation Planning: ODOT identified a preferred US 23 bypass route from northwest Ohio toward Columbus, a potential boost for logistics and commuting predictability.

Workers’ Comp Dividend: Gov. Mike DeWine asked the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation board to approve a new $1 billion dividend for employers, pushing total payouts under his administration to $10.2 billion and exceeding premiums paid since 2019. Small Business Funding: JobsOhio, via the Regional Growth Partnership, awarded $125,000 grants to four northwest Ohio small businesses, supporting 27 new jobs and retention of 200+ roles. AI Power Buildout: Veolia will operate a 350MW gas-powered microgrid with a 430MWh battery for an Ohio AI data center campus, aiming for 100% on-site power and behind-the-meter reliability. Litigation Finance Rules: Ohio House passed HB105, setting consumer protections for litigation financing—contract disclosures, a 10-business-day cancellation right, and a 10% annual cap on consumer charges. Utility Rate Scrutiny: PUCO scheduled a rehearing on Aqua Ohio’s water rate hikes after the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel argued affordability wasn’t properly weighed. Public Health Watch: Ohio’s cyclosporiasis count topped 4,000 cases, with the outbreak now reported across 45 states. Local Business Growth: A Youngstown-area attorney, Kevin P. Murphy, joined Roetzel & Andress to expand corporate, tax, and transactional services.