AGP Executive Report

Energy & Earnings: FirstEnergy posted solid Q2 2026 results, reaffirming 2026 core earnings guidance and its long-term growth plan as contracted data-center demand keeps climbing. Public Safety & Local Trust: East Cleveland pushed back on viral claims about police staffing, saying the rumors are inaccurate while noting policy limits on disclosing specific numbers. Cyber/Consumer Protection: Ohio AGs and a coalition urged the FCC to tighten “Know Your Customer” rules to curb illegal robocalls and the scams they fuel. Tech & Jobs: Electra picked Springfield for its first EL9 aircraft production facility, a reported $850M investment expected to create nearly 2,000 jobs. Real Estate & Transparency: Toledo and Lucas County launched a Public Land Opportunities Dashboard to spotlight vacant parcels for redevelopment. Immigration & Labor Impact: Gov. Mike DeWine called ending Haitian TPS a “mistake,” warning Ohio businesses and workers could be hit hard. Healthcare & Food Safety: CDC-linked cyclosporiasis cases rose, with Ohio among affected states and guidance to avoid recalled lettuce. Sports Business: Ohio State and Notre Dame jersey patch deals keep spreading in college sports, while Cleveland’s Denzel Ward secured a major contract extension. Local Economy: Middletown’s Manchester Inn redevelopment plan aims to bring apartments and retail back to downtown.

Housing & Local Finance: Ohio Auditor Keith Faber declared a fiscal emergency for the Village of Zaleski (Vinton County) after deficits in water and sewer funds and a treasury shortfall, putting the village under state oversight to craft a fix. Banking & Business Hiring: Truist named John Stucker Middle Market Sales Leader, citing double-digit middle-market deposit growth that includes Ohio. Mortgage Industry: Union Home Mortgage says loan officer Ron Haddad landed in the company’s Top 25 for loan production within his first year. Food Safety & Legal Risk: Cyclospora-linked lawsuits keep growing as Taco Bell and Taylor Farms face new claims tied to the outbreak; Ohio is among the first states where suits were filed. Immigration & Labor: As Haitians lose TPS, business groups and local advocates warn Ohio employers could feel labor shortages while ICE activity is expected to ramp up. Energy & Infrastructure: A waste-heat-to-power project is coming online for the University of Dayton, with AES Ohio, Tallgrass and Kanin Energy. Data Centers in Ohio: Perry Village rejected a proposed AI data center tax abatement/PILOT and is moving toward a one-year moratorium on new data center permits. Tech Markets: Nvidia’s reported $250B OpenAI financing push is roiling AI infrastructure stocks, while Apple reclaimed the top spot by market value.

OpenAI Data Center Financing in Ohio: Nvidia is reportedly in talks to back about $250B in financing guarantees for OpenAI’s massive southern Ohio data-center project, reviving “circular financing” fears on Wall Street even as the deal would help OpenAI secure infrastructure and boost long-term demand for Nvidia chips. Local Politics & Economy: Ohio’s Democratic governor candidate, Emily Acton, says she supports a conditional moratorium on new data centers unless they meet requirements like union labor, environmental standards, community benefit deals, and covering utility costs. Defense Manufacturing: Anduril unveiled its first Ohio-built FQ-44 “Fury” drone coming off the Pickaway County production line, with Gov. Mike DeWine highlighting state support and JobsOhio grants. Food Safety Shock: The Cyclospora outbreak linked to Taylor Farms iceberg lettuce keeps expanding, with recalls tied to products sold to retailers and restaurants including in Ohio. Housing & Property Costs: Summit County mailed new real estate reappraisal notices; owners can challenge values through the Board of Revision during the Jan. 1–March 31 window. Consumer Pressure on Grocers: Consumer groups are urging chains like Kroger to offer digital-only coupon deals in non-digital formats so shoppers without smartphones or reliable internet aren’t shut out. Banking Watch: Huntington reported deposit-cost pressure amid competition, signaling margin headwinds for regional lenders. Workforce & Growth: Columbus financial tech firm plans to add 100 jobs, supported by state tax credits. Community Support: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints donated nearly 35,000 pounds of food to the West Ohio Food Bank to help stabilize pantries.

AI Infrastructure Dealmaking: Nvidia is reportedly in advanced talks to backstop about $250 billion in financing for OpenAI’s planned 10-gigawatt Ohio data center lease, with Nvidia also discussing additional funding for the chips—though terms could still collapse, and OpenAI’s lack of an investment-grade credit rating is a key risk. Energy & Permitting: Ohio Farm Bureau praised Ohio EPA’s decision to keep the current, project-by-project wastewater discharge permitting approach for data centers instead of moving to a general permit. Health & Consumer Impact: The Cyclospora outbreak tied to recalled iceberg lettuce is reshaping shopping behavior, with Americans buying less fresh produce; meanwhile, FDA re-reviewed a key recalled sample and says it was a false positive, and Consumer Reports says the recall notice’s brand identifiers were unclear. Local Finance Leadership: Holy Rosary Credit Union named Kayla Selhorst as its next president and CEO, starting Oct. 1, 2026. Utilities Watch: Youngstown and the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel are pushing for rehearing over steep steam heat rate hikes for SOBE Thermal Energy Solutions. Community & Business: Ohio property owners can apply for Round 37 of the state Historic Preservation Tax Credit Program, aimed at rehabilitating historic buildings.

AI Infrastructure Finance: Nvidia is reportedly in advanced talks to provide about $250B in financing guarantees to help OpenAI lease a massive 10-gigawatt data center campus in southern Ohio being developed by SoftBank’s energy unit, with power access tied to U.S. government oversight and separate Japan-backed funding; OpenAI is among the strongest interested tenants, alongside Anthropic, Microsoft and Google. Local Community & Governance: Van Wert City Council is set for a second July meeting after revising a proposed no-smoking ordinance for city parks to allow smoking only in park parking lots. Workforce & Financial Stability: Northwestern Ohio Community Action Commission (NOCAC) was featured in a statewide report highlighting its Financial Opportunity Center coaching and financial literacy work helping clients move from homelessness toward jobs and stability. Immigration Enforcement: ICE plans to ramp up operations to arrest Haitian immigrants as Temporary Protected Status nears its end, with Springfield, Ohio flagged as a target. Household Costs & Back-to-School Pressure: Verizon’s “School Rocks Backpack” giveaway in Toledo ran out after roughly half the families in line received backpacks, underscoring demand tied to back-to-school expenses. Education & Talent Pipeline: Ohio University says multiple graduate programs—including business and health fields—ranked among the nation’s top 100 in U.S. News. Energy & Corporate Power: Meta has left the RE100 renewable electricity pact, citing stricter technical criteria after new gas-plant funding tied to AI data center expansion, including in Ohio.

Food Safety & Recalls: The FDA expanded its Cyclospora outbreak probe tied to recalled central Mexico iceberg lettuce to 9 states, with 1,947 lab-confirmed illnesses and at least 98 hospitalizations; Walmart pulled 11 products, including Marketside bagged iceberg salads/shredded lettuce, with Ohio among affected states. Public Health in Ohio: The outbreak is also linked to Taco Bell exposure, and officials warn case counts could keep rising as investigations catch up. Local Business & Retail: Old Navy is set to open July 28 in Jackson Township at Belden Park Crossings (with a grand opening Aug. 1), adding momentum to the 486,000-square-foot retail center. Economic Development & Jobs: A new study says hyperscale data centers can deliver outsized local economic impact; Ohio-linked research points to major construction and ongoing job support from large facilities. Aviation: Dayton International Airport is seeing renewed momentum as Breeze Airways adds new fall routes, a boost for regional business travel. Community & Agriculture: Second Harvest’s farm tour highlights how state and federal support helps move Ohio produce to food banks.

Food Safety & Consumer Impact: The cyclospora outbreak tied to iceberg lettuce is now in nine states, with the CDC reporting hundreds more cases and at least 98 hospitalizations; Taylor Farms says it expanded recalls after FDA testing questions. Public Policy & Accountability: A Democratic Ohio AG candidate, John Kulewicz, hit consumer fraud, wage theft, monopolies, and transparency at JobsOhio during a Lima stop, while also backing a FirstEnergy-related bribery case. Ohio Business & Retail: Verizon Wireless stores in northeast Indiana and northwest Ohio will host “Back to School” backpack giveaways, aiming to ease back-to-school costs. Energy & Infrastructure: AI data centers are drawing scrutiny over farmland, water, and power demands as communities push back on new builds. Health & Recalls: Amy’s Kitchen recalled 184,200 cans of lentil soup due to a pull-tab defect that could raise spoilage risk, including distribution in Ohio. Ohio Crime & Courts: An Avon man was arrested for a bar assault case in Wellington after police said he used a glass bottle and punched a victim. Local Economy Watch: Save A Lot stores in Chicago are closing permanently, raising concerns about grocery access and EBT-related changes.

NBA & Local Economy: LeBron James is signing a two-year, ~$8 million deal with the Philadelphia 76ers, a move that reshapes the Eastern Conference and drives fresh attention to Philly’s sports-and-spending ecosystem. Public Health: The CDC says the cyclospora outbreak tied to shredded lettuce has expanded to nine states, with 1,947 illnesses and 98 hospitalizations linked to Taco Bell lettuce; Ohio is already on the list. Food Safety & Consumer Impact: As shoppers worry, some communities are shifting toward local produce—farmers markets report lettuce demand spikes while retailers face traffic drops. Workforce Development: Dayton-area partners launched “Ohio @ Work,” bringing virtual job-shadowing and career-connected learning to middle and high school students, targeting advanced manufacturing and healthcare. Housing: A new Ohio affordable-housing push highlights a shortage of 266,000 units statewide, using Bexley as a collaboration case study. Energy & Policy: The Trump administration admitted in court filings it canceled $7.6B in clean-energy grants based on the political identity of recipient states. Local Business & Growth: Electra plans an $850M hybrid aircraft plant in Springfield, aiming to create nearly 2,000 jobs. Community Infrastructure: Harrison County leaders advance trail and bridge ideas, including planning work to connect the Conotton Creek Trail to Main Street in Jewett.

NBA & Ohio Sports: LeBron James says his “last decision” is Philadelphia—he’s signing a two-year, $8 million deal with the 76ers after seriously considering retirement, ending weeks of speculation and reshaping the Eastern Conference. Public Health & Food Safety: The CDC expanded the cyclospora outbreak tied to shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell to four more states (now nine total), with investigators tracing supply chains back to central Mexico and Taylor Farms issuing recalls and pausing sourcing. Local Infrastructure: Trumbull County secured grants for a $3.4 million Weathersfield sanitary sewer project, but residents still must pay their share to connect; construction is set to start in October. Ohio Housing Costs: A new report says Ohio renters need to earn at least $23.82 an hour to afford a modest two-bedroom apartment, highlighting a widening gap between wages and rising rent. Business Growth & Hiring: Complete Pest Solutions named franchise veteran Dave Roemer CEO, aiming to boost franchisee profitability and operations. Healthcare Security: OhioHealth is rolling out weapons-free visitor screening at Van Wert Hospital as violence in healthcare settings continues to rise. Tech & Regulation: Columbus residents urged a data center moratorium and stronger safeguards as city council weighs draft rules on water, sewer, and decommissioning.

Energy & AI Cost-Sharing: President Trump expanded his Ratepayer Protection Pledge, adding 200-plus signatories—covering utilities and major data-center players—to push the idea that new AI power buildouts shouldn’t hike household bills. Judicial Moves: The Senate Judiciary Committee advanced a Southern District of Ohio district judge nominee and a Tenth Circuit judge nominee, while also moving a U.S. attorney nomination. Public Health: Federal investigators are probing a second, separate Cyclospora outbreak (at least 72 sick) while the larger lettuce-linked outbreak keeps climbing, now tied to more states including Ohio. Local Telecom: altafiber is partnering with Westerville to build a fiber network over three years, targeting 15,000 locations with construction starting this summer. Data Center Fight in Ohio Region: Warwood residents filed suit to block a proposed West Virginia data center, arguing the state’s high-impact data center law is unconstitutional. Business & Community: Ford Custom Garage is growing fast as a pre-delivery personalization channel; in Ohio, Lima Memorial highlighted cardiovascular upgrades via a community “Insight Tour.”

Energy & Costs: Ohio gas prices jumped nearly 10 cents week over week as global oil topped $100 a barrel, with Dayton-area averages rising and analysts pointing to Middle East tensions. Food Safety & Health: The Cyclospora outbreak tied to iceberg lettuce continues to spread, with Ohio cases now eclipsing 2,500 and the CDC tracking thousands across 41 states; Michigan’s count keeps climbing and hospitalizations are rising. Retail & Litigation: Taco Bell is facing multiple lawsuits over the outbreak and is responding with a $1, lettuce-free Enchiritos promo while regulators investigate the source. Housing & Finance: Northwest Ohio’s housing market shows steady price gains and improving choice for buyers, while broader data shows foreclosure filings rising as affordability strains households. Local Business & Community: Akron’s International Institute of Akron rallied after losing federal funding, and Northwest State Community College’s Green Carpet event raised $60,000 for student scholarships. Tech & Power Infrastructure: Meta and Lightsource bp expanded their Ohio solar footprint via a new long-term power purchase agreement for a Louisiana project, underscoring continued demand for grid-scale renewables. Defense & Aviation: At Farnborough, Boeing highlighted autonomous combat aircraft efforts, while Ohio is in the mix for future aviation supply-chain jobs tied to major engine orders.

Cedar Point Access Upgrade: Acrow installed two temporary modular steel bridges on the Cedar Point Causeway in Sandusky to keep traffic moving during major multi-year reconstruction starting fall 2026. Local Government & Data Centers: Columbus City Council is pursuing data center regulations focused on water use, sewer discharge, and decommissioning rules—after residents pushed for a moratorium or ban. Public Health & Food Supply: The cyclospora outbreak linked to iceberg lettuce continues to widen; FDA investigations and recalls now cover lettuce sold across 27 states, including Ohio, while Taco Bell is running a $1 lettuce-free Enchiritos promo amid the fallout. Workforce & Education Partnerships: The Coalition for the Common Good expanded its employer-linked workforce model, adding 20+ partners offering flexible, stackable training and credentials. Banking & Consumer Finance: Bread Financial reported Q2 2026 results and declared quarterly dividends on preferred and common stock. Ohio Business Growth: ZenaTech completed its acquisition of Dayton’s BA Land Professionals, its first Ohio Drone-as-a-Service location, expanding into four states. Labor Watch: A proposed class-action targets Dot Foods over alleged wage-and-overtime underpayment practices.

China Vehicle Crackdown: A U.S. Senate Commerce panel advanced a bill targeting Chinese-connected automakers, including a 15% ownership threshold that could complicate Mercedes-Benz sales; Ohio Sen. Bernie Moreno backed the measure. Food Safety Shock: The FDA is investigating a new cyclosporiasis cluster (72 people) as confirmed cases rise across the Midwest, with Ohio among states seeing increases and Taylor Farms still in the spotlight. Ohio Invasive Species: Spotted lanternflies are being reported “everywhere” in Ohio, with Cincinnati officials urging residents to squish egg sacs and remove tree of heaven. Local Storm Recovery: Pierce Township residents are clearing tornado damage after confirmed touchdown and straight-line winds. Public Safety: Police are investigating a fatal shooting at Carter Lumber in Mason, Ohio. Banking Deal: First Financial Bancorp agreed to buy Finward Bancorp in a $208M all-stock deal, expanding its Ohio-to-Chicago footprint. Housing/Finance Paperwork: Notices to creditors and sheriff’s sales point to ongoing corporate dissolutions and foreclosure activity in Ohio.

Funeral Industry Growth: Landmark Funeral Group is partnering with Physicians Mutual and Precoa to expand funeral preplanning services across its 30+ Ohio-area locations. Defense & Manufacturing: Archer Aviation and Anduril unveiled “Halo” (commercial) and “Thunder” (defense) autonomous VTOL aircraft plans, while Beehive Industries is scaling large-format metal additive manufacturing with Nikon SLM systems and pushing Frenzy 8 engine production. AI & Aerospace Milestone: Shield AI and GE Aerospace completed an integrated propulsion test for the X-BAT thrust-vectoring nozzle at GE’s Peebles, Ohio facility. Ohio Energy/Policy: Ohio’s $100M JobsOhio energy fund is drawing criticism for excluding renewables and for limited transparency. Data Center Property Rights: Landowners are challenging eminent domain use for transmission lines tied to AI data centers, including in Ohio. Health & Food Safety: The CDC says 2026 is the worst year on record for cyclospora, with a lettuce-linked outbreak tied to multiple states including Ohio. Local Business/Infrastructure: Kimberly-Clark’s Trumbull County plant is set to get a new access road starting early 2027, and Reading City Council rejected an ODOT road diet over business and traffic concerns. Banking Expansion: 7 17 Credit Union opened a new Stow branch, continuing its regional growth.

Ohio Manufacturing & Defense Jobs: Anduril’s P3 update in Circleville says its Arsenal-1 hyperscale drone manufacturing push is ramping up, with plans to hire thousands in south-central Ohio and produce its Fury autonomous aircraft near Rickenbacker Airbase. Energy Markets: EQT missed quarterly profit expectations as natural gas prices stayed weak, but raised its 2026 production forecast, citing infrastructure investment tied to Appalachian Basin output. Banking & Deals: First Financial Bancorp reported Q2 results, boosted its quarterly dividend, and announced an all-stock acquisition of Finward Bancorp. Antitrust & Drug Pricing: Ohio AG Ford announced a $29.6M multistate settlement with Glenmark over alleged generic-drug price inflation and reduced competition. Public Safety Tech: A road-safety advocate flagged crash-safety concerns with posts used for camera and gunshot-detection systems, arguing some lack breakaway features. Transit Leadership: DART selected Jacksonville transit CEO Nathaniel Ford as its new president/CEO despite scrutiny over past spending. Food Safety: The cyclospora outbreak remains tied to iceberg lettuce and Taylor Farms, with recalls and shifting lab findings keeping consumers and retailers on edge. Local Government Finance: Lake County indicted a former auditor’s office employee over forged medical excuses and paid time off. Sports Business: Cleveland’s WNBA team landed Progressive as a jersey patch sponsor as the franchise builds toward its 2028 debut.

Auto Supply-Chain Shift: A Reuters report spotlights Eagle Wireless, a Cleveland-area electronics maker ramping up to replace Chinese connected-car hardware as federal rules phase it out (software by 2027, hardware by 2030), aiming to grow to 1,000 employees and near $100M revenue. Health Care Expansion: Beacon Behavioral Partners is entering Michigan and Ohio via a partnership with Pure Psychiatry, expanding to a 17-location behavioral health platform. Biotech in Ohio: Cincinnati Children’s was activated as the seventh Qualified Treatment Center for Abeona’s ZEVASKYN® gene-modified therapy for recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa. Cancer Diagnostics Coverage: Plus Therapeutics’ CNSide Diagnostics won a regional agreement with Medical Mutual covering about 1.2M people across Ohio and Kentucky for its CNSide® CSF tumor cell assay. Local Government Finance: Ohio Auditor of State Keith Faber declared a fiscal emergency for the City of Marion after a ~$2.4M deficit, triggering state oversight. Food Safety Watch: The national Cyclospora outbreak remains centered on Taylor Farms-linked shredded iceberg lettuce, even as FDA messaging has shifted after a “false positive” test. Banking Results: Peoples Bancorp reported Q2 2026 net income of $28.0M, with EPS of $0.78. THC Drinks Policy: Ohio bar owners warn a federal THC-beverage limit could effectively shut down a key product line, threatening jobs and revenue.