AGP Executive Report

Transportation & Safety: A 56-year-old cyclist died after a crash at Manchester Road and North Sappington Road in Glendale, where police say she entered against a red light and the driver reported he didn’t see her due to other vehicles. Local Government: Webster Groves is gathering resident input as it searches for a new city manager after Marie Peoples’ resignation; the council hired GMP Consultants and is weighing a charter change to drop the residency requirement. Municipal Finance Oversight: In Kirkwood, residents are pushing for a broader forensic audit after the city’s utility Kirkwood Electric ran nearly two years without full reporting, leading to a $15.6 million deficit. Energy & Economy: A University of Missouri study finds wind and solar can boost rural pay, jobs, and GDP in hosting counties, though it notes local concerns like property values and farmland impacts. Fuel Prices: GasBuddy data show Missouri premium averages around $4.54/g and E15 as low as $3.73/g in Linn County for the week ending Aug. 29. Banking: Equity Bank announced a merger with Iowa’s Lincoln Savings Bank, valuing the deal at about $124 million. Policy & Legal: Missouri Republicans asked the U.S. Supreme Court to pause a ruling affecting the congressional map referendum, as the case heads toward fast deadlines.

Fuel Watch: GasBuddy data for the week ending Aug. 29 shows some of the lowest midgrade prices in Missouri at $3.91/gal in Madison County and $4.12/gal in Worth County, with the statewide midgrade average at $4.19/gal. Energy & Costs: The reports tie price swings to global oil tensions, refinery maintenance, and seasonal travel demand, with the U.S. Energy Information Administration pointing to domestic supply conditions as key drivers. Elections: President Trump filed another last-ditch appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court to limit mail voting as judges keep blocking the plan and election officials prepare to mail ballots in swing states. Local Economy & Growth: Mizzou football returned to a renovated Memorial Stadium, highlighting upgrades meant to boost the fan experience and ticketing changes for students. Business & Community: The Missouri Fox Trotter World Show and Celebration runs Sept. 6-12 in Ava, drawing competitors and spending that supports downtown businesses. Food Safety: A Walmart frozen-berries recall expanded to Great Value products in 16 states over possible E. coli contamination, with no illnesses reported for that specific item. Small Business Relief: The SBA says eligible Missouri private nonprofit groups affected by June 4-18 severe weather must apply for physical damage disaster loans by Oct. 3.

Local Business Awards & Philanthropy: St. Louis AI firm Capacity earned an Inc. 5000 growth spot (No. 432 overall; No. 4 in St. Louis, No. 6 in Missouri), while Spire funded a $130,000 energy-efficiency rebate for the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra’s Jack C. Taylor Music Center and Saint Louis University added $1.5 million in scholarships through its Healthier STL program. Banking & Community Grants: Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines money, matched through local credit unions, is sending $90,000 total to six St. Louis-area nonprofits for housing, healthcare, food help and youth programs. Energy & Infrastructure: Ameren Missouri says a wind turbine collapsed in Schuyler County; crews secured the site and the plant may be offline during investigation. Utility Billing: Liberty Utilities asked Missouri regulators for permanent exceptions to billing timing rules for consolidated accounts, citing meter-read schedule mismatches. Consumer Watch: GasBuddy data shows diesel prices still elevated in Missouri, with multiple counties reporting week-ending Aug. 29 lows around $5.14–$5.19. Public Safety Tech Backlash: A growing list of Missouri-area communities has moved to end or reject Flock-style automated license plate reader systems amid privacy concerns.

Energy Costs in Missouri: Diesel prices stayed elevated in the latest GasBuddy reports, with Clinton County hitting a low of $5.19/gal (week ending Aug. 29) and Taney County’s diesel low at $5.19/gal as well; statewide diesel averaged $5.24/gal. Gas Price Snapshot: Regular gas was cheapest in Crawford County at $3.87/gal and in Ozark County at $3.85/gal, while Ste. Genevieve County’s regular low was $3.54/gal. E85 Availability: E85 remains spotty in some counties—St. Francois County’s low was $2.29/gal (only one station reported), and Pike County’s low was $3.19/gal. Local Business & Community: Chariton Valley Electric Cooperative announced CEO Troy Amoss will resign effective Feb. 2027, setting up a leadership transition. Public Safety & Privacy: DeFlock says 153 U.S. communities have rejected or shut down automated license plate readers, up from 95 earlier this year. Trade Policy: The U.S. signed a two-year extension of AGOA, extending duty-free trade preferences for eligible African countries.

Supreme Court Fight: Missouri asked the U.S. Supreme Court to let it use new Trump-backed congressional districts for the 2026 midterms after the state’s top court blocked the map and ordered a statewide vote. Election Rules: A federal judge blocked key parts of the Postal Service’s new mail-ballot restrictions, warning disenfranchisement could be “practically inevitable” without a fix. Retail & Delivery: Walmart will deliver Dunkin’ drinks and food through its app and website, expanding a restaurant-delivery push. Banking Deal: BMO completed the sale of 138 U.S. branches to First Citizens Bank, shifting focus to long-term growth markets. Consumer Relief: Schnucks won preliminary approval for a class action settlement that could pay up to $6.3 million to Missouri shoppers who used loyalty points. Energy Costs: AAA reports Labor Day gas prices are on track to hit the highest level on record, with Missouri still below the national average but up sharply year over year. Public Safety/Health: Two separate recalls of 0.9% IV saline lots were issued after reports of particles in sealed bags, including Missouri distribution. Local Business Impact: Missouri River Bar and Grill in Cascade is a total loss after an early-morning fire.

Healthcare Contract Watch: BJC HealthCare and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield are still negotiating a renewal, and if no deal lands before the end of 2026, major St. Louis-area hospitals could go out of network for about 2.1 million Missourians starting Jan. 1, 2027. Industrial Safety: Troy, Mo. declared a state of emergency after an anhydrous ammonia leak near Highway J and Bobeen Lane triggered shelter-in-place orders for schools and evacuation orders for nearby Meadowridge residents. Energy & Law: Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway hailed a federal court ruling striking down New York’s Climate Change Superfund Act, a move aimed at stopping $75 billion in retroactive fines on energy producers. Critical Minerals Push: Ionic Rare Earths and US Strategic Metals outlined a $100 million rare-earth magnet recycling campus in Missouri, targeting domestic recycling capacity for NdFeB and SmCo magnets. Local Business & Growth: Adam Puchta Winery is expanding hiring for its new 4th Street Cellars restaurant, brewery and wine bar in Hermann. Roads & Travel: MoDOT posted North Missouri maintenance and construction plans for Sept. 7-13, with most work paused during Labor Day travel. Gas Prices: GasBuddy reported Missouri averages easing to about $4.54 for premium midweek, with several counties seeing their lowest local premium or midgrade prices near late August.

Crypto Policy: The Senate’s Sept. 15 vote on the CLARITY Act faces a 60-vote cloture hurdle, with unresolved fights over ethics rules, DeFi developer liability, and a stablecoin yield provision tied to Coinbase USDC rewards—odds for passage have fallen sharply. Missouri Utilities & Environment: Missouri American Water was fined $630 after a Crestwood water main break killed 365 fish, with the state citing chlorine levels and requiring future clean-water compliance. Banking: Simmons Bank plans to close 26 branches across six states, including 5 in Missouri, citing a retail network strategy shift and expected limited customer disruption. Labor & Health Care Costs: MU workers rallied for higher wages and restored benefits as LiUNA Local 955 pushes for a $19 minimum wage and reversals to MU Health Care benefit cuts. St. Louis Business: The Saint Louis Club will close after members questioned finances and refused to pay additional $5,000 assessments. Housing/Infrastructure: Kansas City approved moving Roy Blunt Luminary Park construction forward, authorizing Phase 1 tunnel and park work with nearly $200 million in total funding. Energy Prices: GasBuddy reports Missouri regular and premium prices easing in late August, with several county-level “lowest” deals highlighted.

Data Center Politics: Democrats are trying to turn rising anti–data center sentiment into a midterm attack, pointing to the Opportunity Zones expansion in Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” as a driver of more projects in low-income areas. Workforce Push: Gov. Mike Kehoe proclaimed September as Workforce Development Month, spotlighting apprenticeships, Workforce Pell, and AI-focused skills training through Missouri Job Centers. Mizzou Game-Day Business: Mizzou Athletics is expanding Memorial Stadium food options with more local vendors, including the first in-stadium appearance of Shakespeare’s Pizza plus Champ’s Chicken, Buck’s Ice Cream and Mya’s Gourmet Popcorn. Fuel Watch: GasBuddy reports show Missouri regular prices easing to about $3.82 statewide in the week ending Aug. 29, with local lows like $3.66 in Madison County. Local Government & Jobs: Kansas City’s Mayor Pro Tem Ryana Parks-Shaw faces a whistleblower lawsuit from a former aide alleging retaliation and demotion tied to campaign-related concerns. Agriculture & Markets: Missouri marked Rice Month as harvest gets underway in the Bootheel, with acreage down but farmers optimistic about balancing the market. Energy Infrastructure: Ameren Missouri says a power-use study is a gating step for a proposed Festus data center, with a hyperscale project estimated at $6 billion.

Downtown Redevelopment Push: Gov. Mike Kehoe signed new Missouri bills aimed at speeding redevelopment of vacant buildings in St. Louis, with incentives now taking effect immediately and attention on projects like the former AT&T building. University-Led Energy Investment: MU broke ground on the $50 million Payne Energy Innovation Center, a 116,000-square-foot facility expected to open in July 2028 to tackle energy sustainability using power and water more efficiently. Transportation Updates: MoDOT announced overnight ramp and interchange closures tied to the Forward 44 and other projects, including Springfield ramp work for core sampling and sign-replacement closures in downtown Kansas City. Local Business Pressure: A Franklin car wash center is planned for a former KFC site, while Cape Girardeau saw another small-business closure, underscoring tough conditions for local retail and dining. Policy & Consumer Safety: A Missouri mother urged Congress to regulate nitrous oxide sales after her daughter’s death, as the U.S. Fed flagged a positive outlook but rising uncertainty from energy prices and policy issues. Community Concerns Over Data Centers: Ralls County residents demanded more transparency after a proposed AI data center plan faced backlash and a community meeting.

Rural Legal Access: The Missouri Bar is holding a Sept. 8 listening session at the Ralls County Courthouse in New London to hear how rural residents find attorneys and get legal help, feeding into its Special Committee on Rural Practice. Data Center Governance: Kirksville’s planning and zoning commission will hold a Sept. 16 public hearing on new data center zoning standards, with limits to heavy industrial areas and rules aimed at protecting nearby communities. Local Tech & Privacy: Joplin officials defended the city’s Flock automated license plate reader system, citing public-safety use while noting storage was cut from 30 days to seven. Business Growth: Jarrell Contracting plans a Hazelwood expansion adding 105 jobs and a new 191,000-square-foot headquarters/operations center. Agriculture Markets: UM Extension says corn exports closed strong with record demand and China buying, while cattle markets remain “stagnant” amid uncertainty and limited leverage over packers. Consumer Fraud Watch: BBB Scam Tracker data shows Hazelwood logged two scam reports in July, and Missouri cities continue to report major losses nationwide. Energy Costs Debate: A Missouri hearing examined how state and local natural gas bans can raise household costs.

Workplace Accountability: Ford will pay $2.3M to settle U.S. EEOC claims of race and national origin harassment at its Buffalo Stamping Plant, with anti-discrimination training and $3.5M in security upgrades. Local Infrastructure: Moberly is moving ahead on a multimillion-dollar wastewater project to reduce lagoon reliance, routing sewage from nearby neighborhoods into a new sewer system. Public Safety & Utilities: A Manchester homeowner says a tree branch has hung on power lines for nearly three months after repeated calls to Ameren Missouri, raising safety concerns. Food Assistance Policy: Missouri SNAP recipients face new verification rules starting Oct. 1, requiring documentation for expenses like rent and childcare, and advocates say the rollout needs clearer communication. State Budget Pressure: Lee’s Summit R-7 schools project a $7–$10M budget hold and may revisit a voluntary property tax levy rollback that could affect taxpayers. Business & Economy: Creighton’s Mid-America Business Conditions Index rose to 57.1 in August, with manufacturing growth steady but tariffs and wholesale inflation still pushing costs higher. Consumer Fraud Watch: BBB Scam Tracker shows Vienna tied for 68th among Missouri cities with one reported scam in July, with losses tied to online purchase fraud.

Education Finance: Missouri’s Charter Public School Commission approved $685,000 in surplus rebates, sending $10,000–$70,000 back to sponsored schools and creating a $95,000 grant program. Retail Expansion: WOWorks says it has opened 23 new restaurants this year and is on pace for nearly 40 more, including growth in Missouri. Manufacturing Pulse: Creighton’s Mid-American Business Conditions Index rose to 57.1 in August, with employment back above growth-neutral. Local Development Finance: Kansas City’s Port KC plans up to $1.49 billion in conduit bonds to redevelop the Country Club Plaza, using long-term property tax breaks and fixed payments in lieu of taxes. Courts & Incentives: The Missouri Supreme Court heard whether challengers have standing to sue over Kansas City stadium tax incentives. Housing & Veterans: Missouri’s average VA IRRRL loan amount fell to $313,872 in Q2 2026. Agriculture Markets: An MU Extension economist says $6 corn is possible as Missouri harvest begins, with yields varying widely by field drainage. Food & Health: A cyclospora outbreak tied to shredded iceberg lettuce continues expanding to more states, with thousands sickened. Cyber & Fraud: A UMC regional body reported $1.6 million stolen via a cyberattack using fake bank representatives.

Prediction Markets vs. Regulators: Polymarket hit $1B in annualized revenue and is signing major sports deals as 20 states and multiple attorneys general push back, arguing sports event trading is illegal gambling. Local Economy & Housing/Infrastructure: St. Louis is the latest battleground over new data centers, with residents and a lawsuit raising concerns about noise, water and electricity impacts. Food Assistance Policy: Missouri will require extra documentation for SNAP applicants and recertifications starting Oct. 1, drawing criticism that it could block eligible households. Business & Community Growth: Veterans United Home Loans, a Columbia employer, again landed on People Magazine’s “companies that care” list; and UCM surpassed its $60M Dreams Unite fundraising goal. Missouri Agriculture & Food Safety: MU Extension and partners hosted farm tours focused on produce safety practices ahead of harvest. Consumer Fraud Watch: BBB Scam Tracker data show Missouri cities continue to rack up reports, with St. Louis leading statewide. Transportation Updates: MoDOT scheduled multiple lane closures and road work across the state, including I-70 game-day delays and local intersection improvements.

Manufacturing & Jobs: La-Z-Boy will invest $23 million in Neosho, adding a 150,000-square-foot distribution center and expanding manufacturing, with up to 100 new jobs expected. Public Health & Consumer Safety: The FDA upgraded a recall of Whole Foods Mild Guacamole Dip to Class I over possible salmonella contamination; the product was sold across 13 states including Missouri and shoppers can check affected PLU codes. Community Banking: PSB Bank’s $77,500 commitment helped secure $90,000 in grants for six Green City-area organizations through a $310,000 Member Impact Fund partnership with the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines. Infrastructure & Aviation: MoDOT released the updated 2026-2027 Missouri Airport Directory covering 120 public-use airports with photos and communications details for pilots and businesses. Logistics & Security: A USPS supervisor in St. Louis was arrested and pleaded guilty in a check-theft scheme involving stolen mail and victims’ checks. Local Economy & Growth: St. Louis venture capital firms Cultivation Capital, SixThirty and Lewis & Clark Ventures landed on TIME’s Top 350 list, underscoring a more competitive regional capital ecosystem. Energy & Costs: Missouri diesel prices edged up to an average of $5.15 per gallon for the week ending Aug. 22, with several counties reporting lower single-station lows. Business & Fraud Watch: BBB Scam Tracker data shows Lone Jack tied for 68th among Missouri cities with scam reports in July, reflecting ongoing fraud losses nationwide.

Consumer Fraud Watch: Ludlow landed among 93 Missouri cities tied for 68th in July BBB Scam Tracker reports, with one reported scam—part of a broader national surge in fraud losses, where the FTC says Americans reported $12.5B lost to fraud in 2024. Higher Ed & Labor Impact: A new study estimates the U.S. will lose $3.4B and nearly 40,000 jobs from 111,000 fewer international students this school year, with downstream effects lasting years. Gas Prices: Shelby County’s lowest regular gas hit $3.79 per gallon (week ending Aug. 22), while Missouri averaged $3.84; analysts point to global oil and Midwest refinery supply pressures. Local Government Finance: Kirkwood is moving toward a forensic audit of Kirkwood Electric after officials say full reporting lagged for seven quarters and overspending reached $15.6M, raising questions about accountability and procurement. Transit Relief: Kansas City approved $8.3M to stop planned bus cuts, keeping routes steady through April and protecting jobs. Medicaid Work Requirements: Missouri is setting up community engagement rules for some MO HealthNet adults starting Jan. 1, 2027, with eligibility reviews every six months.

Data Centers & Local Politics: Neighbors in the St. Louis area are turning skepticism into activism over proposed hyperscale data centers, packing city meetings and demanding clearer answers on impacts and benefits. AI Surveillance Backlash: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott blocked state funding for Flock AI license-plate cameras as privacy and misuse concerns grow, with lawmakers and candidates weighing in. Missouri Medicaid Spending Watch: New federal data show sharp local swings in Medicaid billing—Bethany surgery claims rose 124% in 2024, while Mountain Grove pathology/lab spending climbed 9.9% and Poplar Bluff orthotic services jumped 326%. Air Service Expansion: Allegiant is adding nine new routes from Orlando Sanford International in September, including Columbia, Mo. Housing & Rates: A Columbia, Mo.-based survey finds many homebuyers are waiting on mortgage rates that may not hit 5% for years. Consumer Fraud Signals: BBB Scam Tracker reports show Missouri cities with ongoing online purchase and phishing losses, including Richmond and El Dorado Springs. Fuel Prices: GasBuddy reports the lowest regular gas in Scotland County at $3.89 for the week ending Aug. 22. Public Safety: U.S. prosecutors in Kansas City announced cases targeting trusted adults accused of exploiting children.