AGP Executive Report

Data Privacy & Enforcement: Missouri’s neighbors are pushing hard on health-data security after a multistate $2.3 million Labcorp settlement tied to the AMCA patient-data breach, underscoring that vendor access to sensitive records is a “non-delegable duty.” Local Government & Privacy: St. Louis County ordered an audit of license plate reader cameras on county property and rights-of-way, aiming to tighten authorization rules and address resident privacy fears. Elections & Government Data: The U.S. Supreme Court ruled states can use Social Security data to identify noncitizen voters for audits, a decision that keeps legal fights alive heading into November. Public Safety & Health: Missouri reported 181,296 disabled-worker Social Security beneficiaries in December 2024, down 1.6% from the prior year. Business & Markets: EquipmentShare, based in Columbia, pushed back on a short-seller report, saying its financials and its OWN program comply with GAAP and SEC rules. Housing: Zillow data showed Saline County home values up 4.8% year over year to $184,101 in August 2026. Energy & Costs: GasBuddy price checks show regular gas around $3.73–$4.10 in parts of Missouri for the week ending Sept. 19, with E85 and E15 also tracked county by county. Infrastructure: MoDOT scheduled late-September roadwork across north and northwest Missouri, with lane closures and pavement repairs expected to affect drivers.

Farm Economy: Missouri readers get a window into how higher fertilizer and diesel costs are squeezing U.S. farmers’ margins, with diesel up sharply and fuel “a cost a farmer can’t pass on.” Local Banking & Community: First Interstate Bank’s 9th annual Volunteer Day sent employees to support the Northwest Tama County Food Pantry, with nearly 400 projects across its footprint. Tourism Input: Vermillion and Yankton residents are being urged to weigh in on a Missouri River Water Trail tourism survey through Oct. 14. Health & Research: Mizzou researchers say aging weakens muscles partly because nerve-to-muscle communication becomes less reliable, pointing to a protein that could lead to new treatments. Public Safety & Privacy: U.S. senators pressed privacy concerns over Flock’s AI camera network after reports of wrongful arrests and fears of warrantless tracking; Missouri’s AG and local officials are also in the middle of downtown Columbia’s Reign Bar controversy. Missouri Business Moves: WireCo will close its Kirksville plant, affecting 40–45 full-time jobs, with production shifting to Texas. Housing & Growth: Kansas City council introduced a plan to fund the Royals’ stadium share with about $600M, using bonds and redirected tax revenues. Energy Costs: GasBuddy reports show Missouri regular prices mostly hovering around the low-$4 range in the week ending Sept. 19.

AI & Privacy Watch: U.S. senators grilled the Flock Safety CEO (who didn’t show) over a nationwide license-plate camera network, raising concerns about warrantless tracking and wrongful arrests. Public Safety Tech Fallout: Separate reporting says police misuse of Flock cameras in Indiana led to fraud and stalking charges against officers, adding pressure for safeguards. Healthcare Business: St. Louis-based Stifel reported August operating data, pointing to record client assets and fee-based growth, while flagging mixed expectations for institutional revenue. Banking Earnings Calendar: Great Southern Bancorp set its third-quarter preliminary earnings release for Oct. 21 and a call the next day. Energy & Construction: Mizzou broke ground on a $120M Payne Energy Innovation Center in Columbia, targeting AI and grid security, with completion expected in 2028. Local Economy & Housing: Zillow data showed Newton County’s typical home value rose 4.1% in August 2026 to $248,047. Consumer Costs: GasBuddy reported the lowest E85 in St. Louis County at $3.29 (week ending Sept. 19), alongside continued volatility in regional fuel prices. Ag & Jobs: Delta Peanut received a $5M bridge loan to keep operations moving after losing federal warehousing licensure.

Surveillance showdown: U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley’s Senate hearing put Flock-style license-plate cameras under a microscope, with lawmakers and witnesses arguing the systems can sweep up Americans’ movements without due process and raise Fourth Amendment concerns. Local enforcement pressure: Pinal County Sheriff Ross Teeple told senators he ended his agency’s Flock contract and urged clear legal limits on AI-powered camera networks. Accountability push: Separate reporting from Indiana says prosecutors charged five Indianapolis officers over alleged misuse of Flock access, adding momentum to calls for safeguards. Missouri business impact: St. Louis’ Ballpark Village firms are leaning into year-round events to offset Cardinals crowd swings, while gas watch shows Missouri prices still uneven by county (regular lows like $3.89 in Crawford County; diesel lows around $5.25 in Madison County). Consumer and community: Columbia’s MU off-campus housing is nearly fully pre-leased for 2026-27, and rebuilding fraud efforts in St. Louis target predatory tornado contractors with a new pro bono legal task force.

Trade & Agriculture: Questions linger over China’s promised $17 billion in extra U.S. agriculture purchases ahead of a Trump-Xi meeting, with USDA and University of Missouri analysts saying it’s still unclear which products will count. Missouri Politics & Public Safety: Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway is investigating Students for Justice in Palestine, demanding fundraising records and warning funds could be tied to “radical Islamic terrorism.” Privacy & Surveillance: A Senate Judiciary hearing led by Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley zeroed in on Flock license-plate cameras, focusing on privacy risks, search practices, and data retention. Public Health: Health officials warned of possible measles exposure tied to Busch Stadium and nearby St. Louis-area businesses, urging monitoring for 21 days. Infrastructure & Jobs: Missouri’s Department of Natural Resources approved a $5.5 million, no-interest planning/design loan for Sedalia wastewater upgrades, with a larger $55.98 million construction project expected to start in 2027. Local Business & Community: Missouri American Water awarded nearly $50,000 to the Joplin Fire Department for cancer-protective firefighter hoods.

Wendy’s Fallout: A major Wendy’s franchisee, Meritage Hospitality Group (314 restaurants), filed for bankruptcy after Wendy’s moved to terminate its franchise deal, citing tens of millions in alleged fees and “continuous operations” charges—raising fresh questions about restaurant costs and franchise risk. Missouri Politics & Courts: Missouri’s GOP-friendly congressional map fight is back at the U.S. Supreme Court for a third round as ballots are already printed and voting begins, keeping pressure on election timelines and districting rules. Public Safety & Licensing: Missouri AG Catherine Hanaway demanded a plan from Reign Bar in Columbia to curb “nuisance conditions” and violence, threatening legal action if the operator doesn’t act fast. Energy & Legal Pressure: New York and other states sued the Trump administration over offshore wind lease buybacks, arguing the deals are illegal and redirect money away from renewable projects. Rural Income Ideas: Airbnb and American Farmland Trust launched grants to help farmers add farm-stay tourism income as operating costs rise. Fuel Watch: GasBuddy reports show midgrade and E15 prices in Missouri remain volatile, with some counties seeing sharp week-to-week swings. AI Antitrust: A lawsuit alleges top AI firms coordinated a slowdown in development, setting up another major legal test for competition rules.

Transportation & Infrastructure: MoDOT says the Highway 248 Bridge over Flat Creek in Barry County is now open after a $3.7M replacement project that beat a revised schedule, with a wider, higher two-lane structure built by Louis-Company LLC. Rural Healthcare: Missouri is rolling out up to $4.2M to grow rural EMS training and add certified EMT/paramedic capacity, alongside about $35M for 20 rural hospital “minor renovations” and equipment upgrades under the Rural Health Transformation Program. Local Development: Belton is moving forward on a $250M Uptown Development District backed by Chapter 100 industrial revenue bonds, featuring go-karts, a bowling alley, a movie theater and hundreds of homes. Business & Retail: One of Wendy’s biggest franchise operators, Meritage Hospitality Group (314 locations across 15 states), filed for Chapter 11, citing profitability pressure and record beef prices. Public Sector Oversight: Missouri State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick has begun a performance audit of the Special School District of St. Louis County amid concerns about child treatment and financial/operational issues. Energy Prices: GasBuddy reports Texas County’s lowest premium gas at $4.45/gal for the week ending Sept. 12, as fuel prices remain volatile.

Federal Student Loans: Kansas and other would-be doctors face a new federal loan cap that could push more students into private debt and worsen physician shortages, especially in rural areas. Education & Workforce: Arkansas’ Mountain Home leadership class unveiled The Hatchery, a youth pitch contest with $5,000 in startup funding for finalists, tied to a broader State of Education breakfast and campus tours. Public Safety Tech: Blue Springs residents renewed calls for transparency and independent audits over Flock automatic license plate readers after the city spent nearly $5M on more than 150 cameras. Missouri Courts & Elections: The 8th Circuit ordered Missouri to use a GOP-friendly congressional map for November, but paused the ruling briefly for Supreme Court review—keeping redistricting uncertainty alive. Data Centers: A judge heard arguments in Benton County over a data-center moratorium and a developer’s bid for a preliminary injunction. Retail & Jobs: A major Wendy’s franchise operator filed Chapter 11 for 314 locations, aiming to keep restaurants open while restructuring debt. Health Alerts: Missouri reported possible measles exposure in the St. Louis area, listing specific venues and dates for monitoring.

Wendy’s Franchise Shake-Up: One of the chain’s biggest franchise operators, Meritage Hospitality Group (314 locations in 15 states), filed for Chapter 11 after Wendy’s moved to terminate its agreement, citing millions in royalties/fees—raising questions about store closures and franchise risk. Missouri Route 66 Work: MoDOT and local partners are updating the Route 66 (7th Street) improvement project in Joplin, including storm sewer work and a Florida Avenue closure for pavement and traffic-signal upgrades. Fuel Watch: Diesel and E15 prices remain volatile in Missouri, with Dent County reporting the week’s lowest diesel at $5.49 and Ralls County’s cheapest E15 at $3.59. Housing Snapshot: Zillow data shows Vernon County’s typical home value up 6.6% to $180,338, while Jasper County rose 3% to $219,112—signaling steady regional strength. Ag Innovation: Missouri, Iowa and Illinois corn groups back the Radicle Corn Challenge, funding projects aimed at creating new high-value corn markets. Public Safety & Health: Missouri Farmers Care is taking applications for Drive to Feed Kids matching grants, and Hy-Vee is running drive-thru flu shot clinics across multiple states including Missouri. Maritime Workforce: A corn-belt logistics consortium led by Western Illinois University was named a MARAD Center of Excellence for domestic maritime training.

Missouri Football Schedule: Mizzou’s SEC opener at Mississippi State is set for Saturday, Sept. 26, 6:45 p.m. CT, airing on SEC Network (stream via Fubo). Energy Costs: Diesel prices are spiking again, with Missouri reporting diesel around $5.70 a gallon statewide for the week ending Sept. 12, squeezing rural services and truckers. Gas Prices Watch: GasBuddy data shows premium gas in Adair County hit $4.34 (week ending Sept. 12), while E85 in Buchanan County bottomed at $2.87. State Policy & Tech: Missouri AG Catherine Hanaway sent cease-and-desist letters to prediction market operators including Polymarket and Kalshi, arguing they’re unlicensed sports wagering. Privacy & Surveillance: State Rep. Brad Christ says he’ll back legislation to regulate automated license plate reader cameras, including limits on data use and deletion timelines. Local Business & Housing: Kirkwood is exploring a potential sale of its municipal water system after receiving a $25 million offer from Missouri American Water. Community & Growth: A youth entrepreneurship pitch contest, The Hatchery, launched with $5,000 in prizes for ages 14–21 in Baxter and Marion counties.

Fuel Watch: GasBuddy reports the lowest regular gas in Scotland County at $3.89 (week ending Sept. 12) and in Camden County at $3.68, while Missouri’s statewide regular average sits at $3.90. Housing Pulse: Zillow data shows home values rising across multiple counties, including Caldwell (+4.4% to $244,439), Henry (+3% to $225,600), Pulaski (+6.6% to $233,344), Greene (+2.2% to $257,748), and Audrain (+9.6% to $191,237). Local Growth & Land Use: Kirksville’s Planning and Zoning Commission voted to recommend new zoning limits for data centers, sending the proposal to City Council for study Oct. 19 and expected action Oct. 26. Public Safety Funding: Missouri American Water will split nearly $50,000 in grants among 48 departments statewide, including six Southwest Missouri fire departments, for gear, communications, tools, and training. Consumer Alerts: Walmart recalled Great Value frozen berry blend in 16 states over possible E. coli contamination, with Michigan not included.

Local Infrastructure: Springfield’s Downtown Springfield Association kicks off its 28th annual Cider Days festival this weekend, expecting 30,000+ visitors and highlighting local shops and arts. Public Health & Retail: Hy-Vee will run drive-thru flu shot clinics at every Hy-Vee Pharmacy location in September (no appointment needed), with shots free for Medicare and most insurance holders. Housing & City Budgeting: Columbia City Council is set to vote on a $606.7 million FY2027 budget, including a $41.8 million smart utility meter plan and a proposed Providence Road/Blue Ridge Road roundabout. Data Centers & Community Impact: A Missouri judge allowed an advocacy group to continue challenging Montgomery County’s data center approvals, ruling the group can pursue claims about community notice and impacts. Business & Growth: Springdale’s $4.8 million East Emma Avenue Streetscape project is slated to begin in October, aiming to add sidewalks, ADA ramps, lighting, trees and bus stops while standardizing lanes. Community Recognition: The Wright County Journal won six national newspaper awards, including first place for Best Use of Photographs.

Local Budget Watch: Columbia City Council is set to vote on a $606.7 million proposed 2027 budget, with a $25.2 million gap, $330.8 million in enterprise funds, and plans for 14.5 new full-time roles plus a 3% pay increase for eligible employees. Energy & Cost of Living: Gas prices stayed volatile in Missouri’s counties, with St. Louis city regular hitting $3.68 and St. Francois County diesel as low as $5.39 in the week ending Sept. 12. State Finances: Missouri’s combined tax revenues fell 9.1% quarter to quarter in Q1 2026, totaling $4.2 billion. Housing Snapshot: Zillow data shows steady gains in several Missouri counties, including Morgan (+4.5% to $297,401) and Clinton (+4.4% to $292,529). Data Centers & Community Impact: A judge let an opposition group’s lawsuit against Montgomery County data centers move forward, while a separate report highlights growing backlash over surveillance and data-center power/noise concerns. Business Growth: Costco is moving ahead with a 2027 warehouse opening in Missouri’s region, and Springfield’s Cider Days returns for its 28th year, drawing 30,000+ visitors. Public Safety: Kansas City police are investigating another homicide after a shooting at 39th and Broadway left a man critically injured.

Diesel Shock to Farms: Record-high diesel prices are squeezing Missouri and Midwest harvest budgets, with farmers facing big fuel bills and fears of higher food costs ahead. Utility Rates: Missouri American Water filed for another WSIRA surcharge with the PSC, seeking about a 2.5% water and 0.5% sewer revenue bump, separate from its larger July rate case. Water Infrastructure Oversight: The PSC set an Oct. 7 deadline to intervene in the Missouri-American Water WSIRA request. Prediction Markets Crackdown: Missouri AG Catherine Hanaway issued cease-and-desist orders to six prediction-market firms, arguing sports “event contracts” are unlicensed wagering and raising age-verification concerns. AI Surveillance Pushback: Sen. Josh Hawley invited Flock CEO to testify as Missouri tightens rules on ALPR/Flock-style cameras. Local Business & Growth: Costco is set to open Oct. 2 in Lee’s Summit, with neighbors weighing traffic impacts. Data Center Supply Chain: Prysmian and Rio Tinto will supply low-carbon aluminum cables for an Amazon data center in Ohio, manufactured in Sedalia, Missouri. Community Support: Mizzou’s home game vs. Troy will host the Food Bank’s Score Against Hunger fundraiser. Workplace Safety Spotlight: A Smithfield walkout in Illinois highlights ongoing pressure over meatpacking conditions and preventable deaths. Lottery Watch: Mega Millions climbed to an estimated $244 million for the Sept. 18 drawing.

Utility Regulation: The Missouri Public Service Commission set an Oct. 7 deadline for parties to intervene in Missouri-American Water’s request to adjust water and sewer infrastructure rate adjustments, seeking about a 2.5% bump in annual water revenues and 0.5% in sewer. Public Safety Tech: Gov. Mike Kehoe issued an executive order tightening Missouri rules for automated license plate readers, including 30-day deletion requirements, limits on non-law-enforcement use, and a ban on integrating AI facial recognition. Healthcare & Competition: Independent pharmacies are suing Express Scripts in Arkansas over alleged underpayment below drug acquisition costs, adding to state-level pressure on PBMs; Novo Nordisk and Anthropic also announced a drug-discovery and AI collaboration. Agriculture & Costs: A FarmDoc webinar expects Missouri and other Midwest cash rents to stay near current levels as input costs offset market rallies. Energy Prices: GasBuddy reported spotty but generally elevated fuel pricing across Missouri, with diesel still hovering around the mid-$5 range statewide in the week ending Sept. 12. Rural Business: MU Extension helped connect two southwestern Missouri farm businesses into a local dairy-to-produce supply chain, boosting fresh access. Local Economy: The Greater Maryville Chamber highlighted emerging leaders at its annual banquet. Fraud & Finance: A Missouri man pleaded guilty in federal court to a cattle-investment Ponzi-style scheme tied to his role at Community First Bank, involving about $4.48 million in loans/credit lines.

Ponzi Fallout: A federal judge sentenced Siddharth Jawahar to 11 years for a $35 million Ponzi scheme tied to investors across Missouri and beyond, ordering $31.35 million in restitution; prosecutors say he used new money to repay earlier investors and funded an extravagant lifestyle. Local Courts & Public Safety: Edina, Mo. is ending its trial of automated license plate readers after residents raised privacy and trust concerns, while Schuyler County Sheriff Joseph Wuebker’s lawsuit over civil-process fees is moving forward with a special judge assigned. Missouri Business & Jobs: Missouri S&T won a $2.6 million NIST award to expand a Manufacturing Extension Partnership center, aiming to help small and mid-sized manufacturers adopt advanced tech like AI, robotics and automation. Energy Costs: Gas prices remain volatile, with Kansas City seeing some stations above $4 a gallon and diesel prices staying elevated in multiple counties. Health & Community Services: Columbia/Boone County plans to buy the Columbia Animal Hospital building for $995,000 to bolster animal control capacity. Elections: Johnson County absentee voting opens Tuesday, Sept. 22, with deadlines for mailed ballots set for Oct. 21.