AGP Executive Report

Healthcare & Consumer Finance: Trump says nearly 1 million Americans in 30 states, including Delaware, will get $500 Obamacare refunds after the federal government allegedly overcharged consumers for HealthCare.gov “user fees” during the Biden years. Agriculture & Pest Threats: Spotted lanternflies are now reported in 22 states, with officials urging residents to “kill on sight” as the crop-killing insects spread across the Mid-Atlantic and beyond. Delaware Construction & Immigration: ICE enforcement fears are complicating hiring and day-to-day work for Latino and Hispanic construction workers in Sussex County amid the region’s housing crunch. Delaware Energy & Infrastructure: Delaware Seashore State Park says the inlet’s sand bypass system is expected to run through the winter again after upgrades and delays. Local Business & Community: Delaware Park and partners donated $20,000 to the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund, using a season-wide matching mechanism. Workforce & Tech: Chester County’s TECH360 conference will focus on “AI Beyond the Hype,” emphasizing real workplace impact and culture.

Healthcare & Consumer Relief: President Trump says nearly 1 million Americans in 30 states, including Delaware, will get $500 Obamacare refunds in coming weeks, tied to alleged excess federal “user fees” collected during the Biden era. Delaware Energy & Construction: Delaware SHINES is rolling out expanded rooftop and balcony solar plus battery incentives, aiming to cut power costs for residents and businesses; the state also reports 65.75 MW of community solar built so far in 2026. Solar & Legal/Bankruptcy Watch: A Delaware bankruptcy judge disqualified HSF Kramer from representing Pleasants Power Station in its Chapter 11, after Omnis Fuel and the U.S. Trustee raised conflict concerns. Local Infrastructure: A six-week Lewes road closure at Dorman Road and Conley’s Chapel Road is drawing safety and traffic complaints from residents ahead of a full intersection rebuild. Coastal Resilience: Four Delaware Bay beach nourishment projects are delayed until fall 2027 because remaining property easements still need to be secured. Workforce & Business Climate: The University of Delaware’s return-to-work mandate for professional and administrative staff is facing employee backlash, with the requirement not starting until next June.

ACA Refund Push: The White House says it will send $500 Obamacare rebate checks to nearly 1 million Americans in 30 states, including Delaware, targeting people who bought coverage on HealthCare.gov without premium subsidies. Court Fight Over Coverage Rules: Delaware AG Kwame Raoul is urging a federal appeals court to uphold a ruling blocking a Trump-era ACA enrollment rule, warning it could raise costs and leave more people uninsured. Delaware Data Privacy Overhaul: Gov. Matt Meyer signed HB 380, expanding Delaware’s Personal Data Privacy Act with lower thresholds, tighter financial exemptions, new third-party duties, and stronger rules for sensitive data, profiling, and automated decisions starting Jan. 1, 2027. Energy & Construction: Delaware SHINES ramps up rooftop and balcony solar incentives, while a Lewes road closure plan raises traffic and safety concerns. Public Health & Consumer Rules: Delaware signed a statewide ban on energy drink sales at middle and high schools during school hours. Local Business: Beebe expands a coordinated care model in Sussex County with $1.75 million in federal funds. Legal/Industry: A federal judge struck down Delaware’s “ghost gun” ban as unconstitutional, and a Delaware contractor again seeks payment in an Air Force base work dispute.

Healthcare Policy & Consumer Impact: The White House says nearly 1 million Americans in 30 states, including Delaware, will get $500 refunds for Affordable Care Act “overcharges,” with checks starting in October, tied to user fees collected through the federal exchange. Housing & Local Planning: Delaware’s housing push moves from lawmaking to implementation as state rules roll out to help Sussex County comply with SB 23 and HB 450, aiming to speed approvals and expand housing types. Energy & Infrastructure Finance: Vistra priced $1.5B in junior subordinated notes (Series A and B) to fund corporate purposes and preferred-stock redemptions, underscoring ongoing capital needs in power markets. Delaware Courts & Public Safety: A federal judge ruled Delaware’s “ghost guns” ban unconstitutional, setting up a new fight over how the state regulates untraceable firearms. Business & Tech: Atlantic HPC Group signed a deal to go public via business combination with Aperture, targeting Nasdaq trading under “AHPC.” Industry & Compliance: Delaware’s amended Personal Data Privacy Act (HB 380) takes effect Jan. 1, 2027, lowering thresholds and raising the bar for privacy and AI-related compliance. Construction & Labor Pressure: A Delaware construction industry report highlights how ICE enforcement is disrupting workforces in Sussex County, adding strain to an already tight housing pipeline.

Healthcare & Consumer Relief: President Trump says nearly 1 million Obamacare enrollees in 30 states, including Delaware, will get one-time $500 checks starting in October, tied to alleged federal exchange “user fee” overcharges. Public Service Funding: Delaware AG Nick Brown and a coalition reached a settlement blocking further Trump administration AmeriCorps cuts, protecting FY2026 funding after earlier reinstatements. Energy & Housing: Gov. Matt Meyer unveiled Delaware SHINES, a solar-plus-battery plan offering up to $10,000 in grants and low-cost financing to cut power bills. Local Development: Delaware State Housing Authority awarded $620,000 to Georgetown’s Little Living and $412,000 to Smyrna’s Mach Investments under Downtown Development Districts, aiming to spur mixed-use and residential rehab. Bankruptcy & Pensions: A Delaware bankruptcy judge approved Yellow Corp. liquidating trust agreements with pension funds totaling $525.9 million. Delaware Policy: Meyer signed new laws protecting immigrants from certain federal enforcement actions in state-controlled spaces and tightening firearms oversight. Business & Trade: Port of Baltimore opened a grain transloading facility to streamline exports for regional farmers. Courts & IP: A federal judge denied a new trial in a Delaware blood-collection patent dispute, leaving a $1.6 million jury verdict in place. Energy Prices: AAA reports Delaware gas prices rose 34 cents in a week to $4.32.

Energy & Water Infrastructure: Jacobs won a 5.5-year contract to run and maintain Oklahoma City’s wastewater and solids programs, covering four treatment plants plus pump stations and biosolids/septage services. Environmental Policy: Twenty states and D.C. sued the Trump administration over new Endangered Species Act rules, arguing the changes weaken protections for habitats and newly threatened species. Delaware Utilities & Rates: Delmarva Power is fighting back after criticism and a court challenge tied to its rate hike requests and PSC interim decisions. Housing & Development: Delaware’s housing affordability “stalemate” took center stage at a real estate summit, with speakers pointing to zoning, permitting, and infrastructure costs slowing projects. Local Politics (New Castle County): The Sept. 15 primary in New Castle County District 3 pits Kira Alejandro against Kyle Grantham, with housing and special-interest influence driving the debate. Food Industry Jobs: Saval Foods broke ground on a new Howard County headquarters and distribution center, adding 107 jobs over four years. Tech & Legal: Delaware Chancery Court ordered iDentiVisuals to transfer ownership of emotion-recognition tech to Candor after a licensing dispute.

Delaware Courts & Business: The Delaware Supreme Court upheld under-21 handgun restrictions, while the Chancery Court ordered iDentiVisuals to transfer ownership of its emotion-recognition tech to Candor after a licensing dispute. Energy & Grid: Delmarva Power’s rate hike request is being attacked as the biggest in Delaware history, and the utility is also seeking court review of an interim rate decision. Housing & Development: A Delaware Real Estate Summit put numbers and friction points on the table, from an affordable rental shortage to permitting and zoning delays that can stall projects for years. Renewables in Delaware: Community solar projects are moving forward through JobsFirst, aiming to cut electricity costs for thousands of households. Maritime & Workforce: MARAD designated 16 maritime training Centers of Excellence, expanding the pipeline for domestic mariners. Public Safety & Telecom: Delaware’s AGs are pushing the FCC to strengthen “Know Your Upstream Provider” rules to curb illegal robocalls. Food & Logistics: Saval Foods broke ground on a new Howard County HQ and distribution center, adding 100+ jobs. Environment & Industry: Multiple states, including Delaware-area officials, sued over Endangered Species Act rollbacks that could affect habitats tied to development, energy and mining.

Energy & Utilities: Delmarva Power is defending requested rate hikes, arguing recent storms proved the need for $75M in infrastructure spending after outages hit parts of New Castle County during lightning-heavy weather. Renewables Policy: A new Sabin Center report says local restrictions on renewable projects hit a record high in 2025 (865 tracked), even as the pace of new rules slowed. Battery Storage Compliance: Carina Energy launched FEOC Compliance Support to help battery storage developers meet Foreign Entity of Concern requirements tied to ITC eligibility and MACR thresholds. EV Infrastructure Sentiment: HERE-SBD’s EV Index finds Americans are more open to EVs as confidence in public charging rises. Healthcare & Biotech: Implicity secured $40M to scale AI-driven cardiac remote monitoring; MannKind and Rose Pharma ink a licensing deal for an inhaled, rapid-acting GLP-1 for weight management. Delaware Legal/Business: Belluck Law expands into Pennsylvania with new offices in Philadelphia and Carlisle; Belluck’s move underscores ongoing demand for asbestos litigation services in the region. Delaware Corporate Watch: RadNet announced upcoming healthcare conference participation and a free prostate cancer webinar.

Delaware Energy & Permitting: Gov. Matt Meyer signed HB 456 to streamline DNREC subaqueous lands permitting, adding enforceable timelines for small residential docks and creating an automatic approval path if DNREC misses deadlines. Power Costs & Grid Work: Delmarva Power is appealing a PSC interim-rate directive, arguing it cuts recovery below what Delaware law allows, while NYSEG completed major upgrades to the Fraser Substation to boost reliability and future demand. School Food & Health: Delaware banned energy drink sales on public middle and high school campuses during the school day and events, with exemptions for coffee/tea-based caffeine. Housing Funding: Delaware’s delegation joined Laurel leaders to celebrate $5 million in federal affordable-housing support for 245 homes at the Meadow View project. Business & Policy Pressure: A Delaware Association of Realtors CEO urged changes to the state’s high real estate transfer tax, calling it a drag on homebuying. Industry Watch: A Delaware Chancery Court hearing highlighted a dispute between Helicore and an investor over alleged fabricated board approvals and dilution. Gun Regulation: AG Kwame Raoul co-led opposition to an ATF rule that would loosen registration for military-grade weapons, warning it weakens safeguards. Environment & Shipping: MSC Shipmanagement was fined $1.75 million for illegal oily waste discharges and recordkeeping violations.

Trade & Manufacturing: President Trump threatened to block Bombardier jet sales in the U.S. unless the Canadian maker builds in America, prompting a fast pushback from Bombardier and Kansas Sen. Jerry Moran, who says the company’s Wichita footprint supports more than 1,000 jobs and a deep U.S. supply chain that includes Delaware. Transportation Infrastructure: Delaware Memorial Bridge preservation work is starting with around-the-clock lane closures on the northbound span, including continuous closures of the two right lanes while a bypass lane keeps traffic moving. Energy & Utilities: Delmarva Power is asking Delaware Superior Court to review a Delaware Public Service Commission directive on interim electric rates, arguing the order cuts what the utility is allowed to recover. Education Funding: Delaware districts may miss out on state money for new schools as the Department of Education prioritizes projects at or under $15 million, a threshold that can block modern builds. Environment & Fisheries: A $1.3 million Pennsylvania dam-removal project in Bucks County aims to restore river flow and improve fish passage. Health Coverage: Delaware approved 2027 ACA marketplace rates, with insurers citing federal policy changes and the expiration of enhanced premium tax credits. Local Business/Investing: CPG Life Fund I launched a $20 million operator-led fund in Wilmington targeting early-stage beverage, supplement, and beauty brands. Tech/Policy Watch: States and federal officials are clashing over regulation of prediction markets, with ethics and election-sway concerns rising.

Energy & Transportation: Gas prices heading into Labor Day hit record highs, with AAA putting regular at about $4.14 a gallon nationally and $4.199 in Claymont, as the Iran war and Strait of Hormuz disruptions keep pressure on crude and fuel supply. Delaware Infrastructure: Delaware Memorial Bridge work begins this week, with lane closures on the New Jersey-bound span and overnight closures to build a bypass lane on the Delaware-bound side, potentially causing backups through Thanksgiving. Housing & Policy: A broad Delaware business and civic coalition is backing the Housing for Every Delawarean Act and pushing back on claims about Senate Bill 23, arguing the state isn’t taking over local zoning. Energy Transition: Delaware SHINES launches a solar + battery program with grants, loans, and rebates aimed at lowering bills and easing grid strain. Local Business/Finance: Bloom Energy investors face a Sept. 28 deadline to file a lead plaintiff motion in a securities fraud class action tied to allegations about supply-chain reliance. Public Safety: A four-story home fire in Bethany Beach was contained after about two hours; the Delaware State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause. Delaware Sports Facilities: Delaware Football Club cut a ribbon at Hudson Fields after completing new Bermuda grass and starting a turf field project for winter play.

Energy & Climate Policy: Delaware Gov. Matt Meyer unveiled Delaware SHINES, a solar + battery storage program with grants, loans and rebates aimed at cutting energy bills, lowering emissions, and easing grid strain. Energy Prices: AAA reports Labor Day gas prices are at record levels, with regular averaging $4.14 a gallon as Iran-war tensions and Strait of Hormuz disruptions keep crude costs elevated. Local Infrastructure: The U.S. Army Corps says dredging of the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal is still slated for October, with about 90,000 cubic yards of sediment to be removed and placed in Lewes. Construction & Jobs: Philly’s Friday Saturday Sunday secured a $1.5 million state grant to expand its Michelin-starred restaurant by connecting to a neighboring rowhouse, a plan that promises 100 jobs but drew criticism over tax dollars. Delaware Business Recognition: Food Bank of Delaware and other small-business winners were named for the state’s Superstars in Business awards, set for Oct. 29 in Wilmington. Legal/Tech: A Delaware judge blocked a startup from using the Twitter name, while allowing use of Tweet.app and the bird logo after findings about trademark use. Healthcare/Pharma: Sudarshan Pharma Industries approved acquiring a 9.5% stake in Delaware-registered MedTherapy Biotechnology as it pushes deeper into the U.S. market. Community & Culture: Cooch’s Bridge Historic Site held an open house ahead of a larger 2027 museum celebration tied to Delaware’s Revolutionary War battle.

Delaware Consumer Watch: BBB Scam Tracker data for July shows Middletown tied for 4th in the state with three scam reports, with debt collections and online purchase schemes among the most common types. Delaware Energy & Prices: Gas prices remain volatile heading into Labor Day, with the national average at $4.14 and Delaware County reporting a low midgrade price of $3.75 (week ending Aug. 29). Infrastructure: The U.S. Army Corps says dredging of the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal is still expected to start in October, with about 90,000 cubic yards targeted. Delaware Construction/Travel: DRBA updates the Delaware Memorial Bridge joint-replacement plan, with new lane-closure staging beginning Sept. 7 and night work on the southbound span. Delaware Tech & Law: A Delaware federal judge gave X Corp a partial win in its trademark fight, keeping the Twitter name while freeing the bird logo and “tweet” for others. Local Agriculture: Delaware Department of Agriculture marks National Chicken Month, encouraging backyard flock owners to register. Business/Community: Les Dames d’Escoffier Philadelphia’s Outstanding in Her Field Heritage Dinner returns Sept. 13 at Glen Foerd with chefs and bakers from across the region.

Retiree Migration: Sussex County is drawing Baby Boomers at a fast clip, with 40,000+ new residents since 2020 and a 17% population jump, as Delaware’s no-sales-tax and lower property taxes help offset Florida’s rising home prices and insurance costs. Bridge Construction: DRBA says the next phase of Delaware Memorial Bridge joint replacement starts Sept. 7 on the NJ-bound span, with lane closures and overnight work planned through Sept. 12, plus ongoing delays during peak travel. Utility Rates: Delmarva Power has appealed Delaware regulators’ interim rate cut, arguing the PSC arbitrarily reduced the Distribution System Improvement Charge portion, a move that could affect how quickly bills rise. AI Infrastructure Funding: Atlantica Ventures backed four Africa-linked AI infrastructure startups in 18 months, including a $1.9M round for ChipMango focused on training semiconductor engineers. Energy & Cost Pressure: Delmarva Power customers are pushing back on higher electricity costs as supply prices climb, while Delaware’s E85 market shows at least one low-price station at $2.29/gallon. Agriculture: Delaware Department of Agriculture marks National Chicken Month, highlighting chickens’ abilities and encouraging backyard flock registration. Legal/Consumer Fraud: Delaware appears in BBB Scam Tracker results, with five scam reports logged in July. Sports & Local Culture: Delaware County’s Down syndrome community is set for a Times Square video presentation Sept. 12, supported by Clear Channel Outdoor.

Electric Utilities & Rates: Delmarva Power asked a Delaware court to overturn regulators’ interim electric rate cut, arguing the Public Service Commission improperly reduced a Distribution System Improvement Charge—an appeal that could push bills higher sooner than expected. Data Centers & Permitting: In New Mexico, residents in Silver City are organizing after a classified listing revealed a proposed natural-gas-powered data center seeking an air-quality permit, raising concerns about transparency and local impacts. Energy Prices: GasBuddy reports the lowest E85 price in Delaware County hit $2.29/gal for the week ending Aug. 29, with the county average at $2.50. Legal/Business: A Delaware judge gave Elon Musk’s X Corp a partial win in the “Twitter” trademark fight, blocking a startup from using the Twitter name while allowing others to use the bird and “tweet.” Local Community & Culture: Delaware County’s Nanticoke Indian Association says its community center expansion is moving forward despite utility delays, including a Verizon pole and a Delmarva Power transformer. Fraud Watch: BBB Scam Tracker data shows Delaware (Ohio) tied for 25th in July with five scam reports, including online purchase and employment-related schemes.

Electric Rates Fight: Delmarva Power is appealing Delaware regulators’ interim electric rate cuts, arguing the Public Service Commission arbitrarily reduced its interim hike and even tried to exclude a Distribution System Improvement Charge—an escalation that could push bills up sooner for the utility’s ~300,000 customers. Data Center Tax Pressure: Ohio Sen. Bernie Moreno is pushing a federal “clawback” that would tax away 100% of state and local data-center incentives, targeting deals like a $4.5 million sales tax break tied to Ark Data Centers. Local Power Demand Backdrop: A new Fed Beige Book summary says data center activity is boosting construction and manufacturing orders, even as opposition grows. Legal/Finance Watch: A Delaware-filed securities fraud class action targets DICK’S Sporting Goods over claims tied to its Foot Locker acquisition, while a separate Delaware suit accuses NFL legend Emmitt Smith and partners of misusing a $2.5 million wind-farm loan. Community & Growth: The Nanticoke Indian Cultural Community Center expansion is progressing but faces utility delays, including a Verizon pole relocation and a Delmarva Power transformer install. Delaware Business/Industry Notes: The Delaware Public Archives will debut a new railroad history exhibit next week, tracing how railroads reshaped farms, industry, and travel.