AGP Executive Report

Veto Showdown in Concord: Gov. Kelly Ayotte’s veto pen is set for a busy Veto Day Aug. 19, with the House taking up 22 nixed bills and the Senate nine, including fights over marijuana cultivation, student questioning, felons’ rights to seek new trials, and even “bathroom bill” politics. Local Food & Farming Policy: A related debate is heating up around Ayotte’s veto of a bill meant to let small New Hampshire farmers sell limited quantities of meat locally without a USDA-inspected processor—an argument framed as relief for farmers and lower-cost local meat for consumers. Housing Progress in Lebanon: After years of delays, Lebanon is moving toward construction of The Muse, an 80-unit affordable housing project planned for the former public works site, with units targeted to 30%–80% of area median income. Energy & Construction Watch: NH’s business coverage looks at the future of road and highway construction across the state as projects and timelines evolve. Outdoor Safety: A Pennsylvania hiker was airlifted off Mount Monadnock after a life-threatening medical emergency near the White Dot/White Cross trails. Democrats’ 2028 Calendar: The DNC approved a new primary order putting South Carolina first (Jan. 22, 2028), followed by Nevada, with New Hampshire now Feb. 8—shifting early influence toward Black, Latino, and union voters.

Affordable Housing: A Lebanon project called The Muse is moving forward after years of funding delays, aiming to start construction within six months on a long-vacant site; the four-story, 76,000-square-foot complex will add 80 units for households earning 30%–80% of Grafton County Area Median Income, with a revised mix leaning more toward two-bedroom apartments. Energy & Tech: Engineers are testing stimulated geologic hydrogen—using pulsed high-voltage systems to fracture iron-rich rock and generate hydrogen on demand—after lab results and field trials showed big gains in production. Democratic Politics: The DNC approved a 2028 presidential primary calendar that puts South Carolina first (Jan. 22), followed by Nevada (Feb. 1), with New Hampshire and other states voting through February. Consumer & Housing Costs: A Massachusetts resident’s steep electric bill pushed him toward “balcony” plug-in solar, a lower-cost alternative to rooftop installs. NH Business & Compliance: A Manchester home contractor, Ricky Southers, was convicted of theft and Consumer Protection Act violations tied to more than $60,000 meant for a home improvement project. Food Security: A Feeding America study finds New Hampshire child food insecurity rose to 38,430 kids in 2026, up from 36,160 the year before. Public Health: USDA began dropping 1.1 million oral rabies vaccine baits across Vermont, New Hampshire, and New York to curb spread among raccoons.

Democratic 2028 Primary Calendar: The DNC approved an early-voting lineup that puts South Carolina first (Jan. 22, 2028), then Nevada (Feb. 1), with New Hampshire, New Mexico, Michigan and Virginia following—pushing candidates to prove they can win support from Black and Latino voters and union members early. Consumer & Housing: A Manchester home contractor, Ricky Southers, was convicted of theft and Consumer Protection Act violations tied to more than $60,000 meant for a home improvement project. Food Security in NH: A Feeding America study says child food insecurity in New Hampshire rose to 38,430 kids in 2026 (up from 36,160 in 2025), with overall food insecurity at 11.2% of residents. Energy Costs: GasBuddy reports the lowest Rockingham County premium price at $4.20 for the week ending Aug. 8, while diesel pricing also eased in parts of the state. Casino Development: New Hampshire planning officials cleared a $140M expansion for the Gate City Casino in Nashua, adding nearly 92,860 square feet of gaming space. Public Health & Agriculture: USDA began dropping 1.1 million oral rabies vaccine baits over Vermont, New Hampshire and New York to curb spread among raccoons.

Housing & Growth Pressure: Kennebunk, Maine is weighing a proposal for a nearly 200-unit manufactured home park near the elementary school, with planners flagging environmental impacts, road access, and whether it meets affordability requirements. Public Health & Food Supply Chains: The FDA and CDC are expanding their cyclosporiasis response tied to recalled iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico, adding Maine and Massachusetts to the 17-state footprint and continuing onsite work as regulators trace supply-chain links. Local Economy & Workforce: Newfound Area School District teachers say their contracts were invalidated after a state tax-cap approval issue, leaving staff scrambling ahead of the school year. Wildlife Disease Control: USDA is dropping 1.1 million oral rabies vaccine baits over Vermont, New Hampshire and New York to curb spread among raccoons. Energy & Grid Innovation: Appledore Island’s Shoals Marine Laboratory is showcasing a renewable microgrid off the mainland grid, offering a preview of what resilient power could look like in NH. Business & Capital Access: NH’s BEA is reminding eligible small businesses and nonprofits in Carroll, Coos, Rockingham and Strafford counties to apply by Aug. 24 for low-interest SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans.

Food Safety & Public Health: The FDA and CDC have begun onsite inspection and sampling at Taylor Farms de Mexico in Guanajuato as the cyclosporiasis outbreak tied to recalled iceberg lettuce spreads; Maine and Massachusetts were added, bringing the total to 17 states and 9,481 lab-confirmed cases (with thousands more suspected). Environmental Compliance: Old Dutch Mustard Co. agreed to a consent decree to settle Clean Water Act allegations tied to acidic wastewater discharges into a Souhegan River tributary near its Greenville facility, including real-time stream monitoring and corrective steps after the company president’s prison sentence. Energy & Utilities: Appledore Island’s green microgrid at the Shoals Marine Laboratory is showcasing a renewable, off-grid power system—solar, wind, and sustainability practices—as a preview of NH’s energy future. Manufacturing & Workforce: Marmon Utility’s Milford-based advanced manufacturing (polymer insulators and underground cables) highlights resiliency and U.S.-based production, while NH Business Review also points to ongoing affordability pressures and housing costs. Business Support: NH BEA is reminding eligible small businesses and nonprofits in Carroll, Coos, Rockingham, and Strafford counties to apply by Aug. 24 for low-interest SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans tied to May 2025 weather impacts. Economy Watch: Inflation in New England jumped to a 4.3% annual rate in the spring quarter, driven largely by higher energy prices, even as other indicators like wages, unemployment, and housing starts look steadier.

Food Safety & Retail: Taylor Farms-linked salmonella recalls widened again, pulling jalapeño-based dips, salsas and guacamole sold at Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, Target, Kroger and more, with NH retailers including Hannaford named in the latest lists. Public Health: The CDC says the cyclospora outbreak tied to iceberg lettuce has now reached 17 states, with New Hampshire among those added as case counts climb and hospitalizations continue. Energy & Costs: The national gas average ticked back up to about $4.07 after a week of declines, as crude oil stayed near the $80 range. Transportation Tech: Manchester installed AI-enabled traffic signal timing at 22 intersections using sensors, funded by a $2M federal SMART grant. Water & Environment: Old Dutch Mustard agreed to a Clean Water Act compliance plan after alleged Souhegan River pollution, including real-time monitoring requirements. Defense & Clean Tech: 374Water and Arcadis received a DoD DIU Success Memo for PFAS destruction services using AirSCWO. Real Estate & Construction: Major Seacoast apartment projects moved forward, including BOD Holdings’ The Overlook (135 units) and Brady Sullivan’s The Lofts at 93 North (80 units), while Heritage Properties launched an in-house contracting division targeting southern NH and the Seacoast. Local Business/Deals: Colliers brokered a $6.8M sale of a 45,650 s/f Nashua-area flex industrial building, signaling continued investor demand for stabilized NH industrial assets.

Traffic & Mobility: Manchester rolled out real-time traffic-signal tech at 22 intersections using sensors and AI, funded by a $2M federal SMART grant. Water & Industry Compliance: Old Dutch Mustard agreed to a consent decree and will expand monitoring after a Clean Water Act case tied to acidic wastewater into the Souhegan River. PFAS & Defense Tech: 374Water and Arcadis received a U.S. Defense Innovation Unit Success Memo validating AirSCWO PFAS destruction for follow-on production pathways. Food Safety: Salmonella linked to recalled jalapeños continues to expand across major retailers, while cyclosporiasis case counts show a slow-down but remain elevated nationwide. Public Health Regulation: Gov. Maura Healey issued an emergency order cracking down on kratom sales in Massachusetts. NH Business & Construction: ePropelled announced a $60M expansion to boost U.S. drone propulsion manufacturing capacity, and PC Construction earned ENR Mid-Atlantic Contractor of the Year recognition. Local Governance & Privacy: Keene’s mayor discussed recent ICE activity and the city’s limited role, while Rhode Island towns weigh Flock Safety license-plate camera concerns. Energy & Costs: Gas prices ticked up nationally to about $4.07 as crude stays near $80. Housing Watch (NH): Leaders renewed calls for transparency from Kelly Ayotte over Blackstone investments amid worsening home prices.

Food Safety & Recall Watch: Taylor Farms is recalling jalapeño products tied to a multistate salmonella outbreak, with items sold at Walmart, Target and Trader Joe’s across 26 states, plus related USDA alerts for meat and poultry products. Public Health: Cyclosporiasis cases keep climbing nationwide, with Florida reporting 400+ cases and the CDC confirming 13,000+ cases across 47 states since May—an ongoing reminder for consumers to stay alert on produce and deli items. NH Consumer Protection: The New Hampshire Insurance Department fined Anthem $520,000 after finding hundreds of violations tied to provider credentialing, directory accuracy and mental health parity compliance—an issue that can hit patients when “in-network” listings don’t match billing. Local Government Staffing: Derry is working to fill 22 vacancies, including assistant fire chief and building inspector roles, as it targets timelines for interviews and offers. Infrastructure Politics: Lawmakers are weighing whether to override Gov. Kelly Ayotte’s veto of the 10-year transportation plan, including a fight over toll changes for out-of-state drivers. Housing Market: New Hampshire home prices hit another record high, with the median single-family price reported at $580,000 amid tight supply.

White House Shakeup: New Hampshire native Karoline Leavitt will step down as Trump’s press secretary at the end of August, citing the need to spend more time with her young children; Trump says she’ll remain a top “outside adviser,” but no successor has been named yet. Local Politics & Schools: Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District warns a new state mandate will force a November ballot vote on a district tax cap, with opponents saying it limits local control. Energy Costs in NH: A new report flags potential electricity-rate pressure for Granite Staters tied to regional grid decisions and the Strait of Hormuz, with NH already among the highest-cost states. Food Safety: A major jalapeño recall tied to Salmonella has expanded to hundreds sickened and products sold at major retailers including Hannaford, Target, Trader Joe’s and Walmart. NH Business & Growth: Wizardline Technologies (Hampton Falls) says it has earned EU-U.S. data privacy certification to expand franchise tech support for Domino’s operators. Construction/Planning: Roy’s Market in Peterborough is moving forward with plans for a more accessible entrance and expansion into the former Maggie’s Market building.

NH Food Safety: NH DHHS issued a recall warning for certain Hannaford deli wraps and burritos tied to a broader salmonella alert involving jalapeño products from Taylor Farms/Coast Citrus Distributors, urging shoppers not to eat affected items. Defense Manufacturing: Lockheed Martin and New Hampshire’s Albany Engineered Composites formed an alliance to speed hypersonic weapons manufacturing for the Pentagon, aiming for an affordable, scalable push by 2029. Healthcare Access: MaineHealth cleared the way to integrate York Hospital after state regulators approved the Certificate of Need process, with a planned Oct. 1 close. Rural Care Tech: A federal rural health program is set to roll out AI tools, but a new review says the peer-reviewed proof that these tools improve patient outcomes is still thin. Workforce & Housing: NH home prices hit a new record near $580K amid supply shortages, while coverage also flags ongoing rural maternity “deserts” and insurance transparency gaps for women’s care. Digital Trust: A separate report highlights how AI-generated video is getting harder to spot, raising stakes for misinformation. Business & Legal: A Planet Fitness securities fraud class action is pending in the District of New Hampshire, with a Sept. 14 lead-plaintiff deadline.

Food Safety in NH: NH DHHS is warning shoppers not to eat certain Hannaford deli wraps and burritos tied to a salmonella concern involving Taylor Farms jalapeño products, as the recall list is updated. Health & Public Policy: A new NH study flags growing women’s health access problems in rural areas, citing “maternity deserts” and calling for stronger insurer oversight and clearer cost information. Housing & Real Estate: New Hampshire home prices hit a record $580,000 median in July, with supply improving but still too tight for a balanced market. Local Business/Development: Nashua’s Planning Board approved an expansion of the Sheraton Nashua Hotel that would add Gate City Casino, restaurants, and a parking garage, after a traffic study and infrastructure commitments. Energy & Construction: ReVision Energy was recognized as the No. 1 Solar + Storage Installer in New England, highlighting demand for solar-plus-storage for commercial resilience. Consumer Risk: BBB Scam Tracker data shows scam reports remain widespread nationwide, with NH included in the broader pattern of online purchase scams driving losses.

Food Safety: Taylor Farms expanded a jalapeño-linked Salmonella recall, pulling ready-to-eat dips, salsas, guacamole and more sold at major retailers including Walmart, Target, Trader Joe’s, Kroger, Whole Foods, Hannaford and Stop & Shop across 26 states, including New Hampshire, with “Best If Used By” dates through Aug. 16. Public Health Tech Debate: Rural health leaders are leaning into AI “nurses” and digital avatars, but patients and officials question whether the promised access gains will actually show up in outcomes. Housing & Construction: New Hampshire home prices hit a new record—$580,000 for a single-family median in July—as supply stays tight; realtors point to 2026 zoning tweaks and urge more changes for 2027, including manufactured housing by right. Energy & Shipping: Trump extended a Jones Act waiver for 90 days, aiming to keep more lower-cost fuel moving to New England, with case-by-case Pentagon review. Local Governance & Safety: Authorities are investigating a suspicious death in Whitefield, where three family members were injured and one adult later died. Immigration Enforcement: A traffic stop in Franklin County led to a farm worker deportation after Border Patrol involvement, drawing scrutiny of policing and enforcement practices. Manufacturing: A precision shop case study argues automation only delivers when the data layer is measured and trusted, not guessed.

Food Safety: Taylor Fresh Foods (Taylor Farms) expanded a jalapeño-linked salmonella recall, pulling dips, salsa and guacamole sold at major retailers including Hannaford, Walmart, Target, Trader Joe’s, Kroger and Whole Foods across 26 states, with New Hampshire included; DHHS says no NH cases are linked yet and urges shoppers to check UPCs and “best if used by” dates. Housing & Real Estate: New Hampshire home prices hit a record—July’s median single-family price rose to $580,000 as supply stays tight, even while national markets cool. Local Infrastructure: Lebanon is seeking $15.3 million to extend its landfill life by 19 years, with DES comment deadline set for this week. Public Safety & Governance: Oxford County hired a New Hampshire firm to study sheriff’s office staffing adequacy. Finance & Business: Bangor Savings Bank named Yolanda “Lannie” Moffatt as next president and CEO. Corrections Planning: State eyes a land swap with Concord to secure a site for a new men’s prison. Regional Economy: I-89 North near Exit 20 in West Lebanon will see delays through Thursday during bridge approach work.

Food Safety Watch: Taylor Farms is recalling jalapeño-linked prepared items after Salmonella concerns tied to peppers from Coast Citrus Distributors, with products pulled from retailers including Hannaford and Kroger and distribution reaching New Hampshire. Public Health: The same supply chain is still under scrutiny from the earlier cyclospora lettuce outbreak; Missouri has surged to No. 3 nationally, and New Hampshire is now among the states newly listed as cases tied to the Taylor Farms recall expand. Workforce & Agriculture: The U.S. Department of Labor set 2026-2027 H-2A Adverse Effect Wage Rates, with changes based on updated wage data—an issue that could affect farm labor costs in New Hampshire and beyond. NH Housing: New Hampshire home prices hit a record in July, with a median single-family sales price of $580,000, even as the national market cools. Local Development: Strafford County commissioners are exploring county land in Dover for an affordable housing project, aiming to partner with a developer and seek legislative approval. Business & Tech: Insygna launched a free “Agent Report Card” to help companies test AI agents before granting access to systems.

Food Safety: The FDA detailed Taylor Farms’ Cyclospora-linked lettuce recall, covering 236,192 cases of iceberg and romaine (including Walmart’s Marketside, plus Subway and other chains) with “potential Cyclospora contamination” listed as the reason. Public Health: The USDA issued a meat-and-poultry public health alert tied to FDA-regulated jalapeños that may carry Salmonella, naming retailers including Walmart and Hannaford and noting more downstream products may surface. Energy & Industry: A first-of-its-kind small nuclear plant in Wyoming, backed by TerraPower and billionaires Bill Gates and Warren Buffett, is positioned to speed up construction and boost local jobs—an example of how power demand is reshaping U.S. industry. Regional Economy: New England governors and eastern Canadian premiers meet next week, with Premier Tim Houston set to push stronger cross-border trade and resilience amid tariff pressures. NH Business/Workforce: Baker Newman Noyes announced multiple senior promotions across its Manchester and Portsmouth offices, including leadership moves in tax and assurance. NH Community: Lebanon is seeking state approval to expand its landfill, aiming to extend capacity by 19 years at an estimated $15.3 million cost. Sports/Community: UNH runner Gabby DeAngelis will represent Team USA at the 2026 World Skyrunning Championships in Spain.

Food Safety & Supply Chains: A new FDA report adds detail to the July Taylor Farms lettuce recall, citing “Potential Cyclospora contamination” and naming multiple retailers and brands tied to recalled iceberg and romaine products, as the broader Cyclospora outbreak keeps widening nationwide. Public Health: CDC figures put confirmed and probable Cyclospora infections above 25,000, with cases now reported across 15 states and two deaths tied to Michigan. Energy & Industry: A first-of-its-kind small nuclear plant in Wyoming, backed by Bill Gates and Warren Buffett, is framed as a faster-to-build option that could reshape power supply for data centers and manufacturers. NH Governance: New Hampshire’s Executive Council is in the spotlight again, with coverage focusing on how the five-member body can approve or block major state contracts and federal funding. Corrections Infrastructure: A state-commissioned study estimates New Hampshire’s planned 1,500-bed Concord men’s prison would cost at least $750 million, up from earlier projections. Transportation & Compliance: EPA approval moves New Hampshire closer to formally ending the vehicle inspection mandate. Local Waste Management: Lebanon is seeking $15.3 million to extend its landfill life by 19 years, aiming for construction in 2028. Business & Finance: A survey finds more consumers are turning to AI for financial advice, challenging banks’ push for “personalized” help.