AGP Executive Report

SNAP Shake-Up: New Trump administration rules tied to payment accuracy could push many states to pay more for SNAP, with a new analysis saying more than 1 million children in 19 states have already lost benefits since the 2025 law changes. Missouri Courts & Justice: Missouri AG Catherine Hanaway sued Kansas City over claims its minority- and women-owned business program discriminates against white people and men, while a separate Missouri case highlights how policing can turn deadly for pets and cost taxpayers. Energy & Data Centers: Midwest utilities, including Ameren and Evergy, asked federal regulators to pause competitive bidding for major power-line projects to speed up grid upgrades for AI data centers—while Missouri lawmakers are also pushing back on utility plans that would bypass competition. Food Safety: Taylor Farms’ iceberg lettuce recall linked to cyclospora now covers 27 states, including Missouri, as FDA updates keep the outbreak under scrutiny. Local Business: A new leadership summit is planned for Lake of the Ozarks condo leaders, aiming to tackle insurance costs and aging infrastructure. Sports & Culture: ESPN’s Karl Ravech’s sudden layoff after a Phillies-Dodgers broadcast and the Venice Film Festival’s more auteur-focused lineup both dominated national headlines.

Kansas City Contract Fight: Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway sued Kansas City in federal court, alleging the city’s Minority and Woman Business Enterprise program unlawfully discriminates against white people and men in public contracting. Parole Hearing: James Scott, convicted of “causing a catastrophe” in the 1993 Great Flood, appeared before the Missouri Board of Probation and Parole; a decision is expected in 2–3 weeks. Food Safety: Cyclospora cases keep climbing nationwide to 41 states, with Missouri among those reporting first cases; the lettuce investigation remains active even as FDA says some tests were false positives. Local Government & Housing: Missouri’s new interior design practice rules are changing how designers can sign and seal plans, while cities are also updating zoning rules like accessory dwelling units. Education & Work: A University of Missouri report says Missouri’s youth workforce is shrinking as more graduates go straight into jobs, pushing employers to build training and career paths. Business & Industry: Union Pacific and CN reached a framework deal tied to their merger, aiming to expand customer options across the Midwest, including the Kansas City area. Sports & Stadiums: Kansas City Chiefs stadium design work is moving forward with new renderings tied to a Kansas site, while the Bears’ stadium search continues to generate proposals.

Disaster Recovery: Missouri’s Department of Commerce and Insurance is sending consumer specialists to a Multi-Agency Resource Center in Reynolds County after severe storms and flash flooding, with help on insurance questions and claims at a Centerville site this weekend. Public Health: Cyclosporiasis linked to contaminated lettuce continues to spread, with the CDC reporting cases in 41 states, including Missouri, and investigators still focused on Taylor Farms-related produce. State Politics: In Greene County, Republican candidates for circuit clerk are making their case ahead of the Aug. 4 primary, while Missouri’s District 20 GOP Senate race turns on leadership and insider politics. Local Government & Permits: Columbia residents can get required orientation for the city’s urban bow deer hunt permits in August. Energy & Data Centers: Utilities and developers keep pushing the grid debate—Evergy argues data centers could lower rates, while transmission companies seek less competition to build new lines faster. Business & Jobs: Kansas City’s KC BioHub won $38.1 million to boost biomanufacturing, and Lawrence County faces 71 job losses as a cooperage plans to close in September.

Food Safety: FDA says Amy’s Kitchen recalled 184,000+ cans of Organic Lentil Soup—Light in Sodium due to a potential spoilage defect, with distribution in Missouri and 26 other states. Public Health: Missouri’s cyclospora outbreak keeps climbing, with the state epidemiologist pointing to sewage and irrigation practices as the likely spread route; health officials stress early detection and testing. Elections & Taxes: Missouri Amendment 5 heads to the Aug. 4 ballot, shifting funding from income taxes toward new sales taxes—supporters tout growth, opponents warn it hits people with less ability to pay. Local Government: Nodaway County approved a six-month moratorium on data centers after public pushback, while Missouri’s new Innovation District law is signed but still needs local rules. Business & Jobs: Kansas City biotech won $38.1M in federal Tech Hubs funding, and Schnucks’ Springboard Accelerator is backing Midwest makers with equity-free support. Infrastructure & Energy: Reports of grid strain and heat-driven warnings are spreading across the region as utilities and backup power providers urge preparation.

Food Safety & Health: Missouri’s cyclosporiasis outbreak keeps climbing, with state officials reporting 216 cases statewide and Cole County investigating five illnesses tied to the multi-state outbreak; the FDA says a Taylor Farms lettuce test was a “false positive,” but that doesn’t end the broader investigation or the company’s recall. Childcare & Workforce: Missouri is still leaving thousands of kids on the waiting list for state childcare subsidies—7,389 children as of mid-July—with no moves off the list since March 1 and no promised provider-payment overhaul in place. Local Economy & Housing: Jefferson City is weighing Chapter 100 tax abatements for a proposed 180-unit apartment project, a process that could lead to temporary property tax breaks while bonds are repaid. Agriculture & Markets: USDA and other ag updates continue to shape grain expectations, while the global rice market reflects shifting prices abroad. Politics & Missouri’s Future: Amendment 5 would phase out Missouri’s personal income tax while expanding sales taxes and taxing more services—supporters call it competitiveness, opponents warn about shifting costs. Business & Industry: Missouri-based Stack Digital launched MeridianOS, aiming to consolidate scheduling, CRM, payments, texting, and invoicing into one platform on a company’s own website.

Food Safety Update: Missouri health officials say Boone County cyclosporiasis cases have climbed to 37, with 216 cases under investigation statewide, as the Taylor Farms lettuce recall continues—though the FDA now says one positive cyclospora test was a false positive and testing is ongoing. Public Health & Consumer Watch: Taylor Farms expanded its voluntary recall to 27 states after the outbreak tied to lettuce served at Taco Bell locations, and officials stress people should discard recalled products. Local Business & Community Impact: Stone County leaders are scrambling after the Branson Tri-Lakes newspaper abruptly closed, threatening required election legal notices and tax sale publications. Sports & Safety: Mizzou coach Eli Drinkwitz says running back Ahmad Hardy has been medically cleared to prepare for the season after a May shooting, while reiterating “no place for gun violence.” Workforce Development: UCM and North Central Missouri College partnered with the United Brotherhood of Carpenters to create instructor training and degree pathways for skilled trades. State Politics: Missouri small businesses are pushing back on beneficial ownership reporting, calling the federal data mandate invasive and costly.

Food Safety: Missouri health officials say cyclospora cases are surging, with the state reporting 216 cases as investigators keep searching for the source of a multi-state outbreak tied to Taylor Farms lettuce. Public Health Update: The FDA says a previously positive iceberg lettuce test tied to Taylor Farms was a false positive, and it reports no confirmed positive sample results as of July 19—while the investigation continues and Taylor Farms’ broad recall remains in play. Local Impact: The outbreak has spread across dozens of states, and Missouri’s jump comes alongside Illinois reporting 309 cases and hospitals treating some patients. Agriculture & Business: Separate from the outbreak, ADM and General Mills are teaming with Walmart to expand regenerative farming efforts in key wheat regions that include Illinois, Indiana, and Missouri. Community & Safety: Missouri is also pushing vehicle theft prevention tips for drivers, noting the state remains in the nation’s top 10 for reported thefts.

Food Safety Alert: Taylor Farms expanded its iceberg lettuce recall tied to a Cyclospora outbreak, pulling products shipped to 27 states—including Missouri—after federal health officials linked the parasite to lettuce used at Taco Bell. Retail Response: Walmart removed select bagged iceberg salad items as a precaution, while Sysco halted distribution of the implicated Mexico-sourced lettuce. Local Government: Nodaway County released a draft data center moratorium aimed at studying impacts on energy, water, grid stability, light/noise, and stormwater runoff before any future development agreements. Aviation Watch: A proposed Trump budget cut could reduce Essential Air Service funding, putting flights from O’Hare to downstate Illinois airports like Quincy and Marion at risk. Civic Update: Jefferson City Council will begin nominations for a Ward 3 vacancy starting Monday, following Derek Thomas’s resignation. Community & Culture: Seckman High School named Courtney Tiné as assistant principal, and SUNY Potsdam’s Gibson Gallery is hosting a retrospective of Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist Stephan Savoia.

Housing Affordability: A new report finds none of the 50 biggest U.S. metros are affordable for minimum-wage renters under the 30% rule, with St. Louis and Kansas City among the cheapest but still above the recommended share. World Cup Spotlight: Gov. Mike Kehoe says Missouri backed Kansas City’s FIFA World Cup with more than $108 million in security and public safety, including statewide emergency coordination. Public Safety & Health: Taylor Farms expanded a voluntary recall of shredded iceberg lettuce to 27 states after a cyclospora outbreak, urging shoppers to discard affected products; Missouri also marked 988’s growing demand, with Missouri DMH reporting 166,302 crisis contacts in fiscal 2026. Local Government & Utilities: St. Joseph paused new data center applications and will bring in outside help to revise zoning; the Missouri Public Service Commission set deadlines and hearings tied to sewer and Ameren battery/solar projects, and approved Liberty’s rate increase with added reporting. Ballot Politics: Missouri voters face Amendment 1 on Aug. 4, while rallies across mid-Missouri pushed back against Amendments 4 and 5. Community Notes: A Kansas City house fire sent a firefighter and an elderly woman to the hospital; Jefferson City begins concrete work on Lafayette Street next week.

Food Safety: Taylor Farms is recalling iceberg lettuce shipped to 27 states, including Missouri, after potential cyclospora contamination tied to a widening cyclosporiasis outbreak; the company says it’s “actively removing” the implicated Central Mexico product, suspending distribution, and telling buyers to discard it immediately (distribution dates June 29–July 16; use-by dates through Aug. 3). Retail Response: Walmart pulled some bagged iceberg lettuce products from select locations as a precaution, following Taco Bell’s earlier removal of Taylor Farms lettuce from five states. Missouri Legal/Health Policy: A coalition of hemp businesses filed a federal lawsuit to block Missouri’s upcoming ban on intoxicating hemp products, arguing the definitions are unconstitutionally vague; the ban is set to take effect in November. Civic Debate: Anti–data center protests drew crowds in 125 cities nationwide, including Missouri-focused commentary about how communities are pushing back on AI infrastructure. Local Life: The Jefferson County Fair returns July 23–26 in Hillsboro with music, vendors, carnival rides, and motorsports.

Food Safety: Federal health officials say shredded iceberg lettuce from Mexico served at Taco Bell caused a multistate cyclosporiasis outbreak; Missouri hasn’t been flagged as a source yet, but Boone County has confirmed 22 cases. Public Health & Courts: Missouri’s AG says American Shaman agreed to suspend sales of kratom and 7-OH in the state after a lawsuit and settlement. Local Infrastructure: Lee’s Summit’s $25 million Pryor Road widening project is drawing complaints over delays and limited neighborhood access while work continues. Consumer Protection: Missouri AG says a St. Charles County contractor, Tri County Fence and Deck owner Craig Sutton, must repay victims $257,000 for taking deposits and not completing jobs. Policy & Data Centers: A Missouri commentary argues anti–data center Facebook pages may be anonymous, unverifiable “manufactured outrage,” while another piece warns Missouri’s weather app could miss critical signals as forecasting resources shrink. Economy: A Rural Mainstreet Index survey finds rural economic growth in a 10-state region slipping below growth-neutral again.

Food Safety: A cyclosporiasis outbreak tied to shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell is sickening people across five states, and Boone County has now climbed to 22 cases as Taylor Farms pulls implicated lettuce from central Mexico. Elections: A Kansas judge restored a mail-ballot “grace period,” ruling the new law likely unconstitutional after it removed the ability to count ballots postmarked by Election Day but arriving a few days late. Energy & Industry: Tallgrass says construction is moving ahead on a CO2 capture and transport pipeline through northwest Mills County, aiming to connect to sequestration in Wyoming. Local Government & Courts: A St. Louis County judge denied a default judgment in a Festus data center lawsuit and ordered both sides to communicate better. Utilities: The Missouri Public Service Commission approved Liberty Utilities’ southwest Missouri electric rate increase, cutting the requested hike to a $97 million increase after billing and customer-service improvements. Public Health & Community: The SBA opened low-interest disaster loans for Missouri counties hit by April 23–28 storms and flooding. Politics & Campaigns: Missouri candidates are ramping up farmer-focused messaging ahead of the August 4 primaries, with data centers and solar farms also showing up in rural races.

MSHSAA Rules Change: Principia and MICDS are moving up after MSHSAA adjusted its private-school “Championship Factor” so older titles count less over time, reshuffling boys and girls classifications and setting up new matchups for public schools like Eureka. Elder Scams: A new analysis of FTC reports flags where Americans 60+ are most targeted, with business imposter scams leading and Arizona topping the per-capita list. Food Policy Fight: FDA and USDA are still wrestling over how to define ultra-processed foods, with thousands of comments pouring in from public health groups versus industry pushing back on a one-size definition. Agriculture & Regen: General Mills, Walmart and ADM are teaming up on regenerative wheat across 40,000 Midwest acres, aiming at soil health and water gains. Missouri Grant: The Missouri Department of Agriculture opened applications for a Food Insecure Cost-Share Grant, offering up to $50,000 per project, due Aug. 26. Courts & Labels: The Supreme Court dealt another blow to Roundup cancer lawsuits by ruling Bayer doesn’t have to add a cancer warning label. Local Sports/Community: Missouri’s youth and community calendar continues with MSHSAA impacts and more regional events.

Restaurant Industry & Culture: Starbucks and Chili’s are doubling down on “cultural relevancy,” treating it like a business strategy, not just marketing. Local Arts: A new bluegrass stage show, “Maggie’s Journal,” will debut at Patsy Cline Theatre in Winchester, telling a post-Civil War Missouri story and raising funds for seat and carpet replacement. AI, Farms, and Politics: WNBA guard Sophie Cunningham sparked debate by questioning farmland purchases for AI data centers, as Missouri races also spotlight data-center concerns like water and noise. Healthcare & AI Oversight: The U.S. Senate rejected a push to end a Medicare AI prior-authorization pilot, keeping the program alive despite worries about delays and denials. Missouri Business: Simmons First reported Q2 net income up 21.7% but missed earnings expectations as credit-loss provisions rose. Public Safety: A St. Joseph prison facility faced air-conditioning problems during summer heat, with repairs underway. Local Government: Kirkwood council is set to hear a plan to keep its water system municipal control while raising rates through 2037. Courts & Consumer Watch: Missouri AG Hanaway addressed an investigation into ESPN draft analyst Matt Miller over alleged unpaid “minimal product” claims.

AI & Business Visibility: Amplified Digital launched “Amplified AI Visibility” to help Missouri-area companies measure whether AI search tools can find, trust, and recommend them. Missouri Conservation: Conservation Director Jason Sumners says the department is permanently shelving “targeted removal” deer thinning after hunter backlash over night-vision mass shootings. Jobs & Economy: Initial unemployment claims fell by 8,000 to 208,000 for the week ending July 11, while Missouri saw a rise in unadjusted claims tied to manufacturing layoffs. Healthcare Tech: West Tennessee Healthcare expanded its eICU program, adding virtual monitoring across ICU beds and mobile emergency carts for patients in the region including southeast Missouri. Utilities: The Missouri Public Service Commission approved a phased Liberty Utilities electric rate increase starting Aug. 3 after a billing and customer service review. Local Growth: Genie Recon plans an $11.5 million Springfield expansion creating 243 jobs. Politics & Data Centers: A Missouri Senate District 20 race is heating up as candidates trade attacks over data center development and incentives. Public Health: Nine cyclosporiasis cases were reported in Boone County, with officials urging careful produce washing. Ballot Watch: Missouri voters face an Aug. 4 primary and a major Amendment 5 debate over shifting taxes, including concerns about taxing healthcare and doctor visits.

Medicare Advantage Scrutiny: Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley and Sen. Richard Blumenthal are pressing UnitedHealthcare and other Medicare Advantage insurers to explain how they use AI and prior authorization to deny post-hospital rehab care, after federal findings showed denial rates far higher than competitors. State Health Policy: Gov. Mike Kehoe signed a wide-ranging Missouri women’s and maternal health bill expanding doula access, requiring coverage for blood pressure monitors, boosting contraceptive access, and adding data collection on tick-borne diseases. Utilities & Energy: The Missouri Public Service Commission approved Empire Electric’s tariff plan with quarterly reporting, and set local/virtual public hearings for Ameren Missouri’s request for battery storage and solar projects. Local Government & Growth: Festus council members propose a yearlong moratorium on a major data center plan, citing concerns over water, electricity, health, property values, and wildlife. Courts & Consumer Protection: Missouri AG Catherine Hanaway announced restitution for contractor fraud in St. Charles County, while a Kansas City-area woman sued Dollar General over alleged pregnancy discrimination and retaliation. Agriculture & Community: Walmart, General Mills, and ADM are rolling out regenerative wheat practices across 40,000 acres in Illinois, Indiana, and Missouri. Education & Youth: Missouri named 35 Regional Teachers of the Year, including educators from across the state.