AGP Executive Report

Missouri Politics & Economy: New polling shows President Donald Trump’s net approval slipping in 10 major beef states, including Missouri (down from -24 to -26) after his temporary beef import quota push aimed at lowering grocery costs. Public Health & Safety: Jefferson County’s Health Department released food inspection results for the week of Sept. 13, with scores ranging from 68 to 100 and violations noted at multiple restaurants and schools. Immigration & Work Visas: Missouri employers in the “Other Services (except Public Administration)” category filed 15 H-1B petitions in 2025, with all approved, according to federal data. State Law & Gambling: Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway ordered several prediction market companies to stop offering sports “event contracts,” warning of enforcement if they don’t comply within 30 days. Local Community: Lee’s Summit Oktoberfest returns with a fenced, ticketed setup and stricter rules after Downtown Days was canceled following safety problems. Education & Culture: Cole County colleges conferred 797 degrees and certificates in 2023-24, up from 775 the year before.

Supreme Court Fight: The U.S. Supreme Court blocked Missouri from using a newer, GOP-favored congressional map in the 2026 midterms, ordering the state to stick with its 2022 map as absentee voting is already underway. Election Fallout: The ruling caps a fast-moving redistricting battle that had bounced through courts multiple times, with opponents warning of election chaos if boundaries changed late. Public Safety & Privacy: Missouri poultry officials urged flock owners to beef up biosecurity as avian influenza risk rises during fall migration. Local Community Watch: Lee’s Summit is moving forward with Oktoberfest using a fenced, ticketed setup after Downtown Days drew chaos and safety concerns. Health & Consumer Protection: Missouri’s attorney general is investigating ActBlue over claims it accepted foreign donations, arguing the platform may violate state consumer-protection law. Business & Cost Pressure: Missouri diesel prices stayed near record highs, squeezing trucking costs as the holiday shipping season approaches.

Volunteer & Community: First Interstate Bank employees across Missouri and its 10-state footprint wrapped up nearly 400 local service projects during its ninth annual Volunteer Day, including thrift-store help, meal kits for families escaping abuse, and school support. Consumer & Health Policy: Missouri AG Catherine Hanaway launched a probe into ActBlue over allegations it accepted fraudulent and potentially illegal foreign political contributions. Public Health Watch: CDC reported measles cases rising to 3,659 nationwide as of Sept. 24, with Missouri among the states reporting cases and outbreaks. Cybersecurity & Accountability: Acting Alaska AG Cori Mills announced a multistate settlement with Labcorp tied to a 2019 data breach involving patient information shared through a medical debt collector. Sports Betting Crackdown: Hanaway issued cease-and-desist letters to six prediction market operators—Polymarket, Kalshi, Crypto.com, Novig, Underdog and Robinhood—warning they must stop offering unlicensed sports wagering to Missourians or get licensed. Local Impact: A senior food pantry in Gladstone’s Northland Shepherd Center, Plate of Hope, is closing, leaving many older residents scrambling for replacements. Business & Jobs: Schreiber Foods plans a $267M process-cheese facility in Carthage, aiming to add about 100 jobs and expand capacity starting in 2028.

AI & Privacy Clash: U.S. senators, including Missouri’s Josh Hawley, grilled Flock Safety over a fast-growing AI camera network, raising Fourth Amendment and false-arrest concerns after a woman was wrongly arrested; lawmakers also questioned who’s accountable when AI systems go rogue. Missouri Courts & Health Policy: Missouri’s AG actions and broader 340B litigation updates continue to shape how health providers handle contract pharmacy and drug program rules, while a multistate Labcorp settlement targets a major data breach tied to AMCA. Local Government & Schools: Columbia’s West Middle School will become a fine arts lottery school, and Springfield seeks public input on an updated stormwater plan. Missouri Economy & Jobs: WireCo is closing its Kirksville plant, affecting 40–45 full-time workers, and Missouri Breaks Ground on a $120M Energy Innovation Center. Community & Agriculture: Palmyra Christian Academy joins Missouri Beef Kids for locally sourced beef and farm education, and Ozarks students get hands-on farming skills through the Ag Day initiative. Public Safety & Consumer Tips: BBB warns used-car buyers about predatory lending and hidden problems.

Consumer Protection: New York AG Letitia James helped secure a $2.3 million multistate settlement with Labcorp over a 2019 data breach tied to its debt collector, AMCA, affecting more than 27.5 million people, with Labcorp ordered to overhaul data security and improve how it shares data with third parties. Food Safety: A Tennessee woman sued Taylor Farms after alleging she contracted a parasitic infection from Taco Bell shredded iceberg lettuce in Hannibal during a Cyclospora outbreak. Surveillance & Privacy: U.S. senators are pressing for tighter rules on AI-powered license plate camera networks after Indianapolis charged five officers for allegedly misusing Flock cameras, including stalking allegations; the Senate Judiciary subcommittee hearing put the spotlight on where the data goes and what privacy protections exist. Missouri Agriculture Policy: Nebraska Sen. Pete Ricketts introduced an Agricultural Data Privacy Act to give farmers control over how their agronomic, climate, land, and livestock data is shared, sold, or used without clear written consent—Missouri is among states pursuing similar efforts. Local Business & Jobs: Schreiber Foods announced a $267 million expansion in Carthage to build a new process-cheese facility, expected to open in 2028 and create about 100 jobs.

Surveillance Oversight: U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley’s Senate hearing put Flock’s nationwide license-plate camera network under the microscope, with senators warning it may enable warrantless tracking and false links—while Flock executives skipped the session. Local Accountability: In St. Louis, Mayor Cara Spencer launched a pro bono contractor fraud legal task force to pursue sham rebuild contractors after the deadly EF-3 tornado. Health Care Access: Fitzgibbon Hospital in Marshall will stop inpatient labor and delivery Sept. 30, pushing expectant families to drive farther for births. Housing Pressure: Near the University of Missouri, off-campus student housing is nearly fully pre-leased for 2026-27, with rents up to about $839 per bed. Public Safety Tech Debate: Lawmakers also heard calls for stronger rules after reports of misuse and privacy gaps around automated license plate readers. Community & Culture: Lewis and Clark Community College will host the final Bike MS: Gateway Getaway Ride Sept. 26-27 before the event moves on.

Cattle Market Watch: Joplin Regional Stockyards owner Jackie Moore says he’s bullish on cattle prices, but warns the industry can’t just “let supply and demand run” without keeping beef prices workable for producers and rebuilding herd numbers. Local Governance: Missouri cities are putting “neighboring” on the public agenda ahead of Missouri Good Neighbor Week, with proclamations rolling in from places like Republic, Forsyth, St. Peters and Kirkwood. Health Costs: Missouri consumers buying their own coverage—or through small-business plans—could see health insurance premiums rise as much as 26% in 2027, driven by higher health care and prescription drug costs. Food & Retail: Costco plans 10 new U.S. stores this fall, including a Lee’s Summit, Mo. opening in October. Business/Bankruptcy: Wendy’s franchise operator Meritage Hospitality (314 locations) filed for bankruptcy after Wendy’s terminated its franchise agreement, setting up a fight over royalties and fees. Public Safety/Justice: A jury found Fredrick Scott guilty in four of six murder charges tied to deaths along Kansas City’s Indian Creek Trail.

AI Antitrust: A new lawsuit says Anthropic, OpenAI, SpaceXAI and Google coordinated an AI slowdown in ways that could violate antitrust law and hurt consumers’ paid subscriptions. Missouri Elections: Missouri’s GOP-backed congressional map is back before the U.S. Supreme Court for a third time, as ballots tied to the 2022 map are already printed and voting begins. SEC Football: No. 24 Mississippi State hosts No. 19 Missouri in a ranked SEC opener, with both teams coming in hot. Offshore Wind Fight: New York and other eastern states sue to block Trump administration offshore wind buybacks, arguing federal money is being redirected to fossil projects. Surveillance Oversight: St. Peters police used Flock license plate reader cameras tens of thousands of times, raising questions about oversight and data use. Local Public Safety Grants: Missouri American Water will distribute nearly $50,000 in Firefighter Grant Program money to departments across southwest Missouri, including Joplin. Nursing Home Watch: CMS ratings spotlight several Missouri facilities, including a 4-star Fountainbleau Lodge and lower-rated Stonebridge Chillicothe. Food Prices/Consumer Impact: A pork antitrust settlement could pay Missouri consumers after major producers agreed to a $117 million deal.

Special Education Oversight: Missouri State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick has begun a performance audit of the Special School District of St. Louis County, citing concerns about care for students with disabilities and major financial strain, including a possible $83 million deficit and a district-wide salary freeze. Local Government & Infrastructure: Sedalia’s Southeast Wastewater Treatment Plant is drawing scrutiny after officials warned that much of the aging equipment is beyond its intended service life, driving costly breakdowns and repairs. Public Safety & Courts: A Missouri appeals court upheld denial of a Grandview officer’s knee-replacement costs tied to a 2016 on-duty injury, narrowing disability findings. State Politics & Economy: Sen. Josh Hawley is pushing a federal tax bill aimed at limiting Opportunity Zone benefits for data centers, arguing big tech is using tax breaks to build projects on farmland. Business & Community Development: Belton is reviewing a major “Uptown” plan that could bring a large B&B Theatres entertainment hub, hundreds of apartments, and up to $250 million in private investment. Workplace & Culture: St. Louis-based PEG Staffing & Recruiting is expanding its focus on AI transformation talent, while BugBros Pest Control was named #1 small employer in its industry workplace ranking.

Spay/Neuter Funding: Two Kirksville-area groups, Field of Dreams Rescue and Kirksville Protect Our Pets, won Missouri Department of Agriculture grants to expand low-cost spay and neuter services, funded by “I’m Pet Friendly” specialty license plates. River Access Fight: In Hamilton, Illinois, leaders say silt has left public Mississippi River access at Chaney Creek unusable, renewing calls for better boat access after decades of stalled plans. Cattle Ranching Tech: Virtual fencing collars using GPS are changing how Missouri ranchers manage grazing, cutting the need for physical wire and speeding up training. Missouri Politics in Court: The 8th Circuit ordered Missouri to use a GOP-friendly congressional map for the November election, while the ruling is set up for another Supreme Court showdown. Data Center Clash: A Benton County data center moratorium faces a legal fight, with a judge weighing whether to block enforcement while the case proceeds. Local Costs: Joplin residents will pay more for trash pickup starting Oct. 1, with the monthly rate rising to $17.42 for one cart. Business Fallout: A major Wendy’s franchise operator filed for Chapter 11, aiming to keep hundreds of restaurants running while restructuring.

Missouri Economy & Jobs: Diesel prices are surging in Missouri, up nearly 60% from a year ago, and some smaller trucking companies are shutting down as fuel costs squeeze budgets and could ripple into higher consumer prices. State Government & Gambling: Missouri’s attorney general has ordered prediction markets to stop operating in the state, targeting sports wagering practices tied to companies like Kalshi and Polymarket. Local Government: Hopkins, Missouri, voted to change late fees on water and sewer bills to flat charges ($15 water, $10 sewer) for accounts less than six months overdue. Health & Safety: Missouri cannabis regulators issued a recall of pre-rolled joints after mold was found in testing, with officials saying no adverse reactions have been reported. Business & Industry: Prysmian and Rio Tinto say low-carbon aluminum cables made in Missouri will be used for an Amazon data center in Ohio, using inert-anode smelting to cut direct emissions. Courts: Missouri’s Eastern District reversed a default judgment set aside against a Warren County landscaper, reinstating a 2025 award to homeowners. Community & Culture: Kansas City FilmFest International announced 2026 award winners, highlighting local and Heartland filmmaking.

Prediction Markets Crackdown: Missouri AG Catherine Hanaway sent cease-and-desist letters to Polymarket, Kalshi and Robinhood, arguing their sports “event contracts” are unlicensed wagering that also dodges the state’s 10% tax. Local Tech & Privacy: State Rep. Brad Christ says Missouri has no ALPR law and is backing a bill to force 30-day data deletion, bar vendor resale of Missouri data, limit ALPR to lifesaving/criminal justice uses, and ban ALPR-linked facial recognition. Data-Driven Backlash: Flock Safety’s license-reader network is facing community anger and employee buyouts as cities move away from surveillance. Cannabis Odor Lawsuit: Rock Hill residents filed a class-action claiming a nearby cannabis cultivation site is a “public nuisance” due to ongoing noxious odors. Diesel Shock to Missouri Farmers: Diesel prices jumped again, squeezing truckers and farm margins and raising fears of higher food costs. Local Governance on Data Centers: Kirksville’s planning commission advanced zoning limits for data centers, while residents elsewhere push for stronger rules as projects expand. Sports & Courts: A Texas Ponzi scheme tied to Travis Kelce led to an 11-year sentence and $31.35M restitution order.

Missouri Gambling Crackdown: Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway sent cease-and-desist letters to six prediction market companies—Polymarket, Kalshi, Crypto.com, Novig, Underdog and Robinhood—arguing their “event contracts” are unlicensed sports wagering under state law, and warning any Missouri sports betting must be licensed and regulated. Local Public Safety Funding: Six Southwest Missouri fire departments are set to share in nearly $50,000 in Missouri American Water grants for gear, communications, tools, water handling and training. Education & Access: Missouri Connections Academy opened its sixth school year with about 4,000 virtual students statewide, expanding career pathways and STEM activities. Transportation Oversight: MoDOT director Ed Hassinger briefed lawmakers on Missouri’s road priorities, including the Improve I-70 effort and fuel tax questions. Community Integration: The Jefferson City Human Relations Commission is planning partnerships to help recent immigrants connect and feel welcome. Health & Food: Hy-Vee will offer drive-thru flu shot clinics in September, and a Missouri school used a state agriculture grant to grill watermelon for students.

Health Access: Hy-Vee is rolling out drive-thru flu shot clinics across its stores in September, with no appointment or prescription needed for eligible patients and shots free with Medicare and most insurance. Local Government: Columbia City Council is set to vote on a $606.7 million budget for fiscal year 2027, including a proposed roundabout, “smart” utility meters, and potential animal shelter purchases. Community & Culture: Columbia’s Heritage Festival and Craft Show brings Missouri history to life at Nifong Park with hands-on activities and an 1780–1820 encampment. Agriculture: Missouri State Fair’s Farm Family Day honored Sullivan County families, spotlighting farm work plus youth programs like 4-H and FFA. Public Safety & Privacy: Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway issued cease-and-desist letters to six prediction market companies over sports-related event contracts, while separate coverage highlights growing scrutiny of surveillance camera use. Sports: No. 20 Mizzou stayed unbeaten with a 27-17 win over Troy as SEC play approaches.

Missouri Sports Betting Crackdown: Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway issued cease-and-desist letters to six prediction market operators, saying sports “event contracts” are unlicensed wagering under state law, including Polymarket, Kalshi, Crypto.com, Novig, Underdog and Robinhood. Public Health & Coverage: A lawsuit challenges a federal Medicaid rule that narrows exemptions for medically frail people, arguing it risks coverage losses through new reporting and verification requirements. Cannabis Safety: Missouri regulators recalled Juicy J’s cherry limeade infused pre-rolls after random testing found Aspergillus mold, the second mold-related cannabis recall in September. Local Roads: MoDOT plans to close a ramp on westbound U.S. 54 in Jefferson City next week for months as part of a widening project. Community & Faith: The University of Missouri marked the 25th anniversary of 9/11 with two events, while Sen. Josh Hawley led a declaration backed by Missouri faith leaders calling to ban mifepristone. Civic Life: Cheyenne’s mayor highlighted progress on youth ordinance updates and the PRCA’s move toward a new headquarters, museum and Hall of Fame. Diesel Costs for Farmers: Record diesel prices are squeezing Missouri and regional harvest budgets, raising fears of higher food costs.

Prediction Markets Crackdown: Missouri AG Catherine Hanaway issued cease-and-desist orders to Polymarket, Kalshi, Crypto.com, Novig, Underdog and Robinhood, saying their “sports-related event contracts” are unlicensed sports betting and warning of enforcement if they don’t comply within 30 days. Water Rates: Missouri-American Water asked the Missouri Public Service Commission for approval of a new WSIRA surcharge, seeking about a 2.5% annual water revenue increase and 0.5% sewer increase to recover eligible infrastructure costs. Data Centers vs. Communities: A rally at the Capitol pushed for a statewide moratorium on data centers, while Rep. Eric Burlison argued concerns should be handled through privacy and local industrial-impact conversations, not blanket bans. AI Surveillance Pushback: Sen. Josh Hawley invited Flock/ALPR CEOs to testify as Missouri tightens rules on automated license plate readers. Diesel Squeezes Farmers: Record diesel prices are driving up harvest and freight costs, raising fears of higher food prices. Local Life: Columbia and Boone County proposed buying a new site for Animal Control, and the Northeast Missouri Old Threshers Reunion returns this weekend in Shelby County.