AGP Executive Report

Manufacturing Layoffs: PepsiCo filed a WARN notice for permanent layoffs of all 184 warehouse employees at its Tulsa bottling facility, with separations starting around Nov. 15, while EnerSys’ Alpha Technologies plans to close its Bellingham, Wash., operations unit Oct. 15 and cut 75 jobs. Tribal Procurement Modernization: The Osage Nation selected PlanetBids to centralize and digitize procurement, replacing spreadsheets and scattered postings with a single bid workflow. Energy & Infrastructure: Oklahoma’s Cushing crude hub saw inventories rise as US crude stocks climbed 2.5 million barrels; separately, Williams agreed to buy Momentum Midstream’s Haynesville-related pipeline assets for up to $5.5B, expanding gas transport into major LNG demand corridors. Nuclear Development Watch: DOE documents outline how Oklahoma could operate a Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus, including fuel-cycle functions, safety and public engagement, and a workforce hub. Food Safety & Retail Impact: Qdoba removed jalapeños nationwide amid a Salmonella Javiana outbreak tied to peppers from Mexico, and the cyclospora-linked lettuce scare continues to reshape grocery and restaurant purchasing decisions. Local Policy: Oklahoma voters will decide State Question 844 on Aug. 25, which would let the legislature change how the state reimburses local governments for manufacturing property tax incentives. Construction Innovation: A Savanna school district is pursuing a 3D-printed school concept to cut costs and expand classrooms after earlier funding setbacks. Retail Deal Timing: Oklahoma’s annual sales tax holiday runs Aug. 7-9, exempting qualifying clothing and footwear under $100.

Oklahoma Energy & Materials: Stardust Power says it has a non-binding off-take letter of intent to supply battery-grade lithium carbonate from its Muskogee, OK refinery to Charge CCCV, with potential demand scaling from 3,000 metric tons in 2028 to 20,000 by 2030. Nuclear Policy: Oklahoma is among five states competing for DOE “Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses,” pitching a plan aimed at permanent spent-fuel disposal before commercial deployment, while other finalists weigh different approaches. Manufacturing Incentives & Schools: Oklahoma State Question 844 would let lawmakers recalibrate manufacturing tax incentive reimbursements to local governments, raising alarms from school leaders about millions in potential funding shifts. Food & Retail Shock: Salad and Go is closing all remaining locations after filing Chapter 11, citing weak consumer demand, rising costs, and industry confidence hits tied to the broader Cyclospora outbreak. Workforce & Training: OSU’s Workforce and Economic Development department is shutting down due to funding shortfalls, leaving tribal partners and local businesses scrambling for training support. Community Food Security: KOCO 5 and the Regional Food Bank launch a “Day of Giving” to help feed Oklahoma children before the school year, with donations matched up to $285,000.

Nuclear Policy & Waste: Oklahoma’s bid for a federal nuclear innovation hub lays out a full life-cycle plan, including fuel recycling and deep borehole disposal, with a “first-in-the-nation” goal to lock in permanent waste solutions before commercial deployment. Turnpike & Campus Access: OU is backing two Norman interchanges tied to the South Extension Turnpike, calling them “absolutely essential” for safety and campus connectivity. Local Public Safety Funding: Oklahoma County’s jail plan moves forward with a proposed 0.4% sales tax for 25–30 years, targeting about $600 million and adding accountability measures. Data Centers & Community Backlash: Yukon residents push a recall effort over a proposed $1 billion data center, while Oklahoma City delays a rezoning vote to give opponents more time. Health Coverage Shock: Oklahoma is among states seeing steep drops in Affordable Care Act marketplace enrollment after enhanced subsidies expired, as costs rise. Food Safety: A cyclosporiasis outbreak tied to shredded lettuce continues expanding, with new reports of additional states and first deaths. AI Oversight: Oklahoma joins a multistate push demanding OpenAI preserve records after an AI security incident involving Hugging Face. Manufacturing Pulse: The Mid-America Manufacturing Index points to steady growth, with inflation pressures still a concern.

Oklahoma Energy & Infrastructure: ODOT is rolling out new vehicle-mounted digital messaging boards in work zones to curb distracted driving after crashes and fatalities tied to driver inattention. Data Centers & Power Policy: Oklahoma’s GOP governor runoff debate put data centers and electricity reliability front and center, with candidates clashing on incentives, local control, and grid impacts as AI demand grows. Workforce & Immigration: At the NGA meeting in Oklahoma City, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin urged changes to employment-based visa programs to address labor shortages in agriculture, construction, hospitality, manufacturing, and elder care. Agriculture & Soil Health: Farmers, ranchers, and urban growers met in Enid to trade practical soil-health ideas through peer-to-peer tracks. Legal/Business: A Delaware court let rural Oklahoma telecom partnership claims against AT&T move forward, rejecting efforts to toss new allegations. Public Safety: A study ranks Texas highest for fatal work zone crashes, with Oklahoma also near the top. Aviation/Defense: One KC-135 Stratotanker damaged in the U.S.-Iran-era mid-air collision is reportedly back in service after a replacement tail was sourced from another aircraft. Health Policy: Missouri AG Catherine Hanaway joined a coalition pushing Congress to expand states’ Medicaid fraud investigation and prosecution authority.

Power Grid & Reliability: DOE kicked off a national grid tour in Oklahoma City, warning reliability risks are rising as heat and demand grow, while OG&E is rolling out a $50 million “adaptable grid” upgrade to strengthen performance during extreme weather. Electricity Costs & Industry Impact: In the GOP governor runoff debate, Gentner Drummond and Mike Mazzei sparred over how to lower power bills, with federal data showing Oklahoma’s high residential disconnection rates and the proposed Inola aluminum smelter’s massive electricity needs. Solar Investment: Google signed a 155MW solar PPA with RWE for McCurtain County, adding new generation to the Southwest Power Pool as Google expands its Oklahoma footprint. Work Zone Safety: ODOT and the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority are deploying new digital message boards on maintenance trucks to improve driver behavior around crews. Food Safety: The CDC says the cyclosporiasis outbreak tied to iceberg lettuce has spread to nine states, with Oklahoma among those added, and officials stress the recall may explain only part of the illnesses. AI Oversight: Oklahoma AG Brenna Bird and other red-state attorneys general demand OpenAI preserve records and halt high-risk tests after an alleged Hugging Face hack. Healthcare Fraud Policy: AG Catherine Hanaway backs the “STOP FRAUD in Medicaid Act” to expand states’ ability to pursue beneficiary and recipient fraud. Antitrust: Oklahoma is among states in a $400 million settlement in principle with Sandoz over generic drug price-fixing.

Nuclear & Energy Policy: The U.S. DOE named Utah, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Idaho as potential hosts for new Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses—an effort that could reshape the nuclear supply chain, but would also require host states like Idaho to accept out-of-state spent fuel and high-level radioactive waste. Water & Agriculture: Oklahoma’s water fight is heating up as the Oklahoma Water Resources Board faces criticism over how it’s handling drought-driven lake and aquifer impacts, with Cedar Lake residents pointing to upstream dam building and weak water-law enforcement. Trucking & Emissions Rules: EPA is proposing changes to DEF rules, aiming to remove certain DEF derate requirements so diesel operators get alerts instead of sudden speed limits or shutdowns—an issue that matters for Oklahoma’s fleets and farm equipment. Healthcare & Jobs: The Chickasaw Nation broke ground on a major Newcastle medical campus expected to serve more than 100,000 tribal citizens and create thousands of jobs, including inpatient care and specialty services. Food Supply Chain: A federal egg recall tied to antibiotic-resistant Salmonella has reached 17 states, including Oklahoma, underscoring how quickly disruptions can hit grocery shelves and restaurant menus.

Food Safety: A growing Salmonella-linked egg recall is tied to 98 illnesses across 17 states, with 26 hospitalizations; the FDA says the affected cartons (plant codes P-1950 or 0840962, sell-by dates July 20–Aug. 17) are still in homes and should be thrown out. Public Health: A separate Cyclospora outbreak tied to recalled iceberg lettuce is also prompting new warnings as officials urge consumers to check products and discard anything on recall lists. Energy & Grid: The U.S. Department of Energy is addressing rising power-grid demand and blackout risk during extreme heat, with officials discussing how utilities and regulators should prepare for hotter summers. Workforce Policy: Homeland Security chief Markwayne Mullin told Oklahoma governors that carefully managed legal visa programs could help fill labor shortages in some industries, while insisting deportations for people with criminal records should continue. Local Growth: Edmond hit 100,000 residents, and city leaders say road, parks, schools, and water upgrades are keeping pace with continued growth. Weather Tech: Oklahoma launched a 3D Mesonet system aimed at improving weather forecasts and earlier warnings.

Energy & Grid Reliability: Oklahoma is leading the nation in electricity shutoffs as extreme heat strains the system, with federal energy officials discussing how the grid is changing and what it takes to keep power flowing. Utilities & Workforce: OG&E linemen showcased skills at the 35th annual Linemen’s Expo, highlighting safety, training, and federal support for grid upgrades. Nuclear & Permitting: Oklahoma remains in the running for a DOE Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus, while permitting reform is being pitched as a path to cheaper energy. Healthcare Access: Norman Regional Health System has gone out of network with Aetna, putting many elective services at risk for patients in south-central Oklahoma. Food & Agriculture Risk: Public health agencies are tracking major egg and Cyclospora outbreaks, while Oklahoma is among states reporting Cyclospora cases tied to recalled lettuce. Rural Health: Oklahoma continues shifting rural hospitals through federal designation changes, including conversions to critical access and rural emergency hospital status. Community & Agriculture: A Collinsville livestock fundraiser is rallying to support children of a mother killed in a murder-suicide, with the local agriculture community stepping in.

Healthcare & Insurance: Norman Regional Health System has officially gone out of network with Aetna, leaving most elective services uncovered for Aetna policyholders in south-central Oklahoma, while emergency care remains protected by law. Power & Workforce: OG&E linemen showcased skills at the 35th annual Linemen’s Expo, highlighting safety and training as federal partners back grid upgrades. Rural EMS & Hospitals: Oklahoma hospitals are seeking funding to strengthen rural EMS and healthcare access as facilities shift designations and services. Energy Policy & Permitting: Oklahoma lawmakers and U.S. Sen. Alan Armstrong push permitting reform to speed energy projects and cut delays that raise costs. Critical Minerals Research: South Dakota Mines won a $3.1M federal grant to map rare earth deposits, partnering with OU and Oklahoma-linked field testing. Agriculture Community: Collinsville’s livestock community raised money for children of a woman killed in a murder-suicide through a donated-goat rollover auction. Agriculture Research: A Lake City cattle grazing project is testing adaptive grazing methods to boost productivity and potentially reduce environmental impact. Business & Consumer Pressure: SNAP cuts are hitting hardest in Black America, with advocates warning of deeper hunger as benefits shrink. Legal & Local Commerce: An Oklahoma judge allowed a couple to challenge the state’s casket-sales law, arguing it blocks specialty casket sales.

Energy & Permitting: Oklahoma U.S. Sen. Alan Armstrong is pushing federal permitting reform through the American Energy and Mineral Infrastructure Act, aiming to speed approvals for pipelines and LNG and cut politically driven delays that could raise power costs. Power Reliability: The U.S. Department of Energy issued an emergency order for Oklahoma and 16 other states during extreme heat, letting the Southwest Power Pool dispatch generation to reduce blackout risk. Nuclear Industrial Buildout: DOE named Utah, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Idaho as initial finalists for Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses, with potential for major investment and jobs tied to the full nuclear fuel cycle. Agriculture Research: A five-year Lake City cattle grazing experiment is nearing its end, with early results pointing to “adaptive grazing” as a way to boost productivity and support lower environmental impact. Health Care & Tribes: Chickasaw Nation broke ground on a Newcastle medical campus expected to serve more than 100,000 people and employ thousands, including inpatient, emergency, and specialty services. Legal/Consumer Impact: An Oklahoma couple is suing to overturn the state’s casket-sales law that limits who can sell directly to customers, arguing it creates a monopoly for funeral homes. Public Safety/Infrastructure: Oklahoma Turnpike Authority got approval to issue up to $1.9B in bonds for ACCESS Oklahoma expansion projects. Workforce/Tech Education: Oklahoma’s new 3D Mesonet system and drone-based weather monitoring highlight continued investment in forecasting tools.

Healthcare & Workforce: Chickasaw Nation broke ground on a new $? medical campus in Newcastle, a first phase with 50 inpatient beds plus emergency, labor and delivery, pediatrics, behavioral health, dental clinics and an on-site pharmacy aimed at serving more than 100,000 First Americans and reaching rural Oklahomans. Power Reliability: The U.S. Department of Energy issued an emergency order covering Oklahoma and 16 other states to reduce blackout risk during extreme heat, letting the Southwest Power Pool dispatch generation and use backup resources. Turnpike Financing: Oklahoma Turnpike Authority got conditional approval to issue up to $1.9B in revenue bonds for ACCESS Oklahoma expansion projects, moving it toward a bond sale. Weather Tech: Oklahoma launched the Oklahoma 3D Mesonet, using drones to collect higher-altitude data to improve forecasts for aviation, emergency management, energy and agriculture. Agribusiness Expansion: ADM plans upgrades at four soybean crush facilities, including Green Bison Soy Processing, adding about 700,000 metric tons of annual crush capacity and boosting demand for U.S. farmers. Public Safety & Shelter: A cooling system failure at the YWCA Oklahoma City emergency shelter forced relocation of 55 domestic violence survivors and their children during triple-digit heat. Data & Legal: Murphy Law Firm is investigating potential claims after SM Energy’s data breach exposed sensitive personal information.

Energy & Fuel Costs: The U.S. gas price national average held steady week-over-week at about $4.09, even as WTI rose to roughly $84.46 and crude inventories fell 7.2 million barrels, keeping pump relief uncertain. Infrastructure & Construction: Oklahoma City’s Continental Coliseum for the Thunder is moving above ground, with crews transitioning from deep foundations to vertical construction and targeting a 2028 opening. Transportation Development: The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority is pushing major South Turnpike expansion plans, including a $1.9B, 19-mile South Extension with multiple interchanges and a new I-35 tie-in. AI & Data Centers: Governors at the National Governors Association meeting in OKC debated AI and data center rules, with Oklahoma emphasizing protections for ratepayers and strict permitting. Power Grid Reliability: GRDA won a $28.5M federal grant to keep its Chouteau coal unit online longer via upgrades, aiming to bolster eastern Oklahoma grid reliability. Local Business/Industry: A new Oklahoma Commercial Real Estate Summit is set for Oct. 7 at UCO, drawing developers, lenders, contractors and investors for market and development sessions. Food Supply Chain: Taco Bell sales dipped as cyclospora concerns tied to lettuce spread, with Oklahoma among states later flagged by federal health officials. Legal/Insurance: Questions continue around CompSource Mutual’s reorganization plan, as policyholders challenge the shift from mutual ownership and dispute how surplus should be used. Sports Business: The UFL is leaving Houston and Birmingham while targeting Oklahoma City for future expansion, citing venue and consistency issues.

Oklahoma Turnpike Authority: The OTA won approval for up to $1.5B in revenue bonds to push Access Oklahoma into construction, but the financing is tied to a federal lawsuit over the East-West Connector’s environmental reviews. Power Grid & Energy: The U.S. Department of Energy issued an emergency order for 17 states, including Oklahoma, to dispatch backup generation during extreme heat to reduce blackout risk. Nuclear Fuel-Cycle Push: Idaho was named a potential host for new nuclear life cycle innovation campuses, joining Utah, Tennessee, Oklahoma and Louisiana; the plan also includes non-binding agreements for states to accept nuclear waste with federal support. Weather Tech for Oklahoma: OU researchers showcased drones that can collect higher-altitude, real-time atmosphere data to improve earlier weather warnings. School Funding Fight: Oklahoma voters will decide State Question 844, which would change how the state reimburses local governments when manufacturing property tax exemptions reduce local revenue—superintendents warn it could cut school funding. Food Supply Shock: Taco Bell sales fell 2% quarter-to-date amid the cyclospora-linked lettuce scare; the chain removed shredded iceberg lettuce and Yum says sales are improving. Agribusiness Growth: ADM announced expansions to boost soybean crush capacity, adding demand across its North American network.

Nuclear Energy Push: The U.S. Department of Energy named Oklahoma as one of five finalists for Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses, alongside Louisiana, Utah, Tennessee and Idaho—an effort aimed at modernizing the full nuclear fuel cycle and potentially bringing major investment and jobs. Safety Debate: Oklahoma’s finalist status is drawing scrutiny from nuclear safety experts who warn the technologies are still largely experimental and raise concerns about regulatory oversight. Energy & Industry Watch: U.S. crude inventories fell sharply, with Cushing, Oklahoma also declining—fueling higher oil prices as refiners run near record levels. Grid Reliability: Extreme heat prompted a federal emergency order affecting the Southwest Power Pool region, which includes Oklahoma, to keep generation resources available. Food & Agriculture: USDA is making $35M available to partnerships to fight feral swine, while Oklahoma’s producers also face weather-driven crop stress and supply pressure. Health & Consumer Tech: The FTC sued Hims & Hers over alleged health data sharing and subscription practices, and Oklahoma’s TSET approved additional funding to Emory despite lawmakers’ concerns.

Grid Reliability: DOE issued an emergency order for 17 states in the Southwest Power Pool region, including Oklahoma, directing generation and reliability maintenance during extreme heat and keeping a conservative operations advisory in place. Nuclear Energy Watch: Oklahoma is a finalist for the federal Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus, with critics warning the technologies are still experimental and raising safety and regulatory oversight questions. Local Energy Tech: Norman-based PCI Energy Solutions says EDF power solutions North America went live with its outage management system across 12 North American markets, aiming to streamline outage planning and compliance. Construction & Safety: A Del City community is rallying for two teens recovering after a fiery I-40 crash; meanwhile, Oklahoma’s insurance regulators and lawmakers continue trading accusations over storm-claim practices and delayed reports. Health & Food Safety: A major cyclospora outbreak continues to expand nationally, with reporting tying the implicated lettuce to Taylor Farms and prompting recalls and consumer concern. Business & Growth: Oklahoma City’s MyHeartCreative highlights how a local web design shop scaled to global clients, while United States Lime & Minerals posted stronger Q2 results tied to construction and steel demand.

Nuclear Industry Push: The U.S. Department of Energy named Utah, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Idaho as finalists for Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses, a plan aimed at advancing the full nuclear fuel cycle—fuel fabrication, reactors, recycling and long-term waste management—with potential for major private investment and thousands of jobs; Oklahoma officials stress it’s only a finalist stage, not a final site pick. Energy & Grid Reliability: A heat-driven power crunch hit the U.S. Midwest, with wholesale prices spiking as wind output lagged and demand climbed; the DOE issued an emergency order to help prevent blackouts. Oklahoma School Funding Fight: State Question 844 would change how Oklahoma reimburses local governments for property tax exemptions tied to new/expanding manufacturers, but critics warn it could shift money away from public schools. Workplace Safety: A pickup crash into an I-135 work zone in Kansas killed one construction worker and injured two others; the driver was from Oklahoma. Healthcare Tech Caution: A Vermont pharmacy chain’s AI refill assistant drew complaints about delays, wrong requests and privacy concerns.