AGP Executive Report

Energy & Jobs: President Trump announced nearly $700M to revive U.S. coal, using Cold War-era Defense Production Act authority to fund upgrades at 13 coal plants, restart a shuttered Maryland facility, and support a delayed coal export terminal in Oakland—a move framed as grid reliability and job creation across coal, construction, rail, and maritime work. Agriculture Biosecurity: The New World screwworm—a flesh-eating parasite—was confirmed in south Texas, raising alarms for the $113B U.S. cattle industry and prompting renewed containment efforts after decades since the last Texas case. Local Energy Access: Maryland and Virginia passed laws allowing plug-in balcony solar (Maryland starting now; Virginia in 2027), aiming to cut power bills and expand solar options for renters and non-rooftop households. Public Health & Food Supply: Maryland-based Clover Hill Dairy issued a Listeria-related recall affecting ricotta products, adding pressure to food safety and supply-chain controls. Environment & Industry Accountability: A fuel oil spill in Curtis Bay left residents reporting strong chemical odors and frustration over warning and cleanup, spotlighting community trust issues around petroleum recovery operations. Infrastructure: Maryland’s gas tax is set to increase slightly on July 1, with costs likely to ripple through trucking and logistics.

Healthcare Innovation: Johns Hopkins-linked Bayesian Health says its FDA-cleared AI tool can detect sepsis up to 48 hours earlier, cutting mortality by 18%—a Maryland win as the state hosts the Inflection Point Healthcare Summit. Energy & Industry Policy: President Trump is set to announce nearly $700M for coal plants and exports using Cold War-era Defense Production Act powers, including a Maryland plant restart—raising fresh questions for utilities, grid planning, and construction/rail/maritime work. Agriculture Risk: The New World screwworm fly has been confirmed in a Texas calf, triggering quarantines and sterile-fly efforts to protect the cattle industry and potentially beef prices. Local Infrastructure & Environment: Annapolis says it completed infiltration cell work in the Severn River watershed to cut stormwater pollution. Data Centers & Land Use: Queen Anne’s County joins other Maryland jurisdictions with a 12-month moratorium to study data center impacts on utilities, environment, and zoning. Business Expansion: Kain Capital is backing RadX to expand outpatient imaging centers across multiple states, including Maryland. Legal/Consumer Watch: Public Citizen asks FERC to force disclosure of what TeraWulf paid for the Morgantown Generating Station, arguing taxpayers may be on the hook. Retail: Off-price chain Citi Trends reports strong sales growth and faster expansion plans.

University of Maryland Jobs & Research: UMD College Park laid off 84 state-funded employees, with leaders citing a $15M federal funding drop, $18M higher energy costs, and $104M in cumulative state budget cuts—AFSCME called it “unacceptable.” Healthcare Innovation: UMD Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center became the first regional site to offer FDA-approved TCR-T cell therapy for advanced synovial sarcoma, using engineered patient T-cells for a single-infusion approach. Energy & Grid Costs: D.C. held a hearing on rising electric bills tied to PJM rate increases, while Maryland utilities face continued scrutiny as power prices climb. Food & Retail Hunger Relief: Wegmans launched its “Fill the Bus/Fill the Backpack” scan campaign to fund local Feeding America partners, including Maryland Food Bank summer meal programs. Biosecurity Watch: USDA confirmed a New World screwworm case in south Texas, triggering quarantines and sterile-fly releases to protect cattle production. AI & Legal Risk: UK Labour MP Jess Asato sued xAI over Grok-generated non-consensual sexualized deepfakes, adding pressure on AI safety and accountability. Consumer Payments: Maryland approved cash price rounding to ease penny shortages after the Treasury stopped producing new pennies. Local Economy & Infrastructure: Maryland’s spotted lanternflies are reemerging, and the state is warning residents about the nuisance pest.

Healthcare Innovation: UMD surgeons helped pioneer pig-heart xenotransplantation, and the FDA’s emergency authorization spotlighted how far organ science has come—while rejection risk still keeps routine use out of reach. Education & Workforce: Boxerwood was named Virginia’s “Bright Spot” at a Chesapeake Bay Program education summit, underscoring K-12 watershed learning as a regional workforce pipeline. AI + Medicine: A new AI-ECG market push is colliding with clinician concerns over what counts as “proof” between FDA clearance and real-world guidelines. Energy & Infrastructure: A Hanover gas pipeline replacement project will start in June, with lane closures and detours expected through year-end. Public Finance: Maryland keeps high credit ratings, but agencies warn of possible downgrade risk tied to structural budget pressures ahead of an $800M bond sale. Antitrust: Baltimore filed an antitrust lawsuit targeting fire truck manufacturers over alleged price-fixing and supply restrictions. Data Centers: A broader debate is heating up over data centers’ power and water demands—plus what it means for Maryland utility costs and planning. Blockchain Policy: Maryland Blockchain Association added five high-profile speakers for its July 13-17 conference, blending government, enterprise, and core blockchain science. Agriculture: AI could boost crop efficiency, but smallholder farmers may be left behind without access to inputs and support. Local Food Economy: Maryland’s Best launched its “Eat Well. Buy Local.” campaign to connect residents with in-state farms, seafood, and retailers.

Retirement-Fund Fight: Michigan AG Dana Nessel joined a 24-state coalition urging the U.S. Department of Labor to reject a Trump proposal that would steer more retirement money into riskier assets like crypto and private credit, warning it could expose millions to losses. Maryland Justice: A Maryland man, Isaiah Poole, was sentenced to 25 years for a sextortion scheme that coerced girls as young as 9 into sending intimate images, then threatened to share them. Energy & Reliability: Takoma Park said the Maryland Public Service Commission found Pepco didn’t violate rules after 2025 power outages, but ordered reliability upgrades including new cross arms, taller poles, fuses, and surge arrestors. Agriculture & Workforce: Gov. Wes Moore held a business roundtable on how federal immigration policy is disrupting Maryland employers, citing workforce shortages across sectors from agriculture to healthcare. Clean Energy Finance: Foss & Company closed Project London II, a Section 48 solar-plus-storage tax equity deal spanning California, Maryland, and New York. Local Growth Pressure: Howard County moved toward a data-center moratorium, pausing new applications while it updates zoning rules. Biotech Manufacturing: Aragen said it produced first commercial-scale GMP batches for Renaissance Pharma’s Daretabart for high-risk neuroblastoma. Public Health & Safety: A USDA invasive-pest agency office in Beltsville has been repeatedly hit by bed bugs, triggering fumigation and staff disruptions.

Key Bridge rebuild: Maryland is seeking four separate contracts after exiting its deal with Kiewit, while the Maryland Transportation Authority says the project is still aimed at a 2030 completion goal despite the contractor change. Procurement & infrastructure: The state’s approach shift is tied to contract off-ramps and a new construction path, with details still confidential. Water systems: Allegany County will conduct a waterline survey required by EPA and Maryland DEE to document pipe materials, especially copper, lead, and galvanized lines. Farm tech modernization: USDA’s Farm Service Agency is upgrading crop acreage reporting so maps can be scanned into spreadsheets; Maryland is among the first states to roll it out. Defense tech & cybersecurity: DoD’s CIO urged contractors to prioritize “foundational cybersecurity” beyond compliance, warning small supplier failures can hit warfighter operations. Energy & grid: Massachusetts is testing bidirectional EV charging to use vehicle batteries for backup and grid support—relevant as Maryland pilots similar ideas. Retail & dining: First Watch is set to open in a former Panera location in California, Md., signaling continued restaurant churn along Route 235. Space industry: NASA’s Roman Space Telescope is moving from Maryland to Florida for launch prep, with a planned SpaceX Falcon Heavy launch.

Transportation Safety: Maryland officials are urging drivers to follow the “Move Over Law” after an SHA emergency response technician was hit at a crash scene on I-270, echoing earlier worker deaths on Route 13 and I-495. Infrastructure & Legal: A federal judge postponed Baltimore’s Key Bridge civil trial after last-minute settlements, keeping liability and damages claims tied to the Dali collapse in limbo. Customs & Trade Compliance: CBP seized nearly $100k in unreported currency from travelers at Washington Dulles during Memorial Day weekend, underscoring strict reporting rules for cross-border cash. Energy Costs: A report highlights how DC’s electricity rate increases are outpacing Maryland and Virginia, with debate over whether long-term renewable power contracts were blocked. Health & Public Safety: Doctors warn summer raises parasite risk—especially from contaminated water—while a separate FDA recall flags undeclared milk allergen in certain Wawa beverages sold across the Mid-Atlantic. Tech & Capital Markets: Anthropic began the process of filing for an IPO, adding to Maryland-area interest in AI finance and Wall Street momentum. Business Growth: Baltimore-based Procare Ambulance announced a strategic partnership to expand services and its mobile integrated health program.

Cybersecurity & GovTech: Carahsoft is bringing a partner pavilion to AFCEA’s TechNet Cyber 2026 in Baltimore (June 2-4), spotlighting cybersecurity tools and “whole-of-Government” mission support. AI for Science: DOE’s Argonne will lead at the Trillion Parameter Consortium conference in Baltimore (May 31-June 3), focusing on how AI and high-performance computing can reshape scientific discovery. Energy & Grid Reliability: Maryland authorized local governments to grant property tax credits for converting service stations to other uses, while separate energy news highlights new transmission capacity efforts like Minnkota joining the North Plains Connector HVDC consortium. Agriculture Resilience: Gov. Moore ordered emergency response as freeze and drought hit Maryland farms, and the state extended the cover crop termination deadline to June 5 to protect soil and the Chesapeake Bay. Real Estate & Development Pressure: St. Mary’s County residents pushed back on a proposed 431-home Jacob’s Run development in Lexington Park over traffic, schools, and public safety. Courts & Infrastructure: A federal judge postponed Baltimore’s Key Bridge civil trial after last-minute settlements, with claims tied to the Dali collapse still shaping the litigation. Health Policy: A ProPublica/KFF report spotlights how patients can use external review processes to overturn insurance denials—an issue with major implications for Maryland families.

Food Retail Policy: Maryland moved first to ban “surveillance pricing” for grocery stores and food delivery, aiming to stop companies from using shoppers’ data to set higher prices for the same items. Cyber & Media Security: The dormant Obama White House Instagram account was breached with AI-generated posts, underscoring how social platforms are now targets in real cyber campaigns. Broadcast/Telecom Business: Scripps pulled 54 local stations from DIRECTV in a retransmission-rate standoff, with viewers losing access starting 7 p.m. ET and sports and election coverage disrupted. Defense & Tech Investment: A Washington-region VC report highlights about $5.3B invested across 341 deals in 2025, with defense tech and AI verticals—plus a push for domestic semiconductors—drawing major capital. Agriculture & Research: USDA plans to close the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center’s bee lab, raising alarms for pollination and the U.S. food system. Construction/Real Estate: Maryland’s ice cream trail returns, while new development continues—from a Loudoun fast-casual Mexican buildout to ongoing local infrastructure and property deals.

Marijuana Policy: DOJ’s move to reschedule medical cannabis to Schedule III is expected to unlock some federal tax benefits and spur new research, but Maryland businesses still face a patchwork future while the DEA weighs broader changes. Consumer Tech & Retail: Maryland’s first-in-the-nation ban on “surveillance pricing” is now part of a wider national push, as states debate whether personalized data-driven discounts are fair or just disguised overcharging. Agriculture & Food Supply: Gov. Wes Moore ordered coordinated state action after Maryland’s late-April freeze damaged crops and vineyards, with officials targeting relief and recovery for producers hit by losses. Energy & Environment: Virginia and Maryland are tightening coal ash rules as the EPA proposes loosening federal standards, raising new concerns for groundwater and the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Infrastructure & Courts: Baltimore’s Key Bridge collapse litigation continues after BGE and families settled with Dali owners, but a bigger fight over liability is set to move forward. Local Business & Community: Baltimore entrepreneurs are blending commerce with community service, while another report highlights how home-based businesses are expanding opportunity for Maryland-area entrepreneurs. Motorsports: The NHRA Potomac Nationals at Maryland International Raceway drew large crowds, with qualifying setting Sunday’s championship eliminations.

Health & Research: A new PECOS longitudinal study out of Children’s National Hospital and NIH (Bethesda) finds that many kids with lab-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 report lingering symptoms months later, with about two-thirds reporting at least one post-infection symptom at the 12-month mark. Biotech & Clinical Trials: BioNTech and Bristol Myers Squibb shared interim ROSETTA Lung-02 results for pumitamig (PD-L1xVEGF-A) plus chemo in first-line non-small cell lung cancer, showing strong response rates across PD-L1 levels. Cyber & Data Governance: Kiteworks launched an “Innovators in AI” program aimed at speeding AI agent data controls—secure access, ABAC policy enforcement, and audit trails—at the Gartner Security & Risk Management Summit in National Harbor. Defense & Manufacturing: The Marine Corps awarded Oshkosh Defense a $70.6M contract for more NMESIS ROGUE-Fires carriers, with production support work slated for Maryland. Energy & Solar Policy: Maryland’s broader clean-energy push continues as states debate plug-in/balcony solar rules; Connecticut just approved plug-in solar legislation. Local Economy & Industry Spotlight: Ciena (Hanover) reported big gains tied to AI data-center connectivity demand, with shares surging on raised guidance. Public Health & Environment: Advocates warn garbage incinerators are failing to cut “forever chemical” PFAS air pollution, with fights including Baltimore-area concerns. Community & Events: Maryland International Raceway debuted the NHRA Potomac Nationals, putting St. Mary’s County on the national motorsports map.

AI & Investment: Microsoft says generative AI adoption is surging worldwide, but the U.S. risk is falling behind on “open-weight” models—an argument that sharing open models is key to maintaining American AI leadership. Energy & Utilities: Delmarva Power is pushing customers to use its energy relief and assistance tools as bills stay high, while Maryland also moves on plug-in “balcony solar” rules that could cut costs for households. Agriculture & Food Supply: Maryland expands eligibility for an urban agriculture property tax credit, and Gov. Moore issues directives after statewide freeze impacts; elsewhere, farmers brace for weather-driven yield stress. Solar/Logistics Decarb: Perdue and partners roll out 100% soybean biodiesel trucks to cut emissions in livestock transport. Construction & Shipping Liability: Families of Key Bridge victims settle with the Dali owner/operator ahead of trial, keeping the case’s maritime-law fallout in focus. Public Works Hiring: Baltimore and Columbus case studies highlight faster, more inclusive hiring pipelines for public works jobs. Maryland Policy & Legal: Moore signs a Glock-style “machine gun convertible pistol” ban, and Maryland election operations face scrutiny after mail-in ballot re-sends tied to a vendor error. Tech & Safety: A report warns AI can fuel false arrests and wrongful convictions when systems are treated like certainty. Local Industry Spotlight: A new NHRA Potomac Nationals debut brings Pro Stock Motorcycle racing to Maryland International Raceway.

Maryland Agriculture: The Maryland Department of Agriculture extended the cover crop termination deadline to June 5 after heavy rainfall left fields too wet for the original June 1 cutoff. Local Food & Farming: Maryland is also seeking chef teams for the 2026 Governor’s “Buy Local” Cookout in Annapolis (July 17), with recipes judged on simplicity, creativity, and at least 50% Maryland-sourced ingredients. Water Infrastructure: Baltimore proposed a charter amendment to create a standalone regional water agency, separating the Water and Wastewater Bureau from Public Works, with voter approval needed in 2026. Immigrant Support: Howard County launched an Immigrant Affairs Task Force to recommend an Office of Immigrant Affairs, aiming to expand access to county services and safety resources. Energy & Grid Pressure: A new report warns the AI data center boom is straining power supplies, with Maryland flagged among areas at risk during extreme heat. Health Costs: New data shows Americans are dropping Obamacare coverage, and Maryland enrollment fell 8% with cost cited as the main driver. Defense Manufacturing: Officials broke ground on the Maryland Energetics Innovation Hub near NSWC Indian Head to speed energetics R&D and production. Business & Jobs: Buffalo Wild Wings GO opened in Ellicott City, bringing a streamlined takeout/delivery format to Howard County.

Housing & Antitrust: Maryland housing groups are urging the FTC and DOJ to issue clearer antitrust guidance for competitor collaboration, especially around data sharing and tech tools used by rental operators. State Housing Push: Gov. Wes Moore signed two housing bills aimed at unlocking thousands of units near transit, including “enterprise zones” and delayed impact fees. Baltimore Infrastructure & Shipping: Families of Key Bridge collapse victims have settled with the owners and operators of the MV Dali, with terms not disclosed. Clean Energy: The Maryland Clean Energy Center announced a 2.2 MW dual-array solar project in Chestertown, combining bridge loan and tax-exempt financing plus a state grant. Film & Production Jobs: Prince George’s County is backing a new virtual production studio in Laurel to attract film, commercial, and streaming work. Cybersecurity & IT Events: Gartner’s Security & Risk Management Summit in National Harbor is drawing vendor attention, with a local watch list highlighting security platforms and automation trends. Medical Tech Oversight: FDA data shows 13 Maryland device companies saw FDA inspections in 2025, the third-lowest count for the state. Public Health & Recall: An FDA recall warns allergy sufferers about certain Imperial Nougat cookies/candies due to undeclared milk, wheat, and tree nut ingredients.

Maryland Jobs & Permitting: Maryland added 2,800 jobs in April, with healthcare and construction among the biggest gainers, while manufacturing slipped—at the same time, the Maryland Department of the Environment launched an online Environmental Service Center with electronic payment to speed permits and cut paper delays. Food & Agriculture Shock: Gov. Wes Moore asked USDA for disaster aid after an April freeze devastated orchards and vineyards, with preliminary losses reported across apples, peaches, barley, and grapes. Housing Demand Pressure: A new report finds the Baltimore region among the nation’s tightest senior housing markets, with occupancy at 91.8% and construction slowed by costs and financing. Energy & Data Centers: Maryland is also facing growing scrutiny around data center growth and environmental justice, as regulators and lawmakers push for better energy planning. Logistics Expansion: Trucking and third-party logistics firms keep expanding facilities nationwide, including port and warehousing projects tied to Maryland’s cargo flow. Industry Watch: Fiber Broadband Association reported record membership growth, signaling continued investment in high-capacity connectivity.

Maryland Agriculture: Gov. Wes Moore asked USDA for a Secretarial Disaster Designation after the April freeze wiped out specialty crops, with the Maryland Wineries Association estimating a $2.4M hit to 2026 wine sales as grape acreage losses reached 36%. Local Construction & Retail: A longtime downtown Annapolis business, Annapolis Marine Art Gallery, plans to close by year-end, blaming revenue drops of 70% tied to the City Dock revitalization and flood-mitigation construction. Energy & Infrastructure: Pepco is seeking Maryland Public Service Commission approval for a smaller-than-requested rate hike ($119M revenue increase), with a decision expected by Aug. 28. EV Charging: Voltpost says it’s working to bring Level 2 chargers to D.C. by retrofitting streetlights and utility poles, and it’s also targeting Maryland. Consumer Protection & Pricing: North Carolina AG Jeff Jackson joined a multistate push urging the FTC to crack down on hidden “drip pricing” fees in food delivery apps. Tech & Health: Baltimore-based EpiWatch published Phase III results for an Apple Watch seizure-detection app, aiming to improve tonic-clonic seizure alerts with a low false alarm rate. AI Transparency: YouTube will start automatically labeling videos with substantial photorealistic AI content, even if creators don’t flag it.