AGP Executive Report

BWI Labor Pay Boost: Gov. Wes Moore announced the minimum wage for direct Maryland Aviation Administration contract workers at BWI will rise to $18 an hour, affecting about 120 employees, and he’s pushing emergency legislation to extend wage increases to more indirect airport workers under a reformed Secure Maryland Wage Act. Airport Worker Costs & Competition: Moore said the last wage study was “skewed,” and Maryland will commission a new Salisbury University evaluation to verify what workers are actually earning and improve recruitment and retention. Healthcare Disruption: Johns Hopkins reported temporary “Code Black” status at three hospital emergency departments due to a technology network issue, with full functionality restored and only Sibley Memorial still restricted as of late Monday. Local Economy Pressure: Eastern Shore watermen say crabbing this summer hasn’t been the problem—weak demand and high prices are, with buyers staying away and market conditions expected to worsen after Labor Day. Consumer Fraud Watch: Maryland’s broader fraud picture remains grim as national FTC data shows fraud losses topping $12.5B in 2024, up 25%, while BBB Scam Tracker continues to log online purchase scams across the region. Travel & Enforcement: An American Airlines flight diverted to Baltimore after an unruly passenger was restrained with duct tape following alleged racist and anti-gay slurs; the employer cut ties as charges were reported.

Maryland Higher Ed & Labor: Baltimore City Community College workers and supporters rallied for a contract and more financial transparency after faculty ratified a first union deal, with staff now pushing to avoid another long negotiation. State Policy & Cost of Living: Maryland’s grocery pricing rules change Oct. 1, and the state is also rolling out a $50M loan program to help teachers and first responders buy homes. Tech & Economic Development: Gov. Wes Moore launched an AI-powered tool aimed at helping community business development, while Maryland’s Community Compass platform expands to support neighborhood revitalization. Public Safety & Infrastructure: Amtrak will cut most Virginia-to-Washington service in mid-October for tunnel work, and Manassas is closing a public lot tied to data center construction amid local disputes over license-plate cameras. Defense & Industry: Northrop Grumman won a $508.5M missile-defense target support follow-on through 2035, sustaining testing infrastructure across Arizona, Utah, and Maryland. Business & Branding: Maryland University is locked in a logo dispute with a cannabis dispensary over allegedly similar “Terps” branding, escalating a cease-and-desist fight. Health & Global Markets: A report highlights Americans traveling abroad for CAR-T cancer treatment, underscoring cost and access pressures.

Health & Workforce: New endometriosis testing is helping patients get answers sooner, but U.S. access still lags and experts warn it won’t be a full fix. Education & AI: Teachers at the University of Baltimore and others are changing assignments and using classroom tools to curb AI cheating—raising the surveillance vs. learning tradeoff. Business & M&A: McKesson is buying Bethesda’s Precision Medicine Group for about $2.25B to expand oncology and clinical research services. Public Safety & Travel: An American Airlines flight diverted to Baltimore after an unruly passenger was restrained with duct tape and zip ties; the incident is now tied to criminal charges and a fired real-estate broker. Maryland Politics & Gambling: Maryland voters will weigh congressional districting, but online gaming expansion still requires a separate referendum. Local Economy & Community: Annapolis and Anne Arundel County are rolling out a busy September events calendar, from major festivals to concerts and family activities. Sports Business: The Orioles’ postseason push took a hit after a four-game sweep by the Red Sox.

Maryland Housing & Public Safety: St. Mary’s County is rolling out school-zone speed cameras, starting with a warning phase Aug. 24 and moving to ticketed enforcement Sept. 23, with six initial locations including Mechanicsville Elementary and Great Mills High. Local Business & Community: A new halal Afghan spot, Aria Restaurant Grill and Kabob, is taking over Rockville’s former Hot Pot Kitchen on MD-355, with a Sept. 11–14 grand opening and 30% off. Infrastructure & City Services: Essex residents say a long-running water leak on Frenchs Avenue has persisted for months, with 311 complaints allegedly closed quickly despite no fix. Business-Adjacent Policy: Maryland is preparing statewide changes to paid family and medical leave, including employer registration opening and benefits up to $1,000 a week. Crime Watch: Police are investigating a fatal Towson stabbing near the library, and a separate deadly Howard County crash followed a pursuit involving a parked police cruiser.

Maryland Housing & Homebuying: Gov. Wes Moore unveiled a $50M “First Homes for First Responders and Teachers” mortgage effort, pairing a discounted rate with a 0% second loan to cover down payments and closing costs—aimed at helping public servants build wealth through homeownership. Electric Grid & Data Centers: Pepco reported power restoration progress after Thursday’s storms, with outages down to about 1,633 customers in Prince George’s and the District by Saturday afternoon, while officials and critics continue to debate how rising demand—especially from data centers—puts pressure on the grid. Consumer & Fraud Watch: New BBB Scam Tracker figures show Maryland-area scam reporting remains a concern, with national fraud losses climbing sharply in recent FTC reporting. Public Health: TidalHealth announced free drive-thru flu vaccine clinics across Somerset, Wicomico and Worcester counties, with multiple dates and high-dose options at select sites. Business & Policy: Maryland also moved to update rules affecting what businesses can put in consumer contracts, adding another compliance item for local operators. Aviation Safety: An American Airlines flight diverted to BWI after a disruptive passenger was restrained by fellow travelers using duct tape and zip ties, highlighting ongoing airline security and passenger-safety risks.

Consumer Contract Rules: Maryland signed a law (HB 103) starting Oct. 1 that stops consumer contracts from stripping away key legal remedies like statutory damages, punitive damages, injunctions and declaratory relief. Cash-Handling & Safety: Another Oct. 1 package (HB 191) generally requires businesses to accept cash for essential goods under $300, and lawmakers also set up speed-camera corridors in higher-risk areas under the Vulnerable Road User Protection Act. Energy Costs: Delmarva Power customers are pushing back on a proposed rate hike after electricity supply costs rose sharply in PJM auctions, fueling public ire at the Public Service Commission. Baltimore Housing Oversight: Baltimore officials are investigating the agency that placed a mother and six children in a rowhome after police found the children malnourished; Mayor Brandon Scott says protocols will be reviewed. Local Business Turnover: Outback Steakhouse is closing its Canton location, leaving Baltimore without the chain. Food & Community: A downtown seafood spot reopened under a new name and menu, leaning into Southern fried seafood plus homemade soul food.

State Policy & Workforce: Gov. Wes Moore signed an executive order making Maryland a “Recovery-Friendly Workplace,” requiring state agencies to train staff on substance-use disorders and recovery support. Housing & Homebuying: Moore also continued his “Delivering for Maryland” tour in Baltimore County, highlighting a new Maryland Mortgage Program product for first-time buyers including firefighters, police, 9-1-1 dispatchers, and teachers. Public Safety: Federalsburg’s Church of the Nazarene fire has been ruled arson; ATF and the State Fire Marshal’s Office are offering up to $5,000 for tips leading to an arrest and conviction. Transit & Regional Economy: Metro showed off work 150 feet underground at Bethesda and Grosvenor-Strathmore; the Red Line segment reopens Monday after the summer shutdown, including a new mezzanine built for the Purple Line connection. Healthcare & Consumer Risk: Two IV saline recalls in Maryland and other states cite contamination concerns—fiberglass particles in Baxter bags and iron oxide in B. Braun bags—prompting providers to stop using and return affected lots. Local Governance: Baltimore voters will decide in November whether to change City Charter language that could shift spending and contract power away from the Board of Estimates toward the City Council. Community & Health: Talbot Goes Purple will host a free screening Sept. 11 of a documentary on the opioid crisis, with a sheriff-led Q&A afterward.

Student Aid Delays: New federal rules that kicked in July 1 have delayed federal student loan disbursements, leaving some Maryland-area students short on rent and basic bills while schools update their systems. Data Centers & Local Control: Baltimore County’s planning board is weighing a data center study amid sharp public pushback over water use, power demand, and tax impacts ahead of a September vote. Energy & Storm Recovery: Strong storms swept through the Delmarva region and the DC area, knocking out power for thousands and prompting school closures and ongoing utility repairs. Public Health: Rabies alerts are expanding in multiple states after rising animal cases, including confirmed detections reported in Maryland. Community & Workforce: CCBC highlights tuition support for students, while Maryland financial education leadership adds CORE DMV CEO Dr. Darvincia Warren to an advisory board. Federal Funding for Western Maryland: Sen. Chris Van Hollen and Rep. April McClain Delaney toured Allegany and Garrett Counties to spotlight more than $5 million in federal investments.

Tax & Revenue: Maryland pulled in $3.3 billion in individual income taxes in Q1 2026, up 16% from the prior quarter, according to the U.S. Census Bureau—part of $8.7 billion in total state and local tax collections. Local Planning & Energy: Baltimore County residents packed a planning board hearing to oppose large data centers, arguing for limits tied to power, water use, pollution, and noise. Cyber & Healthcare: Two Maryland hospitals were hit by a cyberattack, raising fresh concerns about patient data and operational disruption. Business & Community Development: Talbot County named Stephanie Mervine director of economic development and tourism, aiming to build on a new strategic plan and strengthen the county’s visitor economy. Sports Business (Local Impact): Adley Rutschman returned to Camden Yards for the Red Sox and homered twice, a reminder of how major league trades can quickly reshape local attention and spending.

Maryland Business & Economy: Maryland Gov. Wes Moore will preview a new AI-powered “Maryland Community Compass” tool aimed at helping community entrepreneurs find neighborhood-level guidance and more than 2,600 funding options, building on the state’s earlier platform with added Anthropic-powered capabilities. Energy & Utilities: Maryland regulators are weighing cuts to EmPOWER Maryland, the state’s energy-efficiency program, after earlier reductions meant to blunt high electric bills—potentially affecting customer savings starting in January. Healthcare & Cybersecurity: Two Maryland medical centers (Anne Arundel Medical Center and Doctors Community Medical Center) were hit by cyberattacks, disrupting operations and ambulances. Public Finance & Oversight: Baltimore officials praised a last-minute ARPA shuffle that diverts $3.9 million in unused funds to a private trash hauler to ensure spending before the Dec. 31 deadline. Sports Business (Baltimore): Ravens GM Eric DeCosta says he’s optimistic about reaching a Lamar Jackson contract extension before March, while the team also faces ongoing roster and investigation questions. Travel & Consumer Finance: Southwest Airlines is launching its first airport lounge network, including Baltimore/Washington, with lounges opening in late 2027 and a new Chase premium credit card tied to access. Tech & Finance: Securityplus FCU (Baltimore) is adopting an agentic CRM approach to unify member data and improve personalized service.

Airport & Travel: Southwest is rolling out its first airport lounges, with BWI among the initial four locations (Austin, Honolulu, Nashville) and construction already underway; lounges are expected to open in late 2027 and will be tied to a new Rapid Rewards credit card. Cybersecurity & Healthcare: Luminis Health says two Anne Arundel and Prince George’s hospitals were hit by a cybersecurity incident, with some systems unavailable and ambulances rerouting for non-critical patients. State Policy & Health Costs: Maryland AG Anthony Brown is suing UnitedHealth/Optum over alleged Medicaid claims-processing failures tied to software changes, seeking about $380 million in damages. Energy & Regulation: A federal hearing spotlighted how state and local natural gas bans can raise costs for households and small businesses, arguing electrification limits consumer choice. Local Economy & Real Estate: Walker & Dunlop arranged $390 million in construction financing for Park Tower, a mixed-use multifamily project in Jersey City’s Journal Square. Sports Business: Ravens GM Eric DeCosta says he’s optimistic about reaching a Lamar Jackson contract extension before March, while also noting the team is still waiting on the NFL’s investigation into Rashod Bateman’s arrest. Fraud & Consumer Risk: A CBP dog at Philadelphia seized nearly $19,000 in unreported currency from travelers heading to the Dominican Republic.

Maryland Paid Leave Launch: Maryland rolled out its new paid family and medical leave program, letting eligible workers take up to 12 weeks and setting up payroll contributions that start in 2027—good news for families, but a cost and staffing headache for some employers and local governments. Data Center Fight: Gov. Wes Moore is signaling a tougher stance on the data center boom, saying facilities don’t get to “write the rules” and pushing for local control, as Baltimore County lawmakers weigh extending a data center moratorium. MTA Toll-Fee Audit: A new audit says the Maryland Transportation Authority failed to collect more than $818 million in tolls and fees owed, raising fresh questions about oversight. Amazon Ad Lawsuit: The FTC and 22 states—including Maryland’s attorney general—sued Amazon over alleged “secret ad surcharge” practices that regulators say overcharged advertisers by more than $20 billion. Local Business & Economy: Red Robin completed the sale of 108 company restaurants for about $89.4 million as part of its refranchising plan, while First Breach said new equipment at its Hagerstown ammunition operation boosts capacity by about 175% to as much as 20 million rounds per month. Consumer Watch: Hodo recalled 75,250 packages of tofu after ink may have migrated into the product, with distribution across multiple states including Maryland.

Paid Leave Rollout: Maryland officially launched employer registration for its new Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) program, letting workers eventually access up to 12 weeks of paid leave; businesses must register now, with payroll contributions starting in January and benefits slated for 2028. Energy & Grid Politics: A report flags NextEra’s MidAtlantic Resiliency Link transmission project as costly for ratepayers, while Maryland continues to face pushback over data-center power demand and related grid upgrades. Local Development Finance: Prince George’s County Council is weighing up to $215 million in bonds to support National Harbor’s planned mini Sphere, with labor and project-cost concerns in the mix. Consumer Safety: Hodo, Inc. recalled more than 10,000 cases of Lightly Fried Chili Crisp Tofu across 29 states after it said printing ink “may have migrated” into the product. Business/Community Watch: Worcester County approved a request to buy the state-owned Pocomoke Welcome Center to renovate and improve the visitor stop on Route 13. Public Safety: Maryland kicked off National Preparedness Month with a statewide campaign urging residents, families, communities, and businesses to get ready for emergencies.

Data Center Backlash: A new report highlights how residents across the political spectrum are pushing for more say, fairness, and accountability as massive AI-linked data center proposals face growing opposition. Consumer & Housing Costs: The Trump administration rescinded an Obama-era HUD rule blamed for driving up housing costs by keeping current owners liable for old accessibility design flaws. Antitrust/Ad Tech: The FTC and 22 states, including Maryland, sued Amazon alleging a “secret ad surcharge” scheme that inflated advertising prices. Local Business & Community: Wills Group, based in La Plata, donated $500,000 to Southern Maryland nonprofits through its 100th anniversary grants. Healthcare & Biotech: GeneDx CEO Katherine Stueland was named a 2026 Fierce 50 honoree for health equity, underscoring momentum in rare-disease genomics. Energy/Utilities: Maryland regulators cut Pepco’s requested rate increase by more than half, easing the impact on customers. Sports Business: The Ravens’ kicker situation remains in focus as coach Jesse Minter backs Tyler Loop while adding competition with Jake Moody.

Sports & Local Economy: The Ravens are keeping faith with kicker Tyler Loop but added pressure by signing Jake Moody to the practice squad after Loop’s uneven preseason. Real Estate & Housing Enforcement: A Baltimore County property dispute in Middle River highlights how alleged repeat squatters can reappear in renovated homes, raising questions about how quickly police can stop unauthorized occupants. Retail & Public Safety: A store employee at the Pentagon Mall was pepper sprayed after confronting a reported merchandise thief, underscoring ongoing risks for workers. Healthcare Access: Reproductive-care patients are arriving “later and sicker” as abortion bans and insurance restrictions delay treatment and push people to travel farther. Consumer & Business Regulation: The FTC and 22 states, including Maryland, sued Amazon over alleged secret ad surcharges that inflated prices for advertisers. Travel & Cost Pressure: AAA expects higher Labor Day travel costs than last year, with airfare and hotel bookings up. Local Business & Community: Maryland’s Department of Agriculture plans aerial mosquito spraying in Dorchester County, covering more than 13,600 acres. Global Impact on Marylanders: A Baltimore-based tour group says 47 travelers are missing after Nepal flooding.

Maryland Politics & Policy: Maryland’s Nov. 3 gubernatorial rematch between Gov. Wes Moore and Dan Cox is set, with voters also weighing statewide budget and judicial questions, while a proposed constitutional amendment on congressional redistricting may still be in legal limbo. Healthcare Costs: A new look at state efforts to rein in healthcare spending highlights how Maryland-style cost constraints are spreading, with regulators pushing hospital cost growth limits and issuers facing fresh pressure. Medicaid & Accountability: Maryland continues its Medicaid fight in court, including claims tied to defective software and system failures, as the state seeks accountability for alleged Medicaid system crashes. Energy & Infrastructure: Maryland has locked in a 20-year solar deal expected to cut costs by hundreds of millions, while regulators also moved to reduce a Pepco rate increase request. Business & Finance: Seventy2 Capital expands in the region with new leadership hires and a Connecticut office opening, and Maryland’s business community keeps watching major deals and investment moves. Community & Workforce: A new accessible communication board at Quiet Waters Park adds inclusive tools for children with autism, and UMD’s Robert H. Smith business experts weigh in on AI job-loss fears amid ongoing workforce concerns.