AGP Executive Report

Coal Push & Energy Demand: President Trump says he’ll use the Defense Production Act to direct nearly $700M to coal—upgrading 13 plants, restarting a shuttered Maryland unit, backing new plants in Alaska and West Virginia, and funding a West Coast export terminal in Oakland—framing it as national security for AI-driven power needs, while environmental groups vow court challenges. Social Security Shock: A new analysis warns Social Security could trigger an across-the-board 24% cut when the retirement trust fund runs out in 2032, averaging about a $500 monthly hit for retirees. Water Stress in the DMV: A Drought Watch covers nearly 6 million people across DC, Maryland and northern Virginia, urging voluntary conservation as Potomac flows run low. Data Center Backlash: Queen Anne’s County joins other Maryland jurisdictions with a 12-month moratorium on data center approvals to study impacts on utilities, land use and the environment. Baltimore Bridge Fallout: A judge postponed Baltimore’s Key Bridge civil trial after late settlements, leaving mostly business and local government economic-loss claims. Maryland Business & Jobs: Raising Cane’s opened in Owings Mills, while University of Maryland layoffs continue amid budget pressure. Healthcare Innovation: Johns Hopkins-linked Bayesian Health says its FDA-cleared AI can detect sepsis up to 48 hours earlier, cutting mortality. Sports & Local Economy: Orioles acquired Kyle Nicolas from the Reds, a reminder that roster moves keep feeding Maryland’s sports business ecosystem.

UMD Layoffs: The University of Maryland, College Park laid off 84 state-funded employees as it cites a FY27 budget squeeze, including a projected $15M drop in federal funding and $18M in higher energy costs; the AFSCME union called the cuts “unacceptable.” Social Security Pressure: A new analysis warns Social Security’s trust fund could run out by 2032, triggering an across-the-board 24% benefit cut—about $500/month on average—hitting states including Maryland hardest. Apple Store Closures (Towson Included): Apple confirmed permanent closing dates for three unionized-era stores, including Towson Town Center in Maryland on June 20, 2026, with workers able to apply for other roles under the collective bargaining agreement. Maryland Scholarship Fix: A new Maryland law extends the Community College Promise Scholarship to Maryland residents graduating from Delmar High School in Delaware, removing a prior eligibility barrier. Baltimore Crime Results: A new NBER paper says Baltimore’s targeted Group Violence Reduction Strategy drove major drops in homicides and shootings from 2022–2025, with reductions outpacing national trends. Drought Watch: The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments issued a drought watch for D.C., Northern Virginia and southern Maryland due to dry conditions and low Potomac flows, urging voluntary water cuts. Data Center Backlash: Erin Brockovich launched a platform tracking U.S. data center plans, spotlighting concerns about water and energy use. Coal Support Plan: A White House official says Trump plans to use the Defense Production Act to push nearly $700M for coal plant upgrades and a West Coast export terminal.

Social Security Shock for Maryland: A new analysis warns Social Security’s trust fund could run out by 2032, triggering an automatic 24% benefit cut—about $500 a month on average, with Maryland projected around a $541 hit. Baltimore Antitrust: Baltimore filed a lawsuit targeting fire apparatus makers, alleging anticompetitive conduct that drove up prices and delayed deliveries. Defense Tech Procurement: DISA is reshaping its cloud buying effort, moving JWCC Next into a broader JWCC Unified Cloud Marketplace to expand access to commercial cloud options. AI and Healthcare Standards: An AI-ECG debate is heating up over what counts as proof and when algorithms should be trusted in clinical practice. Maryland Budget/Markets Watch: Maryland’s credit ratings remain high but analysts flag structural pressures as the state issues $800M in bonds. Energy Policy: Maryland’s surveillance-pricing ban is in the spotlight as Colorado vetoes a broader version. Local Business Moves: Nalley Fresh plans expansion after closures, shifting toward office-building locations and catering.

Small-Business Funding: Gov. Wes Moore announced $3 million in state financing to help six Maryland small and minority-owned businesses grow, creating 72 jobs and retaining 28. Local Business Growth: Greenbelt will host its first-ever Business Expo on June 24, offering free networking and sessions for Prince George’s County and DMV-area firms. Healthcare Leadership: LifeBridge Health named Brian J. Cawley president and COO of Carroll Hospital, effective June 29. Workforce & Immigration: Moore held a roundtable with major Maryland employers on how federal immigration policy is disrupting hiring and economic growth. Business Innovation & Tech: Maryland’s new AI Innovation Lab is set to help state agencies adopt and experiment with technology. Legal & Consumer Impact: A Bowie family is demanding answers after their 2-year-old Bernedoodle died at a Maryland boarding facility, alleging record gaps before the emergency. Public Safety & Operations: A USDA pest-control office in Beltsville has been repeatedly hit by bed bugs, triggering fumigation and staff disruptions. Sports & Local Economy: Baltimore’s Orioles kept momentum with a win over Boston, while MLB power rankings and team outlooks continue to draw attention to the region’s sports economy.

Key Bridge rebuild: Maryland DOT is seeking four separate procurement contracts after exiting its Kiewit Infrastructure deal for the Francis Scott Key Bridge mission, with officials saying Kiewit wasn’t fired and work continues through year-end. Local governance & oversight: A judge denied Baltimore’s bid to seal records sought by the city’s inspector general tied to the SideStep youth program, rejecting claims that inspection would violate law or policy. Energy & utilities: Maryland is among the first states to modernize farm data reporting via scanned acreage maps instead of manual keying, while a separate national push highlights heat pumps’ cost/upgrade tradeoffs and bidirectional EV charging pilots that could reshape grid planning. Retail & real estate: First Watch is set to open in a former Panera space in California, Md., and Annapolis Mall named Mackenzie Fontaine as general manager as redevelopment work continues. Business/legal: Louis Vuitton sued Live! Casino & Hotel Maryland over promotional bags it says copy its branding. Workforce & tech: Verizon disclosed pricing terms for debt tender offers, and a Maryland federal court filing challenges extended website/app accessibility deadlines for state and local governments. Community & health: Wegmans will offer free live ASL help via the Aira app, and a new hearing-loss story spotlights links to broader health risks.

Maryland Education Tech: A new Maryland law, the A.I. Ready Schools Act, took effect June 1, requiring the state to publish K-12 AI guidance and pushing districts to set policies, align AI tools, and name AI coordinators. Baltimore Bridge Litigation: A federal judge postponed the civil trial tied to the 2024 Key Bridge collapse after last-minute settlements resolved most claims, leaving remaining business and local government economic-loss arguments for later. Labor & Retail: Apple is facing fresh backlash from lawmakers after announcing it will close its first unionized U.S. store in Towson, with disputes focused on whether workers get comparable transfer options. Public Safety & Enforcement: Baltimore police say gas stations could face fines or jail time if they allow dirt bike riders to fuel, as enforcement ramps up at pumps. Business & Finance: A Maryland investment firm took more than $5M in losses tied to San Francisco apartments, underscoring continued real-estate volatility. Trade & Capital Markets: Anthropic confidentially filed for an IPO, joining SpaceX and OpenAI as major AI players move toward public markets. Sports Betting Impact: The Myles Garrett blockbuster trade is already shifting Super Bowl odds, with Baltimore among the teams benefiting in the betting markets.

NFL Trade Shock: The Browns and Rams agreed to send Myles Garrett to Los Angeles for Jared Verse plus major draft capital, a move that instantly reshapes AFC contenders and Cleveland’s rebuild. Baltimore Bridge Fallout: A judge paused the Key Bridge civil trial after settlements, with parties disputing whether remaining claims should be dismissed or delayed until a related criminal case ends. Housing & Finance: Maryland expanded its Maryland SmartBuy student-loan payoff help for first-time buyers, raising the assistance cap to $25,000. Consumer Pressure: New data shows consumer confidence slipping while credit-card debt rises, signaling tighter household finances. Cybersecurity in Maryland: Carahsoft will bring a large partner pavilion to TechNet Cyber in Baltimore June 2-4, highlighting the state’s role in federal cyber work. Education Leadership: Prince George’s County named Shawn Joseph permanent superintendent after a year as interim leader. Local Business & Growth: Uniqlo is opening another Maryland store in days, with promotions for early customers. Public Safety Oddity: An escaped emu caused a hours-long highway pursuit near Salisbury before being caught.

Consumer Tech & Media: Scripps Local Media pulled 54 ABC-affiliate stations from DIRECTV in 36 markets, starting Sunday night, escalating a retransmission-rate fight that could disrupt major sports and June elections. Retail Pricing: Maryland’s new ban on “surveillance pricing” for grocery stores and food delivery is aimed at stopping personalized upcharges based on consumer data. Healthcare Deals: Pro Medicus says it’s winning more contracts and easing “AI disruption” fears, including a $28M Allegheny Health Network renewal and a $16M, seven-year Tidal Health deal covering hospitals in Delaware, Maryland and Virginia. STEM & Philanthropy: Alpha Phi Alpha’s Iota Upsilon Lambda chapter launched the Brigadier General Charles E. McGee STEM Scholarship, taking applications June 1–July 15. Local Business & Community: Harbor Splash returns to Baltimore’s Inner Harbor in a new pop-up format to support a “swimmable, fishable” harbor push. Sports Business: NFL June 1 roster-cap timing is expected to trigger a wave of trades and contract moves, with Baltimore among teams linked to high-profile receiver rumors.

Marijuana Policy: Federal DOJ rescheduling of medical cannabis to Schedule III is expected to unlock some federal tax benefits and spur new research, but the bigger federal-state split remains, leaving Maryland businesses in a wait-and-see mode as more hearings loom. Baltimore Trade/Shipping: Families of victims from the deadly Dali/Key Bridge collapse reached settlements with the ship operator, while other lawsuits and a forthcoming civil trial continue to target potential liability limits. Consumer Tech & Pricing: Maryland’s first-in-the-nation ban on “surveillance pricing” is now part of a wider national push, with lawmakers weighing stronger limits as shoppers worry stores may use personal data to change prices. State Budget & Infrastructure: Maryland is spending about $17M a year cleaning litter, and officials are launching a new “Respect Maryland Roads” campaign to cut waste and free up money for infrastructure. Local Economy & Community: Baltimore entrepreneurs are blending business with community service, while home-based small businesses keep growing as a flexible path for Maryland entrepreneurs. Public Safety: Maryland is also rolling out incentives to hunt invasive “Frankenfish” in local waters, paying rewards to anglers who report compliant catches.

Biotech Watch: Salubris Biotherapeutics updated Phase 1/2 results for JK06, a 5T4-targeted antibody drug conjugate, with particularly strong response in squamous NSCLC as it heads to the ASCO meeting in Chicago. Global Pharma: BioNTech and Bristol Myers Squibb reported interim ROSETTA Lung-02 data for pumitamig (PD-L1xVEGF-A) plus chemotherapy, showing high response rates across NSCLC subtypes and PD-L1 levels. Maryland Housing & Finance: VA home-purchase lending in Maryland fell in Q1 FY2026 (1,744 purchases, $901.3M) versus Q4 FY2025 (2,058 purchases, $1.1B), underscoring tighter veteran mortgage momentum. Energy & Tech: Ciena’s Hanover, Maryland-based AI networking boom story continues as shares surge on hyperscaler demand for high-speed connectivity. Public Safety (Local): Ocean View Police will bring CPR/Stop the Bleed and K-9 education programs to Lord Baltimore Elementary. Business & Consumer: Walmart’s rollout of digital shelf tags aims to enable faster overnight price updates, a move that could reshape how shoppers experience pricing. Environment: Advocates warn garbage incinerators are failing to curb PFAS “forever chemical” air pollution, with fights including Baltimore-area concerns.

Key Bridge fallout in Baltimore: Families of the six construction workers killed in the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse have settled their federal civil claims against the Dali owner and operator, resolving wrongful-death and related injury cases just days before the civil trial was set to begin. Maryland education: New 2025 Education Scorecard data show Maryland schools ranked No. 3 nationally in reading recovery and No. 5 in math recovery after pandemic learning loss, though literacy advocates say proficiency still has a long way to go. Gun policy and business risk: Gov. Wes Moore signed Maryland’s Glock-style “convertible pistol” ban into law, setting up new legal fights that could affect firearm dealers and related compliance costs. Energy affordability: Delmarva Power is pointing customers to its ReliefDE/ReliefMD assistance options and an Assistance Finder tool as electric bills remain a pressure point. Commercial real estate: A $466 million federal investment is headed to Washington Union Station for repairs and upgrades aimed at boosting passenger experience and revenue. AI and markets: A new push for “open-weight” AI models argues U.S. dominance depends on wider access to American models, not just closed systems.

Baltimore Key Bridge fallout: Families of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse victims and BGE have reached settlements with the Dali owners and operators, clearing some claims ahead of a broader court fight over liability. Local Water Governance: Baltimore is proposing a standalone city agency to oversee the regional water system, a charter amendment voters would weigh in 2026. Health Insurance Costs: New data show more Americans are dropping Obamacare coverage for nonpayment or cost reasons; Maryland enrollment is down 8% and over 60% of disenrollees cite rising or unmanageable costs. Workforce Training Funding: Workforce Pell is moving into the college implementation phase after final federal rules, pushing schools to align with state workforce programs fast. Privacy & Data Brokers: Connecticut joins Maryland and Virginia in banning the sale of precise geolocation data, adding limits on surveillance pricing and facial recognition. Maryland Gun Law Update: State Police outlined new 2026 firearms rules, including dealer reporting requirements and changes tied to “machine gun convertible pistols.” Howard County Immigration Support: Howard County launched an Immigrant Affairs Task Force to recommend an Office of Immigrant Affairs and expand access to services.

Broadband & Telecom: Mediacom says it has launched a 5-Gig residential tier (5 Gbit/s down, 1 Gbit/s up) across 500,000+ homes, aiming to reach 1 million+ by year-end as it layers DOCSIS upgrades and capacity expansions in Maryland and other states. Local Economy & Housing: Maryland ranks 11th nationally for VA home-loan value in Q1 2026, with $2.1 billion issued to veterans via 4,137 loans—an indicator of steady veteran demand amid broader housing pressure. Politics & Local Media: Gov. Wes Moore vetoed SB 459, a bill meant to steer state advertising toward Maryland’s local news outlets, drawing criticism that it weakens the state’s local information infrastructure. Baltimore Tech & Courts: Baltimore City’s lawsuit targeting xAI over alleged deceptive Grok photo-editing practices has been moved to federal court. Public Safety: A Maryland man accused of ramming a U-Haul into a Towson convenience store and stealing an ATM remains jailed without bail. Health & Consumer Watch: FDA reports 13 Maryland device-company inspections in 2025 (third-lowest count by company type) and issued a recall for Imperial Nougat cookies/candies tied to allergy risks.

Water Rates & Local Control: Maryland’s federal delegation is urging Allegany County to take over the Bel Air water system, with commissioners expected to move toward eminent domain against Maryland Water Service after residents flooded offices with testimony about rising rates. State Permitting Upgrade: The Maryland Department of the Environment launched an online Environmental Service Center with electronic payment, aiming to cut permit delays and speed turnaround times by 25% from last year. Paid Leave Planning: Maryland’s FAMLI paid family and medical leave program is on the clock for employers—participation decisions late 2026, payroll contributions in January 2027, and benefits starting January 2028. Jobs Snapshot: Maryland added 2,800 jobs in April, though unemployment ticked up to 4.4%. Higher Ed Cost Cuts: Loyola University Maryland eliminated 66 jobs as it works through a $20 million deficit. Port Finance Settlement: Ports America Chesapeake reached a settlement with the Maryland Economic Development Corporation and the IRS over a 2010 $41 million bond issue tied to tax-exempt dock financing. Workforce & Growth: TEDCO promoted Tammi Thomas to president as it accelerates innovation strategy across Maryland. Business Climate: Gov. Wes Moore signed the Jack Fitzgerald Price Transparency Act to boost online car pricing transparency.

Cyber & Privacy: Beacon Mutual’s cyberattack exposed data tied to about 132,000 Rhode Islanders, including thousands of current and former state workers—another reminder that insurers and vendors are now part of the public-sector risk picture. AI & Platforms: YouTube will start automatically labeling videos with substantial photorealistic AI content, aiming to boost transparency even when creators don’t flag it. Sports Betting Policy: Ohio AG Dave Yost and other attorneys general urged the CFTC to recognize state authority over sports-related prediction markets, arguing they function like unregulated sportsbooks. Maryland Business Impact: A longtime downtown Annapolis marine gallery says it will close after construction tied to the City Dock flood project cut revenue by more than 70%. Local Crime: Baltimore County police arrested a suspect accused of stealing an ATM using a U-Haul during a burglary spree. Healthcare Innovation: EpiWatch announced Phase III publication for its Apple Watch seizure-detection app. Agriculture: Gov. Wes Moore requested federal disaster aid after April freeze damage to Maryland specialty crops.

Healthcare Workforce & Patient Safety: LifeBridge Health’s Sinai Hospital is among hospitals moving from “as-needed” checks to routine cognitive and physical screening for doctors in their 70s when renewing privileges, aiming to catch decline earlier as Maryland’s physician workforce ages. Public Policy & Privacy: Connecticut’s new privacy law bans the sale of precise geolocation data and lets residents delete data from brokers with a click—joining Maryland and other states tightening rules on sensitive location tracking. Gun Law: Maryland’s “machine gun convertible pistol” restrictions face an immediate federal lawsuit from gun-rights groups after Gov. Wes Moore signed the Glock-style ban into law. Workplace & Retail: A union is protesting Apple’s planned closure of its Towson Town Center store, alleging discriminatory treatment and filing an unfair labor practice charge with the NLRB. Business & Energy: CraftStrom is offering 25% discounts on plug-in DIY solar kits in Maryland and other states following clean-energy legislation. Local Economy & Housing Finance: DCHFA named Shelynda Burney Brown senior VP for multifamily lending and neighborhood development, expanding affordable housing investment in D.C. Sports & Local Interest: The Orioles beat the Rays 6-1 as Shane Baz struck out a season-high nine and Samuel Basallo hit a three-run homer.