AGP Executive Report

Food Safety: USDA/FSIS issued a Class I recall of nearly 25,000 pounds of frozen buffalo chicken products after finding false federal inspection marks on items shipped to foodservice in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. Public Health: The cyclospora outbreak tied to recalled Taylor Farms iceberg lettuce has expanded to 20 states, with FDA/CDC adding Georgia, Tennessee and Texas and reporting more than 11,000 illnesses. Local Business & Jobs: Primary Bank (Bedford) agreed to merge with Hometown Financial Group (Mass.) in a $160 million cash-and-stock deal, expanding southern NH footprint and services. Tech & Education: MIT and Lakes Region Community College launched a four-week “Gateway to AI” pilot for 16 NH high school students, aiming to boost rural access to advanced math and AI. Housing Policy: A federal housing law’s manufactured-home provisions could reshape where these homes can be placed in NH, including in single-family zoned neighborhoods. Consumer/Market Watch: Heating-oil customers in NH are struggling to lock in winter rates as volatility and low inventories make pre-buying riskier for suppliers. Community & Growth: 7 Brew is proposing two Tri-City-area locations, including Somersworth, as the drive-through chain expands in NH. Politics & Campaigns: GOP Senate fundraising plans are shifting toward competitive states like New Hampshire, while NH-02 GOP candidates spar over electability in a debate.

Meta Settlement: New Hampshire is set to receive up to $224 million from a landmark multistate deal with Meta over alleged harms to children on Instagram and Facebook, with the company required to add safety rules like daily time limits, “productive pauses,” nighttime blocks, and tighter age controls. Food Safety: The FDA says the cyclospora outbreak tied to recalled iceberg lettuce has now reached 20 states and 11,458 reported illnesses, including New Hampshire. Public Health/Recall: USDA/FSIS announced a 24,900-pound frozen buffalo chicken recall distributed to New Hampshire and four other states after products were made without required inspection. Local Government/Tech: Merrimack County services were disrupted by a network security incident, with the Register of Deeds temporarily requiring paper submissions. Banking/Business: Community National Bank promoted David Rubel to Regional VP of Commercial Banking, expanding its Vermont-New Hampshire commercial push. Politics/Statehouse: A UNH poll shows Helena Buonanno Foulkes leading Gov. Dan McKee by 38 points in the Democratic gubernatorial primary. Campaign Watch: Another UNH survey finds socialist Karishma Manzur closing against Rep. Chris Pappas ahead of the Sept. 8 primary.

Meta Settlement: New Hampshire is set to receive up to $224.3 million in a multistate $17.1 billion deal with Meta over child-safety claims tied to Instagram and Facebook, with the company also required to roll out sweeping new protections for minors. Food Safety: A Boston-based company is recalling nearly 25,000 pounds of frozen buffalo chicken products shipped to Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont after the items were produced without federal inspection. Politics & Elections: A new UNH Survey Center poll shows the Democratic Senate primary race tightening, with Chris Pappas leading Karishma Manzur 47%-34% as the Sept. 8 vote nears. Higher Ed & Research: UVM leads a $5.9 million NSF award to expand snow monitoring and link winter weather to the outdoor recreation economy across Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. Banking & Tech: 39 state bankers associations are forming BankChain Alliance, targeting a 2027 launch of a bank-owned blockchain network for tokenized deposits and smart payments. Local Business: Port City Air is considering upgrades at Pease, while Infinity Aviation Group expands its FBO network by acquiring FlightServ’s operation at Trenton-Mercer Airport. Housing Pressure: A Seacoast-focused series highlights how zoning and housing policy are driving rents and home prices higher, reshaping local business and community life.

Meta Settlement for NH Teens: New Hampshire will receive up to $224 million from a $17.1 billion multistate deal with Meta over alleged child-safety failures on Facebook and Instagram, with about $158 million guaranteed and the rest tied to other platforms adopting similar terms; the agreement also requires new teen protections like tighter daily limits and nighttime blocks. Public Health & Blood Supply: Dartmouth-linked research highlights how alpha-gal syndrome can raise allergic transfusion reaction risk for type O patients receiving B or AB platelets/plasma in tick-heavy regions, prompting at least one NH hospital to change which blood products it uses. Food Safety Recall: A Boston-area company recalled 24,900 pounds of frozen buffalo chicken products shipped to NH and other states after USDA found items were produced without proper inspection marks. Local Business & Agriculture: Hannaford pledged $500,000 to support regenerative farming through the Northeast Farmers Fund, backing regional suppliers across New England. Energy Costs Watch: Diesel prices in Belknap County hit $5.19 at the low end for the week ending Aug. 15, with the statewide average at $5.36. Politics With Business Impact: A UNH poll shows Pappas’ lead in the NH Senate Democratic primary shrinking to 47%-34% over Manzur, while the GOP Senate race debate drama continues to swirl around John E. Sununu.

Big Tech & Consumer Protection: Georgia AG Chris Carr announced a $17.1B multistate settlement with Meta over Instagram/Facebook child-safety claims, with sweeping platform reforms and about $100M (up to ~$135M) for Georgia. Statehouse & Education: In Laconia, former math teacher Paul Rossi is running for the Statehouse on education reform, workforce development and lower energy costs, as the late Rep. Charlie St. Clair’s seat reshapes the race. Local Housing Focus: Belmont candidate Dana Silcock, a zoning board volunteer, is campaigning for a stronger local voice in Concord. NH Business & Tech: Co-operative Insurance is rolling out CI Connect, a new self-service portal and mobile app built on ManageMy, aiming to cut paper/phone work and improve policyholder service. Defense/Research Jobs: Integer Technologies launched Integer Constellation Labs, including a hub at UNH, to speed university-to-mission tech transitions. Economy Watch: U.S. consumer confidence dipped in August as inflation concerns and weaker expectations about business and the labor market linger. Food & Environment (Regional): New Englanders are finding new markets for invasive green crabs, including a New Hampshire-linked push to turn them into premium seafood. Securities (NH Court): A class action was filed in the District of New Hampshire against Planet Fitness over alleged securities fraud tied to membership growth concerns, with a Sept. 14 lead-plaintiff deadline. Politics & Affordability: A grassroots survey finds affordability is the top issue in battleground Senate races heading into the midterms.

Energy & Competition: Maine Gov. Janet Mills joined New England states in urging federal regulators to apply “the highest level of scrutiny” to NextEra’s proposed Dominion Energy acquisition, arguing it would concentrate generation and transmission, suppress competition, and raise costs. Transportation Funding: New Hampshire lawmakers overrode Gov. Kelly Ayotte’s veto of the 10-year transportation plan, clearing the way for toll changes tied to E-ZPass starting Jan. 1, 2027. Education Finance: A new Education Freedom Account dashboard shows 13,570 students eligible for grants (above the 12,500 cap via exemptions), with 1,070 on the waitlist—raising fresh questions about how priority and income qualifications are handled. Healthcare Costs: Families using home nursing through Medicaid say medically necessary supplies are arriving late or in reduced quantities, prompting calls for standardization across NH’s managed care organizations. Local Economy & Jobs: Portsmouth officially opened a renovated commercial fishing pier on Peirce Island, funded with ARPA money, with lobstermen already renting space. Real Estate & Risk: A multistate skilled nursing provider secured $30M in receivables financing, while a New Hampshire facility acquisition reportedly got $17M in bridge funding. Public Safety & Courts: The NH Supreme Court upheld a Gorham double-murder conviction, saying circumstantial evidence was enough for the jury. Food Safety: FDA updated a rice recall tied to potential foreign materials, listing distribution that includes New Hampshire. Cybersecurity: Paylogix says hackers stole sensitive financial and health data from its benefits administration systems. Housing Affordability: Stay Work Play’s NH Nexus Summit spotlighted childcare and housing costs as major retention barriers for young workers.

Banking & Fintech: A consortium of 37 state bankers associations is pushing to take control of on-chain finance tech, with Passumpsic Bank CEO Jim Kisch saying “speed bumps” could help flag novel transactions and reduce fraud; the group targets going live in 2027. Food Safety: Federal investigators say recalled alfalfa sprouts tied to a multi-state E. coli and salmonella outbreak were distributed to only Minnesota and Wisconsin on a product map, even as illnesses have been reported in 15 states including New Hampshire—leaving a confusing gap consumers can’t ignore. Education & Labor: An Economic Policy Institute report finds the teacher pay penalty remains steep, with teachers earning about 25% less than similarly educated workers in 2025. Retail & Staffing: Piggly Wiggly is closing stores in multiple states, citing staffing issues and rebranding some locations. Legal: An appeals court vacated a $2.4 million Chapter 93A award in a business dispute tied to a country club sale, sending parts back for further findings. Energy & Politics: U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright calls “net-zero” policies a “horrifically bad idea,” arguing they raise electricity costs without meaningful climate impact.

Food Safety: U.S. health officials say an alfalfa sprout outbreak tied to Everything Sprouts has sickened at least 55 people across 15 states, with New Hampshire among those reporting cases; the FDA/CDC link the illnesses to E. coli and salmonella strains and the company has issued a recall. Trade & Prices: New Hampshire businesses and families are bracing for higher costs as new Trump tariffs on Canadian goods could hit paper products, alcohol and dairy, with local retailers and suppliers also watching potential impacts on hockey equipment. Local Economy & Growth: The New Hampshire Entrepreneurship Exchange is building a peer network meant to keep young talent and business momentum in the Lakes Region. Education & Labor: School bus routes in many communities are starting fully staffed, a shift attributed to steady hiring and retention efforts by Student Transportation of America. Politics: Democrat Heath Howard is suspending his 1st Congressional District campaign and backing Carleigh Beriont, narrowing the progressive field ahead of the Sept. 8 primary. Public Sector & Tech: Flock Safety surveillance devices have been installed near the New Hampshire State Prison for Men in Concord as part of a drone-detection pilot.

Energy & Policy: New England governors are lining up for a Sept. 30 regional summit on advanced nuclear tech, with Connecticut hosting at UMass Lowell and inviting New Hampshire and other states to focus on affordability, safety, and grid needs. Housing & Local Planning: A New Hampshire developer is seeking a zoning change near Kittery Outlets to move a housing plan forward after neighbor pushback, shifting from multifamily townhouses to a smaller condo proposal. Workforce: The River Valley Workforce Investment Board is set to hold a Sept. 25 fall employment fair in Springfield, inviting Vermont and New Hampshire employers to connect with jobseekers. Population & Migration: UNH research finds about 24% of Granite Staters say they may leave within five years, with cost of living and the economy among the top drivers. Business & Courts: A securities-fraud class action has been filed in the District of New Hampshire against Planet Fitness, alleging disappointing membership growth tied to a failed marketing push. Public Safety: The FBI warned New England residents about scammers impersonating agents to push victims into “illegal firearms account” scams. Energy Costs: Gas prices remain volatile, with New Hampshire midgrade averaging about $4.55 statewide for the week ending Aug. 15.

Food Safety: Everything Sprouts LLC recalled alfalfa sprouts sold under Calco and Everything Sprouts brands after a multistate E. coli and Salmonella outbreak tied to 55 illnesses (including 4 hospitalizations) across 15 states, with New Hampshire among the affected. Local Business & Workforce: Claremont MakerSpace named a disabled Army veteran as its first Entrepreneur in Residence, backing his 22 Frets LLC guitar-building business with shop tools and workspace. Real Estate Services: Accurate Title is expanding in New Hampshire by adding attorney Jacqueline M. Hudkins and the Hudkins Group, with new offices in New London and Keene. Energy & Costs: New Hampshire regulators are watching how electricity spot-market buying can backfire when gas prices spike, pushing up rates and raising questions for other New England states. Public Safety: The FBI Boston office warned of New England scammers impersonating FBI agents to trick victims into “illegal firearms account” scams. Education & Skills: Concord Regional Technical Center added a welding course after student demand and industry feedback, aiming to feed local trades hiring. Consumer/Travel: A New Hampshire EV charging site in the North Country plans to shut down Tesla Superchargers after electricity costs outpaced revenue. Politics & Economy: Sen. Chris Van Hollen said he’s “kicking the tires” on a 2028 presidential bid, while also weighing how Democrats should present a clearer economic alternative.

Food Safety: Federal and state health officials say an alfalfa sprouts outbreak tied to Minneapolis-based Everything Sprouts LLC has sickened 55 people across 15 states, including one New Hampshire case; 46 are reported with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli and 7 with Salmonella, with four hospitalizations and no deaths. Public Health & Consumer Alert: The FDA says the implicated sprouts were sold in specific lots under Everything Sprouts and Calco brands, and urges consumers to throw away affected products and sanitize surfaces. Local Economy: New Hampshire businesses are weighing the impact of a new wave of U.S. tariffs on Canada, with Able Ebenezer Brewing and a Manchester craft shop reporting pricing pressure and softer foot traffic. Workforce & Education: Concord Regional Technical Center added a welding course after student demand and industry feedback, expanding career options for students from 30 towns. Healthcare Policy: NH Fiscal Policy Institute discusses how Medicaid enrollment could shift in coming years as federal changes loom. Business & Community: Sunflower Outdoor & Bike Shop reached a deal to reuse a former downtown restaurant building in Lawrence, potentially expanding its footprint. Sports Business: Christopher Bell is eyeing a breakthrough at New Hampshire Motor Speedway as the Dollar Tree 301 approaches.

Trade & Tariffs: New Hampshire businesses that depend on Canadian imports are already feeling the hit from new U.S. tariffs on $20 billion in Canadian goods, with Able Ebenezer Brewing in Merrimack seeing can-price swings and Manchester Craft Market reporting 15%–20% less Canadian foot traffic. Public Health: Federal investigators are probing a multistate E. coli and Salmonella outbreak tied to alfalfa sprouts distributed by Minnesota’s Everything Sprouts LLC; 55 people in 15 states are sick, including at least one case in New Hampshire, and the FDA is urging consumers not to eat recalled Calco and Everything Sprouts brands. Local Government & Infrastructure: Laconia’s council will discuss shifting a wastewater program from state oversight to a regional authority and consider grant-funded pole cameras, while Meredith will review the Prescott Park master plan and an EMS contract. Policy & Politics: A Saint Anselm poll shows Democrats widening their generic lead and Ayotte holding a stronger approval edge, as the NH 1st District primary tightens. Business & Economy: An opinion piece argues New Hampshire should lead the future of finance, pointing to its early regulatory frameworks for digital assets. Safety & Crime: Police say a truck theft in Atkinson led to a multi-town search in Exeter and Hampton, but suspects weren’t found.

Energy & Utilities: Connecticut and other New England states are urging federal regulators to pause Dominion Energy’s $67B deal with NextEra, warning it could raise electric bills; the concern centers on NextEra’s growing power in the region, including NextEra’s New Hampshire nuclear footprint. Food Safety: The CDC says an alfalfa-sprout outbreak tied to Everything Sprouts (Calco and Everything Sprouts brands) has sickened 55 people across 15 states, including New Hampshire, with E. coli and salmonella; FDA is pushing a recall. Housing & Real Estate: New Hampshire’s median single-family home price hit a record $580,000 in July, with inventory still tight but buyers negotiating harder as homes that feel dated or high-maintenance linger. Local Business: Granite Union Auction Company opens in a former Franklin church, bringing back live public auctions after the shift toward thinner online-only sales. Public Safety: Police say a truck theft in Atkinson led to a multi-town search in Exeter and Hampton; suspects weren’t found. Politics: In NH’s 1st Congressional District Democratic primary, Maura Sullivan says she’s leading in a Saint Anselm poll while pushing back on attack ads tied to campaign donations.

Food Safety: CDC says an E. coli and salmonella outbreak tied to alfalfa sprouts has reached 55 cases across 15 states, including New Hampshire, with FDA urging consumers not to eat sprouts sold under Calco and Everything Sprouts while Everything Sprouts moves toward a voluntary recall. Local Government: Laconia council will weigh a wastewater ownership shift for the Winnipesaukee River Basin Program and discuss solar pole-camera funding. Municipal Services: Meredith selectboard will hear the Prescott Park Master Plan presentation and vote on an EMS contract with Stewart’s Ambulance. Energy Policy: New England governors are pushing back on a proposed NextEra-Dominion utility merger, with NH’s governor absent from the joint letter while consumer advocates review impacts on rates and competition. Economy & Housing: July 2026 data show New Hampshire’s median single-family home price hit a record $580,000, but buyers are negotiating harder and taking more time. Business & Tech: Breezeline is partnering with DirecTV to offer streaming bundles with a two-year price guarantee. Finance & Policy: Federal Reserve Bank of Boston President Susan Collins visited NH business leaders, focusing on inflation and a tight labor market. Politics: A St. Anselm poll finds Sullivan-Shaheen primary dynamics tightening in NH’s 1st Congressional District.

PFAS Settlement: New Hampshire received a $7.28 million payment from 3M tied to PFAS contamination of public drinking water, bringing total recoveries from four settlements to more than $43 million, with more payments expected through at least 2033 into the state’s Drinking Water and Groundwater Trust Fund. Housing & Wealth: A LendingTree study says Americans now hold a record $34.9 trillion in home equity, with the biggest shares of wealth concentrated in a handful of states—Hawaii and California lead, while the South is notably absent. Local Economy & Permitting: Cities are increasingly using AI to speed up housing permitting by catching incomplete applications earlier, supported by a new federal housing law’s Innovation Fund and HUD grants. Transportation Costs: New Hampshire lawmakers overrode Gov. Kelly Ayotte’s vetoes to raise tolls for out-of-staters starting in January 2027, doubling several turnpike tolls and increasing cash and non-NH E-ZPass charges. Rural Health Funding: A $50 billion rural healthcare program is facing calls for more transparency, with critics warning delayed public reporting could weaken oversight and fraud protection. Consumer/Business Culture: As 24-hour diners fade nationwide, Manchester’s Red Arrow Diner remains open all night, leaning on late-shift workers, travelers, and first responders.

Transportation Finance: New Hampshire lawmakers overrode Gov. Kelly Ayotte’s vetoes to raise tolls and park fees for out-of-staters, with Hampton’s I-95 toll set to jump from $2 to $4 and other turnpike tolls doubling starting January 2027. Energy & Costs: U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright visited a New Hampshire Electric Co-op site, arguing clean-energy policies have pushed up power prices, while co-op officials say local solar helped moderate bills. Politics & Elections: A Saint Anselm poll shows Democrats gaining momentum statewide, and a separate SACSC survey finds Maura Sullivan and Stefany Shaheen in a statistical dead heat in NH’s 1st District. Defense & Business Expansion: AeroVironment announced an industrial presence in Greece via a joint venture, aiming to expand its European defense footprint. Health Care Workforce: Imagen Technologies, a physician-led radiology AI firm, is expanding leadership as it scales to 200 radiologists. Environment & Accountability: NH received another $7.3 million PFAS settlement payment from 3M, adding to more than $43 million total returned to the state’s drinking-water trust fund. Housing & Housing Finance: Santander completed its acquisition of Webster Financial, expanding its U.S. retail and commercial banking reach. Community Needs: United Way of Greater Nashua’s Summer Shoe Drive continues through Aug. 31, with volunteers and donors supplying thousands of pairs.