AGP Executive Report

U.S. Health Costs & Transparency: The Trump administration warned more than 500 hospitals nationwide that they’re not posting required pricing info, with penalties up to $2 million a year for noncompliance—another push aimed at lowering what patients pay for common care. Alabama Courts: The U.S. Supreme Court blocked Alabama’s nitrogen gas execution of Jeffery Lee, keeping the lower-court ruling that the method is unconstitutionally cruel. Public Safety in Selma: Selma’s interim police chief told city leaders the department needs more cars and major station repairs after 34 felony arrests in two months, with officers dealing with worn-out vehicles and missing essentials. Education Policy: The Alabama State Board of Education discussed proposed updates to world language course standards, including adding “critical languages” like Chinese, Korean, Russian and Japanese. Coastal Restoration: Gov. Ivey announced $87 million in RESTORE Act funding for Gulf Coast projects in Alabama. Medical Cannabis Launch: Alabama’s first dispensary in Montgomery reported 102 patients making 111 purchases since opening, with limited product rations easing as more shipments arrive. Labor Probe Tied to Alabama Firm: Foreign workers building a $350 million U.S. consulate in Milan alleged they were paid under $2 an hour by Alabama-based Caddell Construction, as Italian prosecutors investigate labor exploitation claims.

U.S. Supreme Court: Alabama can’t immediately carry out a death sentence using nitrogen gas, dealing a fresh setback to the state’s execution plans for Jeffery Lee. State Politics: Tuesday runoffs will settle several Alabama party nominations, including key Jefferson County races and statewide GOP contests. Coastal Funding: Gov. Kay Ivey announced $87 million in RESTORE Act money for Gulf Coast restoration projects. Education & Youth: Junior Achievement of Alabama opened the $18M JA McWane Economic Education Center in downtown Birmingham to teach financial literacy and career skills. Local Culture: The 28th Rhythm and Roots Festival adds more kid-focused programming and interactive live art. Environment: Wildlife officials are racing to slow the spread of invasive tegu lizards across the South, with reports reaching Alabama. Business & Growth: Alabama’s rare-earth push gets a boost as REalloys secures Appalachian feedstock access tied to defense supply deadlines. Community: Alabama nonprofit leaders head to Tuscaloosa for a Community Summit aimed at strengthening fundraising, strategy, and collaboration.

Alabama Politics & Policy: Alabama AG Steve Marshall escalated the fight over abortion access, issuing cease-and-desist letters to mail-order abortion pill providers and warning drug companies not to ship to the state. Courts & Civil Rights: A federal judge blocked Alabama’s nitrogen gas execution plan pending appeal, keeping the death-penalty method in limbo. Elections & Taxes: John Wahl, a Trump-endorsed conservative, pushed a proposal to eliminate Alabama’s state income tax, arguing it would boost jobs and competitiveness. Agriculture & Growth: Christina Woerner McInnis pledged an audit-style review of data centers and solar farms’ impacts on farmland, water, energy demand, and long-term food security. Business & Jobs: Simmons Bank hired veteran banker Jim Recer to lead commercial and industrial strategy in Texas and other major markets. Community & Culture: Auburn City Schools named Ben McQueen and Shelby Wall as the new AHS soccer coaches after Bill Ferguson’s retirement. Sports & Local Interest: Steppin’ Out Performing Arts announced a downtown expansion with a new studio location. World Cup Watch: A guide for Alabama viewers breaks down World Cup kickoff times and how to watch.

Infrastructure & Flood Risk: Central Alabama’s heavy rain is leaving behind damage that can surface days later, with experts warning floodwater can cause hidden electrical problems in modern cars. Workforce & Local Economy: Eastaboga’s Legacy Cabinets abruptly closed, leaving nearly 500 workers without jobs and triggering a WARN Act review. Education & Culture at UA: UA student media is launching “Druid,” a new Tuscaloosa/Southern lifestyle magazine replacing suspended titles, plus campus groups like the Spanish Club keep language practice going weekly. Training for Critical Jobs: Drake State and Huntsville Utilities are teaming up on an underground utilities class using heavy equipment and safety training to feed North Alabama’s infrastructure workforce. Agriculture Watch: Alabama livestock producers are urged to stay alert after a New World screwworm detection in Texas, even as the immediate state risk is low. Courts & Alabama Death Penalty: A federal judge ruled Alabama can’t use nitrogen hypoxia for an execution, saying a firing squad is feasible. State & Federal Policy: The Trump administration warned 500+ hospitals to improve price transparency or face fines, and Alabama’s AG announced a multistate GS Labs COVID test settlement. Business & Industry: Mobile’s port is drawing new export logistics investment after channel deepening, while West Marine plans to close 59 stores nationwide, including in Alabama.

Abortion Enforcement: Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall issued cease-and-desist letters to six companies over alleged illegal advertising and sales of chemical abortion-inducing drugs, warning of investigations and penalties. Courts & Executions: A U.S. judge moved to block Alabama’s nitrogen gas execution of death-row inmate Jeffery Lee, citing constitutional concerns, as the state’s legal fight continues. Higher Education Governance: Auburn’s board took full control of curriculum and dissolved the faculty senate, replacing shared governance with a new advisory council—prompting faculty backlash. Local Business & Growth: Birmingham City Council approved a data center zoning ordinance after a public fight over safeguards, following controversy around an Oxmoor Valley project. Public Health & Costs: The Trump administration warned more than 500 hospitals nationwide to improve price transparency or face fines, including Alabama facilities. State Economy & Industry: Alabama officials joined a U.S.-Japan shipbuilding push, with Japanese delegations touring the Alabama coast to expand maritime and defense capacity. Sports & Security: Lionel Messi returned from a hamstring issue in Alabama, but a pre-World Cup friendly was marred by a passport-details leak in the team sheet. Agriculture: North Alabama Agriplex hosted its 26th Touring Farms for Kids program, giving children hands-on lessons about local farms and where food comes from. Tech & Safety Training: Industrial Consulting & Training expanded MSHA certification training across Houston and multiple mining states, including Alabama, to help workers meet federal safety requirements.

Abortion Pill Crackdown: Alabama AG Steve Marshall sent cease-and-desist letters to six companies he says are illegally advertising and selling abortion-inducing medication to Alabama consumers, warning of investigations and penalties. Healthcare Costs: The Trump administration warned more than 500 hospitals nationwide—including Alabama-area facilities—over missing price transparency, with fines up to $2 million annually for noncompliance. Public Health Alert: A Salmonella outbreak tied to moringa leaf powder supplements has expanded to 119 cases across 36 states, prompting FDA recall updates. Local Growth & Planning: Leeds approved a one-year moratorium on new data center campuses and similar high-impact facilities as officials study infrastructure and utility impacts. Community & Culture: Black Music Month spotlights W.C. Handy’s legacy in the Shoals, while Huntsville’s Tennessee Valley Jazz Society hosts a free Acoustic Jazz Jam. Space & Education: Alabama A&M researchers brief U.S. Space Command as the command expands at Redstone Arsenal, and the university and Forest Service host a Forestry Fair for youth.

Healthcare Costs & Transparency: The Trump administration warned more than 500 hospitals to post clearer pricing or face penalties up to $2 million a year, pushing tougher enforcement of federal price-disclosure rules. Rural Health Policy: Alabama’s rural hospitals gained new legal permission to cooperate under Certificates of Public Advantage, aiming to keep small clinics and emergency rooms open by sharing services and staff. Higher Ed Governance: Auburn trustees voted to dissolve the faculty senate and take direct control of curricula, replacing it with a presidential advisory council and sparking backlash from faculty governance advocates. Workforce & AI Infrastructure: Meta launched America’s Workforce Academy, a $115 million paid training push for AI-infrastructure jobs, including roles tied to data centers and modernized grids. Local Business & Jobs: Virginia Transformer is set to build a major Muscle Shoals plant, targeting 1,100 jobs, as Alabama eyes its place in the nation’s transformer bottleneck. Politics: In Alabama’s AG runoff debate, Jay Mitchell and Katherine Robertson sparred over “dark money” accusations. Community & Culture: Birmingham’s FISE return is getting a local boost, with rEvolution named agency of record for FISE Birmingham 2026.

Economic Development: Kamtec Auto USA will open a manufacturing operation in Auburn, investing $9.2 million and creating about 50 jobs over three years. Tech & Infrastructure: Google plans “infrastructure and community investments” across Alabama, with an announcement tied to its Bridgeport data center in Jackson County. Shipbuilding Leadership: Austal USA named Gene Miller president and added senior leaders as the Mobile shipbuilder continues expanding its management team. Workforce & Industry Recognition: HL Mando won GM’s 2025 Supplier of the Year award again, with its Alabama plant producing millions of brake-control units. Higher Education: UAH appointed Srinath Ekkad as dean of its College of Engineering, effective Aug. 5. Local Governance: Prichard Mayor Carletta Davis fired back at council allegations over withheld financial information, citing delays tied to accounting software and a dispute over an interim finance director. Sports (Alabama): Alabama baseball is headed back to the College World Series after a Super Regional sweep; Troy also punched its ticket for the first time in program history.

Medical Marijuana Expansion in Alabama: Alabama’s first legal medical cannabis dispensary, Callie’s Apothecary in Montgomery, opened this week, letting patients buy products under the state’s program—while more storefronts are planned for Mobile and Daphne. Gulf Coast Access: Two Gulf Coast cities are getting their first dispensaries as medical marijuana expands across Alabama. Local Community & Health Care: CMS ratings updates highlight ongoing nursing home performance in Birmingham and Mobile, with facilities earning 3- and 5-star marks in Q1 2026. Politics & Representation: The Congressional Black Caucus warns Southern redistricting could cut Black members of Congress by about a third, after Supreme Court changes affecting how maps are drawn. Labor Push: AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler pledged to unionize 2 million workers over five years. Sports & Courts: Texas Tech QB Brendan Sorsby won a temporary injunction to play in 2026 despite NCAA gambling admissions. Tragedy in Japan: Auburn student Weston Higginbotham, missing for a week, was found dead near Kyoto, prompting an outpouring of support across Alabama.

Supreme Court & Alabama Redistricting: The U.S. Supreme Court allowed Alabama to use a congressional map previously deemed racist, a major shift that could reshape the state’s political battlefield. Health Care & Alabama Hospitals: Jackson Hospital’s leaders say time is running out and are pressing Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama for fair reimbursement to keep the facility open. Higher Education Policy: Auburn’s Board of Trustees voted to replace the Faculty Senate with a new Presidential Academic Advisory Council under HB520, aiming to tighten curriculum and course oversight. Public Health & Cancer Screening: Alabama is getting a new colorectal cancer screening option: a blood-based test for people who won’t do stool tests or colonoscopies. State Politics & Culture Wars: The Supreme Court is also set to weigh major “culture wars” cases, including gun rights and transgender athletes. Community & Storm Recovery: After a storm hit Orange, hundreds of residents were still without power as crews worked to restore electricity. Workforce & Unions: AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler pledged to unionize 2 million workers in five years, betting on turnout and organizing momentum.

Alabama Health: The American Cancer Society added a blood-based option to colorectal cancer screening guidelines, a big deal for Alabama where the disease remains a leading cancer killer. Wildlife & Development: In Baldwin County, gopher tortoises were relocated after burrows were found during a Daphne housing project, showing how private land partnerships can protect threatened species. Nursing Home Watch: CMS ratings updates show Mobile’s Gulf Coast Health and Rehabilitation and Northport’s Park Manor Health and Rehabilitation both landing in the 2–3 star range for Q1 2026, with no fines reported. Supreme Court Culture Wars: The U.S. Supreme Court is set to rule on major gun and transgender-athlete cases, with decisions expected later this month. Local Governance: Homewood City Council will meet Monday to discuss data center zoning and a moratorium idea, plus hemp product business rules. Sports & Community: The HBCU Legacy Bowl is relocating to Atlanta for 2027, and Alabama’s recruiting buzz continues with new commitments. Tragedy in Japan: Auburn student Weston Higginbotham, from Birmingham, was found dead near Kyoto after a dayslong search.

College Sports Recruiting: Alabama landed a new 2027 TE flip as Syracuse commitment Michael Nnabuife pledged to the Crimson Tide, joining the class and adding size and run-blocking value. Basketball Recruiting: Birmingham native Clyde Walters committed to Providence and reclassified into the 2026 class, aiming to start his college career sooner. Public Health Research: A new study links GLP-1-based weight-loss meds to fewer serious heart events and fewer emergency visits for adults dealing with both obesity and autoimmune disease. Local Education Procurement: Vestavia Hills City Schools is seeking bids for districtwide chemical and cleaning product management services. Community & Safety: ALDOT changed the Lynns Park Highway 78 intersection to an RCUT design to reduce dangerous crash points. Tragedy: Auburn student James “Weston” Higginbotham was found dead outside Kyoto, ending a weeklong search after he disappeared during a family trip. Health & Wellness (Local): Stuart Curry Dentistry shared practical oral-health habits, pairing daily care with routine professional cleanings.

Alabama Politics: A key Supreme Court stay keeps Alabama’s Aug. 11 special primary on track using the 2023 GOP congressional map, reshuffling voters for Reps. Terri Sewell and Shomari Figures ahead of a June 16 runoff. Ethics & Public Trust: An indicted Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office employee is accused of funneling money to Sheriff Mark Pettway’s campaign through a business tied to state and federal funds, raising new questions about ethics filings. Health & Aging Mindset: A new survey spotlights three Alabama communities—Mountain Brook, Homewood and Madison—as top “longevity mindset” places, tied to routines, stress levels and community factors. Community & Culture: Cullman County Public Library kicks off summer reading with a block party June 8, featuring local vendors, crafts and activities. Education & Leadership: UA names retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Parker H. Wright as the inaugural dean of its new School of Leadership and Policy, starting Aug. 1.

Alabama Politics & Courts: The U.S. Supreme Court’s latest ruling on Louisiana’s congressional map is being framed as another blow to Black voting power, keeping the spotlight on how courts and lawmakers shape representation. Alabama Sports: Alabama’s 2026 quarterback room is heating up after Ty Simpson, with Austin Mack and Keelon Russell among the key questions for how quickly the offense can gel. Missing Person (Birmingham-area): An Auburn student missing in Japan, James “Weston” Higginbotham, has sparked a family-led search after police scaled back efforts following a reported sighting. Health & Medicine: A new obesity drug, petrelintide, is showing “clinically meaningful” weight loss in early trials with fewer stomach side effects than many GLP-1s. Local Business & Growth: Barberitos is set to expand to Tuscaloosa (and likely Birmingham), while Alabama’s construction sector continues to post strong gains. Community & Culture: The Alabama-Coushatta Tribe is preparing for its annual powwow, with thousands expected to attend.

QSBS Tax Break: Congress expanded the Qualified Small Business Stock (Section 1202) exclusion, letting more investors potentially dodge federal capital gains taxes—an Alabama-relevant reminder that tax policy can reshape who gets to grow wealth. Gulf Seafood Transparency: Alabama shrimpers say the real problem isn’t foreign shrimp—it’s restaurants marketing imported product as locally caught, pushing for stronger seafood labeling rules. Construction Boom: Alabama hit an 18-year high in construction jobs (nearly 112,000) as demand for housing and projects keeps worker shortages front and center. Meat Processing Grants: Alabama agriculture officials urged eligible meat processors to apply for USDA beef processing expansion grants (MPPEP 4), with an Aug. 7 deadline. Energy Costs & Rates: A new map shows electricity prices vary wildly by state, while Alabama’s Public Service Commission ordered a hearing on a natural gas company’s rates. Defense Tech: Alabama firm Astrion won a $349.4M Navy framework role supporting unmanned maritime systems through 2034. Local Politics: Kent Back announced his reelection campaign for Gadsden City Council District 4. Health Care Watch: Jackson Hospital warned it may close by July without a deal with Blue Cross, as leaders point to reimbursement pressure.

Pride alternatives in Alabama: Gov. Kay Ivey has declared June “Strong Families Month,” joining other GOP governors who’ve rebranded Pride with “Nuclear Family” or “Fidelity” themes. College sports fight: A Senate hearing on the Protect College Sports Act featured Alabama’s Nick Saban and others warning the system is broken, with cuts to women’s and Olympic sports at stake. Alabama election costs: Alabama’s special primary for four U.S. House districts is projected to cost about $4.45 million, mainly to reimburse counties for election expenses. Infrastructure and jobs: The Alabama Port Authority highlighted more than $49 million in federal funding for Mobile projects, while Auburn is set to gain Kamtec Auto USA’s $9.2 million facility and about 50 jobs. Local governance: Huntsville permanently shut down 708 Bar & Grille after a judge found zoning violations and a public nuisance. Health and safety: Alabama’s medical board is warning doctors to avoid non-FDA-approved peptides as the social-media trend grows.