AGP Executive Report

Energy Market Critique: A new column argues Indiana ratepayers are effectively paying for power that never gets generated, pointing to day-ahead market rules where generators can be paid for commitments even if they don’t run. Data Center Policy: Whitley County is moving to a data-center moratorium while it drafts an ordinance, joining a growing Indiana pushback over zoning and impacts. New Indiana Laws (July 1): Indiana’s July 1 changes include tighter rules on immigration detainer compliance, limits on student cell phone use, and new restrictions on camping or long-term shelter on state land. Childcare Pressure: A statewide childcare affordability snapshot highlights steep costs for infants and toddlers, with families and providers still struggling to meet demand. Public Health Alert: USDA issued a public health alert for a Kroger/Fred Meyer chicken product due to an undeclared egg allergen and misbranding, urging consumers to discard or return affected items. Local Business & Community: Greencastle’s redevelopment commission reviewed a plan for a Ballard Lane commercial site split into up to three parcels, while Fort Wayne’s Junior Achievement is set to launch JA Legacy Park with a July 11 kickoff.

Indiana Utility Regulation: Gov. Mike Braun removed former IURC chair Andy Zay and named Anthony Swinger as the new chairman, citing affordability priorities—an abrupt leadership change that critics say raises political-independence concerns. Energy & Consumer Costs: AAA reports the national gas average has dipped below $4 to about $3.86 as tensions ease between Washington and Tehran, though prices still run higher than last year heading into the July 4 travel rush. Food & Agriculture: Indiana Farm Bureau’s summer “market basket” for a cookout feeding 10 shows a 7% drop from last year, with eggs driving the biggest decrease; Indiana also faces ongoing food-safety scrutiny after a USDA alert flagged mislabeled chicken products containing undeclared egg. Healthcare & Biopharma: The FDA selected Eli Lilly and Regeneron for a PreCheck pilot to speed reviews of new U.S. drug manufacturing sites while facilities are still under construction. Workforce & Training: Walmart is expanding its “associate to technician” skilled-trades training hub to Atlanta, with Indiana already included in the network. Local Business & Growth: Primark is set to open its first Indiana store at Castleton Square Mall on July 23, adding a new discount fashion option for shoppers. Policy & Courts: A federal judge blocked an Indiana proxy-adviser disclosure law set to take effect July 1, marking another win for ISS and Glass Lewis. Community & Safety: Cooling centers opened across Michiana as dangerous heat moved in, while Indiana’s fireworks risk ranking highlights the need for safer backyard practices this weekend.

Indiana Politics: Max Engling won the Indiana GOP nomination for secretary of state, setting up a November race focused on election integrity, voter roll audits, and early voting changes. Energy Regulation: The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission approved a large rate hike after Gov. Mike Braun reshuffled the panel, raising fresh questions about how independent the regulator can be. Public Safety & Business Tech: INDIGITAL’s MEVO platform earned recognition for keeping 911 call handling running during major hurricanes, highlighting demand for resilient emergency communications. Healthcare & Startups: NeuroBell secured about €5.5 million to scale its LUNA neonatal brain monitor for U.S. NICUs, aiming to improve seizure detection. Immigration Impact: A Supreme Court ruling allowing the Trump administration to end Haitian and Syrian TPS status puts thousands in Indiana at risk, with community leaders warning of job and healthcare fallout. Local Economy & Growth: The Chicago Bears are conducting soil testing near Hammond’s Wolf Lake as they advance a potential new stadium and mixed-use district. Agriculture: Frost and flooding have left parts of the Midwest and Ohio wheat crop battered, while soybeans show partial recovery but face issues like slug infestations.

Stadium Search: The Chicago Bears are still narrowing a Hammond, Ind., site near Wolf Lake, testing land at Wolf Lake Terminal as they weigh parcels for a stadium and mixed-use district, after earlier board action to move forward but without a firm build commitment. Manufacturing Layoffs: Enkei America says it will close its North Jacksonville wheel plant, cutting 62 jobs, citing labor recruitment/retention issues and high operating and maintenance costs. Local Business Tech: Flush Locks is rolling out cashless restroom access at restaurants via smart locks that take codes or card/mobile payments, aiming to monetize high-traffic bathroom demand. Public Safety & Weather: Flash flooding in Kentucky has killed at least four, with Indiana also hit by heavy rain and ongoing cleanup. Healthcare Leadership: Franciscan Alliance CEO Kevin Leahy is stepping down effective Dec. 31, with a transition plan through 2027. Animal Health: Elanco says it’s ramping support for veterinarians and producers as New World screwworm reaches the U.S. Workforce/AI: A new bipartisan effort, RAISE US, led by Gina Raimondo and Eric Holcomb, is pushing a national workforce strategy for the AI era.

Indiana Sports & Policy: The Indiana Gaming Commission tabled an NCAA request to ban player-specific college prop bets, keeping traditional game wagers legal while pushing the decision to September. Indiana Economy & Infrastructure: A Purdue-linked study warns rural communities are pushing back on AI data centers over higher electricity bills, water strain, and loss of prime farmland. Indiana Business & Consumer: Indiana’s first Buc-ee’s is moving toward Greenwood, with a planned $85 million, 74,000-square-foot travel center and 120 pumps aimed at drawing about 1 million visitors a year. Indiana Public Safety & Tech: TSA at Indianapolis International Airport seized two live smoke grenades hidden in checked luggage, including one inside a jar of peanut butter. Indiana Health & Finance: AssuranceAmerica says a breach may have exposed sensitive data for at least 1.1 million people across seven states, including Social Security numbers. National Policy Watch: Seventeen GOP-led states, including Indiana, sued California over its plastics packaging law, arguing it drives up costs and violates state sovereignty.

Indiana Politics & Regulation: Indiana is joining a coalition of 16 states suing California over its plastic packaging law, arguing it unlawfully forces nationwide compliance and raises costs for everyday goods. Utilities & Infrastructure: Indiana’s I-69 Ohio River Crossing in Evansville is in its final months, with approach bridges and roadway work nearing completion after fall 2024 start. Public Finance & Services: A $143,000 Indiana Department of Correction grant is funding an occupational therapist for Porter County juveniles, expanding community corrections outreach across detention, probation and home detention. Local Business & Growth: Casey’s General Stores says it plans to add at least 400 new stores over the next three years, leaning on prepared foods, nonalcoholic drinks and tech to support expansion. Food Safety: A recent Indiana-area food inspection roundup lists 10 establishments cited for mild violations, with many corrected on site or scheduled for follow-up. Gaming & Economic Development: Steuben County is marketing a lakefront casino site near Fremont, but the project hinges on a November referendum.

Property Tax Overhaul: Indiana Republican Rep. J.D. Prescott is floating a plan to end the state’s property tax system and replace it with a 7% sales tax on services, aiming to generate $13B-$15B annually versus about $10.6B in expected property-tax collections. Energy & Land Use: Knox County’s Energy Land Use Advisory Committee is reviewing solar rules and expanding guidance for battery storage, with a focus on emergency response—panelists say the safest approach in a battery fire is often to let it burn out under controlled conditions. Data Centers: Vantage Data Centers has topped out the second building at its Lighthouse campus in Wisconsin tied to OpenAI’s Stargate, with the full project targeting 902MW and more than 1,000 permanent jobs; the company also has Indiana sites in development. Healthcare Workplace: Parkview Health again made Newsweek’s “Greatest Workplaces in Healthcare,” improving to a 4.5-star rating. Labor & Retail: A proposed class-action lawsuit accuses Hy-Vee (including Indiana’s Strack & Van Til) of dodging overtime rules by using “department manager” titles. Public Safety Grants: NIPSCO is accepting applications for its Public Safety Education and Training Grant (up to $5,000), due July 31.

Retail & Real Estate: Martin’s Super Markets finished a renovation in Granger, adding a “Side Door Cantina” burrito/bowl bar, expanded grab-and-go, a refreshed deli, upgraded meat and seafood service, a larger floral department, and a reflowed bakery and produce area aimed at boosting in-store convenience. Housing Demand Watch: Indiana’s single-family building permits totaled 1,913 in May—up 1% from April but down 7% from May 2025—while overall single-family permits for the first five months of 2026 remain below last year, underscoring affordability pressure. Labor & Energy: Unionized BP refinery workers in Whiting, locked out for 100 days, picketed BP’s Chicago HQ demanding an end to job cuts and contractor replacements. Local Governance & Costs: Gary Library employees say promised 5% cost-of-living raises are still delayed, citing uncertainty tied to new state tax changes. Business Climate & Policy: Seventeen state attorneys general, including Indiana’s, sued California over its plastics packaging law, arguing it will raise costs nationwide. Workforce & AI: A new $500 million-backed nonprofit, co-founded by former Gov. Eric Holcomb and former Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, is launching AI workforce transition pilots with major employers. Public Safety: Porter County E911 staff earned National Emergency Number Association certification, and officials highlighted major call surges during recent tornado response.

Tyre Industry Reshuffle: Michelin says it will close its BFGoodrich Tuscaloosa, Alabama plant by end of 2028, winding down production in phases and consolidating nearly all output at its Fort Wayne, Indiana facility; the move affects about 1,200 jobs and comes with a one-time charge of about €220 million. AI Workforce Push: A new nonprofit, RAISE US, backed by major philanthropists and tech leaders, is launching with more than $500 million to help workers pivot as AI reshapes jobs, starting with pilots in Arkansas, Maryland, Utah and Connecticut. AI and Media Clash: A group of 35 local and regional newspaper publishers sued Microsoft and OpenAI in New York, alleging automated scraping and use of paywalled content in training for ChatGPT and Copilot without permission or payment. Energy and Data Centers: Pennsylvania lawmakers are split on how aggressively to regulate data center incentives, with one bill backing Shapiro’s transparency-linked approach and another seeking to repeal the sales tax break. Local Public Safety Funding: NiSource’s Northern Indiana utility is accepting applications for its Public Safety Education and Training Grant, supporting nonprofits and first responders across the region. Education Governance: Indianapolis Public Schools approved changes to its innovation school contracts, including allowing Cold Spring School to remain in the Innovation Network as a charter innovation school.

Labor Market: Fort Wayne metro’s unemployment rate fell below 3% in May, dropping to 2.9% (from 3.4% a year earlier) as the labor force grew and the number of unemployed workers declined. Inflation & Cost of Living: A new CPI read shows the Midwest running hotter than the U.S. overall in May, with gasoline and housing-related costs driving the gap—no clear relief for everyday expenses. AI Workforce: Former Gov. Eric Holcomb and Gina Raimondo are launching RAISE US, a new nonprofit backed by major employers and aiming to retrain workers for an AI-driven economy. Public Safety Tech & Privacy: Bloomington residents raised concerns about Flock license plate readers, after thousands of internal emails surfaced and a third-party data vendor became a flashpoint. Banking & Growth: First Merchants Bank and NCRC announced a new $2.02 billion community benefits agreement to expand financial wellness across Indiana, Michigan and Ohio. Business Expansion: Hot Head Burritos is opening a new Newburgh location, adding to its growing Indiana footprint. Energy & Industry: Aecon agreed to buy Oaktree’s preferred stake in Aecon Utilities, positioning the company to capture full economic benefits in utility infrastructure.

Indiana Tax Policy: Indiana Republicans are pushing property tax elimination, with Rep. J.D. Prescott pitching a phase-out plan that supporters call “well-thought-out” but critics warn could strain school funding and local budgets. EV Manufacturing & Jobs: Slate opened preorders for its $24,950 electric pickup, with deliveries targeted for Q4 2026, and says it’s investing about $400 million in a Warsaw, Indiana plant tied to 2,000+ jobs. Utilities & Rates: Gov. Mike Braun replaced Andy Zay as chairman of the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission, and a new IURC chairman is vowing closer scrutiny of utility rate requests. Energy & Transportation Costs: A Greller column warns that pausing Indiana’s gas taxes for relief could disrupt road funding and raise long-term costs if the “temporary” fix becomes a longer swing. Local Governance & Infrastructure: Marion County approved a vehicle registration tax increase to match funds for road and infrastructure improvements, while Indiana’s I-Team highlights communication and service issues in Marion police operations. Sports Business & Local Talent: The Pacers traded to draft Purdue point guard Braden Smith, keeping him in Indiana, while NCAA proposals would expand offseason practices and shorten the transfer portal window. Regional Economy: A Prologis bid for UK’s Segro signals continued momentum in the data center buildout tied to Indiana’s broader incentive debate.

NBA Draft Trade Talk: The Pacers may have a path into Wednesday’s second round after ESPN reported the Knicks and Grizzlies are “actively fielding offers” for picks No. 31 and 32. Local Economy & Jobs: Fort Wayne’s metro unemployment fell to 2.9% in May, with the state citing year-over-year job-market strength. Indiana Policy: State lawmakers highlighted July 1 changes, including new social media safeguards for youth, housing and education deregulation, and tighter rules for vape sellers. Healthcare & Fraud: The DOJ announced a sweeping $6.5B healthcare fraud takedown involving 455 defendants across 45 states. Energy & Industry: A report says the Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo trade leaves Milwaukee retooling after the franchise icon’s departure. Community & Culture: Lakeshore Public Media won a $50,000 dollar-for-dollar matching grant to produce a Lake County storytelling series for 2027. Sports & Safety: A Marion County case targeting WNBA guard Sophie Cunningham ended with an arrest on stalking and intimidation charges.

BioHeartland Branding: Indiana’s bioscience ecosystem is getting a new umbrella identity—“BioHeartland”—to unify human health, animal health and plant science and help attract investment and talent. Healthcare Workplace Awards: Parkview Health in Fort Wayne earned a spot on Newsweek’s Greatest Workplaces in Health Care list again, while Sweetwater climbed to No. 4 on North America’s Most Inspiring Workplaces list. Energy & Consumer Pressure: President Trump says the DOJ will investigate alleged gas price gouging, pointing to Indiana’s lower pump prices versus higher-cost states. Indiana Business Growth: Birdcall mapped a Midwest franchise push that includes 10–15 Indiana locations across major metros. State Utility Leadership: Gov. Braun replaced the chairman of the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission, signaling continued oversight of utility rates and policy. Sports Business Shockwave (National): The Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo trade to the Heat is reshaping NBA economics and team-building plans, with major player-and-pick movement.

NBA Trade Shockwave: The Miami Heat finalized a blockbuster for Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis, sending Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kel’el Ware and Kasparas Jakucionis plus multiple picks to Milwaukee, instantly reshaping title odds and the Eastern Conference. Indiana Utility Watch: Gov. Mike Braun named Anthony Swinger as the new chairman of the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission days after calling an AES Indiana rate hike “unacceptable,” keeping affordability front and center. Local Education Finance: Indianapolis voters will consider a 37-cent-per-$100 assessed-value operating referendum this fall to raise about $90 million annually for IPS and participating charter schools, aiming to prevent deeper cuts. Health Policy & Courts: A federal judge struck down SNAP “unhealthy food” limits in five states, saying USDA lacked authority to approve the restrictions. Data Center Demand: CBRE reports vacancy in major U.S. data center markets hit record lows even as inventory rose, with much of the new capacity preleased. Sports Eligibility Fallout: The NFL declined to hold a 2026 supplemental draft, effectively pausing Brendan Sorsby’s pro path after his gambling-related eligibility fight. Business Community Impact: A Noblesville shop blamed downtown construction for plummeting sales and announced a Logan Street closure in July.

NBA Trade Shock: The Milwaukee Bucks have officially agreed to trade Giannis Antetokounmpo (and Bobby Portis) to the Miami Heat, sending Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kel’el Ware, Kasparas Jakucionis, plus multiple draft picks and a 2030 swap to Milwaukee—setting up a major ripple effect right before the 2026 NBA Draft. Indiana Utility Oversight: Gov. Mike Braun named Anthony Swinger chairman of the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission, replacing Andy Zay, after a dispute over Duke Energy Indiana’s alleged over-collection of nearly $90 million. Commerce Leadership: Braun said David Adams will transition out as Indiana Secretary of Commerce June 30, and announced Chuck Goodrich as his successor. Life Sciences & Pharma Deal: Aurobindo Pharma USA received FTC approval to acquire Lannett for $250 million, with Lannett’s Seymour, Indiana manufacturing cited as key to scaling supply. Statehouse Watch: Rep. Bartels highlighted several new laws taking effect July 1, including streamlining boards and commissions and expanding childcare access. Local Development: Greenwood’s plan commission continued a proposal for Indiana’s first Buc-ee’s, with residents split over rezoning, traffic, and safety impacts.

Indiana Infrastructure: Greencastle is moving ahead with a $203,000 sidewalk project this summer, replacing an aging brick stretch along Franklin Street to improve safety and ADA access. Local Preservation: Lafayette’s historic Lafayette Theater is seeking approval to renovate its iconic marquee, a move tied to its downtown historic district status and Indiana Landmarks easement rules. School Operations: Richmond Community Schools will return fifth graders to elementary schools for 2027-28, a shift expected to cost more than $5 million in construction. Education Services: DeKalb Central will withdraw from the Northeastern Indiana Special Education Cooperative, with the district taking full responsibility for special education starting 2027-28. Energy Policy: The Trump administration renewed an emergency order keeping two Indiana coal plants running through mid-September, citing grid reliability and energy costs. Housing Costs vs Safety: Indiana is among states loosening building code requirements to cut construction costs, but critics warn changes like fewer stairways could raise safety risks. Elections: Max Engling won the GOP secretary of state nomination over Diego Morales, pitching tighter election security and changes to mail-in ballot rules. Workforce/Youth: Indiana is one of several states easing child labor protections this year, including changes that reduce employer reporting requirements for youth employment.