AGP Executive Report

Indiana GOP Convention: Local and state Republican leaders urged unity as nearly 1,800 delegates met in Fort Wayne for the Indiana GOP convention, where the party will choose its secretary of state nominee amid controversies around incumbent Diego Morales and a crowded field. Utility Affordability: Gov. Mike Braun called for a rehearing of an Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission decision that approved a $71 million AES Indiana rate increase, directing the state’s ratepayer advocate to seek reconsideration. Healthcare Costs & Growth: Parkview Health’s expansion continues to draw scrutiny over hospital pricing, as lawmakers weigh how nonprofit systems set rates and negotiate with insurers. Ports & Freight: U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy toured Ports of Indiana–Burns Harbor, highlighting Great Lakes and inland waterways investment as a key freight strategy. Manufacturing Workforce Gap: A skills shortage push continues, with new automation branding THRYVE Automation pitching end-to-end solutions aimed at labor and productivity challenges for manufacturers. Local Business Closures: A Butler-area sports bar and adjacent venues abruptly announced closures in the coming days, underscoring ongoing pressure on local hospitality. Disaster Relief: Gov. Braun declared a state of disaster emergency for 63 Indiana counties, opening applications to the State Disaster Relief Fund for eligible storm and flood damage.

Severe Weather Response: Gov. Mike Braun declared a state of disaster emergency for 63 Indiana counties after flooding, tornadoes and a derecho, unlocking state disaster relief funding for eligible uninsured/underinsured homeowners for up to $25,000. Banking & Finance: CNB Bank promoted Justin R. Maney to senior vice president, director of accounting operations, expanding oversight of core accounting and internal controls. State Politics: Indiana Republicans head to a June 20 convention in Fort Wayne to choose a secretary of state nominee, with Diego Morales seeking reelection and challengers David Shelton and Jamie Reitenour pressing the fight. Economic Development Leadership: Indiana’s commerce secretary role is set to shift as Gov. Braun taps former lawmaker Chuck Goodrich, a Gaylor Electric CEO, to lead the department. Public Policy & Business Climate: Indiana is moving to close the online “sweepstakes” casino loophole, with enforcement coming soon and fines up to $100,000 for operators. Local Business & Community: City Market’s west wing demolition is set to begin as Indy’s Whistler Plaza redesign advances, with catacombs preserved behind glass. Energy Costs Watch: GasBuddy reports show midgrade prices dipping in parts of Indiana, including a Jones County low of $3.67 for the week ending June 13.

Gas Prices: The national average for regular gasoline fell to $3.999 a gallon, dipping below $4 for the first time since late March, but drivers are still paying about $1 more than before the Iran conflict and roughly 25% higher than a year ago. Indiana Energy & Rates: The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission approved a $71 million electricity rate increase for AES Indiana, a decision critics say doesn’t fully deliver on promised consumer protection. Storm Recovery: Cleanup continues after EF-2 tornado damage in parts of Indiana and severe storms across the Tri-State region, with officials confirming at least one tornado and surveying more impacts. Local Business/Travel: Avelo Airlines launched nonstop flights from Indianapolis to New Haven, Conn., and Concord, N.C., expanding nonstop options to 57 destinations. Healthcare Deal: Olio partnered with Sterling Healthcare Management to streamline inbound referrals and post-discharge tracking across Sterling’s eight Indiana skilled nursing communities. Sports Business: The Pirates traded catcher Joey Bart to the Braves for right-hander Hunter Stratton, with Stratton heading to Triple-A Indianapolis.

Commerce Leadership: Gov. Braun named Chuck Goodrich as Indiana’s next secretary of commerce, a move that signals a fresh push on economic development priorities. Energy & Policy: The Trump administration agreed to pay $765 million to Invenergy to terminate four offshore wind leases, with funds earmarked for natural gas and geothermal projects—another step in the broader offshore wind pullback. Indiana Business Media: Circle City Broadcasting and Hoosier AgToday partnered to relaunch WRTV as “Indiana’s Ag TV Station,” aiming to expand statewide agriculture coverage tied to a $31.2 billion sector. Legal/Immigration: A federal judge ordered ICE to release Salah Sarsour from an Indiana jail, citing a substantial First Amendment retaliation claim and health concerns. Local Government/Health Costs: Wayne County commissioners renewed their employee health insurance with One80, raising the per-person maximum while lowering the premium. Higher Ed Oversight: Indiana and other states are accelerating academic program reviews, with Indiana consolidating and cutting dozens of degree offerings.

Stadium Deal Watch: The Chicago Bears moved to advance their northwest Indiana stadium project in Hammond, a step Indiana officials are treating as momentum toward a multibillion-dollar deal, though site selection still isn’t final. Data Center Pressure: Pike County commissioners heard hours of public concern about potential data centers, while Indiana community leaders also pushed for a short-term data center moratorium. Utility & Infrastructure: Citizens Energy Group is reaching out to residents for lead service line replacement tied to the city’s 10th & Rural project, with major intersection work slated for late 2026. Energy Regulation: Indiana regulators approved a $71 million rate increase for AES Indiana, and the state’s ratepayer advocate says Duke overcharged customers. Business & Growth: Laborde Products expanded its Mitsubishi Marine Engines dealer network by adding 5R Enterprises, strengthening Midwest sales and service. Cybersecurity Tip: The BBB urged Indiana businesses to build a digital defense plan, starting with scanning key systems and safeguarding customer data. Local Economy & Jobs: A new ALICE report says more than 1 million Indiana households are struggling with rising costs of basic necessities.

Sports & Media: Nike officially unveiled Caitlin Clark’s signature shoe, the “Caitlin 1,” with a planned Oct. 1 release, adding another major-brand revenue stream to the WNBA sneaker boom. Broadcasting: The WNBA is expanding its 2026 visibility on CNBC via simulcasts of 11 games, while the league also announced a 50-game regular season starting in 2027. Real Estate & Finance: HPP Equity LLC acquired Highland Quarters, a 224-bed student housing community across from Indiana State University in Terre Haute, financed by Centier Bank. Local Business: Lakeshore Public Media will simulcast WBAA News 101.3 on WLPR 89.1 starting July 6, aiming to stabilize public radio service after major revenue losses. Community Health: Gift of Hope announced a year-long media partnership with WGN-TV to boost organ and tissue donor registrations across Illinois and Northwest Indiana. Public Safety/Weather: Lake County approved a disaster emergency declaration after June 11 storms and tornadoes, making the county eligible for state and federal relief.

Trade & Enforcement: U.S. Customs and Border Protection says it seized more than $134,000 in counterfeit FIFA World Cup 2026 merchandise in Indianapolis during “Operation Winner’s Circle,” stopping 18 shipments from June 1-5 and confiscating 1,578 fake items including 530 jerseys and 380 beanies. Workforce & Logistics: USA Truck, based in Van Buren, added a two-year apprenticeship program aimed at veterans leaving active duty, pairing full company pay with Military Housing Allowance support to reduce the financial hit during the first 24 months. Local Health: HealthLinc will host back-to-school community health fairs across northern Indiana, offering screenings, well-child checkups, and sports physicals at multiple sites in July. Weather Risk: CNN reports a severe storm setup for Wednesday across the Midwest, with a heightened tornado risk stretching toward Indiana. Energy Costs: GasBuddy price reports show spotty but lower fuel pricing in parts of the country for the week ending June 6, with Indiana regular gas averaging $3.48 in one dataset.

Fiber Expansion: Ritter Communications is merging with Great Plains Communications to form Rightfiber, a privately held provider building a 28,000-mile fiber network spanning 20 states and 400+ communities, with Ritter CEO Heath Simpson leading as CEO. Education & Governance: Indianapolis Public Schools is seeking an appointee for a vacant District 4 board seat after Allissa Impink resigned to run for Indiana State Senate; the new member serves until January, with major board elections in November amid new oversight powers from the Indianapolis Public Education Corporation. Workforce & Tech Equity: Camille Walker is bringing “ethical AI” to Indianapolis, using her background training language models to address community concerns about data centers and AI impacts. Ag & Energy: POET BioProcessing’s Indiana ethanol expansion will raise processing capacity to 193 million gallons annually, boosting corn demand and doubling dried distillers grains and corn oil output, with completion targeted for Q4 2027. Healthcare Operations: Olio partnered with WeCare Centers to standardize post-discharge referrals and improve visibility into home health and hospice performance across facilities. Business Growth: The LaGrange County Chamber won four statewide Innovative Excellence Awards for tourism promotion, a legislative priority process, work-based learning leadership, and inclusive employment efforts.

Workforce & AI Infrastructure: Meta says it will invest $115 million in a new “America’s Workforce Academy,” offering free training for data center construction and operations jobs, with pilot sites planned for Indiana and other states in 2026. Housing & Construction: Realtor.com’s 2026 “housing report cards” put Indiana at the top for affordability and homebuilding activity, while Midwest and Southern states dominated the highest grades. Healthcare Costs: The Trump administration is pressing hundreds of hospitals to publish standard pricing data or face steep penalties, a move that could push more transparent, upfront cost shopping. College Sports/Gambling: The Brendan Sorsby eligibility saga is shifting to the NFL as Texas Tech says he won’t play in 2026 and he plans to enter the NFL supplemental draft after a gambling-related eligibility fight. Public Safety/Local Impact: A private plane crash near Butler Memorial Airport in Missouri killed 12, including 11 skydivers and the pilot. Food Safety: The FDA upgraded an Alfredo sauce recall to its highest risk level after potential Salmonella contamination, with Indiana among affected states.

Retail Expansion: Kroger opened a nearly $40 million, 120,000-square-foot Kroger Marketplace in Noblesville, adding more than 300 jobs and rolling out features like a Murray’s Cheese Shop, Starbucks and a store-made popcorn café. Local Planning: Auburn’s Plan Commission approved a development plan for NATMUS’s 9,000-square-foot cold storage building and advanced a rezoning recommendation for industrial use along Auburn Drive. Infrastructure & Community Events: Cambridge City leaders said I-70 construction could force Canal Days to move from its usual spot to Creitz Park, with parade plans still uncertain. Data Center Governance: Jefferson County commissioners outlined how a data center moratorium could be adopted, noting it wouldn’t affect the proposed Jefferson Proving Ground project but could block other proposals during the moratorium period. Public Safety & Consumer Protection: U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized 1,578 counterfeit FIFA World Cup 2026 items in Indianapolis during Operation Winner’s Circle. Education Policy: A Supreme Court decision left in place Noblesville Schools’ restriction on student anti-abortion flyers. Agriculture Tech: Purdue’s Center for Commercial Agriculture launched a tool to help farmers estimate regional cost of production for better working-capital decisions.

AI & National Security: The U.S. ordered Anthropic to disable foreign access to its most advanced models after concerns they could be “jailbroken,” raising alarms in Silicon Valley about how far Washington will go to control frontier AI. Local Economic Development: In Warrick County, residents pressed commissioners to impose a two-year moratorium on proposed data centers, citing water, noise, pollution, utilities, and disaster-planning risks; officials took no action and said no center plans are on the books. Broadband & Governance: Arnolt Center/Indiana Capital Chronicle reports Blackford County used READI funding to uncover gaps and push fiber expansion, showing how state money can hinge on local testing and execution. Business & Markets: SpaceX’s record Nasdaq debut pushed its value past $2T, making it the sixth-largest U.S. company by value and fueling investor appetite for AI-linked growth. Food Safety: The FDA classified an Alfredo sauce recall as Class I after possible Salmonella contamination, with distribution across 41 states including Indiana. Indiana Community: Camp Atterbury Community Day highlighted the base’s role and partnerships with surrounding communities.

Data Centers & Energy: Amazon Web Services is proposing a major data center campus in Wheatfield, with an estimated $7 billion investment and a reported $1.25 billion payment to offset added electricity costs for local ratepayers, as the project would draw power near an existing NIPSCO plant. Severe Weather & Power: Indiana Michigan Power says restoration after late-week storms is nearly complete, with about 735 customers still out and crews focusing on Elkhart; the utility expects most remaining outages to be restored by Sunday evening. Community & Business Support: The Food Bank of Northwest Indiana and United Way Northwest Indiana are partnering on mobile food distributions for locked-out United Steelworkers Local 7-1 members at the BP Whiting refinery, with additional dates scheduled through July. Local Economy Watch: A report flags a tougher summer jobs outlook for Hoosier teens, tied to fewer available openings nationally and a “low fire, low hire” hiring environment. Public Safety: A tornado survey confirmed EF-0 to EF-1 damage in LaGrange and Steuben counties, with additional investigation work planned.

Data Centers & Power Costs: Amazon Web Services is proposing a major data center campus in Wheatfield (Jasper County), with an estimated $7 billion investment and a reported $1.25 billion payment aimed at offsetting higher electricity costs for local ratepayers. Energy & Consumer Pressure: Gas prices are easing again, with California’s average down 10 cents to $5.97 and the national average also falling as crude stays under $100 a barrel. Severe Weather Recovery: Northwest Indiana communities are still cleaning up after an EF-2 tornado hit Merrillville, with NIPSCO working to restore power to thousands. Local Business Resilience: Lanesville residents and volunteers are rebuilding after flash flooding damaged schools’ athletic facilities, with fundraising underway for repairs. Sports & Indiana Ties: The Indiana Fever beat the Connecticut Sun 85-75, but Caitlin Clark’s late technical foul adds to her growing discipline concerns. NBA Front-Office Watch: Reports say the Pacers are among teams interested in Pelicans wing Trey Murphy III, with a potential package involving Indiana players and multiple draft picks.

Amazon/AWS Expansion: AWS is proposing a major data center campus in Wheatfield, Indiana, with up to nine buildings on a 304-acre site near NIPSCO’s Schahfer Generating Station, pegging the investment at about $7 billion and offering $1.25 billion to offset energy-cost impacts on local ratepayers. Healthcare/Deal Watch: Eli Lilly is presenting early clinical data tied to its $2.3B Ajax Therapeutics acquisition, reporting encouraging safety and promising activity for a first-in-class type II JAK2 inhibitor in myelofibrosis patients previously treated with type I JAK2 drugs. Indiana Economy & Cost Pressures: A new ALICE report finds 39% of Northwest Indiana households can’t afford basic needs, while 38% statewide struggle—highlighting how costs are rising faster than wages. Indiana Tax Policy: Gov. Mike Braun ceremonially signed a law expanding property tax relief for disabled Hoosier veterans, including a shift to cover 100% of assessed value for qualifying total disabilities. Lottery Glitch: The Hoosier Lottery halted sales of its Space Invaders Cash Invasion $5 scratch-off after a printing error led players to see inflated top prizes that don’t match official payouts. Food Safety: The FDA announced a recall of Farm Rich Pizza Cheese Crunchers in 21+ states due to possible metal contamination.

Data Center Economics: Amazon Web Services is pitching a major data center campus in Wheatfield, Indiana, with up to nine buildings on a 304-acre site and an estimated $7 billion investment, while offering $1.25 billion to offset higher electricity costs for local ratepayers. Severe Weather & Recovery: Tornadoes and storms across the Midwest left widespread damage and hundreds of thousands without power, including an EF-2 tornado in Merrillville and damage in other Indiana communities as cleanup and restoration stretch into next week. Local Governance & Infrastructure: Fort Wayne is using pavement ratings to guide street repair priorities, with a reported $37 million in neighborhood improvements this year and a data-driven approach to where work gets done. Elections & Public Office: Indiana secretary of state candidates are making election-security and shell-company crackdowns a central theme ahead of the GOP convention. Business & Community: A Wagyu-focused Indianapolis event highlights premium local food branding, while Love’s Travel Stops continues expanding with new travel centers and truck-parking upgrades.

Healthcare Costs & Transparency: The Trump administration warned more than 500 hospitals to post clearer pricing or face penalties up to $2 million annually, arguing hidden costs keep bills higher than they should. Data Centers & Power Demand: AWS is proposing a major data center campus in Wheatfield, Indiana, with an estimated $7 billion investment and a reported $1.25 billion payment to offset energy-cost impacts on local ratepayers. Skilled Trades Pipeline: Meta is launching a $115 million “America’s Workforce Academy” to train workers for data center construction, starting in Indiana (along with Louisiana, Ohio and Texas) with a four-week program and job offers. Local Business & Growth: UFP Packaging is expanding its corrugated operations in Indiana and partnering with automation firms to boost efficiency and customer experience. Public Safety: Severe storms and tornadoes hit the Chicago area and parts of Indiana, knocking out power for hundreds of thousands and damaging homes and infrastructure. Community & Workforce Support: NIPSCO urged residents not to DIY electrical and gas work during National Safety Month, pushing for licensed professionals.