AGP Executive Report

Leadership Shake-Up: Peckham Industries, with sites in Vermont, named John R. Peckham interim CEO immediately, replacing Damian J. Murphy; the company says day-to-day operations and its long-term growth plan won’t change. Connecticut Energy & Costs: AAA reports Labor Day gas prices hit a record $4.14; Energy Secretary Chris Wright pointed to rising production and demand dynamics, while noting Connecticut and other states declined new blending standards. Auto Repair Demand: As Americans keep cars longer, transmission and repair shops like Croce’s Transmission Specialists in CT say customers are bringing in additional vehicles for preventive work, pushing the industry toward more process- and tech-driven service. Local Business Spotlight: Ocean Point’s column highlights community recognition for local Maine businesses in Down East Magazine’s “Best of Maine.” Tech/Policy Watch: Connecticut’s AG issued a crypto warning after an investor lost $200K, underscoring ongoing risks around unregulated DeFi exchanges. Sports Betting Market Access: Prediction-market promos keep expanding in CT, with Kalshi, DraftKings, and Polymarket offering sign-up bonuses tied to NFL and MLB slates. Public Safety & Immigration: Danbury approved allowing non-citizens to apply for police roles after ICE activity, a move that could reshape local hiring and community-policing dynamics.

Leadership Shake-Up: Peckham Industries, with sites in Vermont, named John R. Peckham interim CEO effective immediately, replacing Damian J. Murphy; the company says day-to-day operations and its growth plan won’t change. Public Safety & Privacy: Saratoga Springs residents urged the city council not to renew a Flock automated license plate reader contract, arguing it threatens civil liberties even as officials defended the cameras. Health Tech in CT: Greenwich teens Brynn Forlizzi and Teddy Aaron launched Soothe Note, an app that helps cancer patients and caregivers track symptoms and share visit-ready reports with doctors. Crypto Watch: Connecticut’s AG issued a crypto alert after an investor lost $200K, adding to the state’s growing scrutiny of digital finance. Courtroom Fallout: A Massachusetts murder trial for Lindsay Clancy ended in a mistrial, and a GoFundMe supporting her parents Mike and Paula Musgrove has surged past $1.1M with a raised $3M goal. Sports Business: The WNBA’s Cathy Engelbert faced fresh scrutiny over a 2022 $75M capital raise that sold a 16% equity stake, with critics warning it could haunt the league.

Connecticut Consumer Watch: Connecticut warned residents about offshore DeFi exchanges after a resident lost $200,000 deposited into an unregulated platform, with officials citing high-risk leverage (up to 250x) and limited recovery options. Crypto & Policy: The state’s alert names seven offshore platforms and urges people to use registered exchanges, framing the risk as “exploitation,” not innovation. Healthcare Accountability: The DOJ reached an agreement with Mount Sinai to stop providing puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and gender-transition surgeries for minors, paired with a penalty and $2 million for affected patients. Local Tech Debate: In Saratoga Springs, residents pushed back on renewing a Flock automated license plate camera contract while officials defended public-safety use. Business & Jobs: Connecticut’s data-center tax breaks are back in the campaign spotlight, with a gubernatorial candidate calling for an end to the rebates while keeping the projects. Community & Innovation: Two Greenwich teens built a cancer care-tracking app that turns patient notes into visit-ready reports for caregivers and doctors.

Crypto Consumer Alert: Connecticut AG William Tong and Banking Commissioner Jorge Perez warned residents about unregulated offshore DeFi exchanges after a local investor lost $200,000, citing limited recourse, high-risk leverage (up to 250x), and security gaps; the alert names GMX, Gains Network, dYdX, Aevo, Drift Protocol, Vertex Protocol and Hyperliquid. Fintech Expansion: Revolut won conditional OCC approval for a U.S. bank charter in Stamford, Connecticut, with product-by-product supervisory sign-offs required before launching key lines like FX and acquiring. Gov Race Watch: In Connecticut’s governor race, Republican Ryan Fazio is pushing to end data-center sales tax rebates while keeping the projects, as lawmakers debate energy, water, and ratepayer impacts. Local Business & Growth: Barnes & Noble says it has opened about 28 stores nationwide in 2026 and plans more openings. Public Safety & Enforcement: Bridgeport police and federal agents raided a stash house, seizing 1,555 grams of fentanyl pills plus other drugs and equipment, with more arrests expected. Healthcare Policy: DOJ announced an agreement with Mount Sinai to end gender-affirming interventions for minors, with $2 million set aside for free care for those harmed.

WNBA Leadership Shakeup: Cathy Engelbert will retire as WNBA commissioner at year’s end, closing a polarizing but growth-heavy tenure that included a major media-rights deal and league expansion. Connecticut Business & Development: Middletown is moving ahead with plans for a national quick-service restaurant and a Dutch Point Credit Union branch on Washington Street, with openings targeted for 2028. Insurance & Health Costs: A new Medicare Advantage vs. Medigap warning highlights how switching at older ages can get harder, with insurers increasingly relying on pharmacy records rather than applicants’ answers. Food Safety: A Connecticut-based popcorn maker, Prospector Popcorn, recalled chocolate toffee-flavored popcorn over undeclared soy, while Panorama Produce pulled certain mangoes sold at Walmart in CT and other Northeastern states due to possible Salmonella risk. CT Economy Snapshot: Connecticut ranked among the top states for union membership, with 16.1% of workers union members in 2025. Tech & Jobs: A report finds New York City leading in several AI job skills, while San Francisco still dominates broader roles. Startup & Innovation: InsurTech America opened its 2026 Innovation Challenge in Hartford with $30,000 in cash awards and a path to the Startup World Cup.

OCC Banking Move: Revolut won a conditional U.S. national bank charter approval, but the regulator held back four product lines—including leveraged currency trading—pending extra sign-offs, with the bank set up in Stamford. Workforce & Growth: Connecticut’s Dept. of Labor and Hartford Athletic will host a Sept. 16 Hiring Expo at Trinity Health Stadium, aiming to connect job seekers with 80+ employers across major industries. Energy Assistance: Generation Power CT opened applications for its Emergency Energy Assistance Program, offering up to $500 for eligible households with a Sept. 15 deadline. Public Safety & Immigration: A federal judge in Hartford is weighing Connecticut’s ban on ICE agents wearing masks/without ID, amid recent Danbury arrests and protests. Local Housing & Municipal Finance: Windham residents approved supplemental appropriations and a $2.3 million Public Safety Complex project, enabling borrowing for building system upgrades. Food & Consumer Safety: FDA recalled Halloween Chocolatey Eyeballs sold at Marshalls/TJ Maxx/HomeGoods in 13 states, including Connecticut, due to undeclared milk allergens. Business Leadership: Allegion CEO John H. Stone will speak Sept. 11 at a Vertical Research Partners conference in Westbrook. Corporate Change: Bally’s CFO Mira Mircheva resigned effective immediately; Allegion and Meritage also posted leadership updates.

Banking & Fintech: Revolut won conditional approval from the U.S. OCC for a national bank charter, a major step toward launching a full American bank by 2027, with operations based in Stamford and plans to add checking, loans, cards, FX—and even a stablecoin. Consumer Protection: Connecticut AG William Tong warned residents about unregulated offshore DeFi crypto exchanges, saying they operate outside safeguards and can leave investors stranded. Energy & Utilities: The Connecticut Siting Council will review FuelCell Energy’s 7.5-megawatt fuel cell plan in Hartford, a project tied to a power purchase agreement with Eversource and United Illuminating. Local Business Expansion: Caring Senior Service opened a West Hartford office to expand in-home senior care. Food Safety: FDA recalls hit multiple products sold in Connecticut, including Crystal Temptations Halloween Chocolatey Eyeballs (undeclared milk) and Hodo Chili Crisp Lightly Fried Tofu (possible ink contamination). Public Policy & Schools: Comptroller Scanlon and Gov. Lamont announced $10 million more for the paraeducator healthcare subsidy program. Community & Enforcement: A large Danbury protest followed reports of ICE arrests, with officials and residents describing fear and detentions affecting local families.

Cannabis Tax Shake-Up: Connecticut is set to switch its cannabis excise tax on Oct. 1 from a THC-based potency tax to a flat 10.75% rate on gross receipts, and the state’s own fiscal analysis suggests the change could cut monthly revenue by about $1 million versus current collections. Immigration & ICE Pressure in Danbury: Hundreds marched in Danbury to protest dozens of ICE arrests, with organizers saying the actions are traumatizing residents and hurting local businesses; DHS says it’s focused on prosecuting people who violate the law. Data Center Moratorium Push: In New England, PIRG is calling for a two-year pause on large data centers (50 MW+), arguing the region lacks power and that utility costs and grid upgrades are the real bottleneck. GLP-1 Coverage Backlash: Cigna, including in Connecticut, stopped covering GLP-1s for weight loss for employees on July 1, while keeping coverage for type 2 diabetes patients—raising affordability concerns for workers. Local Business Growth: Rest Tech Painting is expanding across Fairfield County, adding more residential and commercial projects along the shoreline. Community & Health: A Bristol Adult Resource Center program opened the First Floor Cafe to train workers and serve to-go meals, while a separate recall alert flagged Halloween chocolatey eyeballs in 13 states due to undeclared milk.

Commercial Real Estate: Greystone Capital Advisors arranged $107.5M for an office-to-residential conversion at M7 Lofts in Norwalk, pairing Bank OZK construction debt with JV equity for the 286-unit adaptive-reuse project near Merritt 7 Metro-North. Local Development: New Haven’s Plan Commission will review Bender Plumbing Supply’s proposed 38% warehouse expansion at 580 Grand Ave., adding 12,751 square feet to support its wholesale operation. Public Policy & Tech: Connecticut’s AI Working Group held its inaugural meeting to shape “responsible AI” guidance, with lawmakers co-chairing and inviting industry and academic input. Energy & Industry: Stanley Black & Decker filed a WARN notice for a planned closure of its Hampstead, Md. tool factory, signaling continued manufacturing reshuffling. Consumer & Household Costs: Connecticut is among the states with the highest average credit card balances, underscoring pressure on household budgets. Food Safety: Hodo recalled more than 10,000 cases of pre-cooked tofu in dozens of states, including Connecticut, tied to possible ink migration from packaging. Healthcare Expansion: Private Medical will open a Greenwich office Oct. 1, aiming to expand concierge-style primary care access in Fairfield County.

USPS Voting Dispute: A Blumenthal-backed whistleblower says USPS could withhold mail ballots from “potentially millions” under a Trump executive order, raising fresh concerns about vote-by-mail reliability. Higher Ed & Community: A Yale protest targets what students call erosion of democratic values, including free-speech and assembly limits tied to a potential DOJ settlement. Labor & Campuses: A last-minute tentative deal averts a shuttle-driver strike involving Yale and Southern Connecticut State University, keeping Transdev drivers on the job. Housing & Costs: A Connecticut utility-billing fight is gaining attention as renters challenge “ratio utility billing” systems that can make bills unpredictable. State Finance: Comptroller Sean Scanlon projects a $451.8M FY27 General Fund surplus while warning special education funding pressures are straining town budgets. Real Estate: M&T Realty Capital closes a $31.9M bridge loan for Estelle New Haven, a 96-unit downtown project. Food Safety: Hodo recalls 10,000+ cases of chili crisp tofu over possible ink migration; Crystal Temptations recalls milk-allergen chocolatey eyeballs sold in CT and other states. Tech & Privacy: Connecticut continues grappling with Flock license-plate camera concerns as privacy and civil-liberties backlash grows.

Trade & Security: Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) is urging quick action on a Senate-passed Russia sanctions bill that would let President Trump impose tariffs up to 100% on countries helping Russia evade Western sanctions and on top buyers of Russian oil and gas. Local Environment & Accountability: Sen. Mae Flexer says DEEP has issued a draft consent order for the owner of the failing Old Killingly Pond dam, requiring repairs and restoration after the pond was effectively drained by seepage. Health Policy & Oversight: CT Human Services Committee leaders threaten subpoenas for Connecticut Children’s Medical Center to produce its agreement tied to ending transgender care under the Trump administration. Elections & Postal Service: A Blumenthal-disclosed whistleblower warns USPS rushed a new mail-ballot screening portal without standard testing, raising fears of mass ballot rejection ahead of November. Consumer Safety: Crystal Temptations recalled Halloween Chocolatey Eyeballs sold at Marshalls/TJ Maxx/HomeGoods/Sierra Trading Post in 13 states, including Connecticut, due to undeclared milk allergens. Housing & Finance: VA data shows Connecticut’s average VA IRRRL loan amount rose to $421,904 in Q2 2026. Business & Growth: A.Y. Strauss hired marketing veteran Penny Paul as director of marketing and business development. Education: Wilton schools’ test results stayed strong, but special education achievement gaps widened in ELA, math and science.

Tariffs & costs: Gov. Ned Lamont, elected leaders and CBIA warned that Trump’s new tariffs on Canada—and Canada’s retaliation—will raise prices for Connecticut consumers and small businesses, with Canada a major export market for the state. ICE impact on business: In Danbury and nearby communities, ICE enforcement is leaving fear and slowing commerce, with Sen. Richard Blumenthal and Danbury Mayor Roberto Alves citing falling sales and hiring concerns. Food safety recalls: The FDA expanded a white rice recall tied to “foreign materials,” including Connecticut sales of Lundberg Family Farms jasmine white rice; separately, FDA recalls of mangoes sold at select Walmart stores cite possible salmonella risk, including Connecticut distribution. Insurance & finance: BlackRock and Bank of America increased stakes in Washington Trust Bancorp, underscoring continued institutional interest in the community bank. Local growth: Colony Grill plans new Hartford County openings in Newington and South Windsor in 2027, while Riko’s Pizza is pushing expansion with multiple new locations. Regulation watch: The FTC proposed enforcement guidance on personalized pricing, signaling potential scrutiny of “surveillance pricing” practices.

Immigration & Local Business: Leaders in Danbury demanded answers after ICE detained 70+ residents, with reports that fear is spilling into workplaces and schools—raising pressure on Connecticut employers and community stability. Privacy & Consumer Data: Consumer Reports-backed California AB 1542 would bar companies from selling sensitive personal data, joining Connecticut and other states moving to tighten location and data protections. Food Safety: Multiple recalls are hitting shelves and pantries, including Crystal Temptations “Chocolatey Eyeballs” due to undeclared milk allergens and expanded white rice recalls tied to contamination concerns. Drug Policy: The DEA/DOJ placed three kratom-related compounds into Schedule I on an emergency basis, signaling tougher enforcement that could affect retail products sold in convenience and smoke shops. Cost of Living: SmartAsset says a single adult in Connecticut needs about $108,000 to live comfortably in 2026, while a family of four needs nearly $300,000—fueling ongoing budget stress for households. Banking & Growth: KeyBank named Mark Williams New England business banking market leader covering MA, ME, VT and CT, as lenders compete for commercial deposits and credit. Housing Development: Bloomfield approved a 92-unit income-restricted affordable project on a church campus, financed with state and federal low-income housing tax credits. Small Business & Tariffs: Twelve Percent Beer Project says new tariffs are raising costs and squeezing margins, reflecting broader CBIA survey concerns about tariff impacts on Connecticut businesses. Crypto Finance: Connecticut-based Bitmine kept buying ETH, reporting a treasury totaling about $15.6B as it nears its 5% Ethereum ownership target.

DOJ vs. In-State Tuition: The U.S. Department of Justice sued four more states—Arizona, New Mexico, Oregon and Washington—challenging policies that let undocumented students pay in-state tuition, bringing the total to 21 states targeted. Food Safety: The FDA expanded a recall of more than 27,000 packages of Lundberg Family Farms White Jasmine Rice sold at major retailers including Walmart and Target after concerns about foreign material; the recall covers 13 states including Connecticut. Immigration Enforcement Clash in CT: Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy and the Trump administration’s border czar Tom Homan traded sharp claims over reports of ICE arresting parents at Danbury school bus stops, with Homan saying ICE is not “terrorizing children.” Ukraine Sanctions Push: Sen. Richard Blumenthal urged the House to pass a Russia sanctions bill, calling it a “moment of extreme urgency” as the war in Ukraine continues. Energy & Grid Politics: Maine’s reworked Aroostook County wind transmission project is back in play under Central Maine Power’s parent, drawing fresh political pushback over costs.

Food Safety: A New York produce company recalled 302 boxes of Martina-brand mangoes sold at select Walmart stores across Connecticut, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania after salmonella was found in samples from the same farm; no illnesses reported, and consumers are urged to throw the fruit away or return it. National Security & Trade: Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal pressed House leaders to pass a Senate Russia sanctions bill, calling it a “moment of extreme urgency” as Ukraine war tensions and Russia’s economic position remain central. Immigration Enforcement: A dispute over ICE tactics in Danbury spilled into national coverage after Blumenthal’s fellow Connecticut Democrats and federal officials traded accusations about whether ICE is “terrorizing” children. Energy & Finance Policy: A letter argues the UK’s “solar bonds” idea could help US homeowners by lowering capital costs for rooftop solar, complementing existing green bank loans and solar leases. Connecticut Arts & Business: TheaterWorks Hartford announced a benefit reading of “The Lady, or The Tiger” featuring Tim DeKay and Rob Morrow, underscoring continued local cultural investment. Sports Betting Regulation: The prediction-market fight continues, with Connecticut again targeting Kalshi over alleged unlicensed sports wagering as other states pursue similar legal battles.

Education & Rankings: Connecticut lands fifth in a state-by-state look at the 2026-27 U.S. News Best High Schools list, with 42.5% of eligible CT schools in the top 25%—behind Massachusetts (46.7%) and New Jersey (44.1%). Public Safety & Community Impact: Taylor Swift donated $50,000 to a Connecticut woman’s GoFundMe after she was seriously injured while helping teens following a July I-95 crash. Energy & Regional Planning: New England governors, led by Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, are set to hold a Sept. 30 summit on advanced nuclear and fusion to help lower electric bills, with Connecticut’s Millstone and New Hampshire’s Seabrook supplying a major share of regional nuclear power. Sports Betting Legal Fight: Connecticut’s Kalshi case remains part of a fast-moving national dispute over whether states or the federal CFTC should regulate prediction markets, after a Ninth Circuit ruling backed Nevada’s authority. Local Government & Services: Greenfield reports higher recycling volumes after switching to single-stream collection and larger automated carts.