AGP Executive Report

School Meals Watch: A new ProCare Therapy report ranks Vermont No. 1 for school lunch and breakfast reach, with West Virginia placing No. 3—highlighting how states boost participation and reduce barriers for families. Labor Dispute: The Teamsters Local 175 strike against The Beverage Market has dragged past 100 days, with union leaders saying management is stalling and aiming to weaken the union. Energy & Courts: West Virginia AG J.B. McCuskey sued Pennsylvania in federal court over laws that block out-of-state renewable-energy credits, arguing the rules drive up costs and shut competitors out. Power Line Hearing: West Virginia’s PSC will keep a major evidentiary hearing on the Mid-Atlantic Resiliency Link (MARL) on schedule after rejecting a delay request, disappointing landowner advocates. Rural Health Funding: Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced $2.4 million in first Rural Health Transformation Program awards to expand employer-based primary and specialty care access. Food Insecurity Aid: The FirstEnergy Foundation is sending $1.1 million to West Virginia and Maryland food banks to support hunger relief and millions of meals. Data Center Push: West Virginia certified two high-impact Mason County data center projects, including Nscale’s Monarch Campus and Starwood Digital Ventures’ “Project Tamarack.” Consumer/Privacy Legal Pressure: McCuskey called Meta’s $17 billion child-safety settlement a “smart business move” and flagged Apple’s iCloud as the next target.

Permitting Reform Watch: Sen. Shelley Moore Capito says federal permitting changes are “as close as we’ve ever been” and could move this week, arguing delays are choking major investment. Consumer Protection: AG JB McCuskey reports 401 scam complaints in August and warns of new tactics, including impersonation of West Virginia state representatives and video-call sweepstakes/lottery scams. Energy & Courts: A federal bankruptcy judge is weighing law-firm conflict claims in the Pleasants Power Station case, where lenders and the debtor dispute whether the same firm represented both sides. Wildlife & Research: West Virginia biologists are testing tiny “backpacks” on juvenile crayfish at a state hatchery to track survival and movement when standard tracking devices are too large. Health & Workforce: West Virginia Wesleyan expands graduate-level addiction treatment and care certifications with a $246,125 grant. Local Business & Community: Mission Appalachia gave away a renovated Buckhannon home after months of work, with proceeds supporting local food outreach. Infrastructure: WVDOH awarded bridge and road contracts, including a $4.82M deck replacement project on a Doddridge County bridge.

Consumer Watch: West Virginia AG JB McCuskey says the Consumer Protection Division logged 401 scam reports in August, led by Medicare scams, plus new warnings about callers impersonating state representatives (including spoofed WV numbers) and video-call sweepstakes/lottery scams. Energy & Courts: West Virginia sued Pennsylvania in federal court over limits on energy credits, arguing the rules illegally favor in-state producers and violate the Commerce Clause. Power & Infrastructure: WVDOH awarded a $4.82M contract to rehab the Route 50 Doddridge County bridge decks and support structure, part of 13 August projects. Renewables/Storage: Google, MN8 and Eos are backing an 86MW round-the-clock solar-plus-storage project in West Virginia, built on a reclaimed coal mine. Local Business: Take Me Home Soda Shoppe & Creamery is opening at WVU’s Mountainlair with West Virginia-themed ice cream and dirty sodas. Agriculture Grants: The West Virginia Farmers Market Association is accepting applications for its 2026 mini-grant program (due Sept. 18). State Money Back: Treasurer Larry Pack reports more than $3.2M in unclaimed property returned in August. Education Policy Fight: Mingo County parents sued to block universal expansion of the Hope Scholarship, arguing it violates the state constitution’s “thorough and efficient” schools requirement.

Consumer Scams Watch: West Virginia AG JB McCuskey says the Consumer Protection Division logged 401 scam reports in August, led by Medicare fraud, plus schemes impersonating state representatives and “video call” sweepstakes/lottery cons. Energy & Growth: A new political climate is pushing West Virginia’s “50 by 50” plan to grow power capacity from 16 to 50 gigawatts, betting on coal, natural gas, nuclear and renewables—while warning infrastructure and regulatory swings could slow momentum. Rural Health Policy: Rep. Jill Tokuda and others introduced the Rural Emergency Hospital Designation Improvement Act (REH 2.0) to strengthen the rural ER model as many hospitals struggle to convert. Education & Courts: Mingo County parents sued to block universal expansion of the Hope Scholarship, arguing the voucher growth outpaced updates to the school funding formula. Local Economy/Jobs: West Virginia highlighted major private-sector investment—$96 billion—supporting more than 19,000 projected jobs. Community & Safety: The state also flagged ongoing scam reporting and consumer warnings, while local coverage included a Scruggs Volunteer Fire & Rescue chief retirement after 29 years.

Rural Health Policy: U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda (with WV Rep. Carol Miller) introduced the Rural Emergency Hospital Designation Improvement Act, aiming to fix barriers that have kept only about 40 rural hospitals from converting to the REH model. Education & Courts: Mingo County parents sued to block universal expansion of West Virginia’s Hope Scholarship, arguing the voucher growth outpaced updates to the state’s school funding formula and threatens a local school closure. AI Data Centers & Power Costs: A new national report highlights growing backlash to AI data centers, with residents citing strain on the power grid and rising electricity bills—an issue that’s already driving policy fights in multiple states. Energy/Investment: West Virginia’s business pipeline remains active as leaders tout major private-sector investment and new project commitments tied to the state’s energy and manufacturing push. Community & Local Economy: A Fairmont garbage contract review and other local government procurement items signal ongoing cost and service decisions that can ripple into household budgets. Sports & Local Interest: WVU’s home opener vs. Coastal Carolina is set for Saturday, with coverage focused on game-day logistics and betting lines.

AI & Data Centers: Nscale says it has about $103B in contracted revenue, nearly doubling its backlog after a $45B Anthropic deal tied to 460 megawatts of capacity at a West Virginia campus expected to come online by end of 2027, as the company eyes a September 2026 New York IPO. Local Impact & Permitting: Gov. Patrick Morrisey used the West Virginia Chamber’s Business Summit to argue for more data center growth while the state approved additional “high-impact” projects, continuing a fight over power and water strain and local control. Consumer Watch: AG JB McCuskey warns West Virginians about new scam tactics, including state-representative impersonation and video-call sweepstakes/lottery fraud. Business Expansion: Village Caregiving, based in Barboursville, added seven offices (including Massachusetts and Montana) and created 160 jobs as it expands to 22 states. Community & Heritage: Thurmond, a nearly abandoned railroad town inside New River Gorge National Park, is lining up a legal fight over planned demolitions. Local Economy: A Dave & Buster’s second West Virginia location in Westover/Morgantown is set for a Sept. 21 ribbon cutting ahead of its official opening.

Data Center Fight in the Spotlight: Gov. Patrick Morrisey used the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce summit to push more “high-impact” data center development, even as public opposition grows over power and water strain, and the state approved new projects. Rural Health Funding: Morrisey announced $2.4 million in Rural Health Transformation awards to help West Virginians stay healthy and working, with details on grantees and employer-based coverage. Consumer Watchdog: AG JB McCuskey warned West Virginians about new scam tactics, including impersonation of state representatives and video-call sweepstakes/lottery fraud. Local Business Growth: Village Caregiving, based in Barboursville, expanded to seven new offices across multiple states, adding 160 jobs while keeping its values-driven care model. Insurance Industry Win: Assure America swept three Erie Insurance District Sales Awards across commercial, personal, and life lines. Energy & Rates: WVU’s arena naming rights with Hope Gas drew fresh scrutiny as customers brace for another potential rate hike. Tech Capital Markets: Anthropic’s IPO timeline reportedly shifted later in September/October, while AI cloud firm Nscale is seeking major pre-IPO financing tied to big-name contracts. Community & Events: Nature Wonder Weekend registration opened for Sept. 11–13 at North Bend State Park, and a new Dave & Buster’s location in Westover is set for a Sept. 21 ribbon cutting.

Business Openings & Local Economy: Dave & Buster’s is set to officially open its second West Virginia location with a ribbon-cutting in Westover on Sept. 21, bringing a new arcade-and-restaurant entertainment draw to the West Ridge retail park. Outdoor & Tourism: WVDNR opened registration for the 56th Annual Nature Wonder Weekend at North Bend State Park, Sept. 11-13, a foraging-focused event that blends guided hikes and wild-food education. Energy & Utilities: WVU’s arena branding is getting a fresh spotlight as Hope Gas takes naming rights while customers brace for another potential rate hike. Data Centers & Community Impact: Mason County residents are reacting to a second data center coming nearby, after Starwood Digital Ventures’ “Project Tamarack” was approved for West Columbia with major investment and job claims. Health & Workforce: Gov. Morrisey announced the first Rural Health Transformation Program awards—nearly $2.4 million—to expand worksite clinics and employer-based care across West Virginia. AI Finance Watch: London-based Nscale is seeking up to $3.5 billion in pre-IPO financing, including convertible notes and Nvidia investment, tied to its West Virginia computing capacity deals. Legal/Policy Ripple Effects: A federal court blocked New York’s $75 billion Climate Superfund Act, a ruling West Virginia and other states are watching closely for what it means for energy regulation.

AI & Robotics Investment: Nscale signed a multi-year $3.5B compute deal with humanoid robotics startup Figure, taking an equity stake and positioning itself as preferred compute provider—while also aligning with a separate major Anthropic compute commitment tied to a West Virginia data center. Rural Health Funding: Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced the first Rural Health Transformation Program grants in Chesapeake—$1.17M each for Spotted Owl Health and Chesapeake Healthcare Center, plus $612K each for CAMC/Vandalia and the Cabell Huntington Hospital Foundation. Data Centers vs. Cost of Living: West Virginia is pitching a “Responsible Data Center Development Plan” that would route at least half of data-center revenue to reduce and eventually eliminate the state income tax, as national opposition to data centers grows. Energy & Prices: Diesel hit an all-time high at $5.85 a gallon, with the crunch tied to refinery disruptions and Middle East conflict pressures. Local Business Openings: Dave & Buster’s is set to open Sept. 21 in Westover at the West Ridge Business and Retail Park, its second WV location after Huntington. Community & Workforce: New River CTC says Fall 2026 enrollment is up nearly 11%, including a 26% jump in first-time freshmen and growth in dual enrollment. Scam Watch: BBB Scam Tracker data shows Pratt recorded one scam report in July, tying it for 21st among WV cities.

Data Center Push Meets Backlash: Gov. Patrick Morrisey told the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce summit that the state has secured more than $81 billion in new private investment, led by NScale’s $69.2B, 2-gigawatt Mason County project and Starwood Digital Ventures’ $12B plan—both framed as ratepayer-protected because the companies cover infrastructure costs. Local Opposition: Putnam United residents urged the Putnam County Commission to fight hyperscale AI data centers, arguing House Bill 2014 stripped local control over zoning and permitting. Energy Demand & Grid Planning: Appalachian Power CEO Brian Abraham warned electricity needs are about to surge as data centers shift demand from “megawatts” to “gigawatts,” while NextEra’s Mid-Atlantic Resiliency Link (MARL) drew attention as a proposed 500-kilovolt line to support reliability and new load. Politics & Business Climate: Sen. Jim Justice said he’s “100 percent” considering a 2028 governor run, setting up a potential Republican clash with Gov. Morrisey; Capito also highlighted summit activity and a proposed “Trump Account” bill for newborns. Workforce & Community: Childcare access remains a major drag on business participation, and Tractor Supply named a West Virginia student among FFA Future Leaders scholarship recipients. Health & Education: WVU opened expanded, state-of-the-art dentistry clinics after a first phase renovation, and WVU Medicine hosted Light the Night for blood cancer patients. Local Business: Dave & Buster’s announced a ribbon-cutting kickoff for its Westover-area location, with the Huntington site as the current WV footprint.

Flood Recovery & Local Funding: Martinsburg urged residents and businesses to complete a short disaster survey to unlock FEMA help, while the city waives permit fees for about 30 days as cleanup continues. Power & Data Center Backlash: Documentary filmmaker Ken Burns joined opposition to Valley Link, warning a proposed 765-kilovolt line could permanently damage farms and historic land as data-center demand grows. Clean Energy Deal: Google partnered with MN8 Energy and Eos Energy on a Kanawha County solar-plus-storage project built on a reclaimed coal mine, targeting around-the-clock power for PJM and Google data centers. Business Climate & Permitting: Sen. Shelley Moore Capito and Sen. Jim Justice pushed West Virginia leaders to back permitting reform and energy investment at the state Chamber summit. Consumer Fraud Watch: Fairmont tied for seventh in West Virginia for July BBB scam reports, with online purchase scams driving the biggest losses. Unclaimed Property: West Virginia Treasurer Larry Pack returned more than $3.2M in unclaimed property in August. Workforce/Community Support: United Way of Southern West Virginia launched its 2026-27 campaign aiming to raise $875,000. Health Care & Legal Risk: A class-action was filed over alleged hidden cameras in Ruby Memorial staff bathrooms.

Data Center Power Deal: Eos Energy shares jumped after Google and MN8 Energy backed a $350M “Mammoth Solar” project in Kanawha County, pairing solar with long-duration zinc and lithium storage to supply Google data centers on a long-term contract. State Budget & Taxes: Treasurer Larry Pack released a new analysis aimed at clarifying data center tax revenue impacts, putting annual tax income from two projects at over $100M. Local Government: A court ruling is forcing Parkersburg to change recycling fees, moving to a flat $3 monthly charge for all residential customers. Workforce & Community Support: West Virginia AmeriCorps programs will share more than $6.4M in federal funding for education, economic opportunity, environmental stewardship, healthy futures, veterans support, and disaster services. Business Growth & Real Estate: A Netherlands polymer-tech firm opened its first U.S. base in Alvordton, and a 1923 Fayette County high school reopened as the Hill Hall Hotel. Education & Health: WVU Dentistry completed a major renovation and expansion of its clinics and innovation center. Energy Costs Watch: GasBuddy price reports showed mixed but generally easing fuel prices across West Virginia counties.

Workforce & Local Business: The Wetzel-Tyler Chamber is inviting employers and workforce partners to a Job & Resource Fair Sept. 30 (6-7:30 p.m.) at West Virginia Northern Community College’s New Martinsville campus. Healthcare Deal: West Virginia University Health System reached a state-court “Assurance of Voluntary Compliance” settlement tied to its planned acquisition of Independence Health System hospitals, requiring Independence facilities to stay open at least five years and negotiate insurance contracts in good faith. Energy & Regulation: The PSC is weighing NextEra’s MidAtlantic Resiliency Link transmission proposal after staff urged deadline extensions or dismissal, while a separate PSC matter moves toward mediation over a Wellsburg sanitary fee dispute. Data Centers & Taxes: State Treasurer Larry Pack released a report projecting how data center tax revenue could flow from the Penzance (Berkeley County) and Google (Putnam County) projects. Public Safety/Community: Three people were identified after a fatal Mon River boat crash, and the 8 Rivers Amateur Radio Club is seeking funds to expand emergency communications in the National Radio Quiet Zone. Business Climate: A federal judge struck down New York’s Climate Change Superfund Act, a ruling West Virginia’s AG helped drive in a broader multi-state fight.

Workforce & Training: Houston City College was selected for the Workforce Futures Accelerator, a three-year effort to plug employer-sponsored, project-based learning into workforce programs. Community Support: Boone Memorial Hospital is sending more than $27,000 in flood relief funds to United Way of Central West Virginia, matching community donations. State Services & Access: U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito toured West Virginia 211, highlighting how the United Way-run service routes residents to state and federal help. Local Government Finance: Morgantown received a clean FY25 audit opinion, with only a minor timing issue tied to staff turnover, as the city weighs parking changes. Education Funding Pressure: A statewide coalition says schools could face closures next year due to district budget gaps and is urging a special legislative session to use a reported $125 million surplus and modernize the school funding formula. Energy & Infrastructure: West Virginia DOT Division of Highways posted an asphalt paving contractor notice for Renick–PCL Rd in Greenbrier County. AI & Data Centers: Anthropic signed a reported $35B cloud deal with Nvidia-backed Lambda, while a separate report says a West Virginia-linked transmission project could cost ratepayers hundreds of millions. Business Growth: Citizens Bank of West Virginia held a ribbon cutting for its Thomas Financial Center expansion, adding more consumer and business lending options.

Flood Recovery & Local Business: Martinsburg is urging residents with Aug. 27 flood damage to complete the West Virginia Emergency Management Division damage survey (about 5 minutes) to help document losses and unlock possible additional federal aid, including individual assistance. AG & Consumer Protection: West Virginia is set to receive about $114 million over 10 years from a Meta settlement with 29 states, with Attorney General J.B. McCuskey calling for major changes to how platforms interact with children. State Budget Watch: West Virginia’s General Revenue Fund collections for August totaled $449 million, beating estimates by $34 million, while FY-to-date GRF collections also run ahead. Data Centers & Power Costs: U.S. Rep. Riley Moore cosponsored the Ratepayer Protection Act, aiming to ensure data centers—not families and small businesses—pay incremental electricity infrastructure costs. AI Compute Deal With WV Link: Anthropic reportedly signed a $35 billion cloud capacity agreement with Nvidia-backed Lambda for 350MW in Texas, following earlier reports of a major Anthropic compute push tied to a West Virginia campus. Holiday & Community Economy: Salango Law Light the Night returns Nov. 13 at GoMart Ballpark with new attractions and an expanded on-field experience, targeting another big regional draw. Business Climate Court Fight: A federal judge struck down New York’s $75 billion climate “Superfund” law, a case West Virginia AGs helped challenge. Local Finance & Growth: State Treasurer Larry Pack released a tax analysis of two data center projects, including Berkeley County’s Penzance Management and Google’s Putnam County project, as debate continues over community impacts.

AI Infrastructure Deal: Anthropic agreed to a $35 billion, six-year computing deal with Nvidia-backed Lambda, tapping capacity tied to a Hut 8 data center in Texas—while also building on its reported $45 billion West Virginia Nscale arrangement. Energy & Courts: West Virginia AG J.B. McCuskey says the state won its challenge to New York’s “Climate Change Superfund Act,” after a federal judge ruled the law can’t be enforced under federal Clean Air Act authority. Power Grid Project: NextEra Energy Transmission asked the Public Service Commission to delay a final decision on the MARL 500-kilovolt line to May 22, 2027, pushing the evidentiary hearing and decision date after route changes. Statewide Business & Jobs: The Charleston LIFT Center is nearing completion, but officials say it still needs a tenant for the 55,000-square-foot advanced manufacturing/energy-focused space. Construction & Infrastructure: WVDOH awarded a contract to redeck 13 bridges, including the SPC Jason N. Marchand Memorial Bridges on US 50 in Doddridge County. Local Economy & Fraud: Inwood ranked among the top WV cities for BBB Scam Tracker reports in July, with 1 reported scam—while Charleston, Morgantown and Huntington led the state. Healthcare Finance: A new report finds West Virginia’s Medicaid nursing home rate cycle is up modestly (median +3.3%), with other states flat or mixed. Community Relief: Martinsburg will waive building permit and inspection fees for 30 days for flood repairs and use expedited flood-permit reviews. Retail Expansion: Dave & Buster’s plans a new Morgantown-area location in Westover, hiring about 150 employees ahead of a Sept. 21 opening.