AGP Executive Report

Workplace Safety: A private security guard is being credited with helping prevent a larger tragedy at the Islamic Center of San Diego after a gunman broke in—highlighting how guards often face mass-shooting threats with little public spotlight. State Oversight: South Carolina AG Alan Wilson says an outside consultant will review Silfab Solar documents after concerns tied to the Fort Mill plant’s operations and hazardous chemical handling. Local Government & Housing: Greenville is breaking ground on the $10M rehab of the Greenville Summit to keep senior apartments “deeply affordable” through 2046, using a special tax assessment extension. Energy & Travel Costs: Memorial Day gas prices are at a four-year high nationwide, with AAA pointing to higher demand and ongoing supply pressures. Politics: SC senators are again debating a redistricting plan amid questions about how the map was created and what data guided it. Food Safety: Whole Foods is recalling a minestrone soup due to undeclared shrimp, with South Carolina included in the distribution list. Business & Jobs: Bittermilk is investing $8.2M in a Ravenel expansion, adding 12 jobs.

Education & Community Spotlight: Dorman High in Roebuck just graduated 940 students—South Carolina’s largest high school class this year—marking a big local milestone. Politics & Voting Rights: The S.C. Senate is in heated debate over a redistricting plan, with lawmakers pressing for answers about how the map was created and who influenced it, as protesters gather outside the Statehouse. Sports & Coaching Shakeup: South Carolina fired interim baseball coach Monte Lee, along with pitching coach/recruiting coordinator Terry Rooney and assistant John Hendry, as the Gamecocks’ coaching search continues. Energy & Cost Pressure: Gas prices remain jumpy heading into Memorial Day, with multiple counties reporting their lowest week-ending May 16 regular, midgrade, and diesel prices—signaling a patchwork market drivers are watching closely. Business & Legal Watch: A Supreme Court ruling on freight broker liability is already reshaping trucking injury lawsuits, and more fallout is expected in the courts.

Redistricting Fight: Lowcountry leaders are warning lawmakers that a rushed push to redraw South Carolina’s congressional lines could be “unfair for voters,” with testimony arguing the map would ignore community ties and tilt power toward Republicans ahead of an already scheduled June primary. Drought & Water: Ridgeland is asking residents to voluntarily conserve water as South Carolina remains under severe drought conditions, even as officials say the system can meet current demand. Energy Watch: Gas prices stayed choppy statewide in the week ending May 16, with the lowest regular reported in Cherokee County at $3.84 and the lowest premium in Fairfield County at $5.09. Local Growth: Bittermilk Bottling is expanding in Charleston County with an $8.2M investment and 12 new jobs, moving to a Ravenel facility ahead of summer 2026. Utility Oversight: A new poll finds 76% of Americans want stronger utility oversight, even as trust in state officials to control bills remains low.

NextEra–Dominion Power Play: NextEra Energy has signed an all-stock deal to buy Dominion Energy in a roughly $66.8B merger aimed at powering the AI data-center boom—creating a massive East Coast utility that would serve about 10 million customers, but it’s already drawing consumer and political pushback, with Virginia regulators likely to be the make-or-break hurdle. Redistricting Fight: In South Carolina, GOP leaders’ push to redraw voting lines is headed to court as voters’ rights groups sue to pause the process, arguing the rules were changed midstream with too little public notice. Energy Infrastructure in the Background: Separate from the mega-merger, U.S. DOT is selecting new air-traffic control towers, with Charleston International and Greenville-Spartanburg International among the sites. Local Business Spotlight: Charleston’s Black Dog Junk Removal is getting attention for fast, integrity-driven service. Historic Preservation: The President’s House Site and other equality-linked locations made the national “Most Endangered” list, keeping pressure on preservation funding. Public Safety & Health: Greenville County’s lawsuit over a Frankie’s Fun Park death was dismissed, while CMS data flags Riverside Health and Rehab as a low-rated Charleston County nursing home.

Crypto Policy: South Carolina just locked in a sweeping crypto framework: state and local governments can’t accept or require central bank digital currency payments, and they can’t join federal CBDC trials—while the law protects self-custody rights for users (including hardware and self-hosted wallets) and gives miners clearer operating rules in industrial zones. Food Safety: Sugar Foods recalled specific Kroger Homestyle Cheese Garlic Croutons in 17 states over possible salmonella tied to contaminated milk powder, with no illnesses reported so far. Local Government & Schools: Fort Mill floated a $272M school budget with an 8.5-mill tax increase aimed at retaining staff and reducing class sizes in grades 4–12. Energy & AI Demand: The NextEra–Dominion $66.8B mega-merger continues to draw scrutiny as regulators and watchdogs weigh what it means for power prices and AI-driven data center growth. Community Services: South Carolina’s Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program is back June 1, sending eligible seniors $50 in checks for fresh produce.

Drink-Spiking Safety Push: Ohio lawmakers are moving a bill that would require bars and restaurants to stock drink-testing strips that can flag drugs like GHB and ketamine in minutes—plus post a sign so patrons know the option exists. Civil Rights Meets College Sports: The NAACP is launching “Out of Bounds,” urging Black athletes and fans to withhold money and commitments from public universities in eight states, including South Carolina, alleging redistricting moves are aimed at weakening Black voting power. SC Courtroom Watch: A Greenville County judge dismissed a lawsuit tied to a 2024 Frankie’s Fun Park go-kart crash after claims county EMS workers took personal photos of the teen’s death. Power & Data Centers: The NextEra-Dominion $66.8B mega-merger keeps dominating the national conversation as utilities race to serve AI-driven electricity demand—and Gallup finds Americans are more worried about data centers than nuclear plants. Food Safety: Kroger Homestyle Cheese Garlic Croutons are under a salmonella-related recall.

Mega-Utility Deal: NextEra and Dominion just announced a $67B all-stock merger that would create the world’s largest regulated electric utility, serving about 10 million customer accounts across Florida, Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina—while positioning the combined company to feed the AI/data-center boom. Consumer & Politics Pushback: Consumer advocates warn the scale could be hard to regulate, and Virginia lawmakers are already signaling scrutiny over long-term affordability. NAACP Pressure Campaign: The NAACP launched “Out of Bounds,” urging Black athletes and fans to boycott flagship college football and basketball programs in eight Southern states, including South Carolina, tied to post–Supreme Court redistricting fights. Food Safety: Kroger Homestyle Cheese Garlic Croutons were recalled in 17 states, including SC, over possible salmonella risk linked to a milk-powder ingredient. Local Business Leadership: Lumos named Scott Mispagel, formerly a top Frontier fiber executive, as its new CEO as it accelerates network expansion.

Utility Mega-Merger: NextEra Energy and Dominion Energy just announced a $66.8B all-stock deal to create the world’s largest regulated electric utility, serving about 10 million customers across Florida, Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, with 110 gigawatts of generation; the companies say it’s aimed at meeting AI-driven power demand and promise $2.25B in bill credits over two years for Dominion customers in the Carolinas and Virginia, but regulators and consumer advocates are already raising rate and market-concentration concerns. Local Business/Construction: In Waxhaw, JH Landscapes is stepping in after closings leave new-build backyards as builder-graded dirt lots, expanding post-move landscaping capacity. Public Health: FDA-linked recalls continue to ripple—Straus Family Creamery ice cream is pulled in multiple states over possible metal fragments, and Sugar Foods recalled Kroger Homestyle Cheese Garlic Croutons over possible Salmonella from milk powder. Safety & Crime: Greenwood County is investigating a homicide after a man was shot, and deputies seized fentanyl, meth, and guns in a Greenwood operation.

Dominion–NextEra Merger: Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina officials are raising questions as NextEra agrees to buy Dominion in a roughly $66.8B all-stock deal that would create the world’s largest regulated electric utility, with proposed $2.25B in bill credits for Dominion customers and a close expected in 12–18 months—pending federal and state approvals. Energy Costs at the Pump: With Memorial Day travel nearly here, South Carolina drivers are paying about $4.16/gal on average, and AAA links higher prices to the U.S.–Iran standoff and global oil market disruption. Workforce & Training: The SC Legislature approved a new four-year Applied Baccalaureate in Culinary Arts Management for tech colleges, starting with Trident Technical College. Real Estate Development: Henderson Park and Green Room Partners broke ground on The Bower, a 266-unit build-to-rent community in Jasper County, with a $10,000 donation to Second Helpings. Public Health Watch: FDA issued a recall for select Straus Family Creamery organic ice cream sold in 17 states, including South Carolina, due to possible metal fragments. Legal Spotlight: Alex Murdaugh is suing the ex-court clerk tied to efforts that helped overturn his murder conviction.

Lowcountry Tourism & Investment: North Augusta says its tourism push is now pulling in private dollars, citing new hotels since 2019 and more bookings as the city shifts from Parks & Rec-led promotion to a dedicated tourism strategy. Coastal Resilience: Charleston’s Battery Extension project cleared the next spending step, with about $3.7M approved for the next design phase to protect downtown from storm surge and “sunny day” flooding. Small Business Spotlight: Bluffton’s Downtown Deli & Catering was named South Carolina’s Small Business of the Year, a growth story that includes catering, an event space, and a Beaufort acquisition. Energy & Environment: Opposition is building to a proposed ACE Basin natural gas plant, with critics challenging both costs and environmental impacts. Statehouse Watch: South Carolina’s “Shrimp Caucus” is moving a seafood transparency bill forward, aiming to require clearer labeling of locally sourced vs. imported shrimp. Tech & Manufacturing: Greenville-based Synesis highlights long-term growth as a minority-owned SAP partner, expanding ERP/MES/QMS and planning more AI-driven manufacturing and quality work.

Food Safety Recall: FDA says Straus Family Creamery is voluntarily recalling select Organic Super Premium ice cream in 17 states, including South Carolina, after possible metal fragments were found; affected flavors include vanilla bean, strawberry, Dutch chocolate, mint chip and cookie dough, identified by specific “best by” dates and UPCs—don’t eat, and discard. Politics & Power: AP reports Bill Cassidy’s GOP primary loss in Louisiana underscores how hard it is to build a future in the party without Trump’s approval, even after Cassidy tried to repair ties post-impeachment. Foreign Policy: A fragile U.S.-Iran ceasefire faces fresh strain as Trump warns Iran is “running out of time,” while a drone strike hits the UAE’s nuclear plant, raising renewed war risk. Local Environment: SCDES tells The Index-Journal the Ascend cleanup site near Lake Greenwood is not linked to the April fish kill; the investigation continues. Workforce & Housing: A new Realtor.com analysis argues newer homes can cost more upfront but may save buyers over 10 years through lower maintenance and energy bills.

Food Safety Recall: Straus Family Creamery is recalling select organic ice cream pints and quarts sold in 17 states, including South Carolina, after the FDA flagged the possible presence of metal fragments; no injuries reported, and shoppers should check “best by” dates printed on the bottom and throw out affected tubs. Workforce & Civil Rights: The EEOC is seeking to end employer requirements to report annual workforce demographic data on sex, race and ethnicity—an effort that could ripple into media and other industries. Defense & Trade: Sen. Lindsey Graham introduced the Coast Guard Personnel Equipment Act to require U.S.-made Coast Guard uniforms, aiming to tighten domestic supply chains tied to the textile sector. Politics & Labor: U.S. Rep. candidate Mac Deford picked up an AFL-CIO endorsement, with labor backing and voter mobilization promised for South Carolina’s 1st District race. Healthcare Expansion: Piedmont Medical Center is pursuing a new freestanding emergency department in Lake Wylie, continuing its push to add ER capacity across the region. Sports: South Carolina softball opened NCAA postseason play with a win over Cal State Fullerton in the Los Angeles Regional.

College Football Recruiting: Stetson OL Vincent Chen has committed to South Carolina, giving Shane Beamer another piece for a revamped Gamecocks offensive line. Food Safety: FDA says Straus Family Creamery is recalling select organic ice cream pints and quarts in 17 states, including South Carolina, due to possible metal fragments—check “best by” dates and throw out affected tubs. Energy & Cost of Living: Diesel prices stay volatile; in the week ending May 9, McCormick County hit a low of $5.06 and Greenville County’s low was $4.76, while the statewide average sat at $5.32. Local Community: Bluffton inducted H.E. McCracken Sr. and Jr. into its Wall of Honor, celebrating decades of education and public service. Politics & Campaigns: Charleston Democrats held a governor forum focused heavily on affordability, redistricting, AI/data centers, and gun violence as early voting nears.

Food Safety Recall: Straus Family Creamery is voluntarily recalling select Organic ice cream pints and quarts in 17 states, including South Carolina, after the FDA flagged possible metal fragments; check “best by” dates and throw affected tubs out. Local Business: Palmetto Citizens Federal Credit Union hosted a hard-hat tour of its new 100,000-square-foot Columbia headquarters, aiming to finish in early 2027. Energy & Industry: South Carolina regulators approved the Canadys Station natural gas plant in Colleton County, a 2,200-megawatt project tied to Dominion Energy and Santee Cooper, despite environmental and cost concerns. Public Safety: State emergency leaders urged South Carolinians to prepare for hurricane season now, pointing to tools like the SCDOT 511 evacuation routing app. Health Policy: A South Carolina lawmaker pushed an AI-focused bill to hold tech companies accountable when tools are designed to help create intimate images of identifiable people, especially involving children. Sports (National): The Preakness Stakes heads to Laurel Park for a one-time venue change, with no clear Derby winner contender.

City Leadership: Lawrence has named five finalists for city manager, with a community meet-and-greet set for Wednesday, May 20, as the city prepares to replace outgoing manager Craig Owens. Energy & Environment: South Carolina regulators approved the Canadys Station project in Colleton County, while critics are already pushing back on impacts and long-term costs. Courts & Accountability: The U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way for families to sue truck brokers in state court after deadly crashes, a major shift for freight-safety accountability. Aviation & Infrastructure: U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced $835.8M in air traffic control upgrades at eight airports, including Charleston and Greer. Healthcare Research: A multi-institutional trial led by MUSC and Emory is testing a new approach for advanced prostate cancer patients facing resistance to standard hormone therapies. Manufacturing & Jobs: Airsys opened a new Woodruff headquarters campus focused on zero-water cooling for AI, backed by a $60M investment and 215 planned jobs. Business Watch: SC’s textile industry gets a boost in Washington as Sen. Lindsey Graham introduces a bill requiring Coast Guard uniforms to be made in the U.S. Energy Markets: AAA says Memorial Day gas prices are set to be the highest in four years, with the national average around $4.53.

Lake Greenwood Update: Greenwood County says the April 13-20 fish kill “appears to have ended” and the lake is back to normal, but SCDES still hasn’t pinned down a cause. Education & Workforce: Greenwood superintendents say student success has to start well before graduation, pointing to a planned Technical Innovation Center on Piedmont Technical College’s campus to connect schools, employers, and career training. Energy & Industry: South Carolina regulators approved Canadys Station in Colleton County in a 7-0 vote, clearing the way for a 2,200-megawatt natural gas plant—while critics warn about impacts and future rate hikes. Public Safety: Rabies alerts hit multiple counties after a skunk, raccoon, and calf tested positive, with exposures reported and quarantines underway. Local Development: Columbia’s Rosewood Towns moves forward with preliminary approval for 71 upscale townhomes near USC.