AGP Executive Report

Medicaid Fight: Hospitals say proposed Trump-era CMS Medicaid rules could cut provider payments again, warning of service reductions, layoffs, and possible closures. Missouri Politics: Missouri’s Supreme Court is set to decide whether voters can force a referendum on the congressional redistricting fight, a final test for a November ballot. Local Governance/Data Centers: Independence voters recalled Councilmember John Perkins after his March vote for $6B+ in tax breaks tied to a planned AI data center. Energy/Weather: A heat-driven surge raises blackout risk across the PJM grid, with DOE authorizing backup generation as a last resort. Transportation: MoDOT reports U.S. 54 widening in Camdenton reached the westbound phase, and a Strafford-area Route 125 closure was postponed. Business/Jobs: Jarrell Contracting plans a Hazelwood expansion creating 105 jobs. Courts/Legal: Missouri’s Supreme Court heard arguments on whether to disbar St. Louis attorney Susan K. Roach over alleged ethics and trust-account violations. Public Safety/Privacy: Sen. Josh Hawley opened an investigation into Flock and other ALPR surveillance tools as privacy concerns grow.

Local Infrastructure: Moberly is moving ahead with a $1.5 million DNR-funded wastewater project to reduce reliance on problem lagoons, routing sewage from nearby neighborhoods into a new sewer line with force mains, pumping stations, and generators. Public Safety & Health: Missouri SNAP recipients will face new verification requirements starting Oct. 1, requiring documentation for items like rent, childcare, and bank resources—sparking calls for clearer notice and transparency. Courts & Voting Rights: The Missouri Supreme Court is set to hear arguments on whether a gerrymandered congressional map and Amendment 6 can go to voters, with decisions due quickly as the ballot deadline nears. Consumer Fraud: BBB Scam Tracker reports show Vienna and other Missouri cities tied for 68th in July, with losses tied to online purchase scams. Community & Animals: Boone County’s barnyard rescue ended with all 70 animals adopted quickly after the Central Missouri Humane Society took custody. Workplace/Compliance: A webinar highlights how employers can use OSHA’s Top 10 citations as a self-check for training, supervision, and safety management gaps.

Library Fight: A new PEN America report says book bans and censorship pressure is spreading from schools into Missouri-style public libraries, with more harassment of staff and pushback over LGBTQ+ and race-related content. Courts & Elections: The Missouri Supreme Court is set to hear arguments tied to a stadium incentives lawsuit, testing how far referendum and standing rules go. Voting Rights: Missouri’s HB 1871 signed by Gov. Kehoe restores voting rights for many Missourians on parole or probation for non-violent, non-sexual offenses. Public Safety & Health: Lionel Richie is reported in St. Louis ICU after a concert stop at The Muny, with doctors checking for possible mild dehydration. Local Life: Westbound I-70 reopened in Columbia after a crash near the U.S. 63 connector; MoDOT also scheduled Route 66 work in Joplin and other road closures statewide. Community & Service: Missouri FFA chapters packed 252,564 meals for food-insecure families during the Missouri Farmers Care Foundation’s Drive to Feed Kids.

Court & Elections: The Missouri Supreme Court will hear last-minute challenges to blocked ballot issues, including whether voters can weigh in on gerrymandered congressional districts and a proposed rule change affecting voter-approved initiatives. Public Assistance: Missouri SNAP recipients face new verification requirements starting Oct. 1, with extra documentation tied to shelter costs, dependents/childcare, and bank resources. Data Centers & Local Control: St. Louis is the latest battleground in the fight over new data centers, as residents push back over environmental impacts and transparency while cities consider lawsuits and policy responses. Climate Resilience: St. Louis engineers and officials are rethinking roads, sewers, and stormwater design as hotter temperatures and heavier rainfall reshape how infrastructure needs to be built. Workplace Safety/Compliance: A new webinar highlights how employers can use OSHA’s Top 10 citations as a self-check to find training and supervision gaps before injuries or citations. Community & Health: Columbia’s Central Missouri Humane Society says dozens of rescued barnyard animals have been adopted quickly after a Boone County confiscation. Sports & Local Life: Donations continue for Liberty-area football player MicahJo Barnett after his death during a season opener.

Missouri Politics & Ballot Measures: With no big statewide races, November is still shaping up to be a fight over ballot power and abortion access, after Missouri voters rejected two GOP-backed constitutional amendments in August; now Democrats and allied groups are eyeing whether they can break GOP supermajorities in the House or Senate. Labor Meets Reproductive Rights: Missouri labor unions and abortion-rights groups have teamed up with a $1 million campaign targeting Republicans who voted to repeal the state’s paid sick leave requirement, arguing the same coalition-building that helped win past ballot victories is now turning into ballot power. Abortion Travel: A new report based on interviews with people who traveled to Illinois for abortions highlights how broad “health” definitions can keep access open late in pregnancy, fueling the national debate that’s now landing on Missouri ballots. Transportation: MoDOT is warning I-70 drivers to plan extra time for football-season work zones as the state adds lanes across the corridor. Public Safety & Privacy: Missouri agencies continue to grapple with Flock license-plate camera backlash, including cases where local officials shut down or questioned misuse. Local Schools: St. Louis Public Schools is holding more community meetings on its Future Ready plan, including potential closures and repurposing of 12 buildings. Sports: William Jewell College announced the death of football player MicahJo Barnett, 20, after a medical emergency on the sideline.

Data Center Fight in Missouri: A new analysis argues that data center moratoriums hit public schools and homeowners hardest, warning that top-down statewide bans can squeeze local budgets even when tech firms have other options. Missouri Medicaid Dollars: In 2024, Clinton saw a 79.2% jump in Medicaid dental payments ($88,055), while Hillsboro’s dental spending rose 60.6% ($32,883) and Fredericktown’s vision services climbed 9.2% ($59,701). Local Fraud Watch: Platte City ranked tied for 21st in Missouri for BBB Scam Tracker reports in July, with three reports and $798 in total losses. Mid-Missouri Roadwork: MoDOT says short repairs and longer projects continue across the region, with most routine work stopping for Labor Day and some closures lingering. National Privacy/Press: A Minnesota journalist’s case highlights federal moves to obtain phone logs without notifying reporters, raising fresh concerns about government power. Sports Tragedy: William Jewell student-athlete MicahJo Barnett died after a medical emergency during a season opener, prompting a college vigil and ongoing questions about what happened.

Mizzou Football: Missouri receiver Naeshaun Montgomery told teammates he slept in the locker room all fall camp, and coaches say it’s part of his big improvement push. Public Safety: A Braymer-area man, Kegan Keith Kelly, faces two first-degree murder charges after two people were found dead from apparent gunshot wounds in Carroll County. Crime: Kansas City, Mo., man was killed in an overnight stabbing in Lawrence, Kan.; the suspect remains at large. Health Care Watch: Medicaid billing data show sharp local jumps in multiple Missouri categories, including Paris (evaluation & management up 21.5%), Milan (medicine services up 485.4%), and Chesterfield (radiology procedures up 105%). Legal/Policy: A federal judge is reviewing Missouri’s ban on intoxicating hemp products, with the Hemp Trade Association arguing conflicting definitions could make the law hard to enforce. Sports Tragedy: William Jewell RB MicahJo Barnett died after a medical emergency moments after scoring in the season opener. Consumer Fraud: BBB Scam Tracker lists Seneca among Missouri cities with scam reports, including an online purchase loss tied to a low-quality shirt scam.

Local Sports Tragedy: William Jewell College says junior running back MicahJo Barnett died after a medical emergency on the sideline during the Cardinals’ Division II season opener vs. Fort Lewis in Liberty. Barnett scored a 1-yard touchdown in the first quarter, then collapsed about 20 minutes later; emergency crews transported him to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. The game was suspended and later canceled, and the school held a vigil and directed students to counseling and chaplain support. Public Safety & Surveillance Debate: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott ordered state agencies to stop funding Flock automated license-plate cameras amid backlash over misuse concerns, including a case where an officer was indicted for repeatedly searching a former partner’s plate. Consumer Fraud Watch: BBB Scam Tracker data shows Ava tied for 68th among Missouri cities with scam reports in July, with one report logged. Politics & Elections: A federal judge blocked a Trump administration USPS mail-voting rule that would have required ballots to be sent only to voters on a national eligibility list, citing serious risk of disenfranchisement close to the November election.

Data Center Fight: Thief River Falls, Minnesota is moving toward an 18-month moratorium on new data center projects after power-cost concerns from multiple would-be investors, with a public hearing set for Sept. 15. Surveillance Cameras in Missouri: Columbia City Council members are signaling they may revisit the city’s Flock camera contract amid ongoing resident distrust and protests, with renewal discussions expected in spring. Missouri Politics & Social Media: U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley has opened an investigation into Flock Safety over claims about how the cameras collect and share Americans’ data. State Government Shakeups: Missouri Gov. Kehoe named Kurt Schaefer to lead the Office of Administration and tapped Jake Buxton to take over the Department of Natural Resources. Local Remembrance: Northeast Missouri’s Sgt. Max Dean Ramsey, identified after Korean War “Unknown” remains were reexamined, will be laid to rest Sept. 4 near Martinstown. Weather: Hot conditions continue in Magnolia through the weekend into Monday, with officials also tracking elevated solar activity.

Food Safety: A lettuce-linked cyclosporiasis outbreak keeps widening, with the CDC reporting thousands of lab-confirmed cases nationwide and three more states added since last week. Local Government & Housing: Kansas City reached a relocation deal with the North Lawn Apartments tenant union after vacate notices, adding rent support plus help with storage, moving, groceries and deposits. Courts & Consumer Tech: A federal appeals court ruled Meta can’t use its user agreement to block a class action by local publishers and broadcasters claiming ad targeting misled advertisers. State Politics & Libraries: Missouri officials’ fight over a Columbia Public Library LGBTQ story time is still in play, with the library saying it’s following state law while state leaders push back. Public Health & Safety: Columbia police plan meetings with bars and nightlife managers to coordinate downtown safety after recent violence. Business & Growth: Kirkwood is weighing tax breaks for developers as it faces financial strain and considers a major apartment project. Missouri Legal/Crime: A Ste. Genevieve County man faces felony child sexual abuse material charges and alleged social media registration violations. Wildlife & Science: A Pittsburg State grad student is tracking prothonotary warblers in southeast Kansas, linking their presence to habitat changes. State Administration: Gov. Kehoe named DNR director Kurt Schaefer to lead the Office of Administration.

Flock Safety backlash in Missouri and beyond: Sen. Josh Hawley launched a Senate probe into AI-powered Flock license-plate cameras, demanding records on data access, placement, retention, and sharing as cities shut off systems over privacy worries. Missouri schools under scrutiny: State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick is pushing for a long-term governance fix for St. Louis Public Schools after a second audit raised concerns about leadership and accountability. Child welfare hearings: Missouri lawmakers pressed Children’s Division leaders on foster care safety after reported fatalities and questions about placements for medically fragile kids. Truck parking + highway upgrades: MoDOT broke ground on a $33M I-70 project adding 255 truck spaces and reconstructing 191 miles to improve safety and freight flow. Housing pressure: A new report finds “zombie homes” are slightly down, but overall vacancy stays tight—keeping prices high. Local roadwork: MoDOT posted Northeast Missouri maintenance plans and closures through early September. Business/tech: Uber Eats is moving toward drone delivery via Zipline, with Missouri-area implications as the rollout expands.

Data Center Court Fight: A Cole County judge heard arguments on a motion to dismiss a lawsuit trying to halt a Montgomery County data center project by Google and Amazon; plaintiffs say notice, water, electricity info, and tax abatement terms weren’t handled properly, with a Sept. 4 next hearing set. Missouri Election Watch: The Missouri Supreme Court will take up challenges tied to the new congressional map and whether a referendum process can force voters to weigh it. Meta Settlement Fallout: Missouri will investigate other social media platforms after its $100M share of the $17B Meta youth-safety settlement, with the money aimed at general revenue and consumer fraud funds. AI Confessions in Court: A Missouri case highlights how people’s ChatGPT chats can end up in court as “digital confessions,” raising new privacy and legal risks. Flock Camera Scrutiny: Missouri’s AG and national lawmakers are pressing for oversight of Flock’s automated license plate reader network amid misuse and privacy concerns. Local Housing Incentives: Mississippi County’s “Work Here. Live Here.” keeps expanding as major employers add millions toward helping workers buy homes locally. Food Safety: The FDA upgraded a Whole Foods guacamole/dip recall to its highest risk level after a Salmonella outbreak linked to contaminated jalapeños.

Stadium Fight in Kansas City: Kansas City leaders are reportedly steering around a voter showdown for a new Royals ballpark by using a pricier financing route that keeps the public vote out of the process, even as the overall project is estimated around $3 billion with taxpayers covering about 60%. Big-Tech Surveillance Pushback: U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley is demanding answers from Flock Safety over its AI camera network—120,000 cameras across 49 states and billions of vehicle scans monthly—pressing for safeguards on data access, retention, and misuse. Missouri Legal Accountability: The Missouri Supreme Court disbarred attorney John N. Wiles II for multiple ethics violations. Child Welfare Scrutiny: Missouri lawmakers grilled Children’s Division leadership after fatal cases involving kids in foster care, including a teen who died after being placed far from home. Local Development: UMusic Hotels is converting Kansas City’s historic Scarritt Building into a 169-room music-focused hotel, with a residential tower and entertainment venue planned. Community & Culture: A new Missouri documentary, “The Trail State,” will premiere Sept. 11 in Columbia, spotlighting the Katy Trail and other trail projects.

Surveillance & Privacy: Sen. Josh Hawley launched an investigation into Flock Safety’s AI license-plate camera network, pressing for details on data access, retention, and whether information is being pooled into a searchable national database—amid growing city pullbacks over privacy fears. Consumer & Courts: A Missouri appeals court revived a class action against Santander over alleged delays in releasing a vehicle lien after payoff, saying Missouri standing rules allow statutory damages claims without proof of concrete loss. Missouri Lawmaking: Seventy-six new Missouri laws take effect Friday, including tougher penalties for drunk driving causing injury or death and changes tied to “Bentley and Mason’s Law” for child maintenance after intoxicated-driving deaths. Meta Settlement Hits Home: Missouri is expected to receive $100M to $150M from a proposed $17.1B multistate Meta deal over teen social-media addiction claims, with new child-safety limits on Facebook and Instagram. Local Government: Independence councilman John Perkins faces a Sept. 1 recall election over tax incentives approved for an AI data center. Road Safety: St. Charles is moving ahead with a redesign of First Capitol Drive after crash data showed hundreds of collisions and the corridor’s high-injury history. Scams & Cyber Risk: Bridgeton logged two scam reports in July, while a TruStage cyberattack has caused funeral-payment delays for some families.

Meta Child-Safety Settlement: Missouri’s neighbors are celebrating a sweeping $17.1 billion multistate deal with Meta that forces major Instagram and Facebook changes for kids, including daily time limits, nighttime shutoffs, stronger age checks, and added parental controls—court approval is still required. Missouri Law Changes Friday: New Missouri rules kick in this week, including higher highway speeds up to 75 mph, tighter rules around porn access with age verification, and changes that make divorce easier for pregnant people. Data Center Pushback in St. Louis County: St. Louis County held another public hearing on data center rules for unincorporated areas, with residents raising concerns about rates, water use, noise, pollution, and strain on infrastructure. Local Tech Oversight: Missouri sheriffs are backing limits and stricter misuse penalties for automated license plate reader cameras, pointing to privacy concerns and storage rules. Road & Public Safety: A Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper was seriously hurt after being struck during a Clay County traffic stop; MoDOT also scheduled an I-35 truck parking closure for pavement work. Business & Community: Realty ONE Group Esteem opened a new Northland Kansas City office, and R.K. Black sponsored a youth autocross event giving kids with disabilities a chance to drive.

Missouri Politics & Courts: Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway dropped her bid to block Kansas City’s minority- and women-owned contracting program after the city repealed it, ending a fight that had raised big questions about how the city awards contracts. Child Welfare: Gov. Mike Kehoe signed an executive order creating a Missouri Child Welfare Task Force to set clearer safety standards and improve coordination across agencies and courts. Local Government & Privacy: Independence councilman John Perkins faces a recall election next week after supporting a major Nebius AI data center deal that included billions in tax breaks. Public Safety & Law: Jackson County prosecutor Melesa Johnson urged the state AG and police board to address concerns with Missouri’s self-defense law, tied to fallout from the 2024 Chiefs parade shooting. Consumer & Tech Safety: Back-to-school photo trends may expose kids’ personal details over time, cybersecurity experts warn. Business & Growth: Collier & Associates announced a private-label partnership with Compass International to bring Compass tech and resources to its agents. Sports & Education: Mizzou fall camp stock-risers and a new 2027 commitment from St. Louis-area guard Will Powers highlight the state’s recruiting and campus buzz. Transportation: MoDOT will narrow I-44 near Stoutland to one lane for bridge repairs, with drivers urged to slow down and watch for crews.