AGP Executive Report

Delaware Jobs Watch: Delaware unemployment fell to 5.1% in May (down from 5.3% in April), with Sussex County dropping to 4.2% from 4.9%, while the national rate held at 4.3%. Election Funding Pressure: A CNN report says the Trump administration could withhold more than $1 billion in homeland security grants unless states adopt major election changes, including phasing out some electronic voting systems and using a DHS citizenship verification database. Teacher Pay Reality Check: A new look at K-12 educator finances highlights how many teachers are “just getting by,” with pay and affordability varying widely by state. Local Business & Labor: At Target Field, Delaware North says concessions will keep running “business as usual” even as about 500 union workers prepare to strike over wages and health care. Corporate/Markets: Marvell Technology (headquartered in Wilmington) got analyst price-target boosts tied to AI and networking expectations. Delaware Economy & Growth: Delaware’s panhandling debate in Dover is back on the agenda, with residents using it to press broader concerns about homelessness, public safety, and downtown business conditions. Business Innovation: Phrasly.AI expanded its AI writing authenticity tools for students and content teams as schools and platforms tighten originality standards.

Delaware Banking Modernization: Delaware’s House advanced a bipartisan package updating state banking laws, including the Delaware Banking Modernization Act plus measures for money transmission/virtual currency and a payment stable coin framework—aimed at bringing rules up to date for a less cash-and-plastic world. Local Economy & Jobs: Wilmington’s Black Wall Street Festival spotlighted Black entrepreneurs and vendors, while Community Bank Delaware backed the Beebe Bash with a $5,000 donation supporting emergency services in Lewes and Millville. Environment & Resilience: Delaware Bay horseshoe crab monitoring shows the population nearing historic levels after decades of harvesting restrictions, a rare win for coordinated conservation. Policy Watch: Delaware’s governor issued a proclamation marking June 21 as International Day of Yoga, reflecting growing state attention to health and cultural recognition. Labor & Consumer Impact: Target Field concession workers tied to Delaware North face a potential strike over wages, healthcare, and job protections—an example of how labor talks can quickly ripple into major events and spending. National Signals: Weekly unemployment claims ticked up to 324, a small but notable read-through for the broader labor market.

Delaware Budget Watch: The Delaware Senate approved a $6.99B operating budget for FY27, a 6.32% increase, with education and health driving much of the growth; lawmakers also cleared a $146.2M supplemental budget for one-time needs like equipment and tech. Energy & Data Centers: FERC ordered grid operators to remove bottlenecks blocking AI data centers from connecting to the power grid, pushing connection costs onto developers instead of ratepayers. Public Safety & Infrastructure: Delaware Bay and River Cooperative’s new $6M oil-spill recovery vessel, the Delaware Responder, is now on standby 24/7 at UD’s Lewes dock with a 2,000-foot boom for rapid response. Local Business & Community: Wilmington’s Black Wall Street Festival highlighted Black entrepreneurs and vendors, adding to the region’s momentum around small business and local commerce. Travel & Aviation: Avelo added nonstop routes from Cleveland and Indianapolis to Concord Padgett Regional Airport, expanding options for travelers heading to the Charlotte area. Health Policy: Final Medicaid work-requirement rules were released, setting expectations for how enrollees will prove participation in work, training, volunteering, or education.

Delaware Budget Watch: The Delaware Senate approved a $6.99B FY27 operating budget, with spending up 6.32% and notable increases in education and health, plus a $146.2M supplemental budget for one-time items. Energy & Data Centers: FERC ordered grid operators to remove AI data center interconnection bottlenecks and barred shifting those costs to household ratepayers, pushing developers to cover upgrades. State Energy Policy: Delaware House passed HB 445 requiring large energy users to generate at least 25% of their own power before grid connections and to plan for 100% in-state generation within 10 years; it now heads to the Senate committee. Medicaid Spending: Middletown Medicaid dental payments rose to $279,352 in 2024 (up 24.1% from 2023), while Laurel’s ambulance/transport category jumped to $27,262 (up 471.9%). Public Safety: Delaware State Police arrested a 15-year-old Wilmington suspect tied to an armed robbery involving an electric bike. Community & Business: Long Neck Sunrise Rotary awarded three Sussex Central seniors $1,500 scholarships; and Delaware’s 211 caregiver support program expansion brings more family caregivers access via the 24/7 helpline.

Delaware Energy Policy: House Bill 445 cleared the Delaware House, requiring large energy users (30+ megawatts) to generate at least 25% of their own power before connecting to the grid, with a path to 100% in-state generation within 10 years; it also sets a 30-year binding contract framework with the Public Service Commission and penalties for missing production targets, with the bill now headed to the Senate Environment, Energy and Transportation Committee. State Budget Watch: Delaware’s nearly $7 billion FY27 operating budget advanced after the Senate unanimously passed budget bills, with lawmakers pointing to education and healthcare cost growth as major drivers. Property Tax Reassessment: Delaware lawmakers approved additional measures to reform the state’s property reassessment process, including quality-control authority for New Castle County non-residential parcels and changes that adjust school board tax warrant deadlines tied to reassessment updates. Caregiving Support Expansion: AARP and United Way Worldwide expanded the AARP/211 Caregiver Support Program into 10 more states plus regional support in California and Colorado, bringing availability to 32 states and Puerto Rico, including Delaware. Local Community: Chester, Pa. is converting city-owned vacant lots into green spaces to tackle illegal dumping, partnering with the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. Business & Consumer Angle: A new analysis highlights how state-by-state taxes and fees can make one jurisdiction cheaper for car buyers than another, underscoring how policy differences can change “out-the-door” costs.

Delaware Budget Push: The Delaware Senate unanimously passed the FY27 operating budget package, sending nearly $7 billion (plus about $146 million in supplemental spending) to the House; lawmakers pointed to healthcare and education as the main cost drivers, with a 3% state employee raise and added Medicaid and retiree health funding. Property Tax Relief & Reassessment: Delaware lawmakers advanced a package of reassessment and tax relief bills, including quality-control review authority for New Castle County non-residential parcels and changes that adjust school tax warrant timelines tied to reassessment outcomes. Energy Efficiency Plans: Delmarva Power filed a proposal to expand energy efficiency programs for 2027-2029, targeting tens of thousands of megawatt-hours in electric savings and natural gas savings for customers. Local Food Access Grants: The Delaware Division of Small Business awarded $712,500 to 28 businesses and organizations to fight food deserts through the Delaware Grocery Initiative and First State Food System Program. Coastal Business & Community: Coastal Delaware restaurants are leaning into “take-home” market and deli concepts, while Community Bank Delaware backed Lewes’ Juneteenth celebration with a $1,000 gift. Lottery Numbers: Delaware Lottery Mega Millions and Play 3 results for June 19 were published for players.

PFAS Cleanup Funding: The EPA is sending $10.1 million to Delaware for local PFAS cleanup, with a focus on stopping contamination at the source plus monitoring and public education. Utility Costs & Rate Policy: Gov. Matt Meyer is urging regulators and lawmakers to act fast on rising electricity costs, including a push to reset Delmarva Power’s profit model and freeze electric rates while improving protections for large energy users. Local Budgets: Henlopen Acres approved a FY 2027 budget of about $1.42 million, holding property taxes steady while rebuilding reserves and targeting water-plant improvements. County Growth Pressures: Sussex County Council approved a $300 million FY 2027 budget that adds a building-permit surcharge to help fund public school expansion and boosts support for ambulance services. Community & Business Support: A Fairfield community pork-burger fundraiser is planned to help “Big” Mike Withrow’s family with cancer-related expenses. Public Safety: Delaware State Police reported no arrests after a reported large fight at Paradise Grill in Long Neck; one person was injured in a fall. Infrastructure Disruption: Blackwells Mills Road Bridge over the D&R Canal in Franklin, N.J., closed for emergency deck repairs with detours in place. Adoption Update: The Brandywine Valley SPCA’s “Stanley Pup” drive is down to one remaining dog—“Brad Marchound”—at the Everyday Adoption Center in Dover.

Delaware Budget: The Delaware Senate unanimously passed the FY 2027 operating budget, setting spending at $6.99 billion starting July 1, with a 3% pay raise for state employees and added support for Medicaid, developmental disabilities, child care, and public education. AI & Schools: Lawmakers are weighing a Delaware AI-in-schools pilot (HB 404) aimed at testing AI and extended reality in a small set of schools, with oversight by the Department of Education and other state agencies. Energy & Data Centers: Federal regulators ordered the nation’s grid operators to update rules for connecting data centers and other large loads, raising the stakes for power reliability and potential rate impacts. Healthcare Costs: A KFF analysis says ACA Marketplace deductibles jumped 37% in 2026 to $3,786, driven by more people moving to higher-deductible bronze plans. Local Business Resilience: The Lewes Chamber and Delaware Sea Grant are teaming up on a resiliency seminar for business owners, focusing on disaster preparedness and continuity planning. State Economic Moves: DNREC opened a $29.7 million environmental laboratory in Smyrna, replacing an older Dover facility. Corporate/Finance Watch: Morgan Stanley filed an amended plan for a Delaware-based Ethereum trust that would track a CoinDesk ether benchmark and include staking. Community & Tourism: Delaware Tourism and 1440 Film Co. won a Silver Telly Award for “Back of House,” highlighting the state’s food scene.

Delaware Data Center Costs: The Delaware House passed two bills requiring data centers to cover their own utility costs, including a separate utility rate structure before facilities can connect to the grid, aiming to keep infrastructure and grid-capacity expenses from landing on residents and small businesses. Workforce & Pay Policy: A tipped-worker tax relief measure cleared a Delaware House committee, letting eligible workers deduct up to $15,000 in tip income from state taxes, with the benefit set to sunset at the end of 2029. Healthcare Transparency: The Trump administration warned more than 500 hospitals nationwide that they’re not providing basic pricing information, with penalties up to $2 million annually for noncompliance. Education Pay Pressure: A new NEA report says teacher pay is lagging inflation, with inflation-adjusted salaries down over the past decade. Local Business Pipeline: Wakefern opened applications for its 2027 local supplier summit, seeking regional brands to scale across its Northeast supermarket network. Tech Startup Launch: Delaware-based OneHolo.ai is live and taking pre-registrations for a human-like holographic front-desk platform for healthcare and other service businesses. Community & Advocacy: Immigrant advocates rallied at Legislative Hall urging passage of Delaware immigration bills before the session ends.

Hospital pricing crackdown: The Trump administration has warned more than 500 hospitals to post clear pricing for common services, with penalties up to $2 million per year for noncompliance—an effort aimed at lowering surprise medical bills. Delaware hospital shooting: Authorities identified 23-year-old John Wallace-Bey as the suspect in a fatal ChristianaCare Wilmington Hospital shooting; he faces murder and weapons charges and is awaiting extradition. Casino compliance tightening: Welcome-bonus rules for online casino offers are tightening across states, including Delaware, with stricter eligibility checks and geolocation enforcement. Delaware energy policy: Delaware House bills would require data centers to cover the costs of new grid infrastructure and capacity-market charges so those expenses can’t be shifted to residents and small businesses. R&D tax deadline: Companies have until July 6 to retroactively amend returns to recover R&D deductions under the recent tax law changes. Local business expansion: Surf Bagel opened a second New Castle County location near Christiana Hospital, hiring 30–40 workers. Workforce & retail: Ocean State Job Lot is holding hiring events in Vermont, signaling continued seasonal hiring momentum in the region. Drug trafficking sentencing: A Delaware-linked cocaine trafficking case ended with a 275-month sentence for Brahmananda Prasad and a $2.5 million forfeiture order.

Energy & Utilities: Gov. Matt Meyer is pushing the Delaware Public Service Commission to pause Delmarva Power’s interim rate hike, arguing the utility’s parent Exelon is “gouging” customers and that the PSC should stop the increase before it hits bills. Healthcare Policy: Final federal Medicaid work-requirement rules are out, setting new steps for millions of enrollees and forcing states to overhaul systems to avoid coverage losses. Consumer Protection & Food Security: Delaware AG Anthony G. Brown joined a coalition urging Congress to restore SNAP benefits and reject Farm Bill cuts, warning the changes increase hunger and add administrative burdens. Business & Tech: Delaware-based Ionic invested in Documentary+, taking over ad monetization and advertiser activation for the documentary streaming platform. Local Economy & Real Estate: The Bank of Delaware Building in Wilmington was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Governance & Transparency: The Delaware Supreme Court is weighing whether citizens must pay attorneys’ fees to force government transparency under the state FOIA. Public Safety & Community: Delaware DHSS is reminding SNAP clients to protect EBT cards as benefit theft and fraud rise.

Hospital Violence in Wilmington: ChristianaCare Wilmington Hospital was placed on lockdown after a shooting left one person dead and another wounded; police say the incident was targeted and isolated, and a 23-year-old suspect was taken into custody in Philadelphia with charges and extradition pending. Public Safety & Community Impact: Wilmington Mayor John Carney called the attack “particularly distressing” in a place meant to save lives, while multiple agencies including the FBI and Delaware State Police responded. County Budget Watch: Sussex County approved a $300M FY2027 budget, keeping the property tax rate unchanged at 2.14 cents per $100 assessed value, with added investments in education, fire/EMS, wastewater, and affordable housing. EMS Staffing: Kent County is looking to scale back enhanced paramedic sign-on bonuses after staffing improvements and a growing paramedic trainee pipeline. Food Assistance Policy: Michigan AG Dana Nessel joined a coalition urging Congress to restore SNAP benefits and protect food aid in the Farm Bill, warning recent cuts are increasing hunger and shifting costs to states. Delaware Courts/Business: A Delaware bankruptcy judge approved BlockFills’ $3.25M sale ahead of a Chapter 11 plan hearing, while a Delaware Chancery Court fight continues over GameStop shareholder votes tied to CEO compensation. Healthcare Pricing Transparency: The Trump administration warned more than 500 hospitals to post basic pricing information or face penalties up to $2M annually, signaling tighter enforcement ahead of midterms. Local Crime: Fenwick Island police arrested two men accused of stealing used cooking oil from restaurant storage containers, using surveillance footage to link the suspects to multiple thefts.

Energy Affordability Push: Gov. Matt Meyer says Delaware’s “social contract is broken” and is urging the Public Service Commission to reset Delmarva Power’s profit model, freeze electric rates, and tighten accountability on new generation as the legislature nears session end. Community Solar Financing: Aligned Climate Capital closed $33M in construction financing for two Delaware community solar projects (Rifle Range Solar in Bridgeville and Delaware Avenue Solar in Harrington), targeting ~18.2M kWh annually and low-income subscriber requirements. Housing Supply: Senate Bill 23’s affordable housing substitute cleared the Delaware Senate, requiring larger counties/municipalities to plan for 20% affordable housing through comprehensive plans. Local Government & Costs: Kent and Sussex counties are moving toward 2027 budgets without tax increases, while New Castle County faces a deficit and a recent property tax hike. Business & Food Retail: Wakefern is seeking suppliers for its 2027 Local Supplier Summit, with Delaware-area companies eligible to apply; Buffalo Wild Wings GO opened its first Columbus-area location. Delaware Courts & Voting: A Delaware Superior Court judge dismissed an ACLU challenge to Fenwick Island’s policy allowing “artificial entities” to vote in town elections. Public Safety: New Castle County speed cameras have already flagged thousands of drivers, with warnings and citations rolling out since spring.

Healthcare Costs & Transparency: The Trump administration has warned more than 500 hospitals to post clear pricing or face penalties up to $2 million annually, signaling tighter enforcement of 2019 price-transparency rules. Delaware Courts & Voting Rights: A Delaware Superior Court judge dismissed an ACLU challenge to Fenwick Island’s policy letting certain “artificial entities” vote in town elections, keeping the practice intact for the 2026 cycle. Delaware Business Litigation: A Delaware Chancery Court case accuses a Medium Rare restaurant chain manager of secretly diverting vendor rebates and misrepresenting ownership. Retail & Restructuring: West Marine filed for Chapter 11 in Delaware and plans to close 59 stores nationwide, though it says operations will continue during restructuring. Public Safety: DNREC says a second ammonia release at Perdue’s Milford plant in a week sent nine employees to the hospital for evaluation, with residents still worried. Housing & Homelessness: Wilmington crews cleared the Christina Park encampment, but demonstrators say the move won’t solve the underlying problem. State Policy & Health: Final Medicaid work-requirement rules are out, with states scrambling to update systems and avoid coverage losses. Local Economy & Travel: A new Rehoboth Beach parking lot is using dynamic pricing via an app, drawing both praise and backlash. Energy & Finance: Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance declared a dividend and moved toward dissolution/liquidation after reviewing strategic alternatives. Business & Community Funding: The Carl M. Freeman Foundation awarded $142,500 in Sussex grants to 17 nonprofits and schools.

Health Policy: The Trump administration warned more than 500 hospitals to post clearer pricing or face penalties up to $2 million annually, pushing tougher enforcement of federal price-transparency rules. Delaware Courts & Governance: A Delaware Superior Court judge dismissed an ACLU challenge to Fenwick Island’s policy letting “artificial entities” vote in town elections, keeping the corporate/LLC voting practice intact for 2026. Retail & Restructuring: West Marine filed for Chapter 11 and will close 59 stores nationwide, including six in Michigan; the company says it’s pursuing a strategic reorganization. Healthcare Access: ChristianaCare plans to close Union Hospital’s Family Birthing Center in Elkton, triggering intense community pushback over access and costs. Business & Innovation (Delaware): InnoventuresAI launched Springbase.ai, an end-to-end AI operating system aimed at turning company knowledge into usable business outputs. Housing & Homelessness: Delaware will convert DSU dorms into a Kent County Hope Center-style homeless shelter, funded by federal rural healthcare expansion dollars. Biotech Patent: A Delaware jury found Amgen and Teneobio willfully infringed a Harbour antibody patent, ordering $20.2M in damages. Energy/Climate: Blue Energy and Calcuta Resources formed a joint venture plan for CO₂ sequestration in Oklahoma’s Anadarko Basin.

Patent Win for Delaware Biotech: Harbour BioMed says a U.S. jury in Delaware found Amgen willfully infringed its antibody patents, awarding $20.2M in damages and setting up a possible treble-damages fight. Local Housing & Homelessness: Wilmington Mayor John Carney defended the imminent closure of the Christina Park encampment and laid out next steps for residents after the city’s eight-month experiment. Public Health & Safety: Perdue’s Milford plant reported two ammonia releases that exceeded permit limits, sending several people to the hospital after one leak. Delaware Courts & Voting Rules: A Delaware Superior Court judge dismissed an ACLU challenge to Fenwick Island’s policy letting “artificial entities” vote in town elections. Business & Jobs: Alstom plans to establish Newark operations with a $55M project and 100 jobs tied to maintaining Amtrak’s Acela trains. Tech & Commerce: PixPix launched globally an AI agent that runs end-to-end e-commerce content creation for cross-border sellers. Healthcare Costs Policy: A new Trump administration push warns 500+ hospitals over missing pricing transparency, with penalties up to $2M annually.