AGP Executive Report

Economy & Jobs: A new “America’s Top States for Business” study puts North Carolina at No. 1 overall and flags Texas as a close No. 2 in the economy category, while warning that quality-of-life and housing pressures could bite. Public Safety: Virginia State Police issued a critically missing adult alert for Bedford-area resident Lyvetta Garystein Coyle, last seen Sept. 4. Higher Education: Virginia’s colleges are still feeling the squeeze, with a Lynchburg student describing how major cuts and staffing shortages can delay graduation. Energy & Infrastructure: Virginia Tech landed three new U.S. Health and Human Services grants, including work on sound-imaging tech, yellow fever mosquito research, and dementia caregiver support. Politics: Sen. Mark Warner visited JMU to back Beth Macy in VA-06, framing the race as tied to broader democratic stakes. Transportation: Amtrak plans to suspend Virginia-to-D.C. service for critical track upgrades in October. Local Life: A new Wawa opened in Middletown, bringing 24/7 service to the I-81 corridor. Courts & Immigration: The Justice Department challenged multiple states over in-state tuition rules for illegal immigrants, arguing they unfairly favor noncitizens.

Water Rights in Court: A federal appeals court ruled there’s no constitutional right to clean drinking water, rejecting Jackson, Mississippi residents’ claims that lead-contaminated water violated bodily integrity. Labor and AI: At Labor Day Mass, Cardinal Robert W. McElroy warned that AI could reshape work and urged protecting workers’ dignity and meaningful employment. Public Safety: Four Virginia State Troopers received Valor awards for actions during a pursuit and other incidents. Transportation Safety: Three people died in an I-66 Express Lanes crash involving a truck carrying oxygen tanks; investigators charged reckless driving in the lead-up events. Energy Costs: Lt. Gov. Ghazala Hashmi launched an energy listening tour in Northern Virginia, tying rising bills to the proposed Dominion-NextEra merger, data-center growth, and grid strain. Education Equity: Norfolk’s six-year bachelor’s completion rate for Black students was 40.8% for the 2018 cohort, below the statewide rate. Transit Disruption: Amtrak will suspend Virginia-to-Washington service Oct. 16–26 for major track upgrades, with many trips replaced by buses. Local Search: Authorities found a deceased person believed to be missing Purcellville resident Carolyn Taylor.

Energy Costs & Utilities: Virginia Lt. Gov. Ghazala Hashmi is taking her energy-cost listening tour to Hampton Roads as the State Corporation Commission weighs the proposed Dominion Energy–NextEra merger, pressing for assurances that bills won’t keep climbing. Public Health: Virginia health officials are tracking a small uptick in rabies cases around Richmond, including a bat case and a skunk case, urging pet owners to stay current on vaccinations. Transportation Safety: One person died in a fatal multi-vehicle crash on westbound I-66 Express Lanes in Fairfax County involving an oxygen-transport truck and an explosion; investigators are still working the scene. Housing Innovation: A federal housing law change is drawing manufactured-housing advocates, including removing the requirement for a permanent chassis to spur new designs and reduce stigma. Local Business: Fredericksburg’s Always Flavored marks six years in business, expanding retail and wholesale reach and becoming a Sysco vendor. Sports (Virginia): Virginia Tech opened James Franklin’s era with a 73-3 rout of VMI, while Virginia’s college teams posted wins and VCU’s men’s soccer fell to No. 15 Marshall.

Energy & Data Centers: A PJM capacity auction for 2028-29 fell short by nearly 6.8 gigawatts, with data centers blamed for driving rapid load growth—raising the odds of higher electricity costs for Virginians. Local Governance & Housing: Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s new Commission on Unlocking Housing Production held its first meeting in Richmond, aiming to cut housing costs by boosting supply and reviewing state rules that slow construction. Public Safety: A veteran fraud investigator and UVa grad was named Virginia’s inspector general, adding another layer of oversight to state government. Northern Virginia Leadership: Arlington’s Tiffanye Wesley became the first Black woman deputy fire chief in Northern Virginia, a milestone after she previously broke barriers as battalion chief. Crime & Community: Richmond police reported an overnight shooting on Jennie Scher Road that left one adult injured; investigators are asking for tips. Scams Watch: BBB Scam Tracker data put Glasgow among 115 Virginia cities tied for 84th after recording one scam report in July.

Virginia Tech Football: James Franklin’s debut at Lane Stadium turned into a rout, as Ethan Grunkemeyer threw two TDs and Virginia Tech beat VMI 73-3. JMU vs. Liberty: In Harrisonburg, JMU opened Billy Napier’s era with a 20-13 win over Liberty, using a late drive to run out the clock. Old Dominion Football: Old Dominion held off Norfolk State 31-10, sparked by Quinn Henicle’s two-touchdown passing and two rushing scores. Wolf Trap Tragedy: British rock band Squeeze canceled its Wolf Trap show after a bus collapse killed a roadside worker. Missing Person: A statewide search for 72-year-old Jeannette Moxley of Stuart ended with her death found near where she was last seen. Local Safety: A man was arrested in Dublin after a shooting in Carroll County sent a victim to LewisGale Hospital. Community College: Wytheville Community College welcomed students back for the fall semester with Welcome Back Day events.

Virginia Beach Super Girl Festival: The free, family-friendly Super Girl Surf Festival is set to hit the Oceanfront Labor Day weekend, debuting in the Mid-Atlantic with more than 5,000 female athletes across 15 sports, plus 22 live concerts and wellness events. Surveillance Cameras: A new tracker says 153 U.S. communities have rejected or shut down automated license plate reader systems, up from 95 just weeks earlier, with Lynchburg among the latest Virginia cities to end its Flock contract. Rural Broadband: EMPOWER Broadband says it finished its VATI 2022 rural fiber build across Southside counties and has now connected its 10,000th subscriber. Fair Housing Accountability: Virginia AG Jay Jones announced an $800,000 payout for families harmed by racist practices at Lazy Cove Campground in Penhook. Storm Recovery: Pepco reported about 7,600 customers still without power Saturday after severe storms hit D.C. and Maryland, with restoration work continuing. Federal Court Order: A judge ordered the Trump administration to disclose who set up a controversial $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization fund.”

Federal Courts: A judge in Alexandria ordered the Justice Department to quickly turn over documents tied to the now-dead $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund, including names of people who helped design it—an effort to trace who created the plan. Elections & Voting: Virginia AG Nick Brown and allies won a preliminary injunction blocking USPS from forcing states to make major changes to mail-ballot designs and tracking portals ahead of the Nov. 3 election. Public Safety: Manassas police are investigating a Friday night shooting in Old Town; officials asked residents to avoid the area and use a designated location for family inquiries. Immigration Enforcement: Arlington lawmakers are pressing back after an ICE encounter left a man with a brain injury, while federal court rulings continue to limit parts of Virginia’s ICE cooperation rules. Community & Health: Bluefield Lions Club’s “Blessings in a Backpack” program is funded by a Sept. 11 golf tournament to feed hundreds of students over weekends. Sports: Virginia Tech opens its season vs. VMI with a focus on building offensive line rotation for the triple-option challenge.

Transportation & Construction: Norfolk is reopening several long-term VDOT closures tied to I-64 work, including lanes on Granby Street, East Admiral Taussig Boulevard, and Mason Creek Road, though temporary stoppages may continue. Road Alerts: VDOT is warning drivers about nightly Route 288 ramp closures in Midlothian (Sept. 8-10) for paving, plus ongoing Rolling Road flagging and intermittent stoppages tied to the widening project. Public Safety: Virginia State Police says it will boost patrols for Labor Day, pairing visibility with seatbelt, speed, and sober-driving messaging. Local Economy & Housing: Greenfield’s planning board reviewed a 60-home subdivision proposal and recommended a one-year data-center construction moratorium. Community & Culture: Squeeze canceled a Virginia show after a worker was killed when a tour bus apparatus failed at Wolf Trap. Education: William & Mary reported a 91.4% six-year bachelor’s completion rate for two-or-more-races students entering in 2018. Fraud Watch: Williamsburg ranked among the top Virginia cities for BBB Scam Tracker reports in July, with seven reports.

Severe Storm Aftermath: A late-night severe storm hit Arlington with flash flooding reports and widespread outages, with Dominion reporting about 19,515 customers without power and gusts up to 64 mph at Reagan National. Public Safety & Health: Virginia State Police investigated a secondary crash on I-95 that injured a trooper and sent a driver to VCU Medical Center; meanwhile, Virginia’s drought watch lifted for the Big Sandy region after sustained rain. Politics & Courts: A federal judge rejected Altria’s bid to block an ITC vape patent case, while a judge also refused to order Google to sell its ad exchange in an antitrust remedy fight. Energy & Cost of Living: Virginia lawmakers and regulators continue wrestling with the Dominion-NextEra merger timeline and potential rate impacts as the SCC review proceeds. Education & Community: Meta’s proposed child-safety settlement would bring Virginia about $353 million, and Staunton is set to receive $15M+ for Amtrak station upgrades. Sports: Virginia opened its season with a dominant 34-8 win over NC State; JMU hosts Liberty in the Battle of the Blue Ridge, and Virginia Tech’s Brent Pry is back in his element as defensive coordinator. Local Spotlight: A missing woman from Patrick County was found deceased near where she was last seen.

School Safety & Public Response: Waynesboro police say a 19-year-old gunman forced his way into Westwood Hills Elementary School, wounded a staff member, and then died by apparent self-inflicted gunshot; officials say lockdown drills and procedures worked and no students were hurt. Heat & Disruptions: Short Pump Middle School closed Thursday after a heat advisory pushed classroom temperatures high. Traffic: Major delays hit I-95 northbound in Stafford County with lane closures near Exit 140 after a tractor-trailer crash. Immigration Enforcement: A federal judge temporarily blocked key parts of Virginia’s new law limiting local cooperation with ICE, letting existing 287(g) partnerships continue while the case proceeds. Local Government & Housing: Henrico will host a free “Ready, Set, Close!” first-time homebuyer event Sept. 24 tied to its Affordable Housing Trust Fund. Economy & Consumer Mood: A Roanoke College poll finds Virginia consumer sentiment fell sharply in August as inflation and a softer labor market weigh on households. Sports: Virginia Tech opens its season Saturday night at home vs. VMI.

School Safety: A 19-year-old gunman forced his way into Westwood Hills Elementary School in Waynesboro, shot a staff member, then died by apparent self-inflicted gunshot; the adult was treated and released and students/staff were evacuated safely. Child Welfare/Criminal Charges: Virginia parents John Herb Hayes III and Geordyn Nichole Hayes were arrested in Tennessee after their 5-year-old autistic, nonverbal daughter was found dead in South Carolina waters; prosecutors allege they left her unsupervised near water. Public Safety/Local Crime: Richmond police say a suspect smashed more than 80 cars at a Main Street Station parking lot, leaving drivers scrambling as windshields were destroyed. Housing: Fairfax County is converting the old “Darth Vader” office building, Telestar Court, into 80 affordable apartments, with Gov. Abigail Spanberger touting the project as a major housing push. Business/Economy: Twosome Place, a South Korean coffee chain, plans to open its first U.S. shop in Alexandria in October and expand across the DMV. Health/Research: Mayo Clinic researchers, with Virginia Tech scientists, report liver disease has five distinct subtypes, which could improve screening and treatment. Sports: Old Dominion men’s soccer surged to 4-0 with a 7-1 win over Radford.

School Safety: Waynesboro’s Westwood Hills Elementary was locked down and evacuated after a reported shooting Wednesday morning; the Augusta County Sheriff’s Office says the incident was “contained,” and all students, teachers, and staff were accounted for and safe, with reunification at Westminster Presbyterian Church while other city schools stayed secure. Child Death Case: In the Saylor Hayes investigation, Tennessee authorities arrested her parents, John Herb Hayes and Geordyn Hayes, on South Carolina warrants tied to her death after her Project Lifesaver transmitter was reportedly found at the family home in Virginia. Public Health & Costs: Virginia reports 94,000 people have dropped ACA coverage since last year, tied to expiring subsidies; lawmakers set aside $150 million for temporary assistance. Business & Jobs: Nordic Capital agreed to buy BWX Technologies’ medical business in a deal valued up to $800 million, with BWXT keeping minority ownership. Transportation Law: A new Virginia law bans live streaming while driving, with limited emergency-related exceptions.

Public Safety: Virginia State Police graduated 45 new troopers from the 145th basic session, adding more officers statewide after months of training that included crisis de-escalation and constitutional law. Courts & Civil Rights: Virginia Beach was held in contempt for not fully expunging disciplinary records tied to five Kellam High School students accused of racial harassment, with fees ordered and daily fines threatened. Elections & Voting Access: Gov. Abigail Spanberger pushed back on a Trump mail-voting warning, arguing overseas military ballots are protected under USPS rules that exempt UOCAVA voters. Immigration Enforcement: Federal judges blocked parts of Virginia’s new immigration enforcement law, limiting state cooperation with ICE as arrests surge. Health: A Central Virginia specialty care program won a $2.3M support boost, while Virginia also issued back-to-school safety reminders as kids return to buses, crosswalks, and heavier traffic. Local Watch: Chesterfield’s Flock camera contract drew renewed controversy as residents question surveillance and privacy. Crime: Bedford police arrested a suspect tied to a June shooting, charging reckless handling of firearms.

UVA Football Recruiting Buzz: Edge rusher Darias Johnson says Virginia’s sold-out Week 0 win over NC State felt “electric,” and it was his first Cavaliers visit after meeting with coach Tony Elliott. Recruiting Momentum: Virginia also made early impressions on two top 2029 prospects—DJ Dockery (Gonzaga) and Richard Allen IV (Good Counsel)—offering them ahead of Saturday’s rout. Utility Rates & Public Hearing: Dominion’s president testified to details of a proposed rate increase, with the North Carolina Utilities Commission set to hold a Sept. 28 hearing. Wildlife Watch: Virginia wildlife officials report suspected hemorrhagic disease in deer, warning residents not to handle sick-looking animals. Local Government: Leesburg’s Kristen Umstattd says she won’t seek reelection in 2027, ending a 36-year run in town and county leadership. Solar Policy Update: Botetourt County approved changes to solar facility rules while extending review of broader solar zoning updates. Tech & Jobs: Google received a land disturbance permit to begin phased grading for a 312-acre data center campus in Botetourt County. Public Safety: Montgomery County asked a federal judge to dismiss the DOJ’s challenge to its firearms-in-public law, calling the government’s argument “flatly wrong.”

Data Center Fight: Frederick County is set for two Wednesday hearings on Winchester Gateway, including a conditional-use permit for a new data center campus and a proposal to remove data centers as a permitted use—after commissioners raised concerns about noise, water use, and power-line needs. Privacy & Policing: Virginia Tech experts weigh in on “Flock” license-plate camera systems, warning that searchable vehicle tracking can raise warrant and misuse concerns. Local Food in Schools: The GATE Center is seeking volunteers for its Grayson County Farm to School program, aiming to route more local produce into school cafeterias and classrooms. Public Safety in Schools: Virginia Beach City Public Schools is pushing school-zone and bus-stop safety reminders as the new academic year begins. Transportation Milestone: Washington Manassas Airport cleared a major step toward commercial service after receiving an FAA Part 139 operating certificate. Sports: Virginia opened ACC football with a 34-8 win over NC State, while local high school football saw Green Run, Kellam, and Warhill among Monday night winners.

Elections & Civic Life: Virginians are heading to the polls in 2026, with voters weighing what’s at stake in state races and ballot questions. Sports: Xavier Brown returned from an ACL injury in style as Virginia routed NC State 34-8, while Virginia Tech’s season changes and Hokie football updates are already drawing attention. Public Health: School is back in session, and flu testing is being pushed as families plan for a possible fall surge. Local Business: Chesapeake Bank named Casey Porter incoming president of Chesapeake Payment Systems, and Fairfax/Loudoun saw a major $58 million sale of a multi-property retail/industrial portfolio. Safety & Crime: Virginia’s defense IT specialist Nathan Vilas Laatsch pleaded guilty to selling secrets to an undercover FBI agent, and a fatal multi-vehicle crash shut down parts of I-81 in Smyth County. Food Safety: The FDA flagged multiple recalls, including tofu potentially contaminated with ink and other salmonella/E. coli-related product pullbacks. Transportation: VDOT is lifting most lane closures for Labor Day travel, while warning that some work zones remain.