AGP Executive Report

Healthcare & Legal: An appeals court largely upheld a $29.5M verdict against a South Carolina nursing home tied to the death of a patient described as emaciated and covered in wounds and bed sores, trimming punitive damages caps but keeping findings of grossly negligent, reckless, willful and wanton conduct. Data Privacy: Edelson Lechtzin LLP says it’s investigating a Saber Healthcare breach, with reported exposure affecting at least 3,025 South Carolina residents. Nuclear & Energy Investment: Trump announced South Korea’s up-to-$200B energy push in the U.S., including eight nuclear plants with funding that includes South Carolina, plus a Texas gas project and an Alaska LNG review. Public Money & Recovery: FEMA awarded South Carolina more than $5.4M for Hurricane Helene recovery and resilience, including DOT debris removal and generator support for critical facilities. Health Care Expansion: Solis Mammography and HCA’s Trident Hospital formed a joint venture to expand breast imaging services across the Charleston market. Business Growth: Charleston’s Custom Digital Solutions was named a Stevie Awards finalist for fastest-growing women-owned/led companies. Local Business & Community: Pee Dee State Farmers Market’s Fall Plant, Flower & Food Festival runs Oct. 2-4 in Florence, with free admission and parking.

Wood & Manufacturing: Adeptus USA will invest about $216 million to reopen a shuttered Belton Industries plant in Anderson County, creating 217 jobs and producing pine moulding, boards, shiplap and panel products, with operations targeted for next year. Retail Closures: Slim Chickens permanently closed its last Midlands location in Lower Richland, following earlier shutdowns in Columbia (Forest Acres and Killian Road). Nuclear Workforce: South Carolina is pushing the next phase of nuclear growth with a USC–Westinghouse partnership to build a Nuclear Innovation Center focused on AP1000 training, construction and maintenance labs, and engineering certificates. Politics & Business Climate: The two candidates for governor—Jermaine Johnson and Alan Wilson—will debate live Oct. 6 in Columbia. Energy & Costs: Diesel prices in Chesterfield County hit $5.89/gallon in the week ending Sept. 19, while SC’s diesel average was $6.08. Logistics: USPS and Amazon launched a same-day delivery pilot for afternoon package drops at select facilities, aiming to expand delivery options for customers.

Nuclear Workforce Push: South Carolina leaders used the third annual Nuclear Summit in Columbia to announce a new USC–Westinghouse partnership aimed at training the next generation of nuclear workers, with nuclear power already supplying about 54% of the state’s electricity. Data Breach Accountability: A multistate coalition announced a $2.3 million settlement tied to the 2019 Labcorp debt-collector breach involving AMCA, underscoring “vendor management” as a non-delegable duty for HIPAA-covered organizations. Retail Turnaround Investment: Denny’s CEO Christopher Bode says the chain is lining up “Project Grand Slam” upgrades at about 500 restaurants over the next 12–18 months, leaning on AI and new tech to win back customers. Education Safety Policy: Lexington-Richland 5 approved an initial motion allowing SLED-certified district security staff to carry firearms on campus under updated safety procedures. Local Business & Community: Countybank Foundation created a $1,000 annual scholarship for Tri-County Technical College business majors in Anderson County. Consumer Finance Basics: South Carolina Commission on Higher Education highlighted FAFSA guidance, stressing it’s an aid application—not a loan commitment.

Nuclear Workforce: Westinghouse and the University of South Carolina signed an agreement to build a nuclear workforce training program tied to USC’s planned Nuclear Innovation Center in Columbia, aiming to support AP1000 deployment and train technicians, engineers and operators. Local Government: Fort Mill adopted a $74.7 million budget for 2026-27, raising the property tax rate from 83 to 87 mills to fund firefighters (including FEMA-backed staffing), Fire Station No. 3 and an operations center; water and sewer rates also rise. Real Estate/Development: Tri Pointe Homes bought 60.4 acres in Bluffton for 76 homesites in the final phase of New Riverside, with construction expected to start in September 2026 and sales targeted for 2028. Education Policy: South Carolina’s charter schools face more scrutiny under a finalized accountability bill (Act 123 of 2026), tightening expectations for schools and authorizers. Energy Prices: GasBuddy reported the lowest E15 price in Lexington County at $3.74 for the week ending Sept. 19, while premium gas stayed in the mid-$4 range across multiple counties. Business & Community: Sustain SC awarded $138,969 for 12 conservation projects across nine counties, protecting thousands of acres of land and water.

Data Center Politics: South Carolina Democratic Senate candidate Dr. Annie Andrews is calling for a two-year moratorium on new data center projects, arguing communities are being “steamrolled” while companies receive major tax breaks. Energy & Utilities: Critics of the Dominion Energy–NextEra merger say Virginia is getting a richer benefits package than South Carolina, including longer bill credits and more low-income assistance, while SC leaders are pushing less publicly. College Sports Policy: The U.S. Senate passed the Protect College Sports Act, a major overhaul aimed at reining in athlete compensation and transfer rules, with House action still uncertain. Local Development: Greenville City Council voted down a proposed change to infill lot width standards, a move that could affect housing development in established neighborhoods. Workforce/Business Growth: Huntington Bank opened a new freestanding branch in Mount Pleasant, expanding its South Carolina footprint. Education Leadership: USC’s College of HRSM launched the Dawn Staley Leadership Academy with an initial cohort of 110 students. Legal/Church Autonomy: A federal judge dismissed a South Carolina lawsuit involving the Anglican Church in North America, citing church autonomy. M&A/Real Estate: Post Real Estate Group discussed its strategy for converting market-rate housing to affordable units, including in South Carolina.

Military Finance Leadership: U.S. Army Financial Management Command named Command Sgt. Maj. Ronald B. Oyardo as senior enlisted advisor, handing off the role from Joy L. Allen during a Sept. 3 ceremony in Indianapolis. Higher Education & Workforce: Niche.com ranked USC Sumter No. 1 among South Carolina’s 2027 best community colleges, highlighting the Palmetto College system’s statewide reach. Public Finance & Child Care: South Carolina DSS launched an online waitlist for child care scholarships as funding constraints pause new applications. Energy & Regulation: Verizon’s copper landline retirement plan in South Carolina was pulled from FCC expedited review after state officials protested, slowing the timeline for legacy voice shutdowns. Data Centers & Power Oversight: The Southern Environmental Law Center asked the Public Service Commission to reconsider a ruling that exempted certain data-center power projects from the Siting Act, arguing oversight should apply as more proposals arrive. Local Business: Pinky’s Revenge in Greer will sell off games and memorabilia after announcing closure; separately, Mazda of Spartanburg opened a new stand-alone dealership. Education Cuts: S.C. State University voted to end multiple low-enrollment degree programs at its Orangeburg campus.

Auto Policy & Markets: President Trump says he approved looser federal fuel-economy standards, framing it as an end to the Biden EV mandate and promising cheaper cars and more U.S. auto jobs; shares of Stellantis, Ford and GM climbed on the news. Gas Prices Watch: GasBuddy reported South Carolina’s week-ending Sept. 19 averages near $3.98 for regular and $6.08 for diesel, with local lows including $3.69 regular in Sumter County and $5.99 diesel in Williamsburg County. Workforce & Immigration: USCIS data show 6,685 H-2B worker approvals tied to South Carolina worksites in fiscal 2026 through June 30, 2026, with a 100% approval rate. Education & Civic Life: Fourth grade teachers can apply for the 2027 Liberty Day at the Statehouse (Feb. 19, 2027), with a Friday, Oct. 2 deadline. Local Economy & Culture: Model A Brewing of Tega Cay won gold at the 2026 South Carolina Brewers Cup for its winter seasonal beer, “Not My Gumdrop Buttons.” Community Spotlight: Anderson County will mark its 200th anniversary with a downtown parade Oct. 4 featuring local schools, nonprofits, businesses and public-safety groups.

H-2B Hiring in SC: USCIS reported 6,685 H-2B worker approvals tied to South Carolina worksites in fiscal 2026 through June 30, with a 100% approval rate. Tax Revenue Watch: South Carolina collected $4.2 billion in total tax revenue in Q1 2026, with general sales/gross receipts ($2.4B) and income taxes ($1.5B) leading the mix. Fuel Prices (GasBuddy): In the week ending Sept. 19, Horry County’s lowest midgrade hit $3.97; Barnwell’s lowest premium was $4.49; Abbeville’s lowest regular was $3.87; and Anderson’s lowest diesel was $5.69. Beer Business: Model A Brewing (Tega Cay) won gold at the 2026 South Carolina Brewers Cup for its spiced winter seasonal. Auto Industry Policy: Trump announced new federal fuel economy standards, saying they end the Biden EV mandate and will lower car prices. Sports & Local Interest: Alabama routed South Carolina 49-18, while SC anglers won a two-week federal red snapper season in October (Oct. 9-22).

Fuel Economy Shake-Up: President Trump says he approved new fuel economy standards that end the Biden-era EV mandate, promising lower prices and more auto manufacturing jobs, though the final rule details weren’t immediately released. Local Housing Input: Aiken County will hold an Oct. 6 public hearing on community needs and priorities tied to CDBG and HOME funding, inviting residents to weigh housing, public facilities and economic development plans. Energy at the Pump: GasBuddy reports show South Carolina regular gas averaging about $3.98 per gallon for the week ending Sept. 19, with county-by-county lows ranging from $3.54 in Richland to $3.62 in Horry; diesel averages hovered near $6.08 statewide. Tech & Security: A report warns that “machine identities” are evolving beyond software-only access control as humanoid and mobile robots enter workplaces. Sports & Business Culture: Coverage of Alabama-South Carolina football dominates the week’s headlines, while a North Carolina piece spotlights the fast-growing THC beverage market as a new test case for alcohol industry competition.

Telecom & Rural Access: The FCC paused Verizon’s plan to retire copper landlines in nine states, including South Carolina, giving the agency more time after pushback from consumers and remote communities worried about service quality. Education & Local Governance: A hearing is set for Charleston County School Trustee Darlene Dunmeyer-Roberson on Sept. 28 in Columbia, tied to an executive order. Energy Costs: GasBuddy price checks show diesel and gasoline variation across South Carolina counties in the week ending Sept. 19, with notable lows including diesel at $4.99 in Cherokee County and regular gas at $3.34 in Cherokee County. Workforce & Immigration: South Carolina employers in the “Other Services (except Public Administration)” category filed three H-1B petitions in 2025, all approved, according to USCIS data. Business Growth: Duke Energy landed a $50 million federal grant to upgrade the Carolinas’ power grid, aiming to improve reliability and lower customer costs. Local Economy & Jobs: Okonite announced a $400 million expansion in Orangeburg County, creating 105 jobs. Sports Betting & Media: Multiple promos and prediction-market offers are circulating for Week 4 college football, while Gray Media and the Charlotte Hornets expand free broadcast coverage across the Carolinas.

Opioid & Public Health: A Nashville forensic lab says it has identified a new synthetic opioid, cychlorphine, in 18 states, including South Carolina, linking it to dozens of deaths in East Tennessee and raising fresh concerns for campus and community overdose response. Pharma Oversight: South Carolina AG Lynn Fitch joined a 20-state push urging federal action to block Chinese low-quality or unsafe pharmaceutical ingredients from entering the U.S. supply chain, citing GLP-1-related contamination fears. Water Infrastructure: Charleston Water System is seeking input for a major second phase of lead service line replacement—about $36 million to remove and replace roughly 941 known lead pipes—after starting work on 1,100 lines. Business & Real Estate: HomeSmart announced a strategic merger with NorthGroup Real Estate, adding nearly 2,000 agents and expanding across the Carolinas and beyond. Workforce & Education: SC State University terminated nine academic programs due to low enrollment, while SC State’s Career Day Extravaganza will connect students with 100+ recruiters across multiple industries. Economic Development: Woodward plans to shift military flight-control actuation production from California to a Spartanburg campus, targeting summer 2027 operations and about 400 jobs. Community & Tourism: A Charleston conference highlights how South Carolina’s Black communities can use culture and history to build tourism and wealth, citing $2.4 billion in statewide impact.

Data & Privacy: Acting Attorney General Cori Mills announced a multistate settlement with Labcorp over a 2019 breach tied to a medical debt collector, AMCA, affecting millions nationwide including thousands of Alaska patients. AI Readiness: A new AI-focused brief argues companies are past proof-of-concepts and now face “readiness” gaps inside the enterprise—data, processes, and talent—not just better models. Fraud & Courts: A former Melville-area supervisor was sentenced to 30 months for stealing about $1.6M from customer credit accounts, using wires for a failed South Carolina restaurant venture and personal expenses. Energy & Grid: Duke Energy is set to receive $50M in federal funding for grid upgrades in South Carolina and North Carolina, aimed at boosting capacity and lowering customer costs. Education Funding: USC’s Palmetto College may have to limit dual enrollment for SC high school students as lottery-funded scholarship support per credit hour has fallen. Local Business/Jobs: TripStop plans a new travel center at Interstate 81 Exit 105 in Radford, with about a $5M investment. Fuel Watch: Diesel prices stayed volatile; one Georgetown County station hit $5.69/gallon in the week ending Sept. 19.

Energy & Manufacturing: Prysmian broke ground on an $80 million Lexington expansion to boost flex-ribbon fiber-optic capacity, aiming to add 130 jobs and support data-center optical cable demand. Local Development: Georgetown’s Liberty Steel waterfront redevelopment is officially off the table after River Development Equities terminated its contract, citing missed approvals and a dead timeline. Data Centers & Power: The Southern Environmental Law Center asked South Carolina’s Public Service Commission to revisit a decision involving a proposed NorthMark Cloud/Valara 450+ megawatt power plant tied to a Spartanburg data center. Consumer & Public Safety: FEMA awarded more than $72 million across the Southeast for fire departments and first responders, including funding for equipment and staffing. Policy Watch: A bipartisan federal film and TV tax credit bill—backed by Sen. Tim Scott—was introduced to bring production back to the U.S., with a 20% base credit and potential bonuses. Trade & Geopolitics: Trump hosted Xi Jinping at a tech-heavy state dinner, while rare earths dependence remains a major strategic concern. Business Climate: Commentary urges the U.S. Supreme Court to quickly settle whether state climate lawsuits belong in federal court. Health Access: A Medicare-focused op-ed highlights South Carolina’s dermatologist shortages and the cost of delayed care.

Higher Ed Costs & Earnings: A new analysis finds adults with some college or an associate degree earn the most in Maryland (median $55,301), while the national earnings gap between bachelor’s holders and those with some college/associate degrees averages about $18,539 a year—fueling fresh debate over whether four-year degrees are worth the price. Telecom & Rural Lifelines: Verizon has petitioned the FCC to end copper landline service in 18 states and D.C., drawing pushback from BellTel retirees who warn it could hurt older and vulnerable customers during outages. Food Safety: Another nationwide recall hits South Carolina consumers: more than 160,000 pounds of raw pork, beef and goat products were recalled after being produced without federal inspection and bearing false USDA inspection marks. Cybersecurity/Healthcare Data: South Dakota AG Tong led a $2.3 million multistate settlement with Labcorp over the AMCA debt-collector data breach tied to exposed patient information. Local Development: A developer is seeking Hendersonville city rezoning for a 288-unit multi-family complex near I-26, with annexation plans tied to sewer service. Banking: Bank of South Carolina Corporation declared a $0.25 quarterly dividend and earned national recognition among community banks. Manufacturing & Jobs: Winthrop will receive a $250,000 Rock Hill grant to launch South Carolina’s first bachelor’s program in advanced manufacturing engineering. Gas Prices Watch: GasBuddy reports South Carolina’s regular gas averaged $3.98 for the week ending Sept. 19, with the lowest Orangeburg station at $3.49.

Clemson Leadership & Rankings: Clemson CFO Rick Petillo will leave Oct. 2 for a Vanderbilt vice chancellor/CFO role, with Kelly Collins stepping in as interim while Clemson searches for a permanent replacement; meanwhile, Clemson topped South Carolina’s national universities in U.S. News’ 2027 rankings, with USC second and Furman leading liberal arts. Consumer & Finance: Hawaiʻi announced a settlement with subprime auto lender Credit Acceptance Corp., offering eligible consumers up to $115,000 in cash restitution or debt relief, with terms aimed at better loan disclosures and limits on “packing” add-on products. Defense & Work Force: South Carolina military leaders told Gov. Henry McMaster they’re seeing growth but need more affordable housing and childcare for service members and families, including expansion at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort. Infrastructure & Housing: Pawleys Island secured $1.5 million for stormwater drainage to reduce chronic flooding in the Bird’s Nest area, part of a broader resilience plan. Local Economy & Jobs: WTC and FCI Williamsburg launched a CDL program to train incarcerated students for commercial driving careers after release. Business/Policy Watch: A draft contract tied to Fairfield County’s AME Vision Center project leaves key pricing terms blank, raising questions about $4M state funding use.

Generic-drug settlement push: Illinois AG Kwame Raoul, joining a bipartisan coalition, urged consumers to check eligibility and file claims tied to alleged generic-drug price-fixing, covering purchases from May 2009 to Dec. 2019. Water policy: WateReuse released a state-level guide to help utilities and regulators build water-reuse rules that fit local needs. Affordable housing for first responders: LENS IOP launched an affordable housing program offering stop-gap housing, flexible rent support, and a path toward homeownership. Retirement cost spotlight: A MoneyLion study ranked states by how long retirees can stretch savings, highlighting where retirement cushions run thin. Insurance risk watch: A-Cap Group’s troubles put more scrutiny on life reinsurance structures and whether risks truly transfer. Grocery pricing: Aldi rolled out nationwide price cuts on nearly one-third of regularly stocked items, including fall produce and chicken. Aviation connectivity: U.S. DOT awarded nearly $12M to 14 communities to add or restore regional air service. Defense leadership: NIWC Atlantic named Greg Lancaster as executive director. Energy & oil markets: Reports say the Trump administration is weighing another Strategic Petroleum Reserve crude-loan round, raising concerns about whether it would actually cool prices. Local business & media: The Charlotte Hornets struck a new over-the-air broadcast partnership with Gray Media, expanding coverage across parts of South Carolina. Infrastructure grade: South Carolina’s ASCE report card improved to C- but warned aging roads and drinking-water systems still strain under growth. Real estate finance: Refuel sold 17 South Carolina c-store sites to Getty Realty in a $260.9M sale-leaseback.