AGP Executive Report

Greenville Life Sciences: Palmetto InnovaSphere is teaming with Main Street Labs to build a downtown biotech support pipeline, adding shared lab infrastructure, tenant onboarding, and programming to cut startup costs and strengthen the local life sciences cluster. Murdaugh Retrial Oversight: The S.C. Supreme Court appointed Lexington County Judge Debra McCaslin to oversee proceedings tied to a potential Alex Murdaugh retrial after the high court reversed the 2021 murder convictions; venue and timing remain unsettled. SC Primaries Watch: South Carolina voters head to the polls Tuesday in governor and Senate primaries, with Republicans leaning hard on Trump loyalty—especially in the governor race where Pamela Evette seeks to convert the endorsement into an outright win and avoid a runoff. Energy & Industry: U.S. Steel pledged up to $2.5 billion for upgrades at Mon Valley Works, projecting job preservation and major economic impact—an example of how heavy industry investment is being framed for state and local returns. Local Business Openings: Mount Pleasant’s Goldbug is expanding with a second store on Ben Sawyer Blvd, while Sabores Latin American Food opened in North Charleston on Rivers Avenue. Antitrust: Nevada AG Aaron Ford joined a coalition opposing a Meta ruling in the FTC monopolization case, arguing the decision undermines competition.

Alex Murdaugh Retrial Overhaul: South Carolina’s Supreme Court has assigned retired Circuit Judge Debra R. McCaslin to oversee any future retrial and related proceedings after the high court overturned Murdaugh’s 2023 murder convictions, setting up a major next legal phase while he continues serving a federal financial-crimes sentence. Workforce & Training: Greenville County Schools and Greenville Tech are expanding welding education to tackle a national shortage, adding advanced facilities and more pathways for students. Digital Assets: South Carolina enacted a digital asset regulatory framework that protects self-custody rights and exempts certain mining/node and software activities from money-transmitter licensing, while preserving AG authority over fraud. Food Assistance Restrictions: New SNAP limits are rolling out in multiple states, including South Carolina, restricting purchases of items like soda, energy drinks, candy, and certain prepared desserts. Energy Costs Watch: GasBuddy reports show localized price dips and one-station “cheapest” listings across several counties, reflecting ongoing volatility tied to global oil and refinery conditions. Local Business Openings: New food and retail moves include a Greenville-area welding pipeline boost, plus fresh openings like Chex Grill & Wings in Columbia and PopUp Bagels’ first Charleston location. Primary Election Pressure: With South Carolina’s June 9 primaries underway, voters are signaling cost concerns and crowded fields could trigger runoffs.

Upstate jobs & tax policy: A South Carolina Daily Gazette report highlights a new magnet factory coming to the Upstate alongside summer layoffs, plus state changes affecting landfill-methane-to-energy projects and new taxes on vapes. AI & water stress: A Guardian analysis finds most planned U.S. AI datacenters are slated for drought-hit areas, raising fresh concerns as the industry expands while much of the country remains dry. SC politics, GOP primary stakes: Coverage zeroes in on the June 9 governor primary, where Rep. Nancy Mace’s shifting Trump messaging contrasts with Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette’s endorsement, and election-watch reporting frames several races as “who survives the field” contests. Child welfare gap by county: The KIDS COUNT Data Book shows South Carolina’s child welfare ranking improved to 38th, but warns progress depends on counties with big differences in poverty, health care, and schools. Nursing home ratings: CMS data snapshots show Spartanburg’s Valley Falls Tearrace at a 3-star overall rating and Greenville’s Patewood Post Acute at 4 stars, underscoring how ownership and staffing can translate into care outcomes. Nonprofit donor transparency: New SC amendments to the Solicitation of Charitable Funds Act aim to make filings easier and tighten donor disclosures on who benefits from contributions. Gas prices watch: Multiple county-level GasBuddy updates show regular and diesel prices hovering around the high-$3s to mid-$5s, with the lowest reported regular in Pickens at $3.54 and diesel in Pickens at $4.59 for the week ending May 30.

Urgent-Care Expansion: HCA Healthcare is buying about a dozen MedCare urgent-care clinics across South Carolina, rebranding them to HCA CareNow and adding sites in the Charleston-to-Grand Strand growth corridor plus locations in Columbia and Spartanburg. Energy Costs (Local Gas): GasBuddy reports show bargain pockets for drivers: Horry County midgrade hit $3.99 (week ending May 30) and Newberry County regular hit $3.79, while diesel lows included $4.59 in Pickens County and $4.71 in Greenwood County. Fraud Crackdown: The FBI put a $150,000 reward on Herbert Leon Kimble, accused of a $1.2B Medicare fraud scheme tied to durable medical equipment and orthopedic braces. Weather Watch: Rain chances return Monday for the Upstate and parts of the Southeast, with storms and possible flash flooding Tuesday. Education Data Tool: Furman’s Riley Institute launched a new South Carolina Education Data Tool to make school performance and subgroup trends easier to explore. Aviation/Defense: Shaw-based Air Force Viper Demonstration Team drew crowds at Fairchild AFB’s SkyFest 2026, highlighting U.S. service overseas.

Healthcare Expansion: HCA Healthcare is ramping up South Carolina urgent care by buying about a dozen MedCare clinics, including eight along the Charleston-to-Grand Strand corridor, with all sites rebranded to HCA CareNow. Nursing Home Watch: CMS data show Spartanburg’s Summit Hills Skilled Nursing earned a 4-star Q1 2026 rating, while York County’s Willow Brooke Court at Park Pointe Village hit 5 stars—both with no fines or penalties reported. Politics & Endorsements: Rep. Nancy Mace says Trump’s endorsement of Pamela Evette didn’t deliver a real “bump” with grassroots conservatives, arguing any gain was small and could fade in a runoff. Media Leadership: The Post and Courier is changing its opinion leadership, with Rick Nelson retiring as editorial page editor and Cindi Ross Scoppe taking over June 22. Local Economy Signals: PridefestGreenville drew vendors and entertainment at Hampton Station, highlighting ongoing community-business activity in the Upstate. Energy Costs: GasBuddy reports show South Carolina’s weekly prices easing in spots, with some counties posting notably low regular or diesel rates for the week ending May 30.

Defense & Environment: A coalition of 21 states, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and major industry groups backed the U.S. Air Force in a Supreme Court-linked fight over the Tarague Beach detonation range in Guam, arguing a potential “major victory” for an environmental lawsuit could ripple into permitting battles nationwide. LGBTQ Community & Local Business: PridefestGreenville returned for its sixth year at Hampton Station, drawing 40 vendors and local businesses alongside drag performances and a silent disco. Energy Costs (SC gas): GasBuddy data show South Carolina gasoline averaging about $4.04/g for the week ending May 30, with diesel averaging $5.12/g; several counties reported single lowest-price stations, including Hampton regular at $3.99/g and Greenville diesel at $4.49/g. AI & Risk Debate: New reporting highlights renewed concerns that increasingly capable AI could outpace human control, feeding broader worries about misinformation and autonomous warfare. Politics & Voting: The U.S. Senate rejected the SAVE America Act, a blow to Trump’s push for stricter voting documentation and registration rules.

Banking Leadership: Bank of America named Chip McLeod president of Upstate South Carolina, succeeding Stacy Brandon, as the bank targets market-share growth and deeper client and community ties. Energy & Courts: A pipeline company filed 88 petitions seeking survey access from landowners in Hampton and Colleton counties for a natural-gas line tied to a new Dominion Energy and Santee Cooper power plant, drawing strong opposition over property and environmental impacts. Aerospace Supply Chain: Boeing’s North Charleston 787 ramp is running into supply-chain pinch points, including engine delivery delays and passenger-seat certification backlogs, as the company pushes toward higher monthly production. Immigration Enforcement & Business: Federal and state authorities detained 48 workers at an Abbeville metal casting business and arrested two top managers in a fake-ID hiring probe, while additional people face state charges. Local Economy & Growth: Fairfield County posted South Carolina’s top job growth rate, up 5.9% from Sept. 2024 to Sept. 2025, citing industrial expansion and workforce efforts. Healthcare Quality Watch: CMS data highlighted sharp nursing-home performance swings across the state, from five-star facilities in Lexington and Spartanburg to one-star and two-star operators in multiple counties. Infrastructure: SCDOT’s Highway 17 widening in Myrtle Beach is nearing completion, with the project aiming to finish by year-end 2026.

Job Growth Watch: Fairfield County posted South Carolina’s top job growth rate, up 5.9% from Sept. 2024 to Sept. 2025, as local leaders point to industrial expansion and infrastructure upgrades. Economic Development: County officials approved an economic incentive package that could support a $756 million capital project and create nine jobs, with the company’s identity kept confidential. Public Safety & Health Funding: Charleston County advanced a bid for a $1.17 million federal opioid grant to expand Narcan access, improve overdose data tracking, and potentially let EMS start medication-assisted treatment on scene. Hurricane Readiness: Gov. Henry McMaster and state leaders ran hurricane tabletop scenarios, urging businesses and residents to have plans as 2026 season approaches. Legal/Consumer Enforcement: AG Alan Wilson said his office will prosecute a boutique owner accused of scamming more than 50 customers statewide. Local Business: Culver’s is set to open its first Columbia-area location on Clemson Road, while Greer Diner owners say an arsonist has been arrested after a fire damaged the restaurant. Energy & Costs: Gas prices stayed volatile in late May, with multiple counties reporting notable weekly lows for regular, midgrade, premium and diesel. National Policy Impact: The U.S. Senate rejected the SAVE America Act, a blow to Trump-backed voting restrictions.

Greenville Real Estate: A Charleston-style home at 105 Hidden Hills Drive in Greenville’s Chanticleer area hit the market at $1.4 million, touting 10-foot ceilings, refinished hardwoods, and a gated-courtyard setup, after going contingent in just 11 days. Charleston Mobility Tech: A new “TheBridge” app in beta aims to cut drawbridge delays by alerting drivers in real time when key Charleston and Beaufort bridges open and close. Power Grid Tension in Aiken: Residents are again seeking help from Aiken County Council over a planned power transmission line, revisiting a dispute that dates back to earlier route discussions. School Safety Upgrade: Dorchester School District Two is installing 15 bullet-resistant “Safe Haven” classroom doors this summer for special education settings. Manufacturing & Jobs: Red Metals secured $10 million in seed funding toward a planned $70 million copper refining facility in Charleston County, targeting domestic copper rod production and reshoring. Immigration Enforcement: South Carolina’s “Operation Ghost Story” led to ICE detaining 48 workers and indicting six people tied to fraudulent identity documents at an Abbeville manufacturing site. Social Security Watch: A new analysis warns Social Security’s trust fund could trigger an automatic 24% benefit cut in 2032, averaging about $500 less per month for retirees. Nursing Home Ownership/Quality (CMS): Multiple South Carolina facilities saw CMS ratings ranging from 1-star to 5-star in Q1 2026, with ownership details reported for sites across Greenville, Anderson, Aiken, Lexington, Orangeburg, Greenwood, Horry, and York.

Immigration Crackdown in Abbeville: South Carolina AG Alan Wilson says 48 workers were detained by ICE at Burnstein Von Seelen Precision Casting, with six people indicted on forgery, identity fraud and conspiracy charges tied to fraudulent IDs. SC Politics—GOP Primary: U.S. Rep. William Timmons faces challengers David Atchley and Robert E. Lee in the June 9 Republican primary, as early voting ramps up. Energy Watch: GasBuddy reports the lowest diesel in Clarendon County hit $4.64 for the week ending May 30, while Orangeburg’s regular gas dipped to $3.89. Local Business & Growth: A vehicle unveiling marks a milestone for Bryan County’s Kia/Hyundai manufacturing campus in Georgia, underscoring the region’s auto investment momentum. Finance & Banking: Security Federal Corporation announced CEO and CFO retirements effective July 10, with leadership promotions planned. Retail Expansion: Sprouts Farmers Market is expanding in Florida, adding more stores after recent openings. Aviation/Industry: Boeing delivered Riyadh Air’s first two 787-9 Dreamliners from its Charleston facility, despite prior delays. Consumer/Policy: A proposed open-container district in Summerville is drawing debate over downtown nightlife and enforcement.

Rare Earth Investment: USA Rare Earth says it has secured access to up to $1.6 billion in CHIPS Act funding, backing its push to build a domestic rare-earth magnet supply chain, including a major South Carolina plant. Bridge Financing: Walker & Dunlop arranged more than $223 million in bridge financing for five multifamily communities across the Southeast, including assets in North Carolina and South Carolina. Primary Politics & Pocketbook Pressure: South Carolina’s early voting surge is being driven by economic anxiety, with Greenville voters citing the economy, taxes and the federal budget deficit; meanwhile, Upstate congressional primaries are heating up around affordability and healthcare. Agriculture Commissioner Race: Hugh Weathers’ exit from the GOP primary sets up a high-stakes race for agriculture commissioner as farmers warn fertilizer and diesel costs are squeezing margins. Child Hunger Relief: Harvest Hope Food Bank is launching free summer meal distributions statewide to cover the gap when school lunches end. Nursing Home Watch: CMS data highlights wide performance swings across South Carolina for-profit nursing homes, from top five-star facilities to low-rated centers facing fines and penalties. Local Regulation: Greer officials are considering tighter rules for tobacco and vape shops after concerns about zoning loopholes and clustering near schools and parks.

Manufacturing Investment: Austrian Mosdorfer will open its first U.S. factory in Oconee County, investing about $44.55M and creating 107 jobs, with operations expected to start in Q3 2027. Public Safety Law: Gov. Henry McMaster signed a measure boosting penalties for harming police K-9s and horses, including up to $20,000 in fines and as many as 15 years for intentional killing. Governor’s Race (Democrats): Three Democratic candidates—Jermaine Johnson, Billy Webster and Mullins McLeod—took the stage for a SCETV debate ahead of the June 9 primary, focusing on health care, infrastructure and data-center concerns. Upstate/Legal Watch: Authorities are expected to announce new state grand jury indictments tied to an Abbeville County investigation involving a business and alleged illegal immigration activity. Gun Theft Crackdown: Sen. Lindsey Graham reintroduced legislation to raise penalties for “smash-and-grab” firearm thefts from licensed dealers, citing ATF data showing hundreds of thefts in South Carolina. Business & Community: Lexington’s Shoto’s and the adjacent Candy Factory will be demolished after a downtown fire, shifting attention from recovery to rebuilding. Travel Economics: Expedia reports domestic travel interest is up this summer as travelers opt for shorter, nearby trips.

Rare Earth Manufacturing: USA Rare Earth will invest $1.2B in a Cherokee County facility to make rare-earth metals and neodymium-iron-boron magnets, targeting commissioning in 2028 and boosting domestic supply for defense, aerospace and other high-demand sectors. Healthcare Expansion: Novant Health bought a Hilton Head Island site for a new $25.3M medical campus, expected to create about 50 jobs and add primary care, urology and physical therapy. Local Housing Deal: Charleston County approved $1.6M in subsidies to help convert a vacant hotel into affordable efficiency apartments, with 100 units tied to low-income rent limits for 30 years. Public Health Access: Prisma Health opened a new urgent care in Florence, aiming to reduce travel time for walk-in treatment across the region. Environmental Watch: State officials said they found no link between a 683-acre Greenwood property and the Lake Greenwood fish kill, closing out further investigation for that parcel. Nursing Home Snapshot: CMS data across multiple South Carolina facilities shows a wide spread in star ratings, with several homes scoring 1–2 stars and others hitting 4–5, alongside reported fines and penalties.

Education Oversight: The SC State Board approved the SC Department of Education taking full management of the Marlboro County School District, citing years of financial instability and audit/control issues, with SCDE already helping stabilize leadership and produce the district’s first balanced budget since 2018-19. Energy & Cost of Living: AAA says gas prices fell the most in a week since 2008; South Carolina’s average is about $3.87 a gallon. AI Policy: President Trump signed a new AI executive order, keeping a voluntary federal review of powerful AI models but shortening the government’s review period from 90 to 30 days. Upstate Manufacturing Jobs: USA Rare Earth will invest about $1.2B in Cherokee County, opening its first SC operation in Blacksburg at Bailey Park, targeting ~490 jobs and starting production in April 2028. Local Business & Community: Riverbanks Zoo and Garden is bringing back “Toucan Tuesdays” with Harvest Hope Food Bank, offering buy-one/get-one admission and ICEEs with donations of two nonperishable items. Health Systems: SC DPH expanded newborn screening by adding Hunter Syndrome and Fabry Disease, now testing for 60 disorders statewide.

Local Development: Effingham County commissioners will vote Tuesday on rezoning and annexation requests, including a revised 1,000-home plan in Guyton (down from 1,300) plus industrial and commercial proposals. Consumer Protection/Legal: After HBO’s John Oliver spotlight on settlement factoring, NSSTA and the National Consumers League point to Maryland’s reforms that cut predatory factoring approvals by more than 99% and urge similar state action. Workforce & Tech Skills: USC Salkehatchie is offering free in-person AI workshops in June for residents and business owners, covering AI basics and workplace productivity. Healthcare Real Estate: The Ensign Group announced two June 1 acquisitions—an Iowa skilled nursing facility and a California memory care property—expanding its Midwest and West Coast footprint. Education Funding: Greenville County Schools approved a nearly $981M FY27 budget with teacher step increases and a 3.75% minimum raise for other employees. Business Litigation: IKEA customers filed a proposed class action seeking refunds tied to higher prices charged during Trump tariff periods later struck down. Public Safety/Infrastructure: Boeing’s 777X certification is delayed again, with early 2027 deliveries now at risk. SC Politics: SCETV’s Republican governor debate drew controversy after multiple candidates backed out, leaving the stage half-empty.

SC Politics: A Trafalgar Group tracking poll shows Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette leading the GOP governor primary with 26.3% among likely voters, ahead of Rom Reddy (17.2%), Alan Wilson (16.9%) and Ralph Norman (16.1%), with Nancy Mace at 14.8%. Upstate Business & Sports: Greenville Triumph’s GE Vernova Park opens June 3 with a sold-out home opener against Forward Madison FC, highlighting the new stadium’s fan experience and capacity. Campaign Moves: U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman names Adam Morgan as his running mate, doubling down on a hard-right Freedom Caucus brand in the six-way race. Small Business Relief: The SBA announces low-interest disaster loans for South Carolina small businesses and private nonprofits hit by drought in six counties, using the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program. Corporate Deals: CordenPharma agrees to buy AmbioPharm, adding peptide manufacturing capacity in North Augusta and expanding its global CDMO platform. Legal/Markets: Bragar Eagel & Squire urges investors to contact them over class-action filings tied to Phreesia, Upstart and Stellantis, with lead-plaintiff deadlines in early June.