AGP Executive Report

Military & Budget: War Department Secretary Pete Hegseth urged Congress to approve a $1.5 trillion FY2027 military budget at a Charleston ceremony renaming Joint Base Charleston for Sen. Lindsey Graham. Community Health: HopeHealth marked National Health Center Week with partner events in Florence, highlighting how collaborations support community health centers. Theme Park Investment: Carowinds crews topped off the 100-foot Rip Roarin’ Falls tower, moving the project into flume installation ahead of a 2027 launch. Politics & Media: Rep. Nancy Mace debuted a new YouTube podcast and showcased nine arm tattoos as she prepares to leave Congress in January. Local Government & Housing: Mount Pleasant raised income limits for workforce housing, while Charleston advanced new food vendor policy. Environment & Waste: Beaufort County’s composting program is diverting food scraps and other organics, aiming to cut landfill waste and save taxpayers more than $1 million over time. Energy Watch: GasBuddy reported the lowest premium gas in Williamsburg County at $4.89 for the week ending Aug. 8. Food Safety Oversight: FDA inspection results showed one Charleston County firm (Tides Commodity Trading Group) received a July inspection with “No Action Indicated.”

Defense Budget Push: War Department Secretary Pete Hegseth urged Congress to approve a $1.5 trillion FY2027 military budget during a Charleston ceremony renaming Joint Base Charleston to honor late Sen. Lindsey Graham. Politics & Business Climate: The DNC approved a new 2028 presidential primary calendar with South Carolina first on Jan. 22, followed by Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Michigan and Virginia—shifting early campaign attention and spending. Manufacturing Expansion: Trison Wells plans a $3.37 million expansion in Walterboro, adding a liquid-fill production line and creating 30 jobs. EV Plant Oversight: South Carolina lawmakers put potential funding for Scout Motors’ $150 million Richland County site overrun on hold pending a Legislative Audit Council investigation. Local Housing Policy: Mount Pleasant raised income limits for workforce housing, while Charleston moved toward a new food vendor policy. Consumer & Safety: Henkel began a voluntary recall of Schwarzkopf Professional Osis Grip hair mousse in 12 states, including South Carolina, due to a packaging defect that could cause cans to leak under pressure. Energy Watch: GasBuddy data showed one Anderson County station selling E15 at $3.27 in the week ending Aug. 8, with statewide E15 averaging $4.19. Public Safety Tech: Local agencies are reviewing policies after Flock camera changes following privacy backlash and reported misuse.

Democratic Politics: The DNC approved its 2028 presidential primary calendar, putting South Carolina first on Jan. 22, 2028, followed by Nevada (Feb. 1), New Hampshire (Feb. 8), New Mexico (Feb. 15), Michigan (Feb. 22) and Virginia (Feb. 29)—a shift that removes Iowa from the early lineup and is aimed at boosting influence of Black and Latino voters and union members. Intraparty Fight: At the same DNC meeting, Democrats advanced competing resolutions on ICE—one calling for “concrete reforms” and another pushing for abolition—highlighting a growing internal split. Local Business & Housing: A judge struck down Folly Beach’s short-term rental cap ordinance and related permit fee, saying the city improperly used a ballot measure to impose a tax; the city says it will appeal. Consumer Safety: Henkel began a voluntary recall of Schwarzkopf Professional Osis Grip hair mousse in South Carolina and other states after regulators warned the can could leak under pressure, creating an explosion risk. Energy Watch: GasBuddy price reports for the week ending Aug. 8 showed premium gas averaging $4.45 statewide, with the lowest Edgefield premium at $4.77.

Defense & Federal Budget: Secretary of War Pete Hegseth urged Congress to pass a $1.5 trillion military budget for fiscal 2027 at a Charleston ceremony renaming Joint Base Charleston to Joint Base Lindsey Graham, pairing a $1.15 trillion NDAA with about $350 billion in supplemental funding. Hospitality Insurance: The South Carolina Bar and Tavern Association is partnering with Ragnar Hospitality Insurance to expand access to liquor liability coverage for bars, taverns and restaurants as costs rise. Manufacturing Growth (Upstate): UFP Packaging plans a $5.31 million Gaffney-area expansion creating 136 jobs, while Prysmian is set to invest $80 million in Lexington County to add about 135 jobs. Local Economy & Tourism: Experience Columbia SC named Rick Lackland vice president of the Convention & Visitors Bureau, tasking him with boosting meetings and events. Public Safety & Health: South Carolina sent an Incident Support Team to Hawaii ahead of Tropical Storm Lala. Food Safety: Lidl recalled a Vitasia Asian Style Wok Spice Mix sold in South Carolina and other states due to possible salmonella contamination. Business Risk & Fraud: Conway ranked among the state’s top 10 cities for July scam reports, with nine reports and $3,732 in total losses tied to those that listed amounts.

Defense & Budget: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth urged Congress to approve a $1.5 trillion military budget for fiscal 2027 at the Charleston ceremony renaming Joint Base Charleston for Sen. Lindsey Graham. Public Safety & Health: The FDA upgraded an egg recall to the highest risk level after salmonella sickened dozens across multiple states, and Lidl recalled a wok spice mix sold in South Carolina and nine other states plus D.C. Local Business & Tourism: Experience Columbia SC named Rick Lackland, a Columbia native, as its new vice president of Convention & Visitors Bureau. Manufacturing Jobs: Trison Wells will invest $3.37 million to expand its Walterboro facility, adding 30 jobs. Consumer Protection: A South Carolina DCA-backed guide highlights simple steps to vet contractors before hiring. Courts: A judge ordered Alex Murdaugh’s retrial moved out of Colleton County, with the new venue still to be set. Economy Watch: A Clemson economist said sluggish GDP and stubborn inflation are clouding the U.S. outlook heading into the fourth quarter.

Legal Showdown: Judge Debra McCaslin ruled that Alex Murdaugh’s sworn testimony from his 2023 murder trial can be used in his April 2027 retrial, while also barring any mention of a polygraph and allowing prosecutors to use evidence tied to his financial crimes. Court Logistics: Murdaugh’s team is also pushing to move the retrial from rural Colleton County to Charleston, arguing for a fairer venue as the state counters that Charleston would be the most expensive and logistically difficult option. Local Business & Growth: Greenville’s downtown retail scene gets another boost as Faherty is set to take over the former Dapper Dog space, with an early-2027 opening planned. Manufacturing Jobs: Daimler Truck North America approved plans for a new U.S. commercial vehicle plant, with construction starting by year-end 2026 and operations targeted for 2029. Economic Pulse: Gas prices eased in South Carolina in the week ending Aug. 8, with Lexington County’s lowest premium reported at $3.86 per gallon. Public Safety: A Chester, S.C. man accused of breaking into a Monroe smoke shop was found hiding in a dumpster behind the business, police said.

Defense & Budget: At a Charleston ceremony renaming Joint Base Charleston for Sen. Lindsey Graham, War Department Secretary Pete Hegseth urged Congress to approve a $1.5 trillion FY2027 military budget, citing Graham’s support. Tax Enforcement: South Carolina Department of Revenue agents arrested 23 people across Aiken, Barnwell and Edgefield counties on tax evasion and failure-to-file charges tied to 2020-24 income tax returns. Workforce Funding: The Midlands Workforce Development Board is accepting applications for Incumbent Worker Training funds, with a Sept. 11 deadline and training windows running into early 2027. Manufacturing Growth: Trison Wells announced a $3.37 million Colleton County expansion in Walterboro, adding 30 jobs. More Jobs in Lexington: Prysmian is investing $80 million in Lexington County to expand fiber and optical cable manufacturing, targeting about 135 new jobs by May 2028. Data Center Moratorium: Spartanburg County council members said they likely won’t add NorthMark’s next phase to a looming data center moratorium, citing legal concerns. Food Safety: Lidl US recalled Vitasia Asian Style Wok Spice Mix in nine states plus D.C. after Salmonella was found in testing; no illnesses reported. Gas Watch: Anderson County saw some of the lowest regular and midgrade prices in the state for the week ending Aug. 8, according to GasBuddy. Health Access: A new report says maternity care deserts affect more than 180,000 women across Georgia and South Carolina.

Defense Budget: War Department chief Pete Hegseth urged Congress to approve a $1.5 trillion FY2027 military budget at a Charleston ceremony renaming Joint Base Charleston for Sen. Lindsey Graham. Housing Finance: Coastal Community Foundation launched a $100M Tri-County Housing Futures Fund for Dorchester, Berkeley and Charleston, aiming to preserve and build homes with affordability deed restrictions for at least 50 years. Economy/Policy: Richmond Fed President Tom Barkin said it’s still an open question whether the Fed must raise rates to hit the 2% inflation target, noting shocks like tariffs/oil and AI-driven demand may fade. Energy Costs: GasBuddy data showed Berkeley County’s lowest premium price at $4.02 for the week ending Aug. 8, while Greenville County’s lowest E85 hit $3.39. Tech & Power Infrastructure: IPS rolled out IPS ReCert, a UL 891-certified switchboard recertification program meant to cut lead times for critical electrical equipment. Sports Media/Ads: Nielsen reported women’s sports viewership and ad spending surged, with 28.6B minutes consumed in the first half of 2026 and a 120% ad-spend jump since 2022. Food Safety: Taylor Farms expanded a jalapeño-linked salmonella recall affecting products sold at major retailers. Local Business Growth: Diversified Trust’s Charleston office surpassed $1B in assets under management.

South Carolina Politics & Business: Darline Graham and Rep. Ralph Norman will face off in an Aug. 25 runoff for the GOP U.S. Senate nomination after Graham led a crowded field Tuesday, setting up a high-stakes decision that will shape South Carolina’s November matchup. Energy & Regulation: South Carolina AG Alan Wilson retained an outside consultant to review zoning issues tied to Silfab Solar in York County, as the company paused production and a judge previously backed York County’s zoning position. Manufacturing & Jobs: Prysmian will invest $80M in its Lexington fiber optic plant, targeting 130+ new jobs by 2030 as part of a broader $1B expansion across multiple states. Local Economy & Tourism: NASCAR and state leaders previewed the Cook Out Southern 500 aboard the USS Yorktown, touting Darlington’s estimated $110M economic impact and the race’s boost to hotels and local businesses. Food Safety: Lidl US recalled Vitasia Asian Style Wok Spice Mix due to potential Salmonella contamination, expanding the week’s broader recall drumbeat. Legal & Corporate: South Carolina-based Motley Rice could earn $67.1M in legal fees from New Mexico’s Meta case, depending on the final payout. Cyber & School Safety: SC AG and Superintendent issued a school-year warning focused on digital threats, including AI-generated child exploitation material and counterfeit pills.

South Carolina Politics: Darline Graham and Rep. Ralph Norman advanced to an Aug. 25 runoff for the GOP nomination to replace the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, setting up a high-stakes rematch after a low-turnout, crowded special primary. Local Housing: Mount Pleasant council agreed to adjust attainable housing parameters for Gregorie Ferry Landing, widening the AMI range to expand who can buy the 36 affordable units. Utilities & Finance: Santee Cooper’s board approved a roughly $615.3 million bond sale aimed at stabilizing rates and refinancing debt to reduce long-term customer costs. Economic Development: Prysmian announced more than $1 billion in new fiber and optical cable investment, including $80 million in Lexington, S.C., to expand optical cable capacity and create hundreds of U.S. manufacturing jobs. Business & Growth: Clean Harbors said it plans to buy EnviroServe from One Rock Capital Partners for $470 million, adding recycling and disposal capacity and expanding its national footprint, including a Columbia, S.C. presence. Energy & Tech: Google unveiled “Americas Connect,” a new subsea cable initiative that will route more redundant internet capacity through the Dominican Republic and onward connectivity that includes Google Cloud regions tied to South Carolina. Consumer Watch: Henkel recalled Schwarzkopf Professional Osis Grip hair products sold in 12 states, including South Carolina, due to a packaging issue that could create an explosion risk.

South Carolina Politics: Darline Graham and Rep. Ralph Norman are projected to advance to an Aug. 25 runoff in the special GOP U.S. Senate primary to replace the late Lindsey Graham, after neither cleared the 50%+1 threshold; Graham led with about 33% of the vote and Norman followed with about 24%, setting up a high-stakes rematch for the seat that will face Democrat Annie Andrews in November. Public Safety & Privacy: Myrtle Beach-area authorities say license plates are captured by a regional camera network, while watchdog groups argue the system enables broader tracking than police claim. Shipping & Enforcement: A Charleston “runaway ship” case ended with MSC Shipmanagement Ltd. fined $6 million and placed on probation after a federal court found failures to report a hazardous condition and obstruct an investigation. Food Safety: Taylor Farms’ jalapeño-linked salmonella recall continued to expand downstream, widening the list of affected products and states. Consumer Alerts: The CPSC recalled about 12,000 adult bed rails sold on Amazon due to entrapment and suffocation risks. Business & Industry: Optimal Transit unveiled a second configuration of its Kraaken™ vessel, shifting more power toward continuous electricity and fresh water service while keeping capacity for AI/data center operations.

Food Safety: Taylor Fresh Foods expanded its recall tied to a multistate Salmonella outbreak linked to jalapeños imported from Sinaloa, Mexico, pulling jalapeño-containing products (including salsa and guacamole) distributed across 26 states, with South Carolina among the affected. Elections (SC): South Carolina’s special Republican U.S. Senate primary to replace the late Lindsey Graham is Tuesday, with Darline Graham holding a narrow lead in a final Trafalgar poll (26.4%) but still short of the 50% needed to avoid a runoff; the top contenders for second place are tightly bunched. Local Business/Real Estate: JLL was selected as exclusive sales representative for the Dockside waterfront redevelopment site on Charleston’s peninsula, now being marketed through Chapter 11 after a city-ordered closure of the project. Sports Business/Policy: A new report highlights how SEC endowments vary widely, underscoring the financial gap shaping college athletics’ arms race. Corporate Moves: 3D Systems won an additional $9 million U.S. Air Force award to advance large-format metal 3D printing work at its Rock Hill, S.C. facility. Consumer Fraud: BBB Scam Tracker data put South Carolina at 23rd for scam reports in July, with 384 cases.

South Carolina Senate Primary: Republicans head to the polls Tuesday in a special GOP U.S. Senate primary to replace the late Lindsey Graham, with 10 candidates chasing Darline Graham’s Trump-backed seat; the race is tight enough that a runoff Aug. 25 is possible if no one clears 50%. Cybersecurity & Local Finance: Surfside Beach is tightening banking controls after a $545,000 cyber scam, adding dual-control verification and stronger identity checks for outbound transactions. Food Safety: Taylor Farms is recalling 20 jalapeño-containing products tied to a Salmonella outbreak, with items distributed to major retailers and restaurant chains across 26 states. Infrastructure Funding: Greenville-area transportation planners may pause 20 Upstate road projects until 2033 as inflation drives costs higher, including the SC 183 corridor widening. Business Expansion: Corner Pantry is rolling out a bigger “Corner Pantry Kitchen” foodservice format in Camden, adding more seating flow and a Botrista beverage machine. Defense Budget Push: U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth urged Congress to approve a proposed $1.5 trillion defense package, framing it as a tribute to Graham during a renaming ceremony at Joint Base Charleston.

South Carolina Politics: Republicans head to the polls Tuesday for a special GOP U.S. Senate primary to replace the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, with polls open 7 a.m.-7 p.m. and a possible Aug. 25 runoff; the field includes Darline Graham (Trump-endorsed), U.S. Reps. Russell Fry and Ralph Norman, former Gov. Mark Sanford, and others, while some York County precincts have moved. Food Safety & Retail: Taylor Farms recalled jalapeño-containing prepared foods tied to a multistate Salmonella outbreak, with products sold at Walmart, Target, Trader Joe’s, Kroger, Whole Foods and more across 26 states including South Carolina; the company says it has stopped sourcing from the implicated supplier in Mexico. State Business & Energy: South Carolina AG Alan Wilson says a consultant review found legal uncertainty around Silfab Solar’s York County zoning, with competing court orders now in play. Local Economy & Jobs: Barnwell Tissue Solutions is restarting a shuttered tissue mill with $18M in New Markets Tax Credit support, projecting 90 full-time jobs. Consumer/Community: Authorities seized more than $214,000 in counterfeit NeeDoh toys and luxury knockoffs from Greenville’s Haywood Mall. Business/Markets: A productivity snapshot shows South Carolina among states with solid labor productivity gains (about 3.0% from 2024-2025). Sports Business: Frankie Harris won the Korn Ferry Tour’s Pinnacle Bank Championship with a final-round 59, earning his first tour title.

Food Safety & Recalls: Major grocery chains including Target, Walmart and Whole Foods issued Salmonella-related recalls tied to jalapeños linked to hundreds of illnesses across 27 states, with FDA noting Taylor Fresh Foods’ finished-product recall follows a jalapeño recall from Coast Citrus Distributors. Food Safety & Recalls: A separate FDA update on the Taylor Farms lettuce recall says 236,192 cases of iceberg and romaine were pulled for “Potential Cyclospora contamination,” naming retailers and foodservice brands such as Walmart’s Marketside and Subway. Local Business & Community: Greenville’s South Carolina New Play Festival returned for its fifth year, mixing new plays, musical theater and free outdoor performances, including the SPINX Market Live Arts Fair. Politics & Business Climate: South Carolina’s special GOP U.S. Senate primary is set for Aug. 11 with polling-location changes due to school closures, featuring candidates including Greenville businessman Mark Lynch and U.S. Rep. Russell Fry. Public Health & Utilities: A boil-water advisory remains in effect for parts of Clearwater and North Augusta after an unexpected water main break, with bacteriological samples collected and residents told to boil water before use. Energy Costs: GasBuddy reported the lowest regular gas in Pickens County at $3.26 for the week ending Aug. 1, while diesel prices in Laurens County averaged $5.10.

Medicaid & Health Costs: Greenville-area Medicaid payments for hearing services hit $3,561 in 2024, up 11% from 2023, with the category climbing sharply over the past five years—an indicator of how local care demand and billing patterns are shifting. Retail Expansion: Hangry Joe’s Hot Chicken & Wings is opening five new franchise locations, including Rock Hill, S.C., and is using a buy-one-get-one-free entrée app offer to drive first-time customers. Food Safety: A new FDA report adds detail to the July Taylor Farms lettuce recall, citing potential Cyclospora contamination and listing additional retailers and product counts tied to the outbreak. Infrastructure: SCDOT has completed a 4.1-mile widening of U.S. 17 in Jasper County to a four-lane divided highway, adding bike paths and improving port-to-port mobility and evacuation routes. Energy & Industry: Century Aluminum’s Jamalco refinery in Clarendon brought a new turbine online to generate its own electricity, targeting major cost savings and reducing reliance on Jamaica’s grid. Local Business & Growth: A ribbon cutting marked completion of the U.S. 17 widening project, reinforcing the corridor’s role in regional cargo movement. Data Centers & Politics: A national pushback against data center development is showing up in election results, with candidates framing projects as threats to local energy costs and home values. Sports Betting Legal Fight: South Carolina’s prediction-market lawsuit targeting DraftKings and Polymarket could set a precedent for how “gambling” is defined and regulated in the state.