AGP Executive Report

Data Center Zoning: Dearborn moved to tighten rules by removing data centers as a “by right” use in certain zones, while Livonia’s planning commission is set to hold a public hearing on updating its data center zoning. Energy & Infrastructure: The Mackinac Straits Corridor Authority will hold an Aug. 28 meeting in St. Ignace on oversight of a planned utility tunnel under the Straits, aimed at replacing Enbridge Line 5 and supporting other infrastructure links. Manufacturing & Jobs: Chevy says production of an updated 2027 Traverse High Country trim will begin next month in Michigan, adding new exterior/interior cameras and design refreshes. Elections & Policy: In Michigan politics, Abdul El-Sayed tried to pivot away from controversy tied to streamer Hasan Piker as the Senate race heats up. Consumer & Safety: Walmart reannounced a recall of Mainstays 9-Drawer Fabric Dressers after regulators found the recalled units continued reaching homes, warning of tip-over and entrapment risks. Local Fraud Watch: South Boardman ranked among Michigan cities with scam reports in July, including an online purchase fraud tied to a “cheap wagon” ad.

Food Safety: The FDA upgraded a Whole Foods Mild Guacamole Dip recall to Class I, citing possible salmonella from jalapeños; the affected product (12,995 units) was sold in Michigan and across 12 states. Energy & Renewables: Michigan approved a nearly $100M, 90-megawatt solar farm in Ingham County under the 2023 state renewable-energy law, with noise, lighting, screening, and decommissioning rules set in a settlement. Infrastructure & Courts: Enbridge says a Michigan Supreme Court decision is delaying its Line 5 tunnel project after regulators must redo a permit over environmental review. Industrial Real Estate & Policy: A federal lawsuit challenges Gibraltar’s one-year data center moratorium, arguing the developer’s site plan was already in motion when the restriction was adopted. Manufacturing & Supply Chain: Diamond Crystal Salt, owned by Cargill, is nearing completion of a ~$100M modernization in St. Clair to expand its chef-favorite kosher salt. Trade & Michigan Impact: Coverage highlights how the U.S.-Canada trade war is hitting Michigan’s auto and broader economic stability, with retaliatory tariffs and political pressure escalating.

Solar Expansion vs. Local Control: Michigan regulators approved the first large-scale solar farm under the state’s 2023 authority law, clearing the way for a 90-megawatt project in Ingham County after townships lost the ability to block it outright. Energy & Environment: Kent County Parks reported an oil leak from a historic, previously plugged well into a small lake at Millennium Park in Walker; EGLE set containment and asked the public to avoid the area while it assesses next steps. Auto & National Security: Sen. Elissa Slotkin advanced a bill to ban cars and car parts from China, North Korea, Iran and Russia, citing both competition pressure and data-collection risks to the U.S. auto industry. Pipeline Watch: Enbridge said a Michigan Supreme Court decision is delaying its Line 5 tunnel encasement after regulators must redo a permit review for environmental impacts. Tech & Research Talent: MSU’s FRIB debuted a new chip-testing facility aimed at future driverless vehicle and spaceflight tech, while Canada continues recruiting dozens of top researchers from U.S. universities. Food Safety: The FDA classified a Taylor Farms shredded iceberg lettuce recall tied to a Cyclospora outbreak as Class I, with Michigan deaths reported. Market Pulse: Stocks slid after Fed Chair Kevin Warsh’s Jackson Hole remarks, which markets read as mildly hawkish and boosted rate-hike odds.

Great Lakes & Trade Politics: President Trump signed an executive order renaming Lake Ontario to “Lake America,” triggering sharp Canadian backlash and renewed attention on US-Canada tariff fallout that’s already hitting Michigan-linked auto supply chains. Food Safety: The FDA says the lettuce-linked cyclosporiasis outbreak has expanded to Georgia, Tennessee and Texas, bringing illnesses to 11,458 across 20 states; Michigan reported both deaths. Digital Youth Safety: A landmark multistate Meta settlement would require Instagram/Facebook youth protections (daily time limits, nighttime blocks, school-time restrictions, stronger age checks) with Michigan set to receive at least $171M. Energy Infrastructure: Wisconsin regulators are pressing Enbridge to halt Line 5 reroute work after a gas leak; the Michigan/Great Lakes pipeline debate stays front and center. Michigan Business & Manufacturing: LG Energy is reported to have started production at a $2B Michigan battery plant, while Michigan’s stormy winter apparel maker Stormy Kromer expands its collegiate line. Local Tech & Health: Michigan, Wisconsin AGs announced a Meta settlement, and a new regional sleep testing center deal was announced in Florida by Vivos Therapeutics.

Water & Cybersecurity: CISA says July attacks hit more than 100 internet-exposed U.S. water systems, with Michigan confirming nine systems targeted—often involving programmable logic controllers and potential alarm-disabling logic. Pipeline & Energy Safety: Michigan regulators are watching Line 5 closely after a Wisconsin gas leak tied to the reroute; Enbridge faces calls to halt work until spill questions are answered. Storm Readiness: Consumers Energy told the Michigan Public Service Commission the July 3 outage storm was far stronger than forecast, driving 136,319 interruptions versus a much lower worst-case estimate. Drain Construction Costs: State Rep. Angela Witwer introduced drain code reform bills aimed at clearer notice for property owners and lower reconstruction costs. Food Supply Chain: Whole Foods recalled multiple dips across 13 states, including Michigan, tied to a salmonella-linked jalapeño issue. Trade Pressure on Auto Jobs: New reporting highlights how U.S.-Canada tariff escalation is landing hardest on auto-heavy states like Michigan, feeding political momentum for Democrats. Meta Settlement: Michigan is set to receive at least $171M from Meta’s youth-safety settlement, with new protections for teens.

Child-Safety Crackdown: Michigan AG Dana Nessel announced a landmark multistate Meta settlement over addictive Instagram/Facebook features, with Michigan set to receive at least $171M and new safeguards like daily screen breaks and nighttime access blocks. Local Business & Workforce: Michigan lawmakers made the MI Tri-Share childcare cost-sharing program permanent, keeping a benefit that splits childcare costs among employers, employees, and the state and has reached hundreds of employers and families statewide. Energy + Industry Tech: Wells Fargo’s IN2 energy incubator named NextCorps a 2026 strategic award winner to speed up evaluations and upgrades for energy-tech pilots in underused facilities. Broadband Expansion: Spectrum’s fiber build added service to 500+ more homes and businesses in Mason and Manistee counties, supported in part by Michigan’s ROBIN program. Mining + Community Debate: The Michigan Strategic Fund approved a $50M grant for the Copperwood Mine in Gogebic County, drawing mixed reactions from supporters citing jobs and critics warning about process and environmental concerns. Cybersecurity: CISA reported more than 100 internet-exposed water and wastewater systems were targeted in July, including in Michigan, highlighting systemic weaknesses in how operational tech is connected.

Copperwood Mine Backers Cite Polling as Grant Fight Heats Up: A Marquette-area report says 71% of voters support the Copperwood copper project, even as dozens oppose it over environmental risks near Lake Superior and the Porcupine Mountains; the Highland Copper bid for a $50M Michigan Strategic Fund grant is now at the center of the debate. Great Lakes Supply Chain & Energy Tensions: Multiple stories track the U.S.-Canada tariff escalation, with Michigan and auto-linked goods facing new pressure, while a separate report highlights how deeply Canadian oil and aluminum still feed U.S. industry. Detroit Telecom Fiber Suit: A federal judge let a carrier continue claims that Detroit discriminated in access to city-controlled fiber conduit, rejecting several counts at the pleading stage. Cyber & Consumer Safety: Carhartt’s data breach shows how trust can fail at scale, and a BBB Scam Tracker roundup finds several Michigan cities tied for low scam-report counts in July, including White Cloud and Ferndale. Public Health Watch: Cyclosporiasis confirmed cases in the U.S. top 17,000, with Michigan still reporting the largest cluster. Energy Infrastructure: US-41 roadwork begins Sept. 8 in Houghton to support the Portage Lake Lift Bridge project. Tech Policy: Huawei and HP sign a global patent cross-licensing deal, underscoring ongoing IP access battles in tech.

Great Lakes Energy & Infrastructure: Enbridge’s Line 5 suffered another incident after a semi-truck struck an excavation site in far northeastern Wisconsin, prompting evacuations and an immediate isolation of the damaged section. Local Housing Compliance: Detroit unveiled a plan to inspect and bring more than 8,000 rental properties up to code by Sept. 2027, aiming to raise the share of rentals with compliance certificates from 14% toward 25%. Data Centers & Local Control: Garfield Township approved a one-year ban on data centers and cryptocurrency mining, joining a growing list of northern Michigan municipalities using temporary moratoriums amid concerns about water, power, and rates. Michigan Cannabis Watch: The DEA released a 2,533-page transcript from its marijuana rescheduling hearing, a key next step for Michigan’s largely recreational market. Trade Pressure on Auto & Industry: The U.S.-Canada tariff fight escalated as Canada announced dollar-for-dollar counter-tariffs on hundreds of U.S. goods, with Michigan auto makers bracing for higher costs and uncertainty. Manufacturing & Policy: Michigan’s modernized State Revolving Fund drew attention at a major GIS conference, highlighting ongoing state efforts to finance infrastructure and development.

Trade & Industry: Canada announced retaliatory tariffs on more than 700 U.S. goods starting Sept. 8, with steel and aluminum doubling to 50%, escalating a U.S.-Canada trade war that could hit Michigan jobs and prices tied to auto and agriculture supply chains. Energy & Policy: Michigan’s Strategic Fund approved a loan and tax incentives for the Billinghurst Hotel redevelopment in Detroit Midtown, backing a $9.5M mixed-use rehabilitation. Local Housing Enforcement: Detroit unveiled a plan to raise rental property compliance to 25% by 2027, using a master enforcement list, more landlord guidance, and potential legal action. Workforce & Auto: UAW members are voting by mail for international officers, with the outcome shaping whether Shawn Fain keeps the union’s recent momentum. Fraud Watch: BBB Scam Tracker data showed Gaastra among Michigan cities with scam reports in July, underscoring ongoing consumer losses. Food Safety: A Flint water-crisis investigation ended with no criminal charges, while Michigan’s AG report details why prosecutions faltered.

Battery Manufacturing: LG Energy Solution has started production at its $2B Lansing battery plant, targeting 35+ GWh annually at full capacity and supplying EV cells for Toyota plus energy storage. Defense & Industrial Services: General Dynamics Land Systems won a $54.3M U.S. Army contract for Stryker field-level maintenance and fielding support through 2031, with work managed from Detroit Arsenal. Auto Supply Chain Shock: The U.S.-Canada trade fight is escalating again, with Trump considering renaming Lake Ontario as “Lake America” while threatening more 50% tariffs on Canadian vehicles, parts, and steel—raising fresh alarms for Michigan auto makers and workers. Retaliation Pressure: Canada is preparing dollar-for-dollar tariff responses focused on steel, dairy, appliances, ag equipment, pulp & paper, and electronics, with analysts warning the moves could hit U.S. prices and demand quickly. Tech for Mobility Testing: A new market forecast says ADAS simulation is set to nearly triple from $3.79B (2025) to $9.66B (2032) as automakers lean on virtual testing to speed safer releases. Medical Innovation: Pulnovo Medical began enrolling the first U.S. patients in a trial using radiofrequency energy on nerves around the pulmonary artery to treat high-risk lung blood pressure from heart failure.

Food Safety Watch: A multistate Salmonella Javiana outbreak tied to imported jalapeños has sickened 431 people across 32 states, with Chipotle and Qdoba-linked recalls adding pressure on food supply chains. Trade & Auto Industry: Michigan’s auto workforce is bracing as Trump’s 50% tariff threat on Canadian cars, trucks, auto parts and steel escalates; Ontario Premier Doug Ford says Canada could retaliate by targeting electricity and critical minerals. Canadian Retaliation: Canada is preparing retaliatory tariffs after talks collapsed, with Prime Minister Mark Carney warning the U.S. is trying to dismantle major Canadian industries. Mining & Jobs: A new UP-focused Copperwood Mine poll shows majority support statewide, while opponents question the survey’s credibility as a $50M grant request heads toward Michigan Strategic Fund review. Energy & Labor: A Michigan judge let stand an arbitration ruling tied to an energy company’s seniority-system changes, while another case involves meal-break pay claims at a large health system. Consumer Markets: The FTC reached a settlement with Zillow and Redfin over alleged anticompetitive rental listing suppression, requiring Redfin to restart its standalone rentals listings business. Fresh Food Access: Blue Cross and partners are funding 10 Upper Peninsula food pantries to expand refrigeration and dairy supplies. Fraud Alerts: BBB Scam Tracker reports keep highlighting losses in Michigan cities, with Detroit leading the state in July reports.

Michigan Agriculture & Food Processing: MDARD is rolling out 20 grants statewide to boost food and agriculture processing, infrastructure, and access to healthy foods, with 14 projects in Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula. Detroit Area Public Space Spending: Several Metro Detroit cities are spending millions on new parks and upgrades, turning older sites into recreation spaces as residents push for more pickleball, walking, and accessible amenities. Energy & Manufacturing R&D: University of Michigan researchers are developing a yeast-based universal flu vaccine approach using a conserved influenza protein, aiming for faster, cheaper production than egg-based shots. Battery Supply Chain: LG Energy Solution is starting production at major Michigan battery facilities, signaling continued momentum in energy storage and EV components. Defense Industry: Kratos is allocating Spartan engine capacity for Boeing’s JDAM LR production, with J85 engines built in Auburn Hills, supporting domestic propulsion output. Trade Shock for Michigan Businesses: The U.S.-Canada tariff fight is escalating, with Michigan/Canadian firms bracing for higher costs and supply chain disruption. Public Safety Tech Debate: Michigan’s political conversation around data centers is heating up as GOP candidates pivot amid voter backlash over energy, water, and local impacts. Health & Food Safety: Multi-state outbreaks tied to alfalfa sprouts are driving recalls and renewed scrutiny of produce supply chains.

AI & Data Centers Backlash: Sam Altman says AI builders haven’t explained benefits well enough as resistance grows, while Texas Gov. Greg Abbott “pauses” new data-center projects over water and power concerns and Tim Scott accuses China of fueling opposition. Trade & Manufacturing Uncertainty: Tariffs and geopolitical tensions are clouding global manufacturing supply chains, and the U.S.-Canada trade fight escalates as Canada hits back with dollar-for-dollar counter-tariffs. Michigan Energy/Environment: EGLE awards a $400,000 grant to redevelop a contaminated Roscommon site into a new restaurant, with construction targeted for 2028. Agriculture & Food Safety: Soybean nematode management guides push soil testing ahead of harvest, and alfalfa-sprout-linked outbreaks keep expanding across states. Michigan Fraud Watch: BBB Scam Tracker shows Harrietta logged 1 scam report in July, while Comstock Park logged 3; Detroit, Grand Rapids, and Ann Arbor lead Michigan totals.

US-Canada Trade War: Trump’s new 50% tariffs on Canadian goods took effect Saturday, with Canada promising “dollar for dollar” retaliation starting Sept. 8—raising the odds of higher costs for Michigan manufacturers, logistics firms, and cross-border agriculture. Cybersecurity & Energy: Iran-linked hackers reportedly shut down a UK power plant for four days, while US water systems faced attacks across 12 states—another reminder that critical infrastructure is a growing target. Food Safety: Everything Sprouts recalled certain alfalfa sprout products after an E. coli and Salmonella outbreak sickened 55 people in 15 states. Michigan Agriculture: Michigan’s apple crop is expected to come in at 25+ million bushels, down from last year’s surge, though quality and size are strong. Workforce & Local Services: Goodwill Workforce Development partnered with enJOY Gifts & Gathering to support meaningful employment for participants in Northern Michigan. Livestock Biosecurity: The Michigan State Fair tightened swine-flu precautions after a case at the Kent County Fair. Energy Storage Manufacturing: LG Energy Solution began/expanded production at Michigan battery plants, pivoting deeper into energy storage as AI data-center demand grows. Local Politics & Data Centers: Michigan officials faced escalating backlash over AI data center projects, including threats reported in multiple towns.

AI Data Centers Backlash: A nationwide grassroots push against AI data centers hit a new scale with 142 coordinated protests across 42 states in July, fueled by worries over power costs, water use, and limited local job creation. Cybersecurity & Energy: Iran-linked hackers reportedly shut down a British power plant for four days, the latest warning that critical infrastructure is a growing target. Trade & Industry: The U.S. imposed 50% tariffs on about $20B in Canadian goods after talks collapsed; Canada’s PM Mark Carney says retaliation will be “dollar for dollar,” with auto, steel, dairy, and agriculture among the likely pressure points. Michigan Politics: Michigan Republicans formally nominated Jay DeBoyer as lieutenant governor running mate for John James, pitching a change agenda on schools and energy bills. Michigan Water: A Detroit Reservoir drawdown plan is facing a legal fight, with claims it could endanger Salem’s drinking water supply. Public Health: Federal officials are investigating a multistate alfalfa sprout outbreak that has sickened 55 people in 15 states, including Michigan. Motown Legacy: Janie Bradford Hobbs, co-writer of “Money (That’s What I Want),” died at 87.

Steel & Energy: Cleveland-Cliffs says a DOE framework could unlock a $1B investment at its Middletown Works, aiming to strengthen U.S. blast-furnace steelmaking and support automotive-grade steel. Construction & Infrastructure: Road Watch highlights ongoing Metro Detroit work, including Consumers Energy’s Metro Pipeline natural gas replacement and multiple pavement preservation projects across Oakland and Macomb. Trade & Manufacturing: The U.S. and Canada trade talks collapsed at the last minute, triggering 50% tariffs on about $20B in Canadian goods—an immediate hit to cross-border supply chains. Workforce & Training: A Michigan-area chamber leadership transition ties closer workforce development to Baker College, with a new campus director role starting mid-November. Food Safety: CDC updates show the iceberg lettuce Cyclospora outbreak has surged to 10,930 illnesses across 17 states, while regulators investigate a separate multi-state alfalfa sprouts E. coli/Salmonella outbreak. Data Centers & Politics: Michigan’s data-center backlash is shaping midterm messaging, with candidates clashing over grid reliability, rate impacts, and local control.