AGP Executive Report

Defense & Manufacturing: Connecticut’s Sikorsky is set to build 16 new UH-60M Black Hawks for the U.S. Army in a $234 million contract, sustaining production and a large supplier network. Energy & Environment: The U.S. EPA is rolling back power-plant safeguards, a move that could raise pollution fears for communities. Healthcare & Consumer Protection: Telehealth firms face renewed scrutiny over alleged deceptive practices, including sharing health data and pushing hard-to-cancel subscriptions. Sports Betting & Ethics: A New York Times investigation says DraftKings used an “elasticity” model to target customers most likely to lose money after promotions. Privacy & AI in Health: Connecticut is moving to restrict AI from being the sole basis for certain health-insurance decisions for state employees and retirees. Offshore Wind: Revolution Wind installed its final turbine, bringing the project closer to full output for Rhode Island and Connecticut. Policy & Housing: Connecticut’s AI rules for state workers are advancing, but coverage gaps remain for the rest of the population. Business Watch: Connecticut businesses are still profitable, but rising costs are clouding the outlook.

Offshore Wind in Connecticut: Revolution Wind installed its final turbine, completing all 65 units off Little Compton and moving toward full output for Rhode Island and Connecticut after months of political and regulatory headwinds. AI and Health Costs in CT: Connecticut Comptroller Sean Scanlon rolled out new rules for the state employee health plan limiting insurers’ use of AI in claim denials and payment reductions, effective Jan. 1, 2027. Telehealth Data Scrutiny: Federal regulators renewed pressure on telehealth firms, alleging deceptive practices and improper handling of customers’ medical data. Privacy vs. Federal Overreach: A federal judge blocked a Trump administration push for a massive driver-data database, a win for privacy advocates. Energy Bills and Efficiency: A New Mexico homeowner’s high summer power bills sparked a practical debate on home heating upgrades, with mini-splits and targeted fixes emerging as cost savers. Defense and Aviation: The U.S. Army ordered 16 more UH-60M Black Hawks from Sikorsky, while also accelerating the future tiltrotor plan to replace missions over time. Consumer Pricing Rules: Connecticut’s AI and surveillance-pricing efforts keep expanding, with new requirements aimed at how personal data can affect what people pay.

Offshore Wind: Gov. Ned Lamont and DEEP Acting Commissioner Emma Cimino marked Revolution Wind’s installation of its final 65th turbine, a milestone toward full commercial operation later this year, with Connecticut’s 304 MW share aimed at boosting grid reliability and cutting electricity market costs. Transportation Infrastructure: CTDOT announced a public information meeting for Route 9/Route 175 Interchange 38 improvements in Newington and New Britain, with construction targeted to begin in winter 2029. Housing & Development: Greenwich broke ground on Benedict Court, a downtown apartment complex with 120 units and 40% set aside for moderate-income renters. Energy Costs: Home heating oil in Connecticut is averaging above $5.60 per gallon as colder weather approaches, with experts urging insulation checks, thermostat setbacks, and heat-pump upgrades. Business & Services: Student Transportation of America expanded in Connecticut and Illinois by acquiring Sunrise Transportation, adding nearly 1,000 vehicles and daily service for more than 23,000 students. Public Safety & Community: Bridgeport residents along the Rooster River braced for more flooding after major damage to Riverwalk Condo during recent storms. Aerospace Manufacturing: The U.S. Army ordered 16 new UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters from Sikorsky, with production at Stratford, Connecticut.

Offshore Wind & Energy: Gov. Ned Lamont and DEEP Acting Commissioner Emma Cimino marked Revolution Wind’s successful installation of its final 65th turbine, a key step toward full commercial operation later this year, with Connecticut’s 304 MW share aimed at boosting grid reliability and insulating rates from winter volatility. Transportation Infrastructure: CTDOT highlighted safety gains from modern roundabouts during National Roundabouts Week, citing major reductions in severe and total crashes, and scheduled a public meeting on Route 9/Exit 38 interchange improvements in Newington and New Britain. Auto Industry & Consumer Protection: Connecticut and federal regulators continue cracking down on junk fees and predatory practices, including a $4 million settlement tied to auto dealer “junk fees” and unauthorized add-ons. Housing & Development: Greenwich broke ground on Benedict Court, a downtown apartment complex with 40% reserved for moderate-income residents. Business Expansion: Student Transportation of America acquired Sunrise Transportation, expanding special-needs and general-education bus services across Illinois and Connecticut. Public Safety & Health: A federal judge permanently blocked Trump SNAP penalties affecting lawful permanent residents, while measles cases in the U.S. continue to rise week over week.

Defense & Aerospace: The U.S. State Department cleared a possible $24.3B sale of 48 F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, including 49 Pratt & Whitney engines and support gear—communications, navigation, training, software, and logistics—moving the deal toward congressional review. Consumer & Health Insurance: A multistate settlement with auto lender Credit Acceptance Corporation totals $694M, with major debt relief and required consumer-protection changes aimed at predatory loan practices. Connecticut Policy & Services: A new CT poll finds most voters back using state budget surpluses to shore up human services hit by federal cuts, even if it means adjusting budget caps. Connecticut Business & Housing: Consumer groups are urging state attorneys general to investigate Zillow, Compass and other real-estate platforms over practices they say make housing less affordable. Public Safety & Environment: DEEP EnCon police are investigating an untimely death at Secret Lake in Algonquin State Forest. Local Development: Newport Realty Group finished the final building at Berlin’s Steele Center, adding 52 apartments plus commercial space.

Auto Finance Crackdown: Connecticut and other states secured a $694 million multistate settlement with Credit Acceptance over predatory auto loans, including cash/debt relief and new rules to curb risky lending and dealer add-ons. Consumer Protection: The FTC issued fresh FAQs on auto pricing transparency, warning dealers and advertisers to keep advertised prices truly “all-in.” Housing & Construction: Newport Realty Group finished the final building at Berlin’s Steele Center, adding 52 apartments near the train station. Energy Planning: DEEP opened public input on Connecticut’s next Comprehensive Energy Strategy, aiming for affordable, reliable, and cleaner power. Infrastructure: CTDOT will hold a virtual meeting on Salem’s Route 11 bridge rehab over the Eightmile River, with construction eyed for spring 2029. Public Safety & Labor: Sen. Chris Murphy pushed legislation to bar ICE enforcement at playgrounds, child care sites, and school bus stops after Danbury raids. Defense Industry: The State Department approved a possible $24.3B F-35 sale to Saudi Arabia, with Pratt & Whitney engines tied to East Hartford. Local Business Climate: Lamont and Fazio laid out competing economic visions for Connecticut at a CBIA event. Health & Kids: Connecticut’s child advocate reported 67 non-natural child fatalities in 2025, with a troubling rise in suicides among kids under 15. Product Recalls: Melissa & Doug recalled firetruck activity boards sold at Target over choking risk.

AI & Privacy Watch: New Connecticut laws on data privacy and AI kick in next month, including workplace AI rules and tighter limits around AI chatbots involving minors, with AG William Tong warning the state is “rushing to confront” risks. Energy Rates: PURA ordered $37M in rate cuts for Connecticut Natural Gas and Southern Connecticut Gas after prior decisions were sent back for procedural fixes, with officials saying the companies over-collected from customers. Gas Prices: Diesel in Connecticut is near record highs, pushing up costs for sanitation and raising pressure on food and other goods that rely on diesel-powered trucking. LNG Dealmaking: Apollo is exploring sale options for Stamford-based floating LNG operator Energos, potentially valuing it above $3B, with talks that could include a partial stake. Construction & Safety: New crane and hoisting rules take effect Oct. 1, ending an arboriculture exemption and requiring crane operators and owners to be licensed and registered. Small Business: Family-owned Adams Moving marks five years of growth from one truck in Branford to service in nine Connecticut communities. Agriculture Relief: Connecticut farmers can apply now for USDA-funded disaster relief after 2023-24 weather losses, with the first round due Oct. 7.

AI in Health Insurance: Connecticut Comptroller Sean Scanlon announced new rules for the state employee health plan and Partnership Plan, including bans on using AI as the sole basis for down-coding or payment changes, plus human review, privacy protections, and transparency audits starting Jan. 1, 2027. Utility Rates: PURA ordered further rate cuts for Connecticut Natural Gas and Southern Connecticut Gas after legal missteps, with Attorney General Tong saying the decisions will lower bills for families. Healthcare Grants: Four rural Connecticut hospitals split $46 million in federal Rural Health Transformation funding for imaging, telehealth, and transport upgrades, with extra support for technical assistance. Construction & Hoisting Compliance: New crane and hoisting laws take effect Oct. 1, ending an arboriculture exemption and requiring licensing and crane registration, with stronger enforcement. Small Business Support: New Britain held its first Business 360 resource fair to connect entrepreneurs with training, loans, and city/state programs. Farm Relief: Applications opened for disaster relief funds for Connecticut farmers affected by 2023–2024 weather, with the first round due Oct. 7. Logistics Costs: Diesel price spikes are pushing up costs across Connecticut’s food and goods supply chain, according to local trucking and finance experts. Courier Pricing: Xentra Transport will keep same-day courier and freight rates flat through NYC peak season (Oct. 1–Dec. 31). Local Traffic: Andover officials are pushing to make a temporary traffic light permanent after bridge work on Long Hill Road.

Commercial Real Estate: RJ Development & Advisors has started work on a $95M, 251-unit waterfront apartment complex in New London’s Fort Trumbull area, adding to its earlier The Beam project and targeting mid-2028 leasing. Higher Ed & Sports Policy: The U.S. Senate advanced the Protect College Sports Act (74-24), setting up a House vote; Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy criticized it as protecting big-money sports interests while limiting athlete pay. Finance & Talent: Hedge fund Brevan Howard is opening a Greenwich office, underscoring how Connecticut’s hedge-fund cluster keeps competing for top talent. Marine Industry Cleanup: A coalition says it has removed at least 4,000 abandoned lobster traps from Connecticut waters in Long Island Sound since 2022, after decades of lost-gear impacts. Health Care Costs: A new look at Medicare’s “gap” highlights how premiums and uncovered costs can hit retirees hard, with Fidelity estimating steep lifetime medical spending. Legal Fight Over Sports Betting: Underdog sued Connecticut in federal court to block the state’s crackdown on sports event contracts, arguing federal commodities rules control. Public Safety & Health: Connecticut is among states affected by a Whole Foods cheese recall tied to an undeclared egg allergen.

PFAS Lawsuit in Connecticut: A federal judge in Hartford ruled that 3M, DuPont and Honeywell must face claims from Connecticut firefighters over “forever chemicals” in turnout gear, allowing damages and medical monitoring even without symptoms. Food Safety Recall: Whole Foods Cabricharme cheese was recalled in seven states, including Connecticut, after an undeclared egg allergen was found; the FDA urged consumers to destroy the product and seek refunds. School Vaccine Fight: Connecticut won the dismissal of a challenge to its school vaccine rules that removed religious exemptions, with the case now closed after years of litigation. Energy Affordability Politics: A Sacred Heart University/WFSB/CT Insider poll finds cost of living and inflation top voters’ concerns, while energy-cost plans and opposition to AI data centers are also front and center in the gubernatorial race. Consumer Tech Regulation: Connecticut’s new “surveillance pricing” rules will require disclosures when online prices are raised using personal data, and also limit dynamic pricing by delivery platforms. Transportation Infrastructure: CTDOT is planning major bridge rehabilitation on Route 15 in Stratford, with design and construction years out but community input encouraged. Workplace Policy Research: A review of four-day workweek studies finds many pilots show benefits, but results often rely on voluntary trials and self-reported outcomes. Solar & Logistics: Burlington expanded on-site solar across its distribution network as it targets lower costs and higher renewable electricity use.

Food Safety & Retail: Whole Foods recalled Cabricharme cheese sold in 18 stores across Connecticut and six other states after an undeclared egg-white protein (egg lysozyme) was found on labels, raising serious allergy risk. Higher Education & Antitrust: Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy and other opponents are pressing back as the Senate moves toward a vote on the bipartisan Protect College Sports Act, arguing it could shield college sports from antitrust scrutiny while reshaping athlete compensation rules. Energy & Climate Policy: Gov. Ned Lamont and AG William Tong criticized the Trump EPA’s finalized repeal of carbon pollution standards for power plants, warning it will raise costs and worsen air and health outcomes. Healthcare Costs: A long-running lawsuit over whether certain workers qualify for access to work-based health plans could expand lower-cost “junk” coverage, depending on a potential settlement. Aviation & Jobs: Workers at Bombardier facilities in the U.S., including Connecticut service centers, are alarmed by Trump’s threat to restrict the Canadian aircraft maker’s jets. Local Infrastructure: UConn relocated its men’s golf practice facility plans to the Depot Campus after community opposition to the earlier Storrs Road proposal. Energy Prices: Connecticut heating oil costs are up sharply versus last year, leaving homeowners weighing whether to fill now or wait.

Health & Consumer Safety: Whole Foods recalled Cabricharme cheeses in Connecticut and other states after undeclared egg allergen risk, urging shoppers to stop using affected products. Pharma & Antitrust: A federal judge tossed most claims in Connecticut’s generic-drug price-fixing case against a former Perrigo executive, leaving a smaller set for trial. Infant Formula Accountability: Connecticut joined a multistate settlement with Abbott over unsafe powder infant formula and nutritional therapy manufacturing, with major payments to the U.S. and states. Energy & Climate Policy: Gov. Lamont and AG Tong criticized the Trump EPA’s repeal of carbon pollution standards for power plants, warning of higher costs and worse health impacts. Flooding & Infrastructure: After a “rain bomb” overwhelmed drainage in Fairfield County, officials are tallying damages and planning for climate-driven extreme rainfall. Transportation Planning: CTDOT set a public meeting on Nov. 18 about removing Route 9 traffic signals in Middletown and Cromwell. Sports Betting Crackdown: Connecticut expanded enforcement against sports prediction markets, issuing cease-and-desist orders to nine operators and targeting the broader payment and promotion network. Manufacturing Spotlight: Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense was inducted into the American Manufacturing Hall of Fame for its 190-year legacy and work on NASA’s Artemis II.

M&A Watch: Watsco agreed to acquire The Granite Group, a $500M Northeast plumbing and HVAC distributor with 82 locations across CT and neighbors, aiming to deepen scale and product breadth. Energy Markets: Rhode Island Energy says it could receive 150 MW from a proposed 800 MW onshore wind project in northern Maine, pending state approvals and a power purchase deal. AgTech Spotlight: Enko Chem won “AI-based AgTech Platform of the Year” for ENKOMPASS, touting faster, cheaper crop-chem discovery. Higher Ed Tech: UConn will phase out Cisco Webex by end of 2026-27, citing higher licensing costs and shifting reliance to Teams and other tools. Consumer Protection: Connecticut ordered nine prediction-market operators to stop offering sports event contracts, warning the fast growth could put young people and vulnerable gamblers at risk. Health Insurance: CT regulators approved double-digit 2027 health insurer rate hikes, while a separate report highlights how many insurer claim challenges end up overturned in favor of patients. Food Safety: Whole Foods recalled Cabricharme cheese sold in seven states, including Connecticut, due to undeclared egg allergen. Local Industry Resilience: Bead Electronics resumed manufacturing weeks after storm damage halted production in Milford. Space Manufacturing: Helogen plans two October missions to test microgravity-made materials for artificial retinas and orthopedic uses.

Food Safety Recall: Whole Foods recalled Cabricharme cheese sold in 7 states, including Connecticut, after undeclared egg lysozyme was found on labels; customers are told to destroy the product and seek refunds. Health Insurance Costs: Connecticut regulators approved double-digit 2027 health insurance rate hikes, with small group plans averaging about 15.1% and individual plans around 11%, after last year’s increases shifted the burden. Consumer Protection: CT’s Department of Consumer Protection issued a cease-and-desist to Monroe hot sauce maker Phire in the Hole over botulism risk tied to unapproved processing and licensing gaps. Transit & Construction: Metro-North and Amtrak face five weekend service cuts through November for WALK Bridge work, with some weekends seeing about 55% fewer seats. Workplace Tech & Jobs: A new report warns electronic shelf labels could reduce grocery labor hours nationwide, potentially costing jobs and wages. Local Industry & Innovation: Old Lyme’s mosquito-control invention, Sirenix, is still evolving decades after a teen science fair win, with plans to add phone-linked updates. Business & Finance: Citizens Bank sued SoFi, alleging loan-officer poaching and confidentiality breaches that harmed Citizens’ Connecticut mortgage business.

AI Regulation Push: Lawmakers are accelerating U.S. AI rules after an Anthropic researcher warned models could escape human control, adding momentum to calls for mandatory safety requirements and auditor oversight. Food Safety Enforcement: Connecticut’s DCP issued a cease-and-desist to Monroe hot-sauce maker Phire in the Hole over botulism risk tied to unapproved processing, urging consumers to stop buying/using affected products. Data Centers & Health: UConn-linked reporting flags rising public health and environmental concerns from fast-growing data centers, including air pollution, heavy water use, and noise impacts. Banking & Competition: KeyBank named Mark Williams to lead New England business banking, aiming to win amid tariffs and economic uncertainty by leaning into payments and treasury strengths. Mortgage Talent Fight: Citizens Bank sued SoFi, alleging “poaching” of loan officers and mortgage pipelines through confidentiality breaches, claiming damage to its Connecticut business. Rail & Industry Heritage: The Railroad Museum of New England in Thomaston is marking 30 years with special runs, highlighting its unique ownership of the Naugatuck Railroad that supports restoration and local freight work. Arts & Tech in CT: A Hartford Art School leader and Stamford-born ceramic artist is using AI alongside porcelain traditions to expand what ceramics can depict. Local Sports Safety: Wethersfield firefighters rescued a kayaker reported struck by a jet ski; the incident remains under investigation.

Data Centers & Health: UConn-linked research flags how fast-growing data centers are stressing air quality, water supplies, and neighborhoods—plus constant noise that can raise mental stress. Mortgage Talent War: Citizens Bank sues SoFi in federal court, alleging a “nationwide campaign” to poach loan officers and disrupt Connecticut mortgage pipelines. Social Media Governance: Meta’s up-to-$17B settlement with state attorneys general includes major youth protections—money for programs in Connecticut and limits on teen use of Facebook/Instagram. Consumer Safety: Whole Foods recalls certain Cabricharme cheeses in multiple states, including Connecticut, after undeclared egg protein triggers allergy risk. Invasive Pests: Spotted lanternflies are now reported across 22 states, with Connecticut among the hardest hit, and officials urge residents to kill them on sight. Public Safety Incident: A kayaker was rescued after being reportedly struck by a jet ski in Wethersfield; the driver allegedly fled. Military Supply: The U.S. Army awards Olin Winchester a large contract for small-caliber ammunition, underscoring ongoing demand for basic bullet supply. Prediction Markets Crackdown: Connecticut orders nine prediction market operators to stop offering sports bets and seeks related information from industry partners.