AGP Executive Report

Sports Betting Rules: The NFL is backing New Jersey’s request for the Supreme Court to review whether states can regulate sports bets on prediction markets such as Kalshi, warning of consumer risks and threats to game integrity. Drug Prices: New Jersey joined a multistate settlement securing $1.05 million from Ascend Laboratories and Mayne Pharma over alleged generic-drug price fixing; eligible consumers may seek compensation. Jersey City Housing: County officials are advancing plans to redevelop parking lots around County Plaza into a mixed-use neighborhood with affordable housing, a supermarket, parks and a daycare. Cannabis Access: Gov. Murphy signed legislation to reform the state’s medicinal marijuana program and expand patient access. Hudson County: Former state Sen. Sandra Cunningham, a trailblazing local leader, has died at 76. Cost of Living: New Jersey residents say everyday expenses are harder to afford, with a recent estimate putting the state’s cost-of-living increase at about $40,800.

Statehouse Shake-up: Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell resigned after an independent ethics investigation found repeated policy violations, including substantiated sexual harassment. Gov. Mikie Sherrill had urged him to step down. Political Loss: Former state Sen. Sandra Cunningham, a trailblazing Hudson County Democrat, has died at 76. Cost of Living: A Rutgers-Eagleton poll finds New Jerseyans struggling more to afford essentials: about two-thirds report difficulty with housing and transportation, and six in 10 with groceries, utilities and health care. Election Watch: ICE obtained tens of millions of voter records from the Justice Department; New Jersey is among the states identified as priorities for voter-fraud investigations. On the Campaign Trail: Cory Booker and Republican Justin Murphy are set to debate Thursday in the New Jersey Senate race.

Hudson County Politics: North Bergen Mayor Nicholas Sacco is expected to resign Thursday, ending a tenure that began in 1991. Commissioner Hugo Cabrera is the likely successor. Election Oversight: Gov. Mikie Sherrill says a review found about 1,100 more problematic voter registrations, including people who said they were too young but were registered anyway. Prediction Markets: New Jersey and 39 other states are urging the Supreme Court to decide whether states can regulate platforms such as Kalshi under gambling laws. Immigration: A judge ordered the release of Martin Soto, a Peruvian immigrant detained for more than 200 days at Newark’s Delaney Hall and the Elizabeth Detention Center. Affordability: A new poll finds New Jersey residents increasingly feel the state is becoming less affordable, while a separate survey says necessities are harder to afford. Workplace AI: A state Senate committee unanimously advanced a bill requiring employers to give 60 days’ notice before major AI-driven job changes and provide training or severance when AI eliminates positions. State Legacy: Former Sen. Sandra Cunningham, a Hudson County trailblazer who championed higher education and prisoner reentry, has died at 76.

Affordability Crunch: A new Rutgers-Eagleton poll finds 65% of New Jersey residents struggle with housing costs and 77% rate the state economy poor or fair, with majorities also reporting trouble paying for transportation, health care, utilities, and groceries. Election Integrity: With Election Day weeks away, lawmakers say the FEC can’t act on AI election-misinformation concerns because it lacks a quorum, limiting what the agency can do. Energy & Jobs: Google and Constellation announced a 20-year nuclear power deal—890 megawatts tied to upgraded reactors in NJ and the region—aimed at powering AI data centers. Small Business: Gov. Mikie Sherrill visited White Manna in Hackensack to highlight small-business support and permitting streamlining as the iconic spot prepares to relocate nearby. Courts & Speech: A First Amendment lawsuit challenges a Passaic County Community College professor’s alleged decision to remove a student from a Zoom class after he refused to take down a “Trump 2020” flag. Business Closures: True Food Kitchen shut its Hackensack and Edison locations as it restructures under Chapter 11.

Nuclear Power & AI Demand: Google signed a massive 20-year, 890 MW nuclear power deal with Constellation, with $4.3B in upgrades to reactors across Illinois, Pennsylvania and New Jersey—part of a broader PJM “bring your own power” push that’s already moving markets. Election Watch (NJ): House Democrats launched a new ad hitting Rep. Tom Kean Jr. for missing more than 100 votes while hospitalized for depression, as fundraising and battleground pressure ramps up. Local Innovation: New Jersey Innovation Hub at HELIX in New Brunswick officially opened, growing to 21 member companies and aiming to accelerate life-sciences startups with lab space and shared equipment. Energy Policy (NJ): Middlesex County filed a copycat climate lawsuit against major oil firms ahead of U.S. Supreme Court arguments that could reshape how these cases spread. Public Safety (NJ): A Montgomery Township insurance executive, David Grodnick, was linked to a murder-suicide that killed his wife and daughter. Business & Jobs: Clio Snacks, a Piscataway refrigerated yogurt bar maker, was acquired by Stride Consumer Partners as it targets $120M in annual revenue. Community: Jon Bon Jovi and Gov. Mikie Sherrill helped launch “Jersey Legend” Jon Bon Jovi Lottery scratch-offs benefiting JBJ Soul Kitchen.

International Widows’ Day in NJ: State Sen. Gordon Johnson sent a letter backing Modern Widows Club’s 2026 Legacy & Leadership Awards dinner Oct. 20 in Jersey City, praising the group’s grief support and education. Minimum wage pressure: Blue states are set for new 2027 minimum wage hikes that keep widening the gap with the federal $7.25 floor, including New Jersey’s increase to $16.48 for most workers. Gaming compliance tech: Shufti launched Geolocation Compliance for regulated iGaming and betting, designed to verify identity and enforce NJ-style “no wager outside the authorized area” rules. Legal fight over NJ cannabis social equity: A lawsuit alleges NJ Sen. Raj Mukherji set up straw owners to steer cannabis deals around social equity requirements, which he denies. Public safety: Trenton police and state investigators seized 70+ illegal slot machines and $100K+ in proceeds tied to more than 30 businesses. Health care milestone: Deborah Heart and Lung Center completed its first commercial implant of the Trilogy transcatheter heart valve for severe aortic regurgitation in the tri-state region. Local human interest: NJ cold-case sleuths helped identify a decades-missing Charleston man using genealogical research.

Rail Security Funding: Rep. Josh Gottheimer announced $500,000 in federal money for security upgrades at the planned Andover rail station, part of efforts to restore service on the Lackawanna Cutoff and close a funding gap for the project. Business Leadership: Montium, a Lakewood-area multifamily firm, named Shazia Chaudry as President, tasking her with driving organization-wide execution and accountability. Healthcare & Data: A new analysis on COVID-19 deaths finds sepsis was recorded in 9.3% of cases in 2020, while other research suggests sepsis may have appeared in up to 93% of COVID-19 deaths—highlighting major undercounting. Public Safety & Courts: Attorneys general nationwide, including New England states, urged Congress to fully fund Supreme Court security for the 2027 budget. Local Economy: Prudential filed a WARN notice for 125 layoffs tied to operational streamlining in Newark-area roles. Pharma Expansion: Shionogi said it will buy Texas rare-disease firm IntraBio for $2 billion, with the deal folding into its New Jersey-based U.S. division. Retail Watch: USA Wine Traders is set to open a new Paramus store on Route 17 South on Oct. 15. Sports/Community: Raymond Gramenzi of Sewell won gold at the IBJJF Masters World Jiu-Jitsu Championships in Las Vegas.

State Politics: Gov. Mikie Sherrill is weighing five candidates to replace Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell after his resignation over harassment and ethics allegations, with a deadline looming to fill the post. Public Health & Workforce: A new NJ nursing report warns the state’s education pipeline is bottlenecking supply, projecting shortages of registered nurses and licensed practical nurses by 2037. Healthcare Leadership: Hackensack Meridian CEO Robert Garrett says he’ll retire June 30, 2027, as the system pursues a major statewide investment and begins a national search. Environment & Safety: A juvenile was killed and a woman seriously injured in Upper Freehold after a car backed into pedestrians in a brewery/farm parking lot. Local Business: Paterson’s Bread Gal Bakery keeps East Coast bread moving around the clock, employing about 70 people and supplying major retailers and institutions. Community & Culture: A New Jersey resident traveled to Philadelphia’s Latvian Society club to vote in Latvia’s parliamentary election, highlighting how the diaspora can cast ballots abroad. Fraud Case: A federal jury convicted a New Jersey wife and Colombian man in a scheme that prosecutors said sought more than $13 million in federal aid.

Public Health & Policy: Gov. Mikie Sherrill is weighing billionaire Mark Cuban’s offer to help rein in New Jersey’s troubled public employee health benefits costs, but her office hasn’t said whether she’ll take him up. Local Economy: Gourmet cookie chain Chip City abruptly shut down all New Jersey locations, blaming “macro-economic headwinds.” Sports & Culture: Zach Bryan set a Gillette Stadium attendance record while wearing a “Free Palestine” shirt for a second straight night, reigniting the wider New Jersey-linked Macklemore/Ed Sheeran controversy. Politics & Campaigns: Pete Buttigieg is hitting battlegrounds including New Jersey as he barnstorms ahead of the midterms, tying cost-of-living messages to a broader political reform pitch. Environment & Community: A New Jersey-born AmeriCorps member joined Herring Gut Coastal Science Center to expand hands-on coastal education in Port Clyde. Legal/Justice: Kearny is pushing a court fight to limit tourist helicopter flights tied to New York-area tours, arguing local approvals didn’t allow the traffic.

Midterms & Data Centers: A Newsweek analysis flags 16 midterm candidates nationwide who back data-center policies as races heat up, after polling found most voters oppose new construction in their communities. Higher Ed Independence: A Jersey City educator’s op-ed and a PEN America-backed open letter from university leaders push back on federal pressure, arguing higher education needs freedom from partisan control. Amtrak & Environment: Professors warn Amtrak’s proposed rail-yard move would add to the area’s environmental burden, while Amtrak also plans to expand Pittsburgh–NYC service with a second daily trip. Immigration & Health Costs: New federal Medicaid rules narrow eligibility for noncitizens, with KFF Health News estimating 281,000 immigrants in nine states and D.C. could lose coverage. NJ Courts & Speech: A Passaic County Community College student sues after a professor allegedly called him a “racist” over a “Trump 2020” flag during a Zoom class. Local Economy: Kings Food Markets will close two NJ stores and cut 122 jobs; Dr. Praeger’s will eliminate 168 jobs at its Elmwood Park plant as production shifts to Kentucky. Public Safety: A multistate E. coli-linked frozen berry recall expands to more lots, including products sold in New Jersey.

Midterm Politics: CNN reports House Republicans are in “triage mode,” with some GOP lawmakers privately fearing they can’t hold the majority and weighing which races to stop funding. NJ Courts & Protest Rights: A federal judge in New Jersey tossed a Trump administration lawsuit using the FACE Act against pro-Palestinian protesters outside a West Orange synagogue, drawing a line between offensive speech and actionable threats. Cannabis Expansion: Jersey City’s first cannabis consumption lounge, Xena, officially opened in McGinley Square after a four-year process, with Mayor James Solomon calling it community-focused. Jobs & Local Economy: Kings Food Markets will close stores in Hillsdale and Whitehouse Station, cutting 122 jobs by Jan. 2, 2027; Dr. Praeger’s will eliminate 168 Elmwood Park jobs and shift production to Kentucky. Public Health: A frozen-berry recall tied to an E. coli outbreak expanded to more lots sold at Walmart and Trader Joe’s, with NJ included among affected states. Sports Business: The Devils will debut Prudential sponsorship patches on away jerseys for the first time, expanding a Newark-based partnership.

Housing & Poverty: A new Pew Charitable Trusts study finds housing costs are a major driver of poverty in nine states plus D.C., including New Jersey, where poverty would be lower if housing matched the national average. Midterm Politics: With Election Day a month away, polling and forecasters show Democrats competitive in enough races to threaten GOP control of Congress, with affordability and energy costs featuring heavily in the campaign narrative. NJ Courts & Protest Case: A federal judge in New Jersey dismissed a DOJ lawsuit against pro-Palestinian protesters, saying the government didn’t adequately plead violations under the FACE Act, though it can refile. NJ Cannabis Legal Fight: A former chief of staff is suing state Sen. Raj Mukherji, alleging a “de facto cartel” scheme tied to social equity cannabis licenses. Crime Update: Two more people pleaded guilty in an $11M stolen-check bank fraud conspiracy involving deposits at banks in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Public Health: NJ health officials report 26 West Nile cases in 2026, including the state’s first confirmed death, urging mosquito-bite prevention. Business/Jobs: Viral cookie chain Chip City abruptly shut down all locations, including in New Jersey, leaving hundreds jobless.

Mosquito Season Watch: New Jersey health officials reported one confirmed West Nile virus death and 26 total cases in 2026, urging residents—especially older adults—to prevent bites and cut standing water. Gun Policy in Court: NJ appealed a Third Circuit ruling that struck down the state’s “assault weapons” and standard-capacity magazine ban, asking the U.S. Supreme Court to pause and reconsider. Farm Relief: A bill would send $60 million in state aid to farmers hit by the April freeze, after crop losses wiped out major portions of orchards and threatened pick-your-own seasons. Energy & Cost Fight: Democratic-led states, including NJ, sued the Trump administration over weaker federal fuel-economy rules, arguing they’ll raise costs and emissions. Climate Accountability: Middlesex County filed suit against major oil companies, alleging decades of climate deception worsened flooding and other impacts. Local Business Shock: Cookie chain Chip City abruptly closed all remaining locations, including in New Jersey, citing “macro-economic headwinds.” Workforce Pipeline: A new report says NJ’s skilled trades workforce is aging fast, with only 7% age 25 and younger. Nuclear Push: Gov. Mikie Sherrill launched a Nuclear Task Force and “Nuclear NJ” website to speed next-generation nuclear planning.

Hudson Transit Planning: A new NJ study is laying groundwork for bus rapid transit in Hudson County along John F. Kennedy Boulevard, with ideas like dedicated lanes, transit signal priority, better stops, and off-board fare collection. Port Security: U.S. Customs says it stopped more than 600 stolen cars from being shipped overseas through the Port of New York and New Jersey, including at Newark’s Port—keeping tens of millions in stolen property from leaving. Food Supply & Competition: Lawmakers and independent restaurants are urging the FTC to scrutinize Sysco’s proposed $29.1B acquisition of Restaurant Depot. Cost of Living: A new report says inflation is hitting New Jerseyans harder than the ANCHOR rebate check. School Finance Fight: Newark Public Schools says a state audit found “nothing,” while auditors flagged excess aid, questionable spending, and referred matters to the Criminal Justice division. Energy Policy: Gov. Mikie Sherrill launched a Nuclear Task Force and a new “Nuclear NJ” website to pursue next-generation nuclear power. Public Safety & Politics: NJ’s lieutenant governor resigned after a sexual harassment and ethics investigation, and a Rutgers poll finds Sherrill’s approval holding steady. Elections Watch: NJ released midterm voter registration data showing more socialists than Republicans registered over the past month. Data Center Pressure: A report says a Vineland data center ran dozens of unpermitted gas generators for nearly a year, emitting large amounts of pollution.

Election & Courts: A Rutgers-Eagleton poll finds Gov. Mikie Sherrill holding steady at 44%-34% approval after Dale Caldwell’s resignation, while Trump’s favorables in New Jersey are deeply underwater at 24%-66%—a backdrop as election leadership shifts. State Elections: Sherrill named Shirley Emehelu as acting secretary of state after Caldwell resigned, putting her in charge of overseeing elections as Republicans press lawsuits seeking voter data. Workplace Rules: New Jersey’s Oct. 1 independent contractor guidelines take effect, with supporters calling it “fairness” and critics warning it could upend gig work and amateur officiating. Public Safety & Crime: Federal authorities charged six men in smash-and-grab jewelry store robberies across New Jersey, including cases tied to Newark and Paterson. Environment: Microplastics were found across Philly-region waterways, with calls for a broader plastics crackdown. Health & Community: RadNet and WIN-NextGen announced a program to mentor students into medical imaging careers. Culture & Politics: Macklemore’s “Free Palestine” tour sold out immediately after his MetLife Stadium protest earlier this year.

Housing & Politics: Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s housing push is back in the spotlight, with reporting that her plan targets major new production and permit deadlines, while the political fallout from the Caldwell ethics scandal keeps New Jersey’s leadership shakeups in view. Storm Recovery: After the Sept. 25–28 nor’easter battered the Jersey Shore, Ocean and Monmouth County property owners are getting help filing and negotiating claims, with public adjusters pointing to wind and tidal flooding impacts across Long Beach Island and the mainland. Local Economy: New Jersey Restaurant Week returns Oct. 16–22, with dozens of participating eateries statewide offering special menus and discounts. Tech & Business: Prudential is reportedly consolidating Newark office space, and New Jersey’s business community is also watching continued growth tied to AI and data-center investment. Federal/Legal: A major federal education data release highlights hundreds of sexual assault allegations involving public school staff, adding pressure on enforcement of protections for students.