AGP Executive Report

Mystics vs. Sun: Shakira Austin poured in 25 points and 13 rebounds as the Washington Mystics beat the Connecticut Sun 79-69 for their franchise-record 27th win, tightening the playoff race. WNBA injury update: Minnesota ruled Olivia Miles out with a left calf injury for a key matchup against the Fever, dashing the Clark-Miles showdown. Local transit upgrade: New Haven’s Union Station is set for $15.7M in state-funded renovations, including a new mezzanine bar area and wellness room. AI pricing fight: Seattle approved a ban on algorithm-based “surveillance pricing” for online groceries, a move that echoes privacy concerns growing nationwide. Defense contract: Sikorsky won a $234.46M modification for 16 Black Hawk helicopters, with work in Stratford. Connecticut workforce: A new report highlights how to address the paraeducator shortage by tapping people already in schools. Food safety recall: Wakefern recalled Wholesome Pantry organic unsweetened apple sauce due to elevated patulin mold toxin levels.

Rail Safety Week: CTDOT and Operation Lifesaver kicked off “See Tracks? Think Train Week 2026” at Berlin Station, urging people to stay off tracks and heed crossings after years of deadly pedestrian incidents. Local Infrastructure: CTDOT also began a major modernization of New Haven Union Station, with exterior repairs and interior upgrades aimed at improving passenger experience. Public Health Funding: Sharon Hospital is set to receive $13.1 million in federal Rural Health Transformation money for healthy aging services, a staffed virtual health office, and an off-campus rehab facility. State Grants: Norwich lawmakers announced $8.134 million to upgrade Dodd Stadium for multi-sport and community use, while Norwalk approved $2.85 million for sewer and pump-station projects. Legal/Privacy: A Second Circuit ruling allows federal agents to manually inspect travelers’ cell phones at the border without a warrant. Consumer Watch: Connecticut is among states urging people to file claims tied to a multistate settlement over allegedly inflated generic drug prices. Sports & Community: Plainville’s offense is rolling early in the season, and the Connecticut Haunted History Trail highlights the state’s witch trials ahead of October tourism.

ESPN in Connecticut: Scott Harves, a senior feature producer at ESPN, will speak at Wartburg College on Sept. 29, sharing his 30-year career at the Bristol, Conn. headquarters and his investigative work. WNBA, right here in CT: Olivia Miles broke Caitlin Clark’s rookie scoring record as the Minnesota Lynx beat the Connecticut Sun 101-89, while Rhyne Howard set a WNBA single-season 3-point record in Dream’s 103-59 win over the Sun. Local sports: WestConn’s Nickolas Santana earned LEC Men’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week after a big week, and Windham boys soccer finally got its first win, holding off New London. Public safety: State police charged two people in Marlborough after investigators found dead dogs and major sanitation issues at a property. Gun buyback: Norwalk will host the statewide gun buyback and gun safe giveaway Oct. 3, with gift cards for unloaded, properly transported firearms. Hollywood antitrust: Paramount Skydance reached a settlement with 12 states over its Warner Bros. Discovery merger, clearing a major legal hurdle.

WNBA Spotlight: Olivia Miles rewrote the rookie scoring record, passing Caitlin Clark as the Minnesota Lynx beat the Connecticut Sun 101-89, with Miles finishing 21 points and moving to the top of the season rookie list. Public Safety: A Hebron home was destroyed in a late-night fire; no people were home, but four cats were rescued and one canine died. Healthcare Funding: Windham Hospital and three other rural hospitals are set to receive $50 million total through a federal Rural Health Transformation Program, aimed at boosting equipment, workforce, and care access. Gun Laws: Attorney General William Tong said he’ll aggressively defend Connecticut’s handgun law after Glock challenged the state’s ban on certain easily converted firearms. Wildlife Guidance: DEEP urged residents to avoid conflicts with bears this fall, citing rising bear home entries and warning against feeding or leaving attractants outside. Media Merger Watch: Connecticut AG William Tong said a settlement over the Paramount-Warner merger secured enforceable editorial board protections for CNN and CBS, though he criticized the lack of full divestiture. Business/Bankruptcy: Meritage Hospitality Group, a Wendy’s franchisee running 314 locations, filed for Chapter 11, blaming profitability pressure and record beef costs.

WNBA: Olivia Miles broke Caitlin Clark’s rookie points record, finishing with 21 points as the Minnesota Lynx beat the Connecticut Sun 101-89. Housing Development: MB Financial is moving ahead with a roughly $150M Enfield redevelopment of the former MassMutual campus into about 487 homes, including apartments and townhomes. Politics/Economy: Gov. Ned Lamont is pitching his fiscal record in his bid for a third term, even as affordability concerns linger. Manufacturing Incentives: Connecticut’s $50M supply chain incentive program is helping spur new manufacturing expansions, including a Middlefield facility expansion tied to the Strategic Supply Chain Initiative. Energy/Tech Policy: Developers are exploring hyperscale data centers in Connecticut, but Eversource says no such projects have formally been proposed yet—only grid-connection studies. Local Jobs/Logistics: Amazon’s 3.2M-square-foot fulfillment center is taking shape on the Waterbury-Naugatuck border, with about 1,000 jobs expected. Waterfront Redevelopment: Bridgeport’s Steelpointe Harbor redevelopment is entering a new phase, with plans for thousands of homes, hotels, and more commercial space. Media/Antitrust: Paramount-Warner Bros. merger settlement talks continue, but Connecticut and other “blue state” AGs are reportedly pushing for tougher terms before signing off.

WNBA Spotlight: Olivia Miles made history in Uncasville, breaking Caitlin Clark’s rookie single-season scoring record as the Minnesota Lynx beat the Connecticut Sun 101-89. Miles moved past 769 points with a free throw early in the second quarter and finished with 21 points, helping Minnesota (32-10) snap a three-game skid and move closer to the No. 1 playoff seed. Sports Betting/Local Interest: With the Lynx-Sun matchup at Mohegan Sun, multiple previews pegged Minnesota as a heavy favorite, while Connecticut’s late-season struggles set up a high-stakes endgame for playoff positioning. Business/Legal Watch: Paramount’s antitrust merger talks with state attorneys general are nearing a settlement, but Connecticut AG William Tong is among holdouts pushing for extra protections—raising the risk of a trial next March if no deal lands. Consumer Safety: Whole Foods recalled an undeclared-egg specialty cheese sold in Connecticut and six other states, warning people with egg allergies could face serious allergic reactions.

Telehealth Crackdown: The FTC says telehealth firm Hims & Hers used deceptive tactics, including sharing sensitive health data and pushing hard-to-cancel subscriptions, as regulators target the fast-growing “app doctor” model. EPA Pollution Rollback: The U.S. EPA moved to scrap major power-plant climate safeguards, raising fresh pollution and health concerns for communities. CT Privacy & AI: Connecticut’s AI Act takes effect Oct. 1, and state privacy enforcement continues to expand, including scrutiny of how companies use personal data. Sports Betting Scrutiny: A report says a sports gambling app used AI to steer promotions toward people most likely to lose money. Local Sports (CT college): Montana State escaped a scare to beat CCSU 35-30, while WestConn fell 5-4 to Drew in field hockey and Eastern Connecticut topped VTSU Castleton 4-0 in women’s soccer. WNBA Spotlight: Angel Reese hit a historic 500-rebound season milestone as the Dream keep rolling.

WNBA & Local Sports: The Connecticut Sun’s season continues to draw attention as Atlanta Dream rolled past the Sun 103-59, led by Angel Reese’s 30 points and 10 rebounds, while Fairfield’s volleyball program kept momentum with a second straight win in its invitational. Racial Incident in College Sports: A CCSU volleyball player said Fairfield fans used “George Floyd” chants during a match, and Fairfield said it’s reviewing what happened and that derogatory language has no place at its events. Connecticut High School Football: Cheshire survived a wild finish against Glastonbury, blocking an extra point and then a potential game-winning field goal in the final minute to win 21-20. Public Safety: Hartford HealthCare expanded a firefighter cancer screening initiative, with 50 firefighters in Litchfield County set for screenings in Torrington. Privacy & Courts: A federal appeals ruling said border agents in the Second Circuit can manually search travelers’ cellphones at the border without suspicion, affecting Connecticut travelers. Business & Housing (Regional): Vermont’s housing crunch remains tied to high costs and financing, with slow progress toward closing the gap and continued rental competition.

Sports & Local Spotlight: The New York Liberty beat the Minnesota Lynx 93-81, with Breanna Stewart explaining how her team defended rookie Olivia Miles—then the Lynx turn to the Connecticut Sun next. Public Safety & Weather: Bridgeport residents along the Rooster River brace for more flooding after major damage to the Riverwalk Condo complex, as crews clear storm drains and catch basins ahead of possible rain. Health Policy: Two hospital systems—NYU Langone and UPMC—settle a DOJ probe over gender-affirming care for minors, agreeing to stop such care under 18/19 and pay nearly $9.5 million combined. Connecticut Courts & Privacy: Attorney General Raoul wins a preliminary injunction blocking a Trump administration demand for a massive CDL driver data database, protecting sensitive personal information for millions. Community & Culture: New Haven hosts a stop on Will Graham’s “Declaration of Dependence” tour at the Yale area, drawing local pastors and residents.

WNBA & Sports Policy: U.S. House members pressed WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert for answers on eligibility and safety after debate over whether biological men should be allowed to play, with Indiana’s Rep. among the critics. Connecticut Privacy Fight: Spokeo and other people-search platforms sued Connecticut’s attorney general, arguing the state’s new consumer right to delete online profiles targets protected speech and carries “draconian penalties.” SNAP Legal Win: A federal judge permanently blocked the Trump administration from penalizing states, including Connecticut, over SNAP rules affecting lawful permanent residents. Immigration Tech & Protest: ICE is considering buying Boston Dynamics Spot robot dogs, drawing pushback from protesters outside a Burlington processing center. Connecticut Tech/Surveillance: A new Connecticut law set to take effect Oct. 1 will tighten how Flock-style license plate data can be shared and searched. Local Spotlight: Gov. Ned Lamont unveiled a new “Connecticut Haunted History Trail” with 130+ stops for Halloween-season tourism. Sports: Angel Reese made WNBA history with 30 points and 10 rebounds as the Dream routed the Connecticut Sun 103-59; Rhyne Howard set a season record for 3-pointers. Prisons: Connecticut’s prison ombudsman DeVaughn Ward announced he’s stepping down after pushing reforms tied to medical access and inmate care.

WNBA Playoffs Push (Connecticut): Angel Reese poured in 30 points with 10 rebounds as the Atlanta Dream crushed the Connecticut Sun 103-59 in the first game back after the FIBA World Cup, while Rhyne Howard set a WNBA season record with 129 made 3-pointers. Court Ruling (Health Policy): A Stamford judge dismissed the last claim in a long-running lawsuit over Connecticut’s 2021 end to religious exemptions for school vaccine rules, leaving the state’s requirements in place. Consumer Protection (Privacy): A federal court approved a $10.5 million Lemonade class action settlement over claims that the insurer’s auto-quote tool exposed driver’s license numbers to third parties. Defense & Industry (Connecticut): Lockheed Martin won a $234.46 million Army contract modification for 16 UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters, with work in Stratford. Local Sports (College): Yale’s Dante Reno dedicated his season to his ailing father as the Bulldogs prepare for the opener.

UConn Sports: UConn women’s basketball released its full schedule, opening Nov. 2 at Hartford’s PeoplesBank Arena vs. Cornell, then hosting Iowa Nov. 8 at Gampel, with major nonconference stops including South Carolina (Nov. 24 at Mohegan Sun), Duke at TD Garden (Nov. 28), and LSU in Nashville (Dec. 20). WNBA Playoff Push: The league restarts Thursday after the FIBA break, with playoff seeds still up for grabs; Minnesota’s Lynx hold the strongest position entering Sept. 17. State Energy Planning: DEEP is seeking public input on Connecticut’s next Comprehensive Energy Strategy, aimed at affordable, reliable, and cleaner power and fuel planning. Housing & Cost Pressure: Connecticut’s fall housing market is strained by low inventory and higher mortgage rates, with single-family listings still near historic lows. Consumer & Public Safety: DEEP’s recycling law penalties for improperly redeemed cans and bottles kick in Oct. 1, and Walmart shoppers are urged to check multiple food recalls. Health Care Education: SCSU’s School of Nursing earned National League for Nursing Center of Excellence status.

College Sports: CCSU’s football season keeps getting tougher, with the Blue Devils set to travel to Bozeman to face No. 1 FCS Montana State after two straight blowout losses. WNBA in Connecticut: The Connecticut Sun’s final home stretch is here—tickets and game details are out for Sun vs. Lynx at Mohegan Sun Arena on Sunday, Sept. 20 (1 p.m.). State Tourism: Gov. Lamont and tourism officials launched the Connecticut Haunted History Trail, a new statewide experience linking more than 130 haunted and paranormal sites. Public Health & Aging: A Lancet HIV Commission report highlights the growing number of older adults living with HIV and calls for care plans that address aging, comorbidities, and end-of-life planning. Business/Logistics: GXO and Exotec deployed automation at GXO’s Venlo facility to boost Guess fashion fulfillment throughput across EMEA and Asia. Markets: StoneX (SNEX) and DeltaTerra rolled out a synthetic credit structure tied to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac agency mortgage bonds. Sports Policy: The Protect College Sports Act advanced in the Senate, setting up a major fight over federal rules for college athletics.

Rural Health Funding: Gov. Ned Lamont announced Connecticut’s Rural Health Transformation Program will put $50 million to work, including $46 million for four rural hospital systems—Day Kimball, Sharon Hospital, Windham Hospital, and Charlotte Hungerford—plus $4 million for technical help from Mathematica to upgrade infrastructure, expand services, and stabilize care. Utility Rates: Attorney General William Tong said PURA’s final decision keeps cutting bills for Connecticut Natural Gas and Southern Connecticut Gas, rejecting earlier requests for higher rates and continuing the downward pressure on monthly costs. Privacy & AI Protections: AG Tong also reminded residents that new Connecticut privacy laws take effect Oct. 1, adding limits and notice rules around AI, facial recognition, genetic data, surveillance pricing, and data brokers. Workforce Push: Hartford Athletic and the state Department of Labor kicked off the 6th annual Hiring Expo, bringing 200+ job seekers and 45 employers together across multiple industries. Local Tech for Enforcement: West Haven and East Hartford are moving ahead with noise cameras as municipalities adopt automated monitoring tools for vehicle noise. Sports Business: The U.S. Senate advanced a college sports bill, with Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) opposing it as a “fake crisis” that protects coaches and executives.

WNBA & UConn pipeline: Azzi Fudd, rehabbing knee surgery after ending her rookie season, says she’ll be a “cheerleader” for the playoff-bound Dallas Wings as they finish the regular season. Connecticut sports: CCSU volleyball pushed Manhattan to five sets but fell in a tight match; CCSU’s Olivia Keckler led with 19 kills. Public health & consumer safety: Whole Foods recalled Cabricharme cheese in Connecticut and six other states because of an undeclared egg allergen; the FDA urged people to destroy affected products. Election integrity: U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche says DOJ is investigating alleged voting by ineligible people in multiple states ahead of the midterms. CT policy watch: Connecticut is set to change its cannabis tax starting Oct. 1, shifting from a THC-based excise to a flat 10.75% rate, with analysts warning revenue could drop. AI regulation debate: Sen. Chris Murphy argues AI firms can’t be trusted to keep people safe, calling for government limits.

PFAS Lawsuit in Connecticut: A federal judge in Hartford ruled 3M, DuPont and Honeywell must face claims from Connecticut firefighters that “forever chemicals” contaminated their protective gear and raised cancer risk, allowing damages and medical monitoring even without symptoms. Public Health & Courts: Connecticut’s court fight over school vaccine religious exemptions ended with a judge dismissing the last claim, upholding the state’s no-religious-exemption rule. Education Safety: New Haven police charged an assistant principal at Hillhouse High with allegedly sexually assaulting an underage student in his office on two consecutive days. Energy & Climate: Gov. Lamont and AG Tong criticized the Trump EPA’s final repeal of carbon pollution standards for power plants, warning it will worsen air quality and health outcomes. Business/Tech: Interactive Brokers announced integration with X Cashtags, letting users trade directly from stock/crypto ticker pages. Community & Culture: A new Marion Art Center exhibit opens Sept. 26, and Wilton police safely found a 17-year-old NY teen after a multi-agency search.