AGP Executive Report

Child-Safety Legal Shakeup: Meta is facing record multistate action over Instagram and Facebook, with Utah announcing a $12.2B settlement and Georgia AG Chris Carr touting a $17.1B deal that would force major youth-safety changes like limits and “productive pauses.” Local Impact on Families: North Carolina is also tied to the broader Meta youth-safety fight, as the settlement’s reforms aim to reduce mental-health harm claims for teens. Dolly Parton’s NC Legacy: The world mourns Dolly Parton, and North Carolina remembers her for the Imagination Library—millions of free books statewide through Smart Start. Sports & Entertainment in Motion: Six Flags plans to move its corporate HQ from Charlotte to Texas, while a North Carolina triathlon coach in Charlotte repelled an alligator attack during an Ironman practice swim in the Savannah River. Arts & Culture: N.C. State’s Gregg Museum opens “Community Stories: Sustaining North Carolina Black Heritage,” a free exhibition running through Feb. 27, 2027. Tech & Health: Guidelight Health expands virtual mental health care to adults across Colorado, Massachusetts, and North Carolina.

Dolly Parton Memorial: North Carolina and the U.S. are lowering flags to half-staff for Dolly Parton after her death at 80, with tributes highlighting her Hurricane Helene relief giving, her Imagination Library book program, and her long-running music and film legacy. Local Leadership & Youth: Fayetteville teens got a chance to lead through “Girl, Ignite Your Fire!” after a mentorship summit in St. Croix helped girls build confidence, service habits, and real-world leadership. School Governance Watch: Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools parents are demanding answers as the district moves forward after the superintendent’s investigation and leave, with a summary report promised by late September. Voting Access in Cumberland: Spring Lake residents are split and worried after the state rejected an early voting site, forcing longer trips to Fayetteville or Hope Mills. College Football in Ireland: UNC and TCU kick off the 2026 season in Dublin at Aviva Stadium in a rematch of last year’s lopsided UNC loss, with new quarterbacks and fresh offensive looks. Sports Policy Shakeup: The Big Ten (and now the SEC) is moving to block certain pro-signed athletes from returning to college, adding fuel to eligibility chaos. Arts & Community Preservation: A new Charlotte LGBTQ History coalition is launching with historic marker work aimed at keeping local queer landmarks and stories visible.

Pageant Drama: Former Miss North Carolina USA Brittany Boltinhouse filed a defamation lawsuit against Miss USA organizers after being stripped of her title, alleging a false “racist/bigot” narrative and targeting tied to her conservative Christian views. Local Arts & Culture: Art & Light Gallery in Greenville opens “Here Today” Sept. 1, featuring ceramic and abstract landscape work by Asheville artists Cassie Butcher and Jeremy Russell, with an opening reception Sept. 4. Food & Community Events: The Dairy Alliance is backing the NCRLA Chef Showdown in Durham, culminating Sept. 2 at Bay 7 on the American Tobacco Campus. Sports & Entertainment: UNC kicks off the 2026 season in Dublin against TCU, with Bill Belichick leading the Tar Heels into the Aer Lingus College Football Classic. Tech & Legal (Public-Facing): Courtroom5 launched free jurisdiction-aware civil court guidance inside Google Cloud’s Gemini Enterprise for Legal, aiming to help self-represented litigants. Durham Growth Debate: Commissioners held a hearing on a proposed data center moratorium through May 2027, with residents pushing for stronger limits and fewer exemptions.

UNC Football in Ireland: Billy Edwards Jr. says he’s “a rep guy” and used 1,000 flashcards to learn UNC’s system ahead of Week 0 vs. TCU, while Bill Belichick faces fresh questions with Steve Belichick still on medical leave. Prep Sports Buzz: Nasir Anderson (Fort Lauderdale Prolific Prep) narrows his recruiting list after a hip injury recovery, and Jaxon Dollar (East Lincoln) is named 247Sports Preseason Player of the Year in North Carolina. Local Community & Arts: Bechtler Museum of Modern Art in Charlotte adds “Drum Call,” honoring Black history and Juneteenth. Food & Fun: Jeff’s Bagel Run expands with 11 new fall openings across five states. Community Connection: Union County rolls out “Happy to Chat” park benches to fight loneliness. Pageant Drama: Brittany Boltinhouse files a defamation lawsuit after being stripped of Miss North Carolina USA. Safety & Health: NC explains heat domes and why humid nights can be especially dangerous.

DMV Update: North Carolina DMV wait times are down after the summer rush, averaging about 22 minutes in July, with drivers urged to check live waits and use online options. Women’s Soccer: No. 5 Michigan State knocked off No. 7 North Carolina 3-2 on Tobacco Road, with Kennedy Bell scoring twice as UNC suffered its first loss. Public Safety (Developing): Unconfirmed social media reports of a shooting at Greensboro’s Four Seasons Mall sparked heavy police activity, but authorities haven’t confirmed details. Earthquake Watch: Two small magnitude-2 earthquakes were reported in western NC—near Canton and near Weaverville. Pageant Legal Fight: Miss North Carolina USA winner Brittany Boltinhouse sued Miss USA and related operators, alleging her title was stripped and she was smeared after posts resurfaced. Health Alert: “Scromiting” (CHS) is rising among frequent cannabis users, with Duke Regional Hospital in Durham seeing cases “every week, if not every day.” Zoo News: The North Carolina Zoo mourns Heath, a 12-year-old cougar, who was euthanized after chronic kidney disease and mobility issues. Local Arts & Community: A Cary teen, Kenna Zhang, won a national scholarship for Alzheimer’s awareness and early detection research. Sports & Entertainment: Outer Banks star Chase Stokes opened up about a near-drowning during filming.

Maternal Mental Health: A new wave of public conversation is pushing postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis out of the shadows, spotlighting advocates who say help is still too hard to access. North Carolina Arts & Culture: Southern Living highlights the Ogden Museum of Southern Art as one of the South’s best, celebrating both historic works and modern exhibits. Local Travel & Leisure: USA Today spotlights Carolina Beach, N.C., as a budget-friendly summer getaway with free events like fireworks, live music, and movie nights. UFC Sacramento Buzz: Din Thomas’ broadcast comments sparked backlash during UFC Sacramento, while the main event’s judging controversy left fans furious. NASCAR at Bowman Gray: NASCAR announced the Truck Series will return to Winston-Salem’s Bowman Gray Stadium in 2027, bringing points-paying racing back to the track for the first time since 1971. Community Safety: A Wilmington officer helped stop a 90-year-old from losing nearly $10,000 to a crypto scam at a broken bitcoin kiosk. Sports on the Ground: LIV Golf Indianapolis saw Raleigh native Michael La Sasso take a one-shot lead heading into the final round.

NASCAR Spotlight: North Carolina’s Layne Riggs won the Team EJP 175 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in double overtime, taking the series-best sixth win of his 2026 Truck season and setting up the Chase. Next Stop for Fans: Bowman Gray Stadium in North Carolina will host a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series points race for the first time ever in 2027, with the event slated for Aug. 20, 2027. Local Arts & Community: Cary’s 50th Lazy Daze Arts & Crafts Festival drew hundreds of artists and thousands of visitors downtown, celebrating handmade work, live demos, and music. Sports Beyond the Track: Raleigh native Michael La Sasso grabbed a one-shot lead at LIV Golf Indianapolis after a strong third round. Public Safety & Power: Severe storms left more than 3,000 Carolinians without power in the Charlotte area, with outages also reported around Greensboro and Raleigh. Food Safety Watch: Federal health officials are investigating a multistate alfalfa sprout outbreak tied to a Minnesota supplier, with cases reported including in North Carolina.

Local Arts & Culture: MountainTrue brings the BANFF Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour back to Asheville Sept. 11-12 at the Diana Wortham Theatre, with two nights of adventure films and a new partner room. Music Industry: Liza Daniela, a Guatemalan-born artist, was accepted as a voting member of the Recording Academy, highlighting more Latina immigrant voices; her debut single “Extraño Tanto” is out. Sports & Rivalry: UNC and N.C. State will play in Greensboro Dec. 15 for the inaugural “Tobacco Road Classic,” with first-year coaches on both sidelines—plus a Phil Ford and Dereck Whittenburg reunion moment. Community Events: Greenville’s weekend arts calendar includes Caroline Shaw’s string quartet at The Music House, “Sordid Lives” at Magnolia Arts Center, and a multi-venue ECU alumni art exhibition opening Sept. 4. Pageantry on TV: Miss USA 2026 won’t air on The CW as planned due to contractual production issues, though it will stream live. North Carolina Spotlight: Bertie County Schools celebrates a new $15M CTE wing at its convocation and ribbon cutting.

Local Sports Spotlight: Canes Corner breaks down Miami’s QB plan for the season opener at Stanford, with Duke transfer Darian Mensah set to start and a deep RB room behind him. Entertainment & Culture: Actor-comedian Ken Jeong brings comedy and career advice to UF students at the Accent Speakers Bureau kickoff. Tech in the Community: Police say a missing 13-year-old was found nearly 300 miles away in North Carolina using Meta smart glasses video and Flock camera plate readers. Arts & Events: The North Carolina Symphony marks America’s 250th with a Patriotic Pops concert in Halifax County featuring Sousa, Copland and John Williams. Pageant TV Shakeup: Miss USA and Miss Teen USA are dropped by The CW just a week before air dates, moving to streaming instead. Health & Lifestyle: UNC researchers report Mediterranean-style eating improves diet quality more than calorie-cutting alone, even when weight loss is similar. State Services: NC DMV wait times have dropped to about 20–22 minutes statewide as more offices and online services roll out. Local Animal News: NC Zoo cougar Heath dies after chronic kidney disease and declining mobility.

Local Music Spotlight: Fayetteville’s J. Cole gets a photo-history spotlight in Observer coverage, tracing his hometown roots through major career milestones. Community Arts & Culture: The Friends of the Ashe County Library host Appalachian scholar-musician Trevor McKenzie on Aug. 26, bringing Blue Ridge string-band traditions to the library stage. NC Public Art: Cameron Art Museum’s new exhibition, “Echoes of Us: North Carolina Storykeepers,” opens Oct. 24 and runs through May 23, celebrating public artists preserving local history across the state. Sports & Entertainment Calendar: Don Toliver adds a second London date to his Octane World Tour, with his Greensboro stop on Aug. 26. Live Music in the Region: “Jazz at the Magnolia” lands Sept. 19 in Magnolia Ballroom with trumpeter Pharez Whitted and the GCSU Trio. Big Legal/College Sports Drama: The “Cardiac Pack” case heads to the North Carolina Supreme Court Sept. 8, as former NCSU players challenge NCAA profit from their 1983 championship. Elections & Civic Life: NC’s State Board of Elections finalizes early voting plans for 20 counties, mostly siding with GOP approaches and cutting Sunday early voting in multiple areas.

Durham Nightlife: Red Phone Booth, a 1920s speakeasy-style craft cocktail lounge, has opened downtown with a secret-code entry via a restored London phone booth. Local Arts & Culture: Charlotte’s Wav Day brought together a dozen artists at Jackalope Jacks to spotlight the city’s underground rap scene and community creatives. Gospel Music Spotlight: Baton Rouge teacher Mark Ellis and his Ablaze Youth Choir won New Artist of the Year at the Stellar Awards in Charlotte, hosted by Kirk Franklin. Community & History: Durham leaders are revisiting the NC-147 corridor after freeway construction devastated Hayti, with residents pushing for reconnection and repair. Sports & Entertainment: Fayetteville State University cut the ribbon on a new $70M College of Education building, while UNC keeps a $1.2M report private after a judge’s ruling. Music Honors: Tasha Cobbs Leonard received an RIAA platinum plaque for “Gracefully Broken” in Charlotte ahead of the Stellar Gospel Music Awards.

Local Arts & Heritage: Washington County is set to host the “Washingtons Unite” quilt exhibit Sept. 9–12 at the Roanoke River Lighthouse and Maritime Museum in Plymouth, pairing the America 250 commemorative quilt with local heirloom quilts. Holiday Pop Culture: Berlin, Maryland is in the running for Hallmark’s “Merriest Christmas Town,” and the contest includes Carolina Beach, N.C., as public voting kicks off. Community Learning: A Lewisville author will bring “Built, Not Broken: The MomStrong Method” to Lexington’s Attic 13 on Sept. 15, turning motherhood into a self-reclamation message. Fashion Spotlight: Lee® is launching the Lee x Marilyn Monroe capsule for Monroe’s 100th birthday, reworking the iconic Storm Rider denim look. Sports & Entertainment: Netflix’s “Outer Banks” ends with Season 5, and the final run leans hard into JJ’s loss and the crew’s last treasure-hunt push. Health & Safety: The FDA upgraded a Publix frozen berries recall to a Class 1 warning over possible E. coli contamination. NC Sports Watch: UNC has named Billy Edwards Jr. its 2026 starting QB for the opener vs. TCU, despite low preseason expectations.

College Basketball: UNC and NC State are adding a new rivalry chapter with the inaugural “Tobacco Road Classic,” a neutral-site, non-conference game in Greensboro this December. Bluegrass & Live Music: The Bays Mountain Cut-Ups are set for KASU-FM Bluegrass Monday, and Boone marks Doc Watson Day with music and celebration. Local Arts & Community Events: Hickory Landmarks Society’s fall bus tour heads to Hillsborough with history, art displays, and a paranormal stop; WNC Bigfoot Festival returns to downtown Marion with a 5K, vendors, and an indie film screening. Sports on TV/Streaming: A full slate of TV listings and game-watch guides includes major college soccer and pro match streaming info. Durham Remembers: Sheremy Dillard is remembered in Durham for her community roots and mentorship. Public Health/Consumer Alert: FDA issues a highest-risk warning for recalled GreenWise frozen blueberries sold at Publix, including in North Carolina. Reentry & Film: A spotlight on North Carolina reentry organizations ties into a movie exploring life after prison. Fashion/Pop Culture: A roundup of best-dressed stars at the 2026 Stellar Gospel Music Awards highlights a fashion revival.

NASCAR & Local Crime: A Georgia man, Terrell Williams, 44, has been charged with burglarizing the Mooresville home of late NASCAR driver Greg Biffle after the crash that killed Biffle, his wife and two children; investigators say the theft included about $30,000 in cash, firearms, NASCAR memorabilia, and gold and silver coins. Sports & Community: High school football kicks off this week across North Carolina, with Week 1 matchups spotlighted for local teams. HIV Research: UNC’s ACTG opened a new STAIR-HIV trial testing alendronate as a possible latency-reversing approach for people living with HIV on ART. Food & Fundraising: Wilmington’s Battleship North Carolina Memorial is hosting “Bottleship: History Served Neat,” pairing maritime stories with rum cocktails and a Southern barbecue dinner. Arts & Dining: Downtown Greensboro’s Okane is drawing attention for its three-level sushi experience, from Vietnamese coffee and desserts to chef tasting menus and rooftop cocktails. Music: Beck shared “Disappearing Act,” previewing his upcoming album and Ride Lonesome tour dates. Meta Trial: North Carolina AG Jeff Jackson is backing a federal case arguing Instagram and Facebook were designed to be addictive for kids.

UNC Health Ventures Launch: UNC Health rebrands Rex Health Ventures and rolls out UNC Health Ventures, a corporate venture capital and strategic investment platform aimed at partnering with emerging healthcare companies across North Carolina. Meta Trial Over Kids’ Social Media Use: A federal trial begins in Oakland as a bipartisan coalition of state attorneys general argues Facebook and Instagram built addictive features that harm children, with Meta pushing to dismiss. Tech & Consumer Impact: A multistate antitrust settlement clears a $700 million Google case over Android app store and in-app payment practices, with refunds expected for eligible consumers. Local Arts & Music: Boone’s Jones House Summer Concert Series keeps rolling Aug. 21 with MaisCéu Trio and SoLa Bazaar. Sports Spotlight: Bill Belichick’s UNC Tar Heels name Billy Edwards Jr. as starting quarterback for the Aug. 29 opener vs. TCU in Dublin. Public Safety: Fayetteville warns of a spike in suspected fentanyl overdoses after four deaths in three days. Surveillance Debate: New Hanover County commissioners will review a $219,000 Flock Safety contract after community protests over automated license plate readers. NASCAR Tragedy Case: Iredell County charges a Georgia man in the burglary of late NASCAR driver Greg Biffle’s home after his plane crash death.