AGP Executive Report

Autonomous Freight: PepsiCo and Gatik announced a multi-year rollout of fully driverless Class 8 trucks across Texas, Arizona and Arkansas, moving from testing to revenue routes on a fixed corridor. Energy & Resilience: Entergy Arkansas urged residents to prepare for summer storm season, highlighting grid upgrades, smart grid tech and vegetation management to speed restoration. Solar Buildout: Cypress Creek Energy secured $3.5 billion for the Steel River Energy Center in Mississippi County, targeting 2.45 GW of solar and 2.9 GWh of battery storage by 2029, with major construction job and tax impacts. Local Governance & Data Centers: A Pulaski County data center debate continues as a county judge candidate raises concerns about oversight, costs and impacts on nearby communities. Food Safety: The FDA warned of possible metal contamination in Farm Rich Pizza Cheese Crunchers, triggering a recall covering more than 160,000 pounds distributed in Arkansas and 20+ states. Agriculture & Community: Arkansas Farm Bureau named summer interns from across the state, while Make-A-Wish sent a Jonesboro teen with a rare blood disorder to Hawaii with local sponsor support.

Autonomous Freight in Arkansas: PepsiCo and Gatik announced a multi-year rollout of fully driverless Class 8 trucks across Texas, Arizona and Arkansas, moving from testing to revenue routes inside PepsiCo’s supply chain. Big Power Buildout: Cypress Creek Energy secured $3.5 billion for the first phases of the Steel River Energy Center in Mississippi County, targeting 1.63 GW of solar and 1.9 GWh of battery storage, with the full project due by 2029 and major local tax and construction job impacts. Local Data-Center Politics: A Pulaski County justice of the peace resigned amid a contentious data center debate, as a county moratorium effort has been pushed back. Food Safety: The FDA reported a recall of Farm Rich Pizza Cheese Crunchers in 21 states, including Arkansas, due to possible metal contamination. Farm Stress: Farm bankruptcies under Chapter 12 jumped to a six-year high as fuel and fertilizer costs keep squeezing margins. Workforce Pipeline: Northeast Arkansas schools are reshaping training to feed the region’s industrial boom, focusing on shop-floor and career-tech pathways. Retail Costs Watch: A WalletHub study found fast-food prices have surged nationwide, with Alabama ranking high for how much fast food takes from household income.

Autonomous Logistics: PepsiCo and Gatik are rolling out a driverless Class 8 trucking partnership across Texas, Arizona, and Arkansas, moving food and beverage freight on active routes with no safety driver onboard. Renewable Power: Cypress Creek Energy secured $3.5 billion financing for the Steel River Energy Center in Arkansas, aiming to build a major solar-plus-storage project. Farm Stress: U.S. farm bankruptcies hit a six-year high, with Chapter 12 filings up 130% over 2025 as diesel and fertilizer costs squeeze crop producers. Workforce & Education: Northeast Arkansas schools are reshaping training pipelines for an industrial boom, while Arkansas Tech hosted a free gifted-and-talented camp focused on creativity, agriculture, and enterprise skills. Agriculture Policy: Arkansas Department of Agriculture opened applications for the Farmers Market Promotion Program to help markets expand via signage, local ads, and social media. Energy & Environment: States in the Mississippi River/Gulf basin surpassed a 2025 nitrogen reduction target, though phosphorus reductions still lag. Local Business/Community: Saline County Cares shared summer resources and workforce workshops, and Arkansas Sheriffs’ Youth Ranches drew support at a First Community Bank charity golf event.

Autonomous Freight in Arkansas: PepsiCo and Gatik announced a multi-year push to deploy fully driverless Class 8 trucks across Texas, Arizona and Arkansas, moving from testing to revenue routes on a fixed corridor. Solar Power Financing: Cypress Creek Energy secured $3.5 billion for the Steel River Energy Center in Mississippi County, targeting 1.63 GW of solar and 1.9 GWh of battery storage in early phases, with full buildout by 2029. Timber Industry Rebuild: C&C Forest Products will invest $21M+ to rebuild its Coushatta sawmill after a 2025 fire, adding 77 direct jobs and boosting specialty lumber capacity. Local Infrastructure in Searcy: Searcy approved the final $245,000 to finish the American Legion Hut restoration, while the city also authorized talks to buy the former W&W Ford site for a potential new police station. Workforce & Housing: The Learning Center in Jonesboro launched a “Keys to Independence” campaign aiming to raise $6M for 20 accessible apartments for adults with disabilities. Food Safety: The FDA recalled about 160,000 pounds of Farm Rich frozen pizza snacks in 21 states due to possible metal contamination. Agriculture Policy: Arkansas Department of Agriculture opened Farmers Market Promotion Program applications, funded with Farm Credit support, to help markets expand outreach and visibility.

Autonomous Freight in Arkansas: PepsiCo and Gatik say they’re deploying fully driverless Class 8 trucks on a fixed corridor across Texas, Arizona and Arkansas, moving autonomous trucking from tests to revenue routes. STEM Campus Push in Bentonville: The Walton family selected Bjarke Ingels Group to plan and design a Walton STEM Institute on the former Walmart Home Office site, with an initial 422,000-square-foot, three-building campus aimed to open for students in 2029. Workforce Pipeline: The Northwest Arkansas Council hired David Giesige to lead a new regional workforce program, backed by the Walton Family Foundation, to better align education and training with employer needs. Energy Infrastructure Financing: Cypress Creek Energy secured $3.5 billion in financing for the Steel River Energy Center, advancing major Arkansas solar-plus-storage capacity. Timber Industry Investment: C&C Forest Products plans to invest $21M to rebuild and modernize its Coushatta sawmill after a 2025 fire, targeting specialty lumber production and new jobs. Local Governance & Secrecy: A Fayetteville lawsuit challenges the city’s handling of a nondisclosure agreement tied to a military drone manufacturer, raising Arkansas FOI concerns. Food & Retail Expansion: Huey Magoo’s announced its first Arkansas location is under development in Conway, with six statewide openings planned. Environmental Compliance: ADEQ and Custom Wood Recycling reached a consent order over alleged Clean Water Act permit renewal issues at a Danville wood products facility. Agriculture Research: University of Arkansas researchers are testing treatments to protect cattle from theileriosis, supported by a USDA grant. Road Safety: An I-30 work-zone crash in Miller County killed a Hope woman, highlighting ongoing construction-related hazards.

Autonomous Freight in Arkansas: PepsiCo and Gatik announced a multi-year rollout of fully driverless Class 8 trucks on a fixed corridor linking distribution hubs across Texas, Arizona and Arkansas—moving autonomous trucking from tests to revenue routes. Local Government & Elections: Baxter County cleared the way for a new Sixth Street annex building, shifting assessor/collector offices and expanding a county-controlled voting center. Telecom Infrastructure: Jonesboro-based Ritter Communications added Jerry Sorrentino as VP of outside plant construction and engineering to support RightFiber expansion. Food Industry: Wetzel’s Pretzels is pushing growth with Cold Stone co-branding, targeting at least 17 combined units this year including Arkansas. Energy & Costs: New data shows May inflation at 4.2% year over year, with gas prices a key driver; meanwhile Arkansas diesel and gas prices continue to cool in recent county-by-county reports. Workforce & Education: Arkansas State University approved faculty promotions and tenure for 2026-27, and UAPB athlete Kalani Vreen was named an HBCU Fellow for the 2026 Black Student-Athlete Summit.

Autonomous Freight in Arkansas: PepsiCo and Gatik announced a multi-year rollout of fully driverless Class 8 trucks on a fixed corridor linking distribution hubs, with deployments starting immediately across Texas, Arizona and Arkansas—another leap from testing to revenue routes. Manufacturing Workforce: Arkansas Tech University-Ozark is delivering customized TIG welding training for Butterball employees at its Ozark facility, aiming to strengthen industrial skills and safety. Energy & Costs: GasBuddy reported Arkansas regular gas averaging $3.98 for the week ending May 30, with Pope County hitting $3.98 at the lowest station; separate reports also flagged E85 lows in Craighead County at $2.88. Road Safety: ConsumerAffairs ranked Arkansas worst for road rage, citing aggressive or careless driving in 47% of fatal crashes and 48% of traffic deaths. Agriculture Spotlight: The Arkansas Farm Family of the Year program named eight district farm families, underscoring the state’s mix of cattle, poultry, hay, honey and timber operations. Education & Health: Dr. Jo Alice Blondin was named interim president of the Arkansas Colleges of Health Education, starting July 13.

Data Centers & Local Power/Water: Pulaski County Quorum Court postponed a vote on a 12-month data center moratorium to July 14 after tense public input and concerns the energy-use threshold could deter other businesses. Fayetteville meanwhile is moving toward new rules aimed at protecting water and electricity rates as data centers expand, with council members saying they’re not banning the facilities but tightening safeguards. Food Hall Financing: Little Rock’s board is set to vote on a $20M financing plan to upgrade the River Market food hall, letting the city pay certain costs first and then reimburse via bond proceeds. Public Health & Consumer Safety: A Salmonella outbreak tied to moringa leaf powder supplements has expanded to 119 cases across 36 states, prompting additional FDA recall coverage. Energy & Industry Signals: Solar hit a new milestone in the U.S., surpassing coal for the first time in monthly electricity share, even as federal policy favors coal. Agriculture & Livestock: USDA confirmed New World screwworm in the U.S., with new entry requirements for animals headed into Arkansas. Workforce & Education: Southern Arkansas University launched a new B.S. in Emergency Management for Fall 2026, and UCA named about 1,200 Presidential Scholars plus nearly 1,500 students to the Dean’s List. Logistics Tech: PepsiCo is scaling autonomous freight with Gatik across North America to improve on-time delivery and route flexibility.

Autonomous Logistics Expansion: PepsiCo is scaling a multiyear autonomous freight partnership with Gatik across its North America food and beverage supply chain, building on live operations in Texas, Arizona and Arkansas to improve route flexibility and push for 98%+ on-time delivery. Oil & Fuel Watch: GasBuddy reports the lowest Sebastian County premium price at $4.39 for the week ending May 30, with Arkansas premium averaging $4.78; other local price posts show regular and diesel staying volatile statewide. Healthcare Pricing Pressure: The Trump administration warned more than 500 hospitals nationwide, including nine in Arkansas, to post clearer pricing or face penalties up to $2 million annually, with several Arkansas facilities also being asked for corrective action plans. Fair Housing Outreach: Arkansas Fair Housing Commission announced a June 17, 2026 community education event in Jonesboro focused on housing equity, consumer protections and accessible homeownership. Workforce & Growth Programs: Endeavor Heartland’s ScaleUp Accelerator highlighted a new cohort of high-growth companies backed by Arkansas Economic Development Commission matching funds, aiming to help established businesses scale. Public Safety Leadership: Arkansas State Fire Marshal Dennis Free announced retirement effective July 1 after 45 years in fire protection and prevention.

Partnership & Innovation: North Little Rock’s Onterris will collaborate with Greentown Labs, linking the environmental tech firm to 250+ startups across energy, agriculture, manufacturing, and climate resilience. Agriculture & Biosecurity: USDA confirmed New World Screwworm in Texas; Arkansas ranchers and animal owners are urged to monitor and take prevention steps as rules tighten in other states. Energy & Fuel Policy: A year-round E15 ethanol blend bill cleared the U.S. House but faces an uncertain Senate path, with the vote count hinging on support from refiner-heavy states. Textiles & Manufacturing: Benton-based Crystal DTF launched its Summer 2026 ready-to-press design collection, aiming to speed short-run apparel production for decorators and small businesses. Healthcare Policy: Rep. Bruce Westerman reintroduced the Fair Care Act, targeting “use-it-or-lose-it” flexible spending account waste and proposing a simpler health savings approach. Local Industry & Infrastructure: Northwest Arkansas Community College approved a location and self-financed model for on-campus student housing, advancing its construction planning. Food Access: Pulaski County summer meal programs are expanding to keep kids fed during school breaks. Antitrust: Arkansas AG Aaron Ford filed a brief in the Meta antitrust case, backing efforts to protect competition.

Energy & Fuel Prices: GasBuddy reports Lafayette County’s lowest premium hit $4.99 (week ending May 30), while Washington County’s lowest premium was $4.15 and Benton County’s lowest midgrade was $3.93—statewide averages for premium and midgrade also eased to $4.78 and $4.44, respectively, as national prices stay volatile amid Middle East shipping worries and refinery outages. Power & Construction: SWEPCO marked progress at its Hallsville site with a major concrete pour for a new turbine foundation, a key step toward a 450-megawatt natural gas plant expected to start commercial operations in December 2027. Food Manufacturing & Leadership: Tyson Foods named Wes Morris COO, effective June 15, overseeing chicken, beef, pork, prepared foods and international operations. Tech & Logistics: Engine and Nuqleous completed a merger to form Engine, expanding analytics and category-management tools for CPG brands; PepsiCo also rolled out driverless truck deliveries in Arkansas and other states. Broadband Expansion: Kinetic topped 2 million fiber premises built across its 18-state footprint, including Arkansas. Local Business Growth: Handel’s Ice Cream announced a Fayetteville opening June 18 near the University of Arkansas, with free ice cream for the first 50 guests. Agriculture Watch: USDA confirmed New World Screwworm in south Texas, prompting Arkansas ranchers to monitor herds closely.

Retail & Jobs: Walmart told Arkansas associates at its Associates Week that AI is meant to “improve jobs, not replace them,” rolling out OpenAI tool certification and sharing how AI is being used in product design, logistics, store operations and customer service. Agriculture: New University of Arkansas research warns cotton growers that potassium deficiency is costing yield and fiber quality, with potassium fertilization boosting yields up to 70% in deficient soils. Food Safety & Litigation: A Florida mother and daughter filed suit against Campbell’s and Walmart alleging SpaghettiOs were contaminated with worms/parasites, seeking damages after reported illness. Logistics Law: The U.S. Supreme Court’s Montgomery v. Caribe Transport II ruling opens the door to liability suits against freight brokers for safety-related claims, with Arkansas-area carriers like J.B. Hunt flagged by the coverage. Ag Innovation: Jonesboro startup GreenLab raised $10M+ to turn corn into a sugar substitute using brazzein proteins, aiming at a no-calorie, low-glycemic alternative. Local Governance: Pulaski County’s data center moratorium was corrected after a clerk said a vote was miscounted—so the pause “did not pass” and applications can continue. Energy & Consumer Pressure: Walmart CEO John Furner said fuel costs are squeezing lower-income shoppers, with Sam’s Club showing more frequent, smaller fill-ups. Transportation & Infrastructure: OSM Aviation Academy secured a five-year lease to scale pilot training at Drake Field in Fayetteville, targeting 700 graduates annually. Community & Public Safety: Jonesboro received a DOJ grant for 38 new tactical SWAT carrier systems for police.

Energy & Fuel Prices: GasBuddy reports the lowest premium gas in Ouachita County at $4.94 (two stations) and the lowest premium in Pope County at $4.55, while other Arkansas spot checks show midgrade and diesel deals varying by county as national prices stay volatile amid global oil and refinery disruptions. Agriculture & Livestock Health: Arkansas ranchers are urged to watch for New World Screwworm after USDA confirmed it in a Texas calf near the border; officials say the threat is contained but monitoring continues. Business & Workforce Development: Arkansas APEX Accelerator will host a free Hot Springs workshop on government procurement and federal small business certifications, aimed at helping entrepreneurs win contracts. Community & Housing: Rogers launched a Pattern Zone program with preapproved residential building plans to speed up housing projects, and Magnolia’s proposed 60-unit affordable townhouse complex is in the tax-credit pipeline. Public Safety & Infrastructure: Jonesboro received a federal grant to buy protective SWAT carrier systems for police, and Arkansas National Guard Museum secured funding to modernize exhibits. Aviation & Training: OSM Aviation Academy is expanding pilot training at Drake Field in Fayetteville, targeting large-scale throughput.

Agriculture & Aviation: Arkansas rice leaders say small airports and general aviation are critical for aerial herbicide, fungicide and fertilizer applications on flooded fields—covering up to 1,600 acres a day to protect yields. Livestock Health: USDA confirmed New World Screwworm in a Texas calf near the border, prompting Arkansas ranchers to watch for symptoms and report concerns. Housing & Construction: Rogers launched a Pattern Zone program with free, preapproved home designs to speed permitting and cut upfront uncertainty for missing-middle housing. Energy & Jobs: A new federal push would channel about $700M into coal, including $425M for existing plants in multiple states that includes Arkansas, plus grants for new builds. Local Economy & Infrastructure: Little Rock approved modest data center regulations, while Kinetic said it has passed 2 million residential fiber premises. Business Climate: Job growth stayed strong in May (172,000 added) even as mass layoff notices hit their lowest level so far this year. Fuel Prices Watch: GasBuddy reported Arkansas prices easing in late May, with some counties seeing notably low regular, midgrade, diesel and E85 rates. Tech & Policy: Lawmakers warned foreign influence could target U.S. data center development tied to AI.

Fuel Watch: GasBuddy reports the week ending May 30 brought some of the lowest local prices for drivers—Crawford County’s E85 hit $3.14 (single station), White County’s premium fell to $4.37, and Pulaski County’s midgrade bottomed at $3.99. Energy Policy: U.S. lawmakers are pushing back on Trump’s coal push, as the administration moves nearly $700M into coal power using Cold War-era Defense Production Act authority, including funding tied to Arkansas’s Flint Creek Coal Plant in Gentry. AI & Security: House leaders warn foreign influence may be targeting U.S. data center development tied to AI, urging a White House investigation into possible CCP-backed efforts. Workforce & Education: Arkansas Tech’s Upward Bound summer program is underway with about 100 students on campus in Russellville, while UA Hope-Texarkana highlights community college as a lower-debt pathway into careers. STEM in Action: Arkansas 4-H teams competed at the International SeaPerch Challenge, with Grant County’s Deep Water Vanguard placing second overall in their division. Local Governance: Fort Smith Public Schools is moving toward opening the Global Innovation Academy charter for military-connected families, aiming for fall 2027.

Coal & Power: President Trump says the federal government will spend $700M using the Defense Production Act to extend and modernize coal plants, including support tied to Arkansas facilities, with new builds planned in Alaska and West Virginia. Electricity Costs: New EIA-based mapping shows residential power prices rising in many states; Arkansas is up about 8.3% year over year, as grid investment and demand pressures grow. Energy Policy Pushback: A separate report frames the coal package as “saving” aging plants rather than building renewables, while critics argue coal remains the most expensive option. Local Utilities & Grants: Summit Utilities opens applications for its 2026 Summit Cares Grant Program, offering $5,000–$10,000 to Arkansas nonprofits focused on essentials, student STEM, community enrichment, and conservation. Water & Drought: Conway and Morrilton remain under mandatory water curtailment orders tied to low Brewer Lake levels, with rules based on street address parity. Food Supply: Northwest Arkansas school districts keep summer meal programs running with free breakfast and lunch sites and pickup options. Housing for Veterans: Fayetteville’s Patriot Park veteran-focused development is nearing leasing, with buildings expected ready by mid-July. Tech & Industry Debate: Pulaski County residents get a public roundtable on hyperscale data centers and a proposed moratorium as AI-driven projects move forward. Agriculture & Fuel: Ethanol exports and E15 expansion were highlighted at a House Ag Committee hearing, with Senate action still pending.