AGP Executive Report

G20 Trade Talks in Milwaukee: India’s trade minister Piyush Goyal is in Wisconsin for the G20 trade ministerial, aiming to advance India-U.S. trade talks as tariff disputes and excess-capacity concerns hang over negotiations. Data Center Power Crunch: A new analysis of Oracle/OpenAI’s Port Washington data center warns meaningful load may not arrive until mid-2028, citing delays tied to grid interconnection and Public Service Commission steps. Healthcare Merger Watch: HealthPartners and Essentia Health have approved a plan to merge, with a combined system expected to operate across Minnesota, Wisconsin and North Dakota. Wisconsin Courts Backlog: Wisconsin’s “not competent to stand trial” findings nearly tripled from 2013 to 2025, pushing officials to consider more outpatient competency restoration. Election Logistics: Early in-person absentee voting for Nov. 3 opens Oct. 20 across multiple Wisconsin regions, with voters directed to check local clerk hours and MyVote.wi.gov. Local Public Safety: La Crosse officials warn of email scams impersonating the city’s Planning and Development Department. Health Coverage Leadership: Children’s Wisconsin named Bill Hanna president of Chorus Community Health Plans. Consumer Tip: Consumer Reports urges shoppers to compare car-loan offers and seek preapproval before dealership visits.

G20 Trade Talks in Milwaukee: U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the Trump administration will consider tariff caps from trade deals as it weighs new duties tied to excess industrial capacity, with ministers touring Rockwell Automation and discussing how to keep trade moving. Data Center Pushback: Janesville approved a one-year data center moratorium while it reviews impacts; nearby, Mount Pleasant got nearly $5M back after Microsoft waived a development incentive. Energy Costs & Grid Debate: The Public Service Commission heard WPS’s request for a 15% residential rate increase over two years, as residents warned it’s unaffordable. Healthcare Merger: HealthPartners and Essentia Health approved a plan to combine, aiming to expand access and affordability across Minnesota and western Wisconsin. Wisconsin Economy & Tourism: Madison and Dane County drew 9 million visitors in 2025, spending $1.6B. Local Justice Update: Wauwatosa approved a $95K settlement for former officer Joseph Mensah, citing PTSD. Science & Research: UW-linked IceCube in Antarctica detected mysterious neutrino interactions, and UW’s Badger Challenge raised $1.2M for cancer research.

Data Centers & Local Taxes: Jefferson County is drafting a notice ordinance for large data center projects, aiming to address infrastructure strain and the lack of clear public info. Property Tax Math: A Wisconsin Policy Forum analysis says data center incentives can raise short-term property tax bills inside tax increment districts while shifting relief later. Mount Pleasant Microsoft Update: Microsoft scaled back its Mount Pleasant AI data center plan after local pushback, and the village says Microsoft is redirecting a $5 million incentive to help stabilize local property taxes. Milwaukee Housing: A 25-story, 226-unit downtown condo project (Zenith) cleared the Plan Commission and heads to Common Council review. Election Rules: A Wisconsin ballot measure would bar government from closing places of worship during emergencies. Workplace Rights: The EEOC reached a settlement with Franklin’s Rock Snowpark over alleged religious discrimination. Health Care: HealthPartners and Essentia Health approved a merger plan that would create a major regional nonprofit system. Sports & Community: UW-Eau Claire will host chess master John Bartholomew for a simul and Q&A.

Wisconsin Politics & Elections: The race for Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District is heating up in traditionally Democratic northern Wisconsin, with GOP Michael Alfonso pushing “dirt, sweat, and trades” in Ashland while Democrat Fred Clark targets affordability and warns about outside special interests. 3rd District Debate Standoff: In WI-03, negotiations for a nonpartisan debate between Rebecca Cooke and Derrick Van Orden collapsed, with both sides trading accusations over scheduling and participation. Local Government & Transit: Milwaukee County Board Chairwoman Marcelia Nicholson-Bovell urged Wisconsin’s congressional delegation to protect federal transit funding as Congress weighs the BUILD America 250 Act. Data Centers & NDAs: Rock County residents backed resolutions limiting county staff NDAs tied to hyperscale data centers, arguing for more transparency. Housing & Community Needs: A La Crosse YMCA community discussion focused on reducing food insecurity, including school referrals and partnerships with Feeding Wisconsin. Milwaukee Public Safety/Infrastructure: A self-sanitizing public restroom is under construction in West Town’s Polish Triangle, drawing mixed reactions from residents.

Data Centers & Transparency: A bipartisan bill would ban government NDAs that block the public from learning about proposed data center projects, aiming to force more open dealmaking as AI infrastructure expands. Milwaukee & Business: The Brewers set a franchise-best 103-59 record and drew 2.79 million fans at American Family Field, up 5.2% from last year. Elections & State Government: Wisconsin voters may hear less about secretary of state and treasurer races, even as candidates argue over what those offices should control. Health & Science: A new study links frequent cannabis use with worse seizure outcomes in drug-resistant epilepsy patients, raising concerns but not proving cause. Immigration Policy: A federal judge blocked a Trump rule requiring immigration-status checks for people using federally funded programs like Head Start and adult education. Local Economy & Education: Madison College launches “Promise to Complete,” a last-dollar scholarship for adult learners 23+ to finish associate degrees or technical diplomas. Public Safety: A New Berlin man was arrested after a hit-and-run injured two pedestrians; injuries were non-life-threatening.

Apostle Islands Debate: A federal bill would redesignate the Apostle Islands from a national lakeshore to a national park, but the Red Cliff Band says the change could threaten sacred homelands and asks for protections before more tourism. Lead Pipes in Wausau: Wausau is pushing to replace remaining lead service lines, and a city finance committee voted to cover 100% of resident costs—about $6,700 per line on average—aiming to finish by 2028. Education Funding: State Superintendent Jill Underly used her State of Education address to argue Wisconsin is underfunding public schools and called for a funding overhaul. AI-First Business: 7Rivers named Ben Kerford CEO as the Milwaukee-based AI consultancy scales its data and AI services. UWM Engineering Program: The University of Seoul and UW-Milwaukee signed an agreement to launch a dual-degree engineering program. Health & Community: Madison’s Badger Challenge drew hundreds and raised $1.2M for UW cancer research, while a Milwaukee clinic braces for more patients after Medicaid changes. Brewers Playoffs: Milwaukee opens the NLDS Saturday at American Family Field with home-field advantage after finishing 103-59.

Local Control vs. Big Farms: Wisconsin towns weighing rules on large livestock operations are facing a new legal and political fight after farm groups filed public-records requests tied to CAFO regulations, with Polk County communities rolling back rules and officials now wondering if more towns will be targeted. State Politics & Elections: Marquette Law School is set to release a new Wisconsin poll Wednesday covering the governor’s race (Crowley vs. Tiffany) plus views on the economy, AI, and data-center costs and incentives. Data Centers in the Crosshairs: Democrats are betting anti–data center anger can help flip a long-held Assembly seat in River Falls, where residents and activists are challenging tax breaks tied to big tech buildouts. Business & Tech: Accuray and Samsung NeuroLogica announced a volumetric imaging collaboration for the CyberKnife platform. Weather: Southeast Wisconsin stays dry with fog possible Sunday morning and rain chances building late Tuesday into midweek.

UW-Madison Caregiving Support: UW-Madison is launching a free Badger Caregiving Clinic next week, pairing students and staff with telehealth and in-person help for unpaid caregivers, with eligibility tied to UW Health patients. Local Housing & Jobs: Waukesha County Business Alliance backs redeveloping the former UW–Milwaukee at Waukesha campus into mixed housing, arguing it’s key to attracting and keeping workers. Healthcare Research: UCLA Health will lead a $25M, five-year national effort to test AI tools for Alzheimer’s and dementia care, with UW and Mayo among partners. State Politics & Counties: Four candidates for governor and attorney general laid out priorities for Wisconsin counties at the Wisconsin Counties Association conference, focusing on local control and reducing mandates. Workforce & Training: New Tecumseth is pursuing a Skilled Trades and Technology Training Centre after meetings with post-secondary partners ahead of a feasibility study. Economy Watch: Rock County’s unemployment stayed steady in August but was higher than a year ago, while payroll jobs were slightly down. Sports: Wisconsin rallied to beat Penn State 24-20 after leading late, snapping long-running Badgers streaks at Beaver Stadium.

Wisconsin Politics & Elections: Illinois voters started early voting and mail ballots ahead of Nov. 3, with Wisconsin observers watching how fast-changing election rules can still ripple into active cycles. Business & Housing: Wisconsin REALTORS report August home sales fell 8.3% statewide as affordability slid; median price rose to $362,000. Local Economy & Education: Wisconsin’s Pierce County colleges awarded 1,230 degrees and certificates in 2023-24, while Eau Claire County tallied 5,407 and Winnebago County 2,233. Statewide Health/Research: Wisconsin researchers won $11.1M to improve tobacco-use treatments. Community & Public Life: White Stone Warriors says donations are down and it can keep serving hot meals only until January. Sports & Culture: Wisconsin volleyball beat Oregon in its Big Ten opener; Wisconsin vs. Penn State college football odds and picks are circulating. Weather: Dry weekend ahead, with rain returning Tuesday.

G20 Trade Talks in Milwaukee: U.S. Trade Rep. Jamieson Greer will host G20 ministers Sept. 29-Oct. 1 in Milwaukee, with talks on forced labor, food trade, industrial overcapacity, and possible updates to the Most-Favored-Nation rule; India’s Piyush Goyal is set to join. H-1B Fee Fight: A coalition of 22 state attorneys general opposes a proposed $103,265 H-1B fee, calling it unlawful and warning it could worsen shortages for teachers, doctors, and nurses. Wisconsin Health & Privacy: Wisconsin is part of a $2.3M multistate settlement with Labcorp over a 2019 data breach tied to a medical debt collector, affecting more than 16,000 state residents. Local Politics & Schools: Winnebago County voters face five referenda Nov. 3, including school funding questions for Ripon and Weyauwega-Fremont. Campus Safety: Alpha Epsilon Pi suspended its Madison chapter as police investigate a suspected hazing incident involving arrests of two fraternity leaders. Data Centers Clash: Protesters in River Falls rallied against Wisconsin’s sales-tax exemption for hyperscale data centers, arguing it’s a “blank check” for big tech.

AI policy push: Wisconsin’s AG Jeff Jackson joined a coalition urging Congress to set federal rules and safety protocols for AI after recent high-profile AI incidents. Digital privacy: A Wisconsin-linked federal court ruling on AI-generated child sexual abuse images has parents pulling kids’ photos offline, raising new questions about what’s legal and what’s safe. Education funding fight: State Superintendent Jill Underly renewed calls for more public school funding in her State of Education address, with Democrats praising and critics pushing for better outcomes over higher spending. Local politics: Wisconsin Rapids District 7 Alderperson Michael Timm will face a recall election Oct. 27 over allegations he pressured a business tied to a proposed data center. Public safety: Menomonee Falls police are investigating a bomb threat at Messer Cutting Systems; employees evacuated and a Milwaukee Bomb Squad responded. Business & economy: Deloitte’s Wisconsin 75 survey finds 4% revenue growth in 2025 and a big jump in generative AI use among top private firms.

Agriculture Exports: Gov. Tony Evers says Wisconsin is now the nation’s 10th-largest exporter of agricultural products, with Q2 2026 exports hitting $2.13 billion—up 5.42% year over year. Election Integrity & Campaign Finance: A new GOP-aligned group, First Amendment LLC, reported nearly $13 million in 2026 spending, including about $9.3 million targeting Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley. Caregiver Crisis: Wisconsin officials warn federal immigration changes are worsening the state’s long-term care workforce shortage as agencies struggle to hire. Open Records Fight: Evers’ office and WEDC have not fully turned over Africa trade trip spending records after a request, despite earlier partial releases. AI Oversight: Wisconsin AG Josh Kaul joined multistate efforts urging Congress to set federal AI safety rules after high-profile “agent” incidents. Housing Costs: Wisconsin Realtors report home sales fell 8.3% in August while the median price rose to $362,000. Public Health: A Milwaukee lead-hazard removal problem persists, with health orders often stalled by cost and landlord compliance.

UW Athletics & Community: Former Badgers linebacker Chris Borland was inducted into the UW Athletic Hall of Fame, with the Madison native reflecting on his forced-fumble record and Badgers memories. Local Government & Housing: Milwaukee County is redirecting $2.5 million in affordable housing funds after a Franklin project stalled, sending money to housing efforts in Shorewood, Milwaukee and West Allis. Health & Consumer Protection: A Madison nonprofit, Wisconsin Medical Project, is suing the city, saying it was displaced from its longtime space without proper relocation help. Environment & Business: Monona-based First Supply won a Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce environmental innovation award for its West Salem distribution center, built with major solar and efficiency upgrades. Higher Education: UW-Madison climbed to No. 8 among public universities in U.S. News & World Report’s 2027 Best Colleges. Data Centers & Politics: River Falls residents rallied against a statewide sales tax exemption for hyperscale data centers, calling it a hit to schools and healthcare. Local Economy & Retail: Sendik’s opened a new Whitefish Bay store with a full grocery and dining concept. Sports & Culture: Shawano County voted to borrow $29 million for the first phase of a new government center combining the courthouse and jail.

Big Ten Football: Penn State’s receiving room is getting a boost from Iowa State transfer Brett Eskildsen, who has 9 catches for 83 yards and a TD despite being dinged up; with Koby Howard sidelined, Eskildsen is eyeing a bigger role as the Nittany Lions prep for Wisconsin. Wisconsin Politics & Energy Costs: Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Tiffany is trying to distance himself from President Trump and the Iran war as gas prices bite, while Democrats argue his voting record tells a different story. Wolf Delisting Fight: A new look at Wisconsin’s wolf status highlights how Tom Tiffany’s push for delisting has been met with court challenges and criticism over rhetoric and past legislative moves. Data Center Legal Battle: An Ozaukee County judge dismissed a lawsuit challenging Port Washington’s incentives for the $15B Vantage data center campus, clearing the way for the project’s TID-backed infrastructure support. Health & Research: A major reading study review links reading for fun with better brain health and lower cognitive decline risk, while a breast cancer screening report says AI could reduce “interval cancers.” Local Economy & Jobs: Costco plans 10 new U.S. stores this fall, including a Wisconsin location opening in November. Agriculture Education: Compeer Financial awarded about $446K to nearly 70 Wisconsin middle and high schools to expand hands-on ag programs.

School Choice Fight: Democrats and education experts are urging Congress to repeal a new national school voucher program that would let donors use federal tax credits for K-12 scholarships, with Wisconsin Rep. Gwen Moore backing a companion bill. Milwaukee Road Rules: Milwaukee Common Council raised fines for unpermitted road closures and poor resident notice, including a requirement to notify residents 72 hours ahead and post signage. Local Government Shakeup: La Crosse council members revisited leadership options after an administrator plan failed, with consultants suggesting an administrator role alongside an elected mayor. Diesel Shock: Wisconsin residents and public services are feeling record diesel prices, with homeowners and cities warning budgets are getting squeezed. UW-Madison Rankings: UW-Madison jumped to No. 8 among public universities and No. 34 overall in U.S. News’ 2027 rankings. Business & Community: Dapper Laundry plans to open a by-the-pound wash-and-fold and delivery service on Marquette’s campus area; Inland Label & Marketing’s La Crosse sites joined Wisconsin DNR’s Green Tier. Politics & Campaigns: Wisconsin governor candidates Crowley and Tiffany faced economic headwinds six weeks out, as gas prices and inflation stay front and center.

Housing & Local Economy: Zillow data shows Adams County’s typical home value rose 2.6% to $249,629 in August 2026, while Menominee County climbed 6.8% to $306,701 and Polk County hit $339,006 (+1.8%). Infrastructure Funding: Gov. Tony Evers and WisDOT announced nearly $370 million in federal Surface Transportation and local bridge grants for 195 road and bridge projects statewide. Politics & Campaigns: WisPolitics reports data-center ads are flooding Wisconsin political airwaves, with $6.8 million spent on broadcast TV spots since mid-spring. Legal/Health Policy: Wisconsin’s AGs are among a coalition challenging Trump administration offshore wind deals, while California AG Bonta opposed a proposed rule that would restrict states’ Medicaid funding tools. Business & Jobs: Kikkoman opened a $560 million Jefferson, Wis., soy sauce plant—its third U.S. production site—aimed at expanding capacity and creating 80+ jobs. Community & Public Safety Tech: Marinette voted to cancel its Flock Safety contract amid concerns about surveillance and AI use. Education: Appleton’s airport terminal expansion won a 2026 WEDA award; UW–Eau Claire also moved up in U.S. News Midwest rankings.