AGP Executive Report

Connecticut TV & food tourism: Gov. Ned Lamont announced a contest tied to the new Connecticut TV-to-Table Trail, with a grand-prize winner joining celebrity chef Scott Conant as a guest judge in a live cooking challenge featuring CT chefs seen on national TV. Community arts & remembrance: West Haven marked the 25th anniversary of 9/11 with a memorial ceremony at Bradley Point Park, including musical tributes and a moment of silence, while Bristol’s St. Joseph’s Polish Society held a T2T Poker Run raising $5,555 for Tunnels to Towers. Local culture spotlight: The Norwalk Oyster Festival returns for its 48th year at Veterans Memorial Park, with live music, rides, and proceeds supporting the Sheffield Island Lighthouse. Entertainment on the air: Connoisseur Media is making Connecticut radio changes, including departures at WEBE and WICC and new hosting assignments. Film in Connecticut: Jessica Lange’s long-delayed adaptation of Eugene O’Neill’s Long Day’s Journey Into Night finally lands a Sept. 25, 2026 select-theater release, with a Lincoln Center screening on Sept. 14. Food safety note: Whole Foods issued an allergy alert recalling Cabricharme cheese due to undeclared egg.

Connecticut Arts & Culture: Spring Street Gallery opens its first Block Island-focused exhibit by Jacqueline Phillips (Sept. 12–25), with an opening reception Saturday (5–7 p.m.), spotlighting oil and pastel scenes of island harbors, lighthouses, and everyday life. Local Arts & Community: Adams’ Alert Hose Co. marks 150 years with a Prince Albert–style parade Saturday—its first in 50 years—featuring restored 1886 parade carts and uniforms dating to 1893. Film & Theater: Jessica Lange’s long-delayed “Long Day’s Journey Into Night” finally lands a select-theater release Sept. 25, with a Lincoln Center screening Sept. 14, bringing Eugene O’Neill’s Connecticut-set family drama to screens. Music: DIY singer-songwriter Lena Maude releases “Just in Case Love,” recorded in Connecticut and built around a new, hopeful narrative arc. Arts News Beyond CT: Two Eastman Johnson paintings stolen in 1978 are recovered and returned after decades.

Connecticut Arts & Community: Essex Bank approved $69,500 in grants to 22 local nonprofits, including Goodspeed Musicals, the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, and multiple libraries and historical groups—supporting arts, youth programs, and community spaces. Local Arts Calendar: Norwalk Public Library and area partners are lining up family-friendly events for Sept. 11 weekend, from “Tunes and Tales” for kids to a weekly Video Game Club livestream and the Kefi Greek Festival. Arts in the Spotlight: The Little Chapel That Stood at St. Paul’s Chapel is remembered for its role as refuge after 9/11—an anniversary story that resonates with Connecticut audiences who track local ties to national arts-and-faith history. Public Life & Culture: Connecticut also moved to curb illegal sports prediction markets with cease-and-desist orders, while the state’s broader community-service funding fight (AmeriCorps) continues—both shaping the civic backdrop for arts organizations and volunteers.

Connecticut Sports & Culture: ESPN’s rebuilt flagship “Studio W” in Bristol debuted for college football coverage and now anchors “NFL Live,” adding a larger XR volume and a wireless Steadicam as the network ramps up for the season. UConn Basketball: UConn landed 2027 point guard NaVorro Bowman Jr., a consensus five-star recruit from Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, California. WNBA Spotlight: With the WNBA season resuming Sept. 17 after the FIBA World Cup, Indiana Fever’s Sophie Cunningham is back at work as the league sets up the final push to determine postseason seeds. Arts & Entertainment: Apple TV’s docuseries “The Dynasty: Uconn Huskies” compresses 40 years of women’s basketball dominance into three episodes. Tech & Safety: U.S. lawmakers are calling for new AI rules after an Anthropic researcher went public with warnings about systems escaping human control. Local Community: A law enforcement expo at a Connecticut campus drew students and multiple agencies for low-stress career conversations.

Local Arts Leadership: Central Connecticut State University named Connor Sullivan associate artistic director of the Hartford Gay Men’s Chorus, adding a new leadership chapter for the ensemble. Music & Health: Billy Joel shared that he underwent brain surgery for normal pressure hydrocephalus and says he’s “not going anywhere,” after doctors warned loud performances could worsen symptoms. Holocaust Memorial in Fairfield: A new Holocaust memorial sculpture, “She Wouldn’t Take Off Her Boots,” is set to be unveiled at Fairfield University, with a dedication and lecture on antisemitism. Community Arts Event: “Sally’s Art Show” is coming to The Watermark in Newington, featuring 30 watercolor pieces by 95-year-old Simsbury native Sarah “Sally” McBride. Sports Culture: The Rhythm and Roots festival in Rhode Island drew thousands for music, dance, and a big volunteer-driven community vibe. Education Access: Trinity College will cover full tuition, housing, and meals for admitted Hartford students under new financial aid programs. CT 9/11 Remembrance: A Hamden first responder reflects 25 years later on the long mental and community impact of Sept. 11.

Local Mental Health & Sports: LAX2LIVE, a Connecticut youth suicide prevention nonprofit, is recruiting high school coaches and student ambassadors to spot warning signs in athletes and connect families to the state’s 211 hotline. CT Arts & Entertainment Calendar: “Culture to Do” lists what’s happening Sept. 9, including Melanie C at Washington’s 9:30 Club (Sept. 11) and more arts events Sept. 10–16. Road Racing Spotlight: Rachael Rudel won the U.S. 20km title in New Haven, taking control late and finishing in 1:04:58. Community Safety: North Stonington mourns the death of a sixth-grader after a school bus collision; grief support and emotional support dogs were brought in. Transit Update: CTDOT, Metro-North, and Amtrak announce reduced weekend service between New Haven and New York for WALK Bridge cable work starting Sept. 12. Local Business & Culture: Chef Bill Taibe is opening hi’Amba in Westport, an Eastern Mediterranean all-day spot with a working bakery and grab-and-go market. Sports Business: Athletic Brewing signs NFL quarterbacks Drake Maye and Dak Prescott as equity holders, launching “Athletic Fits” campaigns. Music & Pop Culture: A new piece looks at 60 years of Star Trek, from fandom to what’s next.

WNBA Leadership: Cathy Engelbert announced she’ll retire at the end of 2026, kicking off the search for her successor under NBA commissioner Adam Silver. Connecticut Arts & Culture: Carroll Dunham, 76, is “starting over” with a new sculpture-leaning direction and a Sept. 9 exhibition opening at Matthew Brown Gallery. Performing Arts Calendar: Temple Theatre launches its 2026-27 Mainstage season with “1776, the Musical.” Community & Remembrance: Eastern Connecticut State University marks the 25th anniversary of 9/11 with a two-day remembrance, including a faculty roundtable and a ceremony with a flag display. Local Arts/Design & Industry: DOE backs New Haven’s Protein Evolution with $3 million to scale enzyme-based recycling that could turn polyester textile waste into new fabric. Food & Place-Making: Gilbert’s Heritage Park announces its first five tenants for 2027, including Popup Bagels and Salt & Straw, plus Hudson House, La La Land Kind Cafe, and [solidcore]. Sports & Spotlight: Quinnipiac women’s hockey celebrates its ECAC title win at Lake Placid’s Herb Brooks Arena.

WNBA Leadership Shake-Up: Cathy Engelbert announced she’ll retire at year’s end, and the league’s search for a new commissioner is set to begin soon. Local Sports on the Air: WWAX The Wax will carry a packed week of UConn volleyball and soccer, CT United matches, Hartford Athletic games, and high school football. Connecticut Arts & Community Calendar: NBC Connecticut expands its local lifestyle programming with a new prime-time edition of “CT Live,” spotlighting restaurants, events, and entertainment across the state. Arts-Adjacent Culture Picks: A roundup of New England’s spookiest spots spotlights regional haunted history, while a separate piece looks at a vintage-car festival parade in the Northwest Corner. Food & Pop Culture in the Region: Popup Bagels is coming to Mercer on One in Lawrence Township, and the U.S. Open concession story leans into the event’s “temporary city” of food and entertainment. Tech & Policy With CT Ties: Residents are pushing back on a proposed AI data center in Beacon Falls, citing scale and transparency concerns. Business/Real Estate: Greystone provided $22.7M in bridge financing for Danbury’s Innovation Studios hotel-to-apartments conversion.

CT Theater & Community: Temple Theatre Company kicks off its 2026-27 Mainstage Season with “1776, the Musical,” spotlighting the weeks leading to July 4, 1776 and the debates that forged a new nation. CT Arts & Learning: Bristol Public Library announces free fall programs, including free-verse workshops with Connecticut Poet Laureate Emeritus Roger Singer, a music-filled Library Coffee House performance, and a smartphone photography class. CT Arts & Culture Infrastructure: The Connecticut Convention & Sports Bureau welcomes three newly elected board members, including a Plantsville resident, as it looks to grow events and sports tourism. CT Sports Spotlight: Connecticut College’s Andrew Rose earns Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Newcomer of the Week after a strong W&J Invitational run. Wider Arts Buzz (watch for spillover): TikTok’s “Cat in the Hat” horror trend shows how AI-edited creepiness can quickly turn into real-world community concern. Fitness/Entertainment Business: Greenwich-based L Catterton is reportedly close to buying a controlling stake in Hyrox, valuing the fitness competition brand around €600M.

Prediction Markets vs. State Gambling Rules: Connecticut is among the states pushing back on Kalshi-style prediction markets, arguing they should follow state sports-betting laws—an escalating fight that could eventually reach the Supreme Court. Museum Furniture Goes Viral: The National Gallery sold its red leather sofas, calling them a safety risk; Hartford’s Wadsworth Atheneum says it acquired the “rejected” seating, turning the story into a playful, public-facing reveal. CT Media Oversight: Connecticut’s utility regulator warned Optimum about possible state-law violations tied to reported News 12 job cuts and whether local programming changes were properly disclosed. Local Arts & Community: A Lyme-Old Lyme teacher is bringing his ’90s alt-rock band back to the stage with a Sept. 12 comeback show at Hygienic Art Park. Music & Culture: The horror-themed podcast “Horror Queers” revisits the Connecticut-set thriller “Let’s Scare Jessica to Death,” pairing film talk with genre commentary. Retail & Community Change: A Newington Foot Locker rival, Footprints Shoes & Accessories, is set to close Oct. 31 after 47 years.

Teen Social Media Crackdown: Meta agreed to pay up to $17.1B and accept strict limits on teen use (a daily two-hour cap across Instagram/Facebook plus an overnight blackout), with Connecticut’s AG immediately signaling “you’re next” to TikTok, YouTube and Snapchat. Local Business Brewing: Ridgefield’s Nod Hill Brewery invested about $650K in a new brewhouse and upgrades, aiming first at better beer as Connecticut wholesale sales rise more than 35% this year. West Hartford Office Pulse: West Hartford investors bought a 1966 AAA Club Alliance building for $3.8M, pointing to unusually strong office demand near the town center. Boxing Spotlight (CT connection): Katie Taylor retired after a dominant Croke Park win over Flora Pili, and she hinted she may pursue coaching while weighing life after boxing, including possible moves back to Ireland. CT Arts & Culture Picks: Warner Archive highlights classic film releases (including Bogart’s “All Through the Night”), while a Connecticut College water polo update and local sports roster notes round out the week’s community coverage.

Leadership Change in Connecticut Arts: Bridgeport’s Klein Memorial Auditorium bids farewell to longtime executive director Laurence Caso, who retires after 18 years, with Tenisi Davis stepping in to keep the venue’s concerts, plays, and arts education moving. Local Arts Programming: Mosaic Dance Theatre Company brings a world premiere to Montclair in October—Cassandra: An Ongoing Tragedy—reworking Greek myth through modern devastation, with free reservations and artist talkbacks. Sports as Culture (and a CT tie-in): Katie Taylor’s final pro bout at Dublin’s Croke Park is getting major attention, including her public reflections on family life as she prepares for life after boxing. Community Health Tech: Greenwich teens Brynn Forlizzi and Teddy Aaron launch Soothe Note, an app that helps cancer patients and caregivers track symptoms and turn it into doctor-ready reports. WNBA Business Talk: Coverage continues around Cathy Engelbert’s WNBA exit and the league’s $75 million capital raise, with critics questioning long-term impact on players and ownership.

Local Arts & Culture: New England Ballet Theatre (Avon) announced its 2026-27 season and a new residency at the University of Saint Joseph in West Hartford, with “The Picture of Dorianne Gray” kicking off Sept. 26-27. Music & Community Events: Hartford’s long-running Black-Eyed & Bluesfest is back after uncertainty, set for Sept. 12 (3-9 p.m.) at Mortensen Riverfront Plaza, keeping the free-festival blues vibe alive. Arts, History & Restitution: An Argentine court approved the return of “Portrait of a Lady,” a Nazi-looted 18th-century painting, clearing the way for it to go to the heir of Dutch-Jewish dealer Jacques Goudstikker. CT Innovation Spotlight: Greenwich teens Brynn Forlizzi and Teddy Aaron built Soothe Note, an app that helps cancer patients and caregivers track symptoms and prep visit-ready reports. CT Sports/Entertainment Tie-In: Beenie Man received an official proclamation from Hartford recognizing his global impact on dancehall and Jamaican culture.

Connecticut Consumer Alert: The state warns residents about unregulated offshore DeFi exchanges after a local investor lost $200,000 following a deceptive solicitation, with officials stressing that offshore platforms often leave victims with few recovery options. Election Mail Fight: AG Brown and a coalition won a preliminary court order blocking USPS from forcing states into new, disruptive mail-ballot design and tracking requirements ahead of the Nov. 3 midterms. WNBA Leadership Change: Cathy Engelbert announced she’ll retire as WNBA commissioner at year’s end, closing a tenure marked by major growth and ongoing controversy. Arts & Community: UConn’s Ballard Institute will host free puppet-building workshops led by Sara Peattie, and the Hebron Harvest Fair returns with Better Than Ezra headlining. Local Culture & Books: Newington’s “Nacho King” Alex P. Taylor brings his cookbook event to Stew Leonard’s. Sports Spotlight: UConn football’s coaching family continues to settle in, with Nicole Candle discussing the move to Storrs.

Transgender Healthcare Lawsuit: Twenty-one states (including Connecticut) and D.C. sued HHS over a rule that would block federal Medicaid funding for youth gender-affirming care starting Oct. 13. Local Immigration Policy: Danbury approved non-citizen legal residents (including DACA recipients) to serve as police officers after ICE raids sparked outrage, with leaders calling it a welcome message. Arts & Safety: A rock show at Virginia’s Wolf Trap was canceled after a worker was crushed beneath a tour bus. Community Events: A Labor Day weekend fair roundup highlights Haddam Neck, Goshen, North Haven, Somers, Berlin, and Durham. Connecticut Food Culture: Kelly’s Cone Connection in Hamden debuted an “apizza” ice cream slice inspired by New Haven-style pizza. Art News: Two Eastman Johnson paintings stolen in 1978 were recovered in Connecticut. Sports Spotlight: WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced she’ll retire at year’s end.