AGP Executive Report

AI at Work, Faith at Stake: A North Carolina software engineer won a rare opt-out from using AI tools after citing Unitarian Universalist beliefs tied to ethics and environmental concerns. Space & Markets: Wall Street closed higher as hopes for an Iran-U.S. peace deal lifted sentiment and SpaceX shares jumped 19.2% in their Nasdaq debut, underscoring how space tech is reshaping investor attention. Local Tech Infrastructure: PointOne Data Centers advanced a proposed $900M data center in Sanford/Lee County, with a 300,000-square-foot Phase One planned and a review set for June 25. Power Resilience for Hurricanes: North Carolina’s DEQ is funding 24 microgrids in western counties plus two mobile “beehive” units to keep critical services running during outages. Lake Science in Action: Chautauqua Lake Partnership and NC State began a state-backed study to improve invasive plant control and reduce toxic algal bloom risk. Health Equity Funding: Prisma Health received $1.6M from the Duke Endowment to expand maternal and infant health screening and referral across the Carolinas. Public Safety Tech Scrutiny: A growing wave of criticism targets facial recognition systems after wrongful arrests, including a Florida case tied to an unreliable match.

Suicide Prevention Research: A new KFF Health News report highlights how overlooked social connection and loneliness can raise suicide risk, pushing prevention beyond medication and therapy toward community and policy fixes. Mental Health + Care Access (NC): ECU Health won a $1.5M Duke Endowment grant to pilot a maternal-infant screening and referral program aimed at catching mental and social needs early across eastern North Carolina. Digital Safety Law: The NC Senate unanimously advanced a teen social media ban for kids under 14, with parental consent rules for 14- and 15-year-olds and added AI literacy steps for schools. AI Misidentification Fallout: Two wrongful-arrest cases tied to facial recognition are back in the spotlight, including a Charlotte man who says an automated match led to a Florida arrest despite being hundreds of miles away. Data Centers + Local Resistance: A national report says protests have blocked or delayed about $130B in data center projects this year so far, with NC communities among those facing mounting uncertainty. Workforce + Immigration: A Kenan Institute report warns immigrant labor shortages could keep squeezing NC metro economies as migration inflows drop. Space + Markets: SpaceX’s record IPO sparked major Wall Street attention, with Charlotte-based investors noting surprisingly calm early trading. Weather + Drought: NWS issued a summer outlook for the Carolinas, stressing drought recovery depends on coastal rainfall and tracking hurricane and flooding risks.

Workforce & Energy: The Duke Energy Foundation is putting $600,000 into Central North Carolina’s advanced manufacturing pipeline, including grants for AdvanceNC and a community-college maintenance apprenticeship accelerator. Broadband Expansion: North Carolina-based Ripple Fiber is expanding into Arizona, planning $80M+ in 100% fiber service across Pima County. AI Policy: Sen. Chuck Schumer says AI legislation needs to be “balanced,” but warns this Congress may be hard to get it done. Tech Values Clash: A senior Google executive resigned after the company signed an agreement enabling the Pentagon to use Google AI for classified work, reigniting internal debate over where AI should draw the line. Plant Science: A new study explains how the Venus flytrap snaps shut in under a second, overturning a century-old water-movement theory. Public Health: Alpha-gal syndrome is rising in tick-heavy regions including North Carolina, with experts linking more ticks and deer to increased risk. Environment & Data: The Trump administration is dismantling the Ocean Observatories Initiative, raising concerns about long-term ocean climate research gaps. North Carolina Weather: Heat advisories and storm risk are building for the Triad, with feels-like temps near 105 and possible severe storms Friday.

Workforce & Education: North Carolina is rolling out 12 Siemens Foundation–backed “Careers Electric” Summer Electrical Academies, skilling 220 students at community colleges with employer work-based learning and pre-apprenticeship pathways. Public Health Policy: New Medicaid work requirements are raising alarms for people who say they’re too sick to work, while states report confusion over how exemptions will be applied. AI & Safety: A Charlotte light-rail incident involving a reported knife has CATS expanding safety efforts and evaluating AI-based technology, months after a fatal stabbing renewed rider-safety concerns. Biomedical Research: A century-old tuberculosis vaccine (BCG) is showing promise in diabetes trials, with new results suggesting improved blood sugar control or slowed progression in type 1 diabetes. STEM Discovery: Scientists say they’ve pinned down the physical mechanism behind the Venus flytrap’s snap, shifting the explanation from water redistribution to rapid softening of trap cell walls. Weather & Risk: Dangerous heat and humidity are forecast for parts of the Carolinas, with heat index near 100° possible. Healthcare Leadership: Ballad Health CEO Alan Levine earned national recognition as a “Great Leader in Healthcare” from Becker’s Hospital Review.

Public Health & Research: UNC researchers report high blood pressure may track with lower dementia risk in people with physical frailty, while raising dementia risk in those without frailty. AI & Civil Rights: A Florida man’s lawsuit alleges police used faulty facial recognition to arrest him for a child-luring case he couldn’t have committed, spotlighting safeguards for AI in policing. State Tech & Services: North Carolina DMV modernization now lets drivers upload proof-of-insurance from a phone and check live wait times online. Coastal Science & Community Input: The Coastal Reserve is taking applications for local advisory committees across 10 sites, aiming to guide education, research, and management. Food Safety Practicality: NC Cooperative Extension will test pressure canner dial gauges for free in Brunswick County on June 15. STEM/Industry in NC: Amazon and Corning’s fiber-optics manufacturing deal is set to bring major advanced manufacturing jobs to North Carolina. Wildlife Management: NC Wildlife Resources Commission sets a 2026 flounder season with a 15-inch minimum size and one-fish daily creel limit. Education & Access: A major new NIH grant will scale a primary-care model for prescribing opioid use disorder treatment across about 40 clinics in Ohio and West Virginia.

Precision Agriculture Tech: University of Mount Olive will receive an EAVision J150 spray drone through a national academic partner program, using LiDAR obstacle-avoidance and aiming to boost student training and precision farming research. Public Health & Policy: Western Carolina University nursing professor Caitlin Torrence won an $840,000 grant to build a regional Health Policy Research Consortium focused on mental health, food security, substance use and housing, with community partners shaping the agenda. Healthcare Costs in Jails: A UNC-Chapel Hill report says North Carolina counties face a recurring pattern of inmate healthcare cost overruns driven by off-site hospital visits and specialty pharmacy needs, creating major budget volatility. Workforce & Immigration Legal Fight: Wisconsin DOJ and a coalition secured a court ruling vacating a Trump-era $100,000 H-1B fee policy as unlawful, arguing it would worsen shortages in health care and education. STEM Education Access: Coverage highlights how uneven local placement affects who gets Algebra I, with calls to close an “excellence gap” so ready students aren’t left out. Air Quality Oversight: NC DEQ is taking public comments on a draft air permit modification for Egger - Lexington Particleboard Plant, proposing higher resin use and increased VOC/HAP emissions. AI Misidentification Risks: A Florida lawsuit spotlights wrongful arrest after faulty facial recognition flagged a man as a child-luring suspect, underscoring the stakes of automated policing.

Fiber Optics Jobs Boost: Amazon and Corning struck a multibillion-dollar deal to expand U.S. optical fiber manufacturing, with plans to create 1,000 advanced manufacturing jobs in North Carolina and expand fiber-optic technician training with Catawba Valley Community College. Biotech Funding: Shattuck Labs priced a $75M public offering, selling common shares and pre-funded warrants as it advances DR3 blocking antibody work. Public Health & Oversight: A new report says many North Carolina counties face recurring, higher-than-expected inmate healthcare costs driven by off-site hospital visits and specialty pharmacy needs. Local Healthcare Watch: Wake County commissioners grilled WakeMed and Atrium on a proposed $2B merger, focusing on local control, costs, quality, and transparency. Food Innovation: Appalachian State University won a $1.82M grant to turn surplus sweet potatoes into plant-based milk and dairy alternatives. Tech in Retail: Kroger is rolling out electronic shelf labels, raising questions about whether digital tags could enable surge pricing. Wildlife Crime: NC officials say a Dare County alligator was illegally killed; the suspect pleaded guilty and will pay fines, restitution, and community service. STEM Education: A North Carolina teacher is highlighted for turning STEM lessons into custom prosthetics using a 3D printer.

Biotech & Finance: Shattuck Labs (Durham) kicked off a proposed public stock offering, signaling fresh funding momentum for its DR3 antibody pipeline. Energy & Manufacturing: Hubbell completed its acquisition of NSI Industries, with NSI headquartered in Huntersville, expanding electrical components capacity. AI & Privacy: A Wilson founder opened preorders for HYVE Ether OS, an “on-device” AI operating system aimed at reducing cloud dependence and boosting user control. Healthcare Research: UNC-Chapel Hill researchers presented new phase 2 results for berobenatide, a long-acting GLP-1 candidate targeting obesity and type 2 diabetes with weekly-to-monthly dosing. Public Health: FDA expanded a recall of GO Raw LLC freeze-dried and frozen raw pet foods after low thiamine levels were found. Local Economy: Duke Energy Foundation announced $500,000 in grants for North Carolina nonprofits to distribute microgrants for small-business upgrades. Tech Jobs: Amazon and Corning signed a multibillion-dollar fiber-optics manufacturing deal, tied to 1,000 jobs across Corning sites in North Carolina. Legal & Tech Risks: A Charlotte man was exonerated after an AI facial recognition misidentification helped drive a wrongful arrest in Florida. Environment: The UN warned oceans face “severe and intensifying” stress, with sea-level rise accelerating. Education & STEM: NC’s teacher colleges are improving low marks, while UNC-Chapel Hill’s faculty salary pay gap remains a concern.

Data Centers in the Spotlight (NC): Charlotte approved a five-month moratorium on new data center construction as residents push for more scrutiny of air and water impacts, while city attorneys note limits under state law. Fiber for AI (NC Jobs): Amazon and Corning announced a multibillion-dollar optical fiber deal to expand U.S. data center capacity, adding 1,000 advanced manufacturing jobs at Corning sites in North Carolina and funding fiber-optic training with Catawba Valley Community College. Ocean Monitoring Cuts: Scientists warn the planned dismantling of the Ocean Observatories Initiative could create a major climate “blind spot,” including loss of sensors off North Carolina. STEM Expansion (NC A&T): N.C. A&T received approval to launch the first standalone HBCU Ph.D. in bioengineering, boosting advanced STEM research and training. Health Policy Watch: A global study finds sugar-sweetened beverage taxes are spreading fast, with adoption driven more by obesity and type 2 diabetes burdens than by drink consumption rates. Tech & Immigration: A federal judge struck down Trump’s $100,000 H-1B fee as an unlawful tax, a win for U.S. employers relying on skilled foreign workers.

Education & Tech in Schools: A new debate is heating up in North Carolina over how much classroom tech—Chromebooks, apps, and even YouTube—should be used in early grades, with parents arguing it can distract and collect data without clear benefits. Public Health & Water: The FDA says PFAS levels have fallen more than 90% over recent decades, while North Carolina water officials testified that monitoring and minimizing PFAS in biosolids should stay science-led. Broadband & Manufacturing Jobs: Amazon and Corning announced a multibillion-dollar fiber deal that will add about 1,000 Corning jobs in North Carolina and expand fiber-optic technician training with Catawba Valley Community College. Consumer Safety: North Carolina’s AG is warning renters about rental scams, urging people to verify listings, identities, and ownership before sending money. Immigration Policy: A federal judge struck down Trump’s proposed $100,000 H-1B fee as an unlawful tax, a potential relief for U.S. tech hiring. STEM & Research: N.C. A&T is launching a bioengineering Ph.D., including tracks in neurotechnology and molecular/cellular systems. Climate: NOAA reports spring 2026 was the second-warmest on record for the contiguous U.S.

Health Informatics: Duke’s Joanna Cavalier says hospitalists are increasingly moving into digital strategy and informatics roles as hospitals lean harder on EHRs, dashboards, and health data exchanges. Diabetes Drug Pipeline: Diasome reported Phase 2b results for hepatocyte-directed vesicle insulin lispro (HDV-LIS), showing non-inferior A1C control and fewer severe hypoglycemia events versus standard insulin. Obesity/GLP-1 Advances: Pfizer’s berobenatide updates at ADA 2026 point to robust weight loss with a Phase 3 program now recruiting and planned. Bioplastics in Sports: PlantSwitch’s CompostZero PHA resin—made in Sanford—will be used for World Cup stadium foodware at SoFi Stadium. Ocean Monitoring Cuts: The Trump administration is dismantling the Ocean Observatories Initiative, removing instruments off Oregon, North Carolina, and elsewhere as scientists warn the timing is risky. Defense Tech: A House NDAA amendment would require DoD to deploy transportable nuclear microreactors in the Indo-Pacific by 2030. Public Health & Safety: Officials warn North Carolinians about rip currents as summer beach crowds return. Aging Care Watch: CMS data highlight top-rated for-profit nursing homes in Buncombe and Mecklenburg counties, alongside ongoing fines/penalties at some facilities.

Ocean Science Under Pressure: The Trump administration is dismantling the $368M Ocean Observatories Initiative, removing more than 900 instruments off Oregon, Washington, Alaska, North Carolina and Greenland—raising alarms as scientists say the data is crucial for tracking climate, ocean heat and flooding risk. AI at Work, Faith Included: A North Carolina software engineer won a religious exemption to avoid using AI tools at work, arguing ethical and environmental concerns; the case lands amid broader workplace AI debates and new religious opt-out momentum. Health Tech & Weight Loss: Pfizer’s monthly GLP-1 berobenatide is moving into phase 3, after phase 2b results showed sustained weight loss with a tolerable safety profile, with UNC’s John Buse highlighting the once-a-month appeal. Public Safety: North Carolina ranks 10th worst for road rage, with aggressive or careless driving tied to thousands of fatal crashes and deaths. Energy & Power Costs: Duke Energy’s push to raise distribution charges is in the spotlight, with critics warning of higher bills. Weather Watch: Humidity and heat build this week, with rain chances returning and heat illness risks highlighted late week into the weekend.

Deep-Ocean Science Under Threat: The Trump administration is dismantling the $368M Ocean Observatories Initiative, removing 900+ instruments off Oregon, Washington, Alaska, North Carolina and the Irminger Sea—scientists warn this will weaken climate and ocean-current monitoring. Healthcare Costs in Focus: Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina posted a $497M loss, raising the odds of premium hikes for its 4.3M members, while WakeMed’s proposed “strategic combination” with Atrium Health adds to concerns about consolidation and costs. Defense Tech Update: At MCAS Cherry Point, Fleet Readiness Center East completed the first F-35B Technology Refresh-3 upgrade, setting up future Block 4 changes. AI for Sports (and Limits): UNC and Northeastern researchers tested major AI models on 35,000 hours of sports footage and found they struggle with more than just spotting actions. Drought Watch: North Carolina remains in extreme or severe drought despite some recent rain improving deficits in parts of the state. Weight-Loss Drug Pipeline: Pfizer shared Phase 2b results for berobenatide, aiming for monthly GLP-1 options that could mean fewer injections for patients.

Drug Development: Pfizer shared Phase 2b results for berobenatide (PF’3944), a potential first-in-class monthly GLP-1 peptide, reporting near-16% weight loss at 32 weeks on a 2.4 mg weekly dose and favorable tolerability, as it lines up Phase 3 studies. Medical Research: Bio Preventive Medicine and Precision Diabetes presented new CREDENCE-trial analysis suggesting DNlite™ may better flag kidney risk in type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease beyond standard markers. AI & Computing Infrastructure: Gaon Cable says it has completed a full-stack power role for U.S. AI data centers, adding bus duct supply after landing major contracts tied to Meta. AI in Practice: UNC and Northeastern researchers tested major AI models on sports “strategic video intelligence,” finding they struggle even at basic sports understanding. Climate & Ocean Science: The NSF plans to dismantle the Ocean Observatories Initiative, removing 900+ instruments that track ocean conditions off the Carolinas and beyond. North Carolina Environment: Drought updates show most of the state still in extreme or severe drought despite some recent rain improving conditions in parts. Local Health & Policy: Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina reported a $497 million loss, signaling possible premium increases for millions of members. Public Safety: N.C. rescuers found a man injured in the Watauga River after a cliff fall, with the extraction complicated by terrain and prior storm damage.

AI & Libraries: UNC Chapel Hill is launching a Local Libraries and Generative AI project (2026-2028) to study how North Carolina communities use generative AI and how libraries can help residents use it responsibly. Public Health & Food Policy: A new American Journal of Public Health push highlights broad public support for stricter action on ultra-processed foods, including safety testing, limits on additives, and warning labels. Energy & Grid Reliability: North Carolina leaders are arguing for a more diverse energy grid to cut outages and stabilize costs as demand rises. Coastal & Fisheries Rules: New Marine Fisheries Commission rules are now in effect, including updates for false albacore management and pot marking. Tech & Telecom Finance: Uniti priced $1.14B in secured fiber network revenue term notes, with assets tied to multiple states including North Carolina. Local Tech/Design for Safety: Western Carolina University engineering students used drones and 360-degree cameras to build 3D models for a Haywood County shelter expansion planning effort. Health Care Costs: A WakeMed-Atrium merger could raise State Health Plan premiums if rates climb, according to state plan leaders. Science/Space-Adjacent Industry: The Coast Guard accepted delivery of its 19th HC-130J long-range surveillance aircraft, with missionization work completed in Elizabeth City.

Transportation & Policy: Charlotte’s I-77 Express Lanes plan is stalled after the CRTPO rescinded support, leaving truckers worried about delays and fuel waste while local leaders push for a transportation model study and congestion relief ideas. Forensics in Court: The Tru Colors double homicide trial continues as NC State Crime Lab experts testify on DNA and fingerprint findings alongside phone records. Biotech in the Triangle: Shattuck Labs will hold an investor call June 8 on Phase 1 data for its DR3-blocking antibody SL-325 and an updated pipeline. Life Sciences Growth: AbbVie is investing $1.4B in a new 185-acre Durham campus, aiming to add 730+ jobs and expand lab and manufacturing capacity. Health Care Accreditation: UNC earns first-in-N.C. Comprehensive Care Pulmonary Embolism Center of Excellence status through the PERT Consortium. Environment & Public Health: UNC researchers report antidepressants detected at potentially harmful levels in some NC waterways near wastewater outflows. Marine & Fisheries Rules: New NC Marine Fisheries Commission rules take effect, including updates on false albacore management, pot marking, and shellfish lease/franchise procedures. Energy & Industry: Trump-era changes and offshore wind uncertainty ripple into regional planning, with Virginia’s offshore wind panel weighing Dominion’s merger and future project prospects. Agriculture & Climate: North Carolina farmers face severe drought stress, with extension specialists warning yields and pollination timing could be hit if steady rains don’t arrive. Tech & Education: NC lawmakers advance open-enrollment discussions for public schools, while the state also moves on data-center regulation and oversight.