AGP Executive Report

AI & Policy at G20 (Carolina Principles): G20 ministers meeting in North Carolina backed a U.S.-led, non-binding AI framework urging sector-by-sector rules and closer work with industry, with China and Russia also endorsing the “Carolina Principles.” AI Infrastructure Push: Anthropic’s Tom Brown and other tech leaders pressed for faster data-center buildout, citing power and labor shortages as the main bottlenecks for AI growth. North Carolina Data Center Planning: Stokes County set a Sept. 8 public hearing on a massive conditional rezoning request for a data center project (“Project Delta”). Surveillance Cameras Backlash: Western North Carolina communities continue to challenge Flock license-plate camera contracts, while reporting highlights the company’s heavy lobbying spending. Biotech in the Lab: NIH researchers identified rare antibodies that could point toward prevention or targeted treatments for alpha-gal syndrome linked to tick bites. N.C. Research & Materials: NC State researchers say composite metal foam could improve car safety in frontal crashes by absorbing more collision energy. Education Tech vs. Handwriting: Brunswick County schools plan to measure how much K-3 students use computers and whether to increase pencil-and-paper time. Cybersecurity Training: North Carolina National Guard wrapped a five-day live-fire cyber exercise, pairing blue and red teams across public and critical infrastructure partners. Local Health & Access: Action Behavior Centers’ advocacy push highlights Medicaid access gaps for ABA therapy for autism.

G20 Innovation Ministerial (Chapel Hill): G20 ministers wrapped up a two-day meeting in North Carolina and agreed on the “Carolina Principles,” urging governments to avoid inflexible new rules for emerging tech like AI and instead lean on existing regulations, invest in foundational research, and speed commercialization. AI + Trade: U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick pushed AI as a tool to reduce trade barriers and improve cross-border standards, while also saying China hasn’t taken up a U.S. offer to sell advanced AI chips. Data centers debate: Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang urged G20 leaders to treat AI as infrastructure and build more data centers, even as local opposition grows in North Carolina. Market jitters: A global bond rout is raising fears of a disorderly correction, with AI-related investments and leverage flagged as vulnerabilities. Public health alert (NC): North Carolina is reporting a teen critically ill with a brain-eating amoeba, following a similar death in Louisiana. Local governance: Pender County Commissioner Brett Springer was elected to the NC Association of County Commissioners board for 2026-27.

G20 in Asheville: U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent praised Western North Carolina’s Hurricane Helene resilience, but climate links to the storm were largely left off the agenda as leaders pushed “energy abundance.” AI Infrastructure Push: Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang urged G20 ministers to treat AI as core infrastructure and build more data centers, warning against “theoretical” AI harm rules that could slow innovation. North Carolina Education Data: The state released updated results showing NC students posting multipoint gains on spring state tests, with science standards changes making year-to-year comparisons tricky. NCDOT Smarter Traffic Ops: NCDOT is the first U.S. state agency using dashcam imagery in its ClearGuide® system, aiming to speed visual verification for traffic management. Health & Research: United Therapeutics said the FDA accepted a supplemental application for nebulized Tyvaso to treat idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, with review expected by late April 2027. Tech & Security Deal: Four Leaf and Data443 advanced plans to combine into an AI-driven data security and privacy platform, targeting a Nasdaq listing.

Public Health: North Carolina confirmed a teen’s death from the rare “brain-eating” amoeba Naegleria fowleri, nearly always fatal and typically linked to warm freshwater exposure in late summer. AI Policy: At a G20 innovation meeting in North Carolina, the U.S. pushed “Carolina Principles” to keep AI rules light—reserving new regulation only for truly novel issues—while EU and others press for tighter oversight. Energy & Tech Infrastructure: The same G20 discussions spotlighted data centers and power needs, with tech leaders warning electricity shortfalls could follow rapid AI build-outs. Defense Nuclear: The U.S. Army’s Janus program selected vendors and sites for 20 nuclear microreactors at military bases, including Fort Bragg in North Carolina, aiming to protect power during grid outages. Local Tech Controversy: Washington Terrace, Utah canceled a planned Flock camera trial amid privacy and Fourth Amendment concerns. Research & Collections: UNC-Chapel Hill and Duke will unite their herbaria under the North Carolina Botanical Garden, creating a major plant specimen resource for long-term science.

G20 in NC: Global leaders, including Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, are in Chapel Hill for the G20 Innovation Ministerial focused on AI and emerging tech, with U.S. adviser Michael Kratsios pushing a “Carolina Principles” hands-off approach. AI policy debate: The U.S. is expected to argue against broad new AI rules and new AI watchdog bodies, aiming instead to reserve regulation for truly novel issues and boost foundational research. USPS election tech fight: A whistleblower says USPS is rushing a complex mail-voting verification system that could block ballot batches over scanning mismatches; a judge has paused parts of the plan as North Carolina prepares to mail ballots. Local AI infrastructure: Nscale closed about $3B in financing for AI deployments, including GPU infrastructure in Madison, NC. Aerospace education: Research Ignited launched a pre-college aerospace pathway (grades 7–12) with simulation, hardware, and mentored research. Marine science: UNCW welcomed the 78-foot research vessel Osprey to expand coastal research and hands-on education. Agritech: 2Blades added a science advisory board to speed crop-resilience innovation. Health tech access: UNC Innovations waiver reimbursement now covers VR therapy for neurodivergent residents. STEM youth: NC 4-H recognized a STEM camp team using drones, robotics, and AI.

G20 in Asheville: Finance chiefs opened a two-day meeting focused on growth while Iran war fallout clouds inflation and business conditions; U.S. Treasury Sec. Scott Bessent pressed partners to follow sanctions rules and warned Iran’s economy could collapse soon. Frontier AI risk: Bank of England chair Andrew Bailey told G20 leaders advanced AI could destabilize markets, especially via faster cyberattacks and shared tech dependencies across financial firms. Triangle tech spotlight: Chapel Hill hosted the G20 Innovation Ministerial, with major AI leaders set to speak and North Carolina pitching its startup-and-investor ecosystem. Amazon ad lawsuit: The FTC and 22 states sued Amazon over alleged “hidden surcharges” that inflated ad prices for about 1.2 million customers. Healthcare tech in NC: A North Carolina primary care network expanded its care-management and population health dashboards using Innovaccer’s platform. Public health in NC: NCDHHS confirmed a North Carolina teen died after contracting Naegleria fowleri, the rare “brain-eating amoeba.” Local science/education: UNC and Duke plan to combine plant specimen collections in Chapel Hill.

Childcare & Workforce: Center of Attention Preschool opened in Lenoir, betting that early learning boosts parents’ ability to work and strengthens the local economy. Public Health: A North Carolina teen is critically ill after contracting the rare brain-eating amoeba Naegleria fowleri, with investigators still tracking the likely exposure source. AI & Finance (G20 in Asheville): Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey warned G20 leaders that frontier AI could trigger cyber-driven market instability, as regulators push for safer release rules. Local Tech Governance: Durham County approved a nine-month data center moratorium with exemptions aimed at protecting the Research Triangle Park research economy, while residents raised environmental and cost concerns. Wireless Research: The FCC expanded spectrum “Innovation Zone” access for PAWR wireless testbeds, including North Carolina’s AERPAW platform, to speed rural connectivity and precision-ag research. Health Tech: Beyond Air won FDA Breakthrough Device Designation for LungFit GO, a home-based nitric oxide therapy for nontuberculous mycobacterial lung disease. STEM in Schools: A student drone competition partnership expanded with new educational drone support for the 2026–27 season.

Nuclear Power & Defense: The U.S. Army is moving ahead with a $2.2B push for on-base nuclear microreactors, selecting vendors to deploy small reactors at multiple military installations, including Fort Bragg in North Carolina. AI Infrastructure & Manufacturing: Corning says the AI data-center boom is driving demand for high-speed optical fiber, and it’s expanding production with major new facilities tied to NVIDIA—an effort expected to add thousands of jobs in North Carolina and Texas. Workforce Development: Golden LEAF’s “Critical Conversations” podcast spotlights how apprenticeships can connect rural students to engineering and information technology careers, with Stanly Community College describing new pathways. Global Finance in Asheville: G20 finance talks are underway in Asheville, with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent hosting discussions focused on growth, debt, and Iran-related economic pressure, alongside India’s Nirmala Sitharaman. Policy & Elections: A U.S. Postal Service rule could restrict mail voting, with lawsuits and appeals shaping how quickly changes could take effect. Health Care Spending (Local): Medicaid claims for surgery services jumped sharply in Plymouth in 2024, reflecting shifting local health-care utilization.

Criminal Justice: A Durham man, Anthony Tyrone Brown, was cleared after newly discovered fingerprint evidence led a court to vacate his robbery conviction and dismiss the original charge, raising questions about how agencies handle biological evidence. Health & Safety: North Carolina is bracing for a late-summer heat wave with rising heat-illness risk as students return, with hundreds of emergency visits reported in recent weeks. Tech & Policy: Meta’s landmark child-safety settlement will send North Carolina up to $645M and requires major app changes, including default limits for teens and stronger age checks. Biodefense Oversight: New documents describe a CIA–NIH/NIAID arrangement during the Fauci era focused on “forensic microbiology,” intensifying scrutiny of intelligence links to public-health research. STEM & Research Talent: Canada is funding dozens of researchers with ties to U.S. universities, including UNC, to bolster fields like AI, health, and advanced computing. Manufacturing Jobs: NC economic development news highlights new or expanded facilities in Davie (ProVia) and Pitt (Winterville Machine Works grant-backed expansion). Data Centers: Roy Cooper’s Senate pitch shifts toward making data centers pay for their power, as affordability concerns collide with continued expansion. Environment & Industry: A North Carolina hog-pollution investigation revisits how outdated CAFO waste systems drove long-running harm and regulatory fights.

Meta Child Safety Settlement: North Carolina is set to receive up to $645M through 2035 as part of Meta’s landmark child-safety deal, with default teen time limits, overnight feed changes, and stronger age checks plus independent auditing. Public Health & Training: Blue Ridge Health plans a new Hendersonville medical facility to expand patient care and host the Hendersonville Family Medicine Residency Program. Local Manufacturing Growth: Winterville Machine Works secured a $100,000 state Building Reuse grant to renovate its facility, aiming to add jobs and broaden manufacturing capabilities. Traffic Safety Tech: Cities including Albuquerque and Portland are cutting crashes by using “virtual speed bumps” that reward slower driving with fewer red lights. Space Science: NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is gearing up for a wide-area survey mission that will map dark energy/dark matter and rapidly catalog exoplanets. Biotech/Health Research: AskBio reported Phase 2 GenePHIT gene-therapy trial enrollment progress for a one-time heart failure treatment, with early results expected in 2027. Defense & Energy: The U.S. Army is moving ahead with nuclear microreactors at multiple bases to keep power resilient during grid disruptions. Invasive Species: Joro spiders are spreading through the Smokies, and park officials are asking visitors to report sightings.

Higher Ed Leadership: Pitt Community College named Dr. Jasmin Feimster its new dean of Arts and Sciences, overseeing sciences, math/physics, biotech, and transfer programs as she returns to eastern NC after 11 years at Central Piedmont. Biomedical Research Funding: UNC-Chapel Hill won a $700,000 Mathers Foundation grant for T-cell metabolism and cancer work, and PCORI awarded $13M over five years to test digital and clinician-guided symptom management for rare cholestatic liver diseases. Tech in Classrooms: SparkNC approved a Lexington Senior High student’s VR learning unit, “Creating Digital Spaces in VR,” aiming for statewide rollout in 2027. Public Health & Weather: A lightning-safety explainer highlights how lightning deaths and injuries can happen year-round, with the highest fatality risk in summer months. Local Industry & Jobs: Boater’s World Manufacturing Group plans a $6M waterfront manufacturing operation in Chocowinity, targeting 179 jobs. Community Science: Martin County hosted a Great Southeast Pollinator Census pop-up, using a citizen-science model to track pollinators and raise awareness of declines. Global Tech Policy: Meta agreed to pay up to $17.1B in a children’s safety settlement, including changes to Facebook and Instagram, with UNC researchers citing rising youth dependency symptoms.

Military Energy: The U.S. Army is moving ahead with a $2.2B nuclear microreactor plan, selecting five vendors and initial base sites including Fort Campbell—aimed at reliable power for defense operations. Health & Climate Risk: North Carolina reported a teen critically ill with Naegleria fowleri, a rare brain infection tied to warm freshwater; officials say the exposure source isn’t yet confirmed, but the case fits a broader pattern of shifting risk as heat expands where the amoeba can thrive. Air Quality & Data Centers: NCDEQ’s Division of Air Quality issued new permits for Amazon and Duke Energy projects in Richmond County, adding extra monitoring and emissions testing after public concern. Public Transit Amenities: Wilmington’s WAVE transit stop bench debate continues after DSA benches were removed, with next steps now under discussion. Education & Workforce: Wayne Community College again landed on USA Today’s top vocational schools list, highlighting NC’s push to strengthen job-ready training. Wildlife Recovery: North Carolina’s red wolf program reports a spring “baby boom,” with 15 surviving pups tied to improved recovery techniques and genetic planning. Local Tech/Privacy: Lexington residents renewed pressure on the city over Flock license plate readers, citing privacy and misuse concerns.

Nuclear Power for Bases: The U.S. Army’s Janus Program is moving from planning to pilots, awarding about $2.2B to five vendors to deploy nuclear microreactors at Fort Bragg (NC), Fort Campbell, Fort Hood, Fort Benning, and Fort Drum—aimed at reliable power for installations not tied to the civilian grid. UNC Charlotte Energy Push: UNC Charlotte is reorganizing its energy education with a new School of Energy that absorbs existing programs and expands graduate offerings, while keeping EPIC as the research arm focused on grid automation and energy-component manufacturing. Grid + Robotics Research: NC State researchers unveiled infrared-powered “ring leaper” soft robots that keep jumping without manual resets, a step toward more autonomous soft robotics. Cyber + Data Center Pressure: Cary approved an 18-month moratorium on certain data center approvals as residents and officials weigh water and electricity impacts tied to AI growth. Local Tech in Action: East Carolina University and the Army Reserve are taking an Army predictive-maintenance project into operational use via a 10-year agreement, using low-cost sensors and real-time analytics. Marine Science Watch: NC marine fisheries is asking the public to report sightings of the non-native blue land crab as confirmed reports rise along the coast.

Space & Education: NASA Artemis II astronaut Christina Koch visited N.C. A&T to talk engineering, her path to the Moon, and what students can learn from nontraditional routes into space careers. Defense Energy: The U.S. Army selected five firms for its Janus nuclear microreactor push, including Antares Nuclear for Fort Bragg, North Carolina—aiming for resilient power at remote bases. Tech Policy & Privacy: Apple Wallet digital ID launched in Virginia, but most states still lack timelines, while privacy concerns keep spreading as cities reconsider Flock-style license plate reader systems. Climate Science: A new study in Science says El Niño is strengthening alongside human-caused warming, raising the odds of more extreme weather. Public Health: The FDA says a cyclospora outbreak tied to recalled iceberg lettuce has now hit 20 states, including North Carolina. Local Economy & Jobs: Forge Nano’s Morrisville battery expansion is set to add 250+ jobs, with DOE support and a Samsung SDI partnership. AI in Schools: North Carolina educators are updating classroom AI guidance to boost learning without replacing critical thinking.

G20 Tech in NC: OpenAI’s Sam Altman and Nvidia’s Jensen Huang are set to appear at a tech-focused G20 Innovation Ministerial in Raleigh next week, with Elon Musk and Meta’s Dina Powell McCormick also slated to participate, putting North Carolina at the center of global AI policy talk. Military Energy Tech: The U.S. Army selected five firms to build and run nuclear microreactors at five bases, including Fort Bragg in North Carolina, aiming to keep critical operations powered even if the grid fails. Battery Supply Chain: Asahi Kasei opened a wet-process lithium-ion battery separator coating line in Charlotte, expanding North American production capacity for the company’s separator technology. AI in Healthcare (NC): Wake Forest researchers presented an AI radiomics tool that outperformed genomic sequencing for triaging incidental lung nodules, potentially improving which patients get biopsies. PFAS Court Ruling: A federal appeals decision upheld EPA hazardous-substance protections for PFOS and PFOA, rejecting industry challenges. Local Tech Governance: Yadkin County approved a two-year data center moratorium, joining other NC localities pushing back on rapid expansion. Public Safety Tech Debate: Armadillos are now confirmed in eight western NC counties, raising concerns about habitat impacts and tick-related health risks.

Nuclear Power Push: The U.S. Army will award up to $2.2B to five companies to build and operate small “microreactors” at five bases, including Antares Nuclear at Fort Bragg (first reactor targeted for Sept. 2028), aiming to keep critical power running even if the grid fails. STEM Spotlight: North Carolina Labor Commissioner Luke Farley honored NASA astronaut Christina Koch with the Order of the Tar Heel, highlighting her Artemis II work and her push to inspire STEM careers. Health Access Grant: UNC Lineberger and OHSU won a $4M NIH award to reduce barriers to cancer screening across safety-net clinics in North Carolina and Oregon, including mailing screening kits and adding patient navigation. Tech in Care: Novant Health became the first U.S. health system to use real-time “Q-rounds” coordination technology across adult and pediatric settings to help families track care-team visits. Environment & Biosecurity: State marine officials asked the public to report blue land crab sightings as a nonnative species shows up more often along NC’s coast. Local Tech/Policy: North Carolina is considering expanded toxicology testing for marijuana-impaired driving, including blood tests to show recent use. Space/History: A Museum of the Albemarle lecture revisited Shell Castle Island, a submerged Outer Banks-era trade hub tied to Ocracoke Inlet. Meta Fallout: North Carolina is set to receive up to $645M from a landmark Meta settlement over teen social media addiction, alongside new child-safety requirements.