AGP Executive Report

Ocean Tech Policy: Senators, House committees, and scientists are pushing the National Science Foundation to reverse plans to dismantle the $386M Ocean Observatories Initiative, which tracks ocean circulation and climate impacts, including sensors off North Carolina. AI Manufacturing: Unilever and Accenture say they’re scaling AI-enabled digital twins across global factories, aiming to improve quality and speed decisions. North Carolina Infrastructure & Jobs: Gaon Cable’s U.S. unit will invest $50M to expand AI-data-center power cable production in Tarboro, with new lines starting this fall and next spring. Data Center Power Crunch: AiOnX says it’s buying a 77% stake in Genesis Digital Assets and converting 15 North Carolina-area sites to AI/high-performance computing. Healthcare Construction: Novant Health hit a milestone on a new Greenville hospital campus, with beams installed and openings targeted for late 2026/2027. Broadband Access: NCDIT launched a second Digital Opportunity Survey with NC State’s Friday Institute to map residents’ needs for internet, devices, and digital skills. Workforce Training: Wayne Community College added a Building Construction Technology program starting this fall.

Microplastics Watch: NC AG Jeff Jackson praised EPA research on microplastics in drinking water but urged mandatory monitoring to clarify health risks. Disaster-Ready Power: DEQ and partners demonstrated two mobile microgrids for Western NC, using solar-plus-battery trailers to restore electricity and critical refrigeration during storms. Aerospace Jobs Boost: Gov. Josh Stein broke ground on JetZero’s first commercial airplane manufacturing facility at PTI, targeting 14,500 high-wage aerospace jobs and $4.7B in investment. Ocean Science Under Threat: Senators and House committees challenged NSF plans to dismantle the Ocean Observatories Initiative, warning the $386M network’s public data and climate research could be lost. AI in Public Safety: A man jailed 50+ days after AI-assisted facial recognition in Jacksonville says the match was wrong, highlighting the need for strict oversight. Election Data Access: ICE investigators reportedly received voter files from Forsyth County, fueling concerns about misuse of sensitive election records. Education & AI Skills: A 4-H survey found many teens are changing career plans due to AI, but many feel unprepared. Local Tech & Growth: Charlotte approved a 150-day data center moratorium as cities across NC pause to update rules for power, water, and planning impacts.

Fiber & AI Infrastructure: Amazon and Corning struck a multibillion-dollar deal to expand fiber optic cables and connectivity for U.S. data centers, with Corning adding 1,000 jobs in North Carolina and partnering with Catawba Valley Community College to grow a Fiber Optic Technician Training Program. Healthcare Access & Costs: A western North Carolina couple canceled Affordable Care Act coverage after enhanced tax credits expired, a sign of how rising premiums are pushing more people out of insurance. Public Health & Policy: A pilot study presented in Charlotte suggests noninvasive cervical spinal cord stimulation plus therapy could improve hand and arm function for people with multiple sclerosis, though it’s early-stage work. Aviation Tech: Sky Aircraft Maintenance in Lexington was named an authorized Garmin Aviation dealer, expanding support for modern flight deck upgrades including Garmin’s G5000 retrofit program. Military Readiness: A new GAO report says KC-46A tanker problems are forcing the Air Force to lean on older KC-135s, with avionics and component failures still driving mission-readiness issues. Food Safety: The FDA issued a high-risk recall for Alfredo sauce tied to salmonella contamination, affecting 913 cases distributed across 41 states including North Carolina.

AI + Health Tech: A pilot study presented in Charlotte suggests noninvasive cervical spinal cord stimulation, paired with exercise therapy, could improve hand and arm function for people with multiple sclerosis. Telehealth + GLP-1s: A new report highlights how telehealth demand for GLP-1 weight-loss drugs is rising fast, while patient accounts raise concerns about dosing and follow-up when care is remote. Infectious Disease Preparedness: Coverage flags that cuts in funding and personnel could leave the U.S. less ready for future infectious disease outbreaks. Space + Industry: Amazon’s multibillion-dollar deal with Corning to expand fiber-optic production for data centers is expected to boost North Carolina jobs and training pipelines. Data Centers + Politics: A national analysis says data centers are becoming a midterm campaign flashpoint in competitive House districts, driven by energy, water, and local impacts. Public Health Trends: Opioid overdose deaths are reported at historic lows, with researchers pointing to a possible turning point after years of decline. Weather: Forecasters warn of a cold front bringing scattered strong to severe storms to the Carolinas late Sunday, with damaging wind gusts a key risk.

Health & Research Funding: A new nearly $4M NIH grant aims to expand a primary-care model for prescribing medication for opioid use disorder across ~40 clinics in Ohio and West Virginia, tracking outcomes while testing whether brief prescribing support can stick in real-world settings. Public Health & Community Care: A UNC Health Pharmacy-led study on Connect AF shows community pharmacists can screen atrial fibrillation patients for social needs like mental health barriers, housing instability, and transportation gaps—using partnerships with UNC Health Pharmacy, Pfizer, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina. Environment & Citizen Science: Volusia County residents are invited to join the Great Pollinator Census (Aug. 21–22), counting bees, butterflies, moths, flies, and hummingbirds to help researchers track long-term pollinator trends across the Southeast, including North Carolina State University participation. Agriculture & Worker Safety: Advocates warn North Carolina’s H-2A migrant farmworkers face serious heat-stress risks, citing past deaths and enforcement actions tied to inadequate protections. Weather Watch: Forecasts call for hot, humid conditions across North Carolina with scattered storms and a risk of damaging winds and isolated tornadoes. Local Governance: New Hanover County Board of Elections rescheduled its August 2026 regular meeting to Aug. 19. Tech & Policy: A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to restore altered exhibits at national museums and parks, pausing further changes. Science Education & Outreach: The Sternberg Museum of Natural History in Hays is hosting “Under the Canopy,” a traveling rainforest exhibit featuring live animals and bilingual interpretive displays.

Data Centers & Politics: A new analysis says AI-driven data center growth is colliding with midterm politics, with dozens of competitive House districts seeing projects spark backlash over power, water, farmland, and local impacts. Federal Parks Overhaul: A judge ordered the Trump administration to reinstate altered exhibits and displays at national museums, parks, and landmarks, halting further changes tied to a directive aimed at removing “inappropriately disparage” elements. Health Access in Primary Care: An NIH-funded effort will scale a model that helps primary care clinics prescribe medications for opioid use disorder, tracking outcomes across about 40 clinics in Ohio and West Virginia. Wetlands & Flooding: UNC-Chapel Hill and EDF research finds wetland loss has driven up flood insurance claims by $10B over 40 years, with climate change expected to worsen flooding. NC Community Health: Connect AF partnerships show community pharmacists can screen atrial fibrillation patients for social needs like housing, food, transportation, and mental health barriers. Duke Energy Grants: Duke Energy Foundation will award $500,000 in grants to NC nonprofits for small-business microgrants, with applications open through June 30. Extreme Heat: North Carolina faces another dangerously hot, humid Saturday with highs near 99°F in parts of the Piedmont and storm chances along the coast.

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.