AGP Executive Report

World Cup Security: The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off next week with a “78 Super Bowls over 39 days” security posture, using hunter drones, robot dogs, X-ray trucks, and thousands of AI cameras amid war-linked tensions and fears of AI-fueled disruption. AI Policy: OpenAI CEO Sam Altman met with Sen. Bernie Sanders after Sanders pushed a public 50% ownership stake in AI firms; Trump also floated a plan for Americans to benefit from AI success. Missouri Agriculture: University of Missouri Extension warns tar spot conditions are favorable in Missouri cornfields, urging early scouting and careful fungicide decisions based on severity and weather. Education in Jefferson City: Gov. Mike Kehoe has only a few education bills on his desk after most failed, including measures tied to antisemitism protections, Missouri State High School Activities Association appeals, and school security “rangers.” Data Center Water Debate: Amazon’s planned New Florence data center would tap deep wells and use about 50 million gallons a year, reigniting local fights over water and energy demands. Public Health & Safety: Missouri dermatologists share sun-safety steps for summer; Kansas City leaders also marked gun violence awareness with a metro-wide push for action. Earth Science: A magnitude 2.4 quake rattled the New Madrid Seismic Zone near Williamsville, Missouri, with no reported damage.

AI & Water Stewardship: Google says it will replenish more water than its U.S. AI data centers use by 2030, expanding “water stewardship” with air-cooling, reclaimed water, utility upgrades, and public reporting. Local Tech & Resources: Amazon’s planned New Florence data center (Project Green) could tap deep wells and use about 50 million gallons a year, drawing Missouri residents’ concerns about water impacts. World Cup Security: FIFA World Cup 2026 is set to bring an “unprecedented” security load across 16 cities, with federal-state coordination and tools ranging from drone netting to AI cameras. Missouri Health Policy: Missouri lawmakers passed a health care package including “Food is Medicine” coverage, oral contraceptive access, and doula-related changes, now awaiting Gov. Kehoe’s signature. Public Health & Safety: Missouri’s AG says Kansas City-based American Shaman will halt kratom and 7-OH sales in-state after a lawsuit. STEM & Education: UMSL and Missouri S&T show up in the week’s local education news, including Mizzou’s spring 2026 dean’s list. Community & Cancer: St. Louis-area communities rallied for the “MORE THAN PINK Walk” supporting breast cancer research and survivors. Missouri Weather: A small earthquake rattled the New Madrid Seismic Zone, a reminder of the region’s ongoing activity.

AI Policy: OpenAI CEO Sam Altman met with Sen. Bernie Sanders after Sanders floated a plan for the public to take a 50% stake in AI companies, and Trump signaled interest in a “partnership” so Americans can benefit from AI success. Missouri Data Centers/Water: Amazon’s proposed New Florence campus would use deep 1,500-foot wells and about 50 million gallons of water a year, renewing debate over how data centers strain local resources. Public Safety/Health: Kansas City-area leaders and students marched to demand action on gun violence, while Missouri’s AG secured a deal with a major kratom seller to halt in-state sales of kratom and 7-OH. Weather & Risk: A magnitude 2.4 quake rattled the New Madrid Seismic Zone, and a survey found many St. Louis residents still unhappy with tornado recovery a year later. STEM & Outdoors: Missouri coverage also highlighted tick season “goldilocks” conditions and how wildfire smoke may affect fertility. Community Tech/Reuse: PR3 unveiled a global symbol meant to make reusable packaging and reuse systems easier to spot worldwide.

AI Policy & Data Centers: A Missouri-focused debate over data-center growth is heating up as state rules lag behind tech, leaving communities to push moratoriums and local votes while residents cite energy and quality-of-life concerns. Public Ownership in AI: OpenAI CEO Sam Altman met with Sen. Bernie Sanders after Sanders floated public equity in AI firms, and Trump also signaled interest in a “partnership” where Americans benefit from AI success. Health in Schools: Kansas lawmakers are weighing fentanyl overdose education and requiring reversal meds like Narcan in schools after teen overdose deaths rose sharply; the bill stalled in committee. Missouri Agriculture & Water: Gov. Mike Kehoe appointed a northeast Missouri farmer to the State Soil and Water Districts Commission, underscoring continued attention to land and water management. Outdoor Health: Missouri tick activity is climbing with warmer, humid conditions, with conservation officials urging simple prevention steps. Local Tech/Community: Revity Credit Union handed out $10,000 in scholarships to area high school seniors, including students pursuing biology, business, genetic engineering, and health careers.

Kratom crackdown: Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway says Kansas City’s American Shaman will immediately suspend in-state sales of kratom and 7-OH after a lawsuit over “free samples” and misleading marketing. Public health rollout: Missouri’s Healthy SNAP initiative—aimed at limiting sugary items—has been pushed to Feb. 15, 2027, to smooth retailer and stakeholder readiness. Data center friction: A new report highlights how Missouri’s data-center regulation efforts are lagging the pace of hyperscale growth, fueling failed state bills and contentious local moratorium fights. Local tech industry: Columbia-based EquipmentShare will join Wells Fargo’s Industrials & Materials conference with a fireside chat on its connected jobsite tech. STEM in the region: MU Extension’s Sheep and Goat Day (Aug. 7) spotlights management-intensive grazing, while MDC is running a “From Field to Classroom” workshop for K-12 educators (July 15-16). Agriculture research: A Purdue-led Nature Communications study says better handling of nitrogen uncertainty in corn could cut fertilizer use and environmental costs. Missouri landfill update: Pettis County must rewrite landfill rules after a court ruling found parts of its 2022 ordinance conflicted with state law.

Rail & Heritage: Union Pacific’s Big Boy No. 4014 is drawing crowds on its first East Coast run for America 250, with Missouri-area fans watching the steam giant’s multi-state route. AI & Data Centers: A Missouri-focused debate keeps heating up as residents and officials question the environmental and energy impacts of large AI data centers, pushing lawmakers toward clearer rules. Public Health Research: A new German study finds umbilical cord blood glucose isn’t a reliable way to predict transitional neonatal hypoglycemia, raising concerns about single test snapshots. Local Power Infrastructure: Columbia is moving toward a new $34M high-voltage transmission line, with public input and a council decision targeted for November. Higher Ed Funding Pressure: A report says international student enrollment dropped 17%, exposing how some universities lean on foreign tuition amid state funding gaps. State Consumer Safety: Missouri AG Catherine Hanaway says CBD American Shaman will halt kratom and 7-OH sales in the state after a settlement. World Cup Logistics (KC): Kansas City is about a week out from its FIFA Fan Festival, with ConnectKC26 shuttle plans and driver training underway. Education & Workforce: Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis says summer camp registration is still open, with STEM and music plus help for families.

AI in Healthcare Finance: CFOs are moving past AI pilots and focusing on practical, responsible deployments—like ambient tools for documentation and coding, plus claims and denial prevention—to protect patient trust while improving operations. Data Centers & Water: Google says it will replenish more water than it uses by 2030 and is funding water stewardship projects, as hyperscale data centers face rising scrutiny over water demand. Missouri Education Tech: Missouri is partnering with Odyssey to modernize MOScholars, aiming to streamline school-choice administration for thousands of families. Broadband Planning: A policy push urges states to strengthen and sustain state broadband offices so BEAD funding can be used effectively before deadlines. Local Tech & Infrastructure: Scale Microgrids held a public open house on its White Cloud Acres data center project in Maryville, with water use a top concern. STEM & Training in Missouri: North Central Missouri College reports a first-ever 100% first-attempt pass rate for surgical tech graduates, with all securing jobs. Health Workforce: Mercy Springfield is launching a graduate medical education program starting summer 2027 to help address physician shortages. Community Science: Missouri’s New Madrid Seismic Zone saw a small early-Thursday tremor cluster, with USGS confirming minor quakes near the river.

Medicaid Work Rules: Missouri is bracing for new federal guidance on Medicaid work requirements, with states facing a hard Jan. 1, 2027 deadline and warnings that verification systems and paperwork could wrongly kick eligible people off coverage. Education Appointments: Gov. Mike Kehoe named Jordan Bradberry and Robbie Myers to the Missouri State Board of Education, filling seats tied to education and community leadership. Agri-Food Biotech Boost: A Bayer-backed local start-up program will support “seed-to-Series A” agri-food biotech firms, including field trials, IP work, and connections to investors and academia. Tax Fight in the Spotlight: A Delaware-linked nonprofit reportedly donated $1.9M to a Missouri campaign pushing to replace the income tax with expanded sales taxes, raising questions about hidden donors ahead of the Aug. 4 vote. Data Center Water Use: Community details emerged on a proposed $6B data center near Maryville, including plans to use reclaimed wastewater—while residents still want clarity on the end user and water impacts. STEM & Health Tech: Ameren pledged $1M to UMSL’s School of Engineering for an electrical engineering lab, and a Missouri-area health system expanded virtual ICU monitoring with Philips and hellocare.ai.

College Sports Overhaul: Missouri Sen. Eric Schmitt is pushing the bipartisan “Protect College Sports Act of 2026,” aiming to rein in NIL and transfer-portal chaos with new disclosure rules, health and safety requirements, limits on midseason coaching moves, and tighter conference merger controls—while the SEC and Big Ten oppose it. STEM & Space Data: Missouri S&T researchers helped release the full HETDEX cosmic dataset to the public, expanding what astronomers can study about early galaxies. Health Tech (Local Research): U. Missouri researchers report a new approach to protect pancreatic islet transplants from rejection without broad immunosuppressive drugs. Transportation Planning: Missouri’s Highways and Transportation Commission approved MoDOT’s 2026 long-range transportation plan through 2050. Agriculture Tech: MU Extension updated pasture fence cost tools and precision-ag upgrades at the Hundley-Whaley center are improving soil mapping for better fertilizer decisions. Public Safety: A KC-area streetcar extension to North Kansas City is under feasibility study, with open houses set for June 11 and June 17.

Plastics & Health: Dr. John Ahn brought a TEDxStLouis message to the Missouri History Museum, warning that micro- and nanoplastics act like “invisible pollution” that breaks down from everyday products and can persist in ecosystems and bodies. Public Health Tech: A proposed CDC budget cut would slash funding for the National Wastewater Surveillance System from about $125M to $25M, just as a new COVID “cicada” variant spreads. Pet Safety: Vets are urging cat owners to watch for “bobcat fever” (cytauxzoonosis), carried by Lone Star ticks, as the illness expands across the East Coast and Midwest. Agriculture Safety: University of Missouri Extension reminds growers to prevent pesticide poisoning with label-following PPE, careful mixing/loading, and reentry interval rules. Rural Power: USDA is backing Missouri electric co-ops with major guaranteed loans, including transmission upgrades and smart grid tech. Local Infrastructure: St. Louis Water Division is seeking a customer rate increase after breaks and deferred maintenance drained reserves. AI & Work: National coverage highlights how AI is changing hiring and tasks, with Missouri leaders also discussing the state’s AI direction. Education Funding: Missouri freezes new enrollment in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library after state funding drops. STEM in Missouri: Missouri S&T’s Mars Rover team won top honors at URC 2026 for a second straight year. College Sports Policy: Senators unveiled new NIL-related regulations for college athletes’ compensation.

Missouri Education & Tech: Missouri’s School Funding Modernization Task Force is wrestling with how counties’ real estate assessments lag inflation, complicating a state aid formula that depends on local property taxes. Public Health: CDC-linked reporting and University of Missouri Extension say tick-bite ER visits are climbing across the Midwest, driven by a warm winter and wet spring that boost tick survival. STEM & Local Learning: A Missouri prison reentry program is teaching incarcerated people to code via Unlocked Labs, aiming to improve job readiness after release. Data Centers & Air Permits: A new explainer breaks down how emergency generators at data centers are regulated and permitted, and why rising generator use is sparking air-quality and energy-demand concerns. Campus & Community: Missouri S&T’s Campus Performing Arts Series returns with seven shows, including “Animaniacs in Concert” and a Columbia Ballet Nutcracker segment. Local Culture: Route 66 fans helped bring the Shamrock Court Motel in Sullivan back to life after decades of abandonment.

Missouri AI Planning: Leaders met at Mizzou Engineering to map out “AI-Ready Missouri,” focusing on responsible adoption across agriculture, healthcare, energy, public safety, and manufacturing. STEM in the Show-Me State: Missouri S&T’s Mars Rover Design Team won the University Rover Challenge again, scoring big in equipment servicing and delivery missions. Agriculture Tech: Riegel Dairy in Missouri is installing a co-digestion system to turn manure and other organic waste into energy (methane into pipelines) and biochar for soil. Public Safety Tech: Missouri Conservation says it’s making “significant” progress against feral hogs using drones and helicopters, including a second helicopter with FLIR for winter operations. Healthcare Diagnostics Expansion: C2N Diagnostics and SouthGenetics partnered to expand access to Precivity blood tests for Alzheimer’s amyloid assessment across Latin America and the Caribbean. Local Governance & Health Policy: Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas promises a tougher replacement conversion-therapy ban after the council repealed the earlier ordinance. Data & Privacy Watch: California sued 23andMe over a 2023 genetic data breach affecting nearly 7 million people.

AI Strategy in Missouri: Leaders gathered at Mizzou Engineering for an “AI-Ready Missouri” summit to map real-world gaps and push responsible AI adoption across agriculture, healthcare, energy, public safety, higher ed, and manufacturing. Data Center Pushback: A Missouri-focused piece argues data centers can’t just dismiss community opposition; it calls for clearer state and federal rules plus safeguards to address energy, environmental, and quality-of-life concerns. STEM Spotlight: Missouri S&T’s Mars Rover Design Team won the University Rover Challenge again, scoring big in equipment servicing and delivery. PFAS & Refrigerants: HVACR regulators highlighted evolving PFAS rules and new building-code pressures tied to A2L refrigerants. Missouri Education Policy: Missouri lawmakers advanced a limited set of education bills after a long session, with several still awaiting Gov. Kehoe’s signature. Consumer Tech & Privacy: California’s AG sued 23andMe over a 2023 data breach, alleging weak protections and misleading statements. Health & Safety: A workplace safety staffing report points to mid-range coverage, while a Florida court rule update targets lawyers’ responsibility for citing real legal authorities. Local Life: Kirkwood considered adding excused mental health days for students, aiming to reduce barriers to support.

AI & Health: A new JAMA Network Open study using an AI scan of hospital records finds long COVID hits about 1 in 6 Americans—more than double what current federal tracking suggests. Missouri Tech & Education: Missouri State University’s fall Public Affairs Conference is headlined by actor Rainn Wilson, while MU also announced capacity upgrades at the Graves-Chapple Center and Mizzou students raised concerns as AI gets integrated into classes. Environment & Food Safety: Researchers at the University of Missouri are developing engineered algae to pull microplastics from water, and a separate report highlights how heavy-metal contamination once devastated the Spring River’s mussels—showing how cleanup laws can help ecosystems rebound. Wildlife & Public Health: Louisiana’s lab work is advancing chronic wasting disease detection, and Missouri-area readers also got a reminder that releasing goldfish into waterways can trigger major habitat and water-quality shifts. Local Governance: University City appointed Brooke A. Sharp as city manager, and Jefferson City’s mayor is seeking a veto of its “Idaho stop” cycling ordinance.

Missouri Weather Watch: A local “signs of trouble” guide points to rising humidity, greenish storm clouds, tower-building skies, sudden wind shifts, and fast temperature drops as early cues for severe weather. Local Tech & STEM Win: UIU’s Mars rover team from the Center for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics secured a top-three global finish at the University Rover Challenge in Utah, with Missouri S&T also placing high. AI in Classrooms: Mizzou students are pushing back as generative AI gets integrated into coursework, arguing it can turn learning into copy-paste work. Healthcare Costs & Competition: A new look at hospital consolidation says prices rise when markets lose competition, with ultrasound and doctor-visit costs higher in hospital settings than in independent offices. Invasive Species Control: Maryland is using high-powered bows and arrows to hunt northern snakeheads, aiming to protect native fisheries. Water & Contamination: A PFAS “forever chemicals” report highlights fish contamination concerns in the Missouri River region. College Sports Policy: A debate over the “Save College Sports Act” centers on eligibility limits, transfer rules, and conference power—raising questions for schools like UNC. Missouri Education Leadership: Lincoln University named John Kessell to lead cooperative extension programs, including small-farmer outreach and food/nutrition education.

Supreme Court Cross-Border Pollution Fight: A St. Louis federal case, Reid v. Doe Run Resources, could redraw how far U.S. courts reach in pollution lawsuits tied to a Peruvian smelter—potentially reshaping tort law and investment risk. AI in Missouri Classrooms: At the University of Missouri, students say they’re largely opposed to generative AI being used by professors for syllabi, assignments, and feedback, even as many already use AI tools themselves. Concrete Gets an AI Boost: Missouri S&T researchers won a $2M DOE grant to build an AI database of 20,000+ cementitious material options, aiming to cut reliance on conventional cement and strengthen the supply chain. Kansas City Public Safety Tech: KCPD is using drones to respond faster during major events like the World Cup, helping clear scenes and support investigations. Consumer Data Under Fire: California AG sued 23andMe over a 2023 breach, alleging weak protections and misleading statements to customers. Missouri Weather Watch: MU Extension warns tick activity is surging, tied to recent warm conditions that keep ticks active and climbing.