AGP Executive Report

Data Centers in Missouri: Amazon says it will invest $10 billion in a new data center campus in eastern Missouri’s Montgomery County, promising 400 direct jobs and thousands more during construction, plus major local tax revenue claims—while residents push back and have sued. Local Governance: St. Joseph is set for a July 16 town hall on a proposed 130-acre data center on Pickett Road before any council action. Public Safety Tech: Columbia’s first-year Flock Safety camera rollout generated 5,521 alerts in 2025, with the city reporting no substantiated complaints and emphasizing vehicle-only data handling. Privacy & Security: Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway sued baby monitor maker Lorex over alleged concealed ties to China’s military-linked Dahua supply chain. Health Tech & Surveillance: Baylor researchers report wastewater testing can track community HIV burden using hybrid-capture genetic sequencing. Legal & Environment: Republican AGs, including Missouri’s, urged the EPA to classify mifepristone as a water contaminant despite experts saying there’s no harm data. STEM & Research: Northwest Missouri State physics professor Himadri Chakraborty won a spot at a top French synchrotron lab for fullerene molecule research. Space in the Sky: A brilliant fireball lit up the Mid-South, drawing hundreds of reports across multiple states. Agriculture: University of Missouri wheat trials show strong early yields in parts of southeastern Missouri. Tech in the Courts: Missouri’s Supreme Court is expected to weigh whether federal law blocks state “failure to warn” pesticide lawsuits tied to glyphosate. Tragedy: Investigators continue after a Missouri skydiving plane crash killed 12 near Butler.

AI & Education: Missouri schools and universities are wrestling with how to spot and prevent AI-generated cheating, as tools increasingly produce “publication-ready” charts and lab diagrams that slip past text-focused detectors. Healthcare Tech & Policy: The Trump administration is warning hundreds of hospitals nationwide—including Missouri providers—to post clearer pricing or face steep penalties, pushing more transparency into everyday care decisions. AI Data Centers: Lawmakers are trying to slow or reshape AI data center growth amid local backlash, but bills stall as tech giants lobby hard and Republicans split on whether federal action is needed. Missouri Business & Innovation: Pivot Bio expands its Greater St. Louis footprint with new Centers of Excellence in Hazelwood and Creve Coeur to boost nitrogen production and lower costs for farmers. Local Tech/Infrastructure: St. Joseph is weighing annexation steps tied to a potential data center at Pickett Road, with zoning and infrastructure review still ahead. Public Safety: A skydiving plane crash near Butler, Missouri killed all 12 aboard; investigators are focusing on takeoff performance and the failed climb.

AI Data Centers & Politics: Lawmakers are trying to slow or reshape AI data center growth, but most bills stall in Congress as Republicans split and big tech (including Meta and Google) pours money into the debate. Healthcare Tech & Policy: The Trump administration issued final Medicaid work requirement rules, pushing states to update systems and enforce new eligibility steps for millions of enrollees. Public Safety Tech in Missouri: Missouri’s new public safety law (HB 2637) tightens drone rules for events and critical infrastructure, with tougher penalties for explosive drone deliveries. World Cup Tech & Security: Kansas City and other host cities are treating the 2026 tournament like a massive tech-and-security operation, using AI cameras, drones, and advanced screening to manage unprecedented risk. Missouri Water & Pharma Fight: Republican AGs, including Missouri’s, are urging the EPA to classify mifepristone as a water contaminant despite experts saying there’s no clear harm from wastewater. Local Business Tech: Pivot Bio expands its Greater St. Louis nitrogen innovation and manufacturing footprint, aiming to stabilize supply and pricing for farmers. Missouri Education: Mid-Missouri educators were recognized as regional Teachers of the Year, highlighting classroom innovation across subjects. Local Industry Growth: Front Line Safety plans a Kansas City distribution expansion tied to Missouri workforce incentives.

Healthcare Pricing Push: The Trump administration warned more than 500 hospitals to post basic pricing info or face penalties up to $2 million a year, aiming to cut surprise costs for tests and treatments. World Cup Tech & Security: FIFA’s 2026 tournament is leaning hard on tech—from semi-automated offside systems to AI cameras—while authorities plan for an unprecedented security load across 16 cities. Missouri Public Safety Law: Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe signed HB 2637, tightening drone rules around events and critical infrastructure and expanding law enforcement powers. AI & Data Centers Politics: A new wave of data center builds is colliding with election politics, with candidates facing pressure over power, water use, and farmland impacts. Agriculture Legal Fight: Pesticide makers are pushing “liability shield” laws to block lawsuits tied to glyphosate/Roundup, as a Supreme Court ruling is expected in July 2026. Missouri Energy Buildout: MPUA broke ground on the $52.5M Fulton Energy Center to add summer and winter capacity and shore up statewide power gaps. Public Health Watch: CDC recognition of Chagas disease as endemic highlights how kissing bugs can spread the parasite across more U.S. states than many realize.

AI & Sports Tech: The 2026 FIFA World Cup is being built like a live computing testbed, with semi-automated officiating, massive data capture, and AI-driven security and operations across 16 host cities. Missouri Tech & Education: Columbia’s Rock Bridge High students—working with the Columbia Police Department—became national Presidential AI Challenge finalists for AI tools aimed at law enforcement support. Data Centers vs. Politics: A new wave of AI data centers is colliding with midterm politics, with communities and candidates battling over power, water, farmland, and local impacts. Healthcare Tech & Policy: The Trump administration warned 500+ hospitals to post clearer pricing or face steep penalties, pushing more transparency into healthcare systems. Public Safety Tech in Missouri: Gov. Mike Kehoe signed Missouri’s sweeping public safety bill, expanding drone restrictions and enforcement tools effective immediately. Skilled Trades Pipeline: St. Louis landed $8M over three years to expand a skilled-trades apprenticeship program for high school students. Water & Health: Missouri AG Liz Murrill joined a coalition urging EPA to study whether mifepristone could affect waterways. Food Tech & Service Rules: World Cup host-city restaurants, including Kansas City, are adding automatic 20% gratuities to reduce tipping confusion for international visitors.

Healthcare Pricing Transparency: The Trump administration warned 500+ hospitals to post clearer prices or face up to $2M in annual penalties, pushing hospitals to make costs easier for patients and insurers to compare. Agriculture & Food Tech: Missouri cattlemen say they’re dodging the worst fertilizer-price fallout thanks to favorable conditions and less reliance on nitrogen than corn, while MU seed trials show early wheat yields in southeast Missouri running well above USDA forecasts. AI in Public Safety: Columbia Rock Bridge High School students became national finalists in the Presidential AI Challenge for tools aimed at helping the Columbia Police Department. EV Policy: A federal transportation bill backed by Missouri’s Sam Graves includes new annual EV fees, drawing criticism that it could punish drivers instead of funding infrastructure fairly. Water, Data Centers & Regulation: A new report highlights how AI data centers can strain local water supplies even if they’re a small share nationally, as Missouri and other states weigh how to regulate fast-growing tech infrastructure. Public Health & Environment: Missouri AG Liz Murrill joined a coalition urging the EPA to study whether the abortion drug mifepristone should be treated as a water contaminant. Skilled Trades Pipeline: St. Louis won $8M over three years to expand a skilled-trades apprenticeship program for high school students. Missouri Infrastructure: MoDOT’s Kaysinger Basin Bridge Bundle keeps rolling, with Route H Bridge over Monegaw Creek reopened after replacement work.

AI in Public Safety: Rock Bridge High School students in Columbia were named national finalists in the Presidential AI Challenge for tools developed with the Columbia Police Department, showing how local schools are turning AI into real-world public safety use. Agriculture Research: Early University of Missouri wheat variety trials in southeast Missouri are already showing strong, triple-digit yields at some sites, with MU Extension also flagging pests like stink bugs and corn leafhopper ahead of the July 8 field day. Wildlife & Weather Impacts: A bear was spotted outside a Columbia gym, with experts pointing to recent flooding as a likely driver of animal movement. Historic Preservation: The Carver Birthplace Association has started restoring a historic schoolhouse in Neosho that George Washington Carver attended briefly, aiming to return the interior to its 1912 look. Public Transit Tech: St. Louis-area Metro Transit will activate a new fare collection system and automated security gates at MetroLink stations starting July 6, rolling out in phases across dozens of platforms. Healthcare Policy: Republican attorneys general, including Missouri’s, are urging the EPA to classify mifepristone as a water contaminant—an effort experts say lacks support in current science. Agritech & Biosecurity: The New World screwworm is back in the U.S. conversation, with Missouri Extension noting it’s not a threat through meat and pointing to sterile fly control efforts.

Healthcare Costs & Transparency: The Trump administration says more than 500 hospitals aren’t posting required pricing info and is issuing warnings that can bring up to $2M in annual penalties, with enforcement set to tighten. AI in Schools: As AI use grows, states and districts are scrambling to set guardrails, including new efforts to build AI literacy and require coordinators. Medicaid Work Rules: Final federal rules spell out how millions of Medicaid enrollees must prove they’re working or in approved activities, pushing states to update systems before a 2027 rollout. Missouri Budget Pressure: Missouri’s top auditor warns the state could exhaust its General Revenue Fund by early fiscal year 2028, as voters consider eliminating the income tax. World Cup Tech & Security: FIFA’s 2026 tournament is also a major security test, with heavy use of drones, robot dogs, and AI cameras across 16 host cities. Sustainability Watch: A new analysis estimates the World Cup could be the most carbon-intensive ever, at about 3.7 million tons of CO2e. Local Tech/Business: Sagility (Kansas City) is buying CareSeed for up to $30M to expand AI-led healthcare quality and Medicare Advantage operations.

Healthcare Price Transparency: The Trump administration warned 500+ hospitals nationwide to post clearer pricing or face penalties up to $2M annually, with Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway among officials pushing EPA oversight of mifepristone contamination. World Cup Tech & Security: FIFA’s 48-team tournament kicks off next week with an unprecedented security setup using drones, robot dogs, X-ray trucks, and AI cameras—while Kansas City expects about 650,000 visitors and $650M in economic activity. Missouri Budget & Taxes: Missouri’s auditor warns the state could exhaust its General Revenue Fund by early FY2028, putting the income-tax cut plan on shaky ground. AI Policy Fight: Democrats in Congress are split on how to regulate AI, with proposals ranging from targeted frameworks to sweeping rules. Data Centers in Missouri: Nodaway County seeks a development agreement for a proposed data center as residents worry about water wells; Montgomery County approved a major Google tax incentive package. Local Health Tech: Sagility acquired Kansas City’s CareSeed to expand AI-led quality reporting for Medicare Advantage. STEM Research: WashU researchers found socioeconomic factors tied to lasting brain development in kids. Construction Workforce: Mizzou launched a short-term training push to address Missouri’s construction staffing shortage.

World Cup Security: The AP reports FIFA World Cup 2026 is bringing an “unprecedented” security load to 16 host cities, with federal, state, local, and private teams using everything from AI cameras to robot dogs and drone netting amid war and disruption fears. AI & Power Demand: A new report highlights how AI data centers can create a “data heat island,” raising local land temperatures and adding to energy strain as electricity use keeps climbing. Missouri Tech & Health Tech: Washington University researchers unveiled a portable point-of-care PET/CT scanner concept aimed at improving bedside imaging during interventional procedures. Local Tech Policy Pushback: A Missouri-area data center debate continues as critics question environmental impacts and lawmakers consider new rules or moratoriums. Education Tech in Missouri: Ralls County schools are scaling back one-to-one Chromebooks for younger grades, shifting to shared devices when needed. Community & Services: Missouri’s Kids Count data flags gaps in child health coverage and learning proficiency, while Columbia’s Opportunity Campus expands services as homelessness increasingly affects seniors and young adults. Public Safety Tech: Mexico, Mo. is buying body cameras to roll out next month.

World Cup Security Tech: The AP reports the 2026 FIFA World Cup will lean hard on drones, robot dogs, big X-ray trucks, and AI cameras as federal, state, and local teams coordinate across 16 U.S. cities. Public Safety & AI Risks: A Florida man sued after a wrongful arrest tied to a faulty facial recognition match, renewing calls for safeguards around police AI. Missouri Education Tech: Ralls County will scale back one-to-one Chromebooks for K-8, shifting to shared devices when needed. Healthcare Tech & Access: Missouri’s Medicaid coverage losses are driven mostly by paperwork problems, and advocates warn new federal work requirements could worsen procedural drop-offs. STEM Scholarships: The Missouri 4-H Foundation awarded 95 scholarships totaling $127,000 for students in science and tech fields. Water Infrastructure Grants: Missouri DNR handed out drinking-water engineering report grants to Caledonia, Holcomb, and Waverly. Business & Governance: EquipmentShare added two directors to its board after its IPO.

Healthcare Transparency Crackdown: The Trump administration warned more than 500 hospitals nationwide—including several in the region—over missing public pricing info, with penalties up to $2M annually for noncompliance. Local Safety Tech: Maryville, Mo. is weighing new rules and education for e-bikes and e-scooters after near-collisions and a spike in accidents involving minors. Cybersecurity Policy Push: Sen. Rick Scott introduced bills aimed at tightening cybersecurity oversight for U.S. maritime transportation facilities and critical infrastructure, including risk reviews and interagency coordination. AI in Strategy Debate: A new discussion revisits whether GenAI should be used for strategy at all—questioning who should make the most subjective decisions. Space & Robotics in Missouri: Missouri S&T’s Mars rover team won first place at the University Rover Challenge, beating teams from multiple countries. Payments Infrastructure: Aeropay integrated with Jack Henry to expand pay-by-bank capabilities and real-time payment routing. STEM in the Classroom: Northwest Missouri State University students used cemetery surveys to research local history, turning fieldwork into public-history skills.

World Cup Security: The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off next week with an “unprecedented” security setup across 16 cities, using counter-drone tech like hunter drones, robot dogs, X-ray trucks, and AI cameras as agencies coordinate against threats tied to geopolitics and AI disruption. Healthcare Pricing Push: The Trump administration warned 500+ hospitals nationwide to post clearer price information or face penalties up to $2M annually, with Missouri-area scrutiny part of the broader enforcement. USDA Reorg in Motion: USDA Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden says the agency’s regional reorganization is on track, including Kansas City, with jobs protected and many day-to-day changes not expected at local offices. Missouri Research: MU Extension research found stink bugs are widespread in Missouri soybeans, with the green stink bug dominating, helping growers time scouting and management. Smart Home Tech: IntegrateIT opened a relocated Kansas City-area smart home showroom in Overland Park so homeowners can test integrated systems hands-on before installing. STEM in Missouri: Missouri S&T students won a biomedical research award for work ranging from biosensors to DNA origami drug delivery and cancer therapy. Ag & Policy: Lawmakers pressed for full disclosure of government extraterrestrial files, while execution methods and a New Madrid-area earthquake also drew attention.

World Cup Security Tech: FIFA’s 2026 run-up is pushing U.S. security into high-tech gear—hunter drones, robot dogs, big X-ray trucks, and thousands of AI cameras—amid geopolitical tensions and fears of AI-fueled disruptions. Missouri Research & Turf: FIFA is also leaning on Michigan State’s Hancock Turfgrass Research Center for World Cup playing surfaces, a reminder that sports tech is increasingly science-first. Data Centers vs. Water: A report flags an Amazon Web Services data center plan in New Florence that could tap deep wells 1,500 feet down for about 50 million gallons a year, reigniting Missouri’s water-and-energy debate. Local Government & Infrastructure: Maryville City Council discussed motor scooters, a proposed data center, and boat docking rules—showing how tech growth collides with everyday city enforcement. STEM Wins in Missouri: Missouri S&T’s Mars Rover Design Team won the University Rover Challenge for a second straight year. Agriculture Innovation: MU Weed Science and Missouri Soybeans are teaming up for an expanded July 8 field day on crop pests and weed management. Education Spotlight: Missouri State named spring 2026 dean’s list students, including Armend Ujkashi.

World Cup Security Tech: The U.S. is rolling out a high-tech security mix for the 2026 FIFA World Cup—robot dogs, AI cameras, and drone-detection—across 16 cities as federal, state, and local agencies coordinate around stadiums and fan zones. Public Health Research: A Missouri team reports that giving calcium before hospital arrival for trauma patients can reduce hypocalcemia, but may raise hypercalcemia risk—new findings published in Open Access Emergency Medicine. Missouri Health Watch: Alpha-gal syndrome tied to lone star ticks is drawing attention in Missouri as a growing concern, with delayed and variable symptoms that can range from GI issues to anaphylaxis. STEM & Aging Science: Researchers say microscopic gut particles may carry aging-related signals through the body, with transfers from younger animals showing potential to counter some age changes. Local Tech Business: Inzo Technologies (Chesterfield) is expanding via acquisition of Louisville’s DeMott Technical Solutions, adding cybersecurity, cloud, networking, and voice services for Midwest SMBs. Higher Ed Leadership: Henderson State names Dr. Scott Kuttenkuler vice chancellor for student life, overseeing housing, counseling, conduct, disability services, and more. Student Loan Policy: Missouri borrowers are preparing for July 1 changes as the SAVE student repayment plan is dismantled, forcing new payment routines.

World Cup Security: The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off next week with an “78 Super Bowls” level of security—drones, robot dogs, X-ray trucks, and AI cameras—amid war fears and worries about AI-fueled disruptions. AI Regulation & Kids: States and Washington are pushing tougher rules on how children interact with AI after the social media “techlash” backlash. Missouri Data Centers: As Heartland communities protest data centers, Missouri lawmakers move to regulate development; Google also says it will replenish more water than its AI sites use. USDA Relocation: Federal employees at USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service face a June 30 decision deadline tied to relocation or separation. Missouri Agriculture: Missouri corn growers warn fertilizer and diesel costs are squeezing margins as nitrogen supply and pricing remain unstable. Health & Outdoors: Illinois tick season is extending with warmer winters; Missouri farmers are also watching tar spot conditions in cornfields. Local Tech/Community: Palmyra students and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers team up on bat boxes to cut mosquitoes using real-world field data.