AGP Executive Report

Aerospace & Moon Prep: NASA named the Artemis III crew—Randy Bresnik, Luca Parmitano, Andre Douglas, and Frank Rubio—mission set for 2027, with Huntsville’s Marshall Space Flight Center helping oversee lunar lander systems testing. Space Medicine/Local STEM: Rubio, a former Redstone Arsenal flight surgeon, brings Alabama ties back into the spotlight as he heads to the Moon mission. Defense Tech Research: Alabama A&M University researchers brief U.S. Space Command on lab work exploring electrically driven spark gaps and possible gravitational-wave-like effects using laser interferometry. STEM Education Pipeline: AAMU and the U.S. Forest Service host the 11th Annual Forestry Fair for 200+ summer-camp students, with hands-on learning in forestry, wildfire prevention, and conservation careers. Healthcare Tech Policy: The Trump administration warned 500+ hospitals to post clearer pricing or face penalties, including a push to improve public access to costs for common tests and treatments. AI/Industry & Local Governance: Birmingham approved a data center zoning ordinance after public criticism, including concerns about removed special-exception requirements for hyperscale projects. Higher Ed Governance: Auburn’s Board of Trustees took full control of curriculum and dissolved the Faculty Senate, replacing it with a presidential advisory council—sparking faculty backlash. Public Health/Regulation: Alabama AG Steve Marshall issued cease-and-desist letters targeting companies advertising and shipping chemical abortion-inducing drugs into the state.

Space & Defense Research: Alabama A&M’s Dr. Chance Glenn Sr. briefed U.S. Space Command on lab work exploring electrically driven spark gaps and possible gravitational-wave-like effects, as the command builds out at Redstone Arsenal. Artemis III (Alabama Ties): NASA named the Artemis III crew for a 2027 launch, including Frank Rubio with Redstone Arsenal medical experience and Huntsville connections. Higher Ed Leadership: The University of Alabama appointed André Denham associate provost and dean of the Graduate School, starting July 1, with a push to align doctoral programs to Alabama and national needs. STEM Youth Pipeline: Alabama A&M and the U.S. Forest Service will host the 11th Annual Forestry Fair for more than 200 youth campers, featuring hands-on forestry and conservation demos. Aquaculture & Food Security: NOAA launched CIFARM with $13.5M for aquaculture research and markets; the University of Hawaiʻi is a core consortium member, aiming to expand sustainable U.S. seafood. Public Health Tech: The Trump administration warned 500+ hospitals nationwide, including Alabama-area institutions in the broader list, to improve healthcare price transparency or face penalties. Local Tech Policy: Leeds approved a one-year moratorium on new data center campuses and similar high-impact facilities while officials study infrastructure and utility impacts. Diabetes Drug Update: ADA 2026 trial results highlighted CagriSema and other next-gen GLP-1/related therapies showing strong HbA1c and weight results.

Higher Ed Governance: Auburn University trustees dissolved the faculty senate and moved to direct control of curriculum and course decisions, replacing faculty input with a presidential academic advisory council—sparking backlash over shared governance. STEM & Research: UAH engineering students won overall honors at NASA’s 2026 Student Launch Initiative, earning the $5,000 prize and a social media award for their rocket design and mission execution. Manufacturing & Jobs: Kamtec Auto USA will invest $9.2 million in Auburn to produce advanced hybrid-vehicle engine control and electric management components, creating about 50 jobs. Energy Infrastructure: Virginia Transformer will build a 600,000-square-foot plant at the Shoals Research Airpark in Colbert County, targeting power-transformer demand and adding about 1,100 jobs. Tech Investment: Google says it plans “infrastructure and community investments” across Alabama, with a major Jackson County event tied to its existing Bridgeport data center. Workforce Training: Northwest Shoals Community College FAME students placed second nationally after winning Alabama’s state competition, showcasing lean manufacturing problem-solving.

Engineering Leadership: Austal USA in Mobile named Gene Miller president, confirming him after an interim stint and adding senior executives as the shipbuilder builds out its management team. STEM Education: UAH appointed thermal-sciences expert Srinath Ekkad as dean of its College of Engineering, effective Aug. 5, after a national search. Industry & Research Translation: UAB ranked No. 42 in the Cure Innovation Index for turning biomedical research into therapies and measurable health outcomes, highlighting strength in market translation and entrepreneurial readiness. Public Health & Training: Troy University’s College of Health Sciences will host a Wiregrass Trauma Team Conference and Workshop June 12 with UAB trauma surgeons, focusing on team-based response and transfer decisions for rural care. Policy & Tech Safety: Sen. Katie Britt proposed a federal bill to block sports-betting digital ads from targeting minors, with FTC enforcement and penalties. Local Infrastructure: Prichard’s court-appointed water expert says water loss fell 12% last year by tackling leaks, while warning long-term fixes likely require a merger with MAWSS. Biosafety Watch: Alabama officials are monitoring the spread of a flesh-eating New World screwworm after confirmed cases in Texas. Community Science: Alabama Audubon’s Black Belt Birding Festival returns July 31–Aug. 2 in Greensboro, mixing birding with local history and conservation. Alabama in the World: Auburn student Weston Higginbotham, an engineering junior, was found dead near Kyoto after a weeklong search following a family dispute involving ChatGPT.

Alabama Education & Policy: Alabama’s 2026 Kids Count Data Book says the state is doing better in education than a few years ago, with less pandemic learning loss and gains tied to the Alabama Literacy Act and Numeracy Act’s coaching and one-on-one support. Public Health: A new American Cancer Society update adds a blood-based colorectal screening option (Guardant Health’s Shield) for average-risk adults 45+ who skip stool or colonoscopy tests—an issue that matters in Alabama, where colorectal cancer remains a leading cause of cancer deaths. Healthcare Research: UAB researchers presented Phase 2 ZUPREME-1 results on petrelintide, a GLP-1 alternative, reporting sustained weight loss with lower nausea rates than GLP-1 therapies. STEM in the Community: Gulf Shores applied for up to $6.98M in GOMESA grant funding to improve Windmill Ridge Road access with safer pedestrian/bike connections and new boardwalks and trails. Animal Health: Auburn and Alabama diagnostic lab updates highlight avian metapneumovirus spread in U.S. poultry, with 2025 testing showing substantial positivity rates in commercial breeder and broiler submissions.

Higher Ed Policy: Auburn’s Board of Trustees voted to replace the Faculty Senate with a Presidential Academic Advisory Council and a new policy covering curriculum and core requirements, a move praised by State Sen. Arthur Orr as an early compliance step after HB520. Health Tech & Care Access: A new blood-based colorectal cancer screening option is now in the American Cancer Society guidelines, adding Guardant Health’s Shield test for average-risk adults 45+ who won’t do stool tests or colonoscopy—an issue with extra weight in Alabama’s high colorectal cancer burden. Medical Research: UAB researchers highlighted Phase 2 results for petrelintide (ZUPREME-1), showing sustained weight loss with lower nausea than GLP-1 therapies. Public Health & Safety: Alabama medical regulators warned doctors about “research-grade” peptides and reminded that advising or recommending non-FDA-approved peptides is illegal. Community Infrastructure: Gulf Shores applied for up to $6.98M in GOMESA grant funding to improve beachfront access with roadway, pedestrian/bike paths, boardwalks, and trails. STEM Workforce: A clinical trial at LSU Health Shreveport is enrolling patients to test bromocriptine for peripartum cardiomyopathy. AI in Daily Life: A missing Auburn student in Japan was found dead near Kyoto; reporting ties the disappearance to a family argument involving ChatGPT use.

Cancer Screening Update: The American Cancer Society added a blood-based colorectal cancer screening option (Guardant Health’s Shield test) for average-risk adults 45+ in Alabama, aiming to boost screening rates where stool tests or colonoscopy aren’t completed. Clinical Research: LSU Health Shreveport is enrolling patients in the NIH-backed REBIRTH trial testing bromocriptine to improve outcomes for women with peripartum cardiomyopathy. Public Health Oversight: The Alabama Board of Medical Examiners warned physicians about “research-grade” peptides and reiterated restrictions on recommending or prescribing non-FDA-approved substances. Animal Health Watch: Alabama officials are monitoring the New World screwworm after confirmed cases in Texas, stressing it’s an animal health threat that could spread with livestock movement. STEM & AI in Education: UAB professor Akhlaque Haque spoke in Bangladesh on curiosity and critical thinking for students navigating AI. Energy & Tech: A new report highlights how data centers and AI are driving surging electricity demand, pushing tech firms to pursue nuclear and other steady power sources. Local Tech Policy: Homewood City Council will discuss data center zoning/moratorium ideas and other business regulations. Major Tragedy: Auburn student James “Weston” Higginbotham, missing in Japan, was found dead near Kyoto; authorities haven’t released a cause of death.

Auburn STEM Tragedy: James “Weston” Higginbotham, a 20-year-old Auburn University engineering student, was found dead in a mountainous area outside Kyoto, Japan, after going missing May 29 during a family trip; his mother said volunteers located him and Japanese authorities had traced his last confirmed area near Kyoto Station, with his phone going dark that night. Medical Oversight: The Alabama Board of Medical Examiners warned physicians about “increased interest in peptides,” stressing restrictions on non-FDA-approved peptide use and that doctors can’t route around rules via other clinicians. Sleep Tech in North Alabama: Athens-Limestone Hospital rolled out the FDA-approved Genio system, offering nerve-stimulation therapy as an alternative for moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea patients who struggle with CPAP. Obesity Drug Update (UAB): UAB researchers presented phase 2 results for petrelintide, an amylin-analog investigational obesity treatment, reporting meaningful weight loss with a milder GI side-effect profile than typical GLP-1 approaches. Space Science Moment: A total solar eclipse is set for Aug. 12, with totality visible in parts of Greenland, Iceland, Spain, and Portugal.

Space & Research: NASA’s Psyche spacecraft successfully completed a Mars flyby, using a gravity assist to boost speed and adjust its orbit on the way to the metal-rich asteroid—targeting arrival in summer 2029. STEM Health & Drugs: Roche and Zealand Pharma’s petrelintide Phase 2 results add to the case for a new once-weekly obesity/Type 2 diabetes option, showing double-digit weight loss by week 42 with low GI-related discontinuations. Alabama Education & Governance: Auburn’s Board of Trustees dissolved faculty governance and replaced it with a Presidential Academic Advisory Council, reshaping how faculty input reaches top leadership. Local STEM/Community: Gadsden received a $690,000 grant for engineering and design of a pedestrian bridge over the Coosa River, aimed at improving downtown-to-East Gadsden connectivity. Alabama STEM Pipeline: Selma High and R.B. Hudson STEAM Academy students are heading to the FBLA National Leadership Conference in San Antonio, seeking community funding for travel and registration. Defense Tech: The U.S. Army expanded attack-helicopter firepower by integrating drones with precision-guided rockets, including a test at Fort Rucker, Alabama.

AHSAA Winter Alignments: Alabama’s high school sports shake-up starts with separate postseason formats for public vs. private schools, reshuffling winter basketball and bowling matchups for Jackson County teams. Metabolic Health Research: Roche and Zealand Pharma’s investigational petrelintide (an amylin analog) posted Phase 2 ZUPREME-1 results at the ADA meeting, showing up to ~10.7% weight loss at 42 weeks with fewer GI problems than many GLP-1 experiences, and plans for Phase 3 later in 2026. Space & Astronomy: ALMA observations helped reveal a hot wind from the Milky Way’s central black hole, Sagittarius A*, using detailed cold-gas mapping and X-ray confirmation. Defense Tech Test in Alabama: The U.S. Army successfully mounted and fired APKWS precision rockets from a TRV-150 drone at Fort Rucker, expanding drone–helicopter firepower integration. Local Infrastructure: Gadsden won a $690,000 Innovate Alabama grant for engineering and design of a Coosa River pedestrian bridge. Public Safety/Health Policy: FMCSA is seeking comments on epilepsy-related medical exemptions for 11 commercial drivers, including applicants from Alabama. STEM in Industry: Austal USA added senior leaders across surface ship and submarine programs, signaling continued growth in shipbuilding capabilities. Missing Student Update (Alabama link): Auburn student Weston Higginbotham remains missing in Japan; his family is asking hikers to search beyond official zones around Kyoto’s mountains.

Auburn Student Search in Japan: James “Weston” Higginbotham, 20, vanished in Kyoto’s Yamashina area after an argument with his mother over using ChatGPT to plan their trip; police say it’s highly probable he left intentionally, but they’re still searching with dogs, helicopters, and volunteers as typhoon rains complicate the effort. Alabama SNAP Systems Upgrade: A state contract approved for a $12M quality assurance push aims to make Alabama’s SNAP and TANF eligibility systems work correctly and reduce EBT fraud, with lawmakers questioning the cost. Defense Tech Deal: Drone maker PDW Holdings agreed to buy Pittsford-based Vanteon Wireless Solutions, boosting RF engineering and software-defined radio skills for small unmanned aircraft. STEM in Mobile Schools: Mobile County Public Schools partnered with Bishop State and Spring Hill College for a JROTC STEM Leadership Academy, including hands-on training with Alabama Power and robot building. Alzheimer’s Awareness: Alabama marks National Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month, highlighting local impacts and promoting brain-healthy habits and the Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Montgomery. Commercial Construction Impact: A new Alabama study says commercial construction drives over $20B in economic activity and supports more than 223,000 jobs statewide. Peptide Safety Warning: Alabama’s medical board warns doctors to avoid non-FDA-approved peptides as social media demand grows.

College Sports Policy: A Senate hearing on the Protect College Sports Act featured major voices including former Alabama coach Nick Saban, pushing limits on transfers and eligibility and protections for women’s and Olympic sports. Public Safety in Alabama: Selma leaders held a public safety meeting after multiple shootings, with interim police chief Michael Perry calling it “a problem” and outlining plans like expanding security cameras and strengthening firearm penalties. STEM & Health Watch: Alabama’s Board of Medical Examiners warned doctors to avoid non-FDA-approved peptides as social media demand grows, while UAB researchers received a $5.3M grant to test a new strategy to prevent fentanyl overdose deaths. Manufacturing & Workforce: Northwest Shoals Community College FAME students earned national runner-up honors, and Kamtec Auto USA will bring a $9.2M Auburn manufacturing investment and about 50 jobs. Local Tech/AI Governance: Illinois named its first chief AI officer to set AI governance and standards across state government. Alabama in the World: Search efforts continue for Auburn student Weston Higginbotham missing in Japan after a typhoon complicated the hunt. Roads & Infrastructure: A national roadway condition analysis highlights that only 4.7% of Alabama’s major roads are in poor shape.

Fiber Buildout: GoNetspeed broke ground on a fully funded $4.5M, 100% fiber project in Oneonta, aiming to connect 4,800+ homes and businesses this summer—boosting education and local business connectivity. STEM in Action: UAH researchers are studying tech that could cut travel time to Mars, while Alabama students also keep stacking wins, including Foothill High’s national Mars Challenge finish (a reminder of the kind of engineering Alabama teams chase). Space & Defense: Lockheed Martin is moving ahead on America’s Next Generation Interceptor work in Alabama, expanding missile-related production capacity. Rare Earths: REalloys signed a Letter of Intent with Patriot Exploration & Mining to run metallurgical test work and validate processing for magnet metals like neodymium and dysprosium. Public Health Tech: A new push to improve women’s health includes Melinda French Gates’ $215M donation focused on menopause and midlife care. Community Science: Fresh wildlife signage along Homewood’s Shades Creek Greenway is pairing native-wildlife education with practical owl-safety steps. Local STEM/Engineering Spotlight: Auburn’s missing environmental engineering student, Weston Higginbotham, remains the urgent human story tied to the state’s STEM community.

Space & Propulsion: UAH researchers say nuclear propulsion could cut a Mars trip from ~six months to as little as two or three, boosting astronaut safety by shortening deep-space radiation exposure. STEM Education & Innovation: UAH won NASA’s 2026 Student Launch competition (plus a Social Media Award), while Auburn placed eighth—showing Alabama’s engineering talent is thriving. Healthcare Tech: Tanner Health in Alabama is rolling out a bilingual AI voice assistant to reduce call-center hold times and streamline scheduling and prescription requests. Public Safety & Infrastructure: Phenix City is replacing aging water meters with an Advanced Metering Infrastructure system, investing $7.5M to improve automated reads and utility efficiency. Biotech/Medicine: A Huntsville-area family is pursuing an FDA-fast-tracked experimental antifungal drug for a 2-year-old with leukemia and a life-threatening fungal infection. College Sports Policy: Nick Saban and Notre Dame’s Pete Bevacqua testified for the Protect College Sports Act, aiming to rein in NIL and transfer-portal chaos with a national rulebook. STEM Workforce/Defense Industry: Anniston Army Depot unveiled a new $44M combat vehicle welding facility with modernized, climate-controlled production upgrades. Legal/Research Integrity: DOJ expanded its case against the Southern Poverty Law Center, alleging $4.1M in tax-exempt funds secretly paid informants tied to extremist groups. Missing Student (Alabama STEM community): Auburn biosystems engineering student James “Weston” Higginbotham remains missing in Kyoto, Japan, as Alabama and federal partners continue the search.

Energy Infrastructure: PowerSouth Energy Cooperative is expanding its Lowman Energy Center in Leroy, adding a second advanced-class Mitsubishi Power M501JAC gas turbine with a 25-year service agreement, plus EPC support from Burns & McDonnell—aimed at meeting rising demand tied to electrification, reshoring, and AI. STEM & Education Leadership: UF is holding forums with presidential finalist Stuart R. Bell, a former UA president and engineering professor, as the university nears its next president selection. Public Safety & Health: A $5M federal earmark is secured for engineering and environmental studies for the Haleyville I-22 connector (ALDOT work expected to take about a year). Broadband Expansion: Kinetic says it has surpassed 2 million fiber premises passed across its 18-state footprint after scaling construction teams and partnerships. Community Tech/Training: Sanders Flight Training temporarily relocates planes from Walker County Airport-Bevill Field to Hamilton while the runway is resurfaced. Local STEM Community: Auburn student James “Weston” Higginbotham remains missing in Japan; police are using surveillance and search efforts continue amid storm conditions.

Space & Defense Research: Alabama A&M hosted U.S. Space Command officials for a strategic briefing tied to Redstone Arsenal, spotlighting Dr. Kaveh Heidary’s AI/ML work for sensing, target tracking, and signal classification. Engineering Education: AAMU civil engineering students won first place in the ASCE Gulf Coast “Mystery Competition,” designing an egg-shielding structure under tight time and material limits. STEM Workforce & Training: University of North Alabama teacher candidates posted a 100% first-time edTPA pass rate for 2025–2026. Forestry Threat: Auburn researchers say brown spot needle blight is spreading across Alabama pine forests, with drones and advanced imaging helping detect it with high accuracy. Public Health: UAB pediatric hospitalist Dr. Meghan Hofto reports rising rotavirus and pertussis cases tied to lower vaccination uptake. Marine Science: A University of South Alabama-led “Greater Amberjack Count” project used underwater video and acoustic surveys to refine abundance estimates. Community CPR Push: Birmingham’s Sudden Cardiac Arrest Task Force is urging higher bystander CPR rates ahead of CPR & AED Awareness Week. AI in Real Life: Oklahoma’s Supreme Court reprimanded lawyers over ChatGPT “hallucinations,” echoing Alabama judge sanctions for unverified AI-generated filings. Food Transparency: Genetic shrimp testing finds mixed results across Gulf markets, with some restaurants mislabeling imported shrimp as American wild-caught.