AGP Executive Report

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 Environment & Industry: A North Carolina hog-pollution investigation revisits how outdated CAFO waste systems drove long-running harm and regulatory fights.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.

Child Safety & Big Tech: North Carolina will receive up to $645M from Meta’s landmark Instagram/Facebook settlement, with Meta required to add age checks, default teen time limits, overnight feed shutdowns, and parent controls, plus independent auditing. Space Workforce: NASA astronaut Christina Koch is set to return to Raleigh for an Artemis II event focused on safety, skilled trades, and STEM pathways. Military Readiness: Marine Corps Air Station New River’s V-22 maintenance team says it has delivered aircraft on-time for years, boosting “more aircraft, faster” for flightline readiness. Energy Storage Manufacturing: Asahi Kasei opened a new wet-process battery separator coating line in Charlotte to expand North American supply for lithium-ion batteries used in EVs and energy storage. Local Conservation: New River Conservancy and the Open Spaces Resiliency Project partner to restore South Beaver Creek wetlands using beaver dam analogs to cut sediment and improve habitat. Biotech in Clinics: Femasys will bring its FemVue fertility evaluation and FemaSeed first-line treatment to UNC Health OB/GYN sites. Higher Ed Growth: Cape Fear Community College ranks No. 1 in North Carolina for full-time enrollment growth, citing career-ready training demand. Workforce Training Facility: VGCC advances plans for a Transportation Training & Technology Center in Soul City, aiming to funnel students into CDL, heavy equipment, and diesel mechanics programs.

AI for Nuclear Physics: STREAMLINE is using AI plus supercomputers to tackle the “nuclear quantum many-body” problem, aiming to better predict how protons and neutrons behave in complex systems tied to atomic nuclei and neutron stars. School Safety Tech: North Carolina’s “Say Something” anonymous reporting system is producing measurable results, feeding into required behavioral threat assessment teams that can intervene before violence escalates. Election Access Data: North Carolina’s early voting plans expand overall voting sites and hours versus 2022, while Sunday voting and some campus locations were cut—raising questions about how access changed. Biobased Manufacturing Boost: NC State is joining a up-to-$160M NSF initiative (BRIDGES Engine) to develop miscanthus and switchgrass products for automotive, construction, and packaging, with a focus on rural jobs. Marine History via Drones: New drone footage captured the Civil War blockade runner “Fanny and Jenny” wreck off Wrightsville Beach, giving researchers a clearer look at the site. Affordable Housing Funding: Gov. Josh Stein announced $69M+ in CDBG-DR awards for 828 rental units in western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene.

Data Centers & Local Power: Durham County commissioners held a public hearing on a proposed data center moratorium with exceptions through May 2027, as residents pushed back over air, water, and energy impacts. Cybersecurity: A North Carolina-focused warning argues cyberattacks are the state’s biggest threat, citing past attacks on power infrastructure and port systems that forced manual operations. Space & STEM in NC: NC State kicked off a two-day celebration for astronaut Christina Koch, including renaming Engineering Building II to Koch Hall and hosting a student Q&A. Biotech/Health: The FDA granted Fast Track designation to safusidenib for IDH1-mutant glioma, and ECU Health’s postpartum wristband program is expanding to help reduce maternal risks after delivery. Pharma Manufacturing: Cambrex says its High Point facility completed FDA, PMDA, and TGA pre-approval inspections, enabling commercial API manufacturing for the U.S., Japan, and Australia. Education Attendance: New data highlights chronic absenteeism falling faster in 142 districts using consistent tracking and proactive family outreach. Maternal Care Tool: Hospitals nationwide are adopting “I Gave Birth” silicone wristbands to flag postpartum danger signs for emergency response.

Nuclear Workforce: UNCW is joining a DOE-funded, multi-school effort led by NC State to train the next generation of nuclear workers, partnering with GE Vernova and Duke Energy. Space & STEM Recognition: NC State welcomed astronaut Christina Koch back to campus and renamed an engineering building as Koch Hall. Coastal Fisheries: A Superior Court ruling says North Carolina failed to protect state-managed coastal fisheries, with none of 13 stocks deemed viable long term. Power & Data Centers: N.C. researchers are pushing solid-state transformer tech that could speed data center power upgrades and ease broader transformer supply strain. Cyber & Grid Risk: Coverage highlights growing concerns about North Carolina’s power grid vulnerability to cyberattacks. Marine Research Incentive: NC will collect flounder carcasses from recreational anglers for research during a Sept. 1–14 season. Food Safety: A multistate Salmonella outbreak tied to imported jalapeños has reached hundreds of cases, including in North Carolina. Tech Education Pipeline: SparkNC Lab programs are expanding statewide, giving students hands-on coding, cybersecurity, and game design experience. Surveillance Debate: Greer, S.C. paused Flock license-plate reader software after misuse concerns—another sign of tightening scrutiny on automated policing.

North Carolina Higher Ed & Workforce: The state’s 58 community colleges are entering a new phase under acting president Monty Sullivan, accelerating Propel NC efforts that tie funding to high-demand fields and expand short-term programs funded by the new federal Workforce Pell Grant. Food Safety: Everything Sprouts recalled certain alfalfa sprout lots after 55 reported illnesses across 15 states, with officials warning about possible E. coli and salmonella contamination. Public Health Research: UNC and partners report malaria drug- and test-resistant parasite markers are rising in Ethiopia as cases surge—an urgent reminder for diagnostics and treatment strategies. STEM & Environment: N.C. State researchers are mapping recoverable phosphorus in U.S. soils, aiming to reduce fertilizer supply risk by recovering the nutrient from waste streams. Defense Tech (NC): Corvid Technologies won a $33.86M contract for NMESIS weapon-sled assemblies in Mooresville, supporting Marine Corps anti-ship launcher production through 2034. Science & Society: A new study finds North Carolina has 18.9% of adults who are childfree, placing it among the higher-share states. Museum Future: The N.C. Museum of History released renderings for its 2028 reopening, including expanded galleries, a black box theater, and a demonstration kitchen.

AI Infrastructure & Energy: Relativity Networks says it raised $22M and landed a $40M follow-on order after a hyperscaler test of its ChronoCore optical links, aiming to help AI data centers reach more power by stretching connectivity. Healthcare Tech: Novant Health is expanding primary care in North and South Carolina with K Health, adding 24/7 virtual options and an AI tool (PatientGPT) tied to medical records. Space Leadership: NASA named Joseph R. Schuyler deputy director of Stennis Space Center, overseeing propulsion testing and engineering leadership. Coastal Policy: The NC Coastal Resources Commission is set to revisit its hardened shoreline structures ban after Buxton collapses, with a science panel urging a cautious approach. Public Safety & Schools: Wake-area families get a back-to-school rundown as districts roll out statewide cellphone limits, plus new safety response protocols. Environment: Sea turtle volunteers report nearly 2,000 nests statewide—second-most since tracking began—driving hatchings into fall. AI & Society: Meta’s child-safety trial is underway, and NC AG Jeff Jackson says the case is about deliberate design choices harming kids’ mental health. Local Science Spotlight: A Cary teen, Kenna Zhang, won a national scholarship for Alzheimer’s awareness and early detection research.

Defense Contract: Corvid Technologies in Mooresville won a $33.86M Marine Corps IDIQ contract to build a weapon sled assembly for the NMESIS anti-ship missile launcher, with no money obligated up front and orders possible through 2034. Public Health & Food Safety: The CDC says an alfalfa sprout outbreak tied to multiple germs has reached 15 states, including North Carolina, with 55 cases reported nationally and more likely unreported. Maternal Health: A CNN report spotlights how postpartum depression and psychosis are finally getting mainstream attention, tying the issue to ongoing legal scrutiny of a labor-and-delivery nurse and long-overdue calls for better care. School Safety: WRAL reports NC schools are seeing declining overall offenses over two decades, but rising drug possession and assaults on school personnel, alongside student feedback on whether safety efforts feel effective. Energy/Tech Policy: A North Carolina-focused piece argues AI could reshape the state’s grid and communities, as utilities and planners weigh what comes next. Local Government: Hamlet is seeking a 35 mph speed limit on a state road segment of Hylan Avenue after resident concerns.

Public Safety Tech: Dare County says it’s upgrading emergency communications on Hatteras Island after a Brightspeed fiber outage knocked out service and even wireless 911 calls; FirstNet (AT&T) has now added low-Earth-orbit satellite backup at local public-safety sites. Coastal Research: ECU researchers are testing “living shoreline” designs with partners including NOAA, N.C. State, and the N.C. Coastal Federation to see how oyster-shell-and-rock approaches hold up against erosion, storms, and sea-level rise. Health & Food Safety: A multi-state outbreak tied to alfalfa sprouts has reached 15 states, with CDC reporting 55 illnesses and hospitalizations; North Carolina is among the affected states. Higher Ed & STEM Workforce: Saint Augustine’s University in Raleigh paused fall online nondegree programs in AI, programming, and public health amid bankruptcy and accreditation uncertainty. Manufacturing & Chemicals: ReAgent is opening a Winston-Salem facility with a $6M investment and 30 jobs, bringing UK chemical blending expertise to the U.S. Agriculture & Sustainability: N.C. State researchers are part of a study warning the U.S. could run out of phosphorus within decades and pointing to recycling phosphorus from soil, manure, and waste as a fix. Surveillance Policy: North Carolina’s statewide push for automatic license-plate readers is drawing scrutiny after reported misuse cases in Charlotte and Mooresville.