AGP Executive Report

AI & Data Centers: A Conversation explainer asks whether companies can use eminent domain to seize land for AI data centers—especially as 7 in 10 Americans oppose new sites over higher bills, pollution, noise, and water use. State Tech: Oklahoma agencies are preparing to roll out “Beacon,” an AI system meant to save workers 6–8 hours a week by helping analyze data and find relevant state law. Public Safety Tech: Oklahoma City firefighters are using rapid cooling bags to treat heat stroke faster, with reports of patients improving within minutes. Heat & Health: An Oklahoma economist links hotter days to higher Medicaid costs, estimating big long-run spending pressure as temperatures rise. Wildlife in Extreme Heat: Experts urge backyard water stations to help birds and other wildlife survive heat waves. Food Safety: The CDC says the cyclosporiasis outbreak tied to shredded lettuce has expanded to nine states, including Oklahoma, with about 2,000 cases reported so far. Healthcare Access: Norman Regional Health System is going out of network for Aetna policyholders, leaving patients scrambling as deadlines pass. Elections: Tulsa County adds a third early voting site for northern communities ahead of November. Health Tech Watch: A study finds compounded Ozempic- and Zepbound-class drugs are still widely sold after shortages ended, raising questions about regulation.

Data Centers & Water in Oklahoma: As AI-driven data center growth accelerates, Oklahoma is moving to protect residential ratepayers while other states tighten water rules; Virginia’s long-delayed groundwater study warns eastern aquifers could decline and urges stricter withdrawal permitting. School Tech Limits: After cellphone bans, states are now targeting screen time; Oklahoma’s proposed K-5 cap failed, while other states adopted digital device and screen-time standards. Public Health Outbreaks: The CDC expanded a cyclosporiasis investigation tied to shredded lettuce, now reaching Oklahoma and multiple other states, with major impacts on restaurants and grocery sales. Biotech/Clinical Research: Kura Oncology reported durable Phase 1a results for darlifarnib plus cabozantinib in cabozantinib-naïve clear cell renal cell carcinoma, supporting continued development. STEM Education in Oklahoma: Yukon Public Schools launched a Finland-inspired student-led, project-based K-5 learning program, with demand exceeding expectations. AI in Government: Oklahoma debuted BEACON AI to modernize state government operations, including tools for legislators and procurement.

Food Safety & Public Health: The CDC expanded its cyclospora investigation tied to shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell, adding Illinois, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Pennsylvania; 1,947 confirmed illnesses and at least 98 hospitalizations are reported, with more cases likely as officials trace the Taylor Farms recall. Water & Data Centers: Virginia released a long-delayed groundwater study warning that its eastern aquifer could decline and urging tighter rules on industrial water withdrawals, as data centers’ cooling demands raise political pressure nationwide. Oklahoma Schools: Yukon Public Schools launched a Finland-inspired, student-led K-5 project program (CALI) and had to cap enrollment at 99 after demand exceeded expectations. AI & State Government: Oklahoma rolled out BEACON AI to modernize state operations, including tools for legislators and procurement. Energy Policy: The White House expanded a Ratepayer Protection Pledge aimed at keeping AI-driven data center growth from raising household and business energy costs. Health & Policy: A JAMA Network Open study links total abortion bans to increased suicidal thoughts among female high school students. Tech in the Lab: Oklahoma researchers used AI to fast-track genetic diagnoses.

Oklahoma Education Update: New 2026-27 school laws roll out across the state, with expanded literacy screening and training under the Strong Readers Act, added fentanyl and mental health/suicide prevention lessons for grades 6-12, at least 40 minutes of daily recess in elementary schools, and new rules for how schools handle artificial intelligence plus parent notification and opt-out rights. Heat & Safety: A heat advisory hits Colorado’s Kiowa County with 100–105°F Sunday temperatures, a reminder that extreme heat is still driving health risks across the Plains. AI Policy & Politics: A new political network, Public First, backed by major AI-regulation donors including Anthropic, is pushing candidates for tighter AI rules—setting up a high-stakes fight over how the technology gets governed. Data Centers & Rates: President Trump expands a Ratepayer Protection Pledge aimed at keeping AI-driven data center growth from raising household and business energy costs, as states and utilities weigh in. Public Health: The CDC expanded a Cyclospora outbreak tied to shredded lettuce served at Taco Bell to include Illinois, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Pennsylvania, with 1,947 confirmed cases and at least 98 hospitalizations. Oklahoma Tech in Agriculture: Autonomous farm equipment is finding new ground, including Oklahoma use cases for smarter field operations.

AI & Energy Policy: President Trump expanded the Ratepayer Protection Pledge at the EPA, aiming to keep AI data-center growth from raising bills for existing customers, with Oklahoma utilities like PSO and OG&E joining the effort as projects such as Meta’s Project Anthem reshape the state’s power demand. Public Health: The CDC broadened the Cyclospora outbreak tied to shredded lettuce served at Taco Bell to nine states, now including Illinois, Kansas, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania, with 1,947 confirmed illnesses and at least 98 hospitalizations. Water & Environmental Science: A new Columbia University study finds lithium is a widespread, persistent exposure in Western Tribal communities, with household drinking water explaining much of the variation in urinary lithium levels—raising monitoring stakes as extraction accelerates. Oklahoma STEM/Tech: Oklahoma launched BEACON AI to modernize state government work, including tools for legislators and procurement. Health Innovation: India’s ICMR licensed SHetA2 for anti-HPV treatment development with Emcure, targeting cervical precancer cells. Agriculture & Climate: Oklahoma berry and stone-fruit production was hit by an unusually warm February followed by a March freeze, tightening local supply and pushing prices up.

Public Health: The CDC expanded a cyclospora outbreak tied to shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell to nine states, now including Illinois, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Pennsylvania, with 1,947 confirmed illnesses and 98 hospitalizations; investigators say Taylor Farms de Mexico is the likely source while FDA and Mexican health authorities trace how contamination happened. Environmental Health: A new Columbia University study finds lithium in household drinking water is a widespread, persistent exposure across Western Tribal communities, with tap-water levels often exceeding screening thresholds and household water explaining a substantial share of urinary lithium differences over time. Oklahoma Tech & Agriculture Biosecurity: Oklahoma company TrapLink unveiled an AI-powered, solar monitoring system that photographs insects and uses cellular uploads to detect New World screwworm early, aiming to give livestock producers and agencies faster warnings. Energy & AI Costs: President Trump expanded the Ratepayer Protection Pledge, with utilities and data center developers backing the idea that AI-driven energy demand shouldn’t raise bills for existing customers—an issue Oklahoma leaders are watching closely as major projects grow. Defense Tech: Lockheed Martin’s Morfius X-Rotor counter-drone system uses high-power microwaves to disable more than 50 UAVs per mission, targeting swarm threats with a reusable approach. Health Innovation: India’s ICMR licensed SHetA2, an anti-HPV therapeutic candidate developed with OU’s Stephenson Cancer Center, for further development as a potential targeted option for cervical precancer. STEM in the Spotlight: Oklahoma artists and language experts helped Netflix’s ‘Little House on the Prairie’ portray Osage families more authentically, recreating 1800s clothing and jewelry for the series.

Public Health: The CDC and FDA widened a Cyclospora outbreak tied to shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell, now reaching 9 states including Oklahoma; officials report 1,947 illnesses and 98 hospitalizations, with no deaths. Food Safety: A separate salmonella outbreak linked to recalled eggs has sickened 98 people since November, with cases tied to Midwest Poultry Services shell eggs sold in multiple states including Oklahoma. Climate & Agriculture: Oklahoma farmers say an unseasonably warm February followed by a March freeze devastated berry and stone fruit crops, threatening summer supply and pushing prices higher. Water & Health Research: A new Columbia study finds widespread lithium in household drinking water across Western Tribal communities, with tap-water levels strongly linked to urinary lithium over time. Defense Tech: Lockheed Martin unveiled Morfius X-Rotor, a reusable microwave counter-drone system aimed at disabling 50+ UAVs per mission. State Tech: Oklahoma launched BEACON AI, a shared statewide platform to help agencies navigate regulations and procurement with built-in security and oversight. Education Workforce: Oklahoma reported a continued decline in traditionally trained teachers entering classrooms, increasing reliance on emergency-certified educators.

AI Data Center Costs & Consumer Protections: Trump expanded a “Ratepayer Protection Pledge” with 200+ signatories, including major utilities and data-center firms, aiming to stop electricity and grid-upgrade costs from landing on households. Oklahoma Water & Data Centers: A new report highlights a loophole leaving Oklahoma data-center water use “largely untracked,” while residents near proposed campuses say transparency is missing. USDA Feral Swine Funding: USDA announced $35 million for partnerships to combat feral swine, part of a $105 million pilot to protect farms, landscapes, and animal and human health. Health Tech in Oklahoma: OU Health performed a rare, minimally invasive double pulmonary valve placement using catheter-based Harmony valves, expanding options for high-risk patients. STEM Education & Workforce: Oklahoma officials report a steep drop in traditionally trained teachers entering classrooms, increasing reliance on emergency certification. Cybersecurity for Kids: Northeastern State University hosted a summer cyber safety camp for grades 5–8. Earth Science Alert: A magnitude 5.0 earthquake hit the Texas Panhandle and was felt across western Oklahoma, with no major damage reported.

AI in Medicine: OU researchers used an OpenAI tool to reanalyze genetic data for children with early-onset psychosis, leading to 18 additional rare diagnoses after follow-up testing. Tribal Leadership: Scott Wood was sworn in as Lt. Governor of the Chickasaw Nation, succeeding Chris Anoatubby. Education Tech Debate: Oklahoma lawmakers failed to cap early-grade screen time at 60 minutes after pushback from the software industry, as other states move to limit classroom device use. Teacher Pipeline: Oklahoma reports a ~40% drop since 2013 in graduates from traditional teacher prep, while districts increasingly rely on emergency-certified educators. STEM for Kids: Northeastern State University hosted a cybersecurity camp for grades 5–8, teaching kids safer online habits. AI Data Centers & Costs: Trump expanded a voluntary pledge aimed at protecting consumers from higher utility bills tied to AI data centers. Public Health: A cyclosporiasis outbreak investigation points to iceberg lettuce tied to a Mexico supplier, with FDA/CDC tracking new clusters. Infrastructure & Safety: OKC opened its first double roundabout, “The Peanut,” designed to improve traffic flow and reduce crash risk. Earthquake Watch: A rare magnitude 5.0 quake hit the Texas Panhandle, with shaking reported across western Oklahoma and as far as Tulsa.

AI & Fraud Watch (Oklahoma): Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner Glen Mulready says AI-linked insurance fraud nearly tripled in two years, with AI-generated fake receipts now making up 34% of fraud cases—scams that can push premiums higher for everyone. Cybersecurity (Oklahoma): Unlimited Technology Systems is tied to a data breach affecting tens of thousands, exposing personal and medical information, prompting a class-action investigation by Murphy Law Firm. STEM Philanthropy (Oklahoma): Oklahoma 4-H Roundup is getting a boost from a $1 million endowment from the Masonic Charity Foundation of Oklahoma, supporting STEM education and leadership for youth statewide. Space & Defense Tech (Oklahoma): The Air Force selected Vance AFB in Enid as Main Operating Base 4 for the next-gen T-7 Red Hawk training mission. Rare Earths (Oklahoma): USA Rare Earth signed definitive agreements to buy minority stakes in French rare-earth processor Carester, aiming to strengthen its European rare-earth supply chain. Public Health (National): U.S. measles cases hit 2,260 across 44 states, with summer travel driving new exposures as vaccination rates decline. Education & Research Access (Oklahoma): OCCC expanded student access to current events with the NewsBank database addition for newspapers including The Oklahoman and The Tulsa World.

Oklahoma Aerospace & Defense: The U.S. Air Force picked Vance AFB in Enid as a main operating base for the next-gen T-7A Red Hawk pilot training fleet, signaling long-term investment in Oklahoma’s aviation pipeline. AI & Consumer Protection: Oklahoma officials warn AI is supercharging insurance fraud, with AI-generated fake receipts and doctored medical and damage materials driving a sharp rise in scam claims. Space Industry Strategy: Oklahoma released a statewide plan to grow its space role, aiming to capture jobs, investment, and federal contracts as the global space economy accelerates. Wildfire Tech: A new satellite network, FireSat, is set to help responders spot and track wildfires earlier, with early launches tied to a rapid-expanding fleet. Public Health Watch: U.S. measles cases hit 2,260 across 44 states, with summer travel now a major driver of new spread. Workforce & Benefits: A GAO report finds gig and Amazon workers increasingly rely on Medicaid and SNAP, including in Oklahoma, raising questions about who’s subsidizing low wages. Data Security: A class-action investigation is underway after a data breach at Unlimited Technology Systems exposed sensitive personal and medical information. STEM Education & Youth: Oklahoma 4-H Roundup continues to expand STEM and leadership programming with a $1 million endowment backing statewide youth opportunities.

Education Funding Watch: A new national look at K-12 finance finds schools took in $1 trillion in 2023-24, with more money but slightly fewer students—plus big state-by-state spending gaps that include Oklahoma. Agroforestry Push: Oklahoma farmers can apply for a USDA-backed $39M, three-year agroforestry program that pays to plant trees and shrubs for soil health, livestock shade, and wildlife habitat. AI Policy & Politics: Anthropic says it will donate $20M to a group backing AI regulation, with Reuters noting political ties that include Oklahoma’s Kevin Hern. Health Costs & Work: A Gallup poll reports 24% of workers with employer insurance feel “trapped” by health coverage fears. Food Safety: FDA-linked iceberg lettuce recall tied to cyclosporiasis reached 27 states, including Oklahoma. Oklahoma Water Infrastructure: Canute is getting nearly $1M in Drinking Water State Revolving Fund support to replace aging water mains, aiming to cut leaks and improve pressure. Public Safety Tech Debate: Latimer County Sheriff Adam Woodruff says his office won’t use Flock Safety license plate reader cameras over privacy and rights concerns. STEM & Training: Rose State College is expanding its nursing simulation lab with a $9.4M grant, including high-tech mannequins for hands-on practice.

Oklahoma Education & CareerTech: Oklahoma FCCLA state adviser Brittani Phillips was named National State Adviser of the Year, with the state association also earning a membership growth award at the National Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C. Water Infrastructure: Cheyenne won an $800,000 Oklahoma Water Resources Board grant (100% loan forgiveness) for upgrades to the Cheyenne Water Plant, including a new clearwell, pump house, and backwash pump, with construction starting in fall 2026. Health & Food Safety: The FDA says the iceberg lettuce recall tied to a cyclosporiasis outbreak still stands after a false-positive lab result; the agency continues linking the product to the outbreak across 27 states, including Oklahoma. Public Health & Drug Safety: A study finds compounded Ozempic and Zepbound remain widely available after shortages ended, with concerns about clinics and pharmacies tied to sterile compounding lapses. Tech & Privacy: Latimer County Sheriff Adam Woodruff says his office will not use Flock Safety automated license plate reader cameras, citing privacy and constitutional concerns. Energy Resilience: Buckeye Power Systems points to mounting grid warnings and drought-driven power risks, urging homes and businesses to prepare for outages. Biotech/Manufacturing: Wheeler Bio in Oklahoma City named Rajesh Beri as Chief Development Officer to strengthen biologics development and CMC strategy. Defense Tech: Raytheon won a $1.8B U.S. Navy contract for advanced radar, with work including Tulsa, Oklahoma.

AI in Oklahoma Schools: Alpha School, a billionaire-backed chain with two hours of daily virtual AI learning and no teachers, is set to open in Oklahoma City and Tulsa this August, expanding a model already operating in multiple states. Counter-Drone Tech: Lockheed Martin unveiled MORFIUS™ X-Rotor, a reusable airborne high-power microwave system aimed at disabling more than 50 drones per flight. Local Tech & Privacy: Oklahoma City is weighing whether to renew its Flock Safety ALPR contract, with lawmakers and residents pushing for an interim study and an ACLU petition calling for an end to camera use. Biomedical Research Transfer: OU-linked work is part of an ICMR licensing push, including SHetA2 for HPV-related cervical precancer and new vaccine technologies moving to Indian pharma partners. Public Health & Food Safety: A cyclospora outbreak tied to iceberg lettuce sparked a recall across 27 states, with FDA later calling one lab result a false positive—leaving consumers confused. Education Policy: A new WalletHub ranking puts Oklahoma among the worst school systems in the U.S., while a separate report highlights how teachers are using AI without clear classroom rules. Energy & Travel Rules: The FAA is moving to speed up electric air taxis and civil supersonic flights, proposing new noise-based standards for supersonic overland travel.

Fulbright Spotlight: OSU biology associate professor Michael Reichert was named a 2026-27 Fulbright U.S. Scholar and will spend four months in Portugal studying animal communication through behavioral ecology. Oklahoma Agriculture & Research: OSU turfgrass researchers say their bermudagrass “Tahoma 31” was used at the FIFA World Cup final, and they’re now working on a residential, lower-water version. Public Health Watch: The CDC reports measles cases have reached 2,260 across 44 jurisdictions, with summer travel raising the risk of new outbreaks. Defense Tech: Lockheed Martin unveiled MORFIUS X-Rotor, a reusable drone-killer using high-power microwaves to disable swarms of more than 50 drones per flight. Environment & Safety: States are scrambling as tick season stretches longer, with tick-bite ER visits running higher than expected. Oklahoma Conservation Policy: Gov. Stitt signed the Lucile Morehouse Pollinator Act, creating four official Oklahoma insect designations to support agriculture and biodiversity. Higher Ed Honors: Oklahoma’s Higher Education Heritage Society will induct 12 leaders into the Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame, including multiple OU and OSU faculty.

Oklahoma Turf on the World Stage: Oklahoma State University’s bermudagrass “Tahoma 31” was used at the FIFA World Cup final, with OSU researchers saying the turf is built for elite wear and safer play. Counterdrone Tech Tested in Oklahoma: Lockheed Martin unveiled its Morfius X-rotor counterdrone system, saying it flew and tested intercepts in Arizona, California and Oklahoma. Rare Earth Leadership Shift: USA Rare Earth named Thras Moraitis as CEO starting Oct. 1, 2026, as the company moves toward its Serra Verde combination. Local STEM in the Spotlight: Iondrive appointed former BHP innovation chief Dr. Grant Caffery to lead its IONSolv rare-earth extraction platform toward commercial deployment. Health Tech & Policy Pressure: A secret-shopper study found compounded GLP-1 weight-loss drugs still being sold in Oklahoma and West Virginia after shortages eased, raising licensing and safety concerns. Data Center Backlash Meets Reality: Coverage highlights growing opposition to data centers near communities, including Native lands, as power and water demands collide with local limits. Energy Resilience for Tornado Season: Backup power demand is rising across Tornado Alley, including Oklahoma, as storms intensify.