AGP Executive Report

AI in the classroom: In eastern Kentucky, Hazard Community and Technical College instructors are teaching AI ethics and critical thinking—using AI as a tool (like editing) while warning students about sameness and math misfires. Health tech in action: UofL Health’s Frazier Rehab says a Zero-G 3D body-weight support system helped a cancer survivor relearn walking after spine surgery. Public safety tech debate: Louisville leaders credit Flock cameras with helping detectives make arrests in a JCPS bus stop shooting that killed a 16-year-old. Federal tech oversight: A House VA panel voted to subpoena Oracle leaders over a nearly $17B increase to the VA’s electronic health records modernization contract. Energy and jobs: Gov. Beshear highlighted GE Appliances’ $1B Louisville investment tied to union work, expanding appliance manufacturing. Local STEM/food future: Kentucky State Fair exhibits showcased aquaponics and indoor aquaculture research. Nuclear power planning: The Army’s microreactor program names a Kentucky vendor for Fort Campbell. Privacy and surveillance: Multiple stories keep spotlighting Flock camera concerns as cities reconsider or end use.

Kentucky Research & Energy: University of Kentucky researchers pressure-cooked bourbon stillage into carbon-rich hydrochar, then built lithium-ion supercapacitors that stored up to 25x more energy per kilogram than conventional versions and held about 96% capacity after 10,000 cycles. Defense Tech: Paligen Aerospace & Defense won a $30.84M U.S. Army modification to expand domestic TNT production at Graham, Kentucky, lifting cumulative contract value to $435M. Military Power Plan: The U.S. Army’s $2.2B Project Janus selected BWXT to build microreactors at Fort Campbell, aiming to keep bases powered even if the grid fails. Public Health & Safety: New national guidance urges football linemen be trained differently to prevent exertional heat stroke; Kentucky hasn’t made it mandatory. Tech Policy & Privacy: A Kentucky zoning fight over a hyperscale data center hinges on who can challenge local decisions under a 2025 state law. Local Tech Governance: Winchester, Kentucky voted for a one-year moratorium on data center development to study impacts and gather input. Food & Families: SNAP cuts could ripple into Kentucky school meal eligibility and funding, raising the risk of fewer free breakfasts and lunches. Community & STEM Culture: Kentucky State University engineering technology students gained hands-on experience through internships in advanced manufacturing and public utilities. Science in the Public Eye: Kentucky author Wendell Berry died at 92, prompting renewed attention to rural life, land stewardship, and community values.

Nuclear Energy & Defense: The U.S. Army’s $2.2B Project Janus will place up to 20 nuclear microreactors at five bases, with BWXT building at Fort Campbell in Kentucky—aimed at keeping power running even if the grid fails. STEM & Workforce: Kentucky State University engineering technology students gained hands-on experience through internships, including a radar-based inventory monitoring project. Public Health & Food Safety: Hodo recalled more than 10,000 cases of tofu in 29 states after ink from packaging may have migrated into the food. Rural Healthcare: Gov. Beshear defended rural hospital funding after Rep. Andy Barr criticized the state’s Rural Health Transformation Program. Privacy & Policing Tech: Kentucky’s Flock camera controversy continues as an LMPD detective faces another internal investigation over license plate reader searches. Local Industry: Astemo Americas announced a $112M Madison County expansion tied to EV supply work, with 114 new jobs expected. Education Policy: A Pikeville student urged lawmakers to modernize school recycling rules and expand composting for food waste. Community Tech & Safety: Indiana is moving toward mobile driver’s licenses, raising both convenience and privacy concerns. Agriculture & Environment: Kentucky writer Wendell Berry died at 92, remembered for linking rural life, environmental stewardship, and cultural “affection” for place.

Nuclear Power Push: The U.S. Army authorized up to 20 nuclear micro-reactors for domestic military bases, aiming to strengthen on-base power reliability and the nuclear supply chain. Kentucky Tech & Infrastructure: KYTC named Jason Looper as chief district engineer for District 1 in Paducah, overseeing thousands of state miles and bridges in western Kentucky. Youth Tech Oversight: Meta’s $17B settlement with 52 states targets youth harms on Instagram and Facebook, including stronger parent controls and school-hour notification muting. Privacy Backlash: Florida revoked approvals for license plate readers on state highway rights-of-way amid growing scrutiny of Flock-style surveillance. Local Health Access: UK HealthCare’s Golisano Children’s network added Centerpoint Health – Paris as an affiliate, expanding pediatric specialist support closer to home. Community & Safety Tech: Calloway County E-911 used RapidSOS and Axon tools to guide a boat to responders after injuries impaired the caller’s vision. Kentucky Culture: Wendell Berry, the influential Kentucky writer and environmentalist, died at 92.

AI Housing Permitting: Cities are turning to AI to speed up housing project reviews by scanning applications and flagging errors, with federal Innovation Fund money and HUD grants pushing automated building code permitting while keeping final decisions with humans. Surveillance Cameras in Kentucky: Lexington residents are pressing the city to reconsider Flock license plate reader cameras after privacy and misuse concerns, while Shively, Ky., is tightening its Flock audit process after an officer’s alleged 2,000+ searches. ICE Shock Gloves: Kentucky-based Compliant Technologies won a $16.7M no-bid ICE contract for electric shock gloves, as lawmakers demand cancellation and a ban over safety risks. FTC vs Amazon Ads: The FTC and 22 states sued Amazon over alleged “hidden surcharges” that mislead advertisers about ad pricing. Kentucky Battery Supply: Anthro Energy broke ground in Louisville on solid-state battery electrolyte production aimed at supporting hundreds of thousands of EVs. Data Center Backlash: Trump renewed attacks on communities resisting AI data centers, drawing pushback from Kentucky lawmakers.

Nuclear Power for Bases: The U.S. Army’s Janus program is moving ahead with up to $2.2B to deploy nuclear microreactors at five installations, including Fort Campbell in Kentucky, aiming for reliable, round-the-clock power by targeting operations around 2028. Big Tech Youth Safety: Meta’s $18B settlement over alleged addictive design on Instagram and Facebook would cap under-18 use at two hours a day and add a night ban, with Kentucky among the states suing. AI Data Center Backlash: Reports from the Memphis area highlight growing concerns about noise pollution from xAI’s data center expansion, as more AI projects replicate across the region. Privacy vs. Surveillance Cameras: Northern Kentucky cities are continuing to drop Flock Safety cameras amid privacy and misuse concerns, adding to a wider national pushback. Kentucky Manufacturing & Materials: Apple and Corning are expanding in Central Kentucky, adding 200 permanent jobs at Corning’s Harrodsburg glass plant and building a new innovation center focused on future hardware materials. Local Tech for Social Services: Northern Kentucky’s Horizon Community Foundation is funding a Community Information Exchange to connect social service organizations and reduce paperwork.

PRIME Act Push: Rep. Thomas Massie is again urging Congress to pass his PRIME Act to loosen federal rules for local meat processors and give states more control over intrastate sales. Kentucky Tech & Manufacturing: Apple and Corning are expanding in Central Kentucky, adding 200 permanent jobs at the Harrodsburg glass plant and planning a new innovation center focused on materials for future devices. Health Dollars in Kentucky: New Medicaid billing totals show Greensburg providers billed $5,742 in 2024 for “drugs administered other than oral method,” while Science Hill saw $3,305 for “procedures/professional services” and Springfield billed $7,179 for vision services. Public Safety Tech Backlash: The fight over Flock-style surveillance cameras keeps spreading, with more cities moving to remove the systems amid privacy concerns. Medical Research: A new autopsy study finds Down syndrome brains often show multiple Alzheimer-related co-pathologies, not just the classic amyloid story. Workforce & Industry: Freeman Automation plans a Graves County manufacturing operation, aiming for 20 jobs with a $1 million investment.

Kentucky Health & Medicaid: Science Hill logged $3,305 in Medicaid payments for “Procedures / Professional Services” in 2024, up 8.2% from 2023, with the category ranking third locally and eighth statewide. Public Health & Coal: Black lung advocates are pushing the Mine Safety and Health Administration to act after new reporting showed the highest rates since the 1970s, tied to respirable silica dust rules. Tech Policy & Surveillance: A regional pushback against Flock cameras keeps growing, with Independence, Kentucky, preparing to remove its Flock system as residents demand more privacy and accountability. Law Enforcement Tech: ICE awarded a $16.7 million no-bid contract for 6,000 electric shock gloves from Kentucky-based Compliant Technologies, drawing renewed calls to ban the devices. STEM & Research Funding: Sen. Mitch McConnell backed $26.7 million for a UK agricultural research facility focused on forage and animal production. Space Tech: NASA’s Roman Space Telescope is set to push astronomy into the cloud, sending massive daily data to researchers worldwide. Meta & Youth Safety: Kentucky is among states tied to a landmark Meta settlement over teen social media addiction, with new limits and default protections for under-18s.

NIH–CIA Biodefense Ties: Newly released documents claim Dr. Anthony Fauci’s NIAID provided “cover” for CIA bioterrorism research, including “forensic microbiology” work funded through civilian virus studies. Public Health & Tech Policy: Meta agreed to an $18B settlement with U.S. states over alleged teen social media addiction and child privacy violations, including new limits and parental controls—raising big questions for users beyond the U.S. Kentucky Research Funding: Sen. Mitch McConnell highlighted $26.7M for a UK agricultural research facility, aimed at forage and animal production. Energy & Data Centers: Kentucky’s PSC opened an affordability case as electricity prices rose sharply, with concerns about coal reliance and data-center growth. Law Enforcement Tech: ICE awarded a $16.7M no-bid contract for 6,000 electric shock gloves from Kentucky’s Compliant Technologies, despite backlash and calls for bans. STEM in Kentucky: Centre students landed Mayo Clinic internships spanning clinical research and forensic pathology. Space Tech: NASA’s Roman Space Telescope is set to push astronomy into cloud-based workflows, changing who can access discovery work. Local Tech & Safety: More Kentucky districts are using stop-arm cameras to curb dangerous school bus violations.

AI & Housing Permits: Cities are testing AI tools to speed up housing permitting by scanning applications and flagging errors, while federal funding (HUD grants and a new Innovation Fund) pushes more automated code review—aiming to cut weeks of back-and-forth without removing final human decisions. Kentucky Tech & Business: Freeman Automation will expand in Graves County with a $1 million facility investment, adding 20 Kentucky jobs, as the state continues courting advanced manufacturing. Public Safety Tech: ICE awarded a $16.7 million contract for 6,000 electric-shock gloves from Kentucky-based Compliant Technologies, despite California lawmakers pushing bans and critics warning about misuse and training. Local Privacy Fight: Lexington residents again challenged the city’s Flock license-plate reader use, calling for an end to the contract over privacy concerns. Meta Settlement: Meta agreed to pay about $18B and add child-safety limits on Instagram/Facebook after states—including Kentucky—alleged addictive design and improper data collection. Kentucky Sports Tech: UK Athletics announced Kroger Field upgrades plus cheaper concessions and new food options for the 2026 season.

Advanced Manufacturing Jobs: Freeman Automation will invest $1M to open a new 4,000-square-foot facility in Graves County, aiming to complete construction in 2027 and create 20 Kentucky jobs. Rural Healthcare Expansion: Doster Construction broke ground on a $78M Livingston Hospital renovation and expansion in Salem, adding new clinical space and modernizing services for rural patients. Energy Costs & Data Centers: Kentucky’s Public Service Commission opened an affordability-focused investigation into rising electricity costs, with advocates warning that coal reliance and data-center growth could push bills higher. Federal Tech & Public Safety: ICE awarded a $16.7M no-bid contract to buy 6,000 electric-shock gloves from Kentucky-based Compliant Technologies, drawing renewed backlash over oversight and use of force. Defense Tech: The U.S. Army is moving ahead with a $2.2B plan for nuclear microreactors at five bases, including Fort Campbell, under the Janus program. Local Privacy Fight: Lexington residents pressed city leaders to end its Flock license plate reader contract amid privacy concerns. STEM & Nature in Kentucky: EKU-led Lilley Cornett Woods highlights old-growth forest research and outdoor learning, while Mammoth Cave marks National Park Week with programming tied to its long history.

Nuclear Power for Defense: The U.S. Army’s Janus Program just awarded up to $2.2 billion to five vendors to build and operate small nuclear microreactors at five bases, including Fort Campbell, Kentucky—aiming for reliable power even if the civilian grid falters. Law Enforcement Tech Backlash: ICE approved a $16.7 million, no-bid purchase of 6,000 electric shock gloves from Kentucky-based Compliant Technologies, drawing fresh civil-rights alarm over how the devices could be used. Local Tech, Local Control: Northern Kentucky cities are moving to remove Flock Safety cameras, while JCPS is rolling out AI stop-arm cameras on school buses with human review before violations go to police. Kentucky Research & Health: UofL opened a new Brown Cancer Center in Bullitt County to bring specialty care closer to rural patients, and Villa Madonna Academy opened a new STEM wing to expand hands-on science learning. Space Science: NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is set to launch Aug. 30, promising new insights into the universe’s expansion and exoplanets.

Meta Child-Safety Settlement: Meta agreed to pay up to $17.1B to 47 states over claims it designed Instagram and Facebook to be addictive for kids, with new limits like “productive pauses,” night and school-hour restrictions, stronger parental controls, and tighter rules on teen-facing features. Kentucky Tech & Health: UofL Health cut the ribbon on a new Brown Cancer Center facility in Bullitt County aimed at reducing rural travel barriers for cancer care. STEM in the Classroom: Villa Madonna Academy opened a nearly $2M Chase and Cole Fischer STEM Wing with new labs and maker-style spaces for students. Nuclear Microreactors in Kentucky: The U.S. Army’s Janus program selected vendors and sites for small nuclear microreactors, including Fort Campbell, Kentucky, as part of a $2.2B push for resilient base power. Energy Storage Jobs: Ford named a new leader for its stationary energy storage business and will oversee retooling at its Glendale, Kentucky battery plant for lithium-iron-phosphate storage. Local Tech Oversight: A Shively officer faces charges after alleged misuse of Flock license plate reader searches more than 2,000 times. Robotics Funding: Russellville High School received a $5,000 TVA robotics award to support its VEX program.

Meta Child-Safety Settlement: Meta agreed to pay up to $18B and overhaul Facebook/Instagram for teens, including a default two-hour daily limit, overnight blocks, fewer notifications during school hours, and limits on “infinite scrolling” and like counts. Kentucky Tech & Policy: The settlement includes Kentucky among the leading states pushing the case, with money aimed at youth mental health and digital literacy. Nuclear Power for Bases: The U.S. Army awarded up to $2.2B to build and operate microreactors at five sites, including Fort Campbell (KY), targeting a first reactor by Sept. 2028. Local Surveillance Tech: A Shively officer was arrested for allegedly using Flock Safety license-plate cameras to track an ex-girlfriend 2,000+ times, raising new questions about oversight of police tech. Health Research in KY: UK researchers launched a trial testing semaglutide to reduce early heart-disease risk in adolescents with severe obesity. Retail Automation: Hop Shops in KY and Ohio is rolling out AI self-checkouts that recognize items and speed up lines. STEM in the Classroom: UK students took an equine-focused education abroad trip to Australia, bringing back industry connections and global STEM perspective.

Teen Safety Crackdown: Meta agreed to pay up to $17.1B in a multistate settlement and make major changes to Facebook and Instagram for teens, including daily limits and nighttime blocks, after states alleged the platforms were designed to addict kids. Northern Kentucky Tech & Privacy: A Covington vote on $6M for cruiser-mounted license plate readers was postponed for a public discussion, as local leaders compare options and privacy concerns. Local Policing Misuse Case: A Shively officer was arrested after authorities said he used Flock Safety to track an ex-girlfriend 2,000+ times, fueling renewed scrutiny of license plate reader systems. Kentucky Agriculture Research: UK’s forage-animal production unit got a final $26M+ USDA boost, completing a multi-year push to tackle tall fescue problems tied to livestock losses. Nuclear Power at Fort Campbell: The Army’s Janus program selected BWXT for Fort Campbell, KY, awarding up to $2.2B to build and operate microreactors across five bases for resilient, grid-independent power. Healthcare Innovation: Norton Children’s opened Kentucky’s first dedicated fetal care center in Louisville, adding virtual consultations statewide.

Meta Trial Update: Meta and attorneys general from multiple states, including Kentucky, have discussed a possible mid-trial settlement in the landmark case accusing Facebook and Instagram of being designed to hook teens, with states seeking about $200 billion in penalties and major product changes. Teen Safety in Court: Instagram head Adam Mosseri testified that only a low-single-digit share of teens used the “Take a Break” feature before it became a default, and he defended Meta’s safety approach while denying it stalled rollout. AI Legal Backlash: Lawsuits against chatbot developers are accelerating, with families and states alleging chatbots contributed to deaths and violent incidents, including Kentucky’s earlier action against Character.AI. Kentucky Tech & Energy: MRCool launched TravelCool, a rooftop inverter heat pump for RVs, aiming to cut electricity use in both cooling and heating. Local Tech/Policy: Kentucky’s agriculture commissioner is pressing for clarity on data center ownership and farmland impacts as communities weigh tradeoffs. Education & Sports Leadership: KHSAA commissioner Julian Tackett and senior associate Butch Cope announced retirements. Local Governance: LaRue County school board faces a tight deadline to set the 2026 property tax rate amid ongoing litigation over the prior year’s rate. Business in Louisville: Payroll Vault opened a Louisville franchise for a couple bringing CPA and consulting experience.