AGP Executive Report

Kentucky Public Safety Tech: Gov. Andy Beshear says Kentucky is rolling out Next Generation 911 statewide, letting residents send voice, text, photos and video to call centers for faster, more accurate dispatch; 19 centers are already live, with full coverage expected by end of 2027. Health Equity in Frankfort: The City of Frankfort and UK partnered for the Dr. Rosby Glover Unity in the Community event, offering free screenings and ongoing monthly meetings to tackle Alzheimer’s disparities. EV Charging Buildout: Beshear’s latest request for proposals seeks private developers to expand Kentucky’s fast-charging network in underserved rural and urban areas; responses are due July 13. Education & Workforce: Logan County Schools begins a $10.4M Career and Technical Center expansion adding diesel and plumbing programs for fall 2027. Data Center Policy Watch: Murray planners move toward local “guardrails” for data centers, with a public hearing set for June 9. STEM in Sports Turf: FIFA’s World Cup pitches rely on years of turf engineering for consistent natural grass performance across 16 venues.

EV Charging Expansion: Gov. Andy Beshear’s office is seeking proposals to expand Kentucky’s fast-charging network, with responses due July 13 and new sites aimed at both rural gaps and underserved urban routes. Public Safety Tech: Kentucky is rolling out Next Generation 911 statewide, upgrading call centers to handle voice, text, photos, and video for faster, more accurate emergency response by end of 2027. Workforce & Career Training: Construction is starting on Logan County Schools’ Career and Technical Center expansion, adding new diesel and plumbing programs for fall 2027. Education Outcomes: Kentucky lawmakers heard an update on statewide literacy progress, including gains tied to early literacy investments after the pandemic. STEM in Schools: Floyd County School of Innovation students LilyAnna Thompson and Ava Mays qualified for the HOSA National Competition in Indianapolis. World Cup Science (Kentucky angle): Turf experts behind the 2026 World Cup pitches say the goal is consistent, mostly natural grass performance across 16 stadiums—research that could influence everyday lawn care. Agriculture Watch: A new report highlights the U.S. cattle herd shrinking to its smallest level since 1951, with Kentucky producers weighing risk amid higher costs and uncertainty.

Public Safety Tech Upgrade: Gov. Andy Beshear says Kentucky is rolling out Next Generation 911 statewide, letting residents send voice, text, photos and video to dispatchers with more precise location routing; 19 call centers are already live, with full coverage expected by end of 2027. Local History & Community: A new historical marker honoring Louisville civil rights leader Dr. P.O. Sweeney was unveiled at Cherokee Golf Course after years of research by his son Maurice Sweeney and retired professor Robert Stagg. STEM in the Spotlight: University of Tennessee and Michigan State turf researchers spent years engineering FIFA World Cup 2026 pitches for consistent, safer play across 16 stadiums. Agriculture Innovation: Alltech launched Olerix, a phytogenic feed blend aimed at improving pig growth and feed efficiency while supporting gut health and immune function. Weather Watch: Storm chances are rising in the region as humidity climbs, with a slight risk for strong to severe storms near parts of Kentucky and Ohio Valley areas.

World Cup Turf Science: A University of Tennessee professor says 16 FIFA World Cup venues across North America are being tuned for consistent, mostly natural hybrid grass so players get predictable footing—years of research aimed at making the pitches “beautiful” but invisible to fans. Agriculture Tech in Kentucky: Alltech (Lexington) launched Olerix, a phytogenic feed blend for pigs designed to support gut health, feed efficiency, immune function, and growth, backed by modern production trials. Animal Health & Research: Kentucky’s saddleback caterpillar is back in the spotlight for its painful sting, with University of Kentucky guidance on what it looks like and how to handle contact safely. Inclusive Museum Build: Louisville’s American Printing House for the Blind is preparing to open The Dot Experience, a major new inclusive museum space focused on disability access and human-centered storytelling. Storm Watch: Forecasters flagged strong-to-severe storm chances near the I-70 corridor and parts of Northern Kentucky as humidity climbs. Medical Cannabis Expansion: Kentucky’s executive order expanded qualifying conditions for medical cannabis from 6 to 21, with clinicians pointing to potential benefits for chronic pain and PTSD.

PFAS Watch in Frankfort: Kentucky lawmakers are weighing options to tackle “forever chemicals,” with a bill aimed at forming a working group and setting cabinet-level drinking-water limits and monitoring. Medical Cannabis Expansion: Gov. Andy Beshear’s executive order nearly quadruples qualifying conditions for Kentucky medical cannabis cards, moving from 6 to 21. Enrollment & Funding Pressure: New state figures show kindergarten enrollment dips in Pulaski County (795) and Fayette County (3,281), while a separate report highlights Kentucky’s ongoing school funding gaps. I-65 Safety Tech: After multiple truck hits at Louisville’s low “can opener” bridge during the summer shutdown, Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is adding more warnings, while safety-tech firms push in-cab alerts to prevent crashes. Data Centers, Energy, and Policy: Kentucky’s PFAS debate lands in the same week as broader data-center fights elsewhere, including Illinois pausing new incentives over energy and water concerns. Inclusive Tech & Culture: Louisville’s American Printing House for the Blind is preparing to open The Dot Experience, billed as a highly inclusive museum for blind and low-vision visitors.

PFAS Watch: Kentucky lawmakers are weighing a proposal that would require PFAS-related reporting and push companies to disclose “forever chemical” dumping, with supporters citing health clusters and opponents warning about business conflict. Medical Cannabis Expansion: Gov. Andy Beshear’s executive order expands Kentucky’s medical cannabis qualifying conditions from 6 to 21, aiming to broaden access for chronic pain and certain mental health needs. Data Centers & Energy: A major policy fight over data-center tax incentives is heating up, with Illinois pausing new incentives and citing pressure on energy affordability and water resources—an issue Kentucky communities are also watching. Coal Funding Boost: The Trump administration is directing $700M to modernize or restart coal plants, including projects tied to Kentucky, framing it as power support for AI data centers. Workforce & Innovation: Launch Blue and BADC announced the Summer 2026 UAccel: AgTech I-Corps cohort, a six-week program to help ag innovators validate markets and commercialization paths. Local Tech Training: Highway District 12 held its annual safety “roadeo” to train equipment operators and roll out new methods and technology. Education Numbers: Pulaski County and Fayette County both reported kindergarten enrollment declines in 2024-25, underscoring ongoing funding and staffing pressures.

Medical Cannabis Expansion: Gov. Andy Beshear signed an executive order expanding Kentucky’s medical cannabis qualifying conditions from 6 to 21, with advocates saying it will broaden access for chronic pain and mental health needs. Public Safety Tech Upgrade: Kentucky is moving to Next Generation 911 across all 117 call centers, adding faster, more accurate routing and allowing voice, text, photos, and video from compatible devices. Driver Licensing Modernization: All 35 regional driver licensing offices are closed during a transition to a new KINDL licensing platform, with limited walk-in hours after reopening. Data Centers & Local Concerns: Louisville University launched a community webinar series on data centers after a temporary moratorium, weighing jobs and tax benefits against water, power, pollution, and space impacts. EV Charging Buildout: Kentucky issued a new request for proposals to expand fast-charging access statewide, aiming to fill gaps in both rural and urban areas. Work Zones Speed Cameras: Kentucky’s pilot camera-assisted speed enforcement in highway work zones is showing promising results, using solar-powered cameras and on-site officers for citations. Rural Tech & Health Abroad: Kentucky nonprofit WaterStep is supporting Ebola response efforts in Congo, focusing on safe water and sanitation where vaccines aren’t available. Policy & Lobbying Watch: New state records show nearly $13.77 million spent lobbying during the 2026 session, including major attention on child care and data centers.

Transportation Tech & Safety: Kentucky lawmakers got an update on a Camera Assisted Speed Enforcement pilot using solar work-zone cameras; the system flags drivers 10+ mph over limits and requires an officer to pull them over on scene. Public Health & Water Tech: Kentucky nonprofit WaterStep is supporting Congo’s Ebola response with safe-water sanitation tools and training as the outbreak spreads without approved vaccines for the strain. Workforce Development: Gov. Beshear announced $1.8M for workforce training through Bluegrass State Skills Corp for nearly 2,300 Kentuckians. EV Infrastructure: Kentucky issued another RFP to expand fast-charging beyond existing corridor sites, targeting underserved urban and rural routes. Data Center Tensions: Boyd County residents questioned proposed data center plans, including NDAs and protections for ratepayers and the environment. Energy & Grid Planning: A Kentucky report says data centers could bring billions, but warns customers could absorb costly upgrades without clear rules. STEM & Research: UK’s BIRCWH program is taking applications for women’s health research scholars and associates, with NIH-backed support.

Data Privacy Push in Congress: A House subcommittee hearing on the SECURE Data Act split sharply along party lines, with Republicans backing a single federal privacy standard and Democrats warning it could weaken stronger state protections. Local Tech & Jobs: Lexington’s New Circle Road Lexmark data center sold for $29M, with DartPoints planning expansion aimed at AI and hyperscale demand. Work-Zone Safety Tech: Kentucky Transportation Cabinet cameras in active construction zones are showing early results, with officials citing about a 20% drop in speeding drivers and plans to add more statewide. Space Tech in Kentucky: UK researchers helped NASA fix a heat-shield issue tied to Artemis I, a concern that resurfaced during Artemis II’s splashdown wait. Healthcare & Policy: Kentucky’s “conscience protection” trend is growing, with multiple states considering laws that let healthcare workers opt out of certain services on moral or religious grounds. Agriculture Research: Kentucky State University studies examine when supplemental nitrogen helps soybean—and when it’s just extra cost—especially under rainfed, drought-prone conditions. Public Health in Appalachia: UK research finds sleep problems like insomnia may be more widespread across Appalachia than earlier studies suggested.

STEM & Research: UK researchers say excess nitric oxide can derail plant immune “memory,” restricting salicylic acid movement and weakening systemic disease defenses. Agriculture & Food Tech: A new UK study will probe why modern sows can conceive more piglets than their uteri can support, funded by a $650,000 USDA grant. Local AI Governance: Lexington-Fayette is spelling out how city staff can use AI—allowing help with writing and research, but banning sensitive personal data and requiring human review. Energy & Grid: LG&E and KU are adding nearly a third more power capacity, with new investments aimed at keeping Kentucky’s grid reliable. Public Science Event: KET will host a free America250 screening of Ken Burns’ “The American Revolution” in Louisville with a panel discussion. Nuclear & Industry: Urenco plans a major expansion of U.S. uranium enrichment capacity in New Mexico, adding new plant work and boosting long-term output. Community STEM Competition: Trine University students won multiple awards at the Indiana-Kentucky ASCE Student Symposium hosted by UK. Health & Safety: A privacy watchdog urges lawmakers to reject a GOP federal data privacy bill, calling it worse than having no law. Environment & Flood Risk: A new study links wetland loss to $10B in higher residential flood insurance claims, with conservation value noted in parts of Kentucky.

Data Centers & Power Costs: Kentucky lawmakers are being urged to make data centers “pay their own way” as electricity demand could surge from 58 TWh (2014) to 176 TWh (2023), with projections up to 580 TWh by 2028—raising stakes for grid planning, water, and utility bills. Local Governance: Northeast Kentucky residents pushed back at a Boyd County town hall over a proposed TeraWulf data center, questioning transparency, ratepayer protections, and NDAs. Space Tech in Kentucky: UK researchers are testing heat-shield materials for spacecraft reentry, including a “Kentucky capsule” using bourbon barrel stave, tied to NASA missions. STEM for Kids: Louisville launched a Summer Cultural and Reading Pass with 150+ free activities to fight summer “brain drain,” while a Baker Intermediate camp brought STEM Like a Girl to 4th–6th graders. Health & Policy: Gov. Andy Beshear expanded Kentucky’s medical marijuana qualifying conditions via executive order, adding 15+ disorders. Tech & Business: Louisville-based Source7 expanded its partnership with Lula to improve maintenance workflows using AI-powered triage and scheduling. Public Health: A report graded Kentucky a C for maternal mental health, citing gaps in screening, providers, and support.

AI & Work: AMD CEO Lisa Su tells MIT grads that AI can accelerate discovery, but humans must still choose which problems matter and take responsibility for outcomes. Tech in Kentucky Classrooms: UK researchers are testing space-return heat shield materials for NASA missions, including a “Kentucky capsule” idea using bourbon barrel stave material. STEM for Kids: Baker Intermediate School in Kentucky runs a girls-only STEM Like a Girl Camp, aiming to build confidence and hands-on skills in grades 4–6. Public Health Access: A new Georgetown report finds the uninsured rate for U.S. children under 6 rose sharply from 2022 to 2024, with Kentucky noted for slowing disenrollment. Local Tech & Safety: Railserve launches YardGUARD™, a railyard safety system that adds real-time engineered controls to switching operations. Kentucky Research Wins: UK equine science gets $1.8M+ in USDA awards, and UK physicists share the 2026 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics for the muon g-2 effort. Community & Learning: Louisville kicks off summer programs, including the library’s Summer Reading push and a Cultural Pass for youth and seniors. Data Center Tension: Boyd County residents question NDAs and protections tied to a proposed TeraWulf data center.

AI & Kids Safety: Florida sued OpenAI and Sam Altman over claims ChatGPT was marketed despite risks to children, alleging lack of age safeguards and deceptive practices. Kentucky Policy Watch: Lawmakers head back to Frankfort for the 2026 interim period, with committee work and livestreams through KET and the Legislative Research Commission. Public Health Tech & Access: Kentucky’s first licensed medical marijuana dispensary opened in Hardin County, offering products for chronic conditions to cardholders. Education & Early Learning: A Kentucky teacher argues kindergarten expectations are far more rigorous than decades ago, warning that kids who start behind often struggle to catch up. Sports Science: UK football is rolling out a renovated $3 million training facility with upgraded equipment and performance analytics for the 2026 season. Rural Research: The U.S. Forest Service reorganization could close dozens of research facilities nationwide, but Western North Carolina’s stations are reportedly spared. STEM in the Classroom: Barren County Area Technology Center named Carl Owens as principal, bringing experience teaching engineering, coding, and digital arts. Community Outdoors: Kentucky’s Free Fishing Weekend returns June 6-7, letting anglers fish without a license while other rules still apply. Local Tech/Infrastructure: A severed copper transmission line knocked out an Ohio Valley FM station’s tower feed in broad daylight, highlighting ongoing risks to critical communications gear.

LGBTQ+ Rights & Politics: Gov. Andy Beshear signed a proclamation recognizing June 2026 as Pride Month, highlighting vetoes and other steps to protect LGBTQ+ Kentuckians. State Government: Kentucky lawmakers are set to return to Frankfort for the 2026 interim period, with committee work beginning next week and livestreams via KET and the Legislative Research Commission. Higher Ed & Research: UK’s inaugural Land-grant Engagement Bus Tour spotlighted partnerships across Western Kentucky, from health programs and agricultural research to engineering workforce training. Tech & Defense: Calian launched two new pole-mount controlled reception pattern antennas aimed at improving GNSS anti-jamming options for marine, infrastructure, and defense use. Health & Biotech: Legend Biotech reported first-in-human LB2102 CAR-T results in solid tumors, including early response and safety signals, plus new CARVYKTI® multiple myeloma data at ASCO 2026. Workforce Training: Owensboro Community & Technical College announced free summer info sessions for its TechX advanced manufacturing and industrial technology program. Infrastructure: Louisville’s long I-65 closure is approaching, with officials briefing drivers on what to expect. Public Safety: A Kentucky Army National Guard engineering unit wrapped up multiple projects in Hazard, including drainage work and motor pool resurfacing.

Noctourism in Kentucky: Cumberland Falls State Park is spotlighted for its rare moonbow—one of only two places worldwide that can reliably produce it—plus telescope-friendly stargazing at Mammoth Cave. I-65 Disruption: Louisville-area drivers get the rundown as the long-awaited I-65 Central Corridor closure begins, with key timing and what to expect. School Tech & Health: Kentucky’s Breathitt County school district settlement lands as Meta, TikTok and YouTube agree to pay millions over claims their platforms are addictive and harmful to teens, with teacher training included. Social Media Lawsuits: The same broader wave of school social media harm cases is highlighted, including what the settlement could mean for other districts. STEM in Kentucky: Students from around the world compete at the Kentucky Horse Park in Run for the Robots, showing off engineering and programming skills. State Education Policy: Kentucky State University’s Board of Regents advances its academic plan under Senate Bill 185, moving the school toward a polytechnic focus. Sustainability Manufacturing: Kruger Nonwovens orders ANDRITZ equipment for a plastic-free, chemical-free sustainable wipes line in Quebec, starting production in 2028. Community Support for Military Families: Village Caregiving announces a statewide partnership with Kentucky Purple Star to expand services for military youth, families and veterans.

Social Media Accountability in Kentucky: Breathitt County School District’s $27M settlement with Meta, TikTok, Snap and YouTube spotlights how courts may treat claims that addictive platform design harms student mental health, with Meta paying $9M and YouTube adding teacher training. STEM in the Bluegrass: The Kentucky Horse Park hosted “Run for the Robots,” a FIRST Tech Challenge drawing 70+ middle and high school teams and showing how engineering and programming skills are built long before competition day. Education Policy Watch: KDE’s Superintendents Advisory Council heard that Kentucky’s state college entrance exam procurement is being redone after Senate Bill 197, leaving the 2026-27 school year without a final exam decision yet. Public Tech & Safety: A U.S. Forest Service restructuring could put dozens of research facilities nationwide at risk, while Western North Carolina’s long-term national forest research acreage is reportedly spared. Local Tech & Community Events: Louisville’s Zoo and Orchestra team up for ROARchestra: Summer Breeze with Yacht Rock classics, mixing live music with hands-on summer fun.