AGP Executive Report

Kansas Supreme Court & Schools: A Kansas Supreme Court appointment is in the spotlight after Gov. Laura Kelly named Judge K. Christopher Jayaram, while a separate statewide vote on how justices are chosen could reshape school-funding enforcement and constitutional checks. Alzheimer’s Research Policy: A Kansas senator joined NIH leadership at an Alzheimer’s advocacy forum, underscoring ongoing fights over research funding and political oversight of treatment timelines. Heat & Sports Health: A new review ahead of the 2026 World Cup links extreme heat to impaired physical and mental performance, with dehydration affecting attention and memory. School Tech Rules: USD 480 approved updates tied to a new Kansas law restricting students’ personal electronic devices during the school day, plus changes to staffing titles and afterschool fees. Kansas Agriculture (Cover Crops): Extension guidance highlights how post-wheat cover crops can suppress weeds in dryland systems and reduce reliance on herbicides amid resistance pressure. Student Innovation in Rural KS: Midway Co-op is running agronomy internships for Kansas State students, while Barton County is set to host a free Make48 summer camp at Barton Community College for middle and high school students. Data Centers & Water Concerns: Kansas political coverage and local reporting keep circling back to data centers—where they fit, and whether communities have enough water and power. Tech in Athletics: The University of Kansas announced a multi-year partnership with Ripple to place an XRP jersey patch and fund student education programs. Aviation Staffing Fallout: Reporting on the 2026 TSA funding lapse points to checkpoint staffing strain as a driver of uneven travel disruptions. Cyber/Privacy Tech: Local debate continues over automatic license plate readers, with residents raising surveillance and search-and-seizure concerns. Lab Commercialization: Sandia launched COMPASS to speed commercialization of lab technologies by building venture-ready companies.

Kansas Courts & Schools: Gov. Laura Kelly appointed Judge K. Christopher Jayaram to the Kansas Supreme Court, filling the vacancy left by Chief Justice Marla Luckert—an appointment that could shape future rulings tied to public education funding. Rural Workforce & Training: Northeast Tech named Renae Dozier assistant superintendent and campus director for its Kansas campus, effective July 1. Agronomy & Soil Health: Kansas State University guidance highlights cover crops after wheat harvest for weed suppression and forage, with advice on species choice, grazing timing, and why “cocktails” aren’t automatically better than simpler mixes. STEM for Youth: Great Bend will host a free Make48 summer innovation camp for middle and high school students July 20–23 at Barton Community College. Campus Tech in Sports: The University of Kansas announced a partnership with Ripple to place an XRP jersey patch on Jayhawk uniforms, alongside funding for finance and digital-asset education. Public Safety Tech: Manchester approved in-car Motorola WatchGuard cameras for patrol vehicles to improve transparency and accountability. Kansas Health Care Access: Surgical Associates of Manhattan added two general surgeons to expand rural surgical services at Clay County Medical Center. Space Tech Watch: SpaceX plans a brief test deployment of 20 V3 Starlink satellites on an upcoming Starship flight.

Election Power Grab: A new push by President Trump aims to tighten federal control over the 2026 midterms, including moves affecting election administration and mail voting rules. Kansas Courts & Schools: A Kansas Supreme Court selection amendment on the Aug. 4 ballot is framed as a major shift to checks and balances that have historically enforced adequate public school funding. Pipeline Fallout: The Keystone Pipeline operator South Bow faces a proposed nearly $27M civil penalty and about $40M for safety upgrades tied to a 2022 Kansas spill. Agronomy & Soil Health: Kansas State University and local extension guidance highlights cover-crop choices after wheat harvest, with practical notes on grazing timing and weed suppression. STEM for Rural Youth: Great Bend is hosting a free Make48 summer camp at Barton Community College to help middle and high school students build prototypes and pitch ideas. Sports & Kansas Ties: Kansas Athletics inks a multi-year Ripple deal adding an XRP jersey patch and funding finance/tech education; separately, former KU player Lagerald Vick faces attempted first-degree murder charges in Memphis.

Energy & Environment: The U.S. Justice Department and Kansas are moving toward a settlement that would require Keystone Pipeline operator South Bow to pay $26.9 million in civil penalties over a 2022 spill that dumped nearly half a million gallons of crude into a Kansas creek, with an added estimated $40 million for prevention and restoration. Agriculture & Research: Kansas State University extension guidance highlights how cover crops after wheat harvest can suppress weeds in dryland systems, but stresses that results depend on species choice, planting and termination timing, and biomass. STEM Education: Great Bend is hosting a free Make48 summer camp (July 20–23) for middle and high school students, pairing teams with hands-on innovation and prototype building at Barton Community College. Local Tech & Finance: Kansas Athletics is partnering with Ripple to put an XRP jersey patch on all team uniforms, plus funding for finance and digital-asset education for students. Health & Policy: A new Kansas Supreme Court election amendment debate is framed as a major public education funding and constitutional-checks issue as voters decide how justices are chosen.

Nuclear Innovation in Kansas: Deep Fission says a prototype reactor canister has arrived at its Kansas site for a proof-of-concept “gravity reactor” approach—burying a small modular reactor about a mile underground to cut costs and rely on surrounding bedrock for safety. STEM Education & Making: Barton County (at Barton Community College) is hosting a free Make48 Summer Pilot July 20–23, pairing rural Kansas middle and high school students with hands-on innovation, prototype building, and pitches to community leaders. Agriculture Research: Kansas State Extension highlights cover-crop strategy after wheat harvest for dryland High Plains producers, focusing on weed suppression, biomass, and practical species choices (and notes “cocktails” aren’t automatically better than simpler mixes). Campus Tech/Finance Branding: Kansas Athletics announced a multi-year Ripple partnership adding an XRP jersey patch across all team uniforms, plus funding for financial and digital-asset education for student-athletes. Local Tech & Security: A KU computer engineering student faces misdemeanor charges tied to alleged wristband sales to minors in connection with a January shooting at The Hawk bar.

STEM Summer Camp: Barton County is set to host a free Make48 four-day innovation camp at Barton Community College (July 20–23) for middle and high school students and homeschoolers, with teams building prototypes and pitching to local leaders. Kansas Agriculture & Weed Control: Cottonwood Extension District highlights how cover crops after wheat harvest can suppress weeds in dryland no-till systems, while noting herbicide resistance and limited new herbicide options. College Sports Tech/Finance: Kansas Athletics announced a multi-year Ripple deal adding an XRP jersey patch across all team uniforms, plus funding for student-athlete and campus financial/technology education. Public Health Mythbusting: A new report warns that ivermectin isn’t a cancer miracle, pointing to concerns about study methods and the lack of solid comparisons. Kansas City Tech/Media: DIRECTV reached a deal to restore 54 Scripps local broadcast stations across 36 metro areas after a blackout. Cybersecurity: Apple sued OpenAI over alleged trade secret theft tied to OpenAI’s hardware efforts. World Cup (Kansas City tie-in): Argentina vs. Switzerland quarterfinal headlines Kansas City coverage, with Scaloni responding to favouritism allegations.

KU & Ripple Partnership: Kansas Athletics says it will add an XRP jersey patch across all Jayhawks uniforms, plus fund finance and digital-asset education for student-athletes and the campus community. Kansas Education Policy: A proposed Kansas Supreme Court selection change is framed as a major shift in checks and balances that could affect how public schools are funded. Public Safety & Youth Alcohol Access: A KU computer engineering student faces misdemeanor charges tied to selling wristbands allegedly used to let minors drink during the Jan. 2026 Hawk bar shootings. Rural Innovation Camp: Barton County is set to host a free Make48 summer pilot at Barton Community College, bringing rural middle and high school students together for hands-on product prototyping. Agriculture Weed Control: Kansas Extension highlights how cover crops after wheat harvest can suppress weeds in no-till systems, while herbicide resistance and limited new options remain a challenge. Health Research: ASU researchers received a $2.3M NIAID grant to speed up testing for drug-resistant tuberculosis so doctors can pick the right treatment faster. Tech & Security: A report says a backdoor was found in Wi‑Fi router firmware with no patch available yet.

STEM Education: Barton County is getting a free Make48 Summer Pilot at Barton Community College (July 20–23), pairing rural middle and high school students with hands-on innovation, prototype building, and pitches to community leaders. Public Health Research: Arizona State University researchers received a $2.3 million NIAID grant to speed up testing for drug-resistant tuberculosis so doctors can match patients to the right treatment faster. Kansas Science & History: UNH-led teams are searching Lake Massabesic for a WWII B-17 ball turret, aiming to recover and restore it for display—an example of how mapping tech can unlock local history. Sports Tech/Business: Kansas Athletics is partnering with Ripple to add an XRP jersey patch across all team uniforms and fund finance/digital-asset education for student-athletes. Agriculture & Trade: The U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council joined a U.S. sorghum trade mission to China, meeting livestock and feed buyers to track demand and market shifts. K-12 Policy: Kansas Supreme Court selection rules are on the Aug. 4 ballot, with school-funding advocates warning the change could weaken a key check on education financing. Broadband Tech: Mimosa Networks and Viaero Wireless report a rural fixed-wireless pilot clearing 50 subscribers per sector over 9.8 miles on unlicensed 6 GHz using AFC.

Kansas STEM & workforce pipelines: Barton County is set to host a free Make48 Summer Pilot (July 20–23) at Barton Community College, pairing rural middle- and high-school students with hands-on innovation and prototype-building. Education funding & access: Omni Circle Group’s DOCK program is ending with a final laptop/tablet giveaway July 25 in Topeka, aimed at boosting digital literacy. Health tech: Johnson & Johnson won FDA approval for a dual-energy THERMOCOOL SMARTTOUCH SF catheter platform that combines radiofrequency and pulsed field ablation for heart rhythm procedures. Campus tech/finance branding: Kansas Athletics inked a multi-year Ripple deal, adding an XRP jersey patch and funding financial and technology education for student-athletes. Privacy & surveillance: A fast-growing AI camera network is drawing renewed Fourth Amendment concerns as law enforcement expands automated license-plate tracking. Agriculture & climate: Kansas Reflector reports tariffs are disrupting exports to China, with Kansas corn shipments reportedly diverted and prices pressured. Policy change in schools: A new Kansas law starting July 1 restricts staff from privately messaging students or using personal social media, and bans personal devices during the school day.

Digital Access in Topeka: Omni Circle Group will give away its final 16 laptops and six tablets for the DOCK digital literacy program on July 25, with signups required in advance and distribution first-come at Omni Circle Group. STEM Education in Rural Kansas: A Midwest STEM Alliance summer institute at the University of Northern Iowa selected 18 elementary STEM educators from Iowa, Kansas and Minnesota for training and $1,000 annual classroom material support. School Tech Rules: Kansas’ new HB 2299 takes effect July 1, banning personal device use during school hours and restricting school employees from privately messaging students or using personal social media for communication. Ag Policy Impact: Kansas State University experts say tariffs and Strait of Hormuz disruptions are already reshaping export flows and pressuring prices for producers. College Sports Meets Crypto: Kansas Athletics announced a multi-year Ripple partnership that adds an XRP jersey patch across team uniforms and funds finance/digital-asset education for student-athletes. Weather Watch: NOAA says El Niño has an 81% chance to become “very strong” by fall, with major fall-winter impacts expected.

University of Kansas & Sports Tech: KU Athletics is partnering with Ripple to put an XRP jersey patch on all Kansas Athletics uniforms, with Ripple funding financial and technology education for student-athletes and the campus community. Cybersecurity: The FCC flagged a California IT firm as a national security risk tied to its CEO’s Chinese citizenship, after concerns its services could be exploited. Healthcare Innovation: J&J says the FDA approved a dual-energy cardiac ablation catheter platform that can switch energy modes mid-procedure for complex arrhythmia cases. Local Learning & STEM: Topeka Zoo is preparing its Tiger Trails and Den Academy, billed as a STEM learning space, and Emporia State awarded a Master of Library Science degree to a Salem resident. Agriculture & Soil Health: Kansas research highlights how cover crops after wheat harvest can suppress weeds in no-till systems, supporting integrated weed management. World Cup Safety & Tech: FIFA faces renewed pressure over extreme heat risks, while U.S. authorities report seizing 600+ drones near World Cup venues.

Kansas Athletics x Ripple: The University of Kansas says it’s launching a multi-year partnership with Ripple that puts an XRP logo on all Jayhawks uniforms, plus financial and tech education for students. Medicare Costs: Advocates are pushing Congress to remove a $10–$12 monthly Medicare copay tied to chronic care management, arguing it’s a small fee that adds up to big system costs. Health Tech: The FDA has approved Johnson & Johnson’s dual-energy catheter ablation platform that combines radiofrequency and pulsed field energy through one catheter. Cyber/Privacy: DuckDuckGo’s browser will block YouTube ads by default for many users, using filter lists from uBlock Origin. Kansas Tech & Video: NCTC and Minerva announced a middleware partnership for independent video operators. Agriculture: Kansas cover-crop research highlights how post-wheat residue and weed suppression can help no-till systems manage herbicide resistance. Sports Betting Research: Arnold Ventures is funding $2.6M in university studies on the consumer and public health impacts of sports gambling. Local Build: Waverly’s aquatic center construction is progressing, with major pool and filtration work underway.

Royals Record Watch: Tyler Tolbert tied a major league mark with hits in 12 straight plate appearances, powering a 16-12 comeback win over the Mets with a homer and four singles. Kansas Nursing Pipeline: MidAmerica Nazarene University launched Kansas’s first Direct Entry Master of Science in Nursing, aiming to move bachelor’s holders into RN licensure in about 24 months. Hearing Tech Insight: Researchers at the University of Kansas found lip-reading mistakes follow patterns—some words look almost identical when spoken, helping explain why errors cluster. Local Data Center Pushback: Independence, Missouri, paused new data center approvals for six months while it reviews zoning and building codes; Kansas City’s Quality Hill also faces a proposed 20-story data center hearing. Starlink Business Aviation Costs: Starlink is doubling monthly pricing for private jet connectivity plans, with new tiers rolling out on or after Aug. 7. Agriculture Watch: U.S. dairy output keeps rising, but growth is slowing as cow numbers and milk per cow inch upward.

K-12 Cybersecurity & AI: Olathe School District CTO Josh Umphrey says districts need to treat tech as an “engagement tool,” not a crutch, while keeping up with privacy, compliance, and security demands as AI use grows. Healthcare Leadership: NueHealth in Kansas City brings founder Daniel Tasset back as CEO and executive chairman, with promotions to COO and CFO as it pushes physician-led specialty care and risk-based payment models. Broadband Transparency Fight: The FCC plans to change rules for “broadband nutrition label” fee disclosures, moving away from listing every passthrough fee—sparking concern that consumers may lose clarity on true costs. Space Science: NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope detected an atmosphere on the planet WD 1856 b, a bizarre gas giant orbiting a white dwarf—an unexpected first for transiting dead-star systems. Kansas Rail Watch: Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern filed more details with the Surface Transportation Board on their merger, including how they say they won’t control key Kansas City-area rail entities. Local STEM Storytelling: A Lawrence playwright is staging “Unghosting the Chromosome,” spotlighting KU alum Walter Sutton and chromosome theory. Agriculture Practicalities: Kansas State research highlights cover-crop options after wheat harvest, with guidance on species choice and grazing timing.

Kansas STEM spotlight: KU rising senior Arthur Benson (Free State alum) earns a 2026–27 Astronaut Scholar award, with plans for a chemical engineering PhD focused on hybrid energy storage. Higher ed leadership: Kansas Board of Regents chief Blake Flanders reflects on the pressures facing college athletics and university budgets as he retires. Tech in the real world: Kansas City cold-chain logistics firm eGourmet Solutions says pandemic-era demand forced major scaling upgrades to its fulfillment tech and visibility. Accessibility & reading tech: A Kansas City-area nonprofit thrift store supports a news-reading program for blind and visually impaired residents, funding adaptive technology through donations. Public safety tech debate: A national push for AI surveillance cameras and license plate readers is drawing backlash over how much data is collected and shared. Agriculture & health: USDA reports screwworm—a parasite declared eradicated decades ago—is returning in the Southwest, raising new risks for livestock. World Cup tech/gear: adidas unveils the TRIONDA FINAL match ball for the tournament’s closing stages, featuring host-city design elements.

Kansas Public Safety Law Changes: New Kansas rules that took effect July 1 tighten release from jail on own recognizance, plus add limits around license plate frames and cell phone use in construction zones, with sheriffs warning they may need more jail capacity. Credit Scoring Meets Rent Data: A Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City study finds rent reporting could meaningfully shift credit scores for about 60% of U.S. renters, pushing underwriting toward consistent cash-flow signals beyond debt history. Animal Health Watch: The screwworm parasite is back in the U.S. Southwest after being declared eradicated decades ago, with USDA-linked cases in Texas and New Mexico raising stakes for livestock protection. Tech Policy in Schools: A growing backlash against classroom tech and AI is driving more states to restrict phones during the school day, as educators and parents debate learning gains vs distraction. World Cup Tech & Security: FIFA rescinded U.S. striker Folarin Balogun’s red-card suspension, while a separate report highlights how the World Cup is accelerating counter-drone spending and adoption. Kansas in the Spotlight: A Topeka native architect is featured in FIFA’s Fan Festival exhibit celebrating women shaping sports, science, and tech. Gaming Industry Shakeup: Microsoft announced major Xbox cuts, laying off 3,200 employees and spinning off multiple game studios. Kansas City Travel Data: A study ranks Arrowhead Stadium among the most accessible 2026 World Cup venues in North America.