AGP Executive Report

KU Physics at CERN: A KU-led team won a $1 million federal grant to build two specialized devices for the Large Hadron Collider, aiming to probe early-universe mysteries tied to the Big Bang. Rural Health Tech: Stormont Vail Health added orthopedic foot-and-ankle surgeon Erik Nott, and discussed a new PET/CT scanner plan funded by $2.4 million in Rural Health Transformation Program money. Education + Literacy: Kiewit pledged $1 million to SchoolSmartKC’s “Literacy for All” initiative, backing Brookside Charter School with research-based classroom coaching and tutoring. School Transportation Tech: Kansas City Public Schools is continuing its Zum Transportation partnership, using GPS tracking, alerts, and badge-scanning for bus safety; officials are also exploring automated stop-arm cameras. Internet Access Watch: HighSpeedInternet.com ranked 2026 state internet speeds, reporting modest national gains and highlighting which states improved most. Agriculture Learning: K-State announced fall field days across western Kansas and a Sept. 9–10 Cow Camp in Hays focused on practical beef cattle management. Climate Pressure: NOAA reported July 2026 tied with July 2024 as the hottest July on record, underscoring ongoing heat risk for the Plains.

Kansas Politics: A political science professor says GOP Sen. Roger Marshall’s November Senate test against Democrat Adam Hamilton will be expensive, with Kansas Democrats still “waking up” to the stakes. Courts & Governance: A Kansas constitutional amendment on Supreme Court selection failed, a reminder that even Republican voters can reject party-led changes. Education Tech: Lawrence will soon bar private social-media contact between staff and students, while Shawnee Mission and other metro districts set AI rules to curb cheating and protect student data. Agriculture & Research: K-State invites producers to Western Kansas Research-Extension field days Aug. 25–27 in Garden City, Hays and Tribune. Animal Welfare Tech: McCarty Family Farms brings University of Wisconsin–River Falls’ Humane Handling Institute training to Kansas sites, including augmented-reality “Cattle Vision” goggles. Public Safety & Tech Policy: The FCC moves to retroactively restrict another DJI-linked drone vendor, Anzu Robotics, citing national security. Climate & Health: A new study explains why Candida auris can’t be cleared from skin once it takes hold, and NOAA reports the U.S. just had its hottest month on record.

Workforce & Training: Washburn University Institute of Technology opened a new North Topeka campus in a former Kmart, adding a manufacturing training center aimed at feeding Kansas’ growing advanced manufacturing jobs. Agriculture Research: K-State is inviting producers and partners to its 2026 Western Kansas Research-Extension Centers field days (Aug. 25–27) in Garden City, Hays and Tribune to see long-running drought- and soil-tested work firsthand. Animal Health Tech: McCarty Family Farms hosted the Humane Handling Institute, which is using augmented-reality “Cattle Vision” goggles to help workers understand cattle behavior and test facility changes before upgrades. Public Health & Science: A new Science study explains why Candida auris can’t be cleared from skin once it settles in hair follicles, while CDC provisional counts show cases continuing to rise. Cybersecurity in Kansas Schools: Shawnee Mission schools are rolling out a new AI approach—restricting tools for younger grades, requiring teacher guidance, and cracking down on AI cheating. Policy & Tech Regulation: The FCC is moving to retroactively ban another drone vendor, Anzu Robotics, tied to DJI licensing concerns. Climate: NOAA reports the U.S. just logged its hottest month on record, beating the Dust Bowl-era benchmark.

Kansas Data Centers & Politics: A Kansas governor’s race is getting reshaped by backlash to data center growth, with voters worrying about water, power, and costs as AI fears blur traditional party lines. Agriculture Research in Western Kansas: K-State is inviting producers and partners to 2026 Western Kansas Research-Extension Centers field days (Aug. 25–27) in Garden City, Hays, and Tribune to see locally tested work on drought, hail, and production risk. Heat Stress on Dairy: Kansas dairies are adapting to extreme summer heat, which can cut milk output and change milk quality—pushing farmers toward new cooling and management strategies. Space Hardware Testing: UCF’s Exolith Lab is using abrasive simulated moon soil to help refine NASA’s plans for a lunar base near the south pole. Food Safety Watch: A cyclospora outbreak tied to shredded lettuce has hit multiple states, including Kansas, with restaurants like Taco Bell reporting drops in visits. Legal/Consumer Tech: A federal appeals court revived part of a false-advertising lawsuit against Hill’s Pet Nutrition over claims about grain-free pet food risks. Local Governance: Hays city commissioners reviewed minor tweaks to the draft 2027 budget, including a planned max levy publication and staffing cost updates.

Kansas-Czech Tech Partnership: Gov. Laura Kelly and Lt. Gov. David Toland signed a Statement of Mutual Cooperation with the Czech Republic, aiming to boost collaboration in aerospace, agriculture/animal health/biotech, advanced manufacturing, and nanotechnologies. Western Kansas Ag Research: K-State is inviting producers and partners to the 2026 Western Kansas Research-Extension Centers field days (Aug. 25–27 in Garden City, Hays, and Tribune), continuing a long-running effort to test farming ideas locally. Space Hardware Testing: UCF’s Exolith Lab is using a moon-soil simulation to help refine NASA’s plans for a lunar base, highlighting how abrasive lunar dust can stress equipment. Food Safety in Kansas: A federal appeals court revived part of a lawsuit accusing Hill’s Pet Nutrition in Topeka of false advertising tied to an unproven pet-food health risk. AI + Rural Access: A Kansas-focused analysis argues AI is widening gaps beyond broadband, with adoption clustering in metro areas and college towns. Data Centers & Politics: Kansas governor’s race politics are increasingly shaped by community pushback to data center growth, with “fear around AI” cited as a driver of cross-party concern. Heat Stress for Dairy: Reporting from Kansas dairies describes how extreme summer heat cuts milk output and quality, pushing new herd-comfort strategies. Social Media Oversight: A Reuters/Ipsos poll finds broad support for stronger rules on social media, including age-verification tools for younger users.

Kansas–Czech Tech Deal: Gov. Laura Kelly and Lt. Gov. David Toland signed a mutual cooperation statement with the Czech Republic, aiming to boost collaboration in aerospace, agriculture/animal health/biotech, advanced manufacturing, and nanotechnologies. Heat Stress for Dairy: Kansas dairy farmers are adapting as extreme heat cuts milk output and quality, pushing new comfort and management strategies to keep herds productive. Brain Training Research: New studies suggest brain-training may do more than improve the practiced task, with reported changes in brain systems tied to learning and memory. Agriculture Markets: K-State researchers and partners are hosting a session on a new CME grain sorghum basis futures contract, focused on how it could help Kansas elevators hedge price differences. Rural Health Tech: Southwest Medical Center was named an “Anchor Hospital” in a CMS-funded Kansas program to expand specialty services and technology access across rural areas. Public Safety Innovation: Lawrence put a hybrid electric fire engine into service, positioning it as a first-of-its-kind Kansas deployment. Data Center Sky Concerns: Astronomers are warning that planned orbital data centers could create ring-like satellite visibility and worsen light pollution and congestion.

Kansas–Czech Partnership: Gov. Laura Kelly and Lt. Gov. David Toland signed a Statement of Mutual Cooperation with the Czech Republic, aiming to boost collaboration in aerospace, agriculture/animal health/biotech, advanced manufacturing, and nanotechnologies. State Appointments: Kelly also announced 46 appointments, including picks tied to historic preservation, Hispanic and Latino affairs, and a statewide fire code task force. Healthcare Access in Rural Kansas: Southwest Medical Center was named one of only 10 Kansas “anchor hospitals” under a CMS-funded rural health program, targeting more specialty services, technology upgrades, and workforce support. Agriculture Markets: Kansas State University is hosting a discussion on the new CME grain sorghum basis futures contract and how it could affect the Kansas country elevator system. Tech & Policy: The U.S. Senate confirmed David Cummins to lead the TSA as the Trump administration pushes private airport security at smaller airports. Local Tech in Action: Lawrence rolled out Kansas’ first hybrid electric fire engine, using electric mode to cut exhaust exposure for firefighters.

Renewables Court Win: A federal judge in Oregon faulted the U.S. Department of Defense for delaying reviews that stalled 100+ onshore wind projects across 25 states, clearing the way for more affordable clean power. Kansas Governance: Kansas voters rejected a proposed constitutional change that would have shifted Supreme Court selection from merit-based appointments to direct elections, underscoring how independent many GOP-leaning voters can be. Transit & Equity in KC: Kansas City Area Transit Authority faces looming bus route cuts unless it finds more funding, even as a United Way reduced-fare program grows and riders report mixed experiences with tap-to-pay. Public Safety Tech: Lawrence is rolling out a hybrid electric fire engine—calling it a first in Kansas—aimed at reducing exhaust exposure while modernizing the fleet. Space & Night-Sky Concerns: Astronomers warn that “orbital data centers” could mean massive satellite rings, raising light pollution and collision risks. Kansas Agriculture: Kansas Wheat and K-State Extension are hosting free Wheat Rx programs in Hays and Wichita to share research-backed winter wheat decisions. Rural Health: Southwest Medical Center was named one of 10 Kansas anchor hospitals to expand specialty care and technology access.

Kansas Agriculture & Research: A new U.S. Senate bill would boost USDA research on tick-borne cattle diseases, including theileria orientalis, with grants aimed at vaccines, treatments and better options for producers dealing with animal losses. Wheat & Sorghum Science: Kansas Wheat and K-State Research and Extension are hosting free “Wheat Rx” programs in Hays and Wichita to share research-backed winter wheat decisions, while K-State and the Kansas Grain Sorghum Commission are running Sorghum Connection field days across central and western Kansas with nearly 1,000 research plots and hands-on precision ag demos. Education & Tech Policy: Kansas schools are starting a new school-day cellphone and personal device ban, with districts setting storage rules and limited exceptions for medical and individualized education needs. Public Safety & Cybersecurity: Kansas City-area cybersecurity reporting highlights how hackers are exploiting AI-enabled systems and third-party tools, including a breach tied to an upgradable laptop maker’s analytics platform. Space/Infrastructure: Kansas City and other airports are among those using private screeners, as the Senate confirms a new TSA leader tied to the Trump administration’s push toward privatized airport security.

Nuclear Power in Kansas: Deep Fission won a key U.S. Department of Energy safety approval for its underground one-mile-deep small modular reactor concept, clearing the way for the next Reactor Pilot Program steps (not authorizing operation yet). Big Science in Lawrence: A KU-led team secured a $1 million DOE EPSCoR award to build two High-Luminosity Zero Degree Calorimeters for CERN’s Large Hadron Collider, with detector work in Kansas and beam testing at Fermilab. Higher Ed Policy: The U.S. Department of Education urged universities to publicly commit by end of 2026 to reforms on free speech, affordability, AI, merit admissions, and research integrity; KU’s role in shaping the effort is now in focus. Solar Tech Rules: A new FCC ban on foreign-made solar power inverters raises software-update concerns, with an update cutoff set for Jan. 1, 2029. Kansas Community Tech & Health: An expungement clinic in Johnson County helped dozens clear minor convictions, while Alzheimer’s drug access is still constrained by diagnostic and infusion “plumbing.”

DOE & KU Physics: A KU-led team won a $1M DOE EPSCoR award to build two High-Luminosity Zero Degree Calorimeters for CERN’s CMS at the Large Hadron Collider, with detector fabrication in Lawrence and beam testing at Fermilab. Kansas–Czech Tech Trade: Gov. Laura Kelly and Lt. Gov. David Toland announced a Statement of Mutual Cooperation with the Czech Republic covering aerospace, agriculture/animal health/biotech, advanced manufacturing, and nanotechnologies. Nuclear Tech in Kansas: Deep Fission says DOE approved its safety design for an underground Gravity reactor, and it continues work at its Parsons, Kansas site. AI Finance Watch: Kansas City Fed President Jeff Schmid urged vigilance over how AI buildouts are financed, warning supervisors are watching credit and capital risks. Space Light Pollution Fight: Environmental groups petition the FCC to reverse approval for Reflect Orbital’s “space mirror” satellite, arguing it could create harmful light pollution. Surveillance Tech Scrutiny: Flock’s license-plate camera system is again tied to misuse allegations, with multiple departments facing investigations. Kansas Courts on Abortion: A Kansas judge struck down long-running abortion restrictions, saying the ruling wasn’t “even a close call.”

Education & AI in Kansas: U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon toured Kansas State University and Manhattan High School, highlighting career and technical education and how schools are using tools like AI and Meta glasses. Public Safety Tech: Bonner Springs-Edwardsville schools installed ZeroEyes AI gun-detection software on existing cameras, funded by a $10 million state grant. Local Governance & Data Centers: Emporia city leaders asked a court to decide whether a citizen initiative banning high-impact data centers can go to voters, while Douglas County voters rejected a Supreme Court amendment that would have changed how justices are selected. Biotech & Kansas Growth: Topeka’s Link Innovation Labs announced Spore.Bio will lease lab space, adding to the city’s push for global biotech customers. Health Research: A Diné traditional-food program in rural Navajo Nation reduced heart-failure hospital and ER visits in a randomized trial. Courts & Consumer Tech: A federal appeals court revived part of a Topeka pet-food false-advertising lawsuit against Hill’s Pet Nutrition. Cybersecurity: Researchers say a China-linked tampered VPN app (QuickFox) delivered malware to Windows users.

Data-Center Governance: Emporia city leaders asked a district court to decide if a citizen initiative can legally ban high-impact data centers, arguing the city can’t be the final judge under Kansas law. Biotech in Topeka: Spore.Bio, a France-based biotech, will lease lab space at Link Innovation Labs in Topeka, betting on faster access to regional customers and move-in-ready facilities. Education & Workforce: U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon visited Manhattan High School and Kansas State University as part of her “Returning Education to the States” tour, focusing on career and technical education and workforce readiness. Agriculture Tech: WinField United agronomist Ryan Wolf says AI could boost yields by combining soil samples, yield maps, and aerial imagery—if farmers trust the platforms and keep data in closed-loop systems. Space/Connectivity: Starlink’s new V5 dish won’t support its $10-per-month Standby Mode, while Viasat says its next-gen F2 satellite should start service in September with speeds over 100 Mbps. Public Health Research: A Kansas-linked study highlights early primate evolution from Wyoming fossils, reshaping how scientists read the primate family tree.

Kansas Abortion Ruling: A Johnson County judge permanently blocked multiple Kansas abortion-provider and patient restrictions, saying the laws violate Kansans’ bodily autonomy. Cancer Research: KU Cancer Center and partners identified a blood biomarker (AMH) that could help many women with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer avoid unnecessary chemotherapy. Urban Forestry in Manhattan: Kansas State University and the Kansas Forest Service teamed up with the city on a street-tree engagement study using QR codes to track community input and tree benefits. Animal Health Lab Upgrade: The federal government is replacing Plum Island’s animal disease work with the new NBAF facility in Manhattan, Kansas, with research activities transferred over time. Tech & Surveillance Debate: A Kansas-related wave of scrutiny continues around Flock automatic license plate readers, with cities and residents pushing back over mass monitoring concerns. SpaceX/Starlink Update: Starlink hit 12 million paid subscribers and plans gigabit V3 satellites in operational orbit, signaling continued push into mobile connectivity. Data Center Pushback: A new report highlights local opposition and voter fears as AI-driven data centers expand, including Kansas-area regulatory discussions. Health Outbreak Watch: Cyclosporiasis cases tied to contaminated lettuce have surged nationwide, with Michigan reporting thousands of confirmed infections.

Data Center Pushback: Riley County commissioners reviewed possible rules for incoming data centers after a Topeka summit, with officials still gathering info on impacts before changing ordinances. AI Safety Talks: The White House plans to meet with top AI companies to expand federal access to early safety testing for advanced models, following recent high-profile hacks tied to OpenAI and Anthropic. Kansas Health Innovation: Wichita State named WSU alum Jason Ladner director of industry engagement in health innovation, aiming to connect biomedical campus work with industry partners. Agriculture Under Heat: Kansas dairy farmers are dealing with extreme heat stress that can cut milk output and shift milk quality. Healthcare AI Investment: Massive Bio announced a strategic investment in Rivvi to build an end-to-end AI engagement infrastructure for healthcare and oncology trials. AI Security Deal: Anaconda acquired Enkrypt AI to add governance and compliance across the AI build-to-production lifecycle. Research Tools for Water: DrillerDB opened 10 million water well logs and 53 million rock layers for free research use. Multivitamin Study: A new study reports daily multivitamins may help older adults maintain everyday functional health over three years.

Supply Chain Tech: Loftware is partnering with RiseNow to link product identification with procurement and downstream execution in SAP environments, starting with healthcare for better traceability and compliance. Cybersecurity: Microsoft warns of a suspected Russian hacking group using tampered hotel Wi‑Fi gateways to steal Microsoft 365 logins and deliver malware via fake “update” prompts. Space & Telecom: NASA selected Lunar Outpost to develop software for robotic instrument swarms for moon missions, while SpaceX says Starlink Mobile could reach “thousands” of satellites by 2028. Kansas Agriculture: Extreme heat is cutting Kansas dairy output, and southern corn rust has been detected in Kansas, with scouting urged as conditions favor spread. Public Health: Kansas is now included in a growing cyclosporiasis outbreak tied to contaminated produce. Local Voting: Douglas County election officials urge mail-in voters to return ballots in person due to processing changes. Higher Ed Policy: The Trump administration is asking universities to publicly agree to reforms tied to protests, faculty hiring, grading, admissions, and tuition.