AGP Executive Report

Kansas Wheat Research: K-State researchers, backed partly by Kansas wheat checkoff dollars, published a life-cycle assessment showing management changes can boost bread yield with only a minor increase in global warming potential. Defense Tech in Kansas: Shield AI says it’s splitting its X-BAT autonomous fighter program across Washington (production), Kansas (flight testing and fleet sustainment), and Texas (prototyping). Education & AI Policy: KU researchers and educators are weighing how “AI literacy” and AI tools affect reading and writing, while national school districts debate AI limits for students. Care Economy Data: The University of Kansas’ Care Board released expanded data on paid and unpaid care work, aiming to make care “invisible work” measurable. Special Education Leadership: KU won a $3.6M federal grant to lead Project ALIGNS, a national effort to train special education leaders. Local Science/Collections: Fort Hays State University plans to close the Sternberg Museum to the public in December due to Kansas budget cuts. Weather & Water: USGS monitoring says recent Kansas rain didn’t push rivers into flooding stages, but conditions could still shift.

Defense & Aerospace: Shield AI is building out its X-BAT unmanned fighter jet across the U.S., with production in Washington, flight testing and fleet sustainment in Kansas (Newton City-County airport), and prototyping in Texas—aiming for production by 2029 and full rates in the early 2030s. Education & Workforce: KU will lead a $3.6 million national special education leadership program (Project ALIGNS) with Howard University and the University of Kentucky to address major staffing shortages. Childcare Crunch in Lawrence: KU’s Hilltop Child Development Center will close Oct. 30, prompting a KU work group to find short- and long-term childcare solutions for affected families. Public Health Data: The Care Board released updated Kansas-linked insights on care work inside households and in the labor market, including growth in paid and unpaid care. Research & Families: KU researchers report sibling aggression is more common than many assume, with about 1 in 6 kids reporting physical aggression or threats. Privacy & Local Tech: A Riley County group is collecting signatures to push removal of surveillance cameras, including Verkada and license plate readers. Weather Watch: Heavy rain boosted Kansas rivers but didn’t push flooding stages, according to USGS monitoring. STEM for Kids: Kansas Children’s Discovery Center opens “Aim High” Oct. 3 with Tuskegee Airmen-themed flight activities. Science Institutions: Fort Hays State plans to close the Sternberg Museum to the public in December due to state budget cuts.

Kansas Weather Watch: After a burst of heavy rain, a USGS researcher says Kansas rivers didn’t reach flooding stages, but warns the storm pattern doesn’t guarantee what comes next. Museum Funding Shock: Fort Hays State University confirmed the Sternberg Museum of Natural History will close to the public in mid-December due to $2.4 million in 2026 state budget cuts. Childcare Crisis at KU: Hilltop Child Development Center at the University of Kansas nonprofit affiliate will close Oct. 30, prompting a KU work group to find short- and long-term childcare solutions. Accessibility Delays: A Leavenworth woman says she’s been stuck in bed for weeks waiting on wheelchair repairs, with service pushed to late October. Public Safety Tech: KU held a ribbon cutting for a new law enforcement training facility in Hutchinson, with plans for an indoor firing range and training updates for emerging tech, including AI. Defense Tech in Kansas: Shield AI announced X-Bat flight testing and sustainment in Newton, with production sites planned for Des Moines. Satellite Competition Signals: T-Mobile quietly removed “Starlink” branding from its T-Satellite site as carriers form a joint venture to expand direct-to-device satellite options. Kansas Ag Research: K-State and NASA highlighted satellite tech for Kansas farms at Flickner Innovation Farm. Kansas Seed Investment: KCIA approved $1.5 million over five years for research, promotion, and market development for Kansas producers and certified seed.

Higher Ed Assessment: University of Saint Mary in Leavenworth says it revamped assessment to be more data-driven, using faculty reports plus direct student measures (CLA+) and engagement surveys (NSSE) to track learning outcomes. KU Leadership: KU’s new provost, Arash Mafi, says his early focus is listening to students and improving retention and support for first-generation and transfer students. Disability Services: Kansas launched a new Community Supports Waiver to move some people off the intellectual/developmental disabilities waitlist sooner, aiming to serve 500 in the first year. School Tech Policy: Wichita students and teachers are adjusting to Kansas’ K-12 cell phone ban, with officials saying it’s boosting in-person engagement and reducing social-media drama. Education Funding Pressure: Olathe voted 7-0 to close six schools, citing falling enrollment, rising costs, and a special education funding shortfall. AI + Power + Water: A proposed Finney County data center tied to a clean-power project is drawing scrutiny over potential water use and long-term impacts on agriculture. Workforce/Research: KU named Isaac Melanson the inaugural endowed professor in applied behavioral science, supporting research on functional assessment and prevention of challenging behavior.

Defense Tech in Kansas: Shield AI says Newton will be the flight-test home for its AI-piloted, low-observable X-BAT fighter-jet program, with an economic analysis projecting about 1,800 jobs by the early 2030s. Energy Storage Buildout: Antora Energy and Pratt Energy announced a 5.8 GWh thermal battery project at a Pratt, Kansas biorefinery, aiming to deliver around-the-clock power and create 100+ jobs. Local Tech Policy: Jackson County leaders held a public input meeting on data centers and battery storage, balancing community concerns with “best practices” for growth. Workforce Pipeline: WSU Tech highlighted “career awareness” gaps at a Heartland Summit, including early exposure efforts like its Tech Tykes program. Education Data Use: University of Saint Mary in Leavenworth described a more data-driven assessment approach using faculty reports plus student surveys and direct assessments. Public Safety Tech Oversight: Kansas Sen. Jerry Moran praised Senate passage of a Criminal History Access Act to expand law-enforcement vetting via POST access to NCIC. Agriculture Learning: Cargill and McCarty Family Farms partnered on an interactive dairy nutrition exhibit at MVP Dairy.

Generic Drug Settlements: Michigan AG Dana Nessel is urging consumers to check eligibility and file claims tied to a multistate settlement over alleged generic drug price-fixing, with online filing now open. AI Cybersecurity: An AI research firm says automated agents probed U.S. and Canadian government sites, including a large burst of requests aimed at the U.S. Department of Education, with researchers reporting no access beyond public pages. Kansas Higher Ed: The University of Kansas reports a record overall enrollment for a third straight year, topping 31,464 students, as retention and graduation rates hit highs. KU Policy & Rights: A Douglas County court hearing continues over Kansas’ SB 244 bathroom and driver’s license rules, with expert testimony challenging whether the law improves safety. Health Care Access: Nebraska’s Medicaid work requirements rollout is drawing criticism as adding barriers to coverage, with advocates warning of avoidable loss of care. STEM in Kansas Schools: Northwest introduces an AI minor and new AI classes for 2026-27, aiming to prepare students for employer demand while covering risks. Local Infrastructure: Russell County received up to $700,000 from KDOT to replace a bridge near Gorham.

Cybersecurity: IDScan.net says a hacker accessed its VeriScan platform for up to five months, potentially exposing data tied to as many as 153 million driver’s licenses. Public Safety & Infrastructure: Russell County won up to $700,000 from KDOT to replace a bridge near Gorham over a Smoky Hill River tributary. Higher Ed: KU hit an all-time high enrollment for a third straight year, while K-State reported steady fall 2026 enrollment across its campuses and Northwest plans an AI minor for 2026-27. Health & Tech in Medicine: Castle Biosciences presented new DecisionDx-Melanoma data suggesting some low-risk patients may skip sentinel lymph node biopsy, with Kansas Medical Center tied to the study. STEM & Community: KU Libraries will host American Girl author Angela Cervantes for a talk on Kansas storytelling and Mexican American heritage. Education & Workforce: OCCK’s Oct. 8 employment expo in Salina brings local employers together for job seekers. Science Discovery: Researchers identified a new gentoo penguin species using genetic analysis. Sports Tech/Facilities: KSHSAA partnered with Musco Lighting to upgrade sports lighting and gameday experiences. Local Policy: Emporia data center ballot questions hinge on city-limit voter eligibility and exact petition wording.

Biotech Watch: Connect Biopharma says its Phase 2 trial of rademikibart cut COPD treatment failures by 81% and reduced new moderate-to-severe exacerbations by 85%, with plans to align a Phase 3 program with the FDA. Health & Research: A randomized study in head and neck cancer found weekly cisplatin didn’t reduce acute toxicity versus the every-three-weeks schedule for p16-negative patients, shaping next steps for treatment choices. Kansas Higher Ed: Fort Hays State confirmed the Sternberg Museum of Natural History will close Dec. 18, while supporters launched a fundraising push to keep it open. Local Health Systems: KU Health System will acquire full ownership of St. Francis Campus in Topeka, ending a nearly 10-year Ardent joint venture. STEM & Agriculture: A-State received a $2.2M NSF grant with KU, K-State and others to test mycorrhizal inoculants to boost drought tolerance in rice and wheat. Education Assessment: University of Saint Mary describes a more data-driven assessment mix using faculty reports plus student direct assessments and engagement surveys. Tech Policy: Trump signed an executive order pushing federal agencies to use “Super Intelligence” instead of “artificial intelligence” and “AI.”

AI & Public Safety: Protesters rallied outside OpenAI’s DevDay, pushing “People Over AI” as Sam Altman argued AI should keep humans “at the center.” Kansas Tech/Policy: Kansas AG Kris Kobach announced a $10M+ settlement with Roblox to fund child-safety reforms and a Kansas-focused awareness campaign. Health Research: An NRG Oncology trial found weekly cisplatin doesn’t reduce acute side effects versus the every-3-weeks schedule for p16-negative head and neck cancer, though side-effect profiles differ. Education & STEM: Cotter Schools’ engineering team won Make48 National Champion after a 48-hour build-and-pitch challenge. Local Science Access: KU’s Field Station will open for public Visitors’ Day Oct. 3 with guided talks along a research loop. Community & Learning: Fort Hays State confirmed it will close Sternberg Museum amid state funding cuts, prompting letters urging a financial rescue plan. Crime Tech: OSBI’s major crimes conference highlighted tools like Rapid DNA and genetic genealogy for multi-state investigations.

Museum Closure Fight: Fort Hays State University says it will close the Sternberg Museum’s public operations Dec. 18, citing a $2.4M recurring state funding cut and other budget pressures—prompting letters from the Kansas Herpetological Society and hundreds of KU faculty and staff urging preservation of the museum’s collections and research role. Education & Research Access: KU is launching a fully online M.S.E. in Higher Education Administration, and the KU Field Station will open restricted research areas to the public Oct. 3 for its biennial Visitors’ Day. Learning Materials Scrutiny: A KU study finds some widely used online social studies resources present imperialism in a positive light and can steer students into inappropriate discussions. STEM & Public Safety: K-State’s rabies lab drew a hazmat response after staff raised chemical-handling concerns; officials say it was precautionary. Community Tech/Econ: Overland Park unanimously approved Black & Veatch’s new world headquarters, with expected move-in in 2029. Kansas Science on the Ground: A magnitude 3.0 earthquake hit northwest Kansas near Bogue/Hill City, with reports of weak shaking and no damage. Agriculture & Food Supply: Beef prices could rise if immigration enforcement disruptions keep workers away from meatpacking plants, delaying cattle and squeezing supply.

Agriculture Tech: Kansas State researchers are pushing more precise agricultural sprayers, aiming to cut chemical waste and save growers 30–85% on inputs by using computer vision and targeted spraying instead of blanket applications. Public Safety & Privacy: InvestigateTV+ reports that police license-plate reader networks like Flock can unintentionally build location histories of everyday drivers, raising alarms about mass surveillance versus public safety. Education & Research: KU Field Station will open a 1.5-mile public loop during Visitors’ Day to let people tour ongoing research projects, while KU also announced new NIH Phase 3 COBRE funding for chemical biology of infectious disease. Workforce & Immigration: Kansas employers filed four H-1B petitions in Accommodation and Food Services in 2025, with a 75% approval rate, as the state’s overall H-1B approvals remain high. STEM in Schools: A new report highlights the “Wild West” of AI in schools, where experiments are outpacing solid research. Local Governance: Derby City Council updated its priority list, adding new short-term items after completing several sewer and corridor projects.

AI in Manufacturing: Lawrence Livermore researchers unveiled a camera-and-AI inspection system that monitors complex 3D-printed parts during printing, aiming to catch tiny defects before components leave the printer. Kansas Education & Tech: A new report on AI in schools warns that research is scarce even as experiments expand, including social-emotional chatbots used with students. Semiconductor Industry: Nitride Global added Intel advanced packaging leader Dr. Babak Sabi to its board of advisors as packaging constraints tighten for AI chips. Health Science: A Nature Cardiovascular Research study links gut microbiome shifts and microbial metabolites with heart failure severity and improvement. Local STEM Events: Fort Hays State’s astronomy club hosts stargazing at the Kansas Wetlands Education Center. Immigration Workforce: USCIS data shows Kansas approved 1,550 H-2B workers tied to worksites in fiscal 2026 through June 30, with a 100% approval rate. Agriculture & Trade: Grain futures slid as soybeans were “notably absent” from a Trump-Xi tariff plan, while drought-prone field coverage and food demand remain in focus.

Intergenerational STEM in rural Kansas: K-State researchers are studying what happens when a nursing home and an elementary school share space at the Logan LIFE Center in northwest Kansas, with early reports of stronger daily engagement and easier connections between students and residents. NIH-backed health research: Kansas researchers secured NIH funding to fight antibiotic resistance, adding to the state’s growing biomedical pipeline. AI and community pushback: In Shawnee County, an “AI Data Center Revolt Bus” tour is pressing for transparency and local say as proposed data centers spark concerns about farmland, wildlife, and community impacts. Kansas education outcomes: The University of Saint Mary in Leavenworth is revamping assessment to be more data-driven, combining faculty reports with student measures like CLA+ and NSSE. Local economy snapshot: Zillow data shows Seward County’s typical home value at $146,587 in August 2026 (+0.1% year over year). Sports-tech crossover: Patrick Mahomes’ early investment in wearable health company Whoop is boosted by a new $575M funding round valuing it at $10.1B.

Intergenerational STEM in Rural Kansas: K-State researchers are studying what happens when a nursing home and an elementary school share a roof at the Logan LIFE Center, with early signs that daily student–resident interaction boosts energy and engagement. AI Data Center Pushback: In Shawnee County, residents and groups like Protect Kansas are organizing around proposed data centers, demanding transparency and warning about impacts to farms and wildlife. Health Policy Watch: A federal proposal to ban 7-OH is prompting Illinois providers to brace for more patients if the kratom-derived opioid-like product is removed. Broadband/Phone Tech: The FCC paused Verizon’s plan to retire copper landlines in nine states, extending review after concerns from rural communities. Kansas Research Funding: KU received $5.8M in NIH Phase 3 COBRE support for a Chemical Biology of Infectious Disease center. Higher Ed & Credentials: Multiple Kansas counties reported 2023-24 degree and certificate totals, including Crawford (3,084) and Barton (941), reflecting ongoing workforce training demand.

Kansas Higher Ed Assessment: University of Saint Mary in Leavenworth revamped its assessment system to satisfy the Higher Learning Commission, using faculty reports plus student direct checks through CLA+ and NSSE to guide data-driven decisions. Tribal Tech & Policy: Arizona State University renamed its American Indian Policy Institute to the Tribal Nations Policy Institute and is expanding digital sovereignty work, including tools for broadband and data policy. Telecom Update: The FCC paused Verizon’s plan to retire copper landlines in nine states, extending review after pushback from consumers and rural communities. AI/Marketing Scrutiny: A guide urges Kansas businesses to question what “AEO” really means before signing contracts, focusing on measurement, guarantees, citations, and concrete deliverables. Local Housing Snapshot: Zillow reported August 2026 typical home values rising in multiple Kansas counties, including Neosho (+8.4% to $114,409), Phillips (+5.9% to $126,967), Ellsworth (+16.7% to $151,609), and Gray (+4.4% to $247,631). Workforce Visas: Kansas employers in the “Other Services (except Public Administration)” category filed six H-1B petitions in 2025, all approved. Education Credentials: Kansas counties reported 2023-24 credential totals, including Crawford (3,084), Lyon (2,238), and Cloud (573), with award counts reflecting credentials conferred, not people.

Museum Funding & Preservation: A Hays resident is pressing Fort Hays State University and the city for answers about the Sternberg Museum’s future, citing about $1.2M in annual operating costs and roughly $20M in deferred maintenance. Higher Ed & Learning Outcomes: The University of Saint Mary in Leavenworth says it revamped assessment to be more data-driven, using faculty reports plus student measures like CLA+ and NSSE to track learning and engagement. Kansas Research Funding: KU is set to receive $5.8M in NIH Phase 3 COBRE support for a Chemical Biology of Infectious Disease center, while Kansas researchers also secured NIH funding aimed at fighting antibiotic resistance. Cybersecurity Basics: A new push urges water utilities to focus on cybersecurity fundamentals as threats to critical infrastructure keep rising. Agriculture & Food Tech: K-State opened the $130M Western Star Global Grain and Food Center, a major new hub for grain, food, and animal science teaching and research. STEM Community Events: The Kansas Wetlands Education Center’s 13th annual Butterfly Festival returns Saturday with monarch tagging and Monarch Watch-linked research.