AGP Executive Report

Extreme Heat & America 250: Independence Day festivities ramp up nationwide as President Trump heads to Mount Rushmore and New York’s Times Square adds a midnight ball drop—while organizers adjust schedules, add water stations, and warn people to cool off during a Midwest/East Coast heatwave. Kansas Agriculture: Crop conditions look favorable in much of the Corn Belt, but producers are watching for drought stress and localized hail, storms, and drown-out damage. Fertilizer Pricing Pressure: A Kansas Corn-backed push gains momentum after the FTC announces a major fertilizer pricing investigation, as farmers argue costs are squeezing budgets and driving up grocery prices. Medical Tech in the Midwest: A Caltech-spun device study reports hidden heart failure markers can be caught in primary care with a quick, non-invasive screening workflow. Kansas Policy & Health Funding: Kansas rural hospitals are set to receive enhanced Medicaid reimbursements after federal approval tied to state provider assessment changes. Space Weather Watch: NOAA flags a moderate geomagnetic storm chance for the July 4 weekend, with northern lights possible farther south than usual.

Nuclear Watch: Aalo Atomics’ tiny reactor push toward “criticality” by Trump’s July 4 deadline is drawing fresh attention to the next wave of small nuclear tech. Local Tech & Permitting: Shawnee County approved a resolution that would sharply raise conditional-use permit fees for certain intelligence-sector projects, including data centers, to cover expert review costs. Cybersecurity: Google says it helped disrupt an Israeli residential proxy service after hackers allegedly abused millions of connected TV devices to run botnet activity. Kansas STEM Spotlight: A University of Kansas engineering student, Arthur Benson, was named a 2026-2027 Astronaut Scholar, with plans tied to chemical engineering and hybrid energy storage. Agriculture & Climate: Kansas added Amur honeysuckle and other plants to its noxious weed list, while K-State is urging mosquito source reduction as wet weather boosts breeding. Science in the Sky: New observations of a Jupiter-size exoplanet orbiting a dead white dwarf aim to explain how giant planets can survive a star’s death.

Banking & Digital Assets: CBW Bank has applied to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to convert its state charter to a national one, signaling continued Kansas interest in digital-asset activity under the GENIUS Act framework. Public Safety & Infrastructure: Lyon County moved forward with engineering contract talks for a federally funded rural road safety project aimed at updating passing zones, signage, and striping. Agriculture & Land Management: Kansas landowners must eradicate Amur honeysuckle after it was added to the state noxious weed list; K-State also urges producers to weigh the real value of wheat stubble residue before baling or burning, and to manage mosquito breeding sites as warm, wet conditions ramp up risk. Space & Tech: SpaceX reported another 260 Starlink satellites burned up during re-entry, as the company continues retiring older craft. STEM & Space Science: New observations of a Jupiter-size exoplanet orbiting a dead white dwarf offer clues to how giant planets may survive a star’s end—potentially a preview of what could happen to our own solar system. Sports Science (Kansas-linked): England’s coach Thomas Tuchel says FIFA rules will leave his team unable to acclimate to Mexico City altitude, with England flying from Kansas City for the Round of 16.

World Cup Tech & Displays: Unilumin is rolling out LED experiences for the 2026 World Cup, from a Dallas fan-festival 360° photo sphere to a Kansas City district-wide LED setup around Current Landing and CPKC Stadium. Kansas Water & Fertilizer Costs: In parts of Kansas, nitrate-polluted groundwater is being explored as a substitute for some fertilizer—though health risks are raising the stakes for well testing. Education & AI: Newman University is launching an AI institute aimed at closing Kansas’s AI training gap, partnering with industry and other schools. School Phone Rules: Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools says the new statewide “bell-to-bell” cell phone ban starts Wednesday, with phones collected and stored during the day. Public Health Tech: Bayesian Health won FDA clearance for an AI continuous sepsis monitor, a potential boost for earlier detection. Space Broadband Regulation: The FCC is set to vote on rules to speed satellite broadband licensing. Heat Wave Watch: A major Midwest-to-East heat wave is pushing heat-index readings toward 100–115°F, with power-grid strain concerns. Controlled Substances: DEA moves to temporarily schedule synthetic 7-OH and related substances as Schedule 1.

FDA & AI Health: Bayesian Health says it got FDA 510(k) clearance for an AI continuous sepsis monitor, aiming to flag sepsis earlier and help hospitals cut mortality. Kansas Public Safety Tech: Colby Public Schools in northwest Kansas deployed ZeroEyes AI gun detection after receiving a Kansas Attorney General Safe and Secure Firearm Detection grant. Kansas Policy & Courts: A Senate committee delayed a Lawrence attorney’s appointment to the Kansas public defender board after calling her an “activist,” while Kansas officials say they’ll still move forward with a SNAP ban on soda/candy despite a judge striking similar bans elsewhere. Broadband & Rural Tech: Nex-Tech was featured in the America 250 documentary for expanding fiber broadband and adding tech services for rural communities. Heat & Power Strain: Record-breaking heat is pushing “feels-like” extremes into the July 4 weekend, with Kansas residents like a Hill City mail carrier reporting debilitating conditions. Local STEM/Ag Research: K-State agronomy work highlights forage and cropping research for western Kansas producers.

Kansas Nonprofits Funding: The Kansas Department of Commerce awarded $4.13 million in Community Service Program Tax Credits to 24 nonprofits statewide, including projects in Beloit, Great Bend and WaKeeney. Aerospace Labor Talks: Boeing’s white-collar aerospace union (SPEEA) will begin contract negotiations July 1, focusing on pay, benefits, fairness, and workforce development. Drug Costs Push: States are moving to lower prescription prices by targeting pharmacy benefit managers, with Kansas lawmakers among those weighing AI and senior-focused policy risks. Trans Rights in Court: Kansas transgender law challenges are advancing, with cases headed toward appeals and possible consolidation over parts of SB 244. Public Safety Tech & Policy: Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly signed an executive order to form a task force to update the state’s fire code to match modern standards. Health & Wellness: Fort Leavenworth’s Armed Forces Wellness Center reopened in a new Munson Army Health Center location, expanding preventive services. Research Spotlight: KU researchers used network science to map how people make specific lip-reading mistakes, with potential uses in training and AI transcription. Weather & Agriculture: Heat is intensifying across the Midwest, and Kansas ag coverage highlights practical field management, including bindweed control and the value of crop residue.

Trans Rights in Court: Kansas transgender law challenges are heading toward key turning points, with one case set to move to the state appellate court and others potentially consolidated as judges weigh whether to temporarily block parts of Senate Bill 244. AI for Seniors: Florida, Arizona, and Kansas lawmakers are backing a federal push to study AI risks and rewards for older Americans, aiming at how chatbots and voice tools affect daily life. Food Security: After federal changes, about 24,000 fewer Kansans are receiving SNAP benefits, with food banks warning they can’t fully make up the gap. Fire Safety Updates: Gov. Laura Kelly signed an executive order creating a task force to update Kansas’ fire code to match modern national standards. Agriculture Weed Control: K-State Extension lays out long-term management steps for field bindweed, stressing prevention, repeated root and seed control, and integrated tactics. Health Care Pressure: HaysMed is negotiating with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas over reimbursement rates as the hospital reports operating losses. Tech & Trade: Taiwan investigators searched sites tied to Supermicro AI server exports to China amid alleged Nvidia GPU smuggling. Workforce Training: Pryor Learning launched an AI Training Library subscription with 122 courses for $99 a year. Extreme Heat: A heat dome threatens Kansas City and other World Cup host areas, raising safety concerns for fans and players.

Kansas Fire Safety Update: Gov. Laura Kelly signed an executive order creating a Governor’s Uniform Fire Code Task Force to modernize the state’s fire code and align it with national safety standards, building on earlier 2026 legislation. Education Policy: Kansas districts are rolling out a new statewide approach to student phone use, with one district approving policies that require devices be powered off and stored away during the school day, plus tighter rules on staff social media contact. Energy & Property Taxes: Kansas developers pairing battery energy storage systems with solar are running into a property tax exemption trap, where co-located BESS may not qualify for a key exemption and could face full ad valorem taxation. Local Planning: Dickinson County planning officials recommended extending a moratorium on alternative energy systems for two more years, while holding off on data centers pending more information. Healthcare Loans: A federal judge blocked part of a Trump-era rule on which graduate programs count as “professional,” prompting a revised Education Department rule that temporarily restores higher federal loan limits for nursing and other fields. Semiconductor Leadership: Magnachip named Chae Lee as CEO effective July 1, signaling a new phase for the Kansas-linked chipmaker.

Kansas Education Policy: A Kansas school district approved rules banning student personal cell phone use “bell to bell” and tightening staff social-media contact with students, aligning with House Bill 2299. Corporate Governance: A federal judge blocked an Indiana proxy-adviser disclosure law, marking a third legal win for ISS and Glass Lewis—another sign Kansas and other states’ anti-ESG efforts face slow court fights. Public Safety: Wichita-area police say a Sedgwick County shooting injured two teen girls; a 21-year-old was arrested after a fight escalated to gunfire. AI & Governance: Kenya urged stronger AI laws at the Connecting Codes Conference, warning that accountability, privacy, and fair access must keep up with rapid tech change. Healthcare & Research: Wichita State’s Master of Health Administration earned initial CAHME accreditation for four years. Oral Health Tech: Pearl released the Pearl Oral Health Index, using dental AI to analyze 737 million teeth from 26 million dental x-rays. Local STEM: Kansas City students spent a month in coding, robotics, and media production at a Grammy-nominated producer’s studio through a KU GEAR UP partnership. Environment: Great Plains ranchers are turning to goats to slow shrub and tree takeover in prairie conservation efforts.

AI & Water Stress: Erin Brockovich is sounding the alarm on AI data centers sprawling over hundreds of acres, with new reporting tying proposed sites to the Ogallala Aquifer and raising fresh questions about water for the Great Plains. Kansas STEM in the Spotlight: Emporia State University is again part of Kansas Tourism’s Sunflower Summer, offering free museum and geology museum admission for eligible pre-K through 12th graders during July 9–Aug. 2. Nuclear Tech, Kansas Connections: NNSA unveiled Aires Tide, an 11-foot AI-designed flight test vehicle built with high-performance computing and 3D printing, with researchers from Sandia, Lawrence Livermore, Los Alamos and the Kansas City National Security Campus. Public Safety Tech: Airbnb is rolling out anti-party tools for the July 4 weekend in Kansas City, aiming to deter disruptive bookings. Health & Community: A Kansas City four-year-old cancer survivor is hosting a lemonade and flower stand to raise money for childhood cancer research. Local Policy Watch: Kansas is preparing for a July 1 kratom ban, with Douglas County agencies planning enforcement and withdrawal support.

World Cup Tech & Kansas Media: A Kansas City-based broadcast researcher, TruMedia’s Paul Carr, says he and his team spend 10–12 hours daily during the tournament compiling match notes for FOX Sports, pulling from global sources and soccer historians to power on-air stats. Sports Science: England is using a cooling electrolyte drink, CoreCtrl, developed by triathlon champ Alistair Brownlee, with players also using cooling gear during training in Kansas City. Local Tech & Safety: Airbnb is rolling out anti-party tools for July 4 and the World Cup in Kansas City, flagging higher-risk bookings using hundreds of signals; the company says it deterred 20,000 people nationwide last year. Public Health Policy: Kansas’ kratom ban begins July 1, with Douglas County preparing both enforcement and withdrawal-focused care for people at risk. Water & Infrastructure: Reporting highlights how proposed AI data centers could sit atop the Ogallala Aquifer, raising new water-stress questions for the Great Plains. Energy: Kansas City’s KEYS earned the APPA RP3 “diamond” reliability/safety designation for the next three years. Sports (Royals): Kansas City heads into Sunday’s matchup with Chicago after a rough stretch, including a 22-1 loss to the White Sox.

Kratom Ban in Kansas: Lawrence-area health and law enforcement agencies are gearing up for a July 1 start to Kansas’ kratom (and 7-OH) ban, warning that people may face painful withdrawals and that emergency departments could see a surge. Public Power Reliability: Keys Energy Services (KEYS) earned the American Public Power Association’s top RP3 “diamond” reliability and safety designation, recognizing workforce development and system improvements. Tribal Resilience Funding: FEMA is reserving $75 million for Native nations under the BRIC program, and tribal leaders are urging eligible groups to apply before the deadline. Kansas Libraries at Risk: Kansas librarians warn federal budget proposals could nearly zero out IMLS funding, threatening local library programs for children through seniors. World Cup in Kansas City: Colombia advanced after a 0-0 draw with Portugal, setting up a July 3 round-of-32 match in Kansas City; meanwhile, Austria vs. Algeria is a must-watch Group J showdown with qualification on the line. Health Care Leadership: ClearSky Rehabilitation Hospital Lakeshore named Brittani Coffey as its new CEO for the 36-bed Cleveland facility. STEM Learning Spotlight: A Cavendish Fletcher Community Library Destination Imagination team won a Vermont technical challenge and earned a spot in global finals in Kansas City.

Healthcare Policy: States are moving to lower drug prices by targeting pharmacy benefit managers—the middlemen that run prescription coverage for insurers—pushing for limits on their compensation, minimum payments to pharmacists, and more disclosure; Kansas libraries are also bracing for possible federal funding cuts tied to the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Energy & Infrastructure: Keys Energy Services (KEYS) earned the American Public Power Association’s top Reliable Public Power Provider (RP3) designation, highlighting reliability, safety, workforce development, and system improvements. Disaster Resilience: FEMA is reserving $75 million for tribal resilience projects under the BRIC program as the application deadline nears, with hazard mitigation framed as “generational planning.” Kansas STEM & Education: Kansas Governor Laura Kelly announced multiple health and education-related board appointments, including interim nursing leadership. Local Science/Ag: Hays-area wheat harvest is winding down, with wet weather slowing progress and growers watching post-harvest weed control and chinch bug risk. Sports Tech Angle (Kansas-hosted): World Cup Group J action heads to Kansas City Stadium, with Algeria vs. Austria set for Sunday early morning UK time on BBC Two.

Cybersecurity & Privacy: Kansas and other states are grappling with how to keep cybersecurity gains from federal grants as funding winds down, while Kansas City faces renewed scrutiny over AI facial recognition on buses and misuse of license plate readers raises stalking concerns. Public Health & Safety: A Kansas AG push to restrict mifepristone is framed as affecting more than abortion patients, and a new study links endocrine-disrupting pesticide use to higher rural breast cancer rates. Agriculture & Livestock: Lawmakers press USDA for more transparency and resources as the New World screwworm outbreak spreads, and Kansas rural hospitals are getting enhanced Medicaid payments after CMS approval. Policy & Data Governance: A report warns states to better safeguard LGBTQ+ data as federal surveys are altered, and Kansas lawmakers’ handling of gender identity data is cited as a risk. STEM Education: A Caldwell science teacher was named to the National Teachers Hall of Fame, and Kansas educators keep expanding hands-on STEM opportunities.

Kansas Energy & Grid Reliability: Sunflower Electric Power detailed plans to replace its Clifton 1 plant with three 33-MW Titan 350 gas turbines, aiming for higher efficiency and meeting regional reliability needs. Nuclear Security Tech: LLNL says it’s helping optimize and simulate the AI-enabled Aires Tide flight-test vehicle for NNSA, tying design, manufacturing and testing into a faster workflow. Agriculture Research: Kansas State-led work finds post-wheat cover crops could become new grazing forage in the High Plains, but only if planted right after harvest to use leftover soil moisture. USDA/FSA Modernization: Kansas Wheat hosted USDA Under Secretary Richard Fordyce on “One Farmer One File,” plus IT upgrades like geospatial tools to streamline acreage reporting. Public Health at World Cup: Host-city officials say measles is the biggest crowd risk, with officials warning how quickly outbreaks can spread in packed stadiums. World Cup Logistics in KC: Organizers used data to report a peak 36,000-person crowd in Kansas City’s Oranje Fanwalk zone and adjusted transit and refunds during weather disruptions. Medical Devices Update: Abbott shared new findings supporting TriClip, Navitor and Amulet 360 systems at a structural heart summit. Policy & Safety: A report says police AI use is expanding faster than rules, raising surveillance and bias concerns.

Drug Safety & Regulation: Investigations say retatrutide—still in phase-3 and not approved for any use—is being sold online and prescribed through “real” clinics, raising alarm about unregulated demand and side effects. Public Health & Tech: A Kansas City transit plan to bring facial recognition back to buses is drawing privacy pushback, while other states face court-ordered disclosure rules for police use. Healthcare AI: Medicare’s AI-driven prior authorization is reported to be causing errors and delays for patients and doctors. Agriculture & Research: A Kansas-related debate over USDA research funding and extension priorities is heating up as critics warn political control could slow innovation. Kansas Weather & Resilience: Ellis County is out of drought, though a flood watch remains in play. Infrastructure: Engineers conducted periodic inspections of the Soldier Creek levee system in Topeka to keep flood protection ready. Women’s Health: A University of Kansas study reports estrogen-based birth control and hormone therapy may help protect brain health as women age. STEM & Learning: Kansas City-area schools and workforce programs continue expanding hands-on STEM and apprenticeship pathways.