AGP Executive Report

CDC Leadership: The U.S. Senate confirmed Erica Schwartz as CDC director, restoring Senate-signed authority over vaccine guidance that drives commercial coverage and the Vaccines for Children program. Food Safety: Cyclospora tied to iceberg lettuce has spread to 15 states, with investigators still working to pin down the contaminated source and why the outbreak is so hard to track. Early Childhood Policy: The Trump administration moved forward with a Head Start overhaul that would cut many program regulations, raising alarms that it could weaken the antipoverty backbone for about 700,000 vulnerable kids. Mississippi Education & Training: MGCCC wrapped up a Women in Skilled Trades Showcase and a zoo internship program, highlighting local pathways into welding, electrical work, and animal-care careers. AI & Power in Mississippi: A lawsuit over xAI’s Memphis power build led to an agreement to replace unpermitted turbines with a natural gas plant by July 2027, spotlighting air-quality and permitting concerns around AI infrastructure. Local Infrastructure: Gautier leaders want drivers to report blocked railroad crossings and are pursuing an overpass plan to reduce school delays. Space & Defense: Blue Origin brought New Glenn rocket testing to Stennis Space Center, keeping Mississippi in the rocket-development spotlight.

Public Health: CDC says an iceberg lettuce–linked cyclospora outbreak now involves 15 states, with investigators pointing to lettuce from Taylor Farms after earlier focus on Taco Bell. Local STEM & Workforce: Hattiesburg Zoo is wrapping up its second year of an eight-week paid summer internship for college students, with plans to expand to fall and spring. Education Policy: The Trump administration moves forward with a Head Start overhaul that would cut many federal regulations, sparking concerns from early-childhood experts about staffing and service standards. Mississippi Economy: Bishopric Industries (formerly Enerfab Process Solutions) is expanding in Natchez with a $5.75M investment and 28 new jobs, supported by state incentives and local improvements. Infrastructure & Safety: Gautier leaders ask drivers to report when stopped trains block crossings, as they pursue an overpass solution for Dolphin Drive and Ladnier Road. Health Care Training: Mississippi State’s second Master of Science in Nursing cohort graduates in Meridian, adding 35 advanced professionals. AI & Power Reality Check: A national analysis warns that gigawatt-scale AI power announcements often don’t guarantee anything will be built or delivered.

AI Privacy: Lawsuits target AI note-taking apps that may store recordings and transcripts indefinitely and reuse them for internal purposes, raising consent and data-protection concerns. Education & Tech Access: AT&T opened a Connected Learning Center at The Bean Path in Jackson and expanded Older Adults Technology Services (OATS) with Briarwood Arts Center, pushing free internet, devices, and hands-on digital skills to narrow the digital divide. Mississippi STEM & Agriculture: Mississippi State University held a 2026 Watermelon Field Day showing how heavy summer rains cut yields in parts of the state, while Extension and researchers shared practical fixes for growers. Space & Testing in Mississippi: Blue Origin and NASA are partnering for New Glenn rocket testing at Stennis Space Center, with work slated to begin this fall. Manufacturing Automation: HII and HD Hyundai launched an intelligent welding pilot at Ingalls Shipbuilding to improve safety, efficiency, and quality tracking. Environment: NOAA reported a Gulf “dead zone” again, smaller than expected, tied to nutrient-driven low-oxygen conditions near the Mississippi River.

Nolan Wells Case: Mississippi’s official autopsy in 18-year-old Nolan Wells’ death is complete but sealed for a Jackson County grand jury, while his mother faces an anonymous Mississippi Board of Nursing complaint that civil-rights attorney Ben Crump calls intimidation. Rural Healthcare Tech Grants: Gov. Tate Reeves announced $81.7M in first-round funding for Mississippi rural healthcare organizations, aimed at closing care gaps, strengthening healthcare technology, and expanding telehealth. Gulf “Dead Zone” Update: NOAA reports a hypoxic Gulf of Mexico dead zone of about 1,332 square miles—smaller than expected—linked to nutrient runoff from the Mississippi/Atchafalaya rivers. Mississippi Delta Conservation: Bald eagle recovery is increasingly visible across the Delta, with researchers citing strong rebounds since DDT-era declines. STEM & Workforce Pipeline: Jackson State welcomed its 2026 Fall Move-In Day class, while MGCCC held a pinning ceremony for new healthcare graduates and TVA opened STEM project funding for schools across its region. Defense Tech in Mississippi: USM and Integer Technologies won a $9.8M Navy contract phase to boost seabed warfare capabilities. AI Security Warning: A report tied to BSides Las Vegas highlights how compromised npm packages can weaponize AI coding tools via malicious agent configuration.

Nuclear Power in the Gulf South: Holtec, Entergy, and Hyundai E&C signed an MOA to evaluate deploying Holtec’s SMR-300 small modular reactors for large-load customers across Entergy’s footprint, aiming at carbon-free baseload power for growing industry and data centers. Shipbuilding Automation in Mississippi: HD Hyundai and Huntington Ingalls are rolling out an “Intelligent Welding System” pilot at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula to boost productivity and improve welding quality, with workers managing multiple robots from safer zones. Workforce Pipeline for Data Centers: Meridian Community College and Compass Datacenters launched Mississippi’s first MEI (Mechanical, Electrical and Information Technology) data center pathway, with Compass covering full tuition for the inaugural cohort. Water-Saving Rice Tech: Mississippi State researchers report that recirculating tailwater in rice can cut freshwater demand by at least 30%, offering a practical way to stretch water supplies as aquifer use remains under pressure. Agriculture Research Event: MSU Extension and partners will host a free Muscadine Field Day Aug. 27 at the McNeill Research Unit in Carriere, featuring pest and disease management updates and VxM hybrid grape research. Education Data Debate: A new push argues the U.S. can’t improve schools without reliable data, warning that federal education reporting capacity has been weakened by staffing cuts.

Shipbuilding Automation in Mississippi: HD Hyundai is expanding its partnership with Huntington Ingalls’ Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula by piloting an intelligent smart welding system that can adjust welding positions in real time, aiming to boost productivity and safety. Education, Reading Skills: Mississippi’s Department of Education named 15 elementary schools as Emerging Science of Reading schools, including several in South Mississippi, with K-3 literacy teams set to celebrate the designation. AI, Public Safety Mapping: CAL FIRE is using AI and GIS mapping to model building proximity, defensible space, and evacuation routes—an approach meant to improve community resilience. Health Policy Shock: A KFF analysis says millions are losing Affordable Care Act marketplace coverage after enhanced subsidies expired, with steep drops reported in states including Mississippi. Mississippi Foster Care Oversight: A federal court monitor report says Mississippi’s foster care system is missing safety measures and that abuse/neglect rates are higher than allowed, fueling a legal fight. Nolan Wells Case Update: Mississippi officials say fake toxicology reports are circulating online as investigations and legal steps continue after the teen’s death. Mississippi Tech & Defense: Researchers at Mississippi State University are developing a surgical dye to help surgeons see cancer cells more clearly during operations.

Aviation & Drones in Mississippi: South Panola High School Air Force JROTC and Grenada High School Naval JROTC teamed up to run the first FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certification Training Course in Grenada, with 10 of 12 finishing training and six passing the knowledge test on the first try. STEM Competition: Mississippi State University students won first place in the ASABE Robotics Student Design Competition, showing off agricultural robotics skills. Navy Tech & Undersea Autonomy: Integer Technologies and the University of Southern Mississippi won a $9.8M Office of Naval Research contract modification to expand seabed warfare capabilities for intelligent autonomous systems. Nuclear Power Planning: Holtec, Entergy, and Hyundai E&C signed an MOA to evaluate potential SMR-300 small modular reactor projects across the Gulf South, including dual-unit options. Rural Health Warning: A Michigan rural hospital closure after converting to the Rural Emergency Hospital model is being cited as a “canary in the coal mine” for rural care. Weather Watch: NOAA says El Niño is strengthening and could bring a wetter, stormier winter to the Southeast. Community Science: Mississippi is joining the Great Southeast Pollinator Census on Aug. 21–22.

AI in classrooms: An Alcorn State University history professor went viral after embedding a hidden “Madagascar” prompt in a midterm; 32 of 35 students used AI chatbots and failed part of the exam, underscoring how easily copied instructions can trip up learning. Public safety tech: Winona, Minnesota police say Flock automated license plate reader cameras were sawed off and stolen, including cameras on the Mississippi River bridge—about $24,000 in damage. Mississippi education leadership: Moss Point School District named Dr. Michael Battle superintendent, citing a track record of improving operations and moving a district from “D” to “A” accountability. Data centers and air pollution: SpaceXAI says it has an agreed removal timeline for 69 temporary gas turbines at its Southaven site, while environmental groups argue the deal still enables harmful air pollution. Natural science outreach: The Mississippi Museum of Natural Science is retiring Elvis the speckled kingsnake from public programs after nearly two decades as an ambassador. STEM and performance research: Mississippi State’s Athlete Engineering Institute hosted disc golf champion Scott Stokely to study throwing biomechanics and injury prevention using markerless motion capture. Food safety update: The FDA terminated a listeria-related recall affecting certain peach varieties tied to Moonlight Packaging.

Rural Health Watch: A Michigan rural hospital’s closure after joining the federal Rural Emergency Hospital model is being framed as a “canary in the coal mine” for whether the policy can survive staffing shortages and looming funding cuts. Mississippi Tech & Work: A Hattiesburg startup, Numadx, is building air-pressure-based insoles to reduce strain for people who stand all day, aiming to hire locally. AI in the Classroom: Alcorn State history professor Jason Gibson went viral after hiding a “Madagascar” prompt in a midterm to catch AI-generated cheating—32 of 35 students allegedly failed that section. Public Safety Misinformation: Mississippi Public Safety Commissioner Sean Tindell warned that a fake Nolan Wells toxicology report circulating online is fraudulent. Data Centers & Power: Community concerns over hyperscale AI data centers are growing, with Alabama candidates split between building and moratoriums as transparency and public health worries rise. Mississippi River Science: Researchers say an alligator gar could help answer whether restoration efforts along the Mississippi River are working. Food Safety: An FDA-linked egg recall tied to drug-resistant Salmonella continues to affect multiple states, including Louisiana, with cartons still in homes during the recall window.

AI & Education: Mississippi professor Jason Gibson’s viral TikTok exposed how he hid a “Madagascar” trap in a midterm prompt and found 32 of 35 students using AI to cheat. Workforce Pipeline: DSC Youth Career Awareness Bootcamp in Jackson gave 13 teens hands-on career exposure, aiming to tackle Mississippi’s low labor force participation. Data Centers & Air Quality: SpaceXAI says it will remove 69 unpermitted mobile turbines at its Southaven/Memphis-area sites by July 2027, extending operations beyond the original Mississippi regulator deadline amid pollution scrutiny. Public Health: A drug-resistant Salmonella egg recall linked to 98 illnesses across 17 states includes cartons with specific codes and a sell-by window through mid-August. Healthcare Tech: Memorial Health System in coastal Mississippi is rolling out 7D flash navigation for spine and cranial surgery. STEM in Schools: Mississippi Math Act brings new life-skills requirements to classrooms. Local Discoveries: A Booneville-area property owner found 200+ Civil War-era cannonballs, with museum officials planning displays and further searches.

Data Centers & Power: SpaceXAI says it will remove all 69 unpermitted temporary turbine generators at its Mississippi-area data center by July 2027, replacing them as a 1.2GW power plant comes online—after community complaints and a lawsuit over pollution. Health Tech: Memorial Health System in coastal Mississippi is rolling out 7D flash navigation for spine and cranial surgery, aiming to boost precision while reducing radiation exposure. STEM & Education: Meridian Community College debuts Mississippi’s first data center workforce training pathway, building local talent for the region’s growing tech infrastructure. Agriculture: Free soybean testing is available to spot red crown rot, a disease that can slash yields, with limited sample slots. Public Safety & Justice: In the Nolan Wells investigation, an attorney says audio engineers are reviewing a Sea Tow distress call released by Mississippi authorities, as the family pushes for a fuller investigation. Economy & Living Costs: A new study finds Mississippi is among the best places for a $100 grocery budget to stretch farther than the national average.

Medical Tech in Mississippi: Memorial Health System says it’s the first coastal Mississippi hospital to use 7D flash navigation for spine and cranial surgery, aiming to boost precision while reducing radiation exposure. Workforce & Data Centers: Meridian Community College launched Mississippi’s first data-center workforce training pathway tied to Compass’s planned Meridian facility, and the 14-week MEI program targets jobs in the growing sector. Aerospace Leadership: Meridian’s 186th Air Refueling Wing held a change-of-command as Col. Cynthia Smith handed leadership to Col. Robby Brady, with an eye toward eventually transitioning from KC-135 to KC-46. Agriculture Diagnostics: Soybean groups and MU Extension rolled out free testing for red crown rot samples (limited slots) to help farmers catch a disease that can slash yields. Local Industry Investment: Germany-based Griesson–de Beukelaer plans a Madison County production expansion supported by Mississippi tax incentives. Public Safety & Justice: The Nolan Wells case continues to draw scrutiny as his family hires audio experts to review a Horn Island distress call and seeks broader tech data access.

Mississippi Data Center Workforce: Meridian Community College launched Mississippi’s first data center workforce training pathway, a 14-week Mechanical, Electrical and Information Technology program built for the Compass data center in Meridian. AI Power & Pollution Fight: SpaceXAI says it will fully remove unpermitted gas turbines near Memphis by July 2027, after a NAACP lawsuit alleged hazardous pollution; the company points to a permitted Mississippi power plant as the replacement. Local Robotics Win: Mississippi State students took first place in an agricultural robotics design competition, showing off new skills in agricultural autonomy and engineering. Agriculture Diagnostics: Soybean groups and MU Extension rolled out free testing for red crown rot, a disease that can slash yields, aiming to catch it early across the region. Invasive Species Watch: Coverage continued on invasive carp and their spread through the Mississippi River system, with Great Lakes control efforts facing federal delays. Public Health Signals: CDC data put reported babesiosis cases at 3,586 for 2023, highlighting a late-summer tick-season risk. Education Policy: A federal “science of reading” push advanced in Congress with bills targeting evidence-based literacy and dyslexia classification. Nolan Wells Case: The Wells investigation expanded with audio expert review of a Sea Tow distress call and more subpoenas as the reward climbed to $225,000.

Workforce & Data Centers: Meridian Community College launched Mississippi’s first Mechanical, Electrical and Information Technology pathway for Compass Datacenters, a 14-week program aimed at filling jobs tied to a planned Meridian campus. AI Power & Pollution Fight: SpaceXAI says it will start removing 69 temporary gas turbines at its Southaven site in August 2026, finishing by July 2027, replacing them with a 1.2GW permanent plant under a Clean Air Act permit—while NAACP and other groups continue to challenge the project. Public Health: CDC data show babesiosis hit 3,586 reported cases in 2023, with tick-season risk peaking in late summer and early fall. Education Policy: A federal “science of reading” push advanced as Senate committees moved bills that would reshape literacy grants and dyslexia classification. Local STEM Wins: Mississippi State students took first place in an agricultural robotics design contest, showing off autonomy-focused farm tech. Nolan Wells Case: The state medical examiner’s autopsy is complete and will go to a grand jury as the family pursues additional review of a Sea Tow distress call and seeks more records.

Mississippi Tech & Environment: SpaceXAI says it will start removing temporary mobile turbines at its Southaven facility in August 2026, aiming to have all 69 gone by July 2027, replacing them with a permanent 1.2-gigawatt power plant while adding emission controls and noise-reduction steps under a Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality timeline. Mississippi Health Research: Ole Miss and a Mississippi company are launching a clinical CBD sleep study ahead of federal rule changes, using wearables to compare placebo against different CBD doses for insomnia and tracking side effects. Mississippi Education & Tech Use: Bay St. Louis-Waveland schools are rolling out a district-wide push toward paper-and-pencil and hands-on learning, limiting screen time while still using technology when it supports lessons. National Tech Policy: New York sued prediction-market platform Kalshi to stop sports event contracts, arguing the platform is an unlicensed gambling operation. Mississippi Community & Climate Justice: NAACP members and residents in the Memphis-area pressed xAI to stop operating unpermitted turbines tied to air-quality concerns, with lawsuits and political pressure mounting. Federal Science: The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory highlighted advances in Navy quantum research across navigation, sensing, secure communications, and computing.

Clinical Research in Mississippi: Ole Miss researchers and Southern Sky Brands are launching a CBD sleep study this fall, testing placebo against different CBD doses with sleep tracked by wearables to answer whether CBD helps insomnia without THC-related downsides. Energy & Environment: SpaceXAI says it will start removing 69 temporary mobile turbines at its Southaven site in August, finishing by July 2027, and replace them with a 1.2-gigawatt permanent power plant while adding emission controls and noise-reduction steps. Public Health & Food Safety: The lettuce crunch continues as a cyclospora outbreak tied to shredded lettuce hits restaurants; Taco Bell removed affected lettuce from Taylor Farms and reported sales pressure easing after the recall. STEM & Learning: Alcorn State professor Jason Gibson says he caught 32 of 35 students using AI on a final by hiding an instruction in the prompt, while Bay St. Louis-Waveland schools roll out a “back to basics” initiative that cuts screen time but keeps tech when it supports lessons. Local Science Workforce: Ole Miss students spent weeks excavating graves at UMMC’s Asylum Hill field school, training future forensic scientists through hands-on bioarchaeology. Civic Tech & Justice: Nolan Wells’ family, via Ben Crump, is pushing for a full review of the Sea Tow distress call with audio and ocean engineering experts as the investigation continues. Mississippi River Policy: Sen. Tammy Baldwin’s Mississippi River Restoration and Resilience Initiative is back in Congress, aiming for a Great Lakes-style funding model to tackle pollution and extreme flooding/drought.