AGP Executive Report

Conservation & STEM in Missouri: The Missouri Department of Conservation and University of Missouri Extension are kicking off Missouri Master Naturalist core training in Kirksville starting Sept. 3, with weekly sessions through Dec. 3, aiming to build a volunteer corps for local education, citizen science, and stewardship. Public housing snapshot: New HUD data shows 2025 public housing rent and occupancy varied widely across Missouri counties, including Chariton ($356/month, 97% occupied), Greene ($333/month, 82%), Henry ($417/month, 97%), and Holt ($483/month, 50%). Agriculture tech grant: A University of Missouri team is expanding HotHog, a smartphone app that flags heat-stress risk for pigs before symptoms show, backed by a $1.15M USDA grant. Right-to-repair push: A national trend is gaining momentum, with farmers arguing they need access to parts, software, and repair tools to keep equipment running and control costs. Identity & security: Missouri-area coverage also highlights how digital identity and surveillance tech are evolving—plus new concerns about AI-driven fraud and how communities can protect devices in public spaces.

Federal Policy Shift: The Trump administration directed federal agencies to stop funding gender-transition procedures for people under 18, affecting hospitals and medical schools that take federal money. Public Safety & Finance: Kentucky AG Russell Coleman joined a coalition backing the Safe Access to Cash Act, aiming to extend federal penalties to ATM robberies outside banks. AI & Civil Rights: A St. Louis man’s false-arrest lawsuit adds Amazon Web Services and targets Amazon Rekognition, alleging facial recognition helped drive his 17-month jail sentence. Crypto Regulation: Galaxy Digital cut its odds for the CLARITY Act to 10% as lawmakers face a tight Sept. 14 deadline, with the SEC and CFTC poised to write their own crypto rules if it fails. Missouri Science & Nature: UW–Madison researchers identified a new endangered baobab species in Madagascar, with Missouri Botanical Garden researchers involved. Local Life: Mizzou’s South Farm sunflower field returns with free public access in waves through September.

Federal Health Policy: The Trump administration directed federal agencies to stop funding gender-transition procedures for people under 18, affecting hospitals and medical schools that take federal money. Missouri Tech & Health: Kansas City telehealth provider OmniRx Health topped 10,000 subscribers and expanded virtual primary care to 44 licensed states. AI & Mental Health: A Munich-based study found people who chatted with AI bots reported higher loneliness and lower life satisfaction, even when the conversations felt more pleasant. Data Centers & Local Planning: Missouri lawmakers released a community guide/framework for evaluating data center proposals, as Rep. Mark Alford highlighted on social media. Public Housing Snapshot (Missouri): HUD data showed high occupancy across many counties, including McDonald (99%), Ste. Genevieve (100%), and St. Louis County (83%), with rents typically around 20–27% of household income. Tech/Media Storage Risk: Nine PBS sued over access loss to about 50 terabytes of historic footage after a cloud storage dispute. Public Safety Tech: DHS plans $20M for ICE electric-shock gloves, drawing fresh criticism.

Immigration & Public Safety: DHS plans to spend $20M on ICE electric shock gloves, after Missouri-linked police officials praised the tech as “low optic” on camera—sparking fresh backlash over alleged “sadistic” intent. Health Policy: HHS says federal funding for gender-transition procedures for people under 18 will stop immediately, reversing prior rules and reigniting legal fights involving Missouri AG Andrew Bailey. Tech & Data Storage: Nine PBS (St. Louis) sued over a cloud-storage dispute that it says cut off access to ~50TB of historic footage for years of local coverage. Local Tech Policy: Rep. Mark Alford highlighted Missouri’s new framework for communities evaluating data center proposals, while also pushing school lunch and constituent-support updates. Housing (Missouri): New county-by-county HUD public housing occupancy snapshots show wide variation—St. Louis County down to 83% (2025) while Ste. Genevieve County hit 100%—plus ongoing voucher and project-based assistance counts. STEM/Community: Ozarks Tech opened a major student union just in time for fall, and Missouri’s teacher licensing process is again flagged as a barrier to staffing.

Federal Health Policy: The Trump administration directed federal agencies to stop funding gender-transition procedures for people under 18, with the change taking effect immediately for federally funded hospitals and medical schools. Civil Rights & Business: The EEOC dropped a subpoena enforcement push against Nike after the company complied with requests tied to a diversity and inclusion inquiry. Missouri Housing Numbers: HUD data show mixed public-housing occupancy across the state—St. Louis city at 76% (down 1 point), Holt County at 50%, Mercer County at 81% (down 12), while Randolph County climbed to 96% and Newton County hit 99%. Local Tech/Infrastructure: Jefferson City leaders highlighted new housing projects as a business-growth signal, while MoDOT reopened a Route E bridge over Barker Creek after replacement work. Science & Environment: Researchers report U.S. rivers are moving more sediment in shorter, more intense bursts, and Missouri officials link a Mississippi River carp die-off near Alton to hot, low-oxygen conditions. Food Safety: FDA and CDC began inspections tied to a widening cyclosporiasis outbreak linked to Taylor Farms’ iceberg lettuce, including cases in Missouri. STEM/Health Research: Washington University research examined how insurance coverage affects lung cancer stage at diagnosis.

Earth Science & Public Safety: Two small earthquakes hit the New Madrid Seismic Zone near New Madrid, with USGS reporting magnitudes of 1.9 and 1.8—weak enough to be rarely felt, but a reminder of the region’s long seismic history. Healthcare Policy: The Trump administration directed federal agencies to stop funding gender-transition procedures for people under 18 at federally funded hospitals and medical schools, reversing earlier federal rules and escalating legal and state-level battles. Missouri Infrastructure: MoDOT reopened the Route E bridge over Barker Creek in Benton County after a replacement project that widened the span, added guardrails, and completed work under the Kaysinger Basin Bridge Bundle. Local Tech & Community Safety: Columbia leaders outlined downtown safety steps after concerns raised by the MU System president, including installing a Flock camera system in a violence-affected area. Biotech & Conservation: Researchers helped distinguish a new endangered baobab species in Madagascar using genetic analysis, with Missouri Botanical Garden researchers involved. Food Safety: FDA and CDC began inspections at Taylor Farms’ Mexican plant tied to a cyclosporiasis outbreak affecting 17 states, including Missouri. Ag Tech & Climate: A Missouri Flood and Drought app aims to make flood and drought data easier to use, with real-time conditions, short-term forecasts, and drought monitoring. Payments Tech: St. Louis-based FLEX Payment Solutions earned its sixth straight Inc. 5000 spot, highlighting continued growth in regulated payment services.

Federal Health Policy: The Trump administration says federal funding will stop for gender-transition procedures for people under 18, with the change aimed at hospitals and medical schools that take federal money. Immigration & Labor: A judge’s move clears the way for mass deportation efforts targeting Haitian immigrants and others whose legal protections were revoked, raising alarm about job losses. Housing Watch (Missouri): HUD data shows shifting public housing totals across Missouri counties—St. Louis city down to 2,730 units in 2025, Boone County down to 50, while Jackson County holds steady at 2,125 and Marion County edges up to 250. Public Health Research: A University of Missouri study links more consistent daily routines in older adults to less chronic pain and fewer depression symptoms. Ag & Tech for Missouri: MU Extension’s Sept. 3 field day in northwestern Missouri will cover corn/soy disease management, drainage, biological stimulants, and planting-date decisions. Health Tech: New research highlights how health kiosks and pharmacy automation could improve screening and medication access, while warning they shouldn’t replace clinicians.

Healthcare Tech & Training: Missouri Southern State University opened the Roy Blunt Health Science Innovation Center, a $48.5M facility with simulation, VR, 3D printing, and hands-on labs aimed at boosting the southwest Missouri health workforce. STEM Pipeline: Missouri S&T is running its Miners in the Making afterschool STEM program, with limited spots for Phelps County K-12 students and hands-on projects from robotics to DNA extraction. Local Aviation & Infrastructure: Kirksville Regional Airport held a ribbon-cutting for a larger new terminal, supported by federal funding and designed to improve Essential Air Service travel. Public Safety Tech: Kansas City hosted Fire-Rescue International with drones and other new tools, while Columbia leaders face renewed pressure after downtown violence near the same intersection. Policy & Tech Governance: Missouri lawmakers are advancing AI proposals and a community guide for evaluating data centers, as regulations and approvals move through the process. Business & Tech in Missouri: Cumulus Media layoffs hit longtime Mid-Missouri radio hosts at KFRU. Food Safety: Salmonella concerns continue after a CDC-linked jalapeño outbreak, with recalls reaching major retailers. Workforce & Data: ACF awarded $6M to Missouri and other jurisdictions to pilot predictive analytics in child welfare decision support. Higher Ed Finance: William Jewell College says it exited financial exigency and reorganized into arts/sciences plus graduate and innovative programs.

Federal Health Policy: The Trump administration directed federal agencies to stop funding gender-transition procedures for people under 18, with the change taking effect immediately for federally funded hospitals and medical schools. Public Safety Tech: Columbia added a new Flock camera at Ninth and Walnut after a brawl and shots-fired incident, part of a broader push for more surveillance tech across the city. AI & Local News: Axios is testing a model to save local reporting with AI, using an OpenAI-funded partnership to launch new local newsletters. Cancer Research: MU School of Medicine received a $1 million NIH grant to study faster radiation delivery using the TheryQ FLASHKNiFE system. Education & Workforce: Moberly Area Community College opened an aviation training facility at Columbia Regional Airport, launching a commercial pilot program with an FAA-approved simulator. Immigration Enforcement Tech: ICE plans to distribute electrically powered shock gloves to agents, framed as a de-escalation tool. Community & STEM: Rockwood Summit science teacher Sarah Moonier was named Missouri Regional Teacher of the Year, advancing toward the state award.

Higher Ed Numbers That Don’t Add Up: A close read of the Chronicle of Higher Education’s almanac finds prestige, price, and pay often don’t move together as expected, with Missouri’s College of the Ozarks highlighted for surprising selectivity. Workforce & Aviation Training: Moberly Area Community College opened a new aviation training facility at Columbia Regional Airport for its FAA Part 141 Commercial Pilot program, aiming to help address the pilot shortage. AI Infrastructure Demand: Nebius shares jumped 34% after strong Q2 results tied to big AI cloud/data center deals, including a Missouri data center campus plan. 3D Printing in Missouri Manufacturing: Husky Corporation showcased how it’s using 3D Systems’ PSLA printing to speed prototyping while keeping SLA-level accuracy. Public Health & Vaccines: Missouri childhood vaccination rates fell below herd immunity levels, with a Trump executive order raising concerns about schedule changes and school requirements. Local Tech & Education Spaces: Ozarks Tech’s new $48M “The U” student union opened in Springfield, adding research, tutoring, study rooms, and campus life amenities. STEM Research: Missouri S&T researchers developed technology to improve organ transport and “mine the moon.” Civic Infrastructure: Jefferson City reopened the High Street viaduct after repairs following concrete deterioration. Education & Community Support: Hannibal launched a new public schools foundation to back students, staff retention, and youth programs.

AI Policy in Missouri: Missouri lawmakers unveiled an AI Infrastructure Community Evaluation Framework and say new guardrail legislation is coming in January 2027, with ideas like protections for residential energy customers and limits on AI in health care. Cybersecurity & AI Safety: UMKC researchers detailed “GhostCommit,” a PNG-based trick that can hide prompt-injection instructions from AI code reviewers—highlighting gaps in agentic code review workflows. Healthcare Costs: Preliminary filings suggest ACA marketplace premiums in the Kansas City area could jump again in 2027, with requested increases ranging roughly 10%–35%. Rural Health Pipeline: MU’s Rural Immersion Program brought future health professionals to northwestern Missouri to learn how workforce, access, and community culture shape rural care. Local Tech & Energy: Liberty’s planning process is moving battery storage forward to City Council after a commission recommendation to deny a proposed 200-megawatt lithium-ion facility. Public Safety Tech: Columbia updated its Flock Transparency Portal, adding more details on searches, retention, and privacy/security measures. Education Alternatives: Joplin and Pittsburg Unified are expanding virtual and flex learning pathways, reporting record graduation gains.

AI & Data Centers in Missouri: Missouri lawmakers are lining up guardrails for AI infrastructure and use, releasing an “AI Infrastructure Community Evaluation Framework” to help local governments vet data center proposals; the plan includes protections for residential energy customers, limits on AI in health roles, and liability definitions, with bills not expected until January 2027. Local Governance & Public Safety Tech: Columbia Police expanded its Flock Transparency Portal, adding public-facing search details, retention timelines, access lists, and privacy/security info. Kansas City Contracting Policy: KCMO City Council moved to repeal and replace its 45-year-old Minority and Women Business Enterprise Program with a new small-business contracting program. Emergency Response Training: First responders from across Missouri trained in Moberly on active-shooter incident command and coordinated rescue/EMS response. Health & Vaccines: A Trump executive order would cut recommended childhood vaccines from 17 to 11 and split MMR, drawing pushback from a Kansas City pediatrician amid concerns about measles outbreaks. Food Safety: A cyclospora outbreak tied to iceberg lettuce continues to spread, with farmers seeing demand shifts and health officials urging thorough washing. Agriculture Research: MU Extension’s Graves-Chapple field day highlights new agricultural tech and remote-sensing tools for producers. Sustainability in KC: Paper and plastic to-go cups are now recyclable across the Kansas City metro, with guidance to remove lids/straws and keep cups empty.

STEM Education: Missouri S&T’s free ASM Exploring Materials in Your World camp is giving 16–18-year-olds hands-on lessons in metallurgy, ceramics, semiconductors, and testing—turning “materials” into real-world skills. Local Tech & Business: Webster Groves’ Sketch Development Services won a Clutch Global Award for API development, highlighting demand for integrations that connect enterprise systems and AI tools. Cybersecurity: Suisan City, California declared a state of emergency after malicious software disrupted 911 routing, dispatch, records, and city services—an example of how local governments are getting hit hard. Workforce & AI: NFIB’s optimism jumped, but the hiring plans are colliding with a shortage of qualified workers—linked to the AI data center buildout pulling talent away from small businesses. Missouri Infrastructure & Planning: Jefferson City expects the High Street viaduct to reopen this week after a concrete hole forced a closure, while Cole County is starting mass residential re-inspections using iPads to tighten property data. Public Health & Food Safety: Sysco stopped buying Mexican iceberg lettuce amid the cyclosporiasis outbreak, showing how supply chains react when health risks spike. STL Geospatial: SLU and the NGA will co-host the 2026 Geo-Resolution conference in September, aiming to grow the region’s geospatial talent pipeline. Community Tech/Services: Memorial Regional Health added two new family medicine physicians, expanding primary care access for patients in the region.

Health Policy: A federal judge backed South Dakota’s 340B drug discount law, rejecting claims from AbbVie and others that it improperly regulates interstate commerce—an issue that could ripple into how rural clinics fund care. Missouri Research & Agriculture: U of Missouri Extension researchers are spotlighting Bootheel crop challenges at Delta Research Field Day, from soybean breeding and weed science to heat- and pathogen-driven differences in the region. Wildlife & Transportation: A Missouri wildlife connectivity study points to roads needing animal crossings, using collision patterns to push the state toward more proactive infrastructure planning. Public Health in Missouri: A St. Louis-area study finds many people newly linked to HIV care disengage within two years, with younger and Black patients at higher risk—though many later reengage. STEM & Local Tech Education: Missouri S&T’s new Jaggi School of Business is awarding $1,000 scholarships to its inaugural class, aiming to get students ready for tech shifts like agentic AI and enterprise systems. Climate Watch: NOAA reports July 2026 was the hottest month ever recorded across the contiguous U.S., underscoring intensifying heat extremes. Healthcare Workforce: Mercy Health Foundation Southeast awarded $26,000 in scholarships to 26 students across Southeast Missouri to support nursing and health sciences programs. Digital IDs: More states are rolling out digital driver’s licenses and passport storage in phone wallets, with TSA support expanding. AI Infrastructure Backlash: Voters are pushing back on AI data centers, citing power and water strain and demanding more local say.

HIV Care in Missouri: A new study of people newly linked to HIV clinics in St. Louis found more than 60% disengaged within two years, with younger adults (18–24) and Black patients facing higher risks—though many who disengaged later reengaged. Transportation Tech: MoDOT plans to change signal control along Route 105 in Charleston, removing signals at Route 105/Drake Street (late August 2026) and replacing signals at Route 105/Route 62 (project letting March 2027), plus sidewalk upgrades. Local Accessibility Tech: Republic, Mo. is using a $240,000 grant to create a “living” ADA sidewalk map by having engineers collect on-the-ground measurements with specialized technology, feeding updates into the city GIS. Semiconductor Supply Chain: Brewer Science completed its acquisition of Heraeus Epurio’s semiconductor chemicals business, bringing ultrapure chemical production and support in-house to strengthen chip-material reliability. Industrial Growth in KC: Diamond Properties bought a 115,000-square-foot Kansas City manufacturing/distribution facility at 4312 Clary Blvd, fully occupied by Liquid Soap Products. Environmental Materials: A Missouri-linked recycling story highlights turning decommissioned wind turbine blades into cement feedstock instead of burying them. Public Health & Parks: A nationwide study reports many U.S. parks sit near toxic chemical-reporting facilities and Superfund sites, challenging the idea that green space is always separate from pollution. Food Safety: Walmart recalled Bettergoods Pistachio Nut Butter after salmonella was found in multiple jars, including distribution to Missouri. Bees & Urban Design: Webster University researchers found bees prefer “messier” gardens—less manicured, more varied habitat—over tightly arranged landscaping.

Environmental Health: A new US study finds public parks often sit near toxic chemical-reporting facilities and Superfund sites, challenging the idea that recreation and pollution are separate. Mining Water & Stewardship: Minetek is sponsoring Water in Mining Australia 2026 in Perth, highlighting mechanical evaporation know-how for mine water management. Paleontology: Tiny plankton fossils from a deep-ocean core help explain a 113-million-year-old ocean mystery tied to shell changes and carbon-cycle shifts. Food Safety: Walmart is recalling Bettergoods Pistachio Nut Butter after salmonella was found in multiple jars, with distribution reaching Missouri. Public Safety Tech: Jefferson City defends its Flock Safety license-plate reader cameras amid privacy concerns, citing 30-day data retention and law-enforcement use. Health & Behavior: A University of Missouri study links steadier daily routines to less pain and depression in older adults, especially those with insomnia. STEM Workforce: Missouri S&T is part of a $100M federal push to grow the critical-minerals mining education pipeline. Health Alert: Cyclospora linked to lettuce continues expanding across states, with thousands of cases reported nationwide. Local Tech/Policy: Missouri Secretary of State action shuts down petition pushes, setting up another election-season fight.