AGP Executive Report

Kratom crackdown: Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway says Kansas City’s American Shaman will immediately suspend in-state sales of kratom and 7-OH after a lawsuit over “free samples” and misleading marketing. Public health rollout: Missouri’s Healthy SNAP initiative—aimed at limiting sugary items—has been pushed to Feb. 15, 2027, to smooth retailer and stakeholder readiness. Data center friction: A new report highlights how Missouri’s data-center regulation efforts are lagging the pace of hyperscale growth, fueling failed state bills and contentious local moratorium fights. Local tech industry: Columbia-based EquipmentShare will join Wells Fargo’s Industrials & Materials conference with a fireside chat on its connected jobsite tech. STEM in the region: MU Extension’s Sheep and Goat Day (Aug. 7) spotlights management-intensive grazing, while MDC is running a “From Field to Classroom” workshop for K-12 educators (July 15-16). Agriculture research: A Purdue-led Nature Communications study says better handling of nitrogen uncertainty in corn could cut fertilizer use and environmental costs. Missouri landfill update: Pettis County must rewrite landfill rules after a court ruling found parts of its 2022 ordinance conflicted with state law.

Rail & Heritage: Union Pacific’s Big Boy No. 4014 is drawing crowds on its first East Coast run for America 250, with Missouri-area fans watching the steam giant’s multi-state route. AI & Data Centers: A Missouri-focused debate keeps heating up as residents and officials question the environmental and energy impacts of large AI data centers, pushing lawmakers toward clearer rules. Public Health Research: A new German study finds umbilical cord blood glucose isn’t a reliable way to predict transitional neonatal hypoglycemia, raising concerns about single test snapshots. Local Power Infrastructure: Columbia is moving toward a new $34M high-voltage transmission line, with public input and a council decision targeted for November. Higher Ed Funding Pressure: A report says international student enrollment dropped 17%, exposing how some universities lean on foreign tuition amid state funding gaps. State Consumer Safety: Missouri AG Catherine Hanaway says CBD American Shaman will halt kratom and 7-OH sales in the state after a settlement. World Cup Logistics (KC): Kansas City is about a week out from its FIFA Fan Festival, with ConnectKC26 shuttle plans and driver training underway. Education & Workforce: Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis says summer camp registration is still open, with STEM and music plus help for families.

AI in Healthcare Finance: CFOs are moving past AI pilots and focusing on practical, responsible deployments—like ambient tools for documentation and coding, plus claims and denial prevention—to protect patient trust while improving operations. Data Centers & Water: Google says it will replenish more water than it uses by 2030 and is funding water stewardship projects, as hyperscale data centers face rising scrutiny over water demand. Missouri Education Tech: Missouri is partnering with Odyssey to modernize MOScholars, aiming to streamline school-choice administration for thousands of families. Broadband Planning: A policy push urges states to strengthen and sustain state broadband offices so BEAD funding can be used effectively before deadlines. Local Tech & Infrastructure: Scale Microgrids held a public open house on its White Cloud Acres data center project in Maryville, with water use a top concern. STEM & Training in Missouri: North Central Missouri College reports a first-ever 100% first-attempt pass rate for surgical tech graduates, with all securing jobs. Health Workforce: Mercy Springfield is launching a graduate medical education program starting summer 2027 to help address physician shortages. Community Science: Missouri’s New Madrid Seismic Zone saw a small early-Thursday tremor cluster, with USGS confirming minor quakes near the river.

Medicaid Work Rules: Missouri is bracing for new federal guidance on Medicaid work requirements, with states facing a hard Jan. 1, 2027 deadline and warnings that verification systems and paperwork could wrongly kick eligible people off coverage. Education Appointments: Gov. Mike Kehoe named Jordan Bradberry and Robbie Myers to the Missouri State Board of Education, filling seats tied to education and community leadership. Agri-Food Biotech Boost: A Bayer-backed local start-up program will support “seed-to-Series A” agri-food biotech firms, including field trials, IP work, and connections to investors and academia. Tax Fight in the Spotlight: A Delaware-linked nonprofit reportedly donated $1.9M to a Missouri campaign pushing to replace the income tax with expanded sales taxes, raising questions about hidden donors ahead of the Aug. 4 vote. Data Center Water Use: Community details emerged on a proposed $6B data center near Maryville, including plans to use reclaimed wastewater—while residents still want clarity on the end user and water impacts. STEM & Health Tech: Ameren pledged $1M to UMSL’s School of Engineering for an electrical engineering lab, and a Missouri-area health system expanded virtual ICU monitoring with Philips and hellocare.ai.

College Sports Overhaul: Missouri Sen. Eric Schmitt is pushing the bipartisan “Protect College Sports Act of 2026,” aiming to rein in NIL and transfer-portal chaos with new disclosure rules, health and safety requirements, limits on midseason coaching moves, and tighter conference merger controls—while the SEC and Big Ten oppose it. STEM & Space Data: Missouri S&T researchers helped release the full HETDEX cosmic dataset to the public, expanding what astronomers can study about early galaxies. Health Tech (Local Research): U. Missouri researchers report a new approach to protect pancreatic islet transplants from rejection without broad immunosuppressive drugs. Transportation Planning: Missouri’s Highways and Transportation Commission approved MoDOT’s 2026 long-range transportation plan through 2050. Agriculture Tech: MU Extension updated pasture fence cost tools and precision-ag upgrades at the Hundley-Whaley center are improving soil mapping for better fertilizer decisions. Public Safety: A KC-area streetcar extension to North Kansas City is under feasibility study, with open houses set for June 11 and June 17.

Plastics & Health: Dr. John Ahn brought a TEDxStLouis message to the Missouri History Museum, warning that micro- and nanoplastics act like “invisible pollution” that breaks down from everyday products and can persist in ecosystems and bodies. Public Health Tech: A proposed CDC budget cut would slash funding for the National Wastewater Surveillance System from about $125M to $25M, just as a new COVID “cicada” variant spreads. Pet Safety: Vets are urging cat owners to watch for “bobcat fever” (cytauxzoonosis), carried by Lone Star ticks, as the illness expands across the East Coast and Midwest. Agriculture Safety: University of Missouri Extension reminds growers to prevent pesticide poisoning with label-following PPE, careful mixing/loading, and reentry interval rules. Rural Power: USDA is backing Missouri electric co-ops with major guaranteed loans, including transmission upgrades and smart grid tech. Local Infrastructure: St. Louis Water Division is seeking a customer rate increase after breaks and deferred maintenance drained reserves. AI & Work: National coverage highlights how AI is changing hiring and tasks, with Missouri leaders also discussing the state’s AI direction. Education Funding: Missouri freezes new enrollment in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library after state funding drops. STEM in Missouri: Missouri S&T’s Mars Rover team won top honors at URC 2026 for a second straight year. College Sports Policy: Senators unveiled new NIL-related regulations for college athletes’ compensation.

Missouri Education & Tech: Missouri’s School Funding Modernization Task Force is wrestling with how counties’ real estate assessments lag inflation, complicating a state aid formula that depends on local property taxes. Public Health: CDC-linked reporting and University of Missouri Extension say tick-bite ER visits are climbing across the Midwest, driven by a warm winter and wet spring that boost tick survival. STEM & Local Learning: A Missouri prison reentry program is teaching incarcerated people to code via Unlocked Labs, aiming to improve job readiness after release. Data Centers & Air Permits: A new explainer breaks down how emergency generators at data centers are regulated and permitted, and why rising generator use is sparking air-quality and energy-demand concerns. Campus & Community: Missouri S&T’s Campus Performing Arts Series returns with seven shows, including “Animaniacs in Concert” and a Columbia Ballet Nutcracker segment. Local Culture: Route 66 fans helped bring the Shamrock Court Motel in Sullivan back to life after decades of abandonment.

Missouri AI Planning: Leaders met at Mizzou Engineering to map out “AI-Ready Missouri,” focusing on responsible adoption across agriculture, healthcare, energy, public safety, and manufacturing. STEM in the Show-Me State: Missouri S&T’s Mars Rover Design Team won the University Rover Challenge again, scoring big in equipment servicing and delivery missions. Agriculture Tech: Riegel Dairy in Missouri is installing a co-digestion system to turn manure and other organic waste into energy (methane into pipelines) and biochar for soil. Public Safety Tech: Missouri Conservation says it’s making “significant” progress against feral hogs using drones and helicopters, including a second helicopter with FLIR for winter operations. Healthcare Diagnostics Expansion: C2N Diagnostics and SouthGenetics partnered to expand access to Precivity blood tests for Alzheimer’s amyloid assessment across Latin America and the Caribbean. Local Governance & Health Policy: Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas promises a tougher replacement conversion-therapy ban after the council repealed the earlier ordinance. Data & Privacy Watch: California sued 23andMe over a 2023 genetic data breach affecting nearly 7 million people.

AI Strategy in Missouri: Leaders gathered at Mizzou Engineering for an “AI-Ready Missouri” summit to map real-world gaps and push responsible AI adoption across agriculture, healthcare, energy, public safety, higher ed, and manufacturing. Data Center Pushback: A Missouri-focused piece argues data centers can’t just dismiss community opposition; it calls for clearer state and federal rules plus safeguards to address energy, environmental, and quality-of-life concerns. STEM Spotlight: Missouri S&T’s Mars Rover Design Team won the University Rover Challenge again, scoring big in equipment servicing and delivery. PFAS & Refrigerants: HVACR regulators highlighted evolving PFAS rules and new building-code pressures tied to A2L refrigerants. Missouri Education Policy: Missouri lawmakers advanced a limited set of education bills after a long session, with several still awaiting Gov. Kehoe’s signature. Consumer Tech & Privacy: California’s AG sued 23andMe over a 2023 data breach, alleging weak protections and misleading statements. Health & Safety: A workplace safety staffing report points to mid-range coverage, while a Florida court rule update targets lawyers’ responsibility for citing real legal authorities. Local Life: Kirkwood considered adding excused mental health days for students, aiming to reduce barriers to support.

AI & Health: A new JAMA Network Open study using an AI scan of hospital records finds long COVID hits about 1 in 6 Americans—more than double what current federal tracking suggests. Missouri Tech & Education: Missouri State University’s fall Public Affairs Conference is headlined by actor Rainn Wilson, while MU also announced capacity upgrades at the Graves-Chapple Center and Mizzou students raised concerns as AI gets integrated into classes. Environment & Food Safety: Researchers at the University of Missouri are developing engineered algae to pull microplastics from water, and a separate report highlights how heavy-metal contamination once devastated the Spring River’s mussels—showing how cleanup laws can help ecosystems rebound. Wildlife & Public Health: Louisiana’s lab work is advancing chronic wasting disease detection, and Missouri-area readers also got a reminder that releasing goldfish into waterways can trigger major habitat and water-quality shifts. Local Governance: University City appointed Brooke A. Sharp as city manager, and Jefferson City’s mayor is seeking a veto of its “Idaho stop” cycling ordinance.

Missouri Weather Watch: A local “signs of trouble” guide points to rising humidity, greenish storm clouds, tower-building skies, sudden wind shifts, and fast temperature drops as early cues for severe weather. Local Tech & STEM Win: UIU’s Mars rover team from the Center for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics secured a top-three global finish at the University Rover Challenge in Utah, with Missouri S&T also placing high. AI in Classrooms: Mizzou students are pushing back as generative AI gets integrated into coursework, arguing it can turn learning into copy-paste work. Healthcare Costs & Competition: A new look at hospital consolidation says prices rise when markets lose competition, with ultrasound and doctor-visit costs higher in hospital settings than in independent offices. Invasive Species Control: Maryland is using high-powered bows and arrows to hunt northern snakeheads, aiming to protect native fisheries. Water & Contamination: A PFAS “forever chemicals” report highlights fish contamination concerns in the Missouri River region. College Sports Policy: A debate over the “Save College Sports Act” centers on eligibility limits, transfer rules, and conference power—raising questions for schools like UNC. Missouri Education Leadership: Lincoln University named John Kessell to lead cooperative extension programs, including small-farmer outreach and food/nutrition education.

Supreme Court Cross-Border Pollution Fight: A St. Louis federal case, Reid v. Doe Run Resources, could redraw how far U.S. courts reach in pollution lawsuits tied to a Peruvian smelter—potentially reshaping tort law and investment risk. AI in Missouri Classrooms: At the University of Missouri, students say they’re largely opposed to generative AI being used by professors for syllabi, assignments, and feedback, even as many already use AI tools themselves. Concrete Gets an AI Boost: Missouri S&T researchers won a $2M DOE grant to build an AI database of 20,000+ cementitious material options, aiming to cut reliance on conventional cement and strengthen the supply chain. Kansas City Public Safety Tech: KCPD is using drones to respond faster during major events like the World Cup, helping clear scenes and support investigations. Consumer Data Under Fire: California AG sued 23andMe over a 2023 breach, alleging weak protections and misleading statements to customers. Missouri Weather Watch: MU Extension warns tick activity is surging, tied to recent warm conditions that keep ticks active and climbing.

Missouri STEM & agriculture: MU’s Graves-Chapple research farm near Rock Port is getting a capacity boost with upgrades like a refurbished plot combine that cut small-plot harvest time by about 60%, plus better soil mapping for more precise fertilizer decisions. Public health & outdoors: Missouri tick season is spiking, with CDC data showing Midwest tick-bite ER visits at the highest levels since 2017, and MU Extension pointing to warmer winters and early spring conditions that let ticks stay active sooner. AI & consumer protection: State attorneys general are stepping up enforcement on algorithmic pricing and online age verification, with a Kansas City conference highlighting rising legal risk for companies that don’t audit pricing tools and youth-facing safeguards. Kansas City tech for safety: KCPD is using drones for faster scene response during the World Cup, aiming to clear incidents and support prosecutions with real-time monitoring. Space & defense: SpaceX won a $4.16B Space Force deal to accelerate satellites that track moving aircraft and drones, targeting an operational constellation by 2028. Workforce pipeline: St. Louis Internship Program (SLIP) is placing about 200 teens into paid eight-week internships across Missouri starting June 8.

Missouri Education & Tech Policy: Missouri lawmakers cut funding for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library from $6M to $2M, pausing new enrollments while continuing books for current families—an early signal of how state budgets are reshaping STEM-adjacent literacy efforts. Higher Ed & Sports Tech Governance: Senators Ted Cruz and Maria Cantwell unveiled a bipartisan college-athletes compensation bill, adding momentum to the ongoing NIL and transfer-portal overhaul that’s reshaping how universities handle athlete “data” and branding. AI Infrastructure Backlash: Southwest Missouri Citizens Against Data Centers is organizing against proposed AI data center and solar projects near Sarcoxie/LaRussell and around Webster County, pushing for environmental studies and local transparency. Space & Defense Contracting: Space Force awarded SpaceX a $4.16B deal to accelerate satellite tracking of moving aircraft and other targets, aiming for an operational constellation by 2028. Health & Lab Science: Washington University researchers found the low-calorie sweetener sorbitol may trigger liver-fat pathways similar to fructose when gut microbes are disrupted. Agriculture Innovation: U Missouri Extension research suggests forage soybean could help Missouri bridge summer forage shortages, with planting timing driving big yield swings.

Manufacturing & Jobs: Toyota Missouri marked 35 years in Troy, highlighting aluminum cylinder head production since 1991 and announcing a new $57.1M line slated for 2027. STEM & Education: Missouri S&T honored alumnus Patrick J. Wagner with an Award of Professional Distinction, while ExxonMobil’s Jon Gibbs and Dr. Terry Brewer delivered commencement messages on rigor, community, and learning from failure. Public Safety Tech: Lee’s Summit opened a voter-approved $30M Joint Operations Facility, bringing fire and police dispatch under one roof with upgraded communications tech. Data Centers Face Pushback: Festus recall efforts gained traction amid months of conflict over a nearby data center; similar health and property-tax worries are driving organized opposition in Southwest Missouri. Child Welfare Analytics: HHS is awarding $6M to help states pilot predictive analytics in child welfare, paired with training and governance. Digital Life & Policy: Missouri AG Jay Jones joined opposition to the federal KIDS Act, arguing it weakens protections for kids online. Health & Science: A new study on MS research suggests ferritin may relate to progression and myelin repair, and a Missouri-linked report highlights medication abortion and telehealth impacts as states tighten drug rules.

Missouri Digital Life: Columbia is getting a “digital detox” push with a five-week outdoor unplug-and-reconnect retreat, while a local board-game hub is betting on face-to-face time instead of screens. Health & Research: A U.S. literature review suggests ferritin (iron storage) could help explain multiple sclerosis progression and myelin repair potential; meanwhile, Missouri’s UMKC med student is tied to the review presented at a major MS conference. MS in Missouri: A Missouri S&T doctoral duo is balancing lab research with volunteer firefighting, showing how engineering training is feeding real-world emergency work. Local Tech & Industry: St. Charles is bracing for General Mills’ final plant closure layoffs (WARN notice points to job cuts around June 30). Community Tech Tension: In Nodaway County, residents are organizing against a proposed data center, framing it as a fight over water, air, privacy, and power costs. Space Science: KSMU’s Astro Brief highlights a distant object (XV93) observed with an atmosphere—an outer-solar-system first for its class. Sports Tech/Climate: Kansas City’s open-air World Cup stadium tops U.S. heat-risk rankings, with humidity and urban heat island effects flagged for visitors.