AGP Executive Report

Georgia Tech Safety Training: Georgia Tech EH&S launched a Lab and Workplace Safety Certificate Program, partnering with ExxonMobil’s lab safety approach and running industry-style safety tours (including Georgia Aquarium) to build a stronger safety culture for graduate students. World Cup Turf Science: Rutgers researchers helped develop a cool-season turfgrass strain now installed at 10 World Cup host stadiums, selected for consistent bounce, grip, drainage, and weather resilience. Macon-Bibb Industry Move: ArcelorMittal Building Solutions plans a $57M facility in Macon-Bibb County with up to 70 jobs, targeting insulated panel manufacturing and a training center starting in 2027. Local Tech Governance: Conyers officials say they won’t permit data center development or pursue annexations within city limits, citing zoning and resident quality-of-life concerns. Public Health Alert (Rabies): Griffin confirmed a rabid fox case after an aggressive incident; officials urge pet vaccinations and avoiding wild animals showing unusual behavior. Crypto Policy Fight: The SEC proposed rescinding Regulation NMS Rules 611 and 610(e), a potential “unlock” for tokenized stock trading in DeFi—sparking renewed industry debate.

World Cup Drone Crackdown in Atlanta: Federal agents seized three drones as Atlanta’s no-drone zone kicked in for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with violations risking confiscation and penalties up to $100,000; the restriction runs until July 21 and uses advanced tech to detect unauthorized unmanned aircraft. Lab Safety Training: Georgia Tech EH&S launched a yearlong Lab and Workplace Safety Certificate Program with industry-style practices, including a pilot tour at Georgia Aquarium and collaboration with ExxonMobil’s lab safety program. Cancer Research (Georgia-linked): A new preclinical study reports a metal-free carbon monoxide prodrug that may help suppress cancer spread, aiming at recurrence and metastasis in pancreatic and triple-negative breast cancer models. Invasive Species Watch: A rabid fox was confirmed in metro Atlanta, prompting reminders to keep pets vaccinated and avoid aggressive wild animals. Sea Turtle Comeback: Tybee Island is seeing a surge in nesting—27th nest of the season—after last year’s low count, with experts noting false crawls remain a concern. Georgia Data Centers & Power Bills: A Georgia Public Service Commission election is framed around affordability and electricity rates, with data centers and consumer costs at the center of the runoff debate. Local Research Partnerships: Georgia Southern signed a new partnership with the University of Belize to expand research and graduate pathways, including work on marine biology and coastal resiliency.

AI in healthcare: A major U.S. hospital study reports ambient AI scribing tools cut physician burnout by 21% at 84 days, with Emory Healthcare among the sites. Public safety tech debate: Davidson County’s Flock license-plate-reader rollout is drawing privacy concerns as residents question surveillance expansion. Data centers vs. housing: As backlash grows, cities are looking to AI to ease housing costs, while critics argue the affordability math is more complicated than water and power headlines suggest. Georgia research funding: Emory received a $15M NIH grant to study health effects of toxic Superfund exposure in Brunswick-area communities, building on a 2023 pilot. Cancer treatment progress: Emory researchers are pursuing a gentler approach to childhood leukemia using targeted strategies to reduce side effects. Local tech & industry: Capital City Roofing CEO Brad Strawbridge joins RT3’s roofing technology think tank board, highlighting drone inspection and data-driven workflows. STEM education: Mercer University awarded degrees to more than 2,200 students across Macon and Atlanta. Agriculture tech: AGCO is touting fuel-efficiency gains across tractor brands via integrated powertrain upgrades.

Public Health Research (Coastal Georgia): Emory University won a $15M NIH grant to create Georgia’s first Superfund Research Center, focusing on how contaminants from Glynn County’s Superfund sites affect residents’ health, building on a 2023 pilot blood-testing study and expanding work with UGA, Georgia Tech, Morehouse, Spelman, and Texas Tech. Energy & Manufacturing (Georgia): Qcells began producing solar cells at its Cartersville plant, aiming to scale to 3.3GW each of ingots, wafers, and cells annually and position the facility as the largest U.S. solar cell factory by mid-2026. Local Tech & Infrastructure (Data centers): Community pushback continues around data center proposals in Georgia, with residents raising concerns about water use and impacts as local governments weigh approvals and moratoriums. AI/Robotics Recognition (Georgia ties): Hello Robot, founded with experience from MIT, Google, and Georgia Tech, was named a 2026 World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer for its Stretch assistive robot. Education & STEM (Georgia): Georgia’s education ecosystem keeps moving—Bulloch County confirmed Dr. Torian White as superintendent starting July 1, while other Georgia school and STEM updates highlight ongoing workforce and learning pipeline efforts. Safety & Parenting (Atlanta area): A new U.S. Surgeon General warning on screen time is prompting Atlanta-area parents to rethink daily device limits for kids. Wildlife Conservation (Southeast): Eastern indigo snake reintroduction efforts continue, with 42 released across Florida and Alabama to support long-term recovery monitoring. Tech Policy (World Cup): The U.S. warned foreign influencers that monetized content creation during the 2026 World Cup may violate visitor visa rules, raising deportation risk for people earning from U.S. sources.

Superfund Health Research: Emory University won a $15M NIH grant to launch a new center studying how toxic Superfund contaminants affect health in Brunswick and Glynn County, partnering with UGA, Georgia Tech, Morehouse, Spelman, and Texas Tech. AI Infrastructure in Georgia: QumulusAI says it secured $124M+ in 3-year subscriptions for AI inference deployments in Atlanta, including 1,280 NVIDIA Blackwell GPUs, aiming to cut inference costs ~20%. Recycling Access in Atlanta: CHaRM will relocate after 11 years in Chosewood Park, moving to Bankhead by end of 2026 to keep recycling services for hard-to-process materials. Public Safety Tech: Masked teen pranks in Catoosa County and Fort Oglethorpe triggered police investigations, with authorities warning that mask concealment laws can apply even when no threat is intended. World Cup Tech & Weather: The FCC says it’s supporting resilient communications for host cities including Atlanta, while NOAA confirms El Niño conditions as the 2026 tournament begins. Education & STEM: Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science and Technology reported 114 Hispanic students enrolled for 2024-25, and Georgia Southern’s Model UN team earned top delegation distinction for a 15th straight year.

Data Centers & Local Power Strain: DeKalb County extended its data center moratorium through Sept. 30 as residents raise alarms about water, power bills, and neighborhood impacts, while the EPA says it won’t set nationwide standards for the sector. Public Safety Tech Debate: DeKalb and other Georgia communities keep wrestling with automatic license plate reader and camera systems like Flock, as privacy and oversight questions grow alongside claims they help police. BioLab Aftermath: A new Georgia Tech study says the BioLab fire plume in Conyers released bromine as a dominant compound, adding to long-running concerns about what early warnings got right. Space & Science: Georgia Tech researchers recreated solar wind effects on lunar minerals, strengthening links between space weathering and the moon’s surface chemistry. Solar Manufacturing in Georgia: Qcells began solar cell production at its Cartersville hub, pushing the state toward a more complete domestic solar supply chain. Agriculture Biosecurity: Georgia expanded animal entry requirements after New World screwworm detections in Texas and parts of New Mexico, and urged reporting of yellow-legged hornet embryo and primary nests. STEM Workforce Spotlight: SkillsUSA results from Georgia-linked programs highlighted hands-on training wins, including Georgia Tech student work on chemical safety models.

AI in healthcare: Emory used an OpenAI GPT-5 tool to turn radiology reports into patient-friendly summaries, with a study of 100 patients finding 48% said the AI summaries were most helpful—while also flagging the need for clinician oversight. Data centers & local control: DeKalb County extended its data center moratorium 100 days through September as residents push for more study on water, infrastructure, and long-term impacts. Public health & policy: A Georgia report on Medicaid expansion argues the state’s stalled rollout is leaving residents without coverage, tying the delay to politics and a prior waiver approach. Education demographics: Gwinnett School of Mathematics-Science and Technology reported 306 African American students in 2024-25 (24% of enrollment), alongside continued concerns about chronic absenteeism. STEM workforce: Augusta’s airport summer camp is teaching first responders how to design, build, and fly drones with Georgia Tech and state partners. Community tech & privacy: A broader debate is resurfacing around automated license plate readers and facial recognition—raising questions about misuse and oversight. World Cup science in Georgia: Coverage highlights heat planning for 2026 matches, including mandatory hydration breaks and the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature approach. Local business climate: A Fiserv Small Business Index finds Georgia small businesses growing faster than the national rate, with Atlanta leading in professional services.

Solar Manufacturing in Georgia: Hanwha Qcells says it has completed its Cartersville “Solar Hub,” launching U.S. cell production and creating a fully integrated domestic chain from ingots and wafers to cells and modules—positioned to capture more Inflation Reduction Act incentives. Transit Safety & Tech: MARTA rolled out a new phone app focused on planning and safety as federal prosecutors charged a man accused of a third recent violent attack on the rail system. Rural Healthcare Funding: Georgia’s GREAT Health program awarded $12.7M in first-round grants to expand rural newborn screening, brain injury support, and other care capacity. Public Health & Climate Risk: Fulton County issued heat-and-humidity warnings for Atlanta’s World Cup events, with officials urging precautions for players, workers, and fans. Environmental Watch: An independent investigation is underway into a major Chattahoochee fish kill, with attention on sewage tunnel overflows after heavy rain. AI & Robotics Spotlight: AGIBOT X2 drew attention at Cannes, with plans to bring humanoid robotics into sports training and stadium navigation in Atlanta. Cybersecurity Oversight: The Coast Guard is adding cybersecurity readiness to routine vessel inspections under new federal rules.

Drone Delivery Expansion: Walmart and Wing are adding seven metro areas—Memphis, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Diego, the San Francisco Bay Area, and Salt Lake City—bringing drone drops to nearly 20 U.S. markets, with service already logged in Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, and metro Atlanta. Medical Tech in Augusta: Wellstar MCG Health and the Georgia Cancer Center are launching the Elekta Gamma Knife Esprit, a non-invasive, incision-free option for brain tumors and other neurological conditions. AI for Higher Ed: N2N Services unveiled Helios, a new AI agent platform meant to let colleges build, govern, and ship agents on top of existing systems, replacing its decade-old Illuminate platform over time. Cyber/Identity Risk: A new report warns enterprises are granting AI agents elevated access faster than they’re securing identity systems, raising the odds of automated breaches. World Cup Tech & Health: Research flags heat and humidity risks for host cities, while NMI says contactless payment experiences abroad can shape how visitors move and spend in Atlanta and other venues. Georgia Education Snapshot: Gwinnett School of Mathematics-Science and Technology reported 625 Asian students in 2024-25, up 5.6% year over year. Defense Manufacturing (Georgia): Lockheed Martin’s Marietta facility began major assembly for the first Swiss F-35A, a milestone tied to Switzerland’s aircraft component production.

Workforce & Training: West Georgia Technical College and the Dow Jones Printing Plant in LaGrange launched a six-month apprenticeship starting in September, pairing hands-on press and digital production training with mentorship. Special Education Outcomes: IDEA 2026 reporting shows mixed gains in Georgia’s regionally relevant special education metrics, including graduation-rate improvement for students with IEPs. Local Tech & Community Debate: Marietta residents are gearing up to speak at City Council despite no data-center item on the agenda, underscoring how tech infrastructure decisions still drive public pressure. Consumer Protection (Digital Age): Georgia’s competition and consumer protection agency is set to lead ICPEN, focusing on trust, AI-era consumer rights, and protections for disabled and high-risk users. Wildlife Health Research: UGA researchers report snake fungal disease risk tied to coinfections, highlighting a growing hidden threat to native snakes. Agriculture Tech Risk: A UGA study warns solar storms could disrupt precision GPS used for peanut planting and harvesting, risking major losses. Animal Enrichment Tech: Georgia Tech and Zoo Atlanta are building low-frequency “sound walls” to keep elephants mentally stimulated. Public Health & Rural Care: Georgia’s GREAT Health Program awarded first subgrants totaling about $12.7M, including newborn screening expansion and ABI survivor support. Elections & Civic Tech: Early voting is underway for Georgia’s June 16 runoff, with turnout concerns and high-stakes down-ballot races.

AI & Cybersecurity in Georgia: Atlanta-based BeyondTrust was selected for Anthropic’s Project Glasswing, aiming to harden critical software infrastructure by improving vulnerability discovery and remediation across privilege-centric identity security. Public Health & Water Systems: A new warning flags free-living “brain-eating” amoebae risk in U.S. water systems, as heat and aging infrastructure may increase exposure in cities with older pipes. STEM Education in Georgia: Wiregrass wrapped up its “Beats and Bytes” camp using EarSketch (built by Georgia Tech researchers) to teach coding through music creation. Local Tech & Cloud Costs: Vatic Outsourcing launched a Cloud Expense Management service in Atlanta to help businesses track usage, spot billing issues, and cut infrastructure waste. Atlanta Flood Liability Question: Emory law professor John Acevedo weighs whether drivers caught in last month’s flash flooding could sue over storm-drain operations. Entertainment Filming in Atlanta: Netflix released a first teaser and real-dog reveal for “Scooby-Doo: Origins,” currently filming in Atlanta and premiering in 2027.

Health Tech: New research in the Journal of the American Heart Association finds adults with both obesity and an autoimmune disease taking GLP-1 receptor agonists had fewer emergency visits and lower rates of serious cardiac events, including stroke, pulmonary embolism, and death. Smart Home Tech: Local integrators are warning Control4 OS2 users near Atlanta and Greensboro that remote access and cloud services end Aug. 4, 2026, urging planned upgrades to OS3 or X4 with Connect to keep connected home functions working. Public Safety Tech: Decatur County Sheriff’s Office received a $15k grant for crash tracking tech that lets deputies file and upload accident reports electronically, plus mobile printers and digital license scanners for faster scene work. AI & Creative Training: Savannah’s SCADask reports that AI’s biggest creative gains are shifting from production to direction—highlighting skills like storytelling, strategy, and research synthesis over tool fluency. Data Centers & Water: Google says it will replenish more water than its U.S. data centers consume, expanding water stewardship efforts amid growing community scrutiny of AI infrastructure. Georgia Tech: Georgia Tech developed COBALT, a system aimed at controlling robotic arms via smartphone. Workforce for AI Infrastructure: Dycom is building a 49-acre “fake town” in Monroe, Georgia to train new hires for data center trade jobs, with a mid-2027 opening.

Medicaid Fraud Crackdown (Marietta): Georgia AG Chris Carr says Marietta lab owner Maged Awad faces criminal charges and a civil complaint over alleged genetic testing fraud, including claims tied to patients who allegedly never provided DNA samples and billing that allegedly lacked legitimate physician orders. Nursing Home Watch (Macon & Cobb): CMS data shows Macon Rehabilitation and Healthcare in Bibb County received a two-star overall rating in Q1 2026, while Roselane Health Center by Harborview in Cobb County received a one-star rating, alongside reported fines and penalties. AI + Public Safety (Georgia-linked tech): A separate report highlights how police used AI gunshot detection plus Flock cameras to locate a suspect quickly, underscoring the growing role of camera networks and analytics in local investigations. Workforce Training (Monroe): Dycom is building a 49-acre “fake town” in Monroe to train data-center trades workers, aiming to open mid-2027. Health Tech Research (GLP-1): New research reports GLP-1-based meds are linked to fewer serious cardiac events and fewer emergency visits among adults with obesity plus autoimmune disease. Local Philanthropy (Jackson EMC): Jackson EMC Foundation awarded $85,000 in grants, including $30,000 for Jackson County programs.

Georgia Tech Robotics: Georgia Tech’s COBALT system lets people control real robots from a smartphone, helping students learn robotics remotely and feeding data back into smarter AI for homes and factories. Public Health & Safety: A dog in Spalding County tested positive for rabies after veterinary treatment; officials urge residents to avoid unfamiliar animals and keep pets vaccinated. Law & Health Fraud: A Marietta lab owner was indicted and sued by Georgia’s AG over alleged Medicaid fraud tied to genetic tests allegedly billed without proper physician orders, including claims for tests where patients reportedly never provided DNA. STEM for Georgia: Georgia Southern researchers, working with the Georgia Public Safety Training Center, report that a structured physical training program reduced injuries and improved fitness for police cadets. World Cup Science (Georgia angle): Studies warn extreme heat and humidity could affect 2026 World Cup venues, with cities including Atlanta flagged as high-risk during peak afternoon conditions. Education/Community: Jackson EMC Foundation awarded $40,000 to Hall County programs, including summer learning and a mini-medical school academy.

Public Safety & Tech Oversight: Macon-Bibb commissioners weigh renewed funding for Flock Safety license-plate cameras amid privacy and surveillance concerns, as supporters argue the tools help investigations. Healthcare Fraud: Georgia AG Chris Carr announced criminal and civil action against a Cobb County lab owner alleging false genetic testing claims to Medicaid, targeting schemes that bypass legitimate orders. Public Health & Research: Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and Georgia Tech are building an opt-in AI tool to flag teen mental-health declines based on social media patterns, with teen recruitment underway. Data Centers & Water: Statesboro approved new data center rules after debate over water use, AI impacts, and local control; the ordinance sets a review process and bars hyperscale facilities. Climate & Infrastructure: Google pledged to replenish more water than it uses by 2030 as data centers expand, highlighting water stewardship as a core infrastructure issue. Agriculture Biosecurity: Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper issued enhanced animal movement requirements after New World Screwworm was detected in Texas. Archaeology: Savannah History Museum unveiled 17 Revolutionary War cannons recovered from the Savannah River, now headed for display ahead of July 4. STEM Education: Georgia Cyber Center hosted a cybersecurity workshop for teachers, aiming to align classroom learning with employer needs.

Public-Sector AI Governance: Georgia Technology Authority selected Darwin AI to help move statewide AI from pilots to broader use, focusing on governance, security, and compliance across agencies. Health Fraud Crackdown: DOJ launched a state-federal partnership to fight health care and consumer fraud, with Georgia included in enhanced CMS oversight tied to a surge in hospice providers. World Cup Public Health: U.S. public health officials are ramping up outbreak planning for the World Cup’s multi-city, cross-border crowds, with Atlanta-area leaders warning especially about heat and humidity. World Cup Turf Science: A turfgrass researcher is overseeing the grass replacement effort for World Cup venues, including domed stadiums where sunlight limits make field consistency harder. Local School Funding Vote: DeKalb County schools advanced an E-SPLOST VII proposal that would renew a 1% education sales tax and authorize up to $500M in bonds for capital projects. Payments Tech in Atlanta: Valor PayTech and LANDI Global announced a strategic partnership to bring LANDI’s Android-based payment and POS devices into Valor’s U.S. ecosystem. Data Center Water Pressure: A new report highlights rancher and rural concerns that data center growth could strain local water supplies, especially in the American West. Community Health Access: Augusta University nurses held a rural health fair in Dearing with screenings and mental health and addiction resources. STEM & Skills Training: Cobb County educators are set for a STEM-A-Palooza, while Georgia career-tech students continue stacking SkillsUSA wins.