AGP Executive Report

AI in Healthcare: Massive Bio and BeeKeeperAI are expanding access to oncology clinical trials in Atlanta’s underserved communities using privacy-preserving federated confidential computing through BeeKeeperAI’s EscrowAI, aiming to match patients to trials without moving sensitive data out of providers’ environments. Autonomous Vehicles: Waymo’s Atlanta service is still suspended after a self-driving car got stuck in Midtown floodwaters, with Georgia Tech researchers pointing to the hard problem of estimating water depth during street flooding. Public Safety Leadership: Sandy Springs named Fire Chief Keith Sanders assistant city manager for infrastructure and capital delivery; Division Chief Jesse Bernard becomes interim fire chief. Education & Workforce: Georgia Tech students and alumni earned 75 NSF Graduate Research Fellowships, while Georgia’s career programs keep feeding the pipeline—Evans seniors highlighted EMT/fire-rescue pathways. Legal/Privacy: A federal appeals court limited Illinois’ biometrics privacy law reach, rejecting a class action tied to voice recording in e-commerce identity checks. Local History: DNA helped identify a 1990 West Point Lake body in Troup County as Craig Alexander Maddox, reopening it as a homicide case.

Ebola Update: The U.S. doctor infected with Ebola in the Congo is critically ill in Berlin but says he’s “cautiously optimistic,” with lab results “trending slightly in the right direction” and doctors giving two IV treatments. Supreme Court: The U.S. Supreme Court dismissed a case that would have revisited the rules for executing people with intellectual disabilities, leaving an Alabama death sentence off the table for now. Georgia Politics: Nearly 2 million Georgians voted in the May primary, and runoffs are set for June 16 as crowded races head back to the polls. AI + Construction: Metro Atlanta firms are using AI to speed up construction documentation and coordination, aiming to keep up with rapid growth. Education Pipeline: Georgia was picked for a national educator workforce pilot focused on teacher recruitment and retention. Tech/Health in Atlanta: A privacy-preserving AI platform is expanding oncology trial pre-screening access for underserved communities. Business Watch: Georgia’s labor market hit new highs in April while unemployment held at 3.5%.

Health Warning: A Georgia coroner linked a 21-year-old’s suicide to severe vitamin B12 deficiency tied to a vegan diet and not taking supplements, spotlighting how B12 supports nerves and red blood cells. Election Runoffs: Georgia’s primary turnout topped nearly 2 million votes, and multiple races are headed to June runoffs, including the Georgia 12th District. Politics & Power: The GOP Senate nomination fight is also going to a runoff, with voters bracing for sharper, more personal campaigning. Local Tech Fight: Statesboro advanced tighter data center rules, while Lowndes County residents keep pushing back on a proposed 720-acre AI data center near Foxborough. Public Health Ops: FDA inspection data shows Georgia food and cosmetics firms faced the most scrutiny in Q1 2026, with major citation activity in foodborne biological hazards. Business/Finance: Atlanticus approved a quarterly preferred stock dividend.

Payments & Tech: Newland NPT says its PayExplorer has cleared Fiserv Level 3 certification for Android terminals, giving software partners a faster, pre-certified route to deploy in the U.S. Local Politics: Dwight “Tray” M. Richardson III won an Elmore County district judge seat in the GOP primary, setting up a no-opposition general election. AI Data Center Scrutiny: Jackson County residents are pressing for answers after officials heard a proposal near Highway 231 could be an AI/data processing center, not just solar and storage—raising familiar worries about power, water, and infrastructure strain. Public Health Research: Emory opened a new 10-bed airborne isolation unit to study how respiratory viruses spread between people, starting with flu research in June. Georgia Culture: MomoCon returns May 21 for four days at the Georgia World Congress Center, with roots in Georgia Tech’s campus event from 2004. Healthcare Watch: CMS data puts Pruitthealth – Lilburn as the third-largest Gwinnett nursing home in early 2026, with an overall rating of 1/5.

Georgia Primary Results: Keisha Lance Bottoms cruised to the Democratic nomination for governor, while Mike Collins led the U.S. Senate primary but will head to a runoff—setting up a high-stakes finish as Republicans and Democrats chase open statewide seats. Local Governance: Senoia is moving toward hiring a new city manager after naming Christopher Hobby as sole finalist, and Thomas County voters turned out even with several unopposed local races. Public Safety Tech: DeKalb County and Georgia Tech are using drones to speed up emergency awareness, with pilots able to reach scenes quickly and help route officers more safely. Health Watch: WHO declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo a public health emergency of international concern, with an American doctor among those infected and U.S. travel screening tightening. Long-Term Care: CMS data shows multiple Georgia nursing homes with low ratings, including Glenwood Health Center by Harborview and Roswell Center for Nursing and Healing, underscoring ongoing staffing and care pressure. Policy & Services: Georgia’s budget adds 100 NOW/COMP waivers, but advocates say it falls short of urgent need for people with I/DD.

Georgia Primaries: Polls are open across the state for Tuesday’s contests, with early voting already topping 1 million ballots; voters must show valid photo ID and pick a party ballot in the open primary. Public Health: The CDC says one American tested positive for Ebola after work in the DRC and is moving exposed contacts to Germany, while also tightening short-term travel entry rules to protect US screening capacity. Tech & Cities: Waymo and Waze are teaming up in Atlanta to share pothole data with local governments, aiming to turn driverless-car sensing into faster road fixes. Education & Local Wins: Wiregrass Georgia Tech and Valdosta State signed new transfer pathways for bachelor’s degrees. Health & Safety: Atlanta Children’s Healthcare warns that neon swimsuits don’t replace pool supervision and life-saving readiness. Business/Industry: Accelecom says it completed a major Northwest Georgia fiber upgrade, boosting 100G/400G capacity along the I-75 corridor.

Veterans Mental Health: IVHSP filed a petition urging VA to fix a cross-state licensure gap that blocks community-care therapists from following mobile veterans, asking VA to amend 38 C.F.R. § 17.417 so community-care mental health providers get the same federal preemption VA-employed clinicians already have. Local Government & Schools: Toledo Public Schools kicked off community meetings for its “Transformation 2.0” plan as it closes multiple buildings and tackles a $68M deficit; Bulloch County named Torian White, PhD, as sole superintendent finalist ahead of a June 11 contract vote. Healthcare & Caregiving: Georgia Today spotlights Emory’s push to expand access to clinical trials via satellite hospitals; CMS updates keep rolling in on nursing home performance across the state. Public Safety & Infrastructure: Savannah approved “Light Up Savannah” with Georgia Power for LED upgrades and network controls, while Channel 2 raised concerns about school-zone camera tickets outside posted hours. Business & Culture: Hyatt Regency near Truist Park finished a full renovation; Getty awarded $1.8M to expand access to Black visual arts archives.

First Amendment Clash: NetChoice sued to block Nebraska’s new social media rules on age verification, parental consent, and parent “monitoring” of minors’ messages—arguing it violates free speech and minors’ access to online services. Tech & Work: HUANUO debuted its FlowLift™ Pro monitor arms at DreamHack Atlanta, pitching faster setup and smoother adjustments for gamers and creators. Local Politics: With the May 19 election near, Bulloch County voters are getting a candidate-by-candidate look at the County Commission and Board of Education races. Public Health: Georgia is among states tied to a 31-state salmonella outbreak linked to backyard poultry, with CDC reporting most cases involve contact with birds. Health Policy: A new study finds abortion bans are disrupting miscarriage medication care in states with restrictions. Georgia Industry: Gov. Kemp announced HK USA will expand in Columbus with a $13M investment and 35 new jobs. Courts Watch: The U.S. Supreme Court will consider whether federally funded school employees can sue privately under Title IX. Crypto/Markets: Bitcoin ATM operator Bitcoin Depot filed for Chapter 11 and shut down its network.

NBA Conference Finals: The playoffs are down to four teams, and the East matchup is set: Knicks vs. Cavaliers, with New York coming off a second-round sweep and Cleveland surviving a road Game 7. West Finals: The headline clash is Thunder vs. Spurs, with back-to-back MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leading OKC while Victor Wembanyama’s Spurs try to pull off a breakthrough. Public Health: CDC is escalating Ebola response after WHO declared the DRC/Uganda outbreak a public health emergency of international concern, while officials say the risk to the U.S. remains low and won’t confirm reported American exposures. Georgia Tech & Industry: Atlanta’s IPPE spotlighted MOBA’s next-gen egg processing systems built around digital traceability and connected operations. Tech/Policy: The FCC moves toward Auction 114 for new FM opportunities, with a filing freeze tied to the process.

Sports & Local Spotlight: The Braves host the Red Sox Sunday with Atlanta favored at home, while the Aces roll into Atlanta to face the undefeated Dream—Las Vegas is the pick to keep its streak going. Autonomous Vehicles: Residents in Buckhead report a surge of Waymos circling cul-de-sacs for hours, often empty, turning a “robotaxi” rollout into a neighborhood traffic headache. Public Health: The hantavirus cruise story keeps unfolding: Americans remain in quarantine with no positives reported, and a Canadian traveler has a presumptive positive result while final lab confirmation is pending. Georgia Weather & Planning: Georgia’s extended drought remains a live issue, and a practical guide on frost dates by ZIP code is trending for gardeners. Tech & Policy: The FCC’s next FM auction (Auction 114) is set for 2027, with a filing freeze starting May 11—plus a Georgia e-waste researcher is pushing safer, more scalable handling systems. Crypto & Courts: A lawsuit seeks to force Tether to move OFAC-frozen USDT tied to Iran’s IRGC, raising new questions for sanctions compliance.

Public Health Watch: Canada reported a traveler with a presumptive hantavirus positive test after leaving the MV Hondius cruise ship; the patient is stable in isolation while lab confirmation is pending. Georgia Tech & Research: Georgia Tech’s Urban Honeybee Project is spotlighting how tech can track urban habitat impacts on bee health, with honeybees actively monitored on campus rooftops. Consumer Protection: Georgia AG Chris Carr’s Consumer Protection Division says it secured $50M+ in savings and restitution in 2025, including major actions tied to predatory contracts and deceptive schemes. Data Center Politics: New Hampshire’s “Distant Dome” coverage shows states are clashing over local control versus statewide rules for data centers—an issue Georgia communities are watching closely. Local Tech Incident: Waymo robotaxis reportedly got stuck routing into an Atlanta dead-end street, prompting an apology and a fix. Nuclear Debate: An archbishop urged the NNSA to halt plutonium pit production, calling it immoral and challenging the agency’s nonproliferation claims.

FDA Shake-Up: The acting chief of the FDA’s drug center was fired days after the commissioner’s exit, keeping pressure on how the agency regulates medicines. Food Culture: A “biblical eating” trend is going mainstream online, with influencers claiming it helps everything from depression to skin—while the FDA’s broader push to clean up the food supply stays in the spotlight. Georgia Tech Buzz: Georgia Tech’s rooftops are alive with the Urban Honeybee Project, turning a sustainability lab into a real-world classroom for how cities affect pollinators. Sports & Local Talent: Georgia Southern’s women’s basketball coach Heather Macy has assembled a new 2026-27 staff, while the Braves and Red Sox keep trading blows in a tight early-series matchup. Health Watch: Hantavirus monitoring continues to shift across states as officials stress risk is still low in the U.S. Tech & Capital: Atlanta-based Silicon Road Ventures launched an India-focused agentic AI fund with an option to expand into the U.S.

Hantavirus Response Escalates: Two more people tied to the MV Hondius outbreak were moved from Emory in Atlanta to a Nebraska quarantine unit, as CDC/WHO officials stress the risk to the general public remains low and that Andes virus spreads mainly through close contact with infected rodents. Public Health Messaging: Federal leaders—including the White House and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.—are getting daily updates, while guidance highlights disinfectants and monitoring of exposed residents. Georgia Tech & Science in the Spotlight: Emory physicist Justin Burton is taking lab work to classrooms, and a new study out of Emory and Baylor is probing whether psilocybin could affect aging biology beyond the brain. Education & Community: Atlanta Public Schools earned a “District on the Rise” nod for faster math/reading recovery, while Georgia charter authorizers approved new funding and renewals. Local Life: Nicholson’s library is launching free summer meal bags for kids, no eligibility checks.

AI Security: Microsoft says its MDASH multi-modal agentic scanning harness beat Anthropic’s Mythos Preview on UC Berkeley’s CyberGym benchmark (88.4% vs 83.1%), using 100+ specialized agents to find and assess real-world vulnerabilities. Public Health: WHO updated the MV Hondius hantavirus outbreak to 10 cases (including 3 deaths) after the CDC confirmed one earlier inconclusive U.S. test was negative; CDC says 41 people are under monitoring in Nebraska and Georgia, with risk to the general public “extremely low.” Georgia Tech & Business: Airia launched “Form Review Step,” adding a human verification checkpoint for AI-extracted documents before they enter regulated systems of record. Local Life: A UGA student died after jumping from a cliff into Alabama’s Lake Martin while celebrating graduation. Policy Watch: Georgia insurance and fire safety commissioner candidates face questions on tort reform, AI use, and rate requests ahead of the May 19 Democratic primary. Environment: Georgia’s loggerhead nesting season is underway, with early nests reported on St. Catherines and Cumberland.

WNBA & NFL buzz: The WNBA schedule hits a double-header night as Arike Ogunbowale looks set to keep rolling for Dallas, with props pointing to another high-scoring game. The NFL’s 2026 slate is out too, and the early talk is all about who got the kinder start and who didn’t. Georgia Power fight: Environmental groups are pushing the Georgia Public Service Commission to force Georgia Power to share more fuel-cost burden with ratepayers, arguing the utility’s coal decisions cost customers $152 million. World Cup heat pressure: Climate scientists and World Weather Attribution warn FIFA’s heat protections are still too weak, with about a quarter of matches projected to hit dangerous conditions. DeKalb public safety: DeKalb County approved a $26.5M contract for three new fire stations, including moves in Tucker, Decatur, and Lithonia. Local crime: Police say a suspect is in custody after a fatal Beltline stabbing. Education wins: Madison County High School earned AP Honor School status, and Georgia named 316 schools statewide as AP Honor Schools for 2026. Health watch: CDC says it’s monitoring Americans exposed to the hantavirus outbreak tied to the MV Hondius, with public risk still described as low.

Medical Cannabis Expansion: Gov. Brian Kemp signed Georgia’s SB 220, widening the state’s medical marijuana program—adding new qualifying conditions like lupus and letting cardholders legally vape for faster relief, while also replacing the old 5% THC cap with a new possession limit. Public Utilities Spotlight: Ten candidates are competing for two seats on the Georgia Public Service Commission in the May 19 primary, a race that can directly shape Georgia Power decisions and customer bills. Health Watch: A daily multivitamin may help slow biological aging in older adults, according to a new clinical analysis. Tech & Policy: Georgia’s SB 540 moves the state into the chatbot-safety spotlight with disclosure, child protections, privacy controls, and crisis-response rules. Culture: The Library of Congress added major pop and music milestones—Taylor Swift’s “1989,” Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies,” and more—to the National Recording Registry. Outbreak Update: An oncologist tied to the hantavirus cruise outbreak has been cleared to leave Nebraska’s isolation unit.