AGP Executive Report

AI Data Centers & Politics: A new report says grassroots opponents blocked or delayed at least 75 AI data center projects worth about $130B in early 2026, with opposition groups more than doubling to 833 across 49 states—fueling a growing fight over local costs and quality of life. Maryland Tech & Education: The Maryland Science Center marks its 50th anniversary with discounted admission, hands-on activities, and a new plaza kickoff. STEM in the Classroom: Buddy Taylor Middle School’s underwater robotics teams earned top-10 finishes at the International SeaPerch Challenge, including a first-ever top-10 for the school. Public Sector Tech: Arlington schools are rolling out a GPS bus tracking app partnership with Transfinder after complaints about delayed routing updates. Health & Security: Maryland-based troops supported an FBI-led nuclear forensics readiness exercise, training to collect simulated radioactive fallout for follow-on analysis. Biotech/Clinical Research: Suven Life Sciences announced three poster presentations at SLEEP-2026 in Baltimore for its narcolepsy drug Samelisant. Workforce & Governance: AFSCME is urging University System of Maryland leaders to rescind layoffs at UMD College Park and Bowie State.

Cyber Defense: Maryland National Guard cyber teams joined Croatia and other U.S. state partners for CACE 2026, a major regional exercise focused on sharing tactics and building joint defensive plans. Sleep & Biotech: Suven Life Sciences will present three posters on Samelisant (SUVN-G3031) at SLEEP-2026 in Baltimore, including Phase 2 results for excessive daytime sleepiness and Phase 3 narcolepsy strategy. Cancer Immunotherapy: UM School of Medicine researchers report a target that could improve CAR T-cell therapy response by blocking a protein that makes engineered cells less effective. Space & Maryland Ties: NASA named Artemis III mission specialists with Maryland connections, including Andre Douglas (former Johns Hopkins APL engineer) and Frank Rubio (USU alumnus in Bethesda). Energy Reliability: DOE issued a southeast grid emergency order as extreme heat drives higher AC demand, aiming to prevent blackouts in the Carolinas. University Labor: Unionized workers protested University System of Maryland layoffs at the Board of Regents meeting, arguing funding and contract commitments don’t match the cuts. Wildlife Recovery: River otters are rebounding across the Chesapeake Bay region, including urban waterways like Baltimore’s Inner Harbor and the Elizabeth and Anacostia rivers. Personalized Pricing: Maryland’s Protection From Predatory Pricing Act takes effect Oct. 1, 2026, joining other states moving to curb surveillance-driven price manipulation.

Artemis III, Maryland ties: NASA named Andre Douglas and Frank Rubio as mission specialists for Artemis III, with Douglas a former Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory engineer and Rubio a Bethesda-area medical alumnus—plus Luca Parmitano and Randy Bresnik rounding out a crew that will practice Orion docking in Earth orbit. Defense tech in Southern Maryland: The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and Space Force teamed up to expand satellite tracking and testing at Blossom Point Tracking Facility in Welcome, Md., boosting multiband communications and long-duration monitoring. Power grid materials breakthrough: Wood-based nanotechnology is being used to set a new record for transformer insulation, aiming to extend the life of aging U.S. transformers and reduce costly failures. AI in schools, policy catch-up: Maryland is moving to standardize AI use in K-12, with new requirements for AI coordinators, teacher training, and student AI literacy. Privacy and surveillance pricing fight: A lawsuit targets the Washington Post over “surveillance pricing” that allegedly uses personal data to set subscription costs. Local education leadership: Baltimore County Public Schools narrowed its superintendent search to four finalists. Space/tech workforce spotlight: Morgan State students won a national AI innovation title with a privacy-first app for students managing social anxiety. Science outreach via media: CBS Stations is rolling out AR/VR for America 250, including a new immersive studio at CBS Baltimore.

Medicaid Work Rules: CMS has released final regulations requiring many Medicaid enrollees to prove they’re working, training, volunteering, or in education—states now have to rebuild IT systems and avoid coverage losses as the Jan. 1, 2027 rollout approaches. AI + Cyber Risk: University of Maryland and Sandia researchers argue “AI sovereignty” depends on physical resources like chips, power, and water—making data centers strategic targets for cyber operations. Data Center Cost Pressure: A New Jersey homeowner says her bill rose even as usage fell, pointing to AI data-center demand and PJM power-market price spikes. Tech + Health in Maryland: UM School of Medicine and UMMC named emergency medicine leader Michael E. Winters as department chair and chief clinical services. Sleep Science: Suven Life Sciences will present Phase 3 narcolepsy work at SLEEP-2026 in Baltimore. Space Science: NASA’s Parker Solar Probe completed its 28th close solar pass, with Johns Hopkins APL in Laurel supporting operations. Maryland Water Stress: State drought advisories remain in effect despite late-May rain, with groundwater recharge still lagging. Local Tech/Policy: Harford County enacted a first-in-Maryland ban on data centers after council approval.

Education Budget Crunch in Worcester County: The Worcester County Board of Education cut about $2.88M from its FY27 plan after commissioners reduced funding by roughly $2.8M, trimming items like instructional materials, student behavioral supports, technology refreshes (including iMac replacements), dual-enrollment credits, and summer/after-school spending. AI in Schools, Maryland’s Patchwork: A new report highlights uneven K-12 AI rules across districts, with lawmakers pushing for clearer guidance, AI coordinators, and teacher training after concerns that educators are left to “navigate” AI on their own. Data Centers Hit Maryland Politics: Harford County became the first Maryland jurisdiction to ban data centers, citing energy demand, noise, water use, and environmental impacts—while other areas weigh moratoriums. State Tech & Climate Moves: Gov. Wes Moore announced $31.5M for Chesapeake Bay restoration projects to cut nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment, and Maryland reduced the EV charger registration fee to $75 per port. Health & Research: A long-term study finds Ebola survivors can face neurological problems for years, and another analysis links excessive daytime sleepiness (and slow sleep onset) to higher hypertension risk.

Maryland AI Governance: Gov. Wes Moore named Michael Boyce as Senior Advisor for Responsible AI, tasked with guiding state deployment and coordinating with agencies, the General Assembly, academia, civil society, and industry. Defense & Aerospace: Lockheed Martin won a $154M Pentagon F-35 production contract for 11 jets, with work including Baltimore, Maryland. Health Tech in Maryland: UMSOM received a $1M state grant to build a Center for Combat Casualty Care at Shock Trauma, including a SCIF for R&D and training. Digital Advertising Policy: Pennsylvania’s House passed a digital advertising tax that would expand its gross receipts tax to cover platform ad sales by major tech firms. Data Centers & Power Strain: A national grid watchdog warned data center growth is stressing the power system, with shortages possible in constrained regions. Wearables for Epilepsy: A Johns Hopkins-led study reported an Apple Watch seizure-monitoring app (EpiWatch) detected tonic-clonic seizures with high sensitivity and a low false-alarm rate. Space Science: NASA announced Johns Hopkins graduate Andre Douglas as a mission specialist for Artemis III. STEM Discovery: Scientists reported a vast, million-year-old whale graveyard in the Indian Ocean teeming with deep-sea life. Early Childhood Screening Software: Kaymbu and Brookes Publishing partnered to digitize ASQ-3 and ASQ:SE-2 developmental screeners for educators and families. Dental Innovation: Canberra startup Dentroid raised $32M for needle-free dental tech and partnered with Septodont for global commercialization.

Space & Health Research: NASA named Santa Monica native Randy Bresnik commander of Artemis III, a 2027 lunar test mission aimed at proving docking and rendezvous for future crewed landings. Deep-Sea Science: Scientists reported a massive whale “graveyard” in the Indian Ocean that’s been feeding deep-sea life for millions of years, including jellyfish and tubeworms, with bones dating back 5.3 million years. Maryland Public Health: New findings link low blood pressure and other cardiovascular conditions to higher Alzheimer’s risk, while Maryland’s dementia rates remain the highest in the U.S. and researchers still can’t pin down why. Maternal Sleep: A study found pregnant women’s expectations about postpartum sleep predict later insomnia more strongly than prior sleep or psychiatric history. Local Tech & Policy: Calvert County commissioners moved toward a potential data center moratorium process after public pressure and a petition with 7,000+ signatures. Education & Tech Governance: Baltimore County delayed a charter school opening after issues during the launch process, including rent problems and eviction. Energy Grid: PJM’s congestion costs hit $1B in a month, underscoring how transmission bottlenecks are driving higher electricity prices.

Data Centers & Power Strain: Frederick County residents fear a “data center alley” future as hyperscale projects expand; a referendum push is forming after the county widened its data center zone. AI in Regulated Work: A legal/compliance alert warns Maryland-area RIAs that AI call transcription and summaries can trigger wiretapping, privacy, and SEC recordkeeping risks. Healthcare Tech & Diagnostics: Johns Hopkins researchers report a machine learning model that filters noise in liquid biopsy results, helping clinicians better match therapies to tumors. Public Safety Tech & Infrastructure: Baltimore’s Patapsco Wastewater Treatment Plant faced an explosion and prior inspections flagged potentially explosive chemicals in sludge—raising worker safety and environmental concerns. Energy Policy: A federal court vacated IRS Notice 2025-42, restoring a “five percent safe harbor” for wind/solar “beginning of construction,” just ahead of a key July 4 deadline. Local Governance & Elections: Maryland election officials approved protocols to void original mail-in ballots when replacement ballots are issued, aiming to reduce confusion after vendor mix-ups. Community & Education: Maryland Science Center plans 50th anniversary plaza renovations, while a new Montessori preschool meeting draws local interest.

Clinical Breakthrough: The American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology unveiled the first guideline for cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome, flagging excess weight—especially abdominal fat—as a key driver and urging earlier prevention-focused conversations. Maryland Research & Biotech: REPROCELL won a Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund commercialization award to build clinical-grade hypoimmune iPSC seed stocks, using StemRNA™ reprogramming plus AI-designed CRISPR editing and a modular “landing pad” platform. Public Health Innovation: A first-in-human LASSARAB trial reported promising results for an experimental vaccine targeting Lassa fever and rabies in one formulation, showing strong immune responses in healthy adults. Space & Science Legacy: Morgan State University received a $235,000 Getty Foundation grant to preserve and digitize Black visual arts archives, expanding access to key institutional records. Local Tech/Industry: Hughes Network Systems said it’s keeping a flexible inflight connectivity approach, with electronically steerable antennas built in Germantown and growing shipments for satellite-based services. Maryland Safety: UMBC evacuated a chemistry building after a chemical spill during routine research, with the spill contained and no injuries reported. Policy Watch: Connecticut and New York moved to restrict retailers from using personally identifiable data for dynamic pricing, following Maryland’s earlier ban on surveillance-driven price spikes.

H-1B Legal Win: A federal judge struck down Trump’s $100,000 H-1B application fee as an unlawful tax, a boost for U.S. employers in tech, engineering, healthcare, and other skilled fields. Public Health & Care Access: Maryland families are getting faster answers for hidden seizures thanks to bedside rapid EEG tech at LifeBridge Health, while national reporting highlights how irregular sleep can hurt preschool brain power. Energy & Climate Resilience: Grid planners are shifting extreme heat from a “tail risk” to a design baseline as drought, demand growth, and fuel concerns pile up. Local Tech/Innovation in Maryland: College Park’s FY27 budget adds more paid student internships, and the Y in Central Maryland expands youth programs aimed at reducing screen-driven isolation. Environment Watch: Maryland lawmakers are pressing for clarity after a jet fuel leak into Piscataway Creek at Joint Base Andrews, with questions about delays and spill scope. Agriculture Threat: New World screwworm has returned to the U.S., prompting extra precautions for cattle producers.

Immigration & Tech Workforce: A federal judge in Massachusetts struck down the Trump administration’s proposed $100,000 H-1B visa fee, calling it an unlawful tax—an immediate win for U.S. employers that rely on skilled foreign talent. Maryland Innovation Funding: Gov. Wes Moore announced nearly $7M in “Build Our Future” grants to back innovation infrastructure across areas like AI, biotech, cybersecurity, quantum, and sensors/robotics. Health & Regulation: The FDA’s move to remove a boxed warning from menopausal hormone therapy is prompting renewed focus on how estrogen loss affects aging skin. Public Health in Maryland: A new report finds Maryland suicide deaths rose 4% from 2023 to 2024 even as national suicide deaths fell. Cyber & Defense Industry: Quantum Space agreed to go public via a SPAC, aiming to fund its autonomous spacecraft plans for government and commercial users. Local Tech/IT Business: Jeskell Systems landed on CRN’s 2026 Solution Provider 500 list, highlighting enterprise data infrastructure and cyber resilience. Environment & Water: Maryland and regional regulators are pushing more attention to microplastics in drinking water, with calls for added monitoring. Space/Defense Events: Southern Maryland’s drone-focused symposium is set to bring government, industry, and academia together on autonomous systems and national security.

Medical Tech & Public Health: A Maryland anesthesiology doctor says some people feel sleepy after energy drinks because caffeine blocks sleep pressure chemicals like adenosine, not because the drink provides “real energy.” Clinical Innovation: A Baltimore-area engineer is the first participant in a mixed-reality operating room clinical trial, testing whether Apple Vision Pro-style tech can be used safely in surgery. Environment & Policy: In Columbia, Maryland, a homeowner-native-plant fight with an HOA escalated after the HOA demanded a return to turf grass, highlighting how local rules can undermine pollinator habitat. Food Systems: U.S. honey production is struggling as colony losses rise, with varroa mites and pesticide resistance cited as major drivers. Space Science: Astronomers using ESA’s Euclid and NASA’s Hubble found a surprising gap in red dwarf stars inside an ancient globular cluster, led by researchers at STScI in Baltimore. Local Research & Heritage: Researchers say they’ve likely identified remains tied to Maryland’s second governor using genetic matching, adding new detail to early colonial history. Defense Tech: Teledyne FLIR Defense won an $11.2M U.S. Army contract for drone kits to detect chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats.

Quantum Workforce in Southern Maryland: College of Southern Maryland convened a regional forum to map training pathways for quantum careers, positioning the area to plug into Maryland’s growing quantum research and talent pipeline. Defense Tech for CBRN Threats: Teledyne FLIR Defense won an $11.2M U.S. Army contract for unmanned drone kits to detect and map chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear hazards. Local Connectivity: St. Mary’s County set a July 14 public hearing on a Verizon nonexclusive cable franchise, using existing fiber-to-the-premises infrastructure. Astronomy from Baltimore-Led Research: Scientists using Euclid and Hubble spotted a surprising gap in an ancient globular cluster’s red dwarfs, with STScI in Baltimore leading the work. Food Safety Policy: A California bill would require baby formula companies to disclose heavy-metal levels per batch online via QR codes—an approach that could influence broader infant safety standards. Public Health & Tech Access: A disability-access lawsuit wave highlights ongoing pressure on websites to meet accessibility rules. Weather Disruptions: Severe storms triggered ground stops at major airports and knocked out power in parts of Maryland.

Defense Tech Safety: Shield AI’s V-BAT drone is back in the spotlight after a Romanian navy official suffered finger injuries when a propeller caught her during a May training exercise, adding to a Reuters report of frequent crashes and long-running safety complaints. Maryland Food Security: A federal judge temporarily blocked USDA rules that would force states to follow Trump administration positions to keep billions in SNAP funding, a move that could affect nutrition support and agricultural research. Local Hunger Relief: Prince George’s County is installing a free grocery store inside the Fairmount Heights Library to help families hit by inflation and SNAP cuts. Public Safety Tech: A Maryland city council is set to vote on a $25,000 nighttime drone contract for police surveillance. Health Guidance: The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine reaffirmed acetaminophen (Tylenol) as first-line for pain and fever during pregnancy. STEM & Robotics: The International SeaPerch Challenge at UM College Park featured top-performing teams from Arkansas 4-H, highlighting hands-on engineering education. Weather Disruption: Ground stops hit major airports as thunderstorms knocked out power, including in Maryland.

Sleep & Health: New research links feeling older than your age with worse sleep quality, including more insomnia symptoms and less consistent sleep timing. Nutrition Policy: The House advanced a bill that would cut $200M from WIC for fiscal year 2027, reducing fruit and vegetable benefits for millions of pregnant women and young children amid rising grocery prices. Public Health & Privacy: RFK Jr. is seeking federal access to Americans’ identifiable medical records from state health systems to study vaccine-autism claims, drawing privacy and legality concerns; meanwhile, new maternal-fetal guidance reaffirms Tylenol (acetaminophen) as first-line for pain and fever during pregnancy. Maryland Governance: Gov. Wes Moore created a 12-month immigrant-rights task force to address scams targeting immigrants, though analysts call it largely symbolic. Local Tech & Security: A Maryland-based company is set to supply a nighttime police drone contract in Methuen, as local agencies expand aerial surveillance. AI & Society: Commentary highlights “AI deathbots” and the growing use of convincing digital replicas for spiritual-style grieving. Energy & Climate: Maryland’s energy affordability push includes grid and solar reforms, but critics say efficiency funding may be weakened.

Energy Policy: Maryland Gov. Wes Moore created a 12-month Immigrant Rights Protection Task Force to study scams targeting immigrants, though analysts say it’s largely symbolic. Grid & Efficiency: Ceres praised Moore’s new energy affordability law for grid upgrades and solar streamlining, but warned Maryland’s EmPOWER energy-efficiency cuts could raise long-term costs. Data Centers & Power Costs: U.S. Sen. Mark Warner is pushing the “Power for the People Act” to stop data centers from driving up consumer energy bills and straining reliability. AI Governance (Federal): At AFCEA TechNet Cyber in Baltimore, CISA outlined a wave of AI cybersecurity directives after a new executive order, while defense leaders said cyber is now core to military operations. Health Tech Partnership: WellSpan Health and Philips announced a seven-year alliance to advance AI-enabled imaging and diagnostics, with joint research and co-development. Environment & Water: Days Cove Reclamation ended its “trash juice” leachate releases into the Gunpowder River by canceling its discharge permit. STEM/Workforce: Maryland’s new AI Innovation Lab and K-12 AI guidance/training are rolling out as schools adopt the state’s updated rules.