AGP Executive Report

Auburn STEM Tragedy: James “Weston” Higginbotham, a 20-year-old Auburn University engineering student, was found dead in a mountainous area outside Kyoto, Japan, after going missing May 29 during a family trip; his mother said volunteers located him and Japanese authorities had traced his last confirmed area near Kyoto Station, with his phone going dark that night. Medical Oversight: The Alabama Board of Medical Examiners warned physicians about “increased interest in peptides,” stressing restrictions on non-FDA-approved peptide use and that doctors can’t route around rules via other clinicians. Sleep Tech in North Alabama: Athens-Limestone Hospital rolled out the FDA-approved Genio system, offering nerve-stimulation therapy as an alternative for moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea patients who struggle with CPAP. Obesity Drug Update (UAB): UAB researchers presented phase 2 results for petrelintide, an amylin-analog investigational obesity treatment, reporting meaningful weight loss with a milder GI side-effect profile than typical GLP-1 approaches. Space Science Moment: A total solar eclipse is set for Aug. 12, with totality visible in parts of Greenland, Iceland, Spain, and Portugal.

Space & Research: NASA’s Psyche spacecraft successfully completed a Mars flyby, using a gravity assist to boost speed and adjust its orbit on the way to the metal-rich asteroid—targeting arrival in summer 2029. STEM Health & Drugs: Roche and Zealand Pharma’s petrelintide Phase 2 results add to the case for a new once-weekly obesity/Type 2 diabetes option, showing double-digit weight loss by week 42 with low GI-related discontinuations. Alabama Education & Governance: Auburn’s Board of Trustees dissolved faculty governance and replaced it with a Presidential Academic Advisory Council, reshaping how faculty input reaches top leadership. Local STEM/Community: Gadsden received a $690,000 grant for engineering and design of a pedestrian bridge over the Coosa River, aimed at improving downtown-to-East Gadsden connectivity. Alabama STEM Pipeline: Selma High and R.B. Hudson STEAM Academy students are heading to the FBLA National Leadership Conference in San Antonio, seeking community funding for travel and registration. Defense Tech: The U.S. Army expanded attack-helicopter firepower by integrating drones with precision-guided rockets, including a test at Fort Rucker, Alabama.

AHSAA Winter Alignments: Alabama’s high school sports shake-up starts with separate postseason formats for public vs. private schools, reshuffling winter basketball and bowling matchups for Jackson County teams. Metabolic Health Research: Roche and Zealand Pharma’s investigational petrelintide (an amylin analog) posted Phase 2 ZUPREME-1 results at the ADA meeting, showing up to ~10.7% weight loss at 42 weeks with fewer GI problems than many GLP-1 experiences, and plans for Phase 3 later in 2026. Space & Astronomy: ALMA observations helped reveal a hot wind from the Milky Way’s central black hole, Sagittarius A*, using detailed cold-gas mapping and X-ray confirmation. Defense Tech Test in Alabama: The U.S. Army successfully mounted and fired APKWS precision rockets from a TRV-150 drone at Fort Rucker, expanding drone–helicopter firepower integration. Local Infrastructure: Gadsden won a $690,000 Innovate Alabama grant for engineering and design of a Coosa River pedestrian bridge. Public Safety/Health Policy: FMCSA is seeking comments on epilepsy-related medical exemptions for 11 commercial drivers, including applicants from Alabama. STEM in Industry: Austal USA added senior leaders across surface ship and submarine programs, signaling continued growth in shipbuilding capabilities. Missing Student Update (Alabama link): Auburn student Weston Higginbotham remains missing in Japan; his family is asking hikers to search beyond official zones around Kyoto’s mountains.

Auburn Student Search in Japan: James “Weston” Higginbotham, 20, vanished in Kyoto’s Yamashina area after an argument with his mother over using ChatGPT to plan their trip; police say it’s highly probable he left intentionally, but they’re still searching with dogs, helicopters, and volunteers as typhoon rains complicate the effort. Alabama SNAP Systems Upgrade: A state contract approved for a $12M quality assurance push aims to make Alabama’s SNAP and TANF eligibility systems work correctly and reduce EBT fraud, with lawmakers questioning the cost. Defense Tech Deal: Drone maker PDW Holdings agreed to buy Pittsford-based Vanteon Wireless Solutions, boosting RF engineering and software-defined radio skills for small unmanned aircraft. STEM in Mobile Schools: Mobile County Public Schools partnered with Bishop State and Spring Hill College for a JROTC STEM Leadership Academy, including hands-on training with Alabama Power and robot building. Alzheimer’s Awareness: Alabama marks National Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month, highlighting local impacts and promoting brain-healthy habits and the Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Montgomery. Commercial Construction Impact: A new Alabama study says commercial construction drives over $20B in economic activity and supports more than 223,000 jobs statewide. Peptide Safety Warning: Alabama’s medical board warns doctors to avoid non-FDA-approved peptides as social media demand grows.

College Sports Policy: A Senate hearing on the Protect College Sports Act featured major voices including former Alabama coach Nick Saban, pushing limits on transfers and eligibility and protections for women’s and Olympic sports. Public Safety in Alabama: Selma leaders held a public safety meeting after multiple shootings, with interim police chief Michael Perry calling it “a problem” and outlining plans like expanding security cameras and strengthening firearm penalties. STEM & Health Watch: Alabama’s Board of Medical Examiners warned doctors to avoid non-FDA-approved peptides as social media demand grows, while UAB researchers received a $5.3M grant to test a new strategy to prevent fentanyl overdose deaths. Manufacturing & Workforce: Northwest Shoals Community College FAME students earned national runner-up honors, and Kamtec Auto USA will bring a $9.2M Auburn manufacturing investment and about 50 jobs. Local Tech/AI Governance: Illinois named its first chief AI officer to set AI governance and standards across state government. Alabama in the World: Search efforts continue for Auburn student Weston Higginbotham missing in Japan after a typhoon complicated the hunt. Roads & Infrastructure: A national roadway condition analysis highlights that only 4.7% of Alabama’s major roads are in poor shape.

Fiber Buildout: GoNetspeed broke ground on a fully funded $4.5M, 100% fiber project in Oneonta, aiming to connect 4,800+ homes and businesses this summer—boosting education and local business connectivity. STEM in Action: UAH researchers are studying tech that could cut travel time to Mars, while Alabama students also keep stacking wins, including Foothill High’s national Mars Challenge finish (a reminder of the kind of engineering Alabama teams chase). Space & Defense: Lockheed Martin is moving ahead on America’s Next Generation Interceptor work in Alabama, expanding missile-related production capacity. Rare Earths: REalloys signed a Letter of Intent with Patriot Exploration & Mining to run metallurgical test work and validate processing for magnet metals like neodymium and dysprosium. Public Health Tech: A new push to improve women’s health includes Melinda French Gates’ $215M donation focused on menopause and midlife care. Community Science: Fresh wildlife signage along Homewood’s Shades Creek Greenway is pairing native-wildlife education with practical owl-safety steps. Local STEM/Engineering Spotlight: Auburn’s missing environmental engineering student, Weston Higginbotham, remains the urgent human story tied to the state’s STEM community.

Space & Propulsion: UAH researchers say nuclear propulsion could cut a Mars trip from ~six months to as little as two or three, boosting astronaut safety by shortening deep-space radiation exposure. STEM Education & Innovation: UAH won NASA’s 2026 Student Launch competition (plus a Social Media Award), while Auburn placed eighth—showing Alabama’s engineering talent is thriving. Healthcare Tech: Tanner Health in Alabama is rolling out a bilingual AI voice assistant to reduce call-center hold times and streamline scheduling and prescription requests. Public Safety & Infrastructure: Phenix City is replacing aging water meters with an Advanced Metering Infrastructure system, investing $7.5M to improve automated reads and utility efficiency. Biotech/Medicine: A Huntsville-area family is pursuing an FDA-fast-tracked experimental antifungal drug for a 2-year-old with leukemia and a life-threatening fungal infection. College Sports Policy: Nick Saban and Notre Dame’s Pete Bevacqua testified for the Protect College Sports Act, aiming to rein in NIL and transfer-portal chaos with a national rulebook. STEM Workforce/Defense Industry: Anniston Army Depot unveiled a new $44M combat vehicle welding facility with modernized, climate-controlled production upgrades. Legal/Research Integrity: DOJ expanded its case against the Southern Poverty Law Center, alleging $4.1M in tax-exempt funds secretly paid informants tied to extremist groups. Missing Student (Alabama STEM community): Auburn biosystems engineering student James “Weston” Higginbotham remains missing in Kyoto, Japan, as Alabama and federal partners continue the search.

Energy Infrastructure: PowerSouth Energy Cooperative is expanding its Lowman Energy Center in Leroy, adding a second advanced-class Mitsubishi Power M501JAC gas turbine with a 25-year service agreement, plus EPC support from Burns & McDonnell—aimed at meeting rising demand tied to electrification, reshoring, and AI. STEM & Education Leadership: UF is holding forums with presidential finalist Stuart R. Bell, a former UA president and engineering professor, as the university nears its next president selection. Public Safety & Health: A $5M federal earmark is secured for engineering and environmental studies for the Haleyville I-22 connector (ALDOT work expected to take about a year). Broadband Expansion: Kinetic says it has surpassed 2 million fiber premises passed across its 18-state footprint after scaling construction teams and partnerships. Community Tech/Training: Sanders Flight Training temporarily relocates planes from Walker County Airport-Bevill Field to Hamilton while the runway is resurfaced. Local STEM Community: Auburn student James “Weston” Higginbotham remains missing in Japan; police are using surveillance and search efforts continue amid storm conditions.

Space & Defense Research: Alabama A&M hosted U.S. Space Command officials for a strategic briefing tied to Redstone Arsenal, spotlighting Dr. Kaveh Heidary’s AI/ML work for sensing, target tracking, and signal classification. Engineering Education: AAMU civil engineering students won first place in the ASCE Gulf Coast “Mystery Competition,” designing an egg-shielding structure under tight time and material limits. STEM Workforce & Training: University of North Alabama teacher candidates posted a 100% first-time edTPA pass rate for 2025–2026. Forestry Threat: Auburn researchers say brown spot needle blight is spreading across Alabama pine forests, with drones and advanced imaging helping detect it with high accuracy. Public Health: UAB pediatric hospitalist Dr. Meghan Hofto reports rising rotavirus and pertussis cases tied to lower vaccination uptake. Marine Science: A University of South Alabama-led “Greater Amberjack Count” project used underwater video and acoustic surveys to refine abundance estimates. Community CPR Push: Birmingham’s Sudden Cardiac Arrest Task Force is urging higher bystander CPR rates ahead of CPR & AED Awareness Week. AI in Real Life: Oklahoma’s Supreme Court reprimanded lawyers over ChatGPT “hallucinations,” echoing Alabama judge sanctions for unverified AI-generated filings. Food Transparency: Genetic shrimp testing finds mixed results across Gulf markets, with some restaurants mislabeling imported shrimp as American wild-caught.

Defense Manufacturing: L3Harris is investing $25M to expand solid rocket motor production in Huntsville, adding 130,000 sq. ft. and hiring for engineering, manufacturing, and skilled trades. Missile Defense: Lockheed Martin opened a new 88,000 sq. ft. Next Generation Interceptor facility in Courtland, using digital manufacturing and “digital twin” methods to speed production for the Missile Defense Agency. Cybersecurity & Biometrics: BIO-key partnered with BlueAlly to deploy phishing-resistant, identity-bound biometric access for AOD Federal Credit Union in Alabama. STEM in Schools: University of Alabama students helped build a power-washing drone for a Tuscaloosa maintenance company, aiming to make high-reach cleaning safer and faster. Space Education: Student teams tested Earth rovers for NASA’s Human Exploration Rover Challenge, with the final event in Huntsville. Health Tech: Alabama football is set to be the first customer for “Heat Sense,” a tracker that measures core body temperature to manage heat strain. Environment: Gulf Coast beaches, including Alabama, are seeing heavy sargassum seaweed washups, and researchers expect it to worsen through summer. Policy & Courts: A federal judge upheld Alabama’s nitrogen hypoxia execution protocol as constitutional.

Data Centers & Public Power: Alabama’s election map fight is heating up as election officials warn the state’s emergency push could force last-minute voter reassignment, raising the risk of wrong ballots and confusion. STEM Infrastructure & Defense Manufacturing: Lockheed Martin opened Missile Assembly Building 5 in Courtland, an 88,000-square-foot, digital-twin-driven facility built to produce the Next Generation Interceptor for layered homeland defense. Space Tech & Health: A new space-laundry experiment tests water-free cleaning in microgravity using supercharged plasma jets—aimed at reducing microbes on missions to the moon and Mars. AI, Jobs, and Politics: Labor unions are pushing back against data-center restrictions nationwide, arguing the boom brings good-paying construction work tied to AI infrastructure. Education Tech in Rural Alabama: Uniontown’s “Connected Rural Classroom” uses a digital stage to bring remote instruction to students, targeting gaps in robotics, video production, and advanced coursework. Air Force Training Update: The Air Force restarted T-38 Talon flights after a safety pause following a crash investigation. Local Industry Spotlight: Kaishan USA’s portable electric compressor won Plant Engineering’s 2026 MVP award.

Manufacturing & Jobs: Pencco opened a new $20M water/wastewater and corrosion-control facility in Gadsden, aiming to expand capabilities and create 40 jobs. Engineering & Growth: ISG acquired R.E. Warner & Associates, a Birmingham-area engineering firm with 75 years of legacy, boosting ISG’s power and industrial capacity across more states. Health Tech & Policy: The Medical Association of the State of Alabama named Evans Brown as its new director of government relations and public affairs, strengthening legislative strategy for physicians. Medical Safety: Alabama’s medical board warned clinicians against prescribing “research-grade” peptides, stressing they’re not FDA-approved and may carry safety and oversight gaps. Space & Local Industry: NASA detailed Moon Base plans, with Huntsville and Blue Origin expected to play key roles in lunar rovers and cargo delivery missions. STEM Skills Pipeline: A Huntsville win helped Washtenaw Community College student Mikala Sposito earn a spot as the first U.S. woman in welding at WorldSkills in China. Data & Security Tech: Uniti Group announced a second fiber-network notes offering tied to assets in Alabama and other states, signaling continued broadband infrastructure investment. Community STEM Events: Huntsville-area JROTC cadets in Georgia and Alabama are running a leadership challenge with robotics, drones, and medical training tracks. Public Safety Tech: Foley is planning a new north-side fire station to keep pace with growth and improve response access to major highways.

Moon Base Update: NASA detailed a new wave of lunar infrastructure missions, including robotic rovers and cargo landers, with Huntsville and Blue Origin expected to play key roles as Artemis shifts toward lasting Moon operations. Health Tech Expansion: Signos secured $20M to expand continuous glucose monitoring beyond diabetes into weight loss and metabolic coaching, using Dexcom’s Stelo sensor plus app-driven insights. STEM in Training: A Muscogee County School District JROTC camp (serving cadets from Georgia and Alabama) added robotics, drones, and medical science tracks alongside leadership and navigation drills. Public Safety Planning: Foley moved forward on plans for a new fourth fire station on East Fern Avenue, aiming to keep response times strong as the city grows. Marine Education: Gulf State Park’s Shark Fest returns June 25–27 with live shark dissections, expert talks, and hands-on exhibits for families. Space Science Buzz: A meteor explosion off Massachusetts was reported as a loud boom, with NASA estimating the breakup energy at about 300 tons of TNT. Local Governance Tech: Gulf Shores is considering changes to beach parking rules, shifting toward hourly paid parking using ParkMobile to improve turnover and reduce overnight parking.

UAB Research: A new UAB study in Nature finds pregnant women in the U.S. have worse cardiovascular health than non-pregnant peers, with the biggest gaps tied to lower activity, cholesterol differences, and higher body mass index. Public Health Data: The federal ALS Registry released first state-level incidence estimates (2012–2019), putting Alabama at 1.19 new cases per 100,000—useful for local planning. Marine Science & Community: Gulf State Park’s Shark Fest returns June 25–27 with hands-on marine learning, including live shark dissections and a stingray touch tank. STEM in Action: UAB School of Dentistry helped the Birmingham Zoo create a custom prosthetic beak for a green aracari bird, restoring eating and normal behavior. Space & Engineering Curiosity: A look at whether solar sails could realistically push humans toward the edge of the solar system within decades. Local Tech/Economy: Diversified Energy’s new sustainability report highlights its environmental and community efforts alongside major regional employment.

STEM Jobs & Manufacturing: Korea-based DUCK IL USA plans a roughly $21M expansion in Auburn, adding a clean-room process for automotive electronics components and creating about 21 jobs. Health Research in Alabama: UAB researchers published in Nature that pregnant women have worse cardiovascular health than non-pregnant peers, with the biggest gaps tied to lower activity, cholesterol differences, and higher BMI. AI & Local Land-Use Fight: Oxmoor Valley neighbors expanded their lawsuit over a Nebius AI data center, alleging a rapid land “flip” to inflate costs and challenging how Birmingham handled permits. Engineering Education: Birmingham engineering students were recognized by the Birmingham chapter of The Links and the Society of Women Engineers, spotlighting girls’ participation in robotics, science competitions, and mentorship. Agriculture Biosecurity: A UF/IFAS survey found growing regional concern about pests, animal-borne disease, and food-chain disruptions, with strong support for tougher protections. Workforce Pathways: A grant-funded K-12 medical assistant pathway in the Milwaukee area is graduating students with hospital-based experience and a certificate—an example of the kind of job-linked STEM/health training Alabama schools can emulate. Defense Tech at Fort Rucker: The U.S. Army and industry demonstrated the TRV-150 cargo drone firing APKWS laser-guided rockets, pointing to more precision-strike capability at the tactical edge.

AI in Healthcare: Tanner Health (west Georgia/east Alabama) went live with Hyro’s bilingual AI voice assistant “Clara” to cut call center hold times and handle tasks like scheduling and prescription management. STEM Leadership in Schools: Adriana Skutchan, a science educator and administrator, is recommended as principal of Holly Pond High School, with doctoral work focused on sustainable STEM in rural settings. Public Health Research: UAB researchers published in Nature that pregnant women in the U.S. have worse cardiovascular health than non-pregnant peers, driven largely by lower activity, cholesterol differences, and higher BMI. Defense Tech at Fort Rucker: The U.S. Army and industry partners tested the TRV-150 cargo drone armed with a three-shot APKWS laser-guided rocket launcher, aiming to bring precision-strike capability to battalion-level units. AI Data Center Fight in Birmingham: Oxmoor Valley residents expanded their lawsuit over a Nebius AI “factory,” alleging land-flip transactions inflated costs and that permitting was mishandled. STEM Community Events: Registration is open for the 2026 ARRL National Convention in Huntsville (Aug. 21–23), with training tracks and a dinner under a Saturn V at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center. STEM Workforce & Tech Growth: Octave Intelligence (Hexagon spin-off) debuted on Nasdaq as a gov-tech supplier, signaling plans for public-sector growth.