AGP Executive Report

Space & Research: NASA says Artemis II commander Reid Wiseman and pilot Victor Glover are retiring from active spaceflight, shifting to emeritus roles to mentor future lunar missions. Digital Banking: Alkami reports nearly 1 in 3 consumers switched providers after a bad digital experience, underscoring how fast AI-driven expectations are changing loyalty. Texas Biotech Leadership: ImmunoGenesis adds Reza Mazhari and Mike Davis to its board as it moves through early clinical development. AI in Texas Education: UT Dallas launches a College of AI and Advanced Analytics after a $20M donation, aiming to train students to build, govern, and apply AI responsibly. Cyber & Privacy: Texas communities are pushing back on license plate reader and Flock-style surveillance, with multiple local actions and state scrutiny tied to privacy concerns. Housing Tech & Supply: A new look at factory-built housing argues affordability pressure is finally pulling demand through, with supply following. Energy & Defense Markets: Reports highlight rising uranium and hypersonics demand, while tungsten supply faces new U.S. defense procurement constraints. Local Industry Impact: Keystone Tower Systems will close its Pampa facility and lay off 79 workers.

Biotech Manufacturing: BrYet says Italy’s AIFA approved a first-in-kind cGMP manufacturing line for its ML-016 cancer therapy, clearing the way to ship clinical supply to Australia for an approved trial. Local Tech & Privacy: Manvel voted 6-0 to defund Flock safety cameras and direct staff to cover cameras within 24–48 hours, joining other Texas cities pushing back on automated license plate reader tech. Public Safety Policy: Bastrop City Council voted to terminate its Flock contract and block future automatic license plate reader deals. Energy & Markets: Oil surged toward $100 a barrel as Iran-Jordan and wider Middle East tensions stoked supply fears, weighing on stocks and inflation expectations. Space: SpaceX says Starship 40’s return to Boca Chica will take months longer than expected after a complex recovery from the Indian Ocean. Health Research: UT MD Anderson reports psilocybin prevented chemotherapy nerve damage in mice, and also highlighted a blood test path for medullary thyroid cancer bone metastasis via OPG/RET signaling. Education: Texas A&M warned micromobility scooters/e-bikes could be banned if campus crashes don’t fall; meanwhile, Katy ISD celebrated 330 AP Capstone Diploma recipients. Local Government: Harris County advanced a proposed property tax rate hike with a Sept. 17 hearing.

Patent & Startup Support: Austin-based Mousilli Legal Group is marketing patent attorney help for tech inventors, pointing to a still-slow USPTO first-action pace. Chipmaking & AI Infrastructure: Qualcomm shares jumped after an Amazon Web Services deal that includes warrants for 25M shares and potential up to $60B in server-chip orders, aiming to support Amazon’s AI silicon needs. Biotech & Supply Chain: Quva acquired essential 503B sterile compounding products from CAPS as CAPS exits the business, with Texas and New Jersey manufacturing and phased launches planned. Cybersecurity Funding Cuts: CISA is rolling back critical-infrastructure cyber assessment services amid budget and staffing strain, replacing them with a self-service questionnaire. Border Tech: The U.S. says Mexican drone sightings at the Texas border fell 75% after a laser rollout. AI Education in Houston: The Mark Cuban Foundation and Perficient are running a free AI bootcamp for Houston teens with hands-on generative AI and a capstone. Texas Social Media Law Fight: AG Ken Paxton is asking the 5th Circuit to revisit a ruling blocking Texas’ “harmful” content screening requirements for minors. Construction Drones: Bechtel and Cyberhawk expanded drone-based construction monitoring collaboration using iHawk for faster jobsite intelligence. Data Centers Connectivity: Uniti Wholesale added network presence in McAllen, Texas to boost US-Mexico and Southwest data center connectivity.

AI & Local Politics: A new NBC News Decision Desk poll finds AI data centers are a rare issue that unites voters across party lines, with 69% opposing new local builds and 70% more worried than excited. Education Tech: Northside ISD is rolling out “ChatGPT for Teachers,” giving educators access as an optional productivity tool with privacy and security guardrails. Energy Infrastructure: JLL says AI data center growth is colliding with slow grid connection queues, turning power access into a valuation issue as hyperscalers ramp up major 2026 spending. Texas Transportation Safety: San Antonio activated button-activated pedestrian hybrid beacons along Pleasanton Road after crash concerns, aiming to protect walkers, wheelchair users, and seniors. Biotech/Health Tech: BASF’s trinamiX subsidiary sued Apple over alleged Face ID patent infringement, arguing its skin-detection tech can block spoofing attempts. Oil Markets: Crude prices climbed as Iran-US tensions raised supply disruption risk, with Brent near $97 and WTI around $93.

AI & Business: Intake tools that use AI to answer leads fast are helping law firms compete without 24/7 staffing, turning “first contact” into a measurable advantage. Defense Tech: The U.S. Army awarded AeroVironment a first production contract for high-energy laser systems to counter drones, with “dozens” of LOCUST X3 units planned. Autonomous Vehicles in Texas: Tesla’s robotaxi testing in Austin drew scrutiny after a vehicle stopped for bollards, then drove through and hit them—another reminder that real-world edge cases still matter. Public Safety & Surveillance: Texas leaders are weighing the fallout from Flock camera use, as Harris County and other areas debate privacy, oversight, and enforcement. Biosecurity: The U.S. released its billionth sterile screwworm fly into Texas as part of the New World screwworm fight, after recent cases raised alarms. STEM & Education: New federal data show graduation gaps persist in Texas counties, including Harris County’s 62.6% six-year bachelor’s completion rate for white students.

AI Safety & Cybersecurity: OpenAI’s GPT-6 Astra hit a “Critical” risk tier after Texas Stargate testing, with claims it can autonomously find and exploit new vulnerabilities—prompting tighter internal containment before wider access. Texas Data Centers: A proposed 1,600-acre AI data center near Bloomington is drawing community pushback over power needs and local impacts, while Temple College touts Meta grants for AI training and an innovation lab tied to the robot-tech job pipeline. Surveillance Oversight: Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo is pressing for more transparency and a pause on Flock Safety license-plate reader use amid privacy and data-sharing concerns. Public Health in Poultry: Texas A&M is testing far-UVC light to curb airborne avian flu pathogens in commercial poultry houses. Healthcare Costs: A new survey finds most U.S. providers pushing prepayment, raising sticker shock and delaying care. Space/Power Risk: Researchers model how a rare Carrington-level solar storm could trigger widespread grid failures and major daily economic losses.

Cybercab Scrutiny: The U.S. safety regulator opened an audit of about 1,000 Tesla Cybercab robotaxis right after paid rides began in Austin, testing how the steering-wheel-free cars meet federal rules. Surveillance Backlash: A new roundup highlights how drone tariffs could raise costs for local police units, while another report ties modern surveillance tools to growing public pushback—especially around Flock cameras in North Texas. AI & Data Centers in the Spotlight: Coverage argues electricity prices are rising fastest where demand fell, challenging the idea that data centers alone explain the jump, as communities weigh the grid and water strain from the AI buildout. Texas Education Metrics: New federal stats show UT Dallas’s Black student bachelor’s completion rate at 72.3% and Hidalgo County’s Hispanic/Latino rate at 50.1%, underscoring uneven outcomes across metro areas. STEM for Kids: A student-made card game, Tumor Tactics, is helping teach cancer biology through play, reaching hundreds via workshops and events.

Autonomous Vehicles & Safety: Tesla is rolling out its steering-wheel-free Cybercab robotaxi from its Texas Gigafactory, with China plans to showcase the tech even as regulators open probes into safety and early incidents. Military Energy Efficiency: Fort Sill is installing geothermal heat pumps in 1,700+ family homes, aiming for major energy cuts and millions in annual savings. Public Safety Tech & Privacy: Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo is pushing for a public fight over Flock ALPR cameras, citing privacy gaps and oversight concerns after contract renewal. AI & Infrastructure: Researchers report an AI model that estimates heavy truck weights using existing traffic records—helping manage roads without expensive weigh-in sensors. Texas Data Center Backlash: A new Texas Tribune/Pulitzer Center report argues the state’s data center boom is outpacing accountability, with communities and voters increasingly pushing back. STEM in the Field: Texas County crews used drones to get ahead of a fast wildfire, showing how unmanned tech is becoming standard for emergency response.

Tesla Cybercab & Safety Scrutiny: Tesla launched its steering-wheel-free, pedal-free robotaxi service in Austin, but the NHTSA opened an audit of about 1,000 vehicles, spotlighting whether self-certification covers federal safety rules. AI Data Centers vs Texas Politics: New polling shows most Americans oppose nearby data centers, and Trump’s pro-AI stance is colliding with voter backlash that could hurt Republicans in the midterms. Grid, Water, and “Ghost Demand”: Texas is freezing new data center grid connections amid surging AI power requests, while communities raise concerns about electricity, water use, and reliability. Energy & Storage Shift: A Texas-focused look argues solar-plus-storage is improving grid reliability, even as politics and policy still lag behind the technology reality. Carbon-to-Chemicals Breakthrough: Texas A&M and the University of Mississippi report a way to mass-produce a catalyst that turns captured carbon dioxide into carbon monoxide for fuels, plastics, and medicines. Education Outcomes in Texas: New reporting highlights wide gaps in six-year bachelor’s completion rates for Black/African American students across Texas counties and universities, including UT Tyler and El Paso County’s UT El Paso.

Autonomous Vehicles Under the Microscope: Tesla rolled out steering-wheel-free, pedal-less Cybercab rides in Austin, and the U.S. safety regulator opened an audit into how about 1,000 vehicles were self-certified. AI + Public Safety: New reporting says Harris County uses Clearview AI, while Texas cities and states keep wrestling with Flock surveillance camera fallout, including Abbott pausing funding after privacy backlash. Data Centers vs. Water: Texas’ data-center boom is colliding with local water limits, and Texas A&M regents approved an $11.7M water tower to keep its semiconductor push on track. Energy Costs Ripple: Oil and diesel price spikes are feeding inflation pressure in Europe as global energy security concerns grow. Border Tech + Enforcement: CBP seized $2.9M in cocaine at Laredo ports of entry. Texas Agriculture Defense: Texas A&M briefed regents on New World screwworm response, saying only three active cases remain. STEM Workforce Pipeline: Caddo Parish launched CaddoWorks Internship Signing Day, placing students with local employers.

Autonomous Vehicles Under Scrutiny: Tesla began Cybercab robotaxi rides in Austin, and the NHTSA opened an audit of about 1,000 vehicles to test compliance—an early regulatory stress test for cars without steering wheels or pedals. AI Infrastructure Deal: British AI firm Nscale agreed to buy cloud computing from Figure AI for $3.5B, using Nvidia chips at a Barstow, Texas facility, with plans to scale capacity. Public Safety Tech Cost Shock: A new 100% tariff on thermal-imaging drones is doubling costs for fire and police departments running Drone as First Responder programs, with no comparable domestic alternative. Wildfire Insurance Link: Texas created a prescribed-burn manager insurance program via Texas A&M Forest Service, aiming to keep controlled burns going—directly tied to wildfire risk and rising homeowner premiums. Space Policy Timeline: A Trump space agenda targets more than 1,000 launches and re-entries per year by 2030, pushing agencies to expand infrastructure. Health & Longevity Research: A mouse study reports GLP-1 drugs like semaglutide may slow aging, extending lifespan and blunting aging markers. Texas Hunting Rules: The 2026-27 season adds stricter identity verification and expands “doe days” in more counties, with digital licenses now required via mobile apps.

Autonomous Vehicles: Tesla rolled out steering-wheel-free Cybercabs in Austin, with 45 Cybercabs registered in Texas and a “slow launch” expected as the company gathers early rider feedback. AI in Education: Texas A&M researchers are using AI to strengthen math teacher preparation, building adaptive modules that act like a “cognitive partner” rather than just grading answers. Public Safety Tech Backlash: Texas cities and the state are cutting back on Flock license-plate cameras amid privacy and misuse concerns, including Abbott pausing state funding and Dallas police shutting off cameras. Patent Fight in Texas: BASF sued Apple in Midland, Texas, alleging Face ID infringes seven trinamiX patents and seeking damages plus an injunction. Biotech & Investment: bioAffinity Technologies will present at the H.C. Wainwright global investment conference, highlighting its CyPath® Lung noninvasive lung cancer diagnostic. Agriculture Research: Texas A&M is testing far-UVC light to reduce airborne avian influenza in poultry houses without harming birds. STEM Showcase: Students from across Texas and beyond presented research at statewide symposiums, spotlighting hands-on work in cancer and antibiotic resistance.

AI & Education: Cubby expands in law schools with “Cubby for Professors,” letting Texas law faculty deploy course-specific AI that drafts, grades, and gives feedback only after instructor approval—aimed at reducing student reliance on unreliable general chatbots. AI Infrastructure & Politics: Texas data-center growth is colliding with backlash over water use and “ghost demand,” with reporting highlighting how communities and GOP politics are reshaping permitting and grid hookups. Water & Invasive Species: TPWD confirms Fort Phantom Hill Lake near Abilene is fully “infested” with zebra mussels, renewing the “clean, drain and dry” push for boaters. Workforce Training: Pharr EDC partners with Electra XD to expand bilingual trade training (OSHA, blueprint reading, journeyman prep) for Rio Grande Valley employers. Health & Autism Services: Action Behavior Centers brings Texas legislative staff to an ABA center to spotlight access gaps for Medicaid-dependent families. Tech Industry: Nvidia’s Hugging Face deal closes, signaling a bigger push into AI software infrastructure beyond chips. Cybersecurity: A report revisits Colonial Pipeline’s ransomware lessons and how attackers target real-world systems through network access.

AI Power & Water Constraints: OCI Holdings broke ground on a 260-megawatt SunRoper solar project in Wharton County, betting on AI data-center demand for electricity and pairing it with long-term power sales. Public Safety vs. Privacy: Texas cities and counties keep wrestling with Flock license-plate cameras; Dallas rejected ending funding, while Kendall County voted to shut down its Flock network after residents and officials raised trust and public-safety concerns. Storm Impacts: Tropical Depression Edouard triggered rare “high risk” flooding in parts of eastern Texas, with rescues and major rainfall totals reported. Local Water Infrastructure: Waco annexed and zoned 153 acres near the Brazos River for a future wastewater plant, though funding and timelines remain years out. Education & Tech Access: Houston’s Sunnyside park closed early as HISD begins construction of a career and innovation center; separately, Texas higher-ed leaders defended SB 17/SB 37 as academic-freedom protections. Health Research: A new study suggests creatine may help middle-aged adults improve strength and lean mass even without exercise, while an intensive blood-pressure program reduced new dementia diagnoses in a large rural trial. Space/Robotics Buzz: Zoox expanded robotaxi testing to Houston and San Diego as Waymo pushed wider public rides.

Data Centers & AI Power Pushback: Texas is moving to halt new data center grid hookups as AI demand surges, while lawmakers and residents keep challenging the “ghost demand” narrative and the local costs of hosting big computing campuses. Surveillance Tech Fight: Texas cities are cutting back or ending Flock camera coverage amid privacy backlash, and the state has paused funding for the system as critics push for limits on automated license plate readers. STEM Talent Pipeline: Society for Science named the Top 300 for the 2026 Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge, spotlighting middle-school research projects and awarding finalists more than $100,000. Healthcare Expansion in East Texas: UT Health East Texas expands specialty care into the new UT Tyler School of Medicine building, pairing patient services with physician training in one hub. Clean Energy for Compute: FuelCell Energy says its data-center power pipeline has reached 10 GW and secured a first Texas fuel-cell reservation, as developers chase new electricity supply. Texas Research & Policy: Faculty groups sue the Texas Tech University System over course-content restrictions tied to race and gender topics, arguing First Amendment violations.

Wildfire Air Quality: A&M researcher Yunyao Li says smoke from the Ross Fire is clearly transporting into the DFW area, and she’s pushing for better alerts so residents can prep with filters, AC, and N95s. Privacy vs. Surveillance: Robinson City Council voted to end its Flock license-plate reader contract after residents raised privacy concerns, even as officials noted the cameras can help with crime. Data Centers Under Scrutiny: CEOs from major operators testified before a Texas Senate committee on AI infrastructure, focusing on misinformation and water use, with claims of relatively limited daily consumption and infrastructure spending. Storm Watch: Tropical Depression Edouard made landfall near Johnson Bayou, Louisiana, and is expected to bring 3–7 inches of rain (up to 12) into parts of east-central Texas, raising flash-flood risk. UTHealth Houston Leadership: UTHealth Houston named Kevin A. Morano, PhD, provost, elevating him to chief academic officer as the university expands education, research, and clinical care. Antibiotic-Resistant Research: UT Arlington received $4.6M in federal grants to study how pathogens like Listeria and Staph survive stress and antibiotics, aiming at new treatment strategies. Space & Engineering: Texas A&M University System is bidding to manage NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, building on its existing JPL partnership and space institute work. Local Tech/Policy: Victoria’s municipal court will pause in-person services for Sept. 10 staff training, while online services stay open.