AGP Executive Report

Coastal Resilience Training: DNREC is running a two-day living shorelines workshop (Sept. 22–23) in Lewes, teaching how natural barriers like native plants and oyster shells can reduce erosion while supporting habitat. Hospitality Tech: XCards Inc. launched its Global Trust Infrastructure, using reusable NFC hardware tokens to replace single-use hotel keycards and support privacy-first offline access, alongside a $15M Series A. AI Data Centers Backlash: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott says data center developers “dug their own grave” by moving without community buy-in, pointing to paused approvals and new statewide standards on water, power, and local approval. Workplace Surveillance: A new report highlights how employers use location tracking, productivity monitoring, and AI-enabled “dossiers” to watch workers—raising privacy and fairness concerns. Public Safety Tech: Pennsylvania’s automated license plate reader debate is heating up, with proposals for tighter rules and a company move to shorten default location-record retention. Delaware Health & Science: Delaware is among states seeing a measles resurgence, while Delaware Tech released a guide to help new students navigate portals, schedules, and Brightspace for fall. STEM in the News: UD recognized multiple faculty and alumni as American Chemical Society fellows, underscoring ongoing chemistry research strength in Delaware.

Workplace Surveillance: A new report highlights how employers use location tracking, productivity monitoring, and even device camera access to build detailed worker “dossiers,” raising fresh privacy concerns as AI boosts what managers can infer. Public Safety Tech: Pennsylvania debates automated license plate readers; Flock Safety says it will cut default location-record retention to seven days, while lawmakers push for stricter rules and penalties. Delaware Health Alert: FDA says recalled Taylor Farms iceberg lettuce tied to cyclosporiasis may have reached more areas, including Delaware, as cases rise across multiple states. Delaware Education & AI: Delaware Tech released a new student prep guide for fall, while a UD-led hackathon paired students with state agencies to build AI tools for real government problems. Local STEM & Research: UD’s “For the Record” notes multiple American Chemical Society fellows and offshore renewable energy symposium participation. Wildlife & Climate: Jellyfish are crowding Delaware beaches, with lifeguards reporting more frequent, longer-lasting stings. Delaware Courts/Tech Industry: A Delaware federal jury found Cytek infringed one Beckman Coulter patent claim, awarding $36M in royalties and $20M in lost profits. Community Tech/Business: Export Delaware’s Compass Grant reports $10M in new international sales tied to small-business support.

Public Health: Cyclosporiasis linked to recalled iceberg lettuce may have spread further, with FDA reporting possible distribution in Delaware and other states/jurisdictions, as cases rise nationwide. Delaware Tech & AI: UD and state agencies teamed up with students in the Hennovate the State AI hackathon, building tools for real government problems like records, customer service, transportation planning, and benefits administration. Animal Welfare Tech: Delaware’s Office of Animal Welfare upgraded lost-and-found pet reporting by partnering with Petco Love Lost, using AI photo-matching to reunite pets faster. STEM/Research & Industry: A Delaware federal jury found Cytek Biosciences infringed one Beckman Coulter patent claim (awarding $36M in royalties plus $20M lost profits) while rejecting three other claims—setting up post-verdict fights. Local Environment: Jellyfish are crowding Delaware beaches this summer, driving more stings and keeping some swimmers and lifeguards out of the water. Education & Workforce: Delaware Tech released guidance for new students and welcomed student-athletes for fall 2026, while Rep. Mike Smith urged Delaware to join a federal K-12 scholarship tax credit program.

AI in Delaware government: UD and state agencies teamed up with students for the Hennovate the State hackathon, building AI tools for real problems like records management, customer service, transportation planning, and internal reporting. Cybersecurity & resilience: A Delaware County network incident showed how earlier hack lessons helped restore systems after unauthorized activity disrupted phones and operations. Patent fight in biotech: A Delaware federal jury awarded Cytek about $36M in damages after finding Beckman Coulter’s claims largely failed in a cell-sorting patent case, with one claim still contested. Public health watch: Pennsylvania confirmed 89 new measles cases in a week, while Delaware reported 22 cases this year—highlighting vaccination gaps. Coastal safety: Jellyfish are crowding Delaware beaches, driving frequent stings and keeping some swimmers out. Education & tech access: Delaware Tech published a guide for new students and welcomed student-athletes for fall 2026. Energy & infrastructure: Lawsuits challenge Edgemoor port expansion permits, while Delaware’s nuclear task force report could shape long-term energy policy.

AI for Government: Delaware’s “Hennovate the State” hackathon paired 40+ students with state agencies to build AI tools for real needs like records management, customer service, transportation planning, and internal reporting, with mentors from AWS, Google, Microsoft, and NVIDIA. Public Health: Pennsylvania reported 89 new measles cases in a week as the outbreak grows; Delaware has 22 cases this year, the first in a decade. Animal Welfare Tech: Delaware’s Office of Animal Welfare is using Petco Love Lost’s AI photo-matching lost-and-found system statewide to speed reunions. Education & Tech: Delaware Tech released a new-student guide for fall, while UD and state agencies also teamed up on AI training through the hackathon. Energy Policy: Delaware’s Nuclear Energy Feasibility Task Force faces criticism over whether its review was technically deep enough to guide long-term nuclear decisions. Local Business Growth: Export Delaware’s Compass Grant helped small businesses fund international development, reporting $10M in new sales tied to the program. Community Awareness: Milton kicked off “Turning the Town Teal” for ovarian cancer awareness.

Workplace Privacy: A new report warns that employers are using pandemic-era tech to track workers’ locations, productivity, and even device cameras—creating “dossiers” that can be used to punish or predict behavior. Delaware Data Centers: Records tie a third national data center developer to the Brookwood Parkway corridor, deepening the cluster of proposed campuses in the region. Semiconductor Finance: Qnity Electronics, based in Wilmington, named semiconductor finance veteran Ken Rizvi as CFO effective Oct. 1. AI Power Crunch: A fresh look at energy demand says AI and data centers are driving electricity use higher fast, raising grid and utility-rate concerns for local communities. Public Health & Wildlife: DNREC adopted emergency chronic wasting disease hunting rules in high-risk zones, including bans on baiting and buck lures. Local Tech & Security: Delaware County updated officials after a recent network disruption, saying lessons from a prior hack helped restore services. Community Tech/Equity: FCC’s digital equity update says fixed broadband access is up, while critics argue affordability and usability still lag. Sports & STEM: UC Merced welcomed new students with campus traditions and new buildings as it starts its 21st academic year.

AI & Power Crunch: Data centers are already 4.4% of U.S. electricity use, and new forecasts warn AI could drive demand sharply higher by 2030–2035, reshaping local energy planning. Cyber/Trade Secrets: A federal judge partially overturned the conviction of former Google engineer Linwei Ding, tossing parts of economic espionage counts while leaving trade-secret theft intact. Wildlife Health: DNREC issued emergency Chronic Wasting Disease rules for high-risk deer zones in Sussex County, including bans on baiting and certain lures plus free CWD testing for hunters. Digital Equity: The FCC says broadband access is improving, but critics argue affordability and usability still lag behind deployment. Workplace Tech Watch: A new report highlights how employers use digital tools to track workers’ location and productivity, raising privacy concerns. Delaware Courts & Biotech: A Delaware bankruptcy judge approved Sangamo’s auction sales, while another case weighs extra financing for Conscious Content. Legal Tech: A Third Circuit ruling says voice biometrics can be exempt from Illinois’ BIPA under federal financial-infrastructure definitions. Local Life: Delaware’s education and community updates include digital skills efforts and literacy support gains.

Data Centers & AI Power Crunch: Morgan Stanley warns the “big money” era for U.S. data centers is over as community resistance becomes a real development risk, while another report highlights how AI-driven demand could reshape electricity use nationwide. Subsea Tech Ambition: A Delaware-based team proposes a 100-megawatt underwater AI data center in Alaska’s Cook Inlet, aiming to cool servers with seawater and power them with tides. Critical Minerals Push: The U.S. Department of Energy selected Felix Gold for up to $18M to advance an Alaska antimony processing pilot tied to a Delaware company. Delaware Education & Skills: Delaware’s Community ESL Program is adding digital literacy to help learners handle online jobs and services. Local Delaware Governance: Delaware’s National Estuarine Research Reserve is set to host a research and stewardship symposium. Public Health Watch: CDC data suggests cyclospora cases may be trending down after a lettuce-linked outbreak, though thousands of cases remain under investigation. Infrastructure Safety: A Pennsylvania-focused advisory urges homeowners to inspect aging cast-iron sewer lines before backups turn into costly repairs. Flooding Disruptions: Flash flooding in central Ohio triggered rescues and road closures, with warnings extending into nearby areas.

Underwater AI Data Centers: A Delaware-based company, DeepGreen Cook Inlet SPV LLC, is pitching a 100-megawatt underwater AI data center off Alaska’s Cook Inlet, using seawater cooling and tidal power—an early U.S. test of “subsea” computing. Energy Crunch for AI: New reporting highlights how AI data centers are driving major electricity demand growth, with analysts warning power grids and local rates may struggle as consumption scales. Critical Minerals Funding: The U.S. Department of Energy selected Felix Gold Ltd. for up to $18M to pilot antimony processing tied to its Treasure Creek project, aiming to strengthen a domestic antimony supply chain. Delaware Education Gains: Delaware’s first phase of 2026 assessment results show modest literacy and math improvements, with stronger gains at schools receiving targeted state literacy support. AI Skills in Delaware Schools: Wilmington University is expanding AI literacy across degrees, certificates, and courses, while Delaware also continues building digital skills pathways for students and workers. Privacy vs. Automation: A new NYU-led scorecard finds no U.S. state fully meets strong privacy standards for automated license plate readers, with Delaware included among the states showing legal gaps. Delaware Tech & Business: Delaware’s Court of Chancery ordered Verisk to keep pursuing FTC clearance in its $2.35B AccuLynx deal, pushing the merger into a costly “Second Request” process. Local Science Events: The Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve will host a free, registration-required Research and Stewardship Symposium in September, featuring site tours and hands-on learning.

Delaware Digital Skills: Delaware is partnering with Google’s Grow with Google to expand free digital training, including Google Career Certificates and AI courses, aimed at getting residents into in-demand tech roles. AI + Water Planning: Lehigh researchers say AI can help reservoir and groundwater operators make better decisions as droughts and extreme storms strain the Delaware River Basin. Health Tech in Delaware: UD researchers report estrogen-linked mechanical changes in the hippocampus using magnetic resonance elastography, adding a new angle on how hormones reshape the brain. Local Tech Policy: Delaware’s Harrington residents are pushing back hard on data centers, with council debate centered on zoning and local impacts. Privacy Tech Watch: NYU’s Policing Project finds no state fully meets privacy standards for automated license plate readers, with Delaware listed among states with gaps. Energy + Courts: A Delaware bankruptcy fight over Pleasants Power Station continues as owners trade accusations over control. STEM Community: DNERR will host a free, registration-required Research and Stewardship Symposium in September, highlighting Delaware estuary science and habitat work. Autonomous Trucks: Teamsters sue California’s DMV over autonomous truck rules, arguing self-driving rigs threaten jobs and lack proper public input.

Data Centers in Delaware Politics: New Castle County council races are reigniting the fight over stricter data-center rules, with candidates split on whether to apply them retroactively to existing plans like Delaware City’s Project Washington. Local Tech Regulation: Harrington is moving from “conditional use” to considering a citywide ban on data centers, rejecting a proposed 24-megawatt project. Health Policy: Delaware says childhood vaccine guidance and access remain unchanged after a federal shift, while New Jersey’s requirements also stay put. Research Security: The Pentagon ordered audits of foreign ties at 30 U.S. academic institutions, targeting collaborations tied to adversaries and China-linked programs. Biotech & Markets: A Delaware judge ordered a $2.35B Beloit-area deal to proceed, while investor alerts continue around Capricor and Bloom Energy securities-fraud claims. STEM & Community: UMES hosted an Ag Showcase connecting farmers with research and precision-ag tech, and Lyman-Morse launched an electric passenger vessel to serve as a Delaware River science platform.

Delaware River History: The canceled Tocks Island Dam plan would have flooded about 600 families before being scrapped in 1975, leaving today’s 70,000-acre Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Public Health Policy: The White House directed federal agencies to stop funding gender-transition procedures for people under 18 at federally funded hospitals and programs, a move that reverses prior federal rules and follows state bans. Teen Health: A new analysis finds teen alcohol use rises sharply after age 13, with higher past-month drinking and binge drinking among girls 12–20. 3D Printing & Patents: Continuous Composites sued FibreSeek-linked companies in Delaware federal court, alleging infringement of ten patents tied to continuous fiber additive manufacturing. Defense Research Security: The Pentagon ordered audits at 30 universities over foreign research partnerships tied to adversaries, with findings due by Aug. 31 to keep federal funding. Local Tech & Energy: New Castle County council races are shaping how Delaware regulates data centers, including whether stricter rules apply to existing projects. STEM in Delaware: A Thomas Jefferson STEM camp is giving kids hands-on drone building and testing. Health Care in Delaware: AstraZeneca’s ENHERTU trial update from Wilmington reports a progression-free survival benefit in first-line HER2-mutant lung cancer.

Delaware Education & Facilities: The new Paul M. Hodgson Vocational-Technical High School in Glasgow is ready to open, a $211M, 304,000-square-foot upgrade meant to expand hands-on training for about 1,100 students a year. Food Safety in the Region: A Walmart soup kit recall is underway after testing flagged possible Listeria risk in Marketside Tomato Bisque Soup Kits sold in nearly 30 states. Delaware Agriculture Research: Bennett Orchards in Frankford won a $53,999 state grant to study wind-machine protection against spring freezes, aiming to cut frost damage to blueberries after a tough season. Public Health & Water Quality: New testing reports point to elevated bacteria in Delaware waterways, raising concerns about fecal contamination levels in local rivers and streams. Tech, Policy & Security: The Pentagon ordered 30 U.S. universities to audit foreign ties tied to sensitive or export-controlled research, with findings due by Aug. 31. AI & Copyright: A legal explainer argues AI-generated works hinge on human authorship and how outputs were made and used, not a simple “AI equals infringement” rule. Sports Tech & Local Talent: Tyler Leach was named an assistant coach for University of Delaware baseball, focusing on catchers and recruiting.

Delaware Energy & Industry: Aternium picked Dover for its first commercial heavy water and electrolytic hydrogen facility, aiming to boost domestic deuterium oxide and high-purity hydrogen supply for semiconductors, nuclear, fusion and pharma—projected to bring at least $226M in investment and dozens of direct jobs. Delaware Research & Food Systems: Bennett Orchards won a $53,999 Delaware grant to expand frost-protection research, including adding a wind machine to blueberry acreage to reduce spring damage and improve yields. Public Safety Tech: Police drones and automatic license plate readers are expanding fast, but civil liberties groups warn the combo creates a surveillance web—especially as communities push back and lawmakers consider tighter rules. Healthcare Policy: The Trump administration moved to stop federal funding for gender-affirming care for minors, with Medicaid/CHIP rules tightening coverage nationwide. Biotech: Wilmington-based TAGRISSO (osimertinib) plus savolitinib posted positive Phase III SAFFRON results for MET-driven EGFR-mutated lung cancer after progression. Business/Tech: VMware Explore 2026 is set to focus on private AI cloud skills with hands-on labs and certifications. Local Environment: A report flags sewage overflow impacts on Delaware River-area water quality, with E. coli concerns tied to unsafe conditions for swimming and paddling.

Hydrogen & advanced materials in Delaware: Aternium selected Dover for its first commercial heavy water and electrolytic hydrogen production facility at Garrison Oak Technical Park, aiming to close in Q4 2026 and bring at least $226M in capital investment plus dozens of direct jobs. AI & workforce training: Delaware County Community College highlighted low-cost AI certificate pathways and partnerships that feed into tech roles, including internships and Microsoft-focused credentials. Cybersecurity safety upgrade: Lewes-based ThinkSecureNet earned Platinum status in the Associated Builders and Contractors safety training program for 2026, building on a Silver win in 2025. Local education infrastructure: Woodbridge School District is seeking a Certificate of Necessity to replace its aging middle school with a new ~96,373 sq.-ft. facility for about 650 students. Community tech & privacy: Delaware city officials took 4 Flock cameras offline amid widening privacy concerns. Regional tech policy pressure: A Trump administration directive says federal funding will stop for gender-transition procedures for minors under 18, with legal challenges tied to federal nondiscrimination rules. Weather & emergency response: Indiana flooding left at least five dead and triggered federal emergency assistance for response and recovery. STEM event spotlight: NASA’s MAX POWER aerospace expo and air show is set for Nov. 7–8, 2026, at/around Kennedy Space Center.

Hydrogen & Heavy Water Buildout in Delaware: Aternium picked Dover’s Garrison Oak Technical Park for its first commercial heavy water and electrolytic hydrogen facility, targeting a mid–Q4 2026 close, with $226M in capital investment and dozens of direct jobs plus hundreds in construction. AI, Cyber & Training in Delaware: ThinkSecureNet in Lewes earned a Platinum safety-training designation from ABC, moving up from Silver as it expands IT infrastructure, managed IT, cybersecurity, and communications services. Education Infrastructure: Woodbridge School District is seeking a Certificate of Necessity to replace its aging middle school with a new ~96,373 sq-ft facility for about 650 students. Local Tech & Privacy: Delaware city officials took 4 Flock cameras offline over privacy concerns. Public Health & Safety: Delaware measles cases rose to 21, all in Kent County, and Ocean City lifeguards warned rip currents drive most rescues. Food Safety: Lidl recalled a Vitasia Asian Style Wok Spice Mix sold in Delaware and other states due to possible salmonella contamination. Big Picture Tech Policy: Aternium’s hydrogen push lands amid broader national fights over federal funding rules and surveillance tech. Disaster Watch: Indiana flooding killed at least five, with Trump approving an emergency declaration and evacuations underway.