AGP Executive Report

Shark-Powered Storm Forecasting: University of Delaware researchers are testing sensor-equipped sharks to collect near-real-time ocean data (temperature, salinity-linked measures, and depth) that could sharpen hurricane intensity predictions. Delaware Startup Push: Delaware Prosperity Partnership launched “Innovate Delaware,” a statewide hub aimed at attracting startup investment and jobs, with a first big project: the Delaware Rural Health Challenge. Healthcare Access in Delaware: Gov. Matt Meyer signed new laws expanding pharmacists’ and dental hygienists’ roles, plus a study of healthcare apprenticeship pathways. ALS Treatment Access: Senators Lisa Murkowski and Chris Coons won Senate passage of the ACT for ALS reauthorization, keeping access to therapies and advancing research. Back-to-School Tech Savings: Several states are offering sales tax holidays that include discounts on laptops and tablets, with Delaware readers encouraged to check eligibility and dates. Public Health Watch: A lettuce-linked cyclosporiasis outbreak continues to spread, with officials urging caution while investigations narrow likely sources.

Shark Science for Storm Forecasts: University of Delaware researchers are testing whether sharks can act as mobile, near-real-time ocean observers, using sensor tags to track salinity-linked conductivity, temperature, and depth to improve hurricane intensity predictions. Public Health Watch: A lettuce-linked cyclosporiasis outbreak is expanding, with Michigan’s health department reporting thousands of confirmed cases and federal investigators tracing the biggest cluster to recalled iceberg lettuce from Taylor Farms in central Mexico. Delaware Health Access: Gov. Matt Meyer signed new laws expanding pharmacists’ and dental hygienists’ roles to reduce barriers to care, plus a study aimed at building healthcare apprenticeship pathways. Back-to-School Tech Savings: With RAM and PC prices still high, 11 states are running sales tax holidays this weekend, including tech-focused exemptions in nine states. Grid & Data Centers: PJM’s reformed interconnection process is seeing natural gas surge in the first round of accepted projects, driven in part by data-center demand. Delaware Business Support: The Division of Small Business opens its fall EDGE Grant Competition Aug. 11, with a webinar the same day and $1.15M available for eligible small businesses. Delaware Innovation Push: Meyer and the Delaware Prosperity Partnership launched Innovate Delaware, a statewide hub meant to connect startups with capital, partners, and rural health tech opportunities.

Hydrogen & Industry: A Wilmington-based Aternium is moving ahead with a $226M heavy-water and high-purity hydrogen plant in Dover, aiming to start production in 2028 even as federal support for the broader hydrogen hub plan remains uncertain. Healthcare Access (Delaware): Gov. Matt Meyer signed new laws expanding pharmacists’ and dental hygienists’ scope of practice, plus a study of a healthcare apprenticeship degree pathway to help address workforce shortages. Public Health (CDC): The U.S. Senate confirmed Erica Schwartz as the new CDC director, a key step for how vaccine recommendations flow into coverage and programs. Food Safety: The Cyclospora outbreak keeps spreading nationwide, with thousands of confirmed and probable cases and ongoing FDA investigations into multiple food-linked clusters. Delaware Tech & Research: UD launched an inaugural Autonomous Systems Bootcamp in Lewes, using robotics and sonar to study the Delaware Bay. Local Business Funding: Delaware’s DSB opens the fall EDGE Grant Competition Aug. 11, with $1.15M available and a new one-day pitch-and-award format. Cyber/Finance: A U.S. firm is gathering victims of a $155M Coinkite hack for a potential lawsuit, after the attackers exploited software vulnerabilities.

Space & Astronomy: NASA says Aug. 12 will bring a rare mix of a six-planet pre-dawn parade, a partial solar eclipse, and the Perseids peaking with up to 100 meteors—plus a new moon for darker skies. Agriculture & Health: A University of Delaware-led study maps where rainfed crops are most drought-sensitive, linking drought “hotspots” to production losses across major staples. Bay Water Quality: Chesapeake Bay Program modeling reports the watershed hit its sediment reduction target and is on track on phosphorus and nitrogen, while extending remaining pollution timelines to 2030. AI in Healthcare: Penn and UD are part of an NSF-funded AI institute aimed at “human-AI cooperation” in medicine, with a $21.5M, five-year push. Delaware Tech/Business: Aternium picked Dover for a clean hydrogen and heavy-water facility, and UD engineering adds Qnity as a workforce/corporate partner. Energy & Infrastructure: Delaware-area water tech distributor UFT expands in the Mid-Atlantic by acquiring Iron Horse Environmental, boosting local water/wastewater equipment and service capacity.

Delaware Nuclear Watch: A state task force has released findings on the future of nuclear energy in Delaware, focusing on safety and the hard question of what to do with spent fuel. AI Oversight in Delaware: Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester is pressing OpenAI and Anthropic for details after concerns about AI agents being used to hack third parties. Local Innovation & Jobs: Qnity is partnering with the University of Delaware’s College of Engineering to sponsor student research and capstone work in automation, production, and manufacturing. Healthcare Spotlight: ChristianaCare’s Wilmington Hospital Emergency Department earned the Emergency Nurses Association’s Lantern Award for 2026–2029, recognizing nursing practice, patient safety, and innovation. Energy Costs & Power Demand: A new report finds data centers are overwhelmingly located in U.S. cities, raising pressure on electricity and water—an issue that hits the Mid-Atlantic hard. Business Moves: United Flow Technologies is expanding its Mid-Atlantic water and wastewater footprint by acquiring Iron Horse Environmental, covering Eastern PA, Southern NJ, and Delaware. Tech & Media Deal: Nielsen has agreed to acquire DoubleVerify in an all-cash deal, aiming to deepen media intelligence across the ad lifecycle.

Environmental Health: A UVA-led study found road dust in seven eastern cities—including Wilmington, Delaware—still carries toxic metals tied to old industry and decades-old pesticides, raising concerns about everyday exposure near parks and schools. Delaware Tech & Energy: Tigo says some home battery systems can join virtual power plant programs across Delaware and the region, letting utilities tap stored electricity during peak demand. Archaeology + Robotics: The University of Delaware used autonomous underwater vehicles, sonar, drones, and divers to map the submerged ancient Greek port of Kenchreai, generating over a terabyte of geospatial data for a digital reconstruction. Biotech/Business: argenx began a tender offer to buy Forte Biosciences for $77 per share, while Wave Life Sciences advanced its Delaware redomiciliation timeline. Local Science Education: College of Southern Maryland students joined horseshoe crab tagging efforts to track Chesapeake Bay populations.

Delaware Energy & Industry: Aternium picked Dover for its first U.S. heavy water and high-purity hydrogen production facility, aiming to strengthen domestic supply chains for semiconductors, pharma, defense, and emerging fusion—an investment expected to bring major capital and jobs. Biotech & Health: Wave Life Sciences cleared key steps for its Delaware-to-U.S. redomiciliation, with its scheme of arrangement expected to take effect Aug. 7. Public Health & Food Safety: The CDC says a cyclosporiasis outbreak tied to Mexican lettuce has expanded, adding Iowa and bringing the total to 15 states, with health officials tracking potential sources as cases climb. Legal & Tech Policy: Delaware is among 25 states suing over Trump’s latest tariffs, arguing they’re unlawful and will raise costs. AI & Research: Google engineers Jeff Dean and Sanjay Ghemawat left to co-found Discovery Loop, a push to automate complex multi-step scientific experiments. Delaware Courts & Forensics: Dover police are investigating decomposed human remains found near a retention pond, sending them for autopsy and identification work. Energy & Courts (Regional): Pleasants Power Station’s bankruptcy is tangled in a fight over control, with filings in Delaware court.

Hydrogen & Heavy Water in Delaware: Aternium picked Dover for its first U.S. heavy-water and electrolytic hydrogen plant, a roughly $226M project expected to create dozens of direct jobs and hundreds more during construction. Public Health & Food Safety: Cyclosporiasis linked to iceberg lettuce continues to spread, with FDA tracing the outbreak to lettuce served at Taco Bell from Mexico-based Taylor Farms operations. Local Science & Research: University of Delaware students used robotics and mapping to document an ancient Greek harbor and plan a digital twin for public exploration. Healthcare Research: A phase 4 study found benralizumab cut mucus burden in severe eosinophilic asthma, with no new safety concerns. Delaware Community Watch: Dover police are investigating human remains found near a retention pond; the case is with the state forensic office for autopsy and identification. Policy & Tech: Vermont joined a privacy regulators consortium, joining Delaware and others as state data laws expand. Energy Policy: Delaware’s Nuclear Energy Feasibility Task Force says SMRs aren’t a viable short-term option, while keeping nuclear in the long-term mix.

Delaware Tech & Industry: Aternium picked Dover for its first U.S. heavy water and high-purity electrolytic hydrogen facility, targeting about $226M in investment and roughly 50 permanent jobs. AI & Chips: Intel granted RosaicLabs rare access to licensed Atom x86 processor technology, aiming to let the startup build custom low-power chips. Health & Food Safety: A cyclosporiasis outbreak tied to iceberg lettuce linked to Mexico’s Taylor Farms operations has sickened thousands, with FDA tracing how the parasite survives common washing. Public Safety: Dover police are investigating human remains found near a retention pond; the Delaware Division of Forensic Science will handle autopsy and identification. Privacy & Policy: Vermont joined Delaware and other states in a privacy regulators consortium, while Sen. Ron Wyden warned some companies ignore universal opt-outs using shaky geolocation. Delaware Funding: The EDGE Grant Competition opens Aug. 11 with $1.15M for early-stage businesses in Entrepreneur and STEM categories. Energy Policy: Delaware’s Nuclear Energy Feasibility Task Force says small modular reactors aren’t viable short-term, though it keeps nuclear on the long-term table. Biotech: Lunai Bioworks signed a collaboration with BrainStorm Therapeutics, targeting an initial Parkinson’s disease data readout in H1 2027. Local Tech Governance: Marion, Delaware County, debated Flock license-plate cameras and moved toward a city ban after privacy concerns. Legal/Business: Lisata Therapeutics cut 72% of staff and sued Kuva after a planned merger collapsed.

Delaware Innovation Push: Gov. Matt Meyer and the Delaware Prosperity Partnership launched Innovate Delaware, a “front door” for startups and investors, targeting fintech, next-gen chemical products, clean energy, advanced materials, and biopharma manufacturing. AI + Health Research: Delaware-linked researchers are moving an EEG-based method for spotting epilepsy differences into the clinic, aiming to flag brain electrical changes before seizures. Publishing Tech: Zentrovia Solutions rolled out ZenPub, a white-labeled digital publishing platform for academic publishers with fast onboarding and library-friendly exports. Biotech Deal Drama: Lisata Therapeutics said its merger with Kuva was terminated, cut its workforce by 72%, and filed suit in Delaware Chancery seeking damages and a $2M termination fee. State Courts Watch: Delaware’s Supreme Court allowed deletion of certain asbestos-related documents, limiting broad preservation orders. Policy Fight (Tariffs): Delaware AG Kathy Jennings joined a coalition suing to block Trump’s latest tariffs, arguing the move exceeds legal authority. Energy + Community Concerns: Pierpont residents raised questions about proposed wind turbines, including whether developers can use eminent domain.

Tariff Fight: A coalition of 25 states, including Delaware, sued the Trump administration over new double-digit tariffs, arguing they’re a “pretext” to replace import taxes the U.S. Supreme Court struck down in February; the suits target tariffs tied to forced-labor claims and claim the costs will hit families and businesses. Public Health Data: Pennsylvania rolled out an interactive school-by-school vaccination lookup for the 2025–2026 year as measles cases rise, with Philadelphia-area kindergarten vaccination rates slipping slightly. Delaware Innovation Push: Gov. Matt Meyer launched “Innovate Delaware,” a statewide effort housed in the Delaware Prosperity Partnership to connect startups with investors, universities, and corporations, with a digital “front door” for founders. Courts & Records: The Delaware Supreme Court allowed deletion of certain asbestos-related documents, limiting preservation orders sought by companies facing asbestos litigation. Health Tech & Retail: Harris Teeter added prescription delivery via Instacart, expanding pharmacy access through familiar store teams. Business Moves: Beeline announced a non-binding plan to acquire Delaware C-corp TYTL in an all-stock deal focused on blockchain-enabled residential equity.

Measles Watch: Delaware’s first measles case in more than a decade is now part of a wider U.S. surge, with officials stressing early identification and fast action as vaccination rates slip below the herd-immunity threshold. Social Media Liability: Families of four teens who died by suicide filed a Delaware lawsuit against Meta, TikTok, Snapchat and YouTube, alleging addictive design and years of escalating harms. PFAS Pressure on Chemours: North Carolina officials are challenging a “behind our backs” EPA-Chemours settlement tied to PFAS cleanup and drinking-water commitments, arguing it won’t undo past damage. AI in the Spotlight: An AP report highlights AI-assisted staging at Germany’s Wagner festival drawing boos, while separate coverage notes growing concerns about AI security after claims of AI systems hacking organizations. Delaware Tech & Agriculture: Delaware Soil Health Partnership hosts a soil health field day Aug. 18 featuring Plant Map 3D mapping tech to cut fertilizer use and improve soil and water quality. Local Business/Tech: A Delaware bankruptcy filing by Vi‑Jon (talc-related liabilities) begins a court-supervised settlement process in the District of Delaware.

Local Marine Rescue & Education: MERR will host a Sunset Dolphin Tour around Delaware Bay on Aug. 9 at 6:30 p.m. from the Cape May-Lewes Ferry Terminal, with volunteers sharing how the institute responds to marine mammal and sea turtle strandings. Healthcare Workforce Pipeline: TidalHealth Nanticoke named its 2026 scholarship recipients, including awards for nursing, healthcare education, and diversity—some headed to UD and Salisbury University. Public Health Watch: Delaware is among states facing rising measles pressure; officials cite lower MMR vaccination rates and stress early identification and rapid response as outbreaks spread. Child Safety Lawsuit: Families of four teens who died by suicide filed a wrongful death suit in Delaware against Meta, TikTok, Snapchat and YouTube, alleging addictive design and harmful targeting of minors. AI & Tech Scrutiny: A Delaware-linked investigation firm says it’s looking into Microsoft over Azure and Copilot performance concerns, while broader coverage highlights how AI tools are increasingly used—and questioned—in real-world settings. Environment & Agriculture: DNREC and partners are pushing soil health training (Aug. 18) and Delaware Bay shorebird recovery updates, including red knot counts improving from recent lows.

PFAS Fight: North Carolina officials are blasting a proposed Chemours-EPA settlement as being negotiated “behind our backs,” arguing it won’t fix decades of PFAS damage and calling for the deal to be thrown out. Public Safety Tech: Philadelphia says it has scanned 25 million license plates via its expanding automated camera network and is adding speed cameras along Route 13, with a warning period expected mid-August. Health Watch: Delaware is dealing with measles again after a first case in more than a decade, as the U.S. hits its highest case count in 30 years and health leaders stress early identification and fast response. Child Safety Lawsuits: Families of four teens who died by suicide have filed a wrongful-death suit in Delaware against Meta, TikTok, Snapchat and YouTube, alleging addictive design and years of escalating harms. Delaware Agriculture: A Delaware Soil Health Partnership field day set for Aug. 18 will spotlight drought-resilient practices and mapping tools to cut fertilizer use. Local Healthcare Leadership: Delaware Hospice named Becca Graner its new chief operating officer, expanding oversight of clinical operations and growth plus information technology.

Tech & Law: Families of four teens who died by suicide have sued Meta, TikTok, Snapchat and YouTube in Delaware Superior Court, alleging years of addictive design and concealed harm. AI & Business: Microsoft is facing a new investor probe tied to claims about Azure growth and Copilot capacity tradeoffs after disappointing results. Cybersecurity: Michigan joins Minnesota in reporting cyberattacks on water systems, with officials saying systems are operating safely while investigators look for the source. Public Health: Experts are warning about Bourbon virus after a first New York case, noting there’s no vaccine or specific treatment. Delaware Policy Watch: A bill to regulate cryptocurrency kiosks stalled in Delaware’s Senate, leaving seniors exposed to scam kiosks. Environment & Delaware Bay: Red knot numbers on Delaware Bay show a partial rebound, helped by better horseshoe crab egg availability. Local Science: Delaware Soil Health Partnership is hosting a free soil health field day Aug. 18 in Georgetown, featuring mapping tech to cut fertilizer use.

Cancer & Industry Accountability: Union Carbide and Covestro are trying to block expert testimony in a federal class-action over claims that ethylene oxide emissions from their South Charleston operations raised local cancer risk. Consumer Protection Tech: Delaware lawmakers’ effort to curb cryptocurrency kiosk scams stalled, leaving advocates worried older adults will keep getting targeted. Social Media & Youth Safety: Families of four teens who died by suicide filed suit in Delaware against Meta, TikTok, Snapchat and YouTube, alleging addictive design and years of escalating harms. AI in the Workplace: A look at how Microsoft Copilot is shifting from answering questions to acting like a “virtual co-worker” that plans and executes multi-step tasks. Delaware Bay Wildlife: Red knot numbers are improving on Delaware Bay, with Delaware scientists also seeing positive trends tied to horseshoe crab egg availability. Coastal Resilience Monitoring: University of Maryland expanded Hydronet flood sensors with a new real-time station at Breezy Point to strengthen Chesapeake flood forecasting. Local Tech/Research: Intel is licensing rare Atom x86 chip design schematics to a Delaware-incorporated startup, raising big questions about how the deal could reshape computing.