AGP Executive Report

Hispanic Heritage Month Spotlight: The University of Arkansas Multicultural Center unveiled the “¿Y Por Qué No?” gallery featuring portraits and reflections from Hispanic student leaders, with art and community snacks from local designer Lupita Albarran. Cancer Screening Coverage: Guardant Health’s Shield blood test for colorectal cancer screening won expanded coverage from EviCore by Evernorth starting Jan. 1, 2027, pushing covered lives to about 94 million. Cold Case Breakthrough (DNA): Pine Bluff investigators arrested Stephanie Amos on capital murder charges tied to a 1992 newborn homicide after Arkansas State Police used grant-funded genetic genealogy and DNA database work. Arkansas Rice Tech & Industry: Anheuser-Busch awarded $200,000+ in grants supporting rice research and grower education, while Arkansas expanded Rice in Schools and plans a Rice Month conference. Biomedical Research Funding: U of Arkansas associate professor Jeffrey Lewis received a $2 million NIH award to study how cells respond to stress and how those pathways connect to human disorders. STEM Funding Training: UA Little Rock’s ASBTDC and Science Venture Studio launched an NSF Project Pitch workshop series for researchers and innovators. AI Workforce Snapshot: SmartAsset ranked Arkansas among the states with the lowest share of jobs highly exposed to AI disruption. Local Tech & Privacy Tensions: A campaign urges Ulta Beauty to drop Flock Safety cameras, and Jonesboro police reported gunfire destroyed multiple Flock cameras. Agriculture Education: UAPB hosted a workshop on commercial fall greens production for small growers, covering costs, marketing, and crop practices.

Biomedical Research in Arkansas: UA Little Rock mechanical engineering researcher Dr. Sujan Ghosh received a $72,419 INBRE grant to build a 3D tissue scaffold that better mimics the human small intestine’s villi and crypts, aiming to improve disease research and reduce reliance on animal models. Higher Ed & Innovation: UAMS welcomed the inaugural Chancellor’s Scholars Program, awarding full-tuition scholarships to 44 students starting 2026-27, while Arkansas State University opened its $25M Windgate Hall of Art and Innovation to connect art/design with engineering and computer science. Local STEM in Action: In Ozark National Forest, potter Stephen Driver’s annual wood-fired kiln firing blends hands-on craft with real-world physics and process control as volunteers manage a 2,200-degree furnace. Industry Automation: Tavoron announced it acquired Power Motion, adding automation, robotics, machine vision, and motion control capabilities, with Power Motion offices including Little Rock. STEM Events: LionHog Tech Hackathon will run virtually Sept. 18-20 for Arkansas and Missouri students, focused on ag data analytics and engineering.

STEM in Arkansas: A-State opened its new $25M Windgate Hall of Art and Innovation, designed to bring together art, engineering, and computer science with galleries, labs, and studio space. Ag + Tech: Arkansas Tech’s LionHog Tech Hackathon (virtual Sept. 18–20) is a collaboration among the Center for Agricultural Data Analytics, UA engineering, and Missouri Southern State University, inviting high school and undergrads. Health + Campus Tech: A-State added eight lactation rooms across campus to reduce barriers for nursing mothers. Defense + Manufacturing: L3Harris (with a Northampton plant) won a historic $4.7B, seven-year Lockheed Martin contract for PAC-3 missile interceptor propulsion systems. Public Safety + Data: Investigators are asking for dash-cam footage after a pedestrian was killed on I-44 near the Arkansas River bridge in Tulsa. Community + Entrepreneurship: 1 Million Cups launched in Pine Bluff to connect early-stage founders through weekly mentor Q&As.

Public Safety: Oklahoma troopers are asking drivers for dash-cam footage after a pedestrian was killed on I-44 near the Arkansas River bridge by Elwood Avenue, with investigators focused on the 7–8:30 p.m. Sept. 10 window. Higher Ed & Family Support: Arkansas State University added eight lactation rooms across campus to reduce barriers for nursing mothers juggling school, work, and family. STEM in the Classroom: A-State opened Windgate Hall of Art and Innovation in Jonesboro, a $25M facility built for hands-on collaboration across art, engineering, and computer science, including 3D printing and VR. Local Business + Defense Contracting: An NWA caterer tied to the Arkansas Food Innovation Center landed a military contract, showing how small businesses can tap government purchasing. Agriculture & Climate: Arkansas drought and heat concerns are growing, with reports of flash-drought risk and impacts on deer health and behavior. Community Entrepreneurship: 1 Million Cups launched in Pine Bluff, giving early-stage founders a weekly forum to pitch and network.

Campus Innovation: Arkansas State University opened Windgate Hall of Art and Innovation, a $25M Windgate Foundation project built to connect art, engineering, and computer science with labs, studios, and tech like 3D printing and VR. Student Support & Health Access: A-State also rolled out eight lactation rooms across campus to reduce barriers for nursing mothers. STEM in the Community: Pine Bluff launched 1 Million Cups, a weekly, free networking and mentoring meetup for early-stage entrepreneurs. Agriculture & Food Systems: UA’s Center for Arkansas Farms and Food ran a student-grown farmers market to boost access to fresh produce and tackle campus food insecurity. Research & Resilience: A-State leads a $2.2M NSF effort on drought-resilient rice and wheat. Public Safety Tech: Central Arkansas Water approved a $5.3M plan to relocate water mains for the widening of Cantrell Road in west Little Rock. Learning Through Nature: The Arkansas Insect Festival returns to Fayetteville with hands-on exhibits and cockroach races at the UA entomology center.

Arkansas Water Infrastructure: Central Arkansas Water will spend about $5.3 million to relocate more than 2,000 feet of 36-inch water mains (plus smaller lines) to accommodate the widening of Highway 10/Cantrell Road in west Little Rock, with the state expected to reimburse about 25% of eligible costs. University STEM Expansion: Arkansas State University opened the $25M Windgate Hall of Art and Innovation in Jonesboro, adding 3D printing, virtual reality, and studios to connect art/design with engineering and computer science. Agriculture Research for Climate Resilience: A-State leads a $2.2M NSF project to boost drought tolerance in rice and wheat using beneficial soil fungi (arbuscular mycorrhizal inoculants). Public Health & Ticks: A CDC-led study found alpha-gal antibodies are common in tick-heavy states, with Arkansas highest among the sampled states at 31.2%. Workforce & Safety Training: UADA hired its first extension culinary nutrition, hospitality and tourism instructor, while OSHA issued a regional emphasis program targeting high-noise hazards across multiple manufacturing sectors. Tech in Arkansas Education: UAFS reported a slight fall enrollment dip to about 5,400 students, citing intentional adjustments to reduce waitlists.

Public Health & Policy: The White House says it will send $500 “Obamacare” refunds to nearly 1 million ACA enrollees in 30 states, but New Mexico won’t qualify—raising questions about how federal exchange fees and eligibility rules are playing out for Arkansans. STEM Research & Food Security: Arkansas State University is leading a $2.2M NSF project to help rice and wheat tolerate drought using naturally beneficial soil fungi, aiming to boost resilience as water stress worsens. Higher Ed Outcomes: New data show Arkansas’s six-year bachelor’s completion rate for Hispanic/Latino students who started in 2018 reached 50.1% by 2024, highlighting a widening gap versus other groups. Workplace Safety: OSHA issued a Regional Emphasis Program targeting high-noise health hazards across multiple manufacturing sectors, including facilities covered by the Little Rock federal area office. Campus & Community Tech: A-State and Sany Nutrition Group partnered to launch locally made protein crunch bars in the Craighead Technology Park, with proceeds supporting A-State’s Student Emergency Fund. Health & Environment: A CDC-led study found alpha-gal antibodies are common in tick-heavy states, with Arkansas among the highest rates—an important reminder for clinicians and residents. Cybersecurity & Privacy: A leaked dataset exposed personal info tied to probation and parole monitoring, renewing concerns about surveillance tech and data protection.

Arkansas Tech & Telecom: Lowell-based freight AI startup Overroute raised $5.5M to expand its platform for large carriers, building on its J.B. Hunt-backed UP.Labs launch. Clean Energy in Arkansas: Invenergy and HASI closed a strategic equity partnership backing a 2.7-GW portfolio that includes Arkansas projects, with hundreds of megawatts already operating and more expected by early 2027. Broadband Growth: Jonesboro-based Rightfiber (formed from Ritter and Great Plains) says it plans to grow via fiber-to-the-home network expansion and targeted M&A, supported by a $1.6B credit facility. Public Health & Food Safety: The FDA/CDC linked a Cyclospora outbreak to iceberg lettuce from central Mexico, with Arkansas among the states reporting cases. Tech Policy: California signed new rules limiting addictive social media features for kids and restricting AI chatbot toys—an issue that’s already colliding with court fights in states including Arkansas. STEM Education: UA Little Rock announced a new workforce-focused summit and a major scholarship effort aimed at reducing student financial barriers.

Interstate Licensing: Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe signed HB 2974, speeding up out-of-state professional licensing and explicitly allowing telehealth for providers who get Missouri licenses via reciprocity. Youth Tech Safety: California enacted “Adam’s Law,” limiting addictive social media features for kids under 16 and banning AI companion-chatbot toys for four years, alongside tougher rules for minors’ online privacy and AI-generated child sexual abuse material. Arkansas Water Oversight: The Arkansas Department of Health released its 2025 Public Water System Supervision Program annual report, detailing how the state monitors drinking-water compliance under the Safe Drinking Water Act. AI in Agriculture: Arkansas’ AI in Agriculture Symposium is set for Sept. 21 at the Don Tyson Center, aiming to connect ag researchers with engineering and data science to improve production tools. Local STEM & Community: Arkansas Game and Fish named a new wildlife management area, Pat Fitts Oakwood WMA, after a land trade that opens 2,206 acres to public hunting. Health & Maternal Care: Olivia and Tom Walton pledged $100 million over five years to cut maternal deaths by half, with science-backed interventions scaled through state matching grants.

Maternal Health Policy in Arkansas: Arkansas expanded Medicaid reimbursement for doula and lactation consultant care, a change tied to the Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies Act and Act 625—aimed at improving outcomes as the state continues to rank poorly on maternal and infant mortality. Rural Health & Access: A new report says nearly half of U.S. hospitals lack maternity wards, with rural areas hit hardest as Medicaid cuts loom. Agriculture Research: Arkansas State University leads a $2.2M NSF project to boost drought tolerance in rice and wheat using mycorrhizal fungi. STEM Education & Training: ASU–Beebe added a Kubota Tech Center of Excellence to its diesel and power sports curriculum, aligning training with industry certification. Food Allergy Science: A Phase 3 trial is underway for remibrutinib pills to help prevent reactions to peanut, milk, and egg, enrolling sites including Arkansas. Community Tech & Literacy: The Dollar General Literacy Foundation awarded $90,000 in youth literacy grants across Northeast Arkansas for books and technology. Local Tech in Action: Investigators credited Flock camera tech with helping locate an abducted 12-year-old in Arkansas. STEM Workforce & Learning Support: Stanford researchers say Arkansas is among states maintaining strong tutoring investments after federal pandemic funding ended.

Maternal Health Policy: Arkansas expanded Medicaid reimbursement for doula and lactation consultant care starting Sept. 1, following 2025 laws and Legislative Council rule approval—aimed at improving outcomes in a state still facing high maternal and infant mortality. STEM Education & Workforce: Arkansas State University’s new veterinary school is now taking applications for its fall 2027 class, highlighting a hands-on, holistic admissions approach and new animal facilities. Research & Innovation in Agriculture/Forestry: UAM is set to hold a ribbon-cutting for the Arkansas Forest Health Research Center, built with federal and state funding to strengthen in-state testing for forest diseases, invasive insects, and climate threats. Local Tech & Infrastructure: Little Rock’s wastewater utility is behind on major capital spending this year, with commissioners hearing why projects and federal funding timing have slowed progress. Public Safety Tech: Investigators used Flock Safety cameras and business surveillance to help locate a missing 12-year-old in Independence County after a grooming-and-abduction case. Community STEM Culture: Northwest Arkansas’ new free zine “milkweed” is putting local voices back into print, with a launch tied to the region’s creative scene.

Defense Tech in Arkansas: L3Harris won a $4.7 billion, seven-year Lockheed Martin award to expand PAC-3 MSE propulsion production, including two-pulse solid rocket motors, attitude-control motors, and the Lethality Enhancer, with new Camden, Arkansas capacity expected to come online in 2027. Health Policy: Arkansas Medicaid will now reimburse doula and lactation consultant services, a change tied to the Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies Act and Act 625, aiming to improve maternal outcomes as the state continues to face high maternal and infant mortality rates. Local Infrastructure: Fayetteville named an engineer project manager for the proposed 30 Crossing downtown park, supported by a $30 million Bezos Earth Fund grant. Smart Water Upgrades: A city approved purchasing 96 smart water meters to measure pressure and temperature across the distribution network as part of a Phase One effort to address water loss. Insurance & Tech: Arkansas regulators approved Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s affiliation with Cambia, letting the insurers share operations and technology while keeping local control. STEM & Education: Southern Arkansas University reported growth in fall freshmen enrollment and expanding graduate certificate programs, including a sharp jump in Educational Examiner enrollment.

Arkansas Health Policy: Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield won state approval to affiliate with Cambia Health Solutions, with the deal set to start Oct. 1 while keeping Arkansas-based operations and the Blue Cross name. Higher Ed Leadership: UAPB named Kristi L. Smith vice chancellor for institutional advancement, effective Nov. 9, as she moves from UA Little Rock where she helped lead major fundraising and alumni efforts. STEM & Workforce Training: Bentonville High School opened a new Crossland Construction Lab, adding hands-on construction tools for up to 240 students and strengthening career and technical education pathways. Defense Tech: L3Harris and Lockheed Martin inked a $4.7 billion, seven-year commitment for PAC-3 propulsion systems at East Camden, with new facilities planned to be operational in 2027. Lithium Watch: Smackover Lithium reported positive preliminary economics for its Franklin Project, citing strong early-stage metrics and potential early-2030s production. Campus Climate Resilience: UALR described how a record heatwave pushed students and staff to use cooling stations and adjust events to stay safe. Education Outcomes (Local Data): Washington County’s six-year bachelor’s completion rate for students of two or more races at UA was 66.8% by 2024, according to NCES figures.

Energy & Industry: Entergy Arkansas broke ground on the 446-megawatt Ironwood Power Plant at Lake Catherine, a “Next Generation Arkansas” project approved by the Arkansas Public Service Commission in 2024, aiming for up to 40% better fuel efficiency and more flexible power as older plants retire. Workforce & Education: UA Little Rock will host an inaugural Workforce Summit Sept. 24 to connect education, industry, and government on closing Central Arkansas workforce gaps, including advanced skills and credentialing. AI in the Region: The Northwest Arkansas Tech Summit returned in Bentonville with a sold-out crowd and a focus on how AI is changing jobs and workplace operations. Defense Tech: L3Harris won a $4.7 billion, seven-year Lockheed Martin contract to produce PAC-3 MSE propulsion systems, with new Camden, Arkansas facilities targeting expanded solid rocket motor production by 2027. Food Safety Research: USDA researchers are testing electron-beam treatment to damage pathogen DNA in ground poultry, as poultry still needs more data for broad confidence in “cold pasteurization.” Forest Research: UAM will open the Arkansas Forest Health Research Center, funded through ARPA and state support, to expand in-state testing for diseases, invasive insects, and climate threats.

Health Policy in Arkansas: The Arkansas Insurance Department approved Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s strategic affiliation with Cambia Health Solutions, with members keeping current coverage and the local Blue Cross name. STEM & Education Metrics: New federal data show University of Arkansas–Fort Smith’s six-year bachelor’s completion rates lag for white students in Sebastian County (36.5% by 2024) versus the statewide rate (58.7%). Wildlife & Public Land: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ended annual rulemaking for migratory game bird hunting seasons, shifting season details into a three-year memorandum cycle. Biosecurity Watch: China researchers described a new tick-borne virus (ALTNV) carried by a tick species already established in 21 U.S. states, with no U.S. human cases reported. Tech & Safety: Investigators recovered voice and data recorders from an Amazon cargo jet crash at Miami International Airport and are urging anyone with video or photos to submit them. Local STEM Culture: UAFS College of Art and Design opens “Glyphosate Dreams,” exploring glyphosate’s effects on bodies, land, and aquatic ecosystems. AI Jobs & Training: Cognizant says it will hire 1,500 U.S. graduates for the AI era, citing research that AI could affect most jobs.

Arkansas Energy & Industry: South Arkansas drilling updates show new permits and recent well activity, including a Columbia County wildcat Potlatch No. 1 surface hole starting Sept. 1 and multiple completions and recompletions across the region. Public Health & Care Access: St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro says it now provides 24/7 neurointerventional stroke coverage, adding an interventional neurologist and expanding rapid, imaging-guided treatment capacity. AI & Engineering Tools: Little Rock student Kielland Brown’s DrawSort aims to cut “invisible costs” by using AI to organize engineering drawings into a searchable index for faster review. Local Tech & Privacy: A leaked training video raises new concerns about how surveillance tools can be used during protests, including live monitoring and vehicle identification. Education & STEM Learning: UAFS and Arkansas Tech events highlight hands-on learning and community-facing talks, from “Glyphosate Dreams” at UAFS to “Pints and Professors” legal-tech discussions at ATU. Science in the Environment: Whole-lake research in Wisconsin found removing most submerged logs quickly crashed yellow perch numbers, underscoring how habitat structure drives freshwater ecosystems. Insurance & Health Policy: Arkansas regulators approved Arkansas Blue Cross’s affiliation with Cambia Health Solutions, effective Oct. 1, with implications for the insurer’s regional footprint. Agriculture Research: Indian American scientist Dr. Karim Maredia won the 2026 Borlaug CAST Communication Award for translating agricultural science for farmers and policymakers. Community & Safety: Benton County’s Sheriff’s Office is hosting a parents-focused event on online dangers, emphasizing warning signs and open conversations.