AGP Executive Report

Arkansas STEM & Education: Arkansas Tech sociology professor Sean Huss was named 2025-26 professor of the year by students for a second time, praising empathy and mentoring as AI-era skills take shape. Youth Engineering: Grant County 4-H teams brought home top-five results at the 2026 International SeaPerch Challenge in Maryland, building and piloting underwater ROVs through obstacle courses. Community Learning: UA Hope-Texarkana highlighted why community colleges matter on National Higher Education Day, focusing on affordability and clear pathways to careers or bachelor’s degrees. Public Safety Tech: Stockton, California rolled out AI-powered body cameras that translate real time across 50+ languages—an example of how language tech is moving into frontline services. Science & Weather: A magnitude 2.4 earthquake rattled the New Madrid Seismic Zone area in Missouri, with USGS noting no damage and reminding residents of the region’s long seismic history. Space Watch: A total solar eclipse is set for Aug. 12, with totality visible in parts of Greenland, Iceland, Spain, and Portugal. Local Infrastructure & Data Centers: Pulaski County residents are gearing up for a data-center fight, with a June 6 public roundtable aimed at answering questions ahead of a proposed moratorium vote. Health: Doctors warn that even short sun exposure can cause long-term skin damage, urging SPF 30+ and reapplication.

Pulaski County Data Center Fight: A free June 6 public roundtable will field questions on proposed Pulaski County data center rules and a possible moratorium, as residents push back on hyperscale AI power demands and local impacts. School Safety Policy: Riverview School District reviewed how Act 565 works in practice, including steps for removing students after violent or abusive behavior and using conferences before returning to class. Healthcare & Aging: CMS reporting shows The Springs of El Dorado earned a four-star rating in Q1 2026, with no fines and staffing/inspection performance driving the score. STEM in the Community: Summit Utilities opened applications for its 2026 Summit Cares Grants, prioritizing student STEM programs plus conservation and energy-efficiency efforts. Tech & Daily Life: Walmart is rolling out express delivery of in-store food (starting with Subway) via its app, aiming for meals in 30 minutes or less. Health Warning: Doctors say skin damage can start after about 15 minutes in the sun, urging SPF 30+ and reapplication every 30 minutes. AI Accuracy Concern: A study finds most AI chatbot answers about midterm elections are flawed, often citing unreliable or state-run sources.

Health & Research: A 3-year-old Arkansas-Oklahoma toddler, Asher, was diagnosed with a rare blood cancer after months of worsening symptoms, including a limp that began after tonsil surgery—his family says the experience underscores trusting instincts and advocating for kids. Local Tech & Environment: Central Arkansas residents are gearing up for a public roundtable on hyperscale data centers, as Pulaski County considers a moratorium amid concerns about facilities planned by AVAIO Digital and Google. AI & Media Literacy: A new audit finds 90% of AI chatbot answers about midterm elections are flawed or biased, often citing state-run outlets. Education & Cybersecurity: UA Little Rock engineering grad Colin McNerny built VR simulations for cybersecurity and critical infrastructure protection through the CORE Center. Public Health Access: Telehealth access to the abortion pill mifepristone faces legal pressure, with advocates warning it could affect domestic-violence survivors. STEM in Agriculture: Researchers document rice plants trapping and killing fall armyworm, while Arkansas rice faces a challenging season as planting nears completion. Infrastructure & Connectivity: Uniti Group priced $1.14B in secured fiber network notes tied to residential fiber assets across multiple states including Arkansas.

Electric Aviation in Arkansas: Walnut Ridge Regional Airport is moving ahead with electric flight by installing a BETA Technologies charging station (installed in 2024 at no taxpayer cost), aiming to serve both traditional and electric aircraft as the tech spreads. AI in Arkansas (Local Lens): A new Little Rock–based “AI optimist” magazine, AI Arkansas, spotlights local boosters and automation-minded ideas—while raising questions about how grounded the messaging is for schools and small businesses. Data Centers & the Economy: An Arkansas economist says U.S. growth is still strong, with major momentum coming from data center construction tied to AI demand—about $50B invested in new data centers recently. Public Health & Poverty Tech: Arkansas Colleges of Health Education ran a Fort Smith poverty simulation to help community partners understand barriers like housing, transport, and healthcare access. Agriculture Research: UA researchers report rice plants can trap and kill early fall armyworm larvae inside spikelets, a finding that could shape future pest-control strategies. Livestock Risk Watch: A confirmed New World screwworm case in Texas is already rattling cattle markets, though grocery beef prices likely won’t change immediately. Cyber Safety: Arkansas State Police urged parents to strengthen online protections during Internet Safety Month, noting rises in suicide threats and child sexual abuse material complaints.

Digital Health & AI in Arkansas: Northwest Arkansas Pathology Associates adopted Techcyte Fusion® for remote pathology signout, aiming to ease staffing shortages and expand access to specialized expertise. STEM Education Spotlight: UA Little Rock was recognized nationally for its Innovative Gifted Education Program after faculty presented in Washington, D.C. Agriculture Research: University of Arkansas researchers documented rice plants trapping and killing fall armyworm larvae inside spikelets, a finding that could reshape pest control. Rice Season Watch: Arkansas rice planting faced stress from an unusually dry, warm March-April, plus wind that hurt germination and stand uniformity. Biosecurity Alert: USDA confirmed a case of flesh-eating New World screwworm, with health officials urging vigilance for livestock wounds. Climate Tech & Carbon Removal: NYK will buy carbon dioxide removal credits from Graphyte’s Arkansas-based Loblolly project using biomass residues converted into stable underground storage. Energy & Infrastructure: Google broke ground on a 1+ GW co-located data center and generation complex in Texas, signaling continued demand for reliable power. Tech & Workforce: Arkansas retail tech leaders say AI is now a real-time operational requirement, not a “nice to have.” Local Tech Talent: Pine Bluff student Taylor Calhoun will compete nationally in ACT-SO for an AI program that helps track student progress and connect families with teacher feedback. Higher Ed Access: UA Hope-Texarkana opened registration events for Summer II and fall, including career/technical programs like cybersecurity and fiber optics.

Broadband Expansion: Kinetic, the Little Rock-based Uniti Group unit, says it has passed 2 million residential fiber premises across 18 states, with builds focused on rural and suburban areas. Mobile Broadband: Dobson Fiber is adding mobile service via Reach, offering tiered plans (including 30GB and 50GB options) with BYOD support for compatible phones. Education Costs: Arkansas State University System trustees approved a 4% tuition and mandatory fee increase for A-State for 2026-27, citing rising operating expenses. Public Safety Tech: Mountain Home Public Schools will nearly double high school security cameras and add locker-room audio recording to comply with Eli’s Law, funded with leftover state safety money. Healthcare Workforce Pipeline: NYITCOM at A-State awarded DO degrees to Paragould natives Stevie Coleman and Kirsten Grubbs at commencement/hooding. Forensics: The Arkansas State Crime Laboratory earned an international efficiency award for peak operational performance. Local Tech Policy: Little Rock passed data center regulations after a long City Board meeting, amid ongoing community debate over hyperscale projects. STEM in the News: Curiosity rover updates include mineral and volatile checks after the “Campo Marte” drill on Mars.

Arkansas Data Center Fight: Little Rock’s board unanimously passed Mayor Frank Scott Jr.’s data center land-use regulations after a long meeting, as residents push for broader moratoriums amid AI-driven hyperscale expansion. Medicaid Coverage Pressure: CMS issued interim guidance for Medicaid work requirements, with states facing a tight 2027 rollout and concerns about paperwork failures cutting off eligible people. Forensic Lab Upgrade: The Arkansas State Crime Laboratory earned an international efficiency award for hitting 90%+ peak performance, highlighting operational improvements tied to Project Foresight. Research Funding Boost: UA Little Rock chemistry professor Dr. Noureen Siraj won the 2026 Emerging Research Leaders grant to strengthen her nanomedicine and energy-storage research and improve federal funding readiness. Carbon Removal Expansion: Graphyte’s Loblolly CO2-removal site in southeast Arkansas is set to triple capacity with Sumitomo support, aiming to scale durable carbon removal. Broadband Milestone: Kinetic surpassed 2 million fiber premises passed across its 18-state footprint, signaling continued infrastructure buildout in rural and suburban areas.

AI in Schools: Mountain Home Public Schools testing coordinator Becca Camp warned the board after an AI-assisted analysis (using ChatGPT) initially skewed ATLAS proficiency results, forcing manual checks before reporting. Education & STEM: The district’s three-year assessment trends show math gains in several grades but persistent weakness in content vocabulary across classrooms, plus recurring trouble spots in multi-step problem solving and reasoning. Healthcare Tech & Research: Moonlight Therapeutics launched a first clinical trial of a microneedle “peanut allergy stamp” (MOON101), aiming to desensitize patients by delivering tiny doses of peanut protein into skin immune cells. Forensics: The Arkansas State Crime Laboratory earned the international Foresight Maximus Award for top operational efficiency and scientific excellence. Public Health/Policy: Baptist Health confirmed another 70 Fort Smith hospital job cuts, citing decreased volumes and duplicated roles. Infrastructure & Energy: Fort Smith city directors consider $8.5M for design of a $150M sewer system overhaul, including upgrades to the Massard Water Reclamation Facility. Local Business & Logistics: Seattle-based Carrix/LSI is buying Van Buren’s Five Rivers Distribution to expand inland waterways operations on the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System.

AI in Healthcare Education: UA Little Rock is hosting a June 8-12 AI Hackathon and HealthTech Startup Week, with a public Demo-and-Pitch Showcase June 12 (2-5 p.m.) where students will present AI-powered solutions to Arkansas healthcare problems. Cancer Research Expansion: Highlands Oncology in Springdale opened a roughly $4 million Clinical Trials Suite to expand patient access and scale its oncology research program. Biotech Trial in Peanut Allergy: Moonlight Therapeutics launched a first-in-human trial of a microneedle “stamp” (MOON101) designed to desensitize peanut-allergic patients by delivering tiny doses through the skin. Public Health & Access: New federal Medicaid work requirement guidance adds pressure on states with a Jan. 1, 2027 deadline, while a Georgetown report says uninsured rates for kids under 6 rose sharply, with Arkansas among the worst. Forensics Upgrade: The Arkansas State Crime Laboratory received an international Foresight Maximus Award for top operational efficiency and performance. STEM Workforce & Learning: Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service earned a national immunization outreach award, and UA Little Rock announced a slate of 2026 summer camps. Local Tech & Logistics: Carrix/LSI is acquiring Van Buren-based Five Rivers Distribution to expand inland waterways operations on the Arkansas River system.

Education Funding Watch: Arkansas lawmakers are weighing whether LEARNS-era pay boosts are enough, as a new legislative review finds teacher satisfaction is high on paper but only about half feel “generally satisfied and supported” by administration, and Arkansas still lags other states on cost-of-living-adjusted pay. Workplace Tech & Safety: Walmart is limiting employee use of its in-house AI tool “Code Puppy” after heavy demand, a sign companies are tightening costs and usage as AI moves into daily work. Healthcare Spotlight: Baxter Health sleep lab technologist Michael Taylor won a “Heroes with Halos” award after a patient nominated him for care during a sleep study. Public Health Outreach: The Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service earned a national award for immunization outreach, highlighting its county-by-county role in connecting rural residents with vaccine education and opportunities. Local Industry & Jobs: CEP USA opened its first U.S. manufacturing facility in North Little Rock for prefabricated electrical substations, aiming to create 27 jobs over five years. Tech & Accountability: Seagate reached a $175M settlement tied to claims it concealed sales of hard drives to Huawei in violation of U.S. export controls.

Rural Connectivity Boost: Brightspeed launched multi-gig fiber service in Coal Hill, Hartman, and nearby areas, aiming to improve remote work, school access, and telehealth in underserved Johnson County. Biotech & Mental Health: Minerva Neurosciences formed a Scientific Advisory Board to guide development of roluperidone for schizophrenia’s negative symptoms, including an ongoing Phase 3 trial. Local Manufacturing Jobs: CEP USA opened its first U.S. prefabricated electrical substation facility in North Little Rock, investing nearly $1M and targeting about 27 jobs over five years. Tech, Trade, and Accountability: Seagate agreed to a proposed $175M settlement tied to claims it concealed sales of hard drives to Huawei in violation of U.S. export controls. Child Safety Online: A bipartisan group of state attorneys general, including Arkansas’ Jay Jones, opposed the federal KIDS Act, arguing it could limit state enforcement of child online safety rules. STEM Education Pipeline: UCA held spring commencement with about 1,200 degrees and certificates across science, engineering, and health programs. Health Access in the Delta: Coverage highlights ongoing staffing and care gaps in Arkansas’ Delta and the role of medical training programs in expanding local providers.

Arkansas AI & misinformation: A Fort Smith police alert warned residents about an AI-generated video falsely claiming an injured officer was already home—another sign lawmakers may need clearer rules as AI use spreads. Local business & jobs: Farmers Bank & Trust confirmed it’s moving its corporate headquarters to Little Rock, citing workforce access and airport connectivity. STEM in the community: Civil Air Patrol is recruiting for a new South Arkansas squadron, with a June 7 meeting inviting volunteers (not just pilots) to support aerospace education and search-and-rescue. Education transportation tech: Little Rock School District expanded a partnership with Rock Region Metro using a state Transportation Modernization Grant to help students get to class, including free rides and bike-safety support. Industry & materials: Tetra Technologies advanced its Evergreen bromine project near Stamps with a conditional final investment decision, aiming to secure domestic bromine supply for energy and completion fluids. Health & policy: A national look at Medicaid work requirements highlights budget pressure and potential service cuts—an issue Arkansas policymakers will likely watch closely.

AI in Arkansas: Fort Smith police warned residents about an AI-generated video falsely claiming an injured officer was home, underscoring how fast synthetic media is spreading locally as lawmakers weigh next steps on AI impacts. Public Health Policy: States are balking at Medicaid work requirements as budgets tighten, with North Carolina facing major cuts and potential ripple effects for rural clinics and hospitals. Medical Education & AI: A national healthcare commentary argues AI isn’t the core problem in training doctors—systems may be failing to teach what real patients need. UAPB AI Workforce: The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff launched a Center for Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics to train faculty and build AI/data skills across the Delta. Mars Manufacturing Research: A University of Arkansas mechanical engineering grad studied whether metal 3D printing could work in Mars-like carbon dioxide air, aiming to reduce the need for argon on the planet. Local Science & Tech in Schools: UAPB nutrition and Arkansas school STEM items also surfaced, including an AI-themed student competition mention and hands-on learning tied to archery programs. DNA Accountability in Arkansas: DNA tech helped identify a Plainview sailor killed at Pearl Harbor, finally leading to a hometown burial 85 years later.

Mars Tech: A University of Arkansas mechanical engineering grad reports research suggesting metal 3D printing on Mars could work in carbon dioxide instead of argon—potentially cutting the need to ship shielding gas. AI & Education: UAPB launched a Center for Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics to train students and help regional leaders adopt AI tools as the university pushes toward higher research activity. Healthcare Infrastructure: UAMS ended service agreements with the owner of Arkansas’ only proton therapy center after unpaid invoices, while pledging to keep current patients on treatment. Forensics: The Arkansas State Crime Laboratory received an international Foresight Maximus Award for top operational efficiency and scientific performance. STEM in Schools: UAM recognized top students across forestry, agriculture, plant/soil science, wildlife, and waterfowl programs. Local STEM Pathways: UAFS electrical engineering student Danu Regalado is biking 4,000 miles for Journey of Hope, supporting disability advocacy. Agriculture Security: A UF/IFAS survey finds strong public concern across the region about pests and diseases and support for stronger protections.

Missing-Youth Rescue: A multi-agency operation rescued 21 missing and endangered young people across Lee, Collier and Hendry counties, with investigators still interviewing survivors and checking whether charges are needed. Agricultural Security: A UF/IFAS survey found Arkansans and neighbors increasingly worry about pests and diseases and back stronger rules to protect food systems and public health. AI Consumer Protection: State AGs are stepping up enforcement on algorithmic pricing and online age verification, signaling higher compliance risk for companies serving minors. Forensics Upgrade: The Arkansas State Crime Laboratory earned an international Foresight Maximus Award for top operational efficiency and scientific performance. UAMS Proton Center: UAMS ended unpaid service agreements with the company behind Arkansas’ only proton therapy center, while pledging continued care for current patients. Higher Ed Leadership: The University of Arkansas named Katheleen Guzman as interim School of Law dean starting July 1. Mobile IDs: Arkansas expanded driver’s licenses and state IDs into Apple Wallet, adding another verification channel for residents. Pearl Harbor Return: DNA-based identification brought North Little Rock sailor Royle Bradford Luker home to Arkansas for burial with honors.

Arkansas Cancer Care: UAMS ended its service agreements with the owner of the state’s only proton therapy center, citing about $916,000 in unpaid invoices, while saying existing patients can keep treatment and new requests will be reviewed case-by-case. University Research Funding: Arkansas State University professor Dr. Andrew “Drew” Fleming won an Emerging Research Leaders Program grant aimed at boosting faculty success in competitive federal funding. Law School Leadership: The University of Arkansas named Katheleen Guzman interim dean of its School of Law starting July 1, replacing Emily Suski after months of political controversy. Public Health & Wildlife: Arkansas Game and Fish says chronic wasting disease remains a growing threat to deer, with new detections reported across multiple counties. STEM in the Community: UAFS sophomore Danu Regalado will bike coast-to-coast to promote disability inclusion as part of the Journey of Hope. Energy & Industry: TETRA Technologies conditionally approved funding for its Evergreen bromine project in Arkansas, advancing development near Stamps. Tech & Health Devices: Oura rolled out new health-tracking features for its Oura Ring 5, including live workout tracking and expanded health monitoring.