AGP Executive Report

Space & STEM: UT alum Randy Bresnik was named commander of NASA’s Artemis III, adding to Tennessee’s growing footprint in human spaceflight. Healthcare Tech: Insight Molecular Diagnostics says its GraftAssure kidney transplant rejection assay outperformed other dd-cfDNA approaches in a newly published American Journal of Transplantation study. Weather & Agriculture: NOAA officially declared El Niño has developed, with a 63% chance it strengthens to “very strong,” raising stakes for summer planning across the region. Local Innovation & Jobs: Tennessee Tech graduate Aimee Slagle turned a Frist Art Museum internship into a full-time graphic design role. Business & Mobility Tech: Nashville’s LUCI partnership expands access to power wheelchair independence through NSM’s preferred national network. Public Safety & Forensics: TBI’s Knoxville Crime Lab earned a Project FORESIGHT Maximus Award for top-tier lab performance. Tech in the Marketplace: SlickText launched basic RCS messaging with verified sender profiles to boost trust and engagement. Aerospace M&A: XLCS Partners advised Aero Controls on its acquisition by Air Transport Components, expanding a specialized MRO platform. Community Tech Conflict: Nashville Zoo residents and conservationists are pushing back on a proposed nearby AI data center over animal and environmental concerns. Housing Policy: ThinkTennessee says a new Tennessee law could make the federal LIHTC tool more effective for attainable rental housing. Healthcare Accountability: A $56.5M settlement targets alleged inflated Medicare Advantage diagnoses tied to in-home assessments.

Oak Ridge National Laboratory Leadership: ORNL named James “Jim” Serafin Jr. director of Facilities and Operations, overseeing infrastructure and modernization across about 185 facilities—an operational boost for the lab’s growing research mission. EV Battery Shift: General Motors signaled it may drop lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) for future EVs in favor of lithium manganese-rich (LMR), while noting Tennessee LFP production is aimed at energy storage. Oncology Deal Watch: GSK’s $10.6B Nuvalent acquisition (codenamed “Nashville”) is set to accelerate its cancer rebuild with two lung-cancer treatments and help offset later patent cliffs. AI in Tennessee Classrooms: Alcoa Intermediate students won a national Presidential AI Competition with a homework-assist app that adapts to learning styles and helps with time management. Data Center Pressure in Tennessee: Memphis records show a $25M purchase of the former Fred’s HQ for a 5C data center expansion, while Nashville Zoo opponents say a proposed nearby data center could strain power and water and disrupt animal habitats. Public Safety & Health: Kansas City hospitals are coordinating for World Cup medical demand, focusing on translation and helping visitors navigate U.S. care costs and options. STEM & Teaching: Pellissippi State instructor Jessie Tipton received the Roger Crowe Excellence in Teaching Award for hands-on, real-world video production training.

Nashville Data Center Fight: Brad Paisley and Sheryl Crow are among hundreds of thousands opposing a proposed data center beside the Nashville Zoo, arguing it would strain power and water, worsen noise/light impacts, and threaten the zoo’s endangered animals. AI in Schools: Metro Nashville is using AI to redesign parts of its district organization chart, aiming to bring order to a sprawling workforce. Public Safety Tech: Tennessee’s backlog of untested sexual assault kits is shrinking after Metro approved a $250,000 recurring federal grant to send 183 kits to a higher-capacity lab. Healthcare Tech in Tennessee: West Tennessee Healthcare is expanding its eICU program across 127 ICU beds and 17 mobile emergency carts, pairing remote monitoring with virtual care tools. Mobility Tech: Nashville-based LUCI’s power-wheelchair independence push gets a boost as National Seating & Mobility becomes its preferred national partner. Space Leadership: NASA named Santa Monica native Randy Bresnik to command Artemis III, a key step toward a crewed return to the moon. EV Battery Watch: GM may shift away from LFP for EVs, though it’s still producing LFP cells in Tennessee for energy storage. Legal/Policy: A lawsuit challenges Tennessee’s cross-border remittance tax as unconstitutional, setting up a long court fight.

Mobility Tech in Tennessee: Nashville’s LUCI, which builds tech for power wheelchair riders, is partnering with National Seating & Mobility to expand access to its independence and safety features, including collision-avoidance and rider visibility tools. Healthcare Tech Under Scrutiny: A Tennessee Board of Nursing order describes how AI medication-monitoring software failed to catch fentanyl diversion at Erlanger Baroness, turning a high-tech safety promise into a cautionary tale. Hospital Pricing Pressure: The Trump administration warned 16 Tennessee hospitals to post clearer price information or face steep fines, pushing more transparency into everyday care costs. Nuclear Watch in Oak Ridge: The DOE’s NNSA has started building ATOLL, a new Oak Ridge National Laboratory nuclear monitoring hub aimed at detecting and analyzing weapons-related activity, with completion targeted for 2028. Energy Storage Shift: General Motors is moving beyond lithium iron phosphate with sodium-ion plans tied to grid-scale storage, signaling a new push for faster, cheaper deployment. STEM & Research: Vanderbilt genetic medicine research highlights high hereditary breast cancer variant rates in young Black women, reinforcing the need for broader testing. Cyber/Forensics: The TBI Knoxville Crime Laboratory earned a top global Maximus Award for performance and efficiency in forensic testing.

Mobility Tech in Tennessee: Nashville’s LUCI is teaming with National Seating & Mobility to expand access to power-wheelchair safety tech, including collision-avoidance features and 360-degree rider visibility. Medical Education Reform: Federal health leaders say nutrition training will move into the core of medical school starting fall 2026, with licensing exams set to test nutrition content. Agritech & Climate: UT researchers won $2.5 million to develop nitrogen-efficient corn using synthetic-biology and microbial approaches to cut fertilizer emissions. Health Tech for Transplants: iMDx will spotlight in-house transplant rejection testing at the American Transplant Congress, aiming for faster, lower-cost monitoring at local labs. Public Safety & Science: A magnitude 2.2 earthquake rattled western Tennessee near the New Madrid Seismic Zone, with no reported damage. AI in Schools: Melania Trump announced winners of a 2026 AI challenge for elementary through high school students, pushing AI-based solutions to community problems. Nuclear Outlook: NRC Chair Ho K. Nieh says advanced small modular reactors could be operating in the U.S. by 2030. Forensics in Knoxville: TBI’s Knoxville Crime Laboratory earned a Project FORESIGHT Maximus Award for top-tier performance and efficiency. Local Education Policy: A Tennessee state takeover of Memphis schools could revive a pattern of closures seen in other districts under similar oversight.

AI & IPO Watch: OpenAI filed confidentially for an initial public offering, setting up a potential mega-debut as AI rivals like SpaceX and Anthropic also line up for Wall Street. Local Tech & Community Impact: The Nashville Zoo is pushing back hard on a proposed 70,000-square-foot AI data center next door, warning about risks to rare animals and rallying a fast-growing petition. Energy & Reliability: TVA’s Cumberland Fossil Plant is set to receive more than $46 million in federal support to extend the life of coal-fired units after a board reversal on retirement plans. Health Tech & Cancer: GSK agreed to buy Nuvalent for $10.6 billion, a major move to expand targeted lung cancer treatments. Tennessee Research Leadership: ORNL named Jim Serafin Jr. director of Facilities and Operations, tasked with supporting the lab’s infrastructure and modernization. Education & Learning: New reporting highlights a “learning recession” in U.S. reading and math tied to smartphones and social media, while teacher prep programs still lag on evidence-based reading instruction. Mobility Innovation: Nashville’s LUCI is partnering with NSM to expand access to power wheelchair tech aimed at improving safety and independence.

Sports Tourism & Urban Planning: New data points to sports events turning into multi-day, family-focused trips, with travelers favoring cities that connect stadiums to walkable entertainment corridors. AI Policy & Liability: A revised federal NO FAKES Act would set a clearer liability and takedown framework for nonconsensual AI voice and face replicas, including a counter-notice process. Workforce Development: Bloomberg Philanthropies’ $90M initiative is bringing a Chattanooga-Hamilton County pre-apprenticeship pipeline for high schoolers into registered skilled trades, targeting local labor shortages. Sustainability in Manufacturing: TDEC’s Green Star Partnership added Clayton Appalachia, citing ISO 14001 and major gains in waste diversion plus water-saving testing methods. Public Health & Education: HHS launched a $2.1M NIH challenge to bring nutrition back into medical and nursing training, with nutrition content slated to expand across licensing exams. Tennessee Research: UT researchers identified a tick protein that may help block disease transmission, advancing work against vector-borne illness. Tech in Healthcare: HST Pathways secured a Novo Holdings growth investment to expand AI-enabled tools for ambulatory surgery centers. Energy & Grid Resilience: Utilities are increasingly adopting more granular forecasting and grid hardening tech to reduce outage risk during severe weather. Local Tech Debate: Nashville Zoo officials are pushing back on a proposed nearby AI data center over animal safety and environmental concerns.

Nashville Tech & Energy: A petition against a proposed data center next to the Nashville Zoo has surged past 288,000 signatures, with residents warning about impacts to animals and the community while the developer says it will address concerns. AI Infrastructure: SpaceX is set to supply Google with about 110,000 Nvidia GPUs for Gemini services under a deal reported at roughly $920 million per month, underscoring how Tennessee-area compute hubs are becoming central to AI growth. Nuclear in Tennessee: White House envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner visited Oak Ridge nuclear experts as Iran talks enter a critical phase, keeping Tennessee’s nuclear research footprint in the spotlight. Health Genetics: A new study links BRCA1/BRCA2 and other gene variants to aggressive early-onset breast cancer risk in Black women, strengthening the case for genetic testing and earlier screening. STEM Education: Oak Ridge Schools paused plans for a new $35 million elementary school after a nearly 7.5% enrollment dip, while still pushing an Innovation Center for career and technical education. Sports Science: FIFA’s World Cup pitches rely on years of turf engineering with UT researchers helping deliver consistent natural grass across venues.

World Cup Tech in Tennessee: FIFA says it’s fully ready for kickoff after installing advanced hybrid turf at the final 16th venue, with the system built to keep play consistent across 48 teams and 104 matches. Local Science Spotlight: University of Tennessee turfgrass experts helped develop the mostly-natural hybrid fields, using modular layers and years of testing to reduce injury risk and keep ball behavior steady. AI Compute Boom (Memphis): SpaceX is set to supply Google with up to $30B in AI computing access, with the deal tied to SpaceX’s Colossus data center in Memphis and about 110,000 Nvidia GPUs. Nuclear Diplomacy Watch (Oak Ridge): Trump envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner visited Oak Ridge to consult nuclear experts as Iran talks move toward a possible deal. Policy & Tech Governance: GOP Sens. Marsha Blackburn and Lindsey Graham push a plan to incentivize states to cross-check voter rolls quarterly against DHS non-citizen data.

Nuclear Diplomacy in Tennessee: White House envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner made an unannounced stop at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the nearby Y-12 complex to brief roughly 100 nuclear experts on what an Iran deal would require—covering uranium processing, centrifuge know-how, and how verification would work on the ground. AI Power Crunch: A new report says data centers are driving electricity demand sharply higher, pushing tech giants to secure nuclear and other carbon-free capacity to feed AI’s growth. World Cup Turf Science (UT): University of Tennessee turfgrass researchers helped develop the hybrid grass used across the 2026 World Cup fields, aiming for consistent, injury-safe play under FIFA pitch rules. AI Compute Deal (Memphis): Google is set to pay SpaceX about $920 million a month for cloud compute access, including tens of thousands of Nvidia chips, as AI demand surges. Health Tech Policy (Nashville): Local advocates are pushing for earlier Alzheimer’s detection, including insurance coverage for biomarker testing via the ASAP Act. Urgent Care Expansion (SC via Nashville): HCA is buying about a dozen MedCare clinics in South Carolina, rebranding them to HCA CareNow, with Nashville-based Urgent Care Group as the seller.

AI Infrastructure Deal: Google will pay SpaceX about $920M per month (Oct. 2026–June 2029) for AI compute access, including ~110,000 Nvidia GPUs, underscoring how fast demand is outpacing new hardware builds. Nuclear Progress: The Energy Department says a private microreactor at Idaho National Lab hit “criticality,” a key step toward generating electricity in the next few years. Tennessee Tech & Research: UT turfgrass professor John Sorochan is helping engineer World Cup 2026 pitches, aiming for consistent, high-performance hybrid grass across 16 stadiums. Local Tech & Safety: A Vallejo plan to remove three marked crosswalks on Tennessee Street cites collision history and ADA gaps, pushing pedestrians to use nearby controlled intersections. STEM in Schools: Knox County Schools is seeing math and reading gains after adopting a research-backed curriculum and aligned tutoring through community partners. Climate & Health: New research links heat waves to cognitive problems in animals, raising risks for feeding and survival during hotter summers.

Nuclear Diplomacy Prep in Tennessee: Trump envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met Oak Ridge National Lab experts as the U.S. prepares for possible Iran nuclear talks, with a roughly 100-person technical team lined up for verification, enrichment limits, and handling existing materials. Advanced Nuclear Milestone: The Energy Department says a private microreactor at Idaho National Lab hit criticality, a step toward producing electricity within a few years and a sign of renewed momentum for next-gen nuclear. AI Compute Boom Tied to Memphis: SpaceX landed a major Google cloud deal worth about $920M per month (Oct. 2026–June 2029) for ~110,000 Nvidia GPUs, reinforcing SpaceX’s AI infrastructure push ahead of its IPO; the pact follows Anthropic’s Memphis compute agreement. Local Tech Meets Animal Protection: Nashville Zoo launched a petition and zoning appeal to block a data center next door, warning noise could disrupt rare animals, including clouded leopards. Health Data Tech: UNM researchers say self-harm history is often missing from diagnosis codes in VA records, using machine learning to estimate far higher rates than coding alone shows. EV Battery Push: GM opened a Battery Cell Development Centre for lithium-manganese-rich chemistry aimed at cutting EV battery costs and reaching trucks by 2028.

Nashville Data Center Fight: Nashville Zoo and supporters launched a fast-growing petition against a proposed DC BLOX data center next door, citing noise, water impacts, and animal welfare concerns. Cybersecurity Funding: Sen. Mark Warner is set to introduce a bill to restore and expand federal support for the MS-ISAC, aiming to boost state and local cyber defenses. AI + Infrastructure: Meta’s AI buildout is reportedly moving into tent-style data centers to speed deployment, raising new questions about power, safety, and local environmental effects. Nuclear in Tennessee: A secret Trump envoy visit to Oak Ridge nuclear experts signals nuclear diplomacy may be heating up, while Type One Energy’s Oak Ridge-linked fusion push targets a UK private fusion plant. STEM in the Volunteer State: Tennessee Tech students earned DOE-backed stipends to present nuclear research at a major materials management conference. Health Tech Trend: In Nashville, Pro2col is promoting hyperbaric oxygen therapy as part of personalized recovery plans that may also include IV therapy and EBO2. Agriculture + Biosecurity: USDA confirmed a New World screwworm case in Texas, prompting Tennessee temporary animal import restrictions. Education Costs: UT’s Board of Trustees will consider tuition and mandatory fee increases at multiple campuses.

Space & AI Finance: Wall Street is debating SpaceX’s upcoming retail-heavy IPO after Goldman Sachs-linked projections peg SpaceX AI earnings at $322B by 2030, helping justify a $1.77T valuation—while Morningstar questions the price and flags governance and cash-allocation concerns. Robotics & Logistics: Amazon unveiled a new Proteus robot for Europe that can roam full warehouse floors using everyday language, alongside STARK tote-handling and Vulcan touch-sensing robots—aimed at faster delivery. Tennessee Higher Ed: UT received a record $130M Haslam gift to expand the Haslam College of Business and recruit faculty, while Virginia Tech got a $75M anonymous commitment. Local Tech & Policy: Nashville Zoo’s petition against a proposed AI data center next door surged past 30,000 signatures in hours, citing missing environmental review and risks to animals and visitors. Public Safety Tech: Memphis Police’s Drone as First Responder program says drones have supported 180+ calls since launch, helping with real-time tracking and faster response. Health & Care: CMS data show two Nashville-area nursing homes with low ratings—Heartland (3) and Quality Center for Rehabilitation and Healing (1)—plus fines and penalties. Climate & Infrastructure: A Memphis report says extreme heat is worsening in cities, while an ocean monitoring network is set to be scaled back ahead of a potential strong El Niño.

AI & Local Land-Use Fight: Nashville Zoo says a proposed 69,000-square-foot AI data center next door could harm animals and strain power and water, pointing to missing environmental studies; a petition drew 30,000 signatures in three hours. Public Safety Tech in Tennessee: Memphis Police’s Drone as First Responder program has helped on more than 180 calls since May, including a May 30 domestic disturbance where drone footage supported a fast suspect and vehicle identification. Energy & Grid Policy: Trump announced $700 million in wartime-authority funding to restart and extend coal operations, including a Tennessee-linked list of plants, while critics warn about pollution and risk. Higher Ed Governance: Temple University disclosed $1.475 million in separation payments to former president Jason Wingard even after his 2023 resignation. Broadband & Connectivity: United Communications launched professionally installed Outdoor Wi‑Fi for patios and outdoor workspaces in Middle Tennessee. STEM & Research Events: ORNL’s Forrest Hoffman will discuss using AI and machine learning to advance Earth system science in a June 9 public talk. Tech/Business Watch: SpaceX’s IPO roadshow set a fixed $135 share price, drawing scrutiny over valuation and deal terms.

Energy Storage in Tennessee: Ford is reshaping its battery strategy after the SK On joint venture collapse, repurposing Kentucky capacity for energy storage and leaning on China’s CATL tech to speed up ESS commercialization—an approach that’s drawing scrutiny from South Korea’s battery industry. Local Tech & Public Safety: Memphis Police is expanding drone use through a “Drones as First Responders” program, using FAA-compliant aerial tracking to reach suspects faster and support investigations. Education Tech Debate: A new report highlights how some students with disabilities rely on screens and speech-to-text tools at school, raising questions about what happens if bans spread. Health Tech & Care Access: UT Knoxville researchers say they’ve identified a tick saliva protein that may help spread dangerous viruses, pointing to a potentially easier target than the pathogens themselves. Higher Ed Costs: MTSU is seeking a 4.5% tuition and 5.27% fee increase for 2026-27, with an online public comment window open until June 11. Nursing Home Watch: CMS data spotlights staffing and ratings at Chattanooga and other Tennessee facilities, including NHC Healthcare in Chattanooga and Beech Tree Health and Rehabilitation in Campbell County.