AGP Executive Report

Quantum Computing in Chattanooga: EPB launched the IonQ Forte Enterprise quantum computer at its Quantum Center, aiming to make Chattanooga a hub for commercial quantum networking and real-world applications. Healthcare Tech for Rural Care: LivTech rolled out Alora Anywhere 2.0, letting in-home caregivers clock in/out, do EVV, and complete documentation offline—built for low-connectivity areas. AI and Copyright Fight: The Memphis Flyer joined a growing lawsuit targeting OpenAI and Microsoft over alleged unauthorized use of local reporting, with consolidation expected soon. Public Health Watch: CDC reported 3,471 measles cases in the U.S. as of Sept. 17, with a week-over-week rise and most cases tied to outbreaks. Agriculture Funding: USDA awarded $26.5 million in Value-Added Producer Grants, including $199,309 for Tennessee’s Light Hill Meats. Power and Data Centers: A Senate vote on a ratepayer protection bill for data-center electricity costs stalled, while local debates over grid impacts keep heating up.

Healthcare Tech: LivTech says its Alora Anywhere 2.0 app now works without internet, letting in-home caregivers clock in/out, do EVV, and finish visit notes even in low-connectivity areas—aimed at fewer errors and better compliance. Wearables & Rehab: UTC and Marmara University received a U.S. design patent for a wrist/forearm wearable that senses essential tremor and responds in real time to reduce shaking. Public Safety Tech: Tennessee AG Jonathan Skrmetti weighs in on license plate reader legality as Knox County and others disable cameras, warning the tech can be abused and that lawmakers may tighten rules. Smart Government Networks: A Tennessee report looks at how self-service kiosks depend on reliable field networking to keep citizen transactions fast and resilient. Local Tech & Education: Tennessee Tech hit its highest enrollment in more than a decade (10,773 students) on fall 2026 census data. Power Infrastructure: Hyosung Heavy Industries and Quanta Services form a U.S. joint venture to make high-voltage circuit breakers in Pennsylvania. Data Center Backlash: A new analysis highlights how data centers affect housing, infrastructure, and quality of life, with Chattanooga-area moratoriums in the spotlight.

Healthcare Tech in Tennessee: LivTech (Knoxville) is rolling out Alora Anywhere 2.0 for in-home care workers, adding offline capability so caregivers can clock in/out, do EVV, and complete visit documentation even with spotty signal—aimed at reducing rural compliance errors after LivTech’s April 2026 Alora acquisition. AI Safety & Scams: OpenAI and AARP launched free “Older Adults AI Skills Jam” training in Nashville and other cities, teaching seniors to use ChatGPT as a second set of eyes to spot scam warning signs. Quantum & AI Research: IonQ reported progress on generating quantum optimization circuits with NVIDIA, lifting quantum optimization stocks. Energy & Data Centers: A U.S. House bill would push utilities to charge data centers for full power and grid upgrade costs; in Alabama, Sen. Tommy Tuberville pledged a four-year power-rate freeze tied to data-center growth. Rail Recovery: CSX’s Blue Ridge recovery project won AREMA’s 2026 Hay Award for restoring service after Hurricane Helene damage across Tennessee and North Carolina. Climate Extremes: A late-season heat dome is keeping triple-digit temperatures locked over the South, including parts of Tennessee. Education & AI in Schools: A Nashville nonprofit, Instruction Partners, published findings from a six-month look at how AI tools are actually used across 16 school systems in seven states.

Healthcare Tech: LivTech says its Alora Anywhere 2.0 for in-home care can work without internet, letting caregivers clock in/out, do EVV, and complete visit documentation even in low-connectivity areas. AI Policy & Safety: Tennessee Rep. Andy Ogles pushed back on federal AI overreach, warning Congress could “stifle” innovation while stressing national security stakes. Public Health: Mercy Health and the American Red Cross held a blood drive as the Red Cross reports a major supply crisis, with donors citing apps and real-time impact. Local Tech for Safety: Chattanooga is nearly done with a $2M grant to improve emergency-vehicle communication at intersections and is seeking ways to expand after federal funding cuts. Water Infrastructure: Tennessee American Water will verify lead and copper service lines in parts of the Chattanooga area under updated EPA rules. STEM & Workforce: Tennessee Tech received an NSF grant aimed at preparing students for the AI workforce. Nuclear & Investment: StoneX’s Nuclear Innovation Summit in Knoxville and Oak Ridge (Sept. 23-24) brings investors and companies to discuss commercialization and the nuclear fuel cycle.

Quantum Computing in Tennessee: IonQ, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, NVIDIA, and the University of Tennessee unveiled a generative-AI method (DQAOA-GPT) that designs quantum optimization circuits in a single pass, cutting the usual trial-and-error tuning loop; the work was presented at IEEE Quantum Week in Toronto. Healthcare Tech: LivTech launched Alora Anywhere 2.0 for in-home care, adding offline capability so caregivers can clock in/out, handle EVV, and complete documentation even in low-connectivity areas. Medical AI Evaluation: Cognita Imaging won a $1.29M FDA contract to test how AI-generated radiology reports can be evaluated using “virtual” subject-matter expert agents. Local Tech & Infrastructure: Chattanooga showcased a $2M Smart Grant demo for emergency-vehicle traffic signal priority and driverless-vehicle research tied to UTC work. Public Safety Tech: Consumer Reports flagged ongoing button-battery hazards for kids, noting new safety tech may help but parents still need strict precautions. Policy & Tech Tension: Florida’s data-center and AI debate is heating up in the gubernatorial race, with calls for moratoriums and renewed scrutiny of power and water impacts.

Healthcare Tech: LivTech is rolling out Alora Anywhere 2.0, an offline-capable mobile system for in-home care that lets workers clock in/out, handle EVV, and complete visit documentation even in low-connectivity areas. STEM in Schools: ORAU-backed Bee-Bots are bringing hands-on coding to Clinton Elementary’s kindergarten-through-sixth grade makerspace program, with more than $24,000 in classroom grants going to East Tennessee educators. Education & Accountability: A whistleblower complaint alleges diploma-credit recovery fraud at Stratford STEM Magnet High School, raising questions about how Tennessee credit recovery rules were applied. Fusion Energy: Tennessee and TVA are expanding a partnership with the U.K. to speed commercial fusion via supply chains, workforce training, and regulatory pathways tied to Project Infinity. Local Tech Policy: Nashville advocates urged Metro Council to block a proposed ICE coordination center in Donelson, citing federal contract details and 287(g) enforcement concerns. Community Tech & Infrastructure: NDOT plans a partial reopening of Nashville’s downtown library parking garage by end of 2026 while it continues longer-term repair or redevelopment planning. Public Health & Safety Tech: HCA completed its acquisition of CHCP, expanding healthcare education pathways for allied health careers. Environment & Climate: North Carolina peatland restoration efforts aim to stop drained peat from emitting large amounts of climate-warming carbon.

AI Policy Showdown: Bernie Sanders and Steve Bannon are teaming up for a “pro-human” rally in Washington to push lawmakers to slow AI, as Congress debates safeguards and data-center energy costs. Cybersecurity Reality Check: A Tennessee-based study says ransomware recovery is often incomplete even when organizations refuse to pay, with most lacking solid recovery planning. Healthcare Tech in Tennessee: LivTech launched Alora Anywhere 2.0, adding offline capabilities for in-home care EVV and documentation—aimed at rural, low-connectivity areas. Public Safety Tech Backlash: Campaign ads and lawmakers are escalating criticism of Flock-style surveillance cameras, tying them to fears of mass monitoring and false arrests. Health & Research: Consumer Reports tested midlife wellness gadgets and found fit and strength training matter most; separate reporting highlights measles spreading into adults. Education Pipeline: Tennessee Tech won a state grant to expand paid teacher apprenticeships to ease shortages. Energy & Infrastructure: TVA is getting mixed federal signals as the EPA rolls back power-plant emissions caps, while Barkley Lock dewatering is underway to reinforce a key navigation artery.

AI Regulation Clash: President Trump doubled down on calling AI “a hoax” and rejected guardrails as global alarm grows, while tech leaders and lawmakers push for oversight. Local AI Governance: Memphis City Council weighs a 12-month moratorium on large data centers, aiming to study impacts on power, water, and neighborhoods before more permits move forward. Quantum in Tennessee: Tennessee’s $43M quantum grant program is now accepting applications, targeting infrastructure to connect state assets and spur quantum research and jobs. Healthcare Tech: LivTech launched Alora Anywhere 2.0 for offline in-home care EVV and documentation, helping rural agencies reduce errors. Cancer Screening Innovation: Guardant’s Shield blood test for colorectal cancer screening won expanded coverage with EviCore by Evernorth starting Jan. 1, 2027. Sickle Cell Care Training: St. Jude and UT Health Sciences ran a boot camp to help nurses better recognize sickle cell crises in the ER. Powering the AI Boom: Hyosung Heavy Industries won major U.S. transformer orders tied to new AI data centers, underscoring how AI demand is reshaping Tennessee-relevant power infrastructure. STEM Workforce & Research: UT Institute of Agriculture launched a $750K fellowship program to build hands-on animal science talent, linking research, Extension, and real-world skills. Public Tech & Transit: University of Memphis researchers won a $125K contract to develop a Transit Asset Management Plan for MATA. Drones for Risk Management: Greene County won a UT public service award for a drone-based inventory of county assets delivered via an online map platform. Education Funding Pressure: A new report ranks Tennessee 42nd in children’s economic well-being, with advocates pointing to financial stress as a learning drag.

Autonomous Mobility in Nashville: Lyft is now offering Waymo robotaxi rides directly in its app in Nashville, with Flexdrive handling charging, cleaning, and maintenance—another step toward mainstream self-driving services in Tennessee. AI Safety in Schools: SafeSpace Global says it has installed its AI-powered, camera-agnostic school-safety system in its first K-12 campus in Connecticut, highlighting the push for earlier threat detection and faster emergency response. AI + Data Center Reliability: SpaceX is overhauling how it builds and tests xAI data centers after reliability problems at Tennessee and Mississippi facilities disrupted AI training runs. Nuclear for AI Power: A new look at nuclear’s role in AI infrastructure points to reactor restarts as a near-term way to meet data center power demand. Local Tech & Industry: Kenco opened a 30,000-square-foot Innovation Lab in Chattanooga to expand warehouse automation testing for larger systems. Education & Workforce: Voya’s Unsung Heroes grant program awarded a $2,000 win to a Chattanooga educator, while Tennessee Tech’s nursing scholarship endowment honors Syd Byrd to support students and the Upper Cumberland health workforce. Cybersecurity: A data breach alert targets Berkeley Research Group, with a consumer-rights law firm investigating potential impacts. Fusion Policy: The UK and US signed agreements to boost commercial fusion development, pairing AI and high-performance computing with tighter regulation.

AI & Media: CBS put OpenAI’s ChatGPT logo on NFL sideline graphics as researchers warn AI could spiral out of control. Healthcare Watch: Ascension Saint Thomas faces two deadlines—an expiring UnitedHealthcare contract and a CMS patient-safety plan submission—after a medication mix-up sent wrong drugs into patients’ spines. Local Tech & Policy: A student-led discussion in Tennessee weighed data centers and Flock cameras, with residents linking power strain to a SpaceX-linked facility. STEM & Education: Chattanooga-area colleges report record graduate enrollment, while UTC hit a graduate enrollment record and Dalton State logged a fall record. Tennessee Science/Industry: A local startup, Zeus Robotics, is planning an Erlanger pilot for an autonomous hospital robot. Energy & Materials: Tungsten prices surged on critical-mineral demand and supply constraints, with major economies treating it as strategic. Sports Tech Angle: NASCAR at Gateway turned chaotic into a Kyle Larson win, ending a 51-race drought.

Autonomous Mobility in Nashville: Lyft is launching driverless robotaxi service in Nashville through a new Waymo partnership, letting riders hail Waymo Jaguar I-Pace vehicles via both the Waymo One and Lyft apps, with Flexdrive handling depot operations and fleet readiness. AI Policy Pressure: A week of high-profile calls for an AI slowdown is pushing AI regulation back to the center of U.S. politics, with lawmakers facing renewed urgency. Cybersecurity & Accountability: A U.S. court sentenced Conti malware developer Oleksii Lytvynenko to four years for ransomware-related attacks tied to the Conti operation. Energy & Climate Watch: NOAA forecasts a very strong El Niño this fall and winter, raising the odds of typical El Niño impacts across the U.S. Local Tech & Education Finance: Tennessee State University is considering selling 35 acres near John C. Tune Airport to monetize property and boost revenue. Public Safety Tech: Clarksville Gas and Water reported a Rebecca Lane water outage for a water main leak repair, with service expected to resume by early Sunday.

Autonomous Healthcare Tech: Chattanooga startup Zeus Robotics is launching a mid-October pilot with Erlanger Hospital to deploy an autonomous logistics robot that moves lab samples through hospital hallways, aiming to cut frontline workload. College Sports Policy: Tennessee men’s basketball coach Rick Barnes will join a Sept. 14 press conference for the Protect College Sports Act, a federal push to regulate conference realignment, transfer rules, and NIL spending. AI Surveillance Backlash: Officials and communities are moving to restrict automated license plate reader cameras, with privacy concerns driving cancellations and removals across multiple states. Energy & Grid Risk: A new study warns an extreme solar storm could knock out power for millions and hit the economy hard, underscoring the need for grid resilience. Nuclear & Waste Reality Check: Coverage highlights why nuclear waste disposal remains a major unsolved challenge even as nuclear power gains momentum. Local Infrastructure: Montgomery County is seeking approval for four road projects, including a TDOT-funded $4.7M improvement to State Route 374. STEM & Research in Tennessee: ETSU experts forecast a fall color season marked by variability after a wet summer and hot, dry early September. Education & Enrollment: Austin Peay State University set a new Fall 2026 enrollment record for the second straight year, led by a large freshman class and a growing military-affiliated population.

Surveillance Tech: Officials across party lines are pushing back on automated license plate readers, with Texas and Florida moving to block or remove Flock Safety-style cameras, as critics warn about warrantless mass tracking and law enforcement argues it hampers crime-solving. Higher Ed in Tennessee: Austin Peay State University hit an all-time enrollment high for Fall 2026, led by 1,918 freshmen and a record share of military-affiliated students. Emergency Communications Policy: U.S. Sens. Marsha Blackburn and Tammy Duckworth reintroduced the ITS Codification Act to strengthen research into emergency communication and tracking for trapped people when radio signals fail. Research & STEM Education: East Carolina University students joined an NSF-funded effort studying saltwater intrusion and soil salinization impacts on North Carolina farms and ecosystems. Campus Growth: Vanderbilt outlined four major construction projects expected to wrap by 2029, including upgrades to Hawkins Field and a new Stevenson Center 6 for shared arts, engineering, and medicine basic sciences space.

Emergency Communications: U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn and Sen. Tammy Duckworth reintroduced the ITS Codification Act to lock in the Institute for Telecommunication Sciences’ role in building emergency communication and tracking tools for trapped people when radio signals fail. Higher Education & Research Funding: ETSU’s Board of Trustees named its College of Arts and Sciences for Phil and Martha Bachman after a $15 million gift, including scholarships and support for a new academic building and renovations. Quantum Tech in the Volunteer State: UAH hosted the inaugural Southeastern Quantum Collaborative Quantum Colloquium, drawing about 250 leaders to push quantum information science toward real-world applications. Cybersecurity & Healthcare Tech: REACH Kidney Care earned HITRUST r2 certification, highlighting its focus on cybersecurity and information protection. STEM Talent Pipeline: Tennessee Board of Regents meetings set for Sept. 17-18 will review workforce development and a proposed new Southwest Tennessee Community College AAS in Entertainment Production. Public Safety Tech Policy: A new push in Congress targets better emergency tech—while local governments weigh how to fund police and fire services as cities grow.

AI & Retail Jobs: Harps Food Stores promoted Will McDoniel to director of AI strategy and innovation, aiming to speed up how the grocer adopts AI across operations. Higher Ed & Research: UTC hit a new graduate enrollment record (1,749 students, up 5%), with growth tied to more professional and research doctoral programs. EV Grid Resilience: Researchers tested 300-kW extreme fast-charging controls designed to stabilize the grid and improve resilience to cyberattacks, using a real-time power test setup at FSU. Data Centers & Power Costs: A new report argues “Bring Your Own Power” won’t fix data centers’ rising energy bills or pollution, even as the AI buildout accelerates. SpaceX Reliability Push: SpaceX reassigned 300+ engineers to its AI data center operations to address reliability problems at major computing sites. Community Tech & Privacy: Proudly Human named Alexander Gow managing director for North America, focusing on protecting human-created content as generative AI spreads. Local STEM in Tennessee: A Tennessee student built a color-changing spoon to detect food allergens, turning a lunch problem into a prototype. Agrivoltaics in the Volunteer State: A Tennessee diesel mechanic left full-time work to farm sheep full-time using grazing access on solar sites, highlighting agrivoltaics as a land-access workaround. Public Safety & Infrastructure: Shelby County Commissioner Dr. Erika Sugarmon announced a District 12 town hall with sheriff, fire, and roads/engineering officials.

Clean Air Fight in Tennessee: The Southern Environmental Law Center sued TVA over alleged Clean Air Act violations at the Cumberland coal plant, arguing TVA tried to dodge stricter pollution limits after pairing it with a newly built Cumberland Gas Plant. Local Tech for Public Safety: Lipscomb University students partnered with Metro Nashville DOT to use real-time pedestrian and traffic data on Lower Broadway to spot crowd-safety risks earlier and help officials prevent deadly crashes. Cybersecurity in Healthcare: REACH Kidney Care in Nashville earned HITRUST r2 certification for its EHR, signaling stronger controls to protect sensitive patient data. School Tech Policy Shift: Memphis-Shelby County Schools is reviewing its one-to-one laptop/tablet approach, moving toward device distribution based on instructional need and new screen-time requirements. Community Tech & Infrastructure: Clarksville Gas and Water scheduled multiple water outages for valve maintenance and repairs, with possible low pressure in affected areas. Energy in Carroll County: Trezevant Solar Farm flipped on in Carroll County, feeding clean power to the grid for decades while hosting STEM tours.