AGP Executive Report

Adaptive Cancer Care in Oklahoma: OU Health Stevenson Cancer Center is rolling out Oklahoma’s first AI-powered adaptive radiation therapy system, using a new $3 million machine to adjust targets and normal tissue during treatment as tumors shift. NIH ImmunoEngineering Boost: The University of Oklahoma received an $11.5M NIH award to create the Oklahoma Center of ImmunoEngineering, building statewide immune-focused research cores for lab work and large-scale data science. Severe Weather Tech from OU: Oklahoma researchers helped the National Weather Service issue a tornado warning using phased-array radar data, enabling faster detection of rotation than traditional systems. Space & Markets: SpaceX’s Nasdaq debut sent U.S. stocks higher, with shares jumping 19.2%—a reminder of how space tech can move mainstream finance. Local Housing Pressure: Oklahoma City renters face evictions at more than twice the rate of New York City, with advocates pointing to fast, low-cost filing processes. State Policy & STEM Funding: OU Board of Regents will consider tuition increases and $420M in bonds tied to stadium and athletics plans, while Oklahoma County’s assessor warns property-tax cuts could ripple through school and local services.

Severe Weather Tech: OU researchers and the National Weather Service used a new Phased Array radar in Norman to spot tornado rotation sooner, helping forecasters issue faster warnings for an EF2 twister near Caney. Workforce & AI Skills: The Kimmell Foundation’s BOOST Career Skills Masterclass returns July 23 to teach practical workplace AI use, with hands-on guidance for everyday professionals. AI in Schools: A new look at K-12 AI policy shows states and districts are scrambling—some have rules, others don’t—while lawmakers push for AI coordinators and teacher training. Health Tech & Trust: A study finds that transparency about AI in healthcare boosts trust, but higher AI accuracy can stall or reduce trust as patients fear doctors may outsource judgment. Caregiving Support: A virtual Oklahoma forum June 17 spotlights resources for family caregivers, tied to the state’s expanded caregiver tax credit. Public Health Research: Minnesota’s rural lung-cancer screening pilot targets primary-care clinics to raise screening recommendations—an approach Oklahoma could watch as connectivity and care access expand. Local STEM Education: Devon Energy and the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation hosted a regional STEM Summit for educators, emphasizing hands-on training and classroom-ready tools. Agriculture Biosecurity: The U.S. is ramping up its screwworm response with sterile fly releases, as the parasite threatens cattle and ranchers are urged to stay vigilant.

AI in Healthcare Policy: A House appropriations move would halt the WISeR prior-authorization pilot that uses AI to flag radiology service misuse in six states, including Oklahoma, after lawmakers warned it could burden patients and providers. AI in K-12 Education: As AI tools spread in classrooms, states and districts are scrambling to set guardrails; one new approach centers on AI coordinators, teacher training, and student AI literacy. Oklahoma STEM in Action: Oklahoma City hosted a STEM summit where educators shared hands-on tools and coding ideas, with support from partners including Devon Energy. Aviation & Aerospace Outreach: OSU’s Launch Pad STEM Camp brought aviation challenges to elementary students, aiming to spark interest in aerospace. Public Health Watch: Alpha-gal syndrome is drawing more attention as tick-borne cases rise in regions including Oklahoma, with experts urging caution after tick bites. Agriculture Biosecurity: U.S. officials are ramping up the sterile-fly response to the New World screwworm threat, warning it could become a major hit to cattle if ranchers don’t act fast. Energy Supply Ripple: Weather and outages in Canada are tightening crude exports and could affect Cushing storage and Midwest refineries.

AI in Schools: Maryland lawmakers say K-12 AI rules are inconsistent, with teachers left to figure it out alone; a new law pushes AI coordinators, statewide training, and AI literacy for students. Oklahoma Education Tech: Oklahoma districts are scrambling as AI image tools and deepfakes show up in student email and school systems investigate. Local STEM Outreach: Science Museum Oklahoma is rolling out a Barbie-themed exhibit that spotlights STEM careers for kids and families. Healthcare Tech & Trust: A study finds transparency about AI use boosts patient trust, but higher AI diagnostic accuracy can reduce or stall trust as people worry doctors may outsource judgment. Autonomous Transport: Volvo Autonomous Solutions plans fully driverless U.S. highway operations in Q1 2027, including a driverless Dallas-to-Oklahoma City route. Energy & Infrastructure: Wet weather and outages in Canada are tightening crude supply that could affect Oklahoma’s Cushing storage and Midwest refineries. Agriculture Biosecurity: The New World screwworm threat is back, with officials emphasizing sterile-fly releases and rapid ranch response. Data Centers: Texas faces massive data-center power demands, renewing calls for stronger grid and community planning. Oklahoma Business: BancFirst plans to buy Tulsa’s SpiritBank, deepening its Tulsa-area footprint.

AI in Health Care: Oklahoma researchers’ latest work highlights why transparency about AI use can boost patient trust, but also shows that “more accurate” AI may not always increase trust in doctors’ judgment. Oklahoma Education & AI Safety: Sand Springs Public Schools shut down student email accounts after AI deepfake images of administrators were sent to students, and the district says it’s investigating and involving police. Statewide AI Training: Oklahoma’s second annual AI Education Symposium in Tulsa tripled in size, shifting the conversation from experimenting with AI tools to building responsible, secure classroom plans. Data Centers in Oklahoma: A News 9 tally finds at least 44 data centers planned or operating in Oklahoma, and Oklahoma City-area moratoriums are spotlighting big differences between existing sites and new proposals. Livestock Threat: New World screwworm is back with another U.S. case in Texas, as USDA ramps up sterile fly releases and spending. Public Health: A rare tick-borne disease case (Rickettsia lanei) has been confirmed in California, only the fourth worldwide on record. Local Tech & Climate: Oklahoma City’s urban heat mapping shows some neighborhoods can run up to 15 degrees hotter, pushing cooling and green infrastructure plans. Beef Prices: Record ground beef prices are tied to drought and screwworm pressure shrinking the herd. STEM Workforce & Policy: A national survey finds AI boosts productivity but also raises worker anxiety, while Oklahoma’s labor market data shows turnover pressures that could shape wage debates.

AI in K-12: Maryland lawmakers say teachers are stuck “navigating AI entirely on their own,” pushing for AI coordinators, teacher training, and student AI literacy as states race to catch up. Medical Marijuana Policy: DOJ’s downgrade of medical cannabis to Schedule III could unlock some federal tax benefits, but the federal/state split still leaves states in a patchwork. Social Security Deadline: Congress has just six years before Social Security’s trust fund runs out, with automatic benefit cuts looming if lawmakers don’t act. Oklahoma Elections & Ethics: Oklahoma governor candidates are pouring record self-funds into the GOP primary, with ethics filings showing loans dwarfing outside donations. Workforce & Wages: Oklahoma’s minimum-wage $15 push is framed as a way to reduce turnover, as economists cite separations outpacing hires. AI Safety in Schools: Sand Springs Public Schools is investigating an email sent to students containing AI deepfake images of administrators. Beef Supply Pressure: Record beef prices are tied to drought-shrunk herds and the looming New World screwworm threat. AI at Work Anxiety: A survey finds AI boosts productivity and hiring managers’ confidence, but job seekers report rising worry about automation and the future of work.

AI in Health Care: Oklahoma researchers say patient trust in AI-assisted diagnoses rises when doctors are transparent about AI use, but accuracy alone doesn’t always boost trust. Public Safety Tech: OKC police are rolling out real-time autonomous drone support to speed responses, track suspects, and gather footage during fast-moving incidents. Data Center Policy: Edmond joins the trend of pausing new data center applications with a moratorium through Dec. 31, citing water, power, and zoning concerns; Oklahoma City and Tulsa have taken similar steps. Workforce for AI Infrastructure: Meta is funding a $115M data-center technician training program with job offers for graduates, aiming to fill roles tied to AI buildouts. STEM Education: OSU’s Launch Pad STEM Camp is teaching elementary students aviation and aerospace through hands-on challenges. Local Science & Learning: Love County Library is hosting fossil-making crafts using air-dry clay and 3D-printed stencils. Diabetes Research Leadership: OU Health Harold Hamm Diabetes Center named translational scientist John P. Kirwan as director starting Sept. 1.

AI in Health Care: A new study finds that being upfront about when doctors use AI boosts patient trust, but higher AI diagnostic accuracy can reduce or stall that trust—possibly because people fear doctors will lean less on their own judgment. Oklahoma Elections & Ethics: The Oklahoma Ethics Commission is drafting new rules to rein in AI-generated political ads and synthetic media, after voters reported confusion about what’s real. AI Infrastructure & Data Centers: Crusoe says it has contracted 4.9 gigawatts of AI data-center capacity, as debates continue over whether data centers bring jobs or just tax breaks. Public Safety Tech: Team Dominator says it captured the first ground-up 3D dataset inside a tornado, using an air-cannon-launched probe to map winds and storm structure. STEM in Oklahoma Communities: Stillwater Public Library’s summer program adds dinosaur science shows and hands-on activities for kids, teens, and adults. Agriculture & Food Systems: Oklahoma peanut growers face disappointing contract prices and acreage shifts, while Oklahoma’s tourism industry reported nearly $12.8B in visitor spending and 109,300 jobs in 2025.

AI & Health Trust: Oklahoma researchers report that being open about AI in medical care boosts patient trust in both the doctor and the AI, but higher AI diagnostic accuracy can stall or even reduce trust as people fear doctors may “hand off” judgment. Skilled Trades for AI Infrastructure: Meta is putting $115 million into a free “America’s Workforce Academy” to train data-center technicians, with job offers via general contractors; the push targets the skilled labor needed for AI power and buildouts. Oklahoma Lithium Leadership: Galvanic Energy, an Oklahoma lithium company, named lithium veteran Brett Rabe senior vice president of major projects to oversee design, construction, and sustainable operations for extraction and refining facilities. Local STEM & Education: Science Museum Oklahoma is bringing back Space Day and Sally’s Night for hands-on astronomy and STEM inspiration, while OKCPS is hiring for 150 teacher openings, including science roles. Water-Saving Tech for Farms: Kilimo is entering Oklahoma with a drought-focused plan to help farmers adopt irrigation-saving upgrades funded through corporate partnerships.

AI Workforce Training: Meta is investing $115M in America’s Workforce Academy, a cost-free training program for data center technician jobs with guaranteed offers via contractors, rolling out in four U.S. cities including Baton Rouge. Local Education Accountability: A Frontier fact-check says Oklahoma’s staffing shortage claims are “mostly true,” but the state doesn’t track open positions, while district employment totals show bus drivers and custodians have declined year to year. School Fraud: Oklahoma AG Gentner Drummond charged a former Tulsa Public Schools executive and two others with 27 counts tied to conspiracy, embezzlement and kickbacks in a case that followed a major TPS audit. Rare Earth Supply Chain: USA Rare Earth selected Cherokee County, South Carolina, for a $1.2B magnet and rare-earth manufacturing facility, building on its Oklahoma magnet operations. Public Health & Agriculture: USDA warned it “let its guard down” on sterile New World screwworm flies after capacity gaps, as a new case was found in Texas. STEM Learning for Kids: Oklahoma City’s Metropolitan Library System launched its summer reading push to fight the “summer slide,” aiming for 600 minutes of reading for the whole family. Energy Jobs: The Energy Workforce & Technology Council reported continued growth in energy services employment, including a rise in Oklahoma jobs. Health Tech Research: New findings highlight that transparency about AI in healthcare boosts trust, while higher AI diagnostic accuracy can reduce or stall trust—raising questions about how patients view clinician judgment.

Data Centers vs. Oklahoma Water: Edmond leaders are weighing a temporary moratorium on new data center development, citing water use, infrastructure strain, and the lack of a specific zoning category for data centers—while nearby OKC has already hit the brakes. Humid Heat Health Risk: A new analysis says dangerously humid heat days are rising fast across the Midwest and South, with Tulsa among the places seeing more extreme humid days each year. AI Scam Warning: Researchers warn scammers are using AI to make attacks more convincing, including claims they can replicate fingerprints from high-resolution selfies—raising the stakes for biometric security. Defense Tech Contract: Teledyne FLIR Defense won an $11.2M U.S. Army deal for drone kits to detect chemical and biological threats. Oklahoma School Fraud Charges: Oklahoma’s AG and Tulsa DA filed 27 criminal charges tied to an alleged “elaborate” scheme stealing about $779K in Tulsa Public Schools bond funds. Cancer Court Update: A Los Angeles jury found Johnson & Johnson not negligent in talc-based baby powder ovarian cancer claims, a bellwether for thousands of cases.

Talc Cancer Trial: A Los Angeles jury ruled Johnson & Johnson was not negligent in a bellwether ovarian cancer case tied to talc-based baby powder, a win for J&J as more than 67,000 similar lawsuits remain. Tribal Food Sovereignty: Native Farm Bill Coalition urges senators to restore a tribal food purchasing pilot left out of the House bill, warning it could be lost without explicit reauthorization. AI Cybercrime Warning: Researchers say AI can help scammers steal fingerprints from selfies and run more convincing attacks, with experts urging people to limit high-resolution photo sharing and protect accounts. CBRN Drone Contract: Teledyne FLIR Defense won an $11.2M U.S. Army contract for unmanned drone kits to detect chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats. Oklahoma School Bond Fraud: Oklahoma AG and Tulsa DA filed charges alleging an “elaborate” scheme that diverted about $779K in Tulsa Public Schools bond funds. New World Screwworm Watch: Texas officials push to speed a sterile-fly breeding factory after a confirmed case threatens the cattle industry. STEM Education in VR: LU Cooperative Extension and Outreach hosted virtual reality STEM education labs, bringing hands-on learning to students. Election Access: North Tulsa leaders renewed calls for an additional early voting site ahead of the June election. Solar Science: A total solar eclipse is set for Aug. 12, with totality visible in parts of Europe.

Animal Health & Agriculture: Oklahoma officials are pushing to speed up a New World screwworm response after a confirmed Texas case, warning that a sterile-fly breeding factory won’t be ready for more than a year—raising stakes for the cattle industry. Defense Engineering: Oklahoma and Minnesota Airmen teamed up at Camp Gruber for Exercise Thunderwolf, focusing on installation skills like cabling, antennas, and tower maintenance plus CBRN readiness. Public Health Research: A companion-animal parasite expert says the first confirmed screwworm case likely understates the spread and urges year-round pet prevention and fast reporting of suspicious wounds. Local Education & STEM Workforce: Southeastern Oklahoma State University’s elementary reading program earned an A from the National Council on Teacher Quality for aligning with science of reading practices. AI Policy: A bipartisan House AI proposal would freeze new state AI laws for three years while requiring semi-annual third-party audits of major AI developers. Tech & Data Governance: A report highlights how cities using AI-powered visual monitoring for safety and illegal dumping need clear rules on data access and management. Health & Courts: A Los Angeles jury sided with Johnson & Johnson in an ovarian cancer talc lawsuit, adding to the mixed national record of verdicts. STEM Community Fundraising: A Muskogee family’s “Lemonade on Broadway” event supports childhood cancer research through Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation.

Biosecurity & Agriculture: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is pushing the USDA to speed up a $750M sterile-fly factory meant to stop the New World screwworm, after a new confirmed case near the Mexico border—warning delays could leave the cattle industry exposed for another summer. Public Safety Training: Oklahoma and Minnesota Air National Guard engineering installation Airmen teamed up at Exercise Thunderwolf at Camp Gruber to sharpen cabling, antenna, and tower skills while practicing operations in degraded conditions. Local Accountability in Education: Oklahoma’s AG and Tulsa DA filed 27 charges against a former Tulsa Public Schools bond director and contractor partners, alleging an “elaborate” scheme that diverted about $779K in bond funds through unperformed roofing work and kickbacks. AI Policy: A bipartisan House AI proposal would freeze new state AI laws for three years while requiring semi-annual third-party audits for major AI developers, drawing sharp pushback from labor and consumer groups. Health & Courts: A Los Angeles jury sided with Johnson & Johnson in an ovarian-cancer talc lawsuit, finding the company not negligent in selling cosmetic talc products.

AI & Elections: Oklahoma’s ethics commission is starting rulemaking on how AI should be disclosed and regulated in political campaigns, after an AI-generated ad controversy involving Gov. Kevin Stitt and candidate Mike Mazzei. Crypto Policy: The U.S. House Ways and Means Committee released seven draft proposals to clarify how crypto is taxed, including when staking and mining rewards should be taxed—Oklahoma Rep. Kevin Hern is pushing for clearer rules. Public Health & Law: A Los Angeles jury sided with Johnson & Johnson in a talc ovarian-cancer lawsuit, finding the company not negligent; J&J says its products are safe and stopped selling talc baby powder in the U.S. in 2020. STEM Education & Workforce: Southeastern Oklahoma State University’s elementary teacher prep program earned an A from the National Council on Teacher Quality for aligning with the science of reading. Corrections Training: Oklahoma CareerTech broke ground on a new Skills Center instructional facility at the John H. Lilley Correctional Center in Boley, expanding trades and career readiness training for reentry. Tech Infrastructure: A 2027 federal transportation bill includes $8 million to replace the aging air traffic control tower at Oklahoma City’s Wiley Post Airport. Cattle Biosecurity: Texas is pushing to speed up construction of a sterile New World screwworm fly-breeding facility to protect the cattle industry.

Screwworm Fight: Texas is pushing USDA to speed up a $750M sterile New World screwworm fly-breeding factory after a confirmed case in a calf near the Mexico border—warning another summer could be impossible without higher sterile fly output. Oklahoma Education & Workforce: High Plains Technology Center is preparing Oklahoma students for energy jobs through an Advanced Wind Energy Technician program, while Oklahoma’s ethics commission starts rulemaking on AI disclosures in political campaigns after AI-generated political ads sparked backlash. STEM in Motion: Oklahoma’s Bike MS ride is set to bring cyclists statewide in support of MS research, and LTU’s self-driving robotics team won first place at the Intelligent Ground Vehicle Competition’s Self-Drive Challenge. Public Health & Safety: Oklahoma confirmed its first West Nile Virus case for 2026, and FMCSA is reviewing epilepsy waiver requests from commercial drivers. Energy & Infrastructure: Clean Energy Fuels began production at a major RNG plant in Idaho, and Oklahoma City ranked 14th among large metros for workplace safety staffing density. Policy Watch: A new Oklahoma law extends foster care services to age 21, and Pennsylvania moved toward statewide cellphone limits in schools.