AGP Executive Report

Medicare Policy: Penn Wharton/Perelman professor Amol Navathe was appointed chair of the congressional Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), bringing clinician and research experience to Medicare payment guidance. Health Tech Breakthrough: Penn researchers report a CAR T-cell approach that enabled kidney transplants for two “highly sensitized” patients previously considered impossible to match. Cancer Prevention Research: Multiple reports highlight new findings that women taking GLP-1 drugs (like Ozempic) may have about a 30% lower breast cancer risk, with Penn Perelman researchers involved. State AI Child-Safety Push: Pennsylvania Senate approved a task force to update child protection laws for the digital age, responding to AI-generated child sexual abuse material. Life Sciences Jobs: Gov. Shapiro cut the ribbon on SCHOTT Pharma USA’s Lebanon County expansion, citing federal support and job retention/creation tied to pharmaceutical glass vial manufacturing. Water & Public Safety: Pennsylvania American Water proposed upgrades to Butler Township’s treatment plant using electric UV disinfection and other compliance changes. STEM Education & Community: Penn students won Fulbright UK Summer Institutes, and local math competition Challenge 24 showcased middle-school problem-solving. Road Safety: PennDOT/PSP/Turnpike urged drivers to put phones down and drive slower during a busy summer travel season.

AI Policy Watch: Trump signed an executive order to vet national security risks from advanced AI systems for up to a month before public release, adding another layer of oversight to the fast-moving tech race. Pennsylvania Life Sciences: Gov. Shapiro joined SCHOTT Pharma USA for a ribbon-cutting on a $60M Lebanon County expansion that triples U.S. manufacturing capacity and supports 200+ jobs, as the state continues pushing life sciences growth. Digital Economy Tax: Pennsylvania House Finance Committee advanced a bill to extend the state’s 5% gross receipts tax to digital ad services, with supporters citing up to $500M in annual revenue and critics warning costs could hit small businesses and consumers. Health Research: New research presented at ASCO adds to growing interest in GLP-1 drugs (Ozempic/Wegovy/Mounjaro) and cancer risk, including a University of Pennsylvania analysis linking use to lower breast cancer rates. Energy & Buildings: ClearWater Conservancy is building the Hamer Community Conservation Center with high-performance envelope strategies to cut energy use and carbon, supported by the West Penn Energy Fund. STEM & Careers: Pitt-Bradford’s first full cohort of engineering technology graduates is fully employed, with an average starting salary reported at $88,376.

COVID Monitoring: The CDC’s National Wastewater Surveillance System faces steep federal cuts in Trump’s budget plan, dropping from about $125M to $25M a year, just as a new “cicada” COVID variant spreads across the U.S. Cybersecurity: A column on the Canvas cyberattack highlights how centralized education platforms and third-party dependencies are reshaping enterprise risk. STEM & Workforce: Mercer County Career Center won an $85K Pennsylvania Competitive Equipment Grant to upgrade hands-on training gear for in-demand programs. Public Health Accountability: Spotlight PA reports about half of Pennsylvania child deaths since 2020 weren’t reviewed under a 2008 state mandate, citing missing data support and volunteer time. Healthcare Tech/Research: Penn’s Abramson Cancer Center clinician Jennifer Eads discussed early results for a CDH17-directed CAR T-cell therapy trial in relapsed/refractory GI cancers. Environment & Science: Scientists report millions of bacteria living in fog and actively consuming air pollutants—turning mist into a living habitat. Opioids: A new class of synthetic opioids, “orphines,” is described as extremely potent and hard to detect or remove from streets. Local Policy: Pennsylvania’s cellphone-behind-the-wheel enforcement starts Friday with $50 citations, aiming to curb distracted driving deaths.

Maternal Health Access: Bayhealth Medical Group added Bryon Jacoby, MD, SM, a maternal fetal medicine specialist, to expand high-risk pregnancy care in Sussex County. World Cup Tech & Safety: Philly rolled out security and transit updates for the FIFA World Cup, including real-time language translation integrated into police bodycams. Pennsylvania Jobs & Semiconductors: Gov. Shapiro announced a $10M Kurt J. Lesker Company expansion tied to Penn State R&D for atomic layering disposition, aiming to support chip and battery manufacturing and create 39 new jobs. School Policy: The Pa. House approved a “bell-to-bell” cellphone ban, requiring phones to be secured during the school day. Healthcare Research: New Penn-led research links GLP-1 weight-loss drugs (like Ozempic/Wegovy) with about a 30% lower breast cancer risk, though it’s observational. Space Industry: Voyager Technologies agreed to acquire Pittsburgh-based Astrobotic for about $300M, positioning Astrobotic’s Pennsylvania base as a lunar operations hub. Data Center Oversight: U.S. Reps. Dean and Evans asked FERC for answers on how data centers’ power demand could affect grid reliability and costs. Environment & Courts: Sherwin-Williams faces a lawsuit over alleged odor violations at its Rochester plant, with claims exceeding $5M.

Healthcare Leadership: WellSpan Health appoints Dr. Kevin L. Lewis as executive vice president and chief physician executive, overseeing WellSpan Medical Group and Population Health—aimed at boosting clinical quality, safety, access, and performance. Road Safety Tech & Policy: Pennsylvania’s distracted-driving crackdown shifts from warnings to citations June 5 under “Paul Miller’s Law,” making phone use while driving a primary offense with hands-free rules and tighter enforcement. STEM Education & Research: Allegheny College’s Creek Connections renews funding from the PPG Foundation to keep its hands-on STEM waterway learning program running for thousands of students. Local Tech Infrastructure: Mount Carmel Township residents are pushing back on AI/data center proposals, arguing state law doesn’t remove local zoning power even as it changes the political pressure to negotiate. Public Safety & Privacy: License plate reader adoption continues amid privacy debates, while legal fights over tracking tech and healthcare/financial data privacy keep heating up. Cyber/AI Governance: Florida sues OpenAI and Sam Altman over alleged child-safety and risk failures in ChatGPT. Community Health: Tick-bite ER visits are rising in the Northeast and Midwest as warmer weather increases tick activity.

Elder Scam Shield: Pennsylvania AG Dave Sunday and Sen. Chris Gebhard urged lawmakers to modernize elder-protection rules, saying banks need clearer authority to halt suspicious withdrawals as AI-fueled spoofing makes fraud faster. Flood-Resilient Cemeteries: A Delaware County company is stepping in to protect Collingdale’s Mount Zion Cemetery from flooding, with plans to pump out water and realign drainage infrastructure. Penn Research for Greener Buildings: University of Pennsylvania researchers are turning food scraps into building materials to cut landfill waste and reduce reliance on concrete and epoxy. Cybersecurity in Healthcare: Guthrie Clinic named Mangoné Fall as its new CISO to strengthen cyber risk management and protect patient data. AI Safety in Court: Florida sued OpenAI and Sam Altman, alleging ChatGPT was marketed as safe despite risks including harm to children. Mail Voting Rules: USPS proposed changes that could add new hurdles for mail ballots, including requirements tied to voter lists and delivery standards. STEM Pathways: A Penn student scholarship spotlight: Knoch senior Hannah Butler won the Stamps Scholarship and plans to study environmental engineering at Pitt. Robotics Win: Sharon Tiger Techs earned a top core-values award at a First Lego League invitational, advancing from Pennsylvania qualifiers. Manufacturing Training: Pennsylvania College of Technology and the Lawrence Mercer Manufacturers Coalition launched a free advanced manufacturing pre-apprenticeship program. Data Center Tensions: A new report says police surveillance is ramping up around anti–AI data center posts in the Philadelphia region.

AI in Cancer Info: Penn researchers say online resources on AI and cancer are often low quality and missing key risks, urging better patient-facing guidance as AI tools enter care. Clinical AI in Philly: Penn Medicine is partnering with K Health to deploy AI clinical agents that automate intake and draft EHR notes, starting with its virtual urgent care. Long COVID Tracking: A new JAMA Network Open study using AI across health records finds long COVID may affect about 1 in 6 Americans—far higher than current code-based estimates, with rates varying by region. Data Center Policy Fight: Gov. Shapiro’s GRID standards set guardrails for data center development, while Sen. Coleman and Rep. Walsh push bills to repeal tax breaks and let municipalities pause applications. Local Governance & Elections: Votebeat reports USPS proposed rules could create new barriers to mail voting, and Chalkbeat warns weakened Voting Rights Act rules may reshape school board elections. STEM Education & Community: Students helped preserve the U.S. Brig Niagara by working on replacement trailboards, and the Kinzua Area Discovery Center launches its “Founding 50 Bedrock” campaign for a STEAM-focused hub. Penn STEM Times Watchlist: Penn students also push back on draft open expression guidelines as feedback closes.

Data Center Policy Push: Sen. Jarrett Coleman and Rep. Jamie Walsh introduced bills to repeal Pennsylvania’s data center sales-tax exemption and let municipalities impose moratoriums, citing energy, water, and noise impacts. State Standards for Tech Growth: Gov. Josh Shapiro rolled out the Governor’s Responsible Infrastructure Development (GRID) standards, setting guardrails and accountability for data center developers seeking state support and faster permitting. AI + Cancer Info Quality: Penn researchers presented findings at ASCO that online AI guidance for cancer care is often low quality and misses risks, highlighting a need for better patient-facing resources. AI in the Classroom (Local): A Central Bucks English teacher is not banning AI—he’s teaching students how to use it responsibly, with transparency surveys and assignments that push beyond AI outputs. Ecology Watch: A study reports fog can host living bacteria that may consume air pollutants, reframing fog as an active habitat. Invasive Species Control: Maryland is encouraging hunters to target invasive snakeheads using high-powered bows and arrows to protect native fisheries.

Semiconductor Supply & Labor: A new look at the CHIPS era frames chip reshoring as both a jobs boom and a long-term risk for workers as automation accelerates. Cancer Care Research: A clinical trial reports yoga for cancer survivors can ease insomnia, fatigue, and mood issues after remission. Health & Community: The 12th annual Philadelphia Lung Force Walk drew 1,000+ participants, highlighting lung cancer support and the role of research funding. Pennsylvania Data Centers: Gov. Josh Shapiro’s GRID standards lay out guardrails tied to tax benefits, while critics warn they may be too voluntary to stop harmful projects. Local Tech in Action: A Pennsylvania Tick Research Lab speeds testing for tick-borne illness, aiming to get treatment started within key early windows. Education Policy: Seneca Valley and other districts push state incentives for later school start times based on adolescent sleep science. Marine Tech: The U.S. Marine Corps expands NMESIS anti-ship capability with more ROGUE-Fires carriers, with production support across PA and nearby states. Wildlife STEM: The Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Junior Game Warden Camps offer hands-on wildlife forensics and tracking for ages 12–15.

Biotech Breakthrough: Virion Therapeutics says a single dose of VRON-0200 helped drive sustained HBV immune activation and continued HBsAg declines (no rebound) for up to 2+ years in its Phase 1b program, with ongoing safety signals at EASL 2026. Health Care Access: ChristianaCare will open the Aston Campus neighborhood hospital in early June, adding 24/7 emergency and inpatient services plus imaging and labs for about 15,000 patients a year in Delaware County. Academic Freedom: A Yale AAUP survey finds nearly one-fifth of professors fear arrest tied to teaching, raising alarms about academic freedom protections. STEM in the Classroom: A Northern Lehigh science teacher won state and national science teaching honors, highlighting early-career impact in K-12 STEM. Data Center Pushback (PA): Warren County plans public hearings before finalizing a data center ordinance as residents raise water and infrastructure concerns; in Mifflin County, residents packed a meeting over a draft guidance document despite no formal proposal. Public Health Research: A new phase 3 trial reports a sleep apnea drug improved airway obstruction and oxygen levels versus placebo, building on decades of breathing physiology work. Long COVID Estimate: An AI-based study suggests long COVID may be about double current estimates, with coding missing many cases. Community STEM/Ag: Penn State students and partners packed nearly 2,000 weekend food backpacks, adding beef sticks to support kids facing food insecurity.

Wildlife & Research: A new 24/7 livestream lets viewers watch Pennsylvania’s endangered timber rattlesnakes in a remote rookery, part of Project RattleCam with Dickinson College and Cal Poly—aimed at education and safer coexistence. Public Health: A University of Pennsylvania survey finds many Americans know broad maternal health basics, but gaps remain on alcohol avoidance before pregnancy, iron supplementation, and recommended gestational weight gain—highlighting where counseling may need reinforcement. Climate & Agriculture: Late spring warm spells followed by hard freezes damaged apple, pear, and vineyard crops across Butler County and beyond, with growers estimating major harvest losses and higher prices later. Higher Ed Policy: Workforce Pell is moving into the college application phase after final federal rules—raising new planning demands for campuses and state workforce partners. Tech & Industry: CPHI Americas returns to Philadelphia June 2–4, focusing on how pharma supply chains are shifting toward regional resilience. Local Governance: Clinton Township is set to publicly review plans for a large Wayne County data center campus with 20 buildings and on-site power generation. STEM Education: Roman Catholic High School of Philadelphia breaks ground on a $10M STEM Center to expand science and technology learning.

Mining & Training Expansion: Metso opened an expanded service center and new training center in Mesa, Arizona—an €17M, 20,000-square-foot upgrade that boosts OEM-level repairs and adds hands-on training for mining customers, with about 100 local jobs. Pennsylvania Public Health Tech: HHS is awarding $6M to help states pilot predictive analytics in child welfare systems, aiming to improve caseworker decisions while adding governance and staff training. Healthcare Innovation: Sequana Medical presented long-term POSEIDON study findings on alfapump for decompensated cirrhosis at EASL Congress 2026, reporting long-term ascites resolution in a meaningful share of patients. Education & AI: UPenn researchers say nursing education needs stronger AI training so nurses can evaluate accuracy, bias, and workflow impacts—so AI supports patient care instead of adding burden. Policy & Data Centers: Pennsylvania lawmakers advanced standards and debate around data center development, as AI-driven power demand and local concerns keep colliding. Local Governance & Energy: An intermunicipal committee approved possible coal exploration near Buckhorn while also entertaining a solar leasing proposal—showing how land-use decisions can steer both extraction and clean-energy plans.

FDA Oversight Shift: New FDA guidance lets wellness devices estimate blood pressure and blood glucose without approval, and major consumer tech firms are already racing to launch sensor-based products—raising hopes for better awareness but also concerns about accuracy and clinical misuse. Higher Ed Costs: Kansas universities are seeking tuition increases after state cuts, a reminder that STEM pipelines can get squeezed when budgets tighten. AI Data Center Fight (PA): In King of Prussia, residents and officials are clashing over proposed data centers totaling 4.6M+ square feet, with opponents warning about health, neighborhood disruption, and long-term impacts. Public Safety Tech (PA): Indiana University of Pennsylvania’s police department received a grant-funded camera system to support crime scene processing. Health & Research (PA): Pennsylvania Turnpike highlighted stormwater runoff controls to protect waterways and reduce flood risk, while local coverage also points to ongoing advances in cancer screening and HIV care. STEM in the Classroom: Penn State’s Leonhard Center and the Bellefonte Art Museum are inviting submissions for an art-meets-engineering exhibition.

AI & Health Regulation: Pennsylvania is seeking an injunction against Character.AI after the chatbot allegedly claimed to be a licensed psychiatrist, raising fresh alarms about AI mental-health advice going too far. Neuroscience Breakthrough: Penn researchers report they can block a brain immune protein (GPNMB) that appears to help Parkinson’s spread cell to cell, pointing to a possible early-stage treatment path. Cancer Research: Wistar and Temple scientists identify a metabolic target that may help DNA-repair-proficient ovarian tumors resist chemotherapy, with an existing drug flagged as a potential inhibitor. Cybersecurity: Beacon Mutual’s January cyberattack exposed data tied to about 132,000 people, including thousands of current and former Rhode Island state employees. Courts & Data Skills: A national “Data Literacy for Courts” course is rolling out after pilots in Georgia and Pennsylvania, aiming to help court staff use data responsibly. Public Health Screening: The American Cancer Society adds a blood test option to colorectal cancer screening guidelines for average-risk adults who skip other methods. STEM in PA Communities: Local efforts range from a new library sensory room to a drone-aviation summit and hands-on school agriculture demos. Infrastructure & Tech Policy: Gov. Shapiro’s finalized data-center standards and ongoing community pushback keep the spotlight on power, water, and local impacts.

Data Centers in the Spotlight: Gov. Josh Shapiro unveiled Pennsylvania’s full GRID standards, setting guardrails for data center developers seeking state support—aiming for transparency, community benefits, environmental safeguards, and accountability. Manufacturing Innovation Funding: The Shapiro administration announced $3.1M+ for Manufacturing PA Innovation Program grants, backing 47 student research projects with Pennsylvania manufacturers through 21 universities. STEM Talent Pressure: A coalition of 80+ chambers warned that proposed federal research funding cuts could drive STEM talent out of the U.S., threatening universities, businesses, and R&D. Long COVID Recounted: New Mass General Brigham research using an AI approach found long COVID may hit about 1 in 6 patients—double prior estimates—and could be missed by current diagnostic tracking. AI + Space Tech: Georgia Tech researchers reported a radiation-hardened ferroelectric NAND flash memory design that can better protect data for space missions. Online Child Safety Fight: PA Attorney General Raoul joined a bipartisan push against the federal KIDS Act, arguing it would weaken state authority and reduce platform accountability. Workforce Pipeline: Lackawanna College opened a Chambersburg satellite campus offering an associate degree in welding and fabrication.

Medical Care & Aging: A Baltimore study of nontraumatic abdominal pain found older adults get CT scans more often—and are more likely to have “actionable” results—but serious cases in seniors can show fewer clear tenderness signs, making diagnosis harder. Education Policy: Pennsylvania’s cellphone-ban push is colliding with speed and amendments, while Maine’s “bell-to-bell” approach shows how quickly states can move once parents and teachers get fed up. Air Travel: American Airlines will add nonstop State College–Charlotte service starting Oct. 5, 2026, a win for Penn State and central PA business travel. AI & Work: A legal PR warning highlights how AI prompts may become discoverable in court, and a newsroom fight in State College shows staff pushing back on AI-produced bylines. Energy & Industry: xAI’s Memphis-area power plant controversy keeps growing, with community health costs and permit questions in the spotlight. Space Science: NASA’s Webb Telescope flagged a temperate giant exoplanet with Earth-like climate conditions.