AGP Executive Report

Data Centers & Power Strain: Texas grid stress is rising as data center power requests reportedly hit 5x the all-time peak, while Abbott pushes to bar AI data centers in rural neighborhoods. Local Energy Reliability: SWEPCO is using a Texas Energy Fund grant to upgrade Marshall’s grid—replacing copper with aluminum-alloy conductors and hardening poles to cut storm outages. First Amendment Tech Policy: A new Senate bill led by Ted Cruz and Ron Wyden targets government-backed online censorship, aiming to add real consequences for violations. Industrial Gas Supply Shock: A global helium crunch is hitting Texas labs and small businesses as Southwest Gases steps in amid allocation cuts. Health & Public Safety: Texas measles coverage is edging up but exemption rates are rising; meanwhile, experts warn pet owners about Fourth of July food and fireworks risks. Space & Science in Texas: Texas A&M researchers are testing grape seeds Data Centers & Power Strain: Texas grid stress is rising as data center power requests reportedly hit 5x the all-time peak, while Abbott pushes to bar AI data centers in rural neighborhoods. Local Energy Reliability: SWEPCO is using a Texas Energy Fund grant to upgrade Marshall’s grid—replacing copper with aluminum-alloy conductors and hardening poles to cut storm outages. First Amendment Tech Policy: A new Senate bill led by Ted Cruz and Ron Wyden targets government-backed online censorship, aiming to add real consequences for violations. Industrial Gas Supply Shock: A global helium crunch is hitting Texas labs and small businesses as Southwest Gases steps in amid allocation cuts. Health & Public Safety: Texas measles coverage is edging up but exemption rates are rising; meanwhile, experts warn pet owners about Fourth of July food and fireworks risks. Space & Science in Texas: Texas A&M researchers are testing grape seeds in space, aiming to unlock new discoveries for breeding and agriculture.

Data Centers & Water/Power Fight: Texas is again asking data centers for water-use numbers after a low response rate, as Gov. Abbott pushes to bar AI data centers from rural neighborhoods and require reporting of water and electricity use. Climate Impact of “Behind-the-Meter” Power: A new report warns gas plants built to power data centers off-grid could drive emissions on par with major countries, while also raising local pollution risks. Advanced Nuclear in Texas: Houston-based Deployable Energy says its Unity nuclear reactor hit criticality, marking another step for DOE’s push to accelerate advanced reactor development. Semiconductor Investment: Micron CEO Sanjay Mehrotra announced a $250M “Trump Accounts” initiative to support up to 1 million children across states including Texas. STEM & Workforce Training: Abbott and TWC announced $206,178 in job training grants for Alamo Colleges District, targeting welding, robotics, and manufacturing supervision. Public Safety Tech Compliance: A survey finds only 32% of agencies are fully compliant with updated CJIS security requirements, even as agencies race toward the 2027 deadline. Space STEM for Texas Students: A Canyon High student completed NASA-linked Texas Aerospace Scholars “Moonshot,” designing a lunar rover mission concept.

Semiconductor Manufacturing Boost: Gov. Abbott extended a $3.9M Texas Semiconductor Innovation Fund grant to Schunk Xycarb in Georgetown, backing facility expansion expected to add 25 jobs and $42M+ in investment. Robotics in Texas: Apptronik opened a large Austin “Robot Park” for training humanoids and launched Apollo 2, aiming to move robots from pilots to real commercial work. AI + Defense Supply Chains: Reuters reports defense startups are retooling automotive and fracking supply methods to speed weapons output for the Pentagon. Data Centers vs. Water: Hill Country leaders and East Texas counties are pushing back on groundwater impacts from rapid growth, while Abbott called for bans on data center development in rural neighborhoods. Public Safety Tech Debate: Bandera City Council resurfaced controversy over Flock Safety license-plate cameras, with members questioning leadership silence and potential sanctions. Health Alerts: Researchers warn about rising disease risks after federal health program cuts, including threats like screwworm and flesh-eating Vibrio vulnificus in coastal waters. Education & Workforce: TSTC Harlingen students medaled at SkillsUSA nationals, and Texas Education Freedom Accounts are set to begin initial funding July 1. Agriculture & Livestock: Texas continues expanding screwworm quarantines as cases climb, with USDA funding supporting research.

Texas Education Freedom Accounts: Texas Comptroller Kelly Hancock says nearly 73,000 TEFA accounts will get initial funding July 1, with homeschool and eligible nonpublic students receiving the full $2,000 first, and private school families paid in staged installments. Space & Science Contracts: NASA awarded about $590M in new moon lander contracts, while Intuitive Machines also landed a up-to-$148.3M NASA deal for a production-line Nova-C lander aimed at accelerating lunar base logistics. Transportation Tech: TxDOT and ODOT launched a real-time traffic data-sharing system ahead of World Cup travel, linking camera images, crash reports, hazards, speeds, lane closures, and work zones. Workplace Tech: HubEngage and Zynq announced a partnership to connect employee experience tools with workplace space and resource management. AI/AV Safety Tools: UC Berkeley grads unveiled AV Watch, a public incident-reporting platform for autonomous vehicles after finding most people never report problems. Public Health Policy Fight: U.S. Reps. Joaquin Castro and others pushed to reinstate a military flu vaccine mandate after a Lackland outbreak tied to a reported death. Local Tech Infrastructure: Houston’s East End District is exploring reopening an abandoned downtown underpass for pedestrian and bike access, seeking federal funding for a feasibility study.

Texas Data Centers: San Marcos became the first Texas city to ban data centers inside city limits, using home-rule zoning to push back on water and power strain. AI + Safety Ops: Houston’s EHS Insight launched an MCP integration so safety and compliance teams can query live EHS program data inside Claude, ChatGPT, and Copilot. Cybercrime + AI: A Houston-based invoice funding firm says AI-powered online theft is surging, with faster attacks and more malware-free scams hitting small and mid-sized businesses. Solar Manufacturing: Waaree Solar Americas secured a 236 MW U.S. module supply order, manufacturing in Brookshire, Texas. Robotaxi Debate: Tesla Robotaxi cost and safety-driver assumptions are being challenged by an investor arguing human monitors would price Tesla out. Heat Risk: Texas leads hot-car deaths, with new reporting highlighting how quickly car interiors become lethal. Space Science: NASA’s New Horizons mapped how solar winds slow at the solar system’s edge, using data from a solar wind instrument. Space Policy/Testing: The FAA is building an Oklahoma eVTOL testing range to study vertical takeoff and landing integration.

Digital Banking in Texas: Landmark Credit Union highlighted its Alkami partnership, using the Alkami Community and platform rollout to accelerate digital transformation and boost business banking profiles. Public Media Funding: Houston’s Ernest Walker helped launch the Black Public Radio Network, a 15-station alliance aimed at stronger revenue, wider reach, and more collaboration. Heat & Public Safety: A “heat dome” is pushing heat alerts from Texas to Maine, with high humidity driving heat-index readings around 105–115°F and limited overnight cooling. HVAC Research Recognition: Rheem engineer Pratik Deokar won an ASHRAE technical achievement award, honored for work in heat transfer, refrigeration, and nanolubricants. Military Medical Innovation: Naval Medical Center San Diego’s maxillofacial restoration program was designated a Defense Health Agency Center of Excellence, with Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio also named. Texas Health Care Fraud Settlement: Texas announced a nearly $34M AstraZeneca settlement over alleged Medicaid kickback schemes. AI in Health Care: UT Health San Antonio introduced AI-assisted colonoscopies to support screening workflows. Travel Tech: Arrow Analytics says it’s using ceiling cameras and AI computer vision to count carry-ons and estimate onboard space for smoother boarding. Prediction Markets Watch: Texas coverage highlighted how prediction markets are regulated and surging in volume, raising new questions for oversight.

Texas Tech & STEM: AUSTIN-area builder Seven Custom Homes says Mustang Island builds demand higher engineering standards for FEMA flood zones, including elevated foundations and velocity-zone wave-safe design. Defense & Aerospace: Lockheed Martin (Dallas) won a $35.3B THAAD interceptor production contract, supporting high-altitude missile defense manufacturing. AI & Power: A new wave of AI politics is colliding with data-center growth, as voters increasingly link AI to higher electricity bills and job fears. Data Centers & Water: A Texas-focused look at data-center expansion highlights how forecasts and public reporting on water/power use are still spotty, leaving grid and community planning in the dark. Energy & Logistics: FTAI Infrastructure completed its Tidewater Logistics acquisition, expanding barge/rail transloading operations into Texas. Retail Tech: Walmart’s digital price tags are rolling out nationwide, but unions and lawmakers are pushing back over surveillance and potential price manipulation. Space/Industry: Reports say SpaceX is planning additional Texas natural-gas pipeline infrastructure to fuel Starbase operations. Local Business: Longview’s Kumori Sushi Bar & Grill relocated, and Airbnb rolled out anti-party tech for July 4 travel.

Moonshot in San Antonio: Southwest Research Institute is partnering with Astroport Space Technologies and the WEX Foundation to turn 180 acres on the West Side into a National Lunar Research Center testing site for NASA’s Artemis-era work, with workforce pipeline plans; Water from the air: UT Austin engineers unveiled a high-tech jacket that harvests drinkable water from humidity, funneling it to heated detachable units for up to about 1.5 pints a day; Texas biosecurity: Colossal Biosciences is targeting the New World screwworm after a Texas detection, pairing sterile-fly control with plans to preserve endangered species’ genetic blueprints; Public safety tech: UGRA and Kerr County rolled out a new flood warning system after the Hill Country disaster, adding sirens, rain gauges, and mobile alerts; Consumer recall: Amana Through-the-Wall ACs and heat pumps are recalled over a fire/burn risk tied to electrical noncompliance; Border enforcement: CBP seized more than $70M in meth across Laredo-area ports; Privacy policy: ATF canceled a warrantless mobile tracking contract after legal concerns raised by lawmakers and a judge.

Texas A&M Breakthrough: Researchers unveiled a laser-based method to “listen” to proteins by measuring tiny molecular forces, aiming to speed drug discovery and improve how medicines are matched to targets. Space Tech in Texas: NASA set a June 30 ISS spacewalk to fix Canadarm2’s wrist joint, restoring the robotic arm’s ability to handle cargo and station work. Texas Water Stress: A new look at U.S. water availability warns millions face growing shortages as groundwater depletion strains major aquifers, including the High Plains system that spans Texas. Food & Tech Policy: A July 1 Texas-area consumer ripple is coming from allergen disclosure rules—chains must clearly list key allergens, including via QR codes and delivery apps. Texas Livestock Biosecurity: New World screwworm detections in south Texas are prompting sterile-fly efforts and tighter livestock movement rules. Local Infrastructure: Kerrville approved up to $500,000 for design work on a sewer line meant to unlock north-side development. Archaeology at the Alamo: A second cannonball was found near the 1836 siege area, potentially staying in place since the battle.

Heat & Public Safety: Texas-linked research finds hotter days can drive up violent crime by boosting impulsive behavior, with air conditioning and newer housing helping blunt the effect. Antitrust Procedure: FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson urges courts to speed up antitrust timelines so dominant firms don’t entrench themselves while cases drag on. Texas Data Centers: MIT research says data centers can cut costs and reduce peak strain if they shift power use to non-peak hours—an issue Texas leaders keep pressing on. Superconductivity Breakthrough: University of Houston and Argonne researchers report superconductivity at 151K (about -190°F) under ordinary pressure, breaking a decades-old ceiling. Space Economy: Coverage of the SpaceX IPO highlights renewed investor focus on lunar infrastructure, with Intuitive Machines also drawing attention. Texas Biotech Conservation: Interior Department partners with Dallas biotech Colossal Biosciences to build a genomic “biobank” for endangered species. World Cup Tech & Travel: Reports flag rising airfares and note how heat and cooling infrastructure shape fan and traveler comfort.

Space & Tech in Texas: Cape Verde made World Cup history by reaching the knockout stage as the smallest-population team ever, drawing Saudi Arabia 0-0 in Houston and setting up a Round of 32 clash with Argentina in Miami. Weather Science: Researchers are testing a controversial idea—using targeted cloud seeding plus data modeling to steer hurricanes and other extremes, with critics calling it far-fetched. AI & Markets: A tech selloff hit Wall Street as investors weighed AI-related cost pressures and fresh inflation-rate expectations. Texas Energy & Grid: A new debate is heating up over “all of the above” energy versus “cancel culture,” with Texas wind/solar cited as grid stabilizers. Public Media Funding: Trump escalates efforts to defund NPR and PBS, arguing it’s about “quieting voices,” while lawmakers weigh CPB funding. Agriculture Biosecurity: Texas cattle producers are on alert as new world screwworm detections spread, prompting rancher briefings and containment efforts. Connectivity: Southwest begins rolling out Starlink inflight WiFi on its first equipped aircraft, aiming for broader fleet retrofits. Policy & Education: Texas parents’ rights language and school Bible-reading requirements remain in the spotlight, alongside ongoing fights over what schools should prioritize.

AI Power Deals in Texas: Microsoft and Chevron signed a 20-year power purchase agreement for Project Kilby, a 2.67-GW West Texas natural gas plant aimed at powering a major AI data center buildout. Data Center Water & Grid Scrutiny: Texas lawmakers pressed tech operators for better reporting on electricity use and water demand, noting only about 17% of data centers submitted required water-use surveys. Cybersecurity Funding Next Steps: State and local leaders warned that federal cybersecurity grants are winding down, pushing a new fight over how to sustain local defenses without new money. Workforce Pipeline: Cirrus Aircraft opened a new Duluth Talent Center to centralize recruiting and technical training, signaling continued aerospace hiring focus. Clean Energy Deadline Pressure: Solar developers are racing to lock in federal subsidies before July 4, with analysts warning higher contract prices could ripple into electricity costs. Texas Education Culture War: The Texas State Board of Education approved required K-12 reading lists that include Bible passages, expanding the state’s push for Christian content in public schools. Public Safety Tech: Texas A&M and partners reported that larger data centers face higher fire risk, and firefighting may require major water resources.

Texas Tech & Research Computing: Texas A&M’s new VISION supercomputer is ranked No. 66 on the TOP500 list, positioning the system to speed work in drug discovery, disaster response, agriculture, energy research, and AI training. Space & Energy Infrastructure: SpaceX says it plans to build “Starpipe,” an 8-mile natural gas pipeline to its Starbase launch facilities in Texas, aiming to support higher Starship launch rates. AI Data Centers & Water Pressure: Texas leaders keep pushing for answers on how much water data centers use, as cities and states debate rules and transparency while the buildout accelerates. Healthcare Tech & Policy: A new analysis of 124,317 U.S. medical malpractice payouts (2015–2025) highlights treatment, diagnosis, and surgical errors as major cost drivers—while Medicare’s AI push for prior authorization is reported to be snarling care. Cyber & Consumer Safety: Amarillo police warn about AI voice-cloning scams that can mimic loved ones to trigger urgent payments. Wildlife & Climate: The Trump administration moves to weaken whooping crane habitat protections, with only about 500 wild migratory cranes remaining. Local Tech/Business: Waypoint Trading Solutions announced connectivity to the Texas Stock Exchange, giving clients access to major U.S. equities venues from day one.

Climate Watch: NOAA says El Niño conditions are already here and forecasts a 63% chance of a “super” El Niño by winter, with wetter-than-average odds for Texas and the Gulf Coast but drought risk elsewhere. Grid Resilience: CenterPoint reports major progress on the Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative, including storm-resistant poles, more undergrounding, vegetation clearing, and self-healing automation aimed at cutting outage minutes. Cybersecurity: Texas Parks and Wildlife says a vendor incident may have exposed personal data for 3M+ hunting and fishing license customers, including driver license info and passport numbers. Autonomous Vehicles Policy: DOT proposes dropping the brake-pedal mandate for vehicles built to run without a human driver, a move that could speed robotaxi deployments. Biotech & Health: UT Southwestern and other Texas researchers continue pushing cancer vaccine work, while Novartis and Antares announced a major oncology precision-medicine collaboration. Defense Supply Chain: The U.S. Army awarded conditional leases for critical mineral processing at Red River Army Depot in Texas, targeting domestic capacity for defense materials.

AI Infrastructure & Power Constraints: A new report says about half of planned 2026 U.S. data centers are stalled because grid gear and transformer availability—not chips—are the bottleneck, shifting AI buildouts toward utility hardware and interconnection queues. Texas Tech Leadership: Click n’ Close named Merv Govender as CIO, tasking him with lending tech, cybersecurity, and AI adoption. Semiconductors Market Pulse: Micron’s strong results and guidance helped reignite AI-linked chip optimism, while oil slid as Hormuz risk eased. Healthcare Tech Ops: Patient portal messages are surging, with clinicians warning that inbox load needs staffing and protected time to avoid burnout. Texas Bio/Imaging: DeepHealth won FDA clearances for new AI breast imaging features, including arterial calcification assessment and prior-exam integration. Livestock Biosecurity: USDA data shows New World screwworm cases in the U.S. rising to 20, with detections still concentrated in Texas and New Mexico. Space/Industry: KBR announced leadership appointments for its Mission Technology Solutions spin-off.

Border Security Reimbursement: Gov. Abbott says Texas has submitted documentation to seek DHS reimbursement for more than $10B spent on Operation Lone Star border security. Public Health Policy: The Pentagon is again requiring flu shots for all military recruits after Hegseth made them optional, as a Lackland outbreak sickened nearly 300. Maternal Care Access: A Texas rural hospital is pursuing grants to bring prenatal and postpartum services back locally, aiming to reduce long drives for care. Healthcare Expansion: UAMS will lease and operate a 53-bed hospital in Bryant starting this fall, with full control Oct. 1. Tech & Safety: The NTSB and NHTSA are investigating a fatal Tesla crash in Katy tied to driver-assistance claims, while the family sues Tesla. Climate & Flood Risk: A Houston-focused study finds rainfall intensity has risen 22% since 1970, boosting flash-flood risk. AI/Space STEM: NASA selected a Texas high schooler for a virtual Earth and Space Science internship. Energy Markets: Oil prices slid as more tankers transit Hormuz, with Trump urging faster pump price cuts.