AGP Executive Report

Quantum in Business: EPB brought its first “Quantum in Business” conference to Chattanooga, pitching quantum tech as practical business infrastructure and highlighting K-12 “quantum-ready” education in Hamilton County. Public Safety Tech: The University of Memphis says campus crime is down about 35% per year over the last three years, driven by strategic patrols plus expanded tech and a real-time safety app. Healthcare & Kids: Le Bonheur reports GLP-1 prescriptions rising among children as young as 8, with doctors framing it as treatment for obesity-related disease risk. AI for Marketing: A Penn State study proposes training AI to rate and recommend marketing content using a company’s past campaign performance, aiming to cut costly testing while keeping human judgment central. STEM in Schools: Collierville teacher Jenna Burke named Tennessee Teacher of the Year for a hands-on STEM approach. Execution Oversight: Tennessee’s botched execution of Christa Pike—after two pentobarbital doses—has triggered an independent review and renewed scrutiny of lethal-injection procedures.

Nuclear Fuel Deal: NANO Nuclear (NNE) and its HALEU Energy Fuel unit signed an agreement to buy Radnostix’s U.S. nuclear fuel processing assets, aiming to tackle the “paperwork, fuel, and paperwork for fuel” bottleneck behind the nuclear renaissance. Capital Punishment Oversight: Tennessee halted remaining 2026 executions after Christa Pike survived a lethal injection attempt, prompting an outside review and renewed debate over execution methods. Undersea Research Habitat: DEEP’s Vanguard undersea habitat earned an Interim Classification Certificate from DNV, clearing the way for extended saturation operations supporting marine science and extreme-environment training. Healthcare Tech & Aesthetics: Jack & Jill Aesthetics began a clinical evaluation of inkOUT, a non-laser tattoo and permanent makeup removal system using TEPRderm technology. Local Tech & Industry: Knoxville’s Puremaxx Filtration Solutions merged into Brookaire, expanding HVAC filtration capacity while keeping operations familiar for customers. Workforce & Education: Tennessee Tech marked National GEAR UP Week with STEM and college-readiness activities for middle and high school students. AI Labor Impact Map: A new study maps where AI-exposed jobs are most concentrated, with Washington topping the share of at-risk roles.

Emergency Alerts Upgrade: Tennessee is getting $10.6M in FEMA funding to modernize warning systems, including siren upgrades in Rutherford County and statewide improvements aimed at keeping alerts reliable when cell, internet, or landlines fail. University Leadership: MTSU trustees say the search for the next university president is still on schedule, with Korn Ferry supporting a process that includes listening sessions and an Oct. 15 application deadline. Nuclear Power Push: Federal regulators approved TVA’s plan to build a small modular reactor, adding to a broader U.S. push for advanced nuclear capacity as power demand rises. AI + Energy Supply Chain: South Korea’s announced $200B energy investment package spotlights a Texas gas power project tied to AI data centers, underscoring how battery storage and grid reliability are becoming central to the AI boom. Forensic Nursing Tech: Ballad Health rolled out Cortexflo forensic imaging systems across its network to improve specialized documentation and security for forensic nursing exams. Death Penalty Halt in Tennessee: A federal appeals court blocked the imminent execution of Christa Pike, with last-minute legal and medical concerns driving the stay. Local Surveillance Debate: Tusculum is testing automated license plate reader technology, joining Tennessee’s wider debate over privacy and vehicle tracking.

Nuclear Power in Tennessee: The NRC issued a construction permit for TVA’s GE Vernova Hitachi BWRX-300 SMR at the Clinch River site, clearing the way for what TVA calls the nation’s first commercial small modular reactor. EV Battery Manufacturing: Ultium Cells (GM/LG Energy Solution) plans a $1B Spring Hill upgrade to mass-produce prismatic lithium manganese-rich (LMR) cells, targeting 500 jobs and completion by 2028, while GM also announced a separate $1B expansion to modernize the plant for EV production. Local Tech & Education: UT Knoxville rolled out advising upgrades after an assessment process, adding full-time advisors and reshaping first-year advising; Tennessee officials also announced small technology grants for Dyer County libraries. Cybersecurity & IT Ops: A Tennessee-focused endpoint management story highlights how firms are modernizing device updates and patching to improve cyber resilience. STEM Jobs: TBI posted openings for forensic scientist roles in Knoxville and Nashville. Accountability: Tennessee Comptroller/TBI work led to indictments against a former Tennessee Tech fraternity alumni treasurer for misappropriating $214,000+.

AI Data Centers Backlash: A new wave of public pushback is colliding with hyperscaler spending on AI infrastructure, raising questions about moratoriums, local rules, and whether businesses can keep building. Energy Storage & Quantum: ORNL opened a 100,000-square-foot Translational Research Capability in Oak Ridge, built around ultra-dry battery manufacturing and aimed at moving advances in batteries, quantum computing, and AI into real tech. EV Batteries in Tennessee: Ultium Cells will upgrade its Spring Hill plant to mass-produce prismatic lithium manganese-rich (LMR) cells, targeting completion in 2028 and adding 500 jobs, as GM and LG Energy Solution expand next-gen chemistries. Local STEM & Career Pathways: Hamilton County Schools opened a downtown Chattanooga Career Exploration Center for hands-on career discovery, while Pellissippi State highlighted how DENSO tuition support can turn factory experience into engineering careers. Tech in Public Life: Aer Lingus rolled out free Starlink Wi‑Fi across its transatlantic narrowbody fleet, and Tennessee’s death-penalty coverage continues to dominate headlines.

Nuclear Power: The NRC issued TVA a construction permit for a BWRX-300 small modular reactor in Tennessee, marking a major step for advanced reactor licensing and a potential template for future builds. Public Safety Tech: East Ridge police say automated license plate reader cameras helped locate a missing 13-year-old Florida teen within minutes after a suspect vehicle was flagged. Local Infrastructure: Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell filed his fourth Capital Spending Plan, targeting new schools, fire stations, transit and safety upgrades, plus projects like a new Richland Park Library. AI + Commerce: Ntara announced a first-of-its-kind ROI guarantee for PIM and DAM implementations, offering service credits if targets aren’t met within 24 months. Healthcare Innovation: Ascension Saint Thomas River Park Hospital in McMinnville rolled out next-generation CT imaging to speed clearer diagnostics. Education & Workforce: Hamilton County Schools opened a Career Exploration Center with hands-on career simulations for sixth graders. Tech Policy: State CIOs say digital accessibility remains a high-risk priority despite shifting federal deadlines and funding gaps. Sports Tech/Industry: Hankook signed a five-year Racing America partnership in Clarksville, expanding tire supply and engineering support across multiple U.S. racing series. Health Guidance: The CDC and AAP urged COVID-19 vaccination for young children and warned some states face flu vaccine delivery delays for VFC patients. Death Penalty: Tennessee is set to execute Christa Pike, the state’s first woman executed in more than 200 years, after Gov. Bill Lee denied clemency.

Public Health Data: ETSU’s Center for Rural Health and Research won a statewide award for its Tennessee Multi-Sector Plan for the Aging Data Dashboard, a one-stop tool meant to help counties, policymakers, and researchers act on aging needs. Cybersecurity Training: MTSU broke ground on a $5.6M cyber range for hands-on attack training, built with IBM and supported by AWS-based tech. STEM for Young Women: First Horizon Foundation backed the American Heart Association’s STEM Goes Red, connecting middle school girls with STEM professionals through hands-on learning and mentoring. Library Tech Upgrades: Rutherford County libraries are getting $19,000 for desktop computers, Chromeboxes, and monitors via a state technology grant. Healthcare Tech: Ascension Saint Thomas River Park Hospital in McMinnville added an advanced CT scanner to speed cardiac imaging and reduce radiation exposure. Safety & Environment: Nashville officials warned people to avoid Centennial Park pond water after a suspected harmful algae bloom; separate news also notes controlled burns on the Oak Ridge Reservation with visible smoke possible. Community Tech & Learning: UT Knoxville expanded advising capacity and revamped orientation and at-risk student support after a campus review. Local Tech in Action: Volunteer fire departments in Greene County are actively recruiting new members as ranks thin.

Library Tech Grants: Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett announced technology funding for Caryville Public Library ($1,250) and Jellico Public Library ($4,498), including desktops, a children’s workstation, charging gear, and a mobile scanner. Health & Research: Vanderbilt Medical Center researchers helped identify a gene mutation tied to pyoderma gangrenosum, a rare inflammatory skin disorder, with clinical impact from targeted treatment. Medicare Policy Watch: The MGMA says the 2027 Medicare physician fee schedule and year-end payment changes could reshape physician reimbursement, with major federal deadlines looming. AI Infrastructure Politics: A new push to curb secrecy around data centers is gaining traction, with lawmakers proposing to void NDAs that block public discussion of proposed AI data center projects. Tennessee Housing: A new MTSU report finds Tennessee’s housing market mixed by metro but broadly stable, with prices up slightly and inventories expanding. Education Support: UT Knoxville is expanding advising capacity and reshaping first-year advising to better support at-risk students and improve access to academic and research opportunities.

Nuclear Tech in Tennessee: X-energy says it has finished the main structure of its Oak Ridge TX-1 advanced nuclear fuel plant, a 214,000-square-foot facility meant to produce about 700,000 TRISO fuel pebbles a year once fully operating. Higher Ed & Innovation: Austin Peay State University joined the Tennessee Technology Advancement Consortium, adding a commercialization counselor role to help move faculty research toward real-world products. STEM Research: A Tennessee-linked study ties infant gut microbes and diet-derived metabolites to later childhood asthma risk, using a large birth cohort to map possible gut-to-airway biochemical links. Public Tech Debate: Bowling Green residents and students discussed Flock automated license plate reader cameras, raising privacy and misuse concerns. Community & Campus Pipeline: MTSU recruiters joined a Columbia State college fair for local high school students, aiming to boost awareness of programs, admissions, and financial aid. Local Utilities: Clarksville Gas and Water scheduled an East Bel Air Boulevard water outage and possible low pressure for valve replacement.

Nuclear Fuel Race: The U.S. Department of Energy is pushing Centrus Energy, General Matter, and Orano to speed up uranium enrichment buildouts, warning that waivers tied to Russian fuel won’t be extended past 2028—an effort aimed at powering the “nuclear renaissance.” AI + Power Demand: New reporting highlights how AI data centers are driving steep electricity growth, with projections that data-center demand could surge to a major share of U.S. power by the 2030s, reshaping energy planning. Local Tech + Health: AAA says many Tennessee kids are moving to adult seat belts or booster seats too early and that most child restraints are used incorrectly—an urgent reminder for safer tech-enabled car-seat checks. STEM in Tennessee Schools: UT System enrollment hit a new high, while UT Knoxville expanded advising capacity and revamped orientation and support for at-risk students. Research Funding Push: A Nashville teen’s long neuroblastoma fight is fueling calls for stronger pediatric cancer research funding. Public Safety Tech: Noise-camera systems are spreading nationwide, using microphones and software to identify loud vehicles and potentially trigger warnings or citations. Higher Ed Outcomes: Maryville College reports enrollment gains, and local colleges continue to post degree and certificate totals across Tennessee counties.

Higher Ed, UT System: The University of Tennessee System hit a new high with 65,618 students this fall, up 1.2% year over year, alongside a statewide survey showing rising confidence in UT and the value of a four-year degree. Campus Support, UT Knoxville: UT Knoxville expanded full-time advising, reshaped first-year orientation advising, and added a new advising policy targeting at-risk students like new transfers and students on probation. Enrollment, Maryville College: Maryville College reported 1,191 students for 2026-27, a 4.1% increase, citing gains in retention, graduation rates, and residential occupancy. Public Health, Heart Failure: Mayo Clinic guidance highlights an early warning sign—bendopnea—where shortness of breath when bending over can signal worsening heart failure. Local Policy, Maryville E-bikes: Maryville officials discussed potential limits for e-bikes and other off-highway vehicles as part of a code update. Local Infrastructure, Clarksville Water: Clarksville Gas and Water closed a northbound lane on Rollow Lane for a water main leak repair, with low water pressure possible and work expected to finish by late Sunday. STEM & Research, Memphis Aquifer: Researchers drilled 400 feet beneath Meeman-Shelby Forest to study the Memphis aquifer. Nuclear Tech, Oak Ridge: A local column spotlights advanced manufacturing and the broader push to turn new tech into real-world industry growth. AI Safety, Schools: A Henderson, Kentucky juvenile faces charges tied to AI-generated sexually explicit images shared among classmates, echoing a national pattern and renewed calls for prevention. STEM Education, TN QuantumWorks: TN QuantumWorks launched into Hamilton County classrooms with a K–12 curriculum push.

UT Knoxville Student Support: UT Knoxville says it revamped advising after reviewing student feedback, advisor-to-student ratios, and an external program review—adding full-time advisors, reshaping first-year orientation advising, and targeting at-risk students. Tennessee Tech Leadership: A Tennessee Tech student founded Women Who Lead to give female students across majors confidence, connections, and career skills. STEM & Research in Tennessee: Researchers drilled 400 feet beneath Meeman-Shelby Forest to study the Memphis aquifer, adding to local water science. Energy & Innovation: Clarios expanded its battery subscription push to European fleets, signaling more demand for battery-as-a-service. Policy & Markets: A federal appeals ruling lets Ohio and Tennessee apply their gambling laws to Kalshi sports contracts, using geofencing as a practical fix. Weather & Safety: A major nor’easter is battering the Northeast with flooding and power outages, a reminder of how quickly infrastructure can be stressed. Sports Tech Moment: At College GameDay, Tennessee’s Colby Lamb hit a $1M field goal with Peyton Manning’s help, with a $500K donation to the Pat Summitt Foundation.

Physical AI in Production: Peridio teamed with BayLibre to bring production-readiness to Physical AI, aiming to move from prototypes to real-world deployments. Public Health & Safety: Nashville-based Aegis Sciences says it has detected a new synthetic opioid, cychlorphine, in 18 states, following reports linking it to dozens of East Tennessee deaths and wastewater findings along I-75. Water & Earth Science: University of Memphis researchers are drilling about 400 feet beneath Meeman-Shelby Forest to study faults that may control groundwater movement toward the Memphis aquifer. Energy Planning: TVA outlined its 2026 Integrated Resource Plan, projecting the region may need major new generation capacity by 2040 while expanding the grid and updating rates. Transportation Tech: UTC won third place in a national U.S. Department of Transportation AI challenge for PRISM, an AI platform aimed at improving shared-mobility safety and efficiency. Local Tech Governance: Memphis City Council is set to vote on a data center moratorium and a path toward permanent zoning guardrails. Education & Advising: UT Knoxville expanded full-time advising, reshaped first-year orientation advising, and added targeted support for at-risk students after a campus review.

Nuclear & Water Security: Idaho Gov. Brad Little says protecting the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer is “nonnegotiable” as the state weighs a federal Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus that could involve spent-fuel disposal. Cyber & Logistics: The FBI’s Memphis Cargo Theft Task Force warns that cyber schemes are increasingly putting freight worth millions at risk. AI Infrastructure in the Mid-South: SpaceXAI says its Memphis/Southaven footprint is scaling to 220K+ GPUs and is pairing the buildout with a $360M clean water recycling plant aimed at cutting wastewater impacts. Quantum in Tennessee Schools: EPB’s quantum computer launch in Chattanooga comes as TN QuantumWorks rolls K–12 quantum curriculum into Hamilton County classrooms. Applied AI + Quantum for Defense Supply Chains: CGI Federal, DLA and UT Knoxville launch “Quantum Pathfinder” to test agentic AI and quantum approaches for warehouse and logistics resilience. Local Tech & Transit: ENC will supply 32 clean-diesel transit buses for Memphis Area Transit Authority, supporting fleet replacement and service reliability. Education Support: UT Knoxville expands advising capacity and targets at-risk students after a review of advising outcomes. Community STEM/Leadership: Memphis-area students earn 2026 Keeper of the Dream Awards for service and leadership.

U.S.-China Tech & Trade: Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) says AI, child protections, consumer privacy, and intellectual property should top the agenda as President Trump hosts Xi Jinping. Cybersecurity & Health Data: Tennessee’s neighbors in New York secured about $2.3M from Labcorp and forced major data-security reforms after a 2019 breach tied to a debt-collection partner. Healthcare Costs: New federal rules could push roughly three dozen states to cut Medicaid payments to doctors and hospitals by more than $50B, raising the risk of fewer providers willing to treat Medicaid patients. Nuclear & Clean Energy: Kairos Power and Samsung C&T signed on to fund and collaborate on Oak Ridge’s Hermes 2, aiming to advance fluoride salt-cooled reactor tech. Tennessee STEM & Workforce: Tennessee community colleges hit a record 16,240 associate degrees and technical certificates in 2025-26, while enrollment at community colleges and TCATs continues to climb. Road Safety: A TRIP report says 7,444 people died in Tennessee traffic crashes from 2020-2025, with the state’s fatality rate ranking 14th nationally. Local Tech/Innovation: A VA250 STEM stock car pit stop in Tullahoma connected motorsports engineering with local community outreach.

Public Health & Safety: The DEA warns a new synthetic opioid, cychlorphine, is showing up in the U.S. illicit supply and is about 10 times more potent than fentanyl, raising overdose risk and the need for more naloxone. STEM & Research: St. Jude researchers report that the gene ZMYND8 helps drive CD8+ T-cell exhaustion, and removing it can improve anti-tumor and anti-viral responses—an immunotherapy boost with potential for pediatric solid tumors. Energy & Industry: Chattanooga battery-materials firm Novonix says its mass-production synthetic graphite is close to qualification with a lead customer, while also signing a supply-chain development agreement. AI & Transportation: Waymo is rolling out driverless rides for teens in Nashville with parental permission and live trip sharing. Local Tech & Growth: La Vergne’s Twinning Station plan has expanded to about 987 homes across roughly 110 acres. Environment: A Kentucky nonprofit is installing birding “hotspot” signs along the Pine Mountain Birding Trail, using QR codes to feed observations into Cornell’s eBird app. Civic & Courts: A federal court heard arguments over whether Memphis can retaliate against residents for recording a local immigration and law-enforcement task force.