AGP Executive Report

Nuclear Fuel Supply: Centrus Energy locked in a $900M DOE task order to move its HALEU enrichment cascade from demo to commercial operations, aiming to deliver 1 metric ton of HALEU UF6 by March 2032. University Research Funding: LSU cut 25 administrative positions to redirect money toward faculty and research as it pushes for “top 50” research status. Public Health Breakthrough: A Metairie man became Louisiana’s first functionally cured sickle cell patient via gene therapy after two years of treatment. AI + Transportation: Louisiana DOTD plans to use AI to improve interstate traffic flow, adding another practical use case for smart mobility. Drones in the Sky: ANRA says its drone management platform now supports 55,000+ BVLOS commercial operations per month, signaling faster scaling of beyond-visual operations. Energy & Industry Tech: Stax Engineering secured $150M from Bain Capital to expand emissions-capture services for tankers ahead of California’s at-berth rules. Local Tech & Business: CenturyLink’s chief innovation officer Lucas Carlson is leaving to pursue writing, with CenturyLink Labs responsibilities shifting internally. Data Center Reality: A look at how Pennsylvania’s power and gas advantages are drawing major data center investment.

Biomedical corridor push: Greater New Orleans Foundation CEO Andy Kopplin argues the long-stalled BioDistrict needs real momentum, with a redeveloped Charity Hospital as the anchor for a downtown biomedical future. Robotic pharmacy in Louisiana’s orbit: Palo Alto startup Queue says it can fill and verify prescriptions from a sealed pill bottle to a vial in about 30 seconds—no pharmacist on-site—after raising $18.6M. Student-athlete NIL rules: A new Louisiana law now requires NIL agents/attorneys to register with the state, pass a background check, and complete training before representing student-athletes. AI data-center ripple effects: Meta reportedly plans to rent out excess AI computing capacity; the company’s Hyperion build in Louisiana is expected to draw massive power. PFAS bottled-water limits: The FDA moves to regulate PFAS in bottled water, aligning with EPA’s drinking-water limits. Local health + tech giving: REV Fiber and CoBank partner to donate $30,000 to Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center and the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge. Energy + environment: Air Products cancels its Lake Maurepas carbon capture project, citing financial returns. Education snapshot: WalletHub ranks the Lafayette metro lowest in Louisiana for education, with Shreveport, Baton Rouge, and New Orleans also trailing.

Louisiana Tech Leadership: Louisiana Tech names Dr. Jamie Newman dean of the College of Applied and Natural Sciences, highlighting her research and teaching leadership plus campus initiatives like the VISTA Center and the Hinckley Virtual Anatomy Lab. Carbon Capture Backlash: Air Products cancels its Louisiana Clean Energy Complex carbon sequestration project for Lake Maurepas, with Tangipahoa leaders calling it a win after years of community opposition. AI + Cloud in the Region: Meta plans to sell surplus AI computing capacity to outside customers, putting it in direct competition with AWS/Azure/Google Cloud and raising questions about what happens to its infrastructure partners. Healthcare Workforce Push: LSUA breaks ground on a $43M Health Education Campus in Alexandria aimed at doubling the region’s output of nurses and allied health professionals. Local Tech + Health Content: Ochsner launches “Decoded,” a physician-led podcast/video series with New Orleans musician Robin Barnes explaining emerging medical tech in plain language. Higher Ed System Shift: UNO officially returns to the LSU System as LSU New Orleans, unveiling new signage and pitching enrollment, research, and partnerships. Public Health Watch: CDC reports a rise in cyclosporiasis cases across multiple states, including Louisiana, with investigators still working to identify sources.

AI & Courts: A new study says AI-related mistakes in U.S. court filings are surging, with more fabricated citations and wrong legal support as lawyers and self-represented litigants lean on generative tools. Privacy Tech: The U.S. Supreme Court extended constitutional privacy protections to cellphone location info, limiting police use of geofence warrants tied to location history. Transportation Tech: Louisiana DOTD put an AI-powered queue detection system on I-12 in Denham Springs to spot slowdowns earlier and reduce crash risk. Energy & Data Centers: Louisiana regulators are debating how much data center power demand should stay confidential, as Entergy keeps key load forecasts out of public view. Grid Reliability: After Tropical Storm Arthur, Carrollton officials questioned who’s responsible for a substation failure that disrupted the city’s $300M drainage system. Louisiana Policy & Infrastructure: NTIA says BEAD broadband funds have connected residents in only two states so far—Nebraska and Louisiana—raising concerns about speed and deployment quality. Defense & Tech: Belle Chasse’s reserve base is set to receive new F/A-18 Super Hornets, bringing updated radar and jamming capabilities.

Library & STEM Learning: Lafayette unveiled designs for its Northeast Regional Library, built around community input (1,200 responses) with story time, teen space, STEAM/STEM rooms, maker space, study areas, and outdoor learning features; the 6.5-acre site (20,533 sq. ft.) is tied to a 99-year, $1-a-year lease of restored Holy Rosary Institute land, aiming for an opening by 2028. Heat & Public Health: Louisiana summers are getting hotter and more humid, with Climate Central reporting rising average temps since 1970; 2023 saw record heat deaths (88) and 6,187 heat-related ER visits, underscoring risks for outdoor workers and residents. Data Centers & Power Rules: Gov. Jeff Landry’s new data center “ratepayer and community protection” framework may not apply to major projects already granted tax exemptions, keeping the focus on electricity and water impacts from large campuses. Storm Resilience: New Orleans’ Sewerage and Water Board admitted its $300M Entergy-powered drainage power complex can fail, switching to in-house turbines during major storms after recent shutdowns. Rural Broadband Funding: About $20B in rural broadband funds is still delayed, with guidance promised “this summer,” while lawmakers press for clarity on AI-related conditions. Coastal Climate Lawsuit: Louisiana fishermen and groups sued over a Cameron Parish coastal use permit for the Marais methane pipeline, arguing regulators ignored cumulative climate and erosion impacts. Health & Tech in Schools/Clinics: ULM named Ashanti Jones director of its Doctor of Physical Therapy program, and Ochsner LSU Health Monroe earned an AHA stroke quality award. Policy Watch: The House passed the KIDS Act to curb harmful online practices for minors, including limits on disappearing messages and age verification for porn platforms. Energy Pivot: Air Products shelved a carbon capture project in Ascension Parish, citing project wind-down and shifting priorities. LGBTQ Youth Safety: Caddo Parish rejected a Pride Month resolution, with advocates pointing to Louisiana survey findings on discrimination and mental health strain.

Northwest Louisiana Funding Boost: Louisiana’s capital outlay budget is sending nearly $200 million to Shreveport and Bossier City, including $25 million for LSU Health Shreveport and a new research facility at the former Sears building at Mall St. Vincent, plus security upgrades and $17.5 million for Northwestern State University’s Nursing Education Center. Flood Recovery, Step-by-Step: Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain met flood-affected farmers in Opelousas, urging careful documentation of crop losses to unlock state and federal aid after catastrophic flooding. Healthcare Innovation in the Region: North Oaks Neurosurgery Clinic in Hammond added two neurosurgeons focused on robotic-assisted care and advanced tumor surgery, expanding local options for complex brain and spine conditions. Dementia Care Gets a Grant: Alzheimer’s Alliance Texarkana Area won nearly $63,935 to expand dementia respite services with structured, evidence-based therapeutic activities. Public Health Policy Watch: The U.S. Supreme Court ruled states can count mail-in ballots arriving after Election Day, a major shift for election administration. Food & Medicine Research Spotlight: “Food noise” is drawing major research attention, with new studies exploring how GLP-1 drugs may reduce the constant mental preoccupation with food.

Medical Innovation in Hammond: North Oaks Health added neurosurgeons Dani Terrell and S. Garrett Whipple-Bones to its Neurosurgery Clinic, bringing robotic-assisted brain/spine tumor expertise and advanced tumor surgery to patients 18+. Public Health & Policy: Sen. Bill Cassidy warned HHS Secretary RFK Jr. is weakening public health by building policy on “false beliefs,” as the debate over vaccines and disease prevention continues. Gulf Science: NOAA expects a larger-than-average Gulf “dead zone” this summer (about New Jersey-sized), while LSU researchers push for long-term reductions. Autonomous Defense Tech: The U.S. Marine Corps awarded a $20M production contract for fully autonomous ground vehicles to move air-defense systems with less human oversight. Louisiana Health Breakthrough: A Louisiana man, Daniel Cressy, became the first in the state to be functionally cured of sickle cell via gene therapy, opening a new path for patients and researchers. Courts & Forensics: Louisiana’s Supreme Court cleared a West Monroe man after 27 years on death row, citing discredited bite-mark methods and new scientific scrutiny. Privacy Tech: The U.S. Supreme Court ruled cellphone location history is protected by constitutional privacy protections, limiting geofence-based tracking. Energy & Industry: Permian gas production is rising faster than oil, creating a bottleneck as gas-oil ratios climb. Tourism Boost: Louisiana launched a summer “staycation” campaign to drive in-state travel and support local businesses.

Louisiana Senate power shift: U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow decisively won Louisiana’s GOP Senate runoff, riding heavy Trump support and spending, setting up a Nov. 3 general election against Democratic nominee Jamie Davis. Health & research: LSU Pennington Biomedical researchers are studying how GLP-1 weight-loss drugs (like Ozempic) affect muscle loss and metabolic slowdown, aiming to reduce “metabolic adaptation” downsides. Film tech in Louisiana: Louisiana companies and a university are investing in Mandalorian-style virtual production—LED stages, tracking gear, and software—to cut costs and speed up filming. Space science for the Gulf: A bright meteor/“bolide” streaked over south Louisiana, with stargazers sharing viral video and camera clips. Local tech governance: Akron is considering a new review process for future data centers, adding conditional-use approval and more community input before builds move forward. STEM education in Acadiana: Southeastern Louisiana University added new applied AI and cybersecurity concentrations, plus a new communication/media studies department head.

Space & STEM in Louisiana: Sen. Bob Hensgens says momentum is building on a likely SpaceX land deal in Vermilion Parish, with procedural steps moving faster after ExxonMobil-related coastal issues were settled. AI & Cybersecurity Education: Southeastern Louisiana University added new College of Science and Technology concentrations—applied artificial intelligence and cybersecurity—aimed at hands-on, industry-ready training. Media & Arts Leadership: Southeastern also named new department heads for Communication and Media Studies and for Music and Performing Arts, expanding leadership in broadcast and performance education. Research & Public Health: LSU Sociology professor Tim Slack was elected president of the Rural Sociological Society, focusing on research that can shape policy for rural communities. Clean Water Science Fight: Anti-abortion groups are pushing the EPA to review mifepristone as a water contaminant, while scientists say there’s no support for environmental harm claims. Reading Science in Teacher Prep: Nicholls State’s elementary teacher education program earned an “A” from the National Council on Teacher Quality for aligning with the “science of reading.” Local Tech/Industry: SLB won a BP contract for subsea boosting equipment at Thunder Horse, part of a push to standardize offshore technology in the Gulf. Campus & Innovation: University of New Orleans is set to rejoin the LSU system on July 1, marking a major institutional shift for research and engineering programs.

Gene Therapy Breakthrough: Louisiana’s first “functionally cured” sickle cell patient, Daniel Cressy of Metairie, received Casgevy (CRISPR/Cas9) and is now free of signs of the disease—an advance that could reshape long-term care and even career possibilities. Healthcare Infrastructure: Tulane is moving ahead with a $500 million redevelopment of abandoned New Orleans’ Charity Hospital, repurposing much of the campus for public health, innovation, labs, and adding about 2,500 jobs. Education Access: Dyslexia advocate Dr. Laura Cassidy is pushing for earlier identification and support in Louisiana, with Louisiana Key Academy expanding to serve more students. Public Health & Cost Pressures: States are targeting pharmacy benefit managers to lower drug prices, as consumers report difficulty affording prescriptions. Tech & Entertainment: Disneyland’s Pirates of the Caribbean reopens with upgraded Audio-Animatronics that create a new “magic” transformation scene. Space/AI Ambition: Coverage highlights concerns and tradeoffs in SpaceX’s plan for orbital AI data centers. Local Policy & Safety: A Louisiana Senate GOP primary outcome puts Julia Letlow on track for the fall race, while election coverage continues to track results and turnout.

Gene Therapy Breakthrough in Louisiana: Metairie’s Daniel Cressy became the Gulf Coast’s first “functionally cured” sickle cell patient after receiving Casgevy (CRISPR/Cas9), and he’s now aiming to pursue a long-held dream of flying commercial planes. Health Policy & Costs: States are moving to lower drug prices by targeting pharmacy benefit managers that manage prescription coverage for insurers, with CVS among the biggest players pushing back in court. Local Science & Public Health: A New Orleans center is spotlighting trauma-informed addiction care ahead of National PTSD Awareness Day, emphasizing how PTSD and substance use can feed each other. Tech, Defense & Automation: At Fort Polk, an Army exercise showed how attack drones and ground robots can clear battlefield breaches ahead of soldiers—an early look at uncrewed systems in future operations. Energy & Environment Watch: Louisiana groups sued after the state approved a coastal use permit for the Marais Pipeline without legally required impacts analysis, arguing wetlands climate protection was shortchanged. STEM Careers Spotlight: ExxonMobil’s first female engineer in Baton Rouge, Barbara Kerr Beckmann, is retiring after 65 years, marking a milestone for women in engineering.

Coastal Tech & Climate Fight: Louisiana’s Bucket Brigade, FISH, and Sierra Club sued after the state approved the Marais Pipeline coastal use permit without legally required impacts analysis, arguing the project would fill or disturb 800+ acres of wetlands to feed the CP2 LNG terminal. Public Health & Research: LSU researchers are testing whether cleaner home air—via monitors plus HEPA filtration—can ease childhood asthma, with families getting equipment after 18 weeks. Space-Age Science in Louisiana: A Hurricane Hunter “flying research laboratory” visit in Lake Charles showed how NOAA aircraft measure ocean and atmosphere data to improve storm forecasts. Wildlife Disease Watch: Bird flu (H5N1) continues spreading across U.S. poultry and dairy, with Louisiana among states reporting impacts. Local STEM in the Spotlight: ExxonMobil’s first female engineer, Barbara Kerr Beckmann, is retiring after 65 years, marking a major milestone for women in engineering in Baton Rouge. Health Tech in Gonzales: Ascension Center for Women’s Health added Emsella, a non-invasive chair treatment using focused electromagnetic stimulation for pelvic floor wellness. Defense Innovation: Four Navy commands launched the Gulf Coast Defense Catalyst partnership in New Orleans to speed tech from lab to operations. Crime & Forensics: Baton Rouge police say they’ve located evidence pointing to Ja’Derrius Minnieweather’s body in a Zachary landfill, but recovery is delayed pending imaging and search planning.

Defense Innovation: Four Navy commands launched the Gulf Coast Defense Catalyst partnership in New Orleans to speed tech from labs to real-world operations, linking warfighter needs with startups and universities. Hurricane Science: A Hurricane Hunter “flying research laboratory” story highlights how NOAA aircraft gather ocean and atmosphere data to improve storm forecasts and intensity predictions. Cyber/IT Migration: VMware customers are actively planning migrations as Broadcom-era licensing and support changes push them toward HPE, Nutanix, StorMagic, and open-source options. Public Safety Tech: Louisiana’s neighbor Iowa rolled out secure, verifiable temporary vehicle tags to curb counterfeits and protect officers and the public. Health & Climate: A new analysis says dangerous humid heat days in the Gulf South—including Louisiana—have more than doubled since the 1970s, raising heat-illness risk. Local STEM Pipeline: Southern University’s Building Futures Summer Camp brings middle schoolers into hands-on construction training and mentorship. Policy Watch: Louisiana’s psychedelic therapy pilot program takes effect using opioid settlement funds for clinical trials.

Gene Editing Breakthrough: A Metairie man, Daniel Cressy, became the first person in Louisiana functionally cured of sickle cell disease using Casgevy, a CRISPR-based therapy that edits a patient’s stem cells to reactivate fetal hemoglobin. Biotech & Obesity R&D: iBio is pushing deeper into obesity drug discovery with an AI-powered antibody platform, aiming to stand out in a crowded GLP-1 era. Public Health & Food Safety: Raw milk is again in the spotlight after outbreaks sickened more than 80 Americans in 2026, with Louisiana included—reinforcing why pasteurization matters. Climate Resilience & Policy Pressure: “Extreme Weather Survivors” brought climate-change fallout to Washington, pressing lawmakers over slow rebuilding and weak preparedness. Tech Infrastructure & Data Centers: A new analysis says Louisiana may be giving up billions in tax revenue tied to Meta’s Richland Parish data center incentives, raising questions about local costs and tradeoffs. Aviation Safety Upgrade: New Orleans airport received FAA Surface Movement Radar tech to reduce runway and taxiway collisions.

Defense Innovation in Louisiana: Four U.S. Navy commands launched the Gulf Coast Defense Catalyst in New Orleans, linking warfighter needs with businesses, startups, and universities to speed defense tech from lab to operations. Aviation Policy: Louisiana became the third state to ban ADS-B-based billing, limiting how pilots can be charged using the safety system for certain noncommercial flights. Public Health Data Fight: A new update says the U.S. vaccine advisory process still lacks an ACIP quorum, leaving fall respiratory recommendations in limbo while courts and agencies keep reshaping the rules. STEM & Health Breakthroughs: Louisiana’s gene-therapy milestone continues with reports of young patients cured or functionally cured of sickle cell disease, adding momentum to precision medicine. Energy & Industry Watch: A fresh look at lithium in East Texas highlights potential jobs and diversification as extraction interest grows. Local Tech/Infrastructure: Louisiana’s REDI and certified site expansion efforts continue, aiming to make it easier for high-tech projects to land in the state.

Heat Safety Research: LSU Health Shreveport researcher Cory Coehoorn won a $210,022 grant to use AI and wearable sensors to predict heat stroke and exhaustion risk in high school football players across multiple Louisiana cities. Storm Science & Preparedness: Tropical Storm Arthur’s Louisiana impacts—heavy rain, flooding, and tornadoes—are being framed as a warning that Gulf-fueled storms can form differently than past patterns, pushing the need for better forecasting and readiness. Local Tech & Industry: Louisiana is refreshing its Certified Sites program and expanding its presence on the REDI Sites national platform, highlighting 125 active certified locations and eight on REDI. Data Center Debate: Central Louisiana residents question Applied Digital’s “Delta Forge One” data center plans, citing concerns over timelines, land use, and what infrastructure will be built. Public Health Policy: A national look at abortion access since Dobbs notes rising abortion rates and how telehealth and mail are shaping access. Space & Skywatching: The Strawberry Moon and the Bootid meteor shower are set for late June, with slow meteors offering a better chance to see streaks. Sickle Cell Milestone: Louisiana reports another functional cure milestone via gene therapy, adding to the state’s growing track record.