AGP Executive Report

Coal Ash Rules: The EPA is proposing changes to federal coal-waste disposal rules that nearly 200 groups say would weaken safeguards and raise risks to water sources, including by easing closure requirements for older ash ponds. Suicide Prevention Tech: UVM Medical Center researcher Craig Bryan says a college-focused suicide prevention app (OTX-202/Aviva) is showing big reductions in suicidal thoughts and may make therapy more efficient. AI Data Centers & Rural Costs: A new survey finds rural Americans are especially worried AI data centers will drive up electricity bills and strain local land and water. Energy Storage Deal: Two Waterbury battery firms are changing hands—Kore Power is being bought by a Texas solar company, while NOMAD is going public and rebranding—signaling fast-moving grid demand. Solar Goes Space: Burlington’s Verde Technologies is shifting perovskite solar work toward powering orbital data centers, with a new CEO leading the push. Local Science & Community: A Quechee insect festival and a Milton library “frog, lizard, and/or snake” event highlight hands-on STEM for families. Healthcare Budget Pressure: Vermont hospital budgets are expected to be red-flagged, with major cuts looming at UVMMC as the state’s health system tries to control costs.

Energy & Industry: Two Waterbury battery firms changed hands as Kore Power was bought by Texas solar company T1, while NOMAD Transportable Power Systems is going public and rebranding as Nomad Power Solutions—signs of how fast Vermont’s storage market is shifting with rising power demand. Health Policy: UVM Health says it will suspend coverage of some weight-loss drugs for employees starting in September, aiming to save $19M a year while keeping coverage for diabetes. Infectious Disease: UVM researcher Peter Hyson secured a $150,000 Bay Area Lyme Foundation grant to test new treatments for rising babesiosis, a deer-tick blood parasite that’s surged in Vermont. Public Health & Climate: Vermont is seeing worsening tick activity this summer, with officials calling it a “new normal” tied to climate and more tick-human contact. Water & Ecosystems: New York DEC and the Canal Corporation updated their rapid response plan to stop round goby from spreading into the Lake Champlain Basin, including more use of environmental DNA. Local Tech/Science Education: Lakeland University students returned from a Belize rainforest research course, continuing the school’s long-running Tropical Ecology field program. Healthcare Workforce: SVMC CEO Estevan Garcia says the hospital plans to become a medical training facility with a new three-year family medicine residency in downtown Bennington. Community Tech & History: Shaftsbury launched a self-guided Revolutionary War cemetery tour using QR codes and digital profiles.

Public Health: Vermont is seeing a tick season that’s “the new normal,” with ER and urgent care visits for tick bites running above the 2017–25 average and officials linking the rise to climate change and more tick-human contact. Medical Research: UVM infectious-disease researcher Peter Hyson is testing potential new treatments for babesiosis after Vermont incidence reportedly surged 1,600% over the past decade, aiming for a therapy tailored to immunocompromised patients. Higher Ed Leadership: Vermont State University’s new president, Dr. Sherry Kollmann, officially begins her tenure, with an emphasis on enrollment growth and flexible learning pathways. Campus & Community Tech/Infrastructure: Champlain Valley School District is moving ahead with a controversial $5.7M artificial turf field plan at CVU despite resident concerns about environmental and health impacts. Energy & Climate Resilience: A warming climate could be pushing more Vermonters to adopt air conditioning, as the state’s historically low AC ownership rate collides with extreme heat warnings. STEM & Workforce: Vermont’s advanced manufacturing career pipeline gets a boost through VMEC’s “Launch Your Career” push. Policy & Data Centers: A Vermont data-center debate continues after a vetoed bill would have added new restrictions, with supporters arguing it would have limited jobs and tax revenue.

Higher Ed Leadership: Idaho’s State Board of Education voted to hire David Hahn as Boise State University’s new president, effective immediately, after a public review period for the sole finalist. University of Vermont System: Vermont State University officially welcomed Dr. Sherry Kollmann as president, with an enrollment growth push across online, hybrid, and campus programs. Campus & Community Tech/Facilities: Champlain Valley School District advanced a $5.7M artificial turf field project at CVU despite resident concerns about environmental and health impacts. Clean Water Planning: Vermont DEC is seeking public comment on a draft five-year Tactical Basin Plan for the Batten Kill, Walloomsac, and Hoosic River basin, with a July 31 deadline. Climate & Energy Access: A report highlights Vermont’s historically low air-conditioning ownership and warns warming summers may force more households to adopt cooling. Mobility Safety: Local Motion urges Vermont to focus on regulating and enforcing rules for higher-speed e-motos, not e-bikes, as safety concerns rise. Public Health & Food Security: Vermont’s SNAP enrollment fell after federal work requirements; advocates say it’s the biggest drop in decades. Forest Health: UVM research finds natural causes now drive more tree deaths than logging across the Northeast, with insects, disease, and extreme weather leading. Workforce Housing: Vermont’s farmworker-housing program is helping cover repairs and replacements for worker homes, easing a long-running rural housing bottleneck.

Vermont Tech & Industry: Beta Technologies says it’s planning a 100-acre expansion in South Burlington to bring more large components manufacturing in-house and grow technician training capacity. Broadband & Digital Access: NEK Broadband opened the Groton Connectivity HUB, a USDA-funded community technology center aimed at expanding fiber access and giving rural residents a place for remote work, telehealth, education, and tech support. Advanced Manufacturing Workforce: Vermont Manufacturing Extension Center (VMEC) and River Valley Technical Center announced a free July 2 open house and a CNC Boot Camp in July for entry-level advanced manufacturing training. Ag Robotics: UVM Extension is demoing driverless weeding robots for Vermont farmers, using drone mapping to guide robots through fields and reduce labor strain. Environment & Tech in Forestry: A UVM study finds natural causes now drive more tree deaths than logging across the Northeast, with insects, disease, and extreme weather leading the shift. Policy & Science: Vermont’s new July 1 laws include tighter ticket resale rules and a paraquat weed-killer ban taking effect Nov. 1, with farm exceptions through 2030.

Extreme Heat Preparedness: Burlington and Vermont are bracing for an Extreme Heat Warning July 1–3, with heat indexes near 106°F and cooling sites open across the city. Energy-Efficient Housing: Vermont is rolling out “Advanced Manufactured Homes” that are all-electric and heat-pump ready, cutting energy use by more than half versus typical new manufactured homes, with incentives for builders. Public Health & Policy: Millions are dropping ACA coverage as premiums rise and enhanced subsidies expire, while a new study links hearing aids with lower dementia risk in people with epilepsy. Food Safety Research: UVM researchers report new findings on how intestinal cells starve Salmonella of key nutrients, pointing to new ways to treat food-borne infections. Vermont Tech & Industry: Scutum North America expands in North America by integrating a Vermont-based UL fire-approved monitoring station, and a Vermont Prize goes to animator Travis Van Alstyne for short films rooted in local stories. Climate & Agriculture: UVM Extension is studying whether irrigation is worth the cost as climate change brings hotter, drier stretches between bigger downpours. Local Learning: Twin Valley schools are highlighting new academic options for families amid regional school closures.

Northern Lights Watch: NOAA forecasts a G1 (minor) geomagnetic storm from a June 26 solar eruption, with auroras potentially visible across up to 19 states, including Vermont, if skies cooperate. Vermont Health Tech: UVM’s Stephen T. Higgins won an NIDA award to test a smartphone-based rewards program to help pregnant people quit smoking, aiming for a future FDA digital intervention. Privacy & Health Data: Vermont’s new Data Privacy and Online Surveillance Act (effective 2028) adds extra rules for consumer health data, including privacy notices, limits on collection, and higher-risk processing assessments. Public Health Science: Vermont officials shared guidance on spotting cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) blooms and what to do to protect people and pets. Agriculture Under Climate Stress: UVM Extension is studying whether pasture irrigation is worth the cost as hotter, drier stretches and heavier downpours become more common. Local Tech/Policy: Vermont police license-plate surveillance reportedly used an out-of-state camera loophole despite state limits. AI Policy: Bernie Sanders unveiled a plan for public ownership of half of the largest AI companies via a sovereign wealth fund funded by a one-time 50% tax on AI stock. Business/Industry: Peak Processing expanded into the US THC beverage market with a Fryday Kush manufacturing deal.

Space Weather: A minor G1 geomagnetic storm could make the northern lights visible in Vermont tonight, with best viewing typically between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. Public Health & Water Safety: Vermont officials are urging people to learn how to spot cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) blooms and avoid contact with affected water and pets. Toxic Metals & Kids’ Brains: New research using baby teeth is highlighting when infants may be most vulnerable to heavy metals like lead—pushing for stronger federal protections. PFAS & Turf Field Debate: A Chittenden Valley School District decision on an artificial field hinges on a study about PFAS leaching, but opponents question the conclusions and raise broader policy concerns. Privacy & Policing: Vermont lawmakers tried to curb license plate surveillance, but reporting says police used a national-camera loophole to keep tracking people across state lines. Energy & Environment Policy: Vermont AG Kwame Raoul joined other attorneys general opposing EPA moves to weaken coal ash rules tied to serious health risks. Regional Tech/Business: Southwestern Vermont’s Chamber Foundation launched InvestInSouthwest.org as a digital hub for investors and workforce opportunities. Leadership in Tech-Adjacent Industry: Scotts Miracle-Gro named Nate Baxter CEO and Pete Shumlin board chair after Jim Hagedorn stepped down.

Vermont Paraquat Ban: Vermont became the first state to ban paraquat, a weedkiller tied to Parkinson’s disease, with a phase-out that gives farmers exceptions through 2030. School Turf PFAS Debate: The Chittenden Valley School District board is set to revisit a proposed $6M artificial field at CVU, after a study suggested PFAS leaching is unlikely—though opponents and scientists dispute the conclusions. Emergency Tech Recognition: INDIGITAL’s MEVO next-gen 911 platform earned recognition for keeping 911 call handling running during major disasters, including hurricane outages, using satellite-enabled backup options. Climate Courts Shift: New research says the Trump administration is reshaping climate litigation—boosting federal anti-climate suits while also triggering a surge of outside legal challenges defending state climate actions, including Vermont-related efforts. AI in Vermont Higher Ed: Middlebury College research finds students often use AI as an augmentation tool rather than full automation, with some AI uses linked to better long-term learning. Privacy vs Policing: Vermont lawmakers tried to curb license-plate surveillance, but VTDigger reports police used an out-of-state camera network loophole for more than 100 searches since 2023. Local STEM Programs: Twin Valley Middle High School plans new academic programs, including an Academy of Arts, Communication & Entrepreneurship, plus expanded dual enrollment options. Wetland Plant Update: The northeastern bulrush is set to be delisted as federally endangered after population gains—but researchers warn threats like habitat loss and low genetic diversity remain.

Electric aviation in Vermont: Beta Technologies is laying out a near-100-acre campus expansion in South Burlington, pitching a more flexible “adaptive” planning approach to keep up with rapid industry changes. Workforce development: Springfield Rotary welcomed Paul Dana of The Manufacturing Collaborative, highlighting partnerships that connect students and job seekers to advanced manufacturing careers across Vermont. Education + engineering for kids: A Cavendish Fletcher Community Library Destination Imagination team won Vermont’s Technical Challenge and is headed to global finals after building a music-playing dragon concept. AI in the classroom: Middlebury College research finds most students use AI as an augmentation tool, with some AI uses boosting long-term learning—not just short-term grades. Privacy vs. policing: Vermont lawmakers tried to curb license-plate surveillance, but reporting says police used an out-of-state camera network loophole to run more than 100 searches since 2023. Public health + trust: A University of Idaho study links higher trust in public health institutions to better COVID-avoidance behavior, underscoring the role of clear messaging. Healthcare leadership: NBC5 in Depth profiles major leadership transitions at UVM Health’s Children’s Hospital, including pediatric chief changes and retirements.

Privacy & Policing: Vermont lawmakers tried to rein in license-plate surveillance, but VTDigger reports police used an out-of-state camera network loophole to run 100+ plate searches since 2023. Public Health & Research: UVM researchers report new findings on how intestinal cells restrict Salmonella’s access to key metals, pointing to possible new treatments for food-borne infections. Climate & Food Safety: Vermont tick monitoring continues with large-scale “tick quest” sampling; officials say the data helps track Lyme and other tick-borne diseases. STEM in the Classroom: A Cavendish Fletcher Community Library Destination Imagination team won Vermont’s technical challenge and heads to global finals after building a music-playing dragon and original game show. Healthcare Delivery: Dartmouth Health is launching a “hospital without walls” at-home program funded by a $10M donation, aiming to bring hospital-level monitoring and care to older adults. Tech & Infrastructure: Speedtest ranks Idaho near the bottom and places Vermont in the bottom five for broadband speeds, underscoring the rural connectivity gap. Energy & Industry: Beta Technologies is seeking a near-100-acre adaptive campus plan in South Burlington, signaling continued growth for electric aviation manufacturing.

Healthcare Transformation: Vermont is set to receive nearly $1B over five years through the federal Rural Health Transformation Program, aiming to expand access, workforce, and outcomes—but success will hinge on tough implementation choices. Assisted Suicide Funding: A new report says major Wall Street firms’ charitable arms helped bankroll assisted-suicide advocacy, raising fresh questions about influence and ethics. Public Health & Food Safety: UVM researchers report new findings on how intestinal cells restrict Salmonella’s access to key metals, pointing to potential treatments for food-borne infections. Lyme & Ticks: Vermont’s tick-monitoring program is tracking Lyme risk using field sampling, with high positivity rates reported in recent years. Wildlife Trust: Vermont Fish and Wildlife leadership faces renewed criticism from advocates over bear-management decisions and the lack of reliable carrying-capacity data. CPR Readiness: The Vermont Heart Walk raised $40K+ and trained community members in Hands-Only CPR to boost survival odds from cardiac arrest. Tech/Industry in Vermont: Beta Technologies is sketching a near-100-acre adaptive campus plan in South Burlington, signaling continued growth in electric aviation. Broadband Reality Check: A national speed study ranks Vermont among the slowest states, highlighting the ongoing rural connectivity gap.

Rural Health Funding: Vermont is set to receive nearly $1B over five years through the federal Rural Health Transformation Program, aiming to expand access, workforce, and outcomes—but the real test will be implementation and the hard choices it requires. Public Health & Trust: A University of Idaho study finds that higher trust in public health institutions leads people to follow COVID-19 precautions more closely, underscoring the power of clear messaging. Food Safety Research: UVM researchers report new findings on how intestinal cells restrict Salmonella’s access to key metals like iron and manganese, pointing to possible new treatments for food-borne infections. Ag & Animal Welfare: UVM and Penn State Extension are recruiting Northeast dairy producers to study calf-rearing with nurse cows, collecting welfare and health data across Vermont and Pennsylvania. Wildlife & Disease Monitoring: Vermont’s Agency of Agriculture tick program is tracking Lyme risk using field “dragging” surveys, with recent testing showing high Lyme positivity in deer ticks. Local Tech/Industry Growth: Beta Technologies is seeking a near-100-acre adaptive campus plan in South Burlington, signaling continued expansion for electric aviation manufacturing. Health in the Home: Dartmouth Health is launching a “hospital without walls” at-home program for older adults, funded by a $10M donation. Community Preparedness: Vermont Heart Walk raised over $40,000 and trained residents in Hands-Only CPR to boost cardiac arrest survival odds.

Electric Aviation & Planning: Beta Technologies is seeking a new “adaptive campus master plan” for a near-100-acre expansion in South Burlington, aiming to replace a more rigid 40-acre framework and reduce repeat city reviews as the industry evolves. Aviation Demo Push: Beta also partnered with Surf Air Mobility on Hawaii flight demos to show how its CX300 electric aircraft could fit into real airline operations. Infectious Disease Research: UVM researchers report new findings on how intestinal cells restrict Salmonella’s access to key metals like iron and manganese, pointing to possible new treatments for food-borne infections. Public Health on the Ground: Vermont’s tick-monitoring program is collecting tens of thousands of ticks to track Lyme risk and other tick-borne diseases. Community CPR Training: The Vermont Heart Walk raised $40,000+ and trained residents in Hands-Only CPR to boost survival odds from cardiac arrest. Healthcare at Home: Dartmouth Health is launching a “Hospital at Home” program funded by a $10M gift, expanding hospital-level care into patients’ homes. Wildlife Trust Tensions: A new commentary argues trust in Vermont Fish & Wildlife is eroding, criticizing bear-management decisions and the lack of reliable carrying-capacity data. Local Economy & Growth: Rutland Region leaders highlight major shifts ahead, including Walmart’s move to the former Diamond Run Mall site and Killington’s ongoing Village expansion. EV Policy & Affordability: A national report looks at how state rebates can still help some buyers get electric trucks into the teens, even after federal credits changed.

Public Health & Policy: Newly released internal CDC emails describe pressure from RFK Jr.’s team, including a request to pull flu vaccine ads—sparking fresh debate over politics vs. public health. Clean Water & Environment: UVM researchers found Hartford neighborhoods historically marked “redlined” are more likely to have higher lead in soil, linking past housing policy to present health risk. Local Science in Action: A Vermont volunteer network is helping monitor Lake Champlain for cyanobacteria (blue-green algae), aiming to catch toxin risks early. PFAS Watch: In Hinesburg, a report says a proposed CVU turf field is unlikely to cause detectable PFAS in a key well, while noting microplastics could still be released. Tech & Aviation: Vermont-based BETA Technologies is partnering with Mokulele Airlines to test an electric cargo plane in Hawaii, with trial flights focused on safety and operations. Agriculture & Health Regulation: Vermont’s paraquat ban takes effect, following concerns about a possible link to Parkinson’s disease. Digital Equity: NATOA’s 2026 broadband awards highlight community Wi-Fi and digital literacy programs nationwide, with implications for Vermont’s connectivity goals. STEM Education: Vermont student composers got their work performed with the Vermont Symphony Orchestra and Music-COMP, showing how arts and STEM mentoring can connect.

Public Health & Maternal Care: A national spotlight is highlighting a real-world gap in using magnesium sulfate for fetal neuroprotection in preterm births, even though studies show it can cut cerebral palsy risk by about 29%. PFAS & Drinking Water: State agencies briefed residents in Bennington and Shaftsbury on ongoing PFOA concerns tied to Saint-Gobain, including well testing and waterline plans. Local PFAS Risk Assessment: A 91-page environmental report says a proposed CVU artificial turf field is unlikely to raise PFAS levels in Hinesburg’s Well 4, while noting microplastics could be released but aren’t yet regulated. Privacy & Data Brokers: Connecticut’s new data-broker registry push is part of a broader wave of state and federal efforts to force transparency and enable deletion requests. Clean Water Planning: Vermont DEC opened public comment on a five-year tactical basin plan for the Batten Kill, Walloomsac, and Hoosic River Basin, laying out 30 restoration and protection actions. Agriculture Policy: Vermont’s paraquat ban takes center stage as lawmakers and advocates push for wider action amid ongoing debate over Parkinson’s risk.