AGP Executive Report

STEM Education: A $5 million National Science Foundation grant is backing the Midwest STEM Alliance, which selected six Minnesota elementary science teachers to strengthen rural science education. University of Minnesota: New initiatives aim to support workforce development, health and research, building on programs including the university’s AI Hub and expanded healthcare training. Health Data: Minneapolis-based OneMedNet signed a deal to bring its U.S. healthcare data to South Korean research and medical AI companies. Land Science: A 17-acre prescribed burn on Minnesota Point will restore fire to a pine forest shaped by Indigenous burning practices, following research recommending its return. Iron Range Industry: Mesabi Metallics is linking its Minnesota iron ore project to a proposed $15 billion Iowa steel complex as part of an $18 billion investment.

AI & Civil Rights: A federal appeals court paused Minnesota’s “nudification” ban while xAI’s lawsuit proceeds, leaving the state’s first-of-its-kind AI deepfake porn law on hold. Education & STEM Outcomes: Minnesota’s 2026 MCA results show reading and math proficiency down and science especially low, with one Traverse County math failure rate at 56.7%. Space-Linked Student Research: Minnesota’s School of Environmental Studies students won NASA’s TechRise Student Challenge, building a microgravity experiment on growing food beyond Earth. Public Health & Vaccines: New York declared a measles emergency and expanded who can administer vaccines as cases surge nationwide. Cannabis & Driving Safety: New University of Minnesota survey data suggests younger Minnesotans are most likely to drive after cannabis use, even as prosecutors report relatively few impaired-driving cases. Tech & Governance: Minnesota’s CIO Jon Eichten highlighted people-first modernization as the state pushes tech upgrades. Local Tech Procurement: Grand Forks County approved sheriff’s office contracts for inmate monitoring and alcohol monitoring systems. Higher Ed Restructuring: M State plans to close its Detroit Lakes campus by mid-2028 while keeping nursing locally. Research & Discovery: Scientists named a new ancient crocodile species from fossils tied to the same Egyptian limestone that formed the Great Sphinx.

Energy & Climate Tech: CenterPoint is hosting a community connect in Orono to discuss a potential networked geothermal project—using stable underground temperatures to heat and cool buildings—while the company evaluates candidate sites. Clean Fuel Policy: Minnesota’s Biodiesel Fire Code Variance Toolkit aims to make it easier for fleets to use 100% biodiesel (B100), building on the state’s B20 blending mandate. STEM Education (Minnesota): New MCA-IV reading and science assessments set a fresh baseline; Stillwater reports 59% proficient in reading, 58% in math, and 34% in science, with results not directly comparable to older test versions. AI Governance (Courts): Federal appeals courts paused Minnesota’s AI “nudification” ban, including an injunction tied to xAI’s legal challenge. Research & Industry (Hydropower): The U.S. DOE selected 14 hydropower projects for testing support via its Hydropower Testing Network, including a University of Minnesota effort on rapidly deploying tech for non-powered dams. Local Science Outcomes: Goodhue County Education District hit just a 3% science benchmark on the MCA in 2024-25, underscoring major gaps. Tech Leadership: Dayforce named Jake Varghese Chief Product and Technology Officer to lead global product and technology strategy as AI reshapes HCM.

Public Health Tech: Minnesota’s Quit Partner rolled out the QuitLogix mobile app to help adults quit smoking and vaping, with personalized quit plans, reminders, progress tracking, and support for young adults (18–24), working alongside free phone coaching. AI & Policy: A federal appeals court paused Minnesota’s “AI nudification” ban after xAI’s challenge, keeping the issue in legal limbo while AI risks and governance debates intensify. Transportation & Permitting: Minneapolis is streamlining permits for home improvements—aiming to cut approval times for projects like porches, kitchen renovations, and roof replacements by removing steps and using automation. Education & STEM Outcomes: New state test reporting highlights major science gaps in several Minnesota counties, including high failure rates on the MCA science portion in Murray and Wilkin counties. Genomics for Newborns: Oregon is preparing to enroll families in a national study exploring whether genome sequencing can be added to routine newborn screening, potentially expanding detection far beyond current panels. Climate Resilience Planning: Bemidji State University is partnering on a $1.22M regional climate resilience plan for northeast and central Minnesota, funded by the state’s ENRTF. Local STEM Spotlight: A Minnesota middle school student was named a top-30 finalist in the Thermo Fisher Junior Innovators Challenge for plant-based microplastic removal research.

AI & Energy Costs: Minnesota regulators are scrutinizing a proposed 15-year electricity deal for Google’s Pine Island data center, after the Minnesota AG questioned whether Xcel Energy can prove the tech firm will cover all power costs—highlighting a wider debate over whether AI data centers should fully bear their energy burden. Water & Climate Resilience: A new U.S. river map finds only about 6% of rivers are in good condition, with researchers pointing to dams, land protection, and source-area priorities to help restore aquatic life. Public Health & Vaccines: New York AG Letitia James sued HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to restore a science-based childhood vaccine schedule, arguing recent changes cut out key vaccines and replaced expert input. AI in Politics: Researchers tracked about $80M in spending on nearly 170 AI-generated midterm ads, finding many don’t disclose AI use and that deepfakes show up alongside subtler edits. Minnesota AI Law Paused: A federal appeals court put Minnesota’s “nudification” ban on hold after xAI appealed, leaving enforcement paused while the case proceeds. Medical Imaging Innovation: Photon-counting CT is emerging as a next step for clearer cardiac imaging, potentially expanding options for patients with dense calcium or implanted devices. Cybersecurity Lessons: A Rapid City-area report highlights what local governments can learn after a ransomware attack disrupted Pennington County systems. Local STEM & Learning: Eastern Carver County’s 2024-25 science MCA results show 36.9% meeting or exceeding standards. Biotech/Trials: Nucleus Network deployed an AI agent to screen early clinical trial volunteers 24/7, aiming to better match people to studies before human follow-up. Minnesota Health Policy: Sen. Tina Smith’s tick-borne disease research/testing/treatment bill became law, backed by rising Lyme and other tick-borne cases in Minnesota.

Head Start Policy Fight: A Trump administration proposal could remove federal guidelines that keep children with serious behavior challenges from being expelled from Head Start, raising stakes for families who rely on social-emotional support. School Safety Drills: A New York investigation finds some Long Island schools may not fully comply with required lockdown drill standards, renewing questions about how well drills prepare students. Suicide Prevention in Duluth: Duluth held its first Out of the Darkness Walk, raising nearly $5,000 so Minnesota programs can expand research, education, and support. Minnesota Natural Resources: A culturally informed prescribed burn is planned for Minnesota Point (Oct. 6–8) to restore “good fire” practices and support red pine and blueberries. Cybersecurity for Critical Infrastructure: A new report highlights how states are building stronger, statewide defenses as AI-driven cyber threats target utilities, hospitals, and water systems. Food & Health Alerts: The FDA issued a Class II recall for certain Gatorade bottles sold in 37 states due to undeclared yellow food colorings. Local STEM/Research Angle: Minnesota employers in the Educational Services sector filed 1,019 H-1B petitions in 2025, with Mayo Clinic and the University of Minnesota among the top filers.

Immigration & STEM Workforce: Minnesota employers in the Educational Services sector filed 1,019 H-1B petitions in 2025, with a 98.8% approval rate—led locally by Mayo Clinic (476), the University of Minnesota (213), and Southwest Metro Intermediate District (42). Public Health & Food Safety: The FDA issued a Class II recall for more than 122,000 cases of Gatorade Lemon Lime and Orange varieties across 37 states due to undeclared Yellow No. 5 and/or Yellow No. 6. K-12 Science Performance: Yellow Medicine County saw 75.8% of students fail the science portion of Minnesota’s MCA in 2024-25, far above the 24.2% meeting the benchmark. Clean Energy in Minnesota: The University of Minnesota’s Solar Commons Research Project launched at Vermilion Country School in Tower, adding 88 solar panels and routing savings into a long-term trust for local priorities. Reversible Biotech (National): New research and trials are pushing reversible male contraception forward, including injectable hydrogel approaches that block sperm passage and can be reversed.

AI & Privacy Fight: A federal appeals court blocked Minnesota’s anti–AI “nudification” law for now in xAI’s challenge, keeping the dispute alive over how to regulate nonconsensual deepfakes. Public Safety Tech Oversight: Stillwater residents pressed for transparency after contract details surfaced showing Flock Safety included live pan-tilt-zoom video cameras with storage, not just passive license plate reading. Education Outcomes (MCA): New state data highlighted steep gaps—Jackson County posted a 73.7% science failure rate, Big Stone County had 43.6% reading failures, and St. Louis County hit 42.8% meeting reading benchmarks. Health & Policy: The White House announced one-time $90 Medicare Part B payments for millions of seniors, tied to the Medicare Improvement Fund. Energy & Environment: Enbridge faced another setback after crews breached an aquifer during a Wisconsin pipeline reroute, adding to a string of environmental disputes. Cardiovascular Research: Vanderbilt’s Dr. Annet Kirabo won the 2026 Joseph A. Vita Award for work linking immune activation to blood pressure and hypertension. STEM in the Classroom: Minnesota State University homecoming spotlighted students in earth science and education technology clubs, underscoring local STEM pathways.

Cardiovascular Breakthrough: Vanderbilt’s Dr. Annet Kirabo won the 2026 Joseph A. Vita Award for work linking immune activation and inflammation to high blood pressure. AI Policy in Minnesota: The 8th Circuit temporarily blocked Minnesota’s “nudification” ban, pausing enforcement while xAI challenges it as unconstitutional. Environmental Risk in the Region: Enbridge’s Line 5 reroute hit another setback when crews breached an aquifer near the Marengo River in Wisconsin, escalating tensions with tribal and state regulators. Public Health & Screening: A St. Paul lab is helping high-risk women catch breast cancer earlier with a blood test designed to complement mammograms, especially for dense breast tissue. Local Tech & Connectivity: Paul Bunyan Communications began expanding its GigaZone all-fiber network in Hibbing, aiming to bring faster service to hundreds of locations. Community & Wellness: Indigenous Peoples Task Force opened the Mikwanedun Audisookon Center for art, wellness, and healing in south Minneapolis. Safety Reminder: Minnesota DNR warns cold-water boating season can be deadly, with a large share of fatalities happening as lakes cool. Healthcare Systems: Essentia Health and HealthPartners’ merger plans continue to reshape Minnesota’s hospital landscape and workforce needs.

Health Care Partnerships: Mayo Clinic is expanding its reach through a new partnership with South County Health in Rhode Island, a model that keeps local control while importing Mayo clinical expertise and systems. Public Health & Vaccines: As respiratory virus season ramps up, new guidance highlights getting updated flu, Covid-19, and RSV shots now—especially amid shifting federal vaccine advisory processes. Minnesota Research & Policy: Minnesota’s Vaccine Integrity Project and the AMA are reviewing this fall’s vaccines, while a Minnesota study reports medical cannabis can reduce anxiety and depression symptoms for many autism patients. STEM in Schools: Westonka Schools is forming an AI Cabinet to vet tools, set safety and ethics guidance, and train staff under a “Human—AI—Human” approach. Biotech & Business: Celcuity, a Minnesota biotech, added board member David W. Gryska as it moves into commercial launch for REVTORPYK. Environment & Water: Citizen-led PFAS awareness efforts show how local outreach and treatment tools can spread practical risk-reduction knowledge. Fraud & Accountability: A Duluth psychotherapist faces charges tied to more than $2.25M in alleged Medicaid fraud. AI & Work: A new Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder column explores how AI is reshaping work for Black professionals.

Synthetic Biology: A University of Minnesota–linked push to “create life” in the lab is advancing fast, with NSF- and NASA-backed work and growing regulatory scrutiny. Forensic Toxicology: A new report argues Minnesota DUI breath tests may miss alcohol contamination from stomach contents in people with chronic acid reflux, raising courtroom questions about safeguards. Healthcare & Diagnostics: Mayo Clinic Laboratories plans a $30M diagnostic facility in Southaven, creating 234 jobs. Water Quality & Lake Tech: Fairmont held a workshop on Chain of Lakes runoff, nutrients, glyphosate, and invasives, including experimental approaches like nanobubble oxygenation and other lake-management tools. Climate Policy Fight: Minnesota AGs are part of lawsuits challenging EPA rollbacks of power-plant greenhouse gas limits. Data Centers & Power Costs: A Senate bill aimed at protecting ratepayers from data-center electricity costs failed, despite strong House support. STEM in Schools: South Washington County’s 2024-25 math MCA results show 51.8% meeting standards, down 1.9% year over year. Biotech/Medical Careers: PWHL defender Claire Thompson retires to pursue orthopedic surgery.

Health & Medicine: Minnesota researchers report that medical cannabis patients with autism saw improvements in co-occurring symptoms within four months, using real-world data from 1,811 patients. Public Health Costs: Minnesota’s ACA marketplace premiums are set to jump again in 2027, with every approved insurer raising rates by at least 10% as healthcare costs, labor shortages, and drug expenses keep climbing. Transplant Care: Scripps Health named Minnesota surgeon Mark Sturdevant to lead its Center for Organ and Cell Transplantation, focusing on liver transplantation and living-donor techniques. STEM in Schools: A Tracy-area STEM initiative is using solar “learning kits” to let students build working small solar systems, supported by an Xcel Energy grant. Education Outcomes: Minnesota test results show grade-level gaps still stuck post-pandemic, with math and science proficiency lagging and big differences between schools. Energy & Grid Policy: A Cornell study warns that tariffs or surcharges on Canadian electricity could raise prices, emissions, and grid vulnerability during extreme weather. Tech & Media: CBS Minnesota is rolling out AR/VR-enhanced weather coverage in its newscasts. AI & Jobs: A new map ranks where AI-exposed jobs are most concentrated across the U.S., with Washington highest by share.

Education & Testing: Minnesota MCA scores stayed mostly stable, but MDE linked the “challenging year” to Operation Metro Surge disruptions, including more absences and fewer school meals. STEM in Schools: Nicollet Public Schools launched a no-cost Rural Experiential STEM Education Partnership Initiative with MSU Mankato, bringing hands-on robotics and engineering to rural classrooms. Local Science Performance: Duluth Public Schools outperformed state averages in reading and science in 2026 accountability data, while gaps for Black and Multiracial students remain. Health Research: A University of Minnesota veterinary study pairs a quick breath test with medication to help detect early mitral valve disease in dogs. Water & Biosecurity: Citizen volunteers used eDNA kits to help track zebra mussels in Minnesota lakes, aiming for faster, broader invasive-species surveillance. Cybersecurity & Utilities: A report on a coordinated cyberattack against Minnesota water systems highlights the need to modernize operational technology security without risking service safety. Public Health Policy: Sen. Tina Smith’s Lyme disease/tick-borne illness research and treatment law is now signed. Environment Risk: A new study warns a major solar storm could trigger a “blackout arc” affecting parts of Minnesota and millions nationwide. Tech Governance: Minnesota communities are debating Flock-style camera data and privacy as retention rules and access questions resurface.

Medtronic Health Tech: Medtronic won FDA clearance and CE marks for Affera Prism-2 cardiac mapping software and a PulseSelect ProxBox adapter, expanding its precision tools for heart rhythm ablation. Cancer Research: Mayo Clinic researchers report distinct gut microbiome patterns in younger adults with colorectal and breast cancers, using stool samples from a large real-world cohort across multiple states. Clinical Trials Tech: Minneapolis-based Trialynx won DPHARM Idol Disrupt 2026 for its hub-and-spoke “single source of truth” approach to real-time trials, aligning with FDA’s push to modernize how studies run. Education & Testing: Rochester Public Schools posted reading gains and beat the statewide reading proficiency rate for the first time in 14 years, while new MCA data shows fewer than half of Minnesota students meet math and reading standards. Public Health & Environment: Iowa researchers say most excess cancer cases in the state’s top cancers can be explained by modifiable risk factors, pointing to prevention. Healthcare Systems: Essentia Health and HealthPartners approved an affiliation/merger plan, aiming to improve access and affordability. Housing & Community Support: St. Cloud’s Avivo Village broke ground on a 48-unit shelter to move people toward permanent housing. STEM Minnesota Watch: Minnesota’s home insurance rates jumped sharply in early 2026, tied to severe weather impacts like hail and tornado damage.

Healthcare Merger: HealthPartners and Essentia Health have approved an affiliation agreement to combine into a larger nonprofit system, aiming to expand access, specialty care, telehealth, and affordability; the deal is expected to take effect Jan. 1, 2027, with Essentia facilities keeping the Essentia name. Autonomous Tech & Jobs: Minneapolis City Council advanced a proposal requiring paid “safety monitors” in robotaxis, a direct response to fears that AI-driven transit will undercut rideshare drivers’ livelihoods; Mayor Jacob Frey is expected to veto. Clean Energy/Industry: The White House announced Mesabi Metallics’ planned integrated “mega” steel plant in southeast Iowa—about $15B, targeting 1,750 permanent jobs and first production around 2030—tying the project to domestic iron ore and supply-chain security. AI Governance at the County Level: Olmsted County is tightening how staff use AI, allowing approved tools but barring entry of private or confidential data and relying on safeguards plus vendor controls. STEM & Learning: A Minnesota DNR push encourages deer hunters to buy licenses early as the state rolls out a new electronic licensing system for the firearms season. Environment & Research: A study says Isle Royale wolves relocated in 2018 are inbred but likely to survive, with climate-driven isolation a growing risk.

Healthcare Affiliation: Essentia Health and HealthPartners approved an affiliation agreement to combine operations, aiming for more specialist access, advanced programs, telehealth, and coordinated care across 22 hospitals and 135+ clinics; the deal is expected to take effect Jan. 1, 2027 (pending approvals). Cancer Care Research: A randomized trial presented at ASTRO 2026 found that fractionated stereotactic radiosurgery after resection of large brain metastases improved 1-year surgical bed control (87% vs. 81%) and extended median survival versus single-fraction treatment. Medical Technology/Trials: Tiziana Life Sciences began dosing the first ALS patients in its Phase 2a BANYAN trial of intranasal foralumab, with additional sites including the University of Minnesota. STEM Education & Testing: Swift County students posted a high science MCA failure rate (86.5% not meeting standards in 2024-25), adding to broader concerns about post-pandemic proficiency declines. Local STEM Pipeline: Bluff Country Collaborative’s CTE Exploration Day drew about 700 students and 45 businesses with hands-on career activities. Industry & Jobs (Minnesota-Iowa): Mesabi Metallics announced an $18B integrated steel plan linking Minnesota’s Mesabi Iron Range to Iowa steelmaking, targeting major job creation and a stronger domestic supply chain. Weather: Minnesota expects rain Tuesday, then fog risk Tuesday night, with a milder Wednesday and cooler, drier conditions later in the week.