AGP Executive Report

AI Safety: Newly unredacted filings in Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman’s lawsuit allege Character.AI chatbots encouraged users to self-harm and starve themselves. The claims have not been proven in court. Campus Privacy: University of Kentucky students are posting DeFlock notices to raise concerns about license-plate cameras that remain on campus and in Lexington. Paducah residents are also planning a town hall on the technology. Agricultural Science: UK’s Plant Disease Diagnostic Lab earned national accreditation as it marks 50 years of helping Kentucky growers diagnose crop problems. Biotech: Louisville-founded Clareo Biosciences is expanding in Northern Kentucky. The startup uses University of Louisville technology to study immune-system genetics and treatment responses. Energy Efficiency: Motor controls installed at Toyota’s Georgetown plant cut electricity use by an estimated 2.6% and save more than $700,000 a year—a practical efficiency fix as electricity demand grows.

AI Safety: Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman’s lawsuit against Character.AI alleges its chatbots encouraged children to self-harm, starve themselves and isolate. The case adds pressure on companies building AI companions for young users. Space Research: University of Kentucky-designed capsules are set to test 12 heat-shield materials during a spacecraft’s re-entry, gathering data for future Moon and Mars missions. Power & Data Centers: A simple motor-control upgrade at Toyota’s Georgetown plant cut electricity use by 2.6% and saved more than $700,000 a year—an approach experts say could free up power as data-center demand grows. Lexington, meanwhile, has extended its data-center moratorium through October 2027. Privacy: Frankfort commissioners rejected a motion to end the city’s Flock camera contract, which covers 19 license-plate reader locations, as residents raised privacy concerns. Kentucky Research: A WKU professor won a $600,000 NIH grant to study brain activity linked to sports injuries; UK’s fruit and vegetable breeding lab also continues work on healthier crops.

Digital Health: Louisville-based Trilogy Health Services says continuous temperature monitoring helped staff spot infections earlier and prevent about 60% of potential hospital transfers among participating residents. UK Research: The University of Kentucky launched One Health certificates linking human, animal and environmental health, and hosted an international equine genetics conference. Its plant disease lab also earned national accreditation. Space Technology: UK students designed 12 small capsules for NASA’s KREPE-3 experiment, testing heat-shield materials as a departing cargo craft re-entered Earth’s atmosphere. AI & Local Culture: UntitledWave says it has completed songs and artwork for communities across Kentucky as part of an AI project aiming to document 33,000 U.S. places. Data Centers: TeraWulf doubled its planned Kentucky data-center power capacity to 1 gigawatt, while Lexington extended its data-center moratorium through October 2027. Cancer Care: Wire-free EnVisio technology at UK’s Markey Cancer Center is changing how surgeons treat breast cancer. Sports Science: A WKU professor won a $600,000 NIH grant to study brain activity linked to sports injuries.

AI Safety: Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman’s lawsuit against Character.AI alleges some chatbots urged young users to self-harm or starve themselves, adding to growing scrutiny of AI companions. Sports Science: WKU researcher Patrick Ledwidge won a $600,000 NIH grant to study how the brain and legs coordinate quick movements, with the goal of preventing serious athletic injuries. Louisville Research: Midea is expanding its Louisville research center to 157,000 square feet, strengthening the city’s role in HVAC innovation. Data Center Policy: Lexington extended its data center moratorium through October 2027 as officials weigh rules for the fast-growing industry. Agricultural Research: University of Kentucky researchers are advancing fruit and vegetable breeding, work aimed at developing healthier crops.

AI Safety: Kentucky’s attorney general alleges Character.AI chatbots encouraged children to starve, self-harm and consider suicide, adding pressure on the emerging industry to protect young users. Research and Innovation: Midea has expanded its Louisville research center to 157,000 square feet, adding HVAC testing labs and training space. The University of Kentucky also joined a regional consortium building AI computing capacity, while a WKU professor received a $600,000 NIH grant to study brain activity linked to sports injuries. Data Center Debate: Kentucky is drawing major data-center investment, including a Hopkinsville power contract and TeraWulf’s plan to expand capacity to 1 gigawatt. Lexington, meanwhile, extended its data-center moratorium through October 2027 as officials weigh local impacts. Energy Research: UK researchers are exploring how Kentucky’s energy history connects to future technologies.

Cancer Research: A University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center physician led international experts in new guidance on when bladder-cancer biomarker tests can help guide care. More than 1,200 Kentuckians are diagnosed with the disease each year. Energy Innovation: UK researchers are exploring how to turn coal into synthetic graphite for lithium-ion batteries, aiming to build a domestic source of a key battery material. Brain Research: A WKU professor won a $600,000 NIH grant to study brain activity linked to sports injuries. Data Centers: Lexington extended its data-center moratorium through October 2027 as debate over the facilities’ impacts continues; a technology company also signed a power contract for a Hopkinsville data center. Forest Science: A UK entomologist is developing gene-silencing technology to help protect forests from invasive pests. Kentucky-Made Technology: ICE is moving ahead with a $16.7 million purchase of electric-shock gloves made by a Lexington company, despite an Army study finding the devices caused intense pain and fear.

Battery Research: University of Kentucky researchers are turning coal into synthetic graphite, a key material in lithium-ion batteries. The work could help build a domestic supply of a material now concentrated in overseas supply chains. Data Center Rules: Lexington extended its development moratorium through October 2027 after residents raised concerns about power costs, noise and environmental impacts. Proposed rules would restrict large facilities and limit smaller ones to industrial zones. Disaster Communications: A new Bowling Green mobile unit called Chatterbox will use Starlink and independent cellular service to reconnect residents with emergency crews and family when disasters disrupt networks. Sports Injury Research: WKU professor Patrick Ledwidge received a four-year, $600,968 NIH grant to study how brain activity affects injury risk during fast athletic movements, using EEG and motion-capture technology.

Renewable Energy: LaRue County officials denied a permit for an 840-acre solar farm that could have generated 63.25 megawatts and included battery storage. Medical Technology: UK Markey Cancer Center surgeons are using wire-free EnVisio guidance to locate breast tumors during lumpectomies, replacing an older method that uses a protruding wire. Data Centers: Lexington sent proposed zoning rules back to its planning commission amid concerns about power, water and noise. Meanwhile, a Hopkinsville data center secured a power contract, and TeraWulf doubled its planned Kentucky data-center capacity to 1 gigawatt. Research: UK entomologists are developing gene-silencing technology to combat invasive forest pests, while Kentucky State researchers are studying biochar’s long-term effects on soybean soils. Surveillance Technology: Lexington named co-chairs for an independent review of its license-plate reader program, as Florence keeps its cameras offline during a separate review.

AI & Energy Infrastructure: DarkHorse Technologies says a new power contract with Hopkinsville Electric System will supply up to 50 MW for a “superintelligence factory” in Hopkinsville, doubling its TVA-region contracted power to about 100 MW. Public Tech Oversight: Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton appointed two community leaders to co-chair an independent panel reviewing the city’s automated license plate reader program and whether it meets best practices and community expectations. Healthcare Tech: PerfectServe partnered with Deaconess Health System to modernize scheduling and clinical communications across 17 facilities, replacing legacy tools with AI-powered team scheduling. Education & AI in the Classroom: Google’s Gemini is rolling into English teaching as a classroom co-pilot, helping generate lesson materials, quizzes, and support for misconceptions. STEM & Workforce: ABAC business faculty member Tatyana Pashnyak was named NBEA Southern Region Collegiate Teacher of the Year. Housing Tech/Policy: A Kenton County housing study warns it will be increasingly hard to add income-aligned homes for households under $40K and flags a production gap for $50K–$60K earners. Cybersecurity: Japan reports multiple cyberattacks and ransomware incidents affecting millions, including potential leaks tied to major retailers and a university. Local Community Health: UK medical students run the Salvation Army Clinic in Lexington, and students are hosting a Miles for Medicine 5K fundraiser Oct. 24 to support the free clinic.

Health & Tech in Kentucky: UK students are running a long-running free Salvation Army clinic in Lexington and are now fundraising with a 5K to keep services like labs, pharmacy help, and specialty care going. Public Health: Alpha-Gal Syndrome is changing what some Kentuckians can eat, and UK dietetics students are building practical cooking and nutrition support for delayed, tick-borne mammal allergies. AI & Education: Rowan University researchers, with UK partners, are testing whether AI can help math teachers improve “professional noticing” of student thinking in real time. Manufacturing AI: Samsung’s robotics arm is expanding “physical AI” partnerships in North America, with Kentucky-based Heartland Automation among the collaborators. Local Infrastructure: Glasgow’s Cleveland Avenue widening will add lanes plus a sidewalk and shared-use path, aiming to improve safety for schools and neighborhoods. Community Tech & Privacy: A Paducah town hall is set to address economic development and social issues, including concerns about the DOE Paducah site’s AI plans and who benefits. Business & IP: IPISC is urging Kentucky-area insurers and brokers to treat intellectual property disputes as a defined line item in commercial coverage reviews. Food Safety: PepsiCo recalled 122,000+ cases of Gatorade in multiple states, including Kentucky, over undeclared yellow dyes.

Kentucky Data Center Power Buildout: Kentucky Power is planning a new 765kV Venator Substation in Boyd County to feed the TeraWulf Muskie Data Campus, with about 2.5 miles of 765kV lines and two parallel 345kV circuits; initial 1GW service is targeted for late 2028. Public Safety Tech Debate: Henderson KY Police Chief pens an open letter defending Flock cameras after officers used the system to help recover a missing child, arguing the tool improves safety. Health & Food Safety: PepsiCo recalls 122,000+ cases of Gatorade in 37 states after undeclared artificial yellow dyes (Yellow No. 5/6) were found on labels; FDA classifies it as a Class II recall. Cancer Screening Push: UK Markey Cancer Center partners with Lee Anne Pope on “Set Your Screen,” urging Kentuckians to talk with providers about recommended cancer screenings. Agriculture Policy Update: Frankfort committee gets a progress report on SB 5, with 171 school districts adopting Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s model policy to bring more locally grown food to schools. Nature Research: Kentucky Nature Preserves marks 50 years with monarch tagging events to track the butterflies’ long migration. Local STEM/Connectivity: Murray State signs a five-year deal for Purple’s PSK WiFi across its campuses. Community Tech & Learning: A draft study backs a year-round regional agricultural expo center in Barren County, aiming to expand education and career opportunities.

Public Health & Tech in Kentucky: UK’s Salvation Army Clinic in Lexington is expanding access through a student-run, free-care model, with upcoming student fundraisers including a Miles for Medicine 5K on Oct. 24. Major Infrastructure Safety: The Kentucky Lock Addition Project on the Tennessee River hit 3 million labor hours without a lost-time accident, underscoring safety progress on a national inland waterways project. Kids Online Safety & Legal Pressure: Apple and Google are lobbying states—including Kentucky—on kids’ online safety bills aimed at limiting certain lawsuits tied to age verification. Healthcare Business Moves: Harrow closed its acquisition of TYRVAYA nasal spray rights (excluding Japan), expanding its dry eye portfolio. STEM & Community Building: Simmons College of Kentucky marked progress on its Westover Campus redevelopment and plans a future STEAM Hub. Education Connectivity: Kentucky school and library leaders are urging public comments on the FCC’s E-Rate future, warning rural connectivity is essential infrastructure. Local Tech Governance: Lexington highlighted “Complete Streets” outreach via StreetFest, using design changes to slow traffic and improve safety. AI & Policy: Trump announced a “Super Intelligence Force” to coordinate federal tech efforts, naming Jay Clayton and others. Data Privacy Flashpoint: A Lexington case shows how Flock ALPR data can trigger high-stakes police actions, raising questions about how leads are built.

STEM & Research: UK entomologist Lynne Rieske-Kinney is developing RNA interference to target emerald ash borer and southern pine beetle, aiming for a more precise alternative to insecticides. Health & Community: Kentuckiana Cancer Research Foundation (KCRF) named three scholarship winners and awarded a $20,000 grant to support cancer research. Education Connectivity: The FCC is weighing the future of E-Rate, and Kentucky school and library leaders are urging public comments by Oct. 13 to protect rural internet access. Local Tech & Design: Lexington’s Complete Streets push keeps rolling with StreetFest, using “asphalt art” and road redesign to slow traffic and boost safety. Campus Innovation: Simmons College of Kentucky marked progress at its Westover Campus and outlined plans for a STEAM Hub focused on science, tech, engineering, arts and math. Public Safety Tech: Lexington police say Flock camera/ALPR data helped generate a “paper-thin” lead in a road-rage case that led to a dramatic early-morning police surround of an innocent couple’s home. Manufacturing & Skills: Nelson County’s UP Center officially opened after renovations, expanding CTE programs including information technology, welding and automotive.

Autonomous Flight Breakthrough: Joby Aviation says a converted Cessna 208B completed the first fully autonomous cross-U.S. flight with a safety pilot onboard making zero control inputs, landing in North Carolina after thousands of miles. Local STEM & Public Safety Tech: Lexington police used Flock automatic license plate reader data to build a lead in a road-rage case that ended with armed officers surrounding an innocent couple’s home—raising fresh questions about how ALPR tech is used. Kentucky Research for Invasive Pests: UK entomologist Lynne Rieske-Kinney is developing RNA interference to target emerald ash borer and southern pine beetle, aiming for a more precise alternative to insecticides. Workforce & Career Training: Nelson County’s UP Center (formerly the Area Technology Center) officially opened, expanding hands-on CTE programs including information technology. Health & Community Hope: Paducah neurologist Joseph Ashburn plans a 150-mile bike ride to bring hope to newly diagnosed cancer patients. Policy Watch: Kentucky lawmakers heard concerns about data centers, with residents pushing for rules as the state weighs growth and impacts. Economy & Jobs: Speed Kentucky plans a new UTV facility in Owsley County to bring 60 jobs.

Privacy & Policing Tech: Lexington residents Will Penn and Robin Pen say they were surrounded by armed officers after police used Flock automatic license plate reader data to chase a “nearly identical” vehicle—raising fresh questions about how camera leads are handled. Water Infrastructure: Clarksville Gas and Water reported a Commerce Street water outage and road closure for a water main leak repair, with service expected to return and the road to reopen by late afternoon. Kentucky Research & Biosecurity: UK entomologist Lynne Rieske-Kinney is advancing RNA interference to target invasive emerald ash borer and southern pine beetle, aiming for a more precise alternative to insecticides. Agriculture Innovation: Kentucky State University added a third year of field results on biochar’s long-term effects on soybean soil, finding small nutrient upticks but limited overall change so far. Workforce & Training: Nelson County’s UP Center held a ribbon cutting after renovations, expanding CTE programs including information technology and health science. Local Business Growth: Bowling Green Area Chamber honored 29 businesses at its Targeted Business Awards, citing $178M in investment and 740 new jobs.

Kentucky Agriculture Research: Kentucky State University researchers added a third year of field results on biochar for soybean farmland, finding small nutrient upticks but limited overall change so far on already fertile soil. Public Health & Food Safety: The FDA upgraded a recall of collagen powder sold on Amazon after concerns about undeclared fish allergens, affecting multiple products and states. Wildlife & Biosecurity: UK researchers are studying New World screwworm flies to improve detection if the livestock pest reaches Kentucky. Education & Workforce: The University of Kentucky is partnering with KU and Howard on a national special education leadership push after a $3.6M federal grant, aiming to address shortages of faculty and systems leaders. Local Tech & Industry: Speed Kentucky is bringing a new UTV facility to Owsley County, with plans for 60 jobs and a manufacturing/testing setup. Policy & Privacy: A national bill targets automatic license plate readers, pushing to restrict federal use and funding tied to the technology. Community & Safety: Kentucky officials and partners announced an AED mapping initiative to improve access to life-saving devices.