AGP Executive Report

Emergency Tech Upgrade: Milwaukee is rolling out Motorola Solutions’ next-generation 9-1-1 platform (VESTA 911) to improve call handling, real-time info sharing, translation, and multimedia communications for faster responder coordination. Surveillance Backlash: Wisconsin communities are ending contracts with Flock Safety amid privacy and misuse concerns, with reporting alleging thousands of license-plate camera searches across the state. Health Policy Watch: Federal Medicaid work rules are now set, and Wisconsin advocates warn the added bureaucracy could block or destabilize coverage for eligible people. UW Research & Animal Welfare: UW-Madison is investigating a student group tied to messaging around a beagle “raid” at Ridglan Farms, as hundreds more beagles are released to rescues. Healthcare Partnership: Marshfield Clinic received a UW-Stevens Point Regents Business Partnership Award for expanding clinical education, internships, and scholarships. Public Safety Systems: Brown County is launching a digital mutual-aid “box alarm” system to speed coordination among fire departments and 911 calltakers. Clinical Decision Tool: A pictogram-based shared decision aid (HCQ-SAFE) improved hydroxychloroquine adherence and reduced decisional conflict for lupus patients.

AI Hardware & Software: NVIDIA and Microsoft expanded their partnership for agentic AI, pitching a “full stack” that spans Windows PCs, Azure, and local deployments. AI Politics: A new look at the “political geography” of AI exposure maps where techlash fears are strongest ahead of November. Data Center Pressure in Wisconsin: Sen. Kelda Roys unveiled a clean-energy plan that also calls for statewide guardrails on hyperscale data centers and AI, while residents in Mount Pleasant raised noise concerns tied to Microsoft’s growing campus. Water & Environment: The Driftless Area Water Study is hosting June events to share private well results, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service finalized critical habitat protections for the rusty patched bumble bee. Public Safety & Policy: Wisconsin’s DSPS updated electrical and plumbing codes effective Sept. 1, and Milwaukee County approved a reckless-driving impoundment tool under Vision Zero. Health & Research: A UW-Madison Peace Corps alum from Oconto heads to Mongolia to teach English, and Wisconsin’s Wausau East seniors completed the IB Diploma program.

State Archives Spotlight: A new look at Wisconsin’s State Archive Preservation Facility highlights its massive North American history collection—3.8 million print publications, 25,000 maps, 3 million images, and 750,000 historic objects—stored in climate-controlled space on Madison’s west side. Election Policy & Postal Rules: The U.S. Postal Service proposes major changes to absentee voting by mail, including a new “Mail-In and Absentee Participation List” of eligible voters and barcode-linked tracking that Wisconsin officials say could face legal challenges. UW-Madison GenEd Update: UW-Madison is revising general education requirements for incoming students starting Summer 2026, removing the current university-wide ethnic studies requirement but keeping ethnic studies via a new category structure aligned with UW System transfer goals. AI + Data Centers in Wisconsin: Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella says Azure’s data centers will use a “new approach” to improve cooling and reduce water use, pointing to a Wisconsin facility design claim. Animal Research Fallout: Wisconsin continues to see beagle releases tied to the Ridglan Farms settlement, with 135 more dogs slated for transfer and adoption. Workforce & Education: UW-Green Bay expands for-credit graduate certificates for working professionals, including biotech, data and analytics, and conservation/sustainability options. Manufacturing Tech in the Badger State: The Wisconsin Drives Manufacturing Summit at Lambeau Field put AI and automation “to autonomy” on center stage, with Rockwell Automation leadership discussing software-defined plants and training needs.

Animal Welfare & Research Accountability: The first Wisconsin beagle rescued from Ridglan Farms has been adopted in Florida, while 135 more beagles are being released from the embattled research breeding facility, with dozens headed to Dane County partners for spay/neuter and placement. Higher Ed Costs: UW-Madison is set to vote on a 2% tuition hike plus a 3.5% fee increase, continuing a fourth straight year of increases as the system cites inflation and ongoing financial restructuring. Manufacturing Tech & Workforce: Wisconsin Drives Manufacturing Summit at Lambeau Field highlighted how AI, digital twins, and automation are reshaping plants and training, with Rockwell Automation and Harley-Davidson leaders discussing “automation to autonomy.” Local Tech for Small Business: Milwaukee-area developers launched Eventini to help event planners and food trucks connect, including a truck-focused point-of-sale system. Energy & Data Centers: Generac signed a global backup-power supply deal with a major hyperscale data center operator, underscoring the growing push for resilient power infrastructure. Environment & Health: Wisconsin’s PCB legacy remains in focus as reporting revisits long-term contamination impacts on waterways and workers. Public Safety & Consumer Protection: BBB warns employment scams are shifting to “task-based” schemes that lure job seekers with video “likes” and subscriptions.

AI Policy & Ethics: A new Vatican encyclical urges tighter oversight of artificial intelligence, echoing Wisconsin experts’ concerns about workplace disruption and child safety. Workplace Rules: States are rolling out fresh labor laws this summer, including pay-range requirements in job ads, limits on noncompetes, and bans on forced employee microchipping. Consumer Protection: Wisconsin political news spotlights Mandela Barnes’ proposal to stop “surveillance pricing” and AI-based discrimination in insurance decisions, pushing for upfront pricing disclosure. Higher Ed & Affordability: The Universities of Wisconsin Board of Regents will consider a 2% resident tuition increase for 2026–27 to manage rising costs while keeping UW affordable. Public Health: Dane County is installing free tick check stations at parks as urgent care and ER visits for tick bites hit seasonal highs. Agriculture Research: A Wisconsin farmer says modern corn hybrids are making the old “knee-high by the Fourth of July” rule obsolete, with faster growth and earlier nitrogen side-dressing. Healthcare Leadership: WellSpan appoints Dr. Kevin Lewis to oversee physician teams, aiming to advance clinical growth and system performance. STEM Spotlight: UW-Eau Claire student Taylor Thelen earns a Fulbright UK Summer Institute award for study in Belfast.

Manufacturing & Industry: CMD Corporation formally launched CMD Manufacturing Solutions from its Appleton, Wisconsin facility, packaging decades of contract manufacturing, precision assembly, and fabrication for OEM partners. Food & Health Tech: Laurel’s Coffee is leaning into clean-label ready-to-drink coffee with A2 dairy, pitching gut-friendly benefits as RTD consumers demand simpler ingredients. Wildlife Research: Wisconsin Public Service will band peregrine falcon chicks with tiny real-time transmitters, aiming to map where young birds go in their first year. AI & Local Power Planning: Brown County is weighing a data center moratorium as lawmakers and residents push for guardrails on energy demand, water use, utility rates, and local impacts. Policy & Courts: The Wisconsin Supreme Court is taking public input on proposed judicial recusal rule changes tied to campaign support, with legal groups urging a slower, advisory-committee approach. STEM Community: UW-Stout is hosting 1,100+ for summer STEAM camps, classes, and a Menomonie mural festival, including hands-on tech tracks like 3D printing, robotics, and virtual reality. Agriculture Economics: Wisconsin dairy leaders marked June Dairy Month, highlighting the state’s scale and economic impact as production and exports stay strong.

STEM Education & Workforce: NCWIT Wisconsin honored 98 students statewide with Aspirations in Computing Awards, including five Whitewater High School students tied to FIRST Robotics and multiple computer science pathways. Agriculture Tech & Climate-Smart Farming: The Farmers for Soil Health cover crop incentive program reopened with higher payments ($35/acre, up to 2,000 acres) and a new one-year contract structure for eligible Wisconsin producers. AI & Work: A Wisconsin Alumni Association webinar (“From War to AI”) highlighted how conflict, geo-economic shifts, and AI adoption are reshaping the economy, with UW-Madison computer science leadership in the mix. Privacy & Public Safety Tech: A growing backlash against Flock automated license plate readers continues, with Dayton city workers reportedly covering cameras after policy concerns. Corporate Accountability in Food: A PLOS Climate report says most major meat and dairy environmental claims are unsupported “greenwashing,” including companies with Wisconsin operations. UW Policy & Curriculum: UW-Madison revised general education categories for incoming students, removing the ethnic studies requirement while aligning with UW System core-gened changes. Wildlife Conservation Infrastructure: States are expanding wildlife road crossings to cut animal-vehicle collisions, with Wisconsin listed among the highest-collision states.

Climate & Courts: Wisconsin youth are appealing a Dane County judge’s dismissal of their climate rights lawsuit, arguing state energy rules and limits on regulators violate constitutional protections. Workforce & Manufacturing: UW-Madison will launch free METAL and ACE metals casting/CNC hubs this summer with the U.S. Department of War, aiming to expand hands-on training in Wisconsin. Health Tech: UW-Madison researchers highlight neuromodulation therapy (PoNS) that can improve balance and gait after brain injury, now cleared by the FDA. Energy Storage: A new study finds sodium-ion batteries could match key performance of lithium-ion cells, with potential cost and supply-chain advantages for grid and EV use. Animal Research Ethics: Activists returned to Ridglan Farms to press for release of the remaining beagles they say are still inside, after about 1,500 were moved earlier this month. Education Policy: UW-Madison is removing the ethnic studies requirement for incoming students starting Summer 2026 as it aligns GenEd categories with systemwide rules. STEM in Schools: Wisconsin students won at KidWind Worlds, showing how hands-on wind engineering programs build real-world science and engineering skills.

Workforce & Training: UW-Madison will debut free, hands-on METAL and America’s Cutting Edge (ACE) manufacturing workforce hubs this summer, partnering with the U.S. Department of War to expand metals casting/forging and CNC machining training across Wisconsin. Defense Tech: Oshkosh Defense won a $70.6M U.S. Marine Corps contract to build more ROGUE-Fires carriers for NMESIS anti-ship missile operations, with production centered in Oshkosh through 2028. Health Tech: UW-Madison researchers describe how prescription neuromodulation (PoNS) is helping restore balance and gait after brain injury, with FDA approval noted. Animal Welfare & Policy: Protesters returned to Ridglan Farms in Blue Mounds to press for release of the roughly 650 beagles they say remain, after about 1,500 were moved out earlier. Local Economy & Housing: A New York Times analysis finds Milwaukee and Madison among the least affordable metro areas in the Midwest, with home prices about 5x median incomes. Energy Storage: A study highlights sodium-ion batteries as a potential lower-cost alternative to lithium-ion for EVs and grid storage, pointing to strong performance and low-temperature improvements. STEM in Schools: Six Milwaukee-area students earned medical assistant certificates through a hybrid K-12 pathway with Froedtert Health and MedCerts.

Workforce & Training: UW-Madison will debut free, hands-on metals casting and CNC machining hubs this summer via the U.S. Department of War’s METAL and ACE programs, aiming to expand Wisconsin’s manufacturing pipeline. Health Care Skills: Milwaukee-area students earned medical assistant certificates through a hybrid K-12 pathway with Froedtert Health and MedCerts, giving students real hospital experience and a faster route into the workforce. Defense Tech: Oshkosh Defense won a $70.6M contract to build more ROGUE-Fires carriers for the Marine Corps’ NMESIS anti-ship missile system, with production centered in Oshkosh. AI & Society: Pope Leo warned that AI’s “culture of power” could lead to “new forms of slavery,” while Wisconsin readers echoed concerns about worker displacement and oversight. Agriculture & Food Prices: UW-River Falls economists link record beef prices to a shrinking U.S. cattle herd driven by drought, not just inflation. Science Spotlight: Researchers described a “T. rex of the sea,” a giant mosasaur species (Tylosaurus rex) from 80 million years ago, with fossils reclassified from museum collections.

AI in banking: Fiserv is partnering with Wisconsin-based Cognition to deploy Devin, an autonomous software engineer, to speed core banking modernization and shorten release cycles. Mental health research: UW–Milwaukee and Penn State won a $3.2M NIH grant to study molecular changes behind PTSD and why fear responses hit women harder. Public health & ticks: Wisconsin researchers report striped rust in wheat is showing up earlier than expected, while separate coverage highlights new Lyme disease efforts aimed at reducing tick transmission. Local environment: Brown County is weighing a data center moratorium as a “framework” for municipalities, and Fairmont is harvesting curly leaf pondweed to curb an invasive aquatic threat. Cybersecurity: The FBI warns of a new phishing tool, Kali365, that can help scammers bypass two-factor protections. Wisconsin agriculture: A study finds fungicide-treated soybean seed gains often don’t pay off unless costs are low and prices are high. Community & services: Milwaukee County held a treatment court graduation, and the county plans another drone show for July 4.

Animal Welfare & Research Ethics: Beagles rescued from Wisconsin’s Ridglan Farms are settling into new lives in New York, with advocates describing the shift from wire cages to open play. Public Health: U.S. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced new Lyme disease efforts, including a pilot to make deer less attractive to ticks. Mental Health Research: UW–Milwaukee and Penn State researchers won a $3.2M NIH grant to map amygdala epigenetic changes behind PTSD and aim for more consistent, gender-tailored treatments. AI Infrastructure & Water: A new “Breaking Points” report highlights how AI data center expansion is colliding with municipal water and cooling limits. Cybersecurity: The FBI warned about Kali365 phishing, which can help attackers bypass two-factor protections and target accounts like Outlook/Teams/OneDrive. Agriculture & Environment: A striped rust case in Wisconsin wheat has growers weighing early fungicide timing; meanwhile, a soybean study finds fungicide seed treatments often don’t pay off. Workforce & Licensing: Wisconsin now offers Occupational Therapy Compact privileges to expand cross-state access. Local Tech/Industry: Milwaukee Tool is planning another Menomonee Falls office/lab expansion, adding to its growing footprint.

Teacher pipeline in focus: Wisconsin’s teacher apprenticeship program aimed at easing the educator shortage is “stalling,” with early reporting highlighting how hard it is to scale a new route into classrooms. Workforce & AI training: The state’s DWD opened applications for WisTRAIN employer grants to fund advanced manufacturing and AI skills, including apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeship programs. Classroom staffing shakeup: Milwaukee Public Schools approved a revised $1.6B budget for 2027 that adds hundreds of positions—especially paraprofessionals and teachers—while cutting some central office roles. Privacy tech debate: Illinois lawmakers proposed limits on police use and retention of automated license plate reader data, reflecting a wider pushback on AI-driven surveillance. Public safety tech in WI: Monona police used a Grappler device to end a high-speed pursuit, described as possibly the first successful Wisconsin field deployment. Health & research: Wisconsin tick season coverage points to higher Lyme risk, while Milwaukee County marked ALS Awareness Month with a unanimous board resolution. Community tech access: Greenfield families received free laptops through a partnership effort to boost digital access and skills. Agriculture innovation: A modified cover crop cost-share program is drawing more farmer interest after higher incentives and more flexible enrollment.

Workforce & AI Training: Wisconsin DWD opened applications for WisTRAIN employer grants to fund advanced manufacturing and AI training, apprenticeships, and pre-apprenticeship programs, building on a federal Industry-Driven Skills Training Fund award. Public Health & Outdoors: Wisconsin tick season is underway, and a new Marshfield Clinic study highlights higher-than-expected Lyme risk as more deer ticks carry Lyme-causing bacteria. Civic Science in Madison: The Center for Black Excellence and Culture won a two-year $247,000 Dana Foundation grant to launch a civic science research initiative with UW–Madison’s Center for Healthy Minds. Food Access in Milwaukee: The Milwaukee County Board unanimously adopted a resolution creating a joint city-county food access task force to tackle barriers tied to grocery closures. Energy & Climate Impacts: A new study links warming climates to more frequent giant hail, while a Wisconsin energy-policy piece argues ratepayers are facing rising utility costs alongside grid upgrades. Healthcare Deal: Allina Health and Sutter Health approved a definitive agreement to move toward an integrated nonprofit system with expanded digital capabilities. Local Tech & Industry: Rockwell Automation is seeking rezoning for a major New Berlin manufacturing and office campus, with a June 1 public hearing.

Healthcare Training in Wisconsin: ThedaCare is opening a new 2,200-square-foot simulation lab to train physicians and care teams, aiming to strengthen Graduate Medical Education and help address physician shortages, especially in rural and underserved areas. Biomedical Research: UW–Madison hosted six Ukrainian frontline trauma surgeons for a two-week microsurgery intensive, using hands-on training to improve repair skills for war injuries. Science Discovery: A Wisconsin researcher helped identify a new prehistoric mosasaur species, Tylosaurus rex, based on skull adaptations and fossil analysis. Geoscience & Evolution: UWM researchers used fossilized hagfish eyes to explain how these “primitive” vertebrates evolved their unusually reduced vision. Environment & Public Health: Michigan health officials warn people to avoid foam on lakes and rivers because it may contain PFAS and other harmful contaminants. Wisconsin Agriculture Governance: DATCP certified nominees for the Ginseng Board of Wisconsin election, with growers voting by June 15. Great Lakes Conservation Policy: Sen. Gary Peters introduced bipartisan legislation to designate the Great Lakes Commission as a NOAA regional partnership to secure steadier research and conservation funding. Data Centers & the Grid: Wisconsin lawmakers and advocates warned that new data centers could strain the power grid and raise utility bills, while home efficiency upgrades are pitched as a faster demand reducer. Invasive Species Watch: An invasive Asian needle ant is spreading and can cause severe allergic reactions, raising new concerns for Wisconsin ecosystems and residents.

Data Centers & the Grid: Dane County is moving toward an 18-month moratorium on new data center zoning permits, aiming to study environmental and utility impacts as hyperscale AI builds spark local backlash. Biohealth Jobs: Abingdon Health is expanding in Madison with a $1.8M facility and 46 new jobs, supported by up to $370K in performance-based tax credits. Covered Bridge History: A Northwoods landmark, the Smith Rapids Covered Bridge near Fifield, was completed in 1991 but designed to echo older Towne Lattice truss traditions. Cyber & Kids Online Safety: Wisconsin’s AG coalition push continues against the federal KIDS Act, arguing it would weaken state authority and shift responsibility to Big Tech. Lyme Risk Update: Marshfield Clinic Research Institute reports more than half of Wisconsin deer ticks carry Lyme-causing bacteria, urging “fight the bite” prevention. Energy Efficiency for AI Demand: Clean-energy advocates say weatherizing about 38,000 Wisconsin homes could offset the power needs of a 200-megawatt data center. Local Tech & Housing: Verona’s council begins an early review of Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals’ potential biotech expansion in the Verona Technology Park. Inflation Watch: Another grocery-price surge is expected, driven by weather, tariffs, and cattle herd changes.