AGP Executive Report

Quantum & Deep Tech: Four companies will build defense and other quantum innovations on ABQ-Net, Albuquerque’s open-access quantum network, which connects labs, universities and startups via fiber links in the city’s data-center ecosystem. Space Science: NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is set for an Aug. 30 launch on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy, aiming to map dark energy/dark matter and deliver far more sky coverage than Hubble. Rural Health: Medical schools are expanding rural-focused training to address specialist shortages as aging populations grow outside major metros. Water & Climate Resilience: Colorado River states remain split over new federal management rules as Lake Mead and Lake Powell hit record lows, with major potential cuts looming. Big Tech & Youth Safety: A Tennessee trial accuses Meta of ignoring internal findings that Instagram harms teens while keeping addictive features like autoplay and notifications. Nuclear & Workforce: DOE funding is boosting nuclear tech hubs in the Mountain West, with workforce development a key priority for Idaho and Wyoming. STEM in NM: LANL’s New Mexico Demo Day (July 30) spotlights NM startups and lab researchers in AI, quantum, energy and aerospace, plus hands-on STEM events in Alamogordo. Community Response: New Mexico National Guard deployed to Zuni Pueblo after severe flooding.

US-Mexico Livestock & Biosecurity: USDA will lift the yearlong ban on Mexican live cattle imports in phases starting Aug. 24, with the Douglas, Arizona port first and later New Mexico ports, after New World screwworm controls and full USDA inspections at reopened crossings. Grid Reliability Under Heat: The U.S. DOE authorized backup power for parts of 17 states as extreme heat and data-center demand strain electricity systems, with emergency steps in place through early August. Teen Tech Accountability: A Tennessee trial opened in Nashville over whether Instagram’s design features (autoplay, notifications, infinite scroll) harm teens; the state alleges Meta ignored internal research while seeking profit. Federal AI/Science Funding in NM: DOE’s Genesis Mission awards put Sandia in leadership roles on multiple projects and Los Alamos on others, expanding lab-to-mission work. NM Emergency Response: The New Mexico National Guard deployed 14 service members to Zuni Pueblo after severe flooding for engineering support and swift-water readiness. STEM in the Classroom: Rio Rancho students practiced mock hip replacement surgery as part of a health career academy, while Alamogordo’s Big Bang STEM Expo returns with hands-on space and engineering activities. Water & Rural Utilities: EPA awarded $30 million to help small and rural communities strengthen drinking water and wastewater systems, including PFAS testing support.

Water Crisis: Lake Mead and Lake Powell hit record-low combined levels, with Mead at 27% and Powell at 23%, raising alarms for hydropower and water supplies across the Colorado River system. Earthquakes: A magnitude 3.8 quake struck northern New Mexico near the Colorado line, the fourth of that size in the same border area since June, with no reported damage. Tech Policy & Infrastructure: A growing number of states are pausing or tightening data-center incentives as electricity, grid strain, and water use collide with local pushback—creating a patchwork that could affect rural broadband. Biosecurity & Livestock Health: USDA outlined a phased reopening of southern cattle ports of entry, including Santa Teresa and Columbus in New Mexico, with strict screwworm-free inspection requirements. STEM in New Mexico: Los Alamos National Laboratory’s 10th annual Summer Physics Camp brought middle and high school students into hands-on physics projects with national-lab mentors. Education & Research: UNM graduate students won Fulbright awards, including one doing dissertation data collection in Mexico and another teaching English in Spain.

Livestock & Biosecurity: USDA laid out a phased reopening of southern cattle ports of entry after the New World screwworm shutdown, starting with Douglas, Arizona (Aug. 24) and then moving to Santa Teresa and Columbus, New Mexico—each animal will face full inspection. AI & Research Infrastructure: LANL hosted UC’s “AI Science at Scale” summit in Santa Fe, tying new AI grants to DOE’s Genesis mission and work in genomics, quantum materials, geothermal, and data platforms. STEM Workforce: UNM-Gallup ran a free fiber optic technician bootcamp, certifying 31 participants and aiming to close the digital divide. Public Health: CDC reported cyclosporiasis cases topping 4,000 across 41 states, widening the outbreak investigation. Energy & Climate Policy: Court filings say Trump canceled $7.6B in clean energy grants based on the political identity of recipient states. Local Tech Governance: Southern New Mexico lawmakers proposed a data center moratorium until the state sets rules for water, energy, emissions, and community impacts. Education Pipeline: UNM medical students received a $5M tuition break to help keep doctors in New Mexico; two UNM students also earned Fulbright awards.

Colorado River & water reliability: Cities across the Southwest are ramping up conservation as Lake Powell nears “dead pool,” with officials warning the river’s flow and power generation could be disrupted if levels fall further. Heat & public health: A sprawling heat dome pushed triple-digit temperatures across much of the U.S., with humidity making conditions worse and extending dangerous heat into next week. Clean energy funding fight: The Trump administration acknowledged in court filings it canceled $7.6B in clean-energy grants “based solely” on which states voted for Kamala Harris, contradicting earlier claims about project quality. New Mexico energy infrastructure: New Mexico’s Land Commissioner approved a wind farm repower lease after a public auction, replacing older turbines with newer, higher-output models. Broadband policy: Sen. Ben Ray Luján backed legislation to speed federal broadband permitting to unserved communities, aiming to cut red tape and enforce processing deadlines. STEM workforce: UNM-Gallup hosted a fiber optic bootcamp to help close the digital divide through hands-on training and certifications. Livestock biosecurity: Colorado State University research is targeting the stink-based chemical cues that attract New World screwworms, aiming to improve traps and detection as the parasite spreads. Local governance & tech: A New Mexico column weighs whether the state should buy its own utility amid a proposed TXNM Energy ownership change, arguing the Public Regulation Commission’s oversight matters.

Clean Energy Policy: The Trump administration admitted in court documents it canceled $7.6B in clean-energy grants “based solely” on which states voted for Kamala Harris, contradicting earlier claims about project quality. Livestock Biosecurity: USDA is phasing back southern cattle imports from Mexico after the New World screwworm spread reached Texas and New Mexico, with openings planned via Douglas, AZ first and later Santa Teresa and Columbus, NM. Water & Climate Risk: A new look at the Colorado River’s “Post-2026 Operating Guidelines” is set to reshape Lake Mead/Lake Powell management after 2026, with major stakes for Southwest water, power, and farms. STEM & Training in NM: UNM-Gallup ran a fiber optic bootcamp that certified 31 trainees to help close the digital divide. State Energy: New Mexico Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard issued a lease for a wind farm repower expected to add 135 MW and generate school funding. Local Science/Community: A Truchas Trout Unlimited meet-and-greet highlights cold-water conservation and STEM scholarships. Wildfire Outlook: NOAA says El Niño may ease wildfire conditions later, but the Southwest’s relief likely arrives next year.

Clean Energy Grants: The Trump administration admitted in court filings it canceled $7.6B in clean energy grants for hundreds of projects based solely on whether the recipient states voted for Kamala Harris in 2024, contradicting earlier claims about project quality. New Mexico Dust & Air Risk: A World Meteorological Organization dust-storm roundup ranks New Mexico 4th in the U.S., with 2025’s record year highlighting growing health and transport impacts. Screwworm Tech & Border Reopening: USDA says it will lift the ban on Mexican cattle imports and reopen southern ports in phases (including New Mexico’s Santa Teresa and Columbus), as New World screwworm spreads; the push pairs with new tools like AI insect detection and male-only sterile-fly approaches. UNM/DOE Genesis Mission: UNM and LANL are developing an AI framework for rare-event searches as part of the DOE’s Genesis Mission, with Sandia also leading multiple Genesis projects. Data Center Policy in NM: New Mexico lawmakers propose a 2027 moratorium on large data centers until the state sets rules for water use, energy demand, emissions, and community impacts. Public Health: UNM medical students get a $5M tuition break aimed at keeping future doctors in New Mexico.

Data Center Policy: New Mexico lawmakers are pushing a 2027 moratorium on large-scale data centers, citing unresolved impacts on water use, energy demand, emissions, and ratepayers—aimed at projects like Santa Teresa’s Project Jupiter. Animal Health & Trade: The USDA is partially lifting its ban on Mexican cattle imports after it failed to stop New World screwworm; imports are set to resume via Arizona and later New Mexico ports, raising fresh biosecurity stakes. Public Health: FDA/CDC are widening a cyclosporiasis investigation tied to shredded iceberg lettuce, with cases now reported across nine states. Food Safety: A salmonella outbreak linked to recalled eggs has sickened 98 people across multiple states, including New Mexico, with consumers urged to check and discard recalled cartons. STEM & Workforce: UNM medical students are getting a $5M tuition break to help keep more future doctors in New Mexico. Tech & Privacy: Georgia AG joins a multistate settlement with 23andMe over a genetic data breach, setting limited recovery for states. Space Science: A rare “Super-Jupiter” exoplanet, NGTS-38 b, was identified via a long 180-day orbit.

Space Science: Astronomers report NGTS-38 b, a “Super-Jupiter” about five times Jupiter’s mass that completes an orbit in roughly 180 days—an unusually long transit-detected schedule that could sharpen how we find distant worlds. AI + National Labs: The DOE’s $5 billion Genesis Mission is handing out AI-linked research awards, with Los Alamos leading seven projects and Sandia leading six, aiming to speed discovery across areas like fusion and nuclear materials. Local Tech + Data Centers: A new report says New Mexico’s Project Jupiter is following a familiar Big Tech playbook—building fast near rural communities while residents and advocates push for stronger oversight and even a moratorium. Public Health + Environment: New Mexico’s PFAS labeling rule is facing a federal lawsuit from trade groups, arguing the state’s “forever chemicals” warning requirement violates limits on compelled commercial speech. STEM Education: Western New Mexico University was designated the southwest hub for the New Mexico STEM Innovation Network, with a focus on strengthening math teaching and rural STEM career pathways. Climate/Health Risk: New Mexico’s dust storms are rising in severity and frequency, with research tying the trend to worsening impacts on health, transport, and renewable energy.

AI & Nuclear Research: Los Alamos and Sandia will lead 13 of DOE’s first-round Genesis Mission projects, aiming to use AI and advanced computing to speed discovery across areas like fusion and nuclear materials. Energy Infrastructure: New Mexico’s Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department awarded $83 million to upgrade the electric grid and cut bills for underserved communities. Quantum & High-Tech Jobs: New Mexico launched a $150 million fund to grow quantum and other innovation industries, targeting companies and workforce development. STEM Education: Western New Mexico University was designated the southwest New Mexico STEM hub for the New Mexico STEM Innovation Network, with a focus on improving math education and rural teacher pipelines. Water & Power Risks: Lake Powell is nearing the minimum power pool level, raising the odds of higher electricity costs as Colorado River reservoirs hit record lows. Public Health Research: UNM researchers reported that short pulses of inhaled CO2 may help clear Alzheimer’s-related proteins by boosting the brain’s waste-removal system. Local Tech & Community: Project Jupiter data center coverage spotlights community concerns about fast buildout and permitting gaps, while Los Alamos County’s plastic bag ban proposal was rejected by its sustainability board. Spaceport & Data Centers: Mora County and other areas continue moving toward data center moratoriums as residents push back on Spaceport and large-scale development plans.

New Mexico Tech & Industry: New Mexico announced a $150 million fund aimed at turning research strengths into homegrown companies, with a big push for quantum, aerospace/defense, advanced energy, and bioscience. Local Tech Governance: Sierra County approved an 18-month data center moratorium after residents raised concerns about water and environmental impacts, adding to a growing wave of local pushback. Quantum Hardware in NM: Maybell Quantum says it has deployed dilution fridges at New Mexico’s Roadrunner Quantum Lab, signaling continued buildout of quantum research capacity. Space & Science: DOE launched the first 278 projects under its Genesis Mission, using AI to accelerate scientific discovery and national defense work. Spacewatch: Astronomers are lining up to observe a rare lunar impact from a discarded SpaceX Falcon 9 upper stage. Public Health Tech: CDC reported measles cases topping 2,260 across 44 states, with summer travel driving new exposure events. Cybersecurity: Chick-fil-A confirmed a credential-stuffing breach of its loyalty accounts, highlighting ongoing risks from reused passwords. Environment & Water: New Mexico State Parks updated actions at Elephant Butte Lake as drought drops reservoir levels and exposes debris.

DOE & AI Science: The Department of Energy announced the first 278 projects under its Genesis Mission, a push to use AI for discovery and national security, with $293M available and work spanning nuclear energy, critical minerals, chip design, and fusion. Local Tech & Water: Sierra County approved an 18-month data center moratorium after residents raised concerns about water and environmental impacts tied to the Spaceport-area growth debate. New Mexico Energy Research: New Mexico’s Board of Finance approved $31.2M for NMSU’s IDEAL Center to modernize its grid and energy testbed for next-generation reliability tech. Colorado River Crisis: Basin states are racing toward a new Colorado River operating plan as Lake Mead and Powell hit record lows, threatening power and water supplies across millions. Public Health: CDC reported 2,260 measles cases across 44 states, driven by summer travel and low MMR coverage pockets. Tech Policy & Safety: Nevada courts found Meta likely violated consumer protection law over Messenger end-to-end encryption safety claims for children, issuing a preliminary injunction. Space Watch: SpaceX’s Falcon 9 upper stage is set to hit the Moon Aug. 5, and astronomers are gearing up for a rare, precisely predicted lunar impact.

Public Health: CDC says cyclosporiasis cases have surged past 4,000 in 41 states, with a six-week reporting lag likely meaning numbers will keep climbing. Infectious Disease: Venezuela reports three hantavirus deaths, with officials stressing no sign of human-to-human spread. Water & Energy: Lake Mead and Lake Powell hit record-low combined levels, raising alarms for hydropower and Southwest water planning. Workforce & Training: New Mexico won $900,000+ to expand registered apprenticeships across construction, healthcare, IT, and cybersecurity. STEM & Health Research: UNM’s Project MESA ran a free bilingual autism summer clinic, training future speech-language pathologists while supporting families. Space Weather: NOAA warns a geomagnetic storm could bring auroras farther south than expected across much of the northern U.S. Local Schools: Los Alamos Public Schools grad Zachary Sestric earned a $1,000 scholarship from the New Mexico School Boards Association. Dementia Research: UNM researchers report carbon dioxide may help clear tau in the brain, building on earlier CO2-based findings.

AI & Safety: A Senate hearing highlights how Character.AI’s chatbot allegedly blurred human-machine boundaries and failed to warn when a teen expressed suicidal thoughts. Fintech Regulation: Nevada AG Aaron Ford urged federal regulators to deny bank charters to high-risk fintechs, warning consumers could be exposed to predatory practices. Drug Pricing Antitrust: Ford also announced a $29.6M multistate settlement with Glenmark over alleged generic-drug price inflation and reduced competition. Grid Resilience: With heat and Lake Mead declines stressing the power system, Buckeye Power Systems points to growing rolling-blackout risk across states including New Mexico. Space/Defense: Rocket Lab shares rose after a $266M Space Force contract for 12 suborbital launches. New Mexico Research: UNM researchers reported a potential CO2-based approach to help clear tau before it accumulates, building on earlier low-level CO2 work. Local STEM/Community: UNM’s Project MESA ran a free bilingual autism clinic training future speech-language pathologists through play. Water Crisis: Lake Mead and Lake Powell hit record-low combined levels, underscoring urgency for Colorado River cuts. GIS & Fire Memory: A Highlands University GIS specialist’s map of the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire won an international Esri award.

Quantum in Albuquerque: Maybell Quantum is moving into the Roadrunner Quantum Lab, bringing cryogenic hardware and staff to help other teams run dilution-refrigerator systems. Cancer tech at UNM: UNM Comprehensive Cancer Center is using an MRI-linear accelerator to tighten radiation targeting and adjust plans in real time, with early patient treatments already underway. Water protection under threat: Research says the Roadless Rule helps supply clean drinking water to tens of millions; repeal could raise treatment costs and harm rivers in New Mexico and the region. Monsoon and the Colorado River crunch: Forecasters warn the 2026 North American monsoon may ease drought locally, but won’t meaningfully refill Lake Powell and Lake Mead. Rural health funding: New Mexico’s Health Care Authority is accepting applications for a $47M Rural Health Innovation Fund aimed at underserved rural, frontier, and tribal areas. Local tech policy: El Paso adopted tougher rules for future data center development, adding setbacks, noise mitigation, and a special permit with public oversight. New Mexico business oversight: A complaint seeks a special audit of New Mexico Environment Department contracting tied to Apaluma, a digitization firm linked to a former cabinet secretary. Security systems test: Sandia National Labs ran a field exercise for rapidly deployable portable security tech, combining sensors, radar, cameras, and communications in rugged conditions. Sports-tech adjacent: The New Mexico Athletic Commission tabled proposed rules that would ban bare-knuckle fighting, citing a need for more research.

Antitrust & Media: A federal judge paused the $110B Paramount–Warner Bros. Discovery merger for at least two weeks after a coalition of states sued, setting up an Aug. 3 fight over whether the deal would crush competition in film and TV. Public Safety Tech: Sandia National Labs ran a field exercise at Coyote Canyon to test rapidly deployable portable security systems that combine drones, sensors, radar, cameras, and communications for faster decisions in remote terrain. Rural Health: New Mexico’s Health Care Authority is accepting applications for a $47M Rural Health Innovation Fund aimed at expanding care in underserved rural, frontier, and tribal areas. Environment Oversight: A progressive group is seeking a special audit of New Mexico Environment Department contracting tied to Apaluma, Inc., alleging procurement and conduct-code issues. STEM in Schools: Albuquerque Public Schools is expanding personal finance education, with APS requiring the course for students as more districts adopt it. Tech & Kids: Meta faces a Tennessee trial over claims Instagram was designed to be addictive for teens, echoing New Mexico’s own recent tech accountability case. Local Tech/AI Education: APS is reviewing a charter high school proposal focused on STEM and AI-based architectural modeling. Archaeology: Eastern New Mexico University highlights the Blackwater Draw site’s global significance as researchers continue excavations of very early human activity.