AGP Executive Report

Education & Conservation: Robertson High School and Memorial Middle School students finished a year with New Mexico’s Trout in the Classroom, raising trout, testing water quality via macroinvertebrates, and releasing fish in the Pecos area. Energy & Power Markets: Freeport-McMoRan set its Q2 2026 copper sales target at about 750 million pounds as it restarts underground production at Grasberg and ramps leaching efforts. Health & Agriculture: Wildfire smoke exposure was linked to higher bull sperm sample rejection rates, raising concerns for reproductive health and for wildland firefighters. Public Health & Regulation: EPA PFAS actions are in flux, with drinking-water standards for PFOA/PFOS retained while other PFAS standards are proposed for rescinding and state bans/controls accelerating. Solar Research: UTEP found dust-soiling losses for solar panels in Alamogordo are only about 2–3%, suggesting less frequent cleaning may be needed than in other desert regions. Local Tech & Infrastructure: New Mexico DOT will hold a public meeting June 10 on Phase IA planning for the NM 11 corridor between Deming and Columbus. Digital Equity: Nevada expands eduroam secure Wi‑Fi to more public locations, boosting connectivity for students and researchers. Science Mystery Update: Authorities confirmed the remains of Los Alamos National Laboratory worker Melissa Casias were found in Carson National Forest, with a handgun recovered nearby; cause and manner are still pending.

Broadband Policy: A new push to keep State Broadband Offices fully empowered as BEAD rolls out—warning that “sunset” dates and limited authority could slow mapping and deployment. Energy & Grid Reliability: A Progressive Policy Institute report argues New Mexico’s net-zero deadlines could raise power-price and reliability risks without enough firm, carbon-free generation. Data Centers & Water: Albuquerque and Colfax County officials are weighing safeguards as AI-driven data center proposals grow, with concerns about electricity demand and long-term water use. Nuclear Lab Mystery: New Mexico State Police confirmed the remains of Los Alamos National Laboratory worker Melissa Casias were found in Carson National Forest; a handgun was recovered nearby, and cause/manner of death are still pending. STEM & AI Education: A study finds federal AI education funding is concentrated in a few states, with New Mexico ranking near the top. Wildfire Impacts: Research highlights a troubling pattern: fewer wildfires overall, but larger acres burned—matching what western communities are seeing.

Governor Race: Democrat Deb Haaland and Republican Gregg Hull won their primaries, setting up a November matchup for New Mexico’s next governor. Missing Scientist/Los Alamos: Melissa Casias, a Los Alamos National Laboratory employee missing since June 2025, was identified after remains were found in Carson National Forest; reports cite a gunshot wound to the skull, with investigators and her family now focused on what happened. Biosecurity: USDA confirmed a New World screwworm fly in a calf in South Texas, the first U.S. livestock detection in decades, triggering quarantines, movement controls, and sterile-fly releases. Broadband & Tech: Kinetic said it has passed 2 million fiber premises across its footprint, including New Mexico, as it pushes faster rural connectivity. STEM Education: Los Alamos hosted the Supercomputing Challenge, with New Mexico middle and high school teams presenting projects ranging from X-ray astronomy modeling to 3D printing analysis. Policy/Climate Science: California AG Rob Bonta joined a coalition urging the Federal Judicial Center to keep climate science guidance in its judicial manual. Local Governance: Albuquerque is funding a guaranteed income pilot via its cannabis tax and wants to make it permanent.

Space & Health Research: Virgin Galactic unveiled “Operation Period,” a 2027 microgravity mission led by a women’s health nonprofit to study how spaceflight affects menstruation and hormonal health. AI & Public Safety: A new wave of lawsuits is raising fears of an “AI Big Tobacco” moment, with product-liability claims targeting how AI and social platforms may harm users—after New Mexico’s own jury found Meta liable over safeguards against sexual predators. Online Safety for Kids: Illinois passed a bill requiring device-based age confirmation to limit minors’ exposure to harmful and addictive social media features. Nuclear & Energy Infrastructure (NM): Urenco USA plans a major expansion at its Eunice, N.M. enrichment facility, adding nearly 50% capacity via a new plant and more centrifuge cascades. Wildfire Readiness (Western US): Experts warn federal staffing cuts are slowing prescribed burning and thinning, just as forecasts call for above-normal fire potential. NM Water & Power: Eastern New Mexico Water Utility Authority secured funds to finish large-diameter pipe work and shift toward pump stations. NM Tech Policy: New Mexico Tech nixed a controversial data center proposal—for now. Healthcare Costs (US/NM): New maternity billing rules starting in January could make pregnancy costs less predictable as care shifts from bundled to separate charges. Immigration Detention Medical Care: A KFF/Associated Press investigation reports detainees across at least 33 states allege serious medical neglect, including in New Mexico. Local Tech & Education: Mesalands Community College advanced a plan to repower its wind turbine with state and federal support. Science Discovery (NM Fossils): Researchers identified a 210-million-year-old crocodile relative from New Mexico fossils, adding detail to Late Triassic evolution.

Ancient Life in New Mexico: Researchers report a new 210-million-year-old crocodile relative, Eosphorosuchus lacrimosa, from Late Triassic fossils, adding to the state’s growing paleontology cache. Public Health & Care: CMS data show Laguna Rainbow Nursing Center in Cibola County was the only non-profit nursing home in the county and earned an overall 2 rating for Q1 2026, below the statewide average. Mental Health & Sleep Policy: A review links daylight saving time changes to heightened mental health risks for people with chronic mental illness. Water Infrastructure: Eastern New Mexico Water Utility Authority cleared an $18.7M budget adjustment to finish large-diameter pipe work and move toward pump stations. Renewable Power in the Classroom: Mesalands Community College won a $2.3M state request to repower or replace its wind turbine, backed by federal matching funds. Wildfire Aftermath: Quay County declared a disaster after May wildfires burned 30,000+ acres near Nara Visa, aiming to unlock state aid. Nuclear Lab Mystery: New Mexico State Police identified remains in Carson National Forest as Melissa Casias, a Los Alamos National Laboratory worker missing since June 2025, with a handgun found nearby as investigators keep digging. Epstein Probe: New Mexico’s Epstein truth commission issued its first subpoenas to 14 organizations, including federal law enforcement and state offices, as it investigates alleged abuse and related networks. Tech & Data Centers: New Mexico Tech paused a controversial data center proposal after community pushback, with the university saying the current framework isn’t the right path. Space Tech Milestone: The ngVLA prototype in New Mexico reached “first light,” moving from construction into astronomical testing. Uranium Supply Chain: Urenco USA announced a major expansion at its Eunice enrichment facility, targeting new production capacity starting in the early 2030s.

Nuclear Fuel Supply: Urenco USA says it will nearly double enrichment capacity at its Eunice, N.M. facility, adding 2.1 million separative work units and aiming for first low-enriched uranium production in 2032. Missing Scientist Case: Melissa Casias, a Los Alamos National Laboratory administrative worker, was identified after her remains were found in Carson National Forest; authorities also reported a handgun at the scene, while the cause and timing of death remain under investigation. State Tech Spotlight: New Mexico launches “New Mexico Tech Week” (Oct. 26–31) to spotlight the state’s tech and investment ecosystem with statewide events tied to TechFest. Energy & Climate Policy: A coalition led by Connecticut AG William Tong urged the Federal Judicial Center to keep climate science guidance in its scientific evidence manual, arguing removal happened under partisan pressure. Social Media Safety: Meta expands teen safety guardrails across Instagram, Facebook, and Messenger, adding tighter limits on interactions and certain sensitive topics for users under 16. Wildfire Research Funding: Researchers received federal support for hazardous fuel reduction work in Nevada’s wildland-urban interface, aiming to reduce high-severity fire spread. Primaries Today: New Mexico voters head to the polls for the June 2 primary, with early turnout already reported statewide.

Public Safety & Access: A Pecos River landowner, Erik Michael Briones, was arrested on aggravated assault counts after alleged firearm threats and “target practicing” intimidation of fishermen on public waters, following years of public-access litigation. Nuclear Research Mystery: New Mexico State Police identified the remains of Melissa Casias, a Los Alamos National Laboratory employee missing since June 2025; a handgun was found near the body, while the cause and manner of death are still pending. Science & Discovery: Yale paleontologists reported a newly identified 210-million-year-old crocodile relative from northern New Mexico fossils, adding detail to early crocodile diversification. Wildfire Recovery Research: Utah State University and the University of Idaho are seeking local input in Ruidoso/Lincoln County on response and recovery after the 2024 South Fork and Salt fires and related flooding. Tech & Industry: Intel is partnering with New Mexico-based 3D Glass Solutions on an advanced semiconductor glass-core packaging substrate facility in Odisha, India. Policy & Oversight: New Mexico’s Epstein “truth commission” announced it will issue 14 subpoenas to agencies, banks, and the Santa Fe Institute as it builds a public record.

PFAS Accountability in New Mexico: A new report spotlights how PFAS “forever chemicals” from military training foam at Cannon Air Force Base contaminated nearby wells, forcing a Clovis dairy to kill thousands of cows after regulators pulled permits. AI Governance in Schools: New Mexico lawmakers are urged to create a statewide AI oversight body for classrooms, citing privacy, cheating, and overreliance risks as districts aren’t required to follow existing state guidance. LANL Missing Worker Identified: Melissa Casias, a Los Alamos National Laboratory employee missing since June 2025, was identified from remains found in Carson National Forest; a handgun was found nearby, and cause and manner of death are still pending. Climate Policy Shake-Up: The SEC moved to repeal a Biden-era climate disclosure rule requiring some public companies to report emissions and climate risks, arguing it exceeds its authority. PFAS + Building Codes Watch: HVACR regulators and industry groups flagged evolving PFAS rules and A2L refrigerant building-code changes as contractors prepare for a patchwork of state requirements. El Niño Signals: Early signs of a developing El Niño point to wetter southern U.S. conditions and warmer, drier northern patterns, with hurricane-season implications. Tech + Safety Staffing Data: Coverage also highlights how workplace safety manager staffing varies across states as OSHA’s compliance workload grows.

Science & Safety: Remains of Los Alamos National Laboratory staffer Melissa Casias were identified in Carson National Forest nearly a year after she vanished; New Mexico State Police say a handgun was found with the remains, while investigators still determine cause and manner of death. AI in Education: New Mexico lawmakers are pushing for a statewide governance plan for AI use in schools, citing concerns about data privacy, cheating, and overreliance. Data Centers & Water/Power: Reporting on Project Jupiter traces how deals and policy groundwork were laid before the public backlash, including shifts toward fuel cells and claims of “negligible water use,” alongside transparency worries. Space & Industry: A New Mexico Chamber-backed report highlights space, aerospace and defense as a key sector for diversifying the state’s economy, with Spaceport America activity underscoring momentum. Energy Infrastructure: USDA Forest Service and New Mexico rural electric cooperatives released statewide guidance to standardize utility special-use permits across national forests, aiming to cut delays and support wildfire-ready maintenance. Public Health Policy: Governors including New Mexico’s Tina Kotek urged the federal government to pause Medicaid work requirements, warning of system failures and coverage loss risks.

High-Tech Economy Plan: A new report lays out New Mexico’s bid to build a high-tech economy, spotlighting sectors like quantum/advanced computing, space-aerospace-defense, intelligent manufacturing, and advanced energy. Space & Defense: Hermeus’ recent supersonic milestone and Virgin Galactic’s plans to resume flights underscore the state’s fast-moving space and defense ecosystem. Energy Infrastructure: USDA Forest Service and NMRECA teamed up on statewide powerline permit guidance across national forests, aiming to streamline reviews and support wildfire-ready maintenance. Water Watch: Elephant Butte Dam’s annual release is underway, sending water downstream toward El Paso after months of dryness in southern New Mexico. AI in Schools: New Mexico lawmakers are pushing to update AI education policies, while a broader national debate continues over how AI and social platforms affect students. Public Health & Safety: Supporters are fighting to save Sunspot Solar Observatory as NSF moves ahead with demolition plans after a mercury leak. Local Science & Research: UNM President Garnett Stokes announced her retirement, marking a major leadership transition for the state’s flagship research university. Border & Tech: A bipartisan letter urges state attorneys general to hold “nudify” apps accountable, targeting app stores that host non-consensual deepfake sexual content.

Energy & AI Infrastructure: A new Oracle-backed data center fight is heating up in Santa Teresa as residents question power demand and water use tied to “Project Jupiter,” with the company insisting it won’t tap public drinking water for cooling or fuel-cell operations. Water & Climate Resilience: Elephant Butte Dam’s annual release is underway, sending water downstream toward El Paso after months of low Rio Grande flows, while the U.S. Supreme Court approved a settlement to rein in groundwater pumping and stabilize Rio Grande deliveries. Power Grid & Wildfire Mitigation: USDA Forest Service and NMRECA teamed up on statewide utility special-use permit guidance across New Mexico national forests to streamline approvals and support vegetation management. Broadband for Rural/Tribal NM: New Mexico awarded $300,000 in broadband planning grants to Jemez Springs, Doña Ana County, and Santo Domingo Pueblo for “shovel-ready” engineering and feasibility work. Quantum Economy: New Mexico won a Federal Laboratory Consortium award for building a quantum technology sector, citing Sandia-led momentum and commercialization programs. Public Safety Tech: Taos Search and Rescue highlighted growing drone use with thermal detection during emergencies, improving speed and safety for responders. Space Health Research: Virgin Galactic plans a microgravity study of menstruation with Operation Period. Science & Discovery: Researchers described a new toothless, bipedal crocodile relative from New Mexico’s Triassic, reshaping reptile evolution theories. UAP Watch: The Pentagon released more UAP records, including reports of “countless orange orbs” near a helicopter.

Water & Courts: The U.S. Supreme Court approved a historic Rio Grande compact settlement, ending a 13-year fight over groundwater pumping and setting a long-term framework for deliveries from Colorado to Texas while reducing New Mexico’s potential liability. Quantum Economy: New Mexico won a Federal Laboratory Consortium award for building a quantum technology ecosystem with Sandia and partners, citing major funding and new commercialization efforts. Space Science & Health: Virgin Galactic is partnering with Operation Period to study how microgravity affects menstruation, with flights planned for next year. Drones in Emergencies: New Mexico first responders are increasingly using drones with thermal detection to speed rescues and keep crews safer during hard-to-reach incidents. Logistics & Trade: UPS is investing about $50 million to expand automotive/industrial logistics and launch time-definite air freight service to Mexico. Broadband Planning: New Mexico awarded $300,000 in broadband planning grants to Jemez Springs, Doña Ana County, and Santo Domingo Pueblo to prepare future fiber and public Wi‑Fi projects. AI in Schools: A legislative analyst urged New Mexico lawmakers to adopt clearer AI-in-education policies covering privacy, curriculum, and tribal sovereignty. Wildlife Management: Records show the Interior Department delayed the release of Mexican gray wolf Asha after local pushback, highlighting growing resistance to reintroduction. UFO Files: The Pentagon released new UAP records, including decades of reports and recent video claims.

Rio Grande Water Deal: The U.S. Supreme Court approved a settlement that reins in groundwater pumping and sets a long-term framework for Rio Grande deliveries, ending the long Texas v. New Mexico & Colorado fight and reducing potential taxpayer liability. AI in Schools: A New Mexico legislative analyst urged lawmakers to adopt clearer AI rules for classrooms, covering privacy, curriculum, and tribal sovereignty as districts use tools like ChatGPT and tutoring chatbots. Medical Isotopes in NM: Eden Radioisotopes applied to build an isotope production facility near Eunice, aiming to boost domestic supply of Mo-99 for imaging and cancer care. Quantum Teacher Training: Sandia-backed QCaMP launched a Chattanooga/Hamilton County educator cohort, showing how NM quantum expertise is feeding K–12 workforce pipelines. Workforce Tech Upgrade: New Mexico Workforce Solutions will shut down statewide offices and online systems for a cloud migration and security upgrade. Broadband Planning Grants: NM awarded $300,000 for broadband engineering and planning in Jemez Springs, Doña Ana County, and Santo Domingo Pueblo. Wildfire Building Codes: A new regional look finds most Mountain West states lack statewide wildfire building codes, while Utah and Colorado move toward stronger requirements. Border Wall Impacts: Indigenous leaders and advocates say border wall construction is desecrating sacred sites, with blasting and bulldozing escalating. Public Health/Policy: Across the country, more people are dropping out of Obamacare as costs rise and subsidies end, with Kentucky and Idaho seeing sharp declines. Space Command Tech: SPACECOM’s chief scientist flagged cislunar and xGEO operations as key future S&T priorities, including timing and space domain awareness.

Space & Defense: The Space Force is pitching a bigger, more resilient ground-and-space setup in its fiscal 2027 plan, with major focus on missile-warning satellites and the infrastructure to run them during conflict. Nuclear Policy: The U.S. Energy Department is moving toward “advanced negotiations” that could let private firms access weapons-grade plutonium for reactor fuel—raising both innovation hopes and proliferation concerns. Space Science: Virgin Galactic will launch a 2027 mission from Spaceport America to study menstruation in microgravity, aiming to fill a major research gap for astronauts and biomedical science on Earth. Tech & Education Workforce: Arizona’s NNME Southwest was designated a semiconductor training hub, linking industry and schools across Arizona, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, and Southern California to expand microelectronics career pathways. Local Tech & Data: A New Mexico film slowdown is rippling through Albuquerque’s production economy, putting pressure on the durability of the state’s film tax incentive strategy. Environment & Water: The U.S. Supreme Court approved a Rio Grande groundwater settlement package, setting rules to reduce pumping and retire some rights to stabilize water delivery from New Mexico to Texas. Health & Care: CMS data show Albuquerque’s Skies Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center received a low overall rating and incurred fines/penalties in early 2026, spotlighting ongoing nursing home quality concerns.

Rio Grande Water Deal: The U.S. Supreme Court approved a settlement to rein in groundwater pumping and retire some irrigated water rights, ending a 13-year fight and giving Lower Rio Grande users clearer long-term water rules. Sandia Nuclear Sustainment: Sandia and the nuclear security enterprise finished production of the W88 Alteration 370 and shifted to long-term stockpile sustainment, marking a key step in modernized U.S. deterrence work. AI Power for New Mexico: Bloom Energy highlighted major AI infrastructure deals, including Oracle’s Project Jupiter in New Mexico using up to 2.45 gigawatts of fuel-cell power. Space Tech in New Mexico: Hermeus’ Quarterhorse Mk 2.1 prototype became the first privately funded unmanned jet to break the sound barrier in active flight testing over White Sands. Astronomy SETI Update: Using the VLA in New Mexico and MeerKAT together, researchers scanned exoplanet K2-18b for narrowband signals and found none at current human-tech levels. UNM Leadership: UNM named interim provost Barbara Rodriguez to the full-time provost role. Road Safety Watch: A new analysis ranks New Mexico 4th for fatal highway crash rates per capita, citing rural conditions and response times. Local Health System Strain: Doña Ana County scrambled to replace a detention-center healthcare provider after YesCare filed for Chapter 11. Tech Policy: New Mexico AG Jay Jones joined a coalition opposing the federal KIDS Act, arguing it weakens protections for children online.

Water Law: The U.S. Supreme Court approved a settlement to rein in Rio Grande groundwater pumping, with New Mexico, Texas and Colorado agreeing to cut pumping and retire some irrigated water rights to stabilize supplies for millions. Space & Defense: Virgin Galactic flew its Unity spaceplane back to Spaceport America for pilot training ahead of its next-generation SpaceShip, while a House Armed Services draft bill would eliminate two Space Force acquisition offices as separate entities. New Mexico Science: Fossils from a Triassic quarry in New Mexico point to Labrujasuchus expectatus—a toothless, beaked reptile and distant crocodile-line cousin that walked on two legs. Tech & Industry: Arizona was named the Southwest node for a national microelectronics education network, with $5M in year one to build workforce pathways across Arizona, Southern California, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah. Energy & Climate: New research puts a price tag on prescribed burns and fuel reduction, estimating billions in avoided wildfire harm, and a major Pacific marine heatwave is expected to intensify. Local Politics: New Mexico AG Raúl Torrez sued Torrance and Curry counties over alleged ICE transfer agreements that conflict with a new state immigrant safety law.