AGP Executive Report

AI in Public Defense: New Jersey Office of the Public Defender is rolling out a secure, Princeton-backed AI platform to speed up legal research and drafting, cutting “Frankenbriefing” into seconds while keeping attorney judgment in charge. Big Tech in Court: A Ninth Circuit ruling lets thousands of social media addiction lawsuits against Meta and TikTok move forward, and a major youth-harms trial is set to begin in California with New Jersey among plaintiffs. Energy & Industry: Nebius raised its contracted data-center power guidance to 5 gigawatts by year-end, boosted by a major Meta infrastructure deal; separately, Aternium selected Dover for a heavy water and electrolytic hydrogen facility tied to strategic supply chains. Surveillance Debate: A Princeton resident is pushing for limits on Flock cameras, arguing public safety tools are expanding into broader tracking, while local police say they don’t use Flock tech. STEM & Discovery: Scientists report the Hillsborough meteorite contains amino acids and other prebiotic molecules, adding to the case that life’s building blocks can survive in space rocks. Local Tech Business: West Orange approved a new Main Street supermarket plan with solar panels and EV charging, reflecting how tech-forward infrastructure is showing up in everyday development.

Social Media Accountability: A U.S. appeals court cleared the way for thousands of lawsuits accusing Meta and TikTok of designing platforms to harm minors, rejecting a bid to stop the cases under Section 230. Local Surveillance Debate: In Princeton, a resident is pushing for limits on Flock cameras after officials said they don’t use Flock tech but do use ALPRs, reigniting concerns about broader tracking networks. STEM Spotlight: Pennsylvania teen Connor Hill won the $250,000 Regeneron Science Talent Search for a computer-based classification of rare noble 3D shapes, identifying exactly 146 isolated examples. Education & AI Procurement: Districts are spending big on AI tools, but many officials say they’re overwhelmed by what’s worth buying and how to vet it. Energy & Industry: Aternium selected Dover, Delaware for its first commercial heavy water and electrolytic hydrogen facility, aiming to strengthen domestic supply for strategic industries. Space Science: A meteorite that crashed into a Hillsborough, NJ home was analyzed for early-solar-system chemistry and amino acids tied to life’s building blocks. Community Tech & Culture: India@80 celebrations across the New York tri-state area included a Guinness World Record in Parsippany, NJ for the “Largest Flagpole Number.” Military Tech Outreach: EOD soldiers supported New Jersey State Fair recruiting, highlighting science and engineering careers.

Social Media Accountability: A U.S. appeals court cleared the way for more than 3,000 lawsuits accusing Meta and TikTok of fueling social media addiction harms to minors, rejecting a bid to stop the cases under Section 230 and letting the litigation move forward. Privacy Tech in NJ: Drivers can now check whether their plates were searched in Flock camera audit logs via “Have I Been Flocked,” a move that spotlights growing privacy pushback against AI-powered license-plate systems. AI + Power for NJ Data Centers: Nebius’ endorsement of Bloom Energy’s fuel-cell switch for an AI data center project in Vineland, NJ, is framed as a potential permitting-and-community-relations win as the project seeks final approval. Local Tech & Health Infrastructure: JRM Construction Management completed the relocation and consolidation of MJH Life Sciences’ corporate headquarters in Monroe Township, adding a large production studio and dedicated server space. STEM in Uniform: Army EOD Soldiers brought high-tech expertise to the New Jersey State Fair recruitment drive, connecting specialized explosive safety work to science and engineering careers. Public Health: A new map highlights states with the worst children’s dental health, underscoring preventable cavity disparities.

Privacy & Surveillance: Drivers can now check whether their license plates were searched in Flock camera audit logs via “Have I Been Flocked,” but the site warns the dataset is incomplete and doesn’t show when a car passed a camera. AI Data Centers in NJ: Nebius’ endorsement of Bloom Energy’s fuel-cell switch for a Vineland, NJ AI data center highlights how power choices can change community and permitting dynamics. AI Infrastructure Watch: CoreWeave, the Livingston-based AI infrastructure provider, reported strong revenue growth and a huge backlog, but investors are still debating whether expansion financing is getting ahead of demand. Courtroom Tech: A federal appeals court cleared the way for thousands of social media addiction lawsuits against Meta and TikTok to proceed, rejecting a Section 230 “immunity” argument. Public Safety Tech: Tyler Technologies said it acquired CODY Systems to expand cloud-first public safety software for dispatch and records. Health Tech: A Philadelphia study found an RSV antibody for infants reduced antibiotic prescriptions—an early win for smarter prescribing. Local Tech & Community: Rutgers field hockey added national-champion talent, including players from Northern Ireland, as the program eyes another NCAA run.

Social Media Legal Fight: A federal appeals court cleared the way for thousands of lawsuits accusing Meta and TikTok of fueling social media addiction harms to minors, rejecting a Section 230 “defense” argument and letting cases move forward. N.J. Housing Pressure: A new op-ed argues New Jersey’s housing crunch is worsened by a large unauthorized immigrant population, citing Pew estimates and rising rent and mortgage costs. AI + Early Health Tech: A Bengaluru startup, Dognosis, is training cancer-sniffing dogs and using AI to flag early cancer signals from breath samples, aiming to scale low-cost screening. Bankruptcy Watch: A New Jersey judge allowed Poolin Technology to pursue an asset sale, amid a trustee fight and plans tied to AI data center expansion. Public Safety Tech: Rutgers researchers say a brief firearm-safety conversation can more than double willingness to temporarily store guns outside the home during crises. Cybersecurity: Reports highlight malicious cyber targeting of U.S. water systems, with Utah named as a case study. Local Tech/Business: Stockton University won a $2.44M grant to upgrade its Marine Field Station for more coastal research and accessibility.

DNA Repair Breakthrough: Weizmann Institute researchers mapped which DNA sequences and structures key repair enzymes prefer, helping explain why some mutations stick and how that may connect to cancer. Rutgers Leadership: Christine E. Beswick was named Associate Dean for Administration at Rutgers’ School of Communication and Information, effective Sept. 8. Health Tech in NJ: Hackensack Meridian Health became the first U.S. health system to earn Joint Commission AI certification, covering governance, privacy, monitoring, and AI training. Cancer Research Funding Push: NJ advocates want lawmakers to lock in $10M a year for the state Commission on Cancer Research, citing unstable federal support. Social Media Accountability: A federal appeals court cleared the way for thousands of social media addiction lawsuits against Meta and TikTok to proceed, rejecting a Section 230 halt. Local Tech & Privacy: Brick Township confirmed Flock license plate readers are in use, while residents raise privacy concerns. Marine Mystery: Nearly 30 dead juvenile dogfish sharks washed ashore in Sea Isle City; officials are still searching for the cause. NJ Education Access: RWJBarnabas Health and the NJ Department of Health launched a back-to-school initiative with vaccination clinics and pediatric mobile services.

Big Tech in court: A federal appeals court cleared the way for thousands of social media addiction lawsuits against Meta and TikTok to move forward, rejecting arguments that Section 230 blocks the cases. NJ tech policy: New Jersey’s e-bike rules and broader safety debate are in the spotlight as injuries and deaths involving electrified bikes rise, with parents and advocates arguing over what “common sense” regulation should look like. Health access in 2026: A Q&A with Amy Niles highlights progress on faster prior authorization rules, even as Medicaid work requirements and rising costs squeeze coverage. Marine mystery: Nearly 30 dead dogfish sharks washed up along the Jersey Shore in Sea Isle City, leaving experts pointing to possible fishing-related dumping as the leading theory. Energy & film infrastructure: NJEDA and Nuveen Green Capital closed a $101M C-PACE loan for Lionsgate Studios Newark, backing solar, EV charging, and efficiency upgrades. Education + AI: Drew University will open The Drew School in fall 2026 using an AI-driven curriculum platform for grades 1–8. Cyber + privacy debate: A renewed push for Automated License Plate Reader tech continues as privacy concerns collide with claims it helps solve violent crime.

Youth Social Media Lawsuits: A U.S. appeals court cleared the way for thousands of “social media addiction” cases against Meta and TikTok, rejecting attempts to stop the suits under Section 230—setting up more courtroom fights over claims platforms were built to harm minors. Meta Youth Harms Trial (NJ angle): In a separate major case, Meta faces a landmark federal trial in California over allegations that Facebook and Instagram were designed to keep kids hooked, with New Jersey among the states bringing claims and potential penalties cited as high as $1.4T. Big Tech + ICE Protests: Protesters rallied outside Palantir’s NYC offices, linking the company’s work with ICE to fears of surveillance of immigrant communities. Earth Science (NJ): A new study re-examines the 2024 Tewksbury, NJ earthquake, suggesting a previously unknown fault may have been involved. Climate + Roads: Rutgers research warns Bergen County could see more coastal flooding that disrupts road access as sea levels rise. Biotech Update (NJ): PDS Biotechnology halts a phase 3 head-and-neck cancer program to focus on a phase 2 colorectal contender. Packaging Tech: IPL Schoeller launched an off-the-shelf recycled polypropylene food container line aimed at speeding adoption of recycled-content packaging. Local Mystery: Nearly 30 dead dogfish sharks were found along a Sea Isle City beach, with the cause still unclear.

Kids Online Safety: Gov. Mikie Sherrill signed the New Jersey Kids Code Act, giving parents a $5,000-per-violation lawsuit right against platforms that fail to protect minors by design, with key rules kicking in later. Big Tech in Court: Jury selection began in California for Meta’s youth harms trial, with New Jersey among the states alleging Facebook and Instagram were built to keep children hooked and mishandled under-13 data. Healthcare Investment: RWJBarnabas Health announced nearly $50M in new funding for Federally Qualified Health Centers across NJ to expand access in underserved communities. Nursing Tech Boost: Johnson & Johnson donated $300K to modernize Rutgers–Camden’s nursing simulation lab and fund scholarships for first-generation nursing students. Energy Grid Planning: NJ is weighing a virtual power plant plan that could let home battery owners earn money by helping the grid during demand spikes. Biotech Manufacturing: NurExone inked a binding MOU with Made Scientific to build scalable U.S. GMP exosome manufacturing in Princeton, targeting first batches in H1 2027. Local Science & Environment: Sea Isle City residents reported nearly 30 dead dogfish sharks washing ashore, raising questions about tides or offshore dumping. STEM Research Insight: NJIT researchers modeled how a single ant can trigger colony-wide bursts of synchronized activity.

Youth Online Safety & Courts: Meta goes on trial in Oakland this week as New Jersey and other states argue Facebook/Instagram were engineered to be addictive to children, with prosecutors seeking sweeping platform changes. Public Health Policy: President Trump signed an order pushing separate measles-mumps-rubella shots once available, but experts warn the U.S. lacks licensed single-disease products and could take years. Cybersecurity & Critical Infrastructure: A growing wave of hacks targeting municipal water systems—linked by the U.S. to Iran—has spread to multiple states including New Jersey, raising alarms about readiness and defenses. Environment & Health: A nationwide study links living near dry cleaners to higher Parkinson’s risk, while NJ also faces new pressure as endangered species protections are rolled back. NJ Tech/Business: SELECCIÓN Consulting acquired Pillir to bring agentic AI into enterprise delivery, and 1Kosmos was named a Gartner sample vendor for digital identity categories. Local STEM: Newark high school seniors turned environmental justice research into three original documentaries debuting Aug. 22.

Kids Online Safety: Gov. Mikie Sherrill signed New Jersey’s Kids Code Act and two related bills, tightening privacy defaults for minors, limiting algorithmic recommendations, restricting data use, and creating a Social Media Research Center to study impacts on kids. Airport Tech: The FAA announced a new Surface Movement Radar Model 4 at Newark Liberty to help controllers track aircraft and vehicles on runways and taxiways in all weather, aiming to cut runway-incursion risk. Defense Radar Modernization: Space Systems Command awarded a $423.4M Ground Based Radar Digitization push, with SciTec in Princeton, NJ among the firms updating missile warning radar processing through 2028. Surveillance Debate: NJ lawmakers and residents are still grappling with automated license plate readers, as new reporting raises concerns about tech that can also detect nearby wireless signals. Education & Community: NJ named 21 County Teachers of the Year for 2026-27, with one set to be chosen as State Teacher of the Year later this fall. Healthcare AI: Atlantic Health and K Health launched an AI “PatientGPT” tool plus Virtual Primary Care to guide patients and connect them to clinicians across New Jersey.

Flood Resilience in Action: NJIT’s Center for Natural Resources is using field data plus flood modeling through its REACH program to help towns target mitigation where flooding actually happens, finishing work in 17 municipalities including Paterson and Rahway. Water Cybersecurity Push: Lawmakers and DEF CON’s Water Watch Center are moving to harden community water systems, with the Water Cyber Shield Act proposing EPA-led assessments and funding after attacks hit dozens of utilities across at least 12 states, including NJ. Energy Storage for PJM: Illumine-i launched IVE BESS, an AI-driven behind-the-meter sizing platform for New Jersey C&I projects, aiming to turn meter data into bankable 20-year cases in minutes. Fiber Buildout: GoNetspeed broke ground on a $43M, 100% fiber expansion in Rahway and plans to connect homes and businesses this winter, spreading to Clark, Linden, and Woodbridge. Biotech & Patents: Arbutus filed international patent enforcement actions against Pfizer and BioNTech over lipid nanoparticle tech, receiving a first $178M payment from a Moderna settlement. Climate Watch: July 2026 tied July 2024 as Earth’s hottest month on record, according to NOAA and NASA. Health Policy: Trump’s vaccine guidance overhaul is drawing fresh medical backlash as he directs agencies to reduce recommended shots and space them out. Pharma Manufacturing: Bristol Myers Squibb is building a $2.3B Houston campus, part of a broader U.S. manufacturing push, with nearly 500 skilled jobs expected.

Biotech & Health: Rocket Pharmaceuticals reported Q2 progress including regulatory approval for KRESLADI and safety clearance for early Danon disease patients, while Amneal completed its Kashiv BioSciences acquisition to build a global biosimilars platform. IVF Access: The Wyatt Foundation and Conceive Fertility Foundation named 2026 IVF grant recipients, awarding $15,000 each to help cover treatment costs. Healthcare Infrastructure in NJ: RWJBarnabas Health chair Susan C. Reinhard was honored by NJBIZ, and the system also announced major investment in federally qualified health centers. Cybersecurity & Critical Infrastructure: Reports say hackers have targeted municipal water systems across multiple states, including NJ, raising alarms about weak protections for industrial control equipment. AI Power & Local Zoning: A Vineland AI data center plan using on-site fuel cells faces legal challenges from opponents over zoning and approval process concerns. Public Health Policy: Trump signed an executive order reshaping childhood vaccine recommendations, prompting immediate pushback from medical leaders. Environment & Community Tech: NJ students cut school drop-off idling dramatically through a measurable anti-idling campaign. Climate Watch: NOAA says July 2026 was the hottest month ever recorded in the contiguous U.S.

Biotech Manufacturing Boost: Bristol Myers Squibb will build a $2.3B pharmaceutical manufacturing campus near Houston, adding nearly 500 jobs, as Texas extends a $4.89M incentive tied to its JETI program. AI in Schools: Montclair’s school community is pushing for clearer AI and education-tech rules after a district survey found widespread concern among parents, students, and staff. FDA Biotech Update: ITM Isotope Technologies Munich received an FDA Complete Response Letter for its 177Lu-edotreotide (ITM-11) NDA, with the issues focused on manufacturing and third-party facility items rather than clinical safety. Cybersecurity for Water: Recent attacks on municipal water systems across at least 12 states are renewing calls to better secure operational tech and reduce internet exposure of industrial control systems. Local STEM Talent: A New Jersey teen, Rohan Arni, used deep learning to classify fast radio bursts with 98% accuracy and earned finalist status in the Regeneron Science Talent Search. Public Safety Research: A study finds most Americans are dangerously unprepared to escape a sinking car, with only 3% answering key steps correctly. Tech & Data Ethics: USA Today workers say a Palantir partnership raises concerns about reader data security and conflicts of interest.

AI & Cybersecurity for NJ Businesses: A NJBIZ panel urged companies to build an AI strategy before adopting tools, warning about cybersecurity, legal, and data privacy risks—and stressing AI governance plus employee training. Social Media Accountability: Meta is set for another major U.S. trial over claims that Instagram and Facebook were made addictive for children, with New Jersey among the states seeking sweeping restrictions and massive penalties. NJ Tech & Education: Princeton topped LinkedIn’s 2026 Top Colleges ranking for long-term career outcomes, and the state’s presence was limited to Princeton alone in the top 50. Healthcare Tech & Pharma Scrutiny: A new report revisits the Elmiron controversy, arguing regulators failed patients as Janssen allegedly downplayed serious eye risks tied to long-term use. Local Digital Marketing: A Wowbix study says many dental websites in the U.S. are outdated, hurting search visibility and patient growth—an issue for NJ practices competing online. Public Safety Tech: The FBI and authorities are involved in investigations after New Jersey water facilities were targeted in cyberattacks, highlighting growing concerns about critical infrastructure security.

Cybersecurity & Water Infrastructure: Federal agencies say Iranian-linked hackers have hit water and wastewater systems across at least a dozen states, including NJ, forcing utilities to switch to manual operations and issue boil-water notices. Local Tech Policy: Neptune Township voters approved bans on AI data centers and ICE jails, tying Big Tech buildouts to deportation enforcement and showing how NJ towns are shaping what gets built. Retail Data Rules: NJ’s Fair Price Protection Act targets “surveillance pricing,” aiming to stop companies from using personal data to set higher prices for essential goods. Healthcare & Research: A nationwide Medicare study found people living within 500 feet of a dry cleaner had higher Parkinson’s odds, while NJ’s Rutgers dental school program expands free preventive care. STEM & Space: An international team analyzed a meteorite that punched through a NJ roof and reported clues about salty fluids on a primitive asteroid. Education & Careers: Princeton topped LinkedIn’s 2026 long-term career outcomes ranking as the only NJ school in the top 50. Digital Marketing: Wowbix says many dental websites are outdated and slow on mobile, hurting search visibility and patient growth. Transit Update: PATH riders will lose SmartLink cards Sept. 1 as the agency pushes TAPP and contactless payments.