AGP Executive Report

Cancer Care Upgrade: Atlantic Health CentraState in Monmouth County added a TrueBeam photon therapy system at Statesir Cancer Center, expanding precise radiation options like SBRT and SRS for brain and body tumors. STEM Education Spotlight: High Technology High School in Monmouth County was named the No. 1 STEM high school in the U.S. by U.S. News, with other Monmouth County Vocational School District schools also ranking highly. AI in Healthcare: Hackensack Meridian Health earned Joint Commission certification for responsible AI use, highlighting governance, safeguards, and training for patient safety. Workforce Development: New Jersey’s Office of the Secretary of Higher Education awarded Career Accelerator Internship grants to 178 employers, funding about 700 paid internships for students and recent grads. Aviation Tech Disruption: A Philadelphia FAA communications failure and a severed backup fiber line triggered widespread Northeast flight cancellations and delays, including major impacts at Newark. Solar Recycling Push: Sen. Andy Kim visited Commercial Solar Panel Recycling in Phillipsburg to highlight NJ’s mandatory solar panel recycling law and critical-mineral recovery efforts.

Air Travel Tech Glitch Hits NJ: A telecom failure tied to Philadelphia’s FAA air-traffic facility—plus an accidentally cut backup fiber line in New Jersey—triggered ground stops and major delays at Newark, Teterboro, JFK, LaGuardia, and Philadelphia, with thousands of flights disrupted before operations gradually resumed. AI in Aviation: The FAA also rolled out an AI-supported airspace management tool (SMART) aimed at reducing delays and cancellations, even as lawmakers question whether controllers were properly consulted and trained. Rutgers Genetics Breakthrough: Rutgers researchers used a tiny roundworm model to show how a kidney-disease DNA mutation can misroute a key protein inside cells—offering a faster way to interpret genetic test results. Public Health Monitoring: CDC-led air sampling near customs at major airports found COVID-19 genetic material in most samples, while flu signals tracked other surveillance data—supporting early-warning ideas for incoming pathogens. Civic Tech for Taxes: Code for America is expanding its AI document-screening help for low-income filers with new Google.org funding. Higher Ed Outcomes in NJ: New data show mixed six-year bachelor’s completion rates across NJ counties, including Hudson at 33.9% and Middlesex at 83.9%, highlighting big gaps in student success.

Aviation Disruption: The FAA issued ground stops at JFK, LaGuardia, Newark Liberty and Teterboro after a fiber cable was accidentally cut during construction in New Jersey, triggering major delays and diversions tied to communications issues at Philadelphia’s TRACON. Broadband Expansion: GoNetspeed says its 100% fiber network is live for first customers in South River, with symmetrical speeds up to 6 gigabits, while construction continues in East Brunswick. Workforce & Education: New Jersey Reentry Corporation graduated about 400 participants from its 2026 Summer Training Institute, and the state expanded paid internships through the Career Accelerator Internship Grant Program for fall. Healthcare Leadership: Hackensack Meridian Health CEO Robert C. Garrett announced plans to retire June 30, 2027, after decades of building the health system. Public Health & Tech: A CDC-led study found COVID-19 genetic material in 98% of air samples at major airports including Newark, while influenza A appeared in 17%. PFAS Accountability: NJ announced a $2.5 billion settlement resolving two PFAS contamination lawsuits involving DuPont and 3M, including statewide AFFF claims. Defense Innovation: Picatinny Arsenal hosted a Rutgers-linked seminar series focused on autonomy and other next-generation defense technologies.

Home & Health Equity: A new analysis finds Black homeowners pay far more for the same protection, with Michigan showing the biggest premium gap and nationwide costs still higher even after adjusting for risk factors. Energy Cybersecurity: Federal agencies warn that AI is helping attackers generate faster exploit scripts targeting internet-exposed Siemens industrial controls used in power and water systems. Digital Infrastructure: EXA Infrastructure is launching the EXA Meridian transatlantic subsea cable from New Jersey to the UK, aiming for service in 2029 with major capacity for AI and cloud traffic. Senior Living Expansion: Benchmark Senior Living is rapidly growing in New Jersey, adding new assisted living and memory care communities as demand rises and industry starts stay constrained. Local Business Tech Push: Even with low confidence in the economy, many New Jersey small businesses plan to increase technology spending, treating it as a survival tool. Education & STEM: University of Scranton students won robotics events at an IEEE regional conference in New Jersey, showing strong STEM momentum. Policy & Privacy: A push to make daylight saving time permanent is moving through Congress, with states already lining up for year-round changes. GLP-1 Safety: New reports and lawsuits highlight rare but potentially permanent vision loss linked to long-term use of popular GLP-1 drugs, prompting calls for eye checks. Immigration Human Impact: Human Rights Watch says deportations to Haiti after TPS ended are putting people at risk, urging lawmakers to reinstate protections.

Biotech & Research: S2S China named 10 biotech startup finalists for its 2026 symposium at Westlake University, pairing academic teams with biotech investors for October pitches. AI Policy: Rep. Josh Gottheimer and Rep. Mike Lawler unveiled the Stop Rogue AI Act, pushing for national standards on controlling AI agents before they’re released. Tech & Society: Stony Brook launched a new Department of Technology, AI and Society, appointing Donghee Yvette Wohn as inaugural chair to study AI’s social impact. Privacy & Surveillance: Holyoke, Mass. narrowed sharing of automated license-plate camera data after reports of outside agencies using it for immigration-related searches. Healthcare & Data: A new report highlights how dementia care costs can hit families hard, with expenses stacking from home care to medical visits. Local Tech/Innovation: NJIT’s new Department of Technology, AI and Society leadership and research focus signals more campus momentum around AI and human behavior. Business/Industry: PureCycle expanded PureFive-based sustainable packaging with SnapPack Square EVO as New Jersey’s recycled-content rules ramp up. Sports/Infrastructure: A study ranks MetLife Stadium among the NFL’s worst for gameday traffic congestion, underscoring tech-and-transport pressure around major venues.

AI Policy & Safety: Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) and Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) unveiled the Stop Rogue AI Act, pushing for national standards on controlling AI agents, with the government testing models before they’re released. Higher Ed & Research: Stony Brook named Donghee Yvette Wohn as the inaugural chair of its new Department of Technology, AI and Society, aiming to study how AI shapes online behavior and society. Aviation Tech: The FAA plans to roll out an AI system called SMART (Strategic Management of Airspace Routes and Trajectories) to help manage air traffic and reduce delays by forecasting congestion. Defense Tech: Lockheed won $76.6M for continued design work on the next-gen Trident II D5LE2 nuclear missile, with work spread across multiple states including New Jersey. Cyber/AI Risk Debate: A new report highlights how an AI-assisted assessment reportedly produced a false claim about a ship carrying nuclear-related components—raising questions about how fast tools can outpace human checks. Sustainability & Packaging: PureCycle expanded PureFive-based packaging with SnapPack Square EVO, timed with New Jersey’s rising recycled-content rules. STEM Recognition: Six Indian American students, including Praadhyumn Indaana of Montvale, NJ, earned Davidson Fellows awards for science and tech projects. Local Tech/Industry: NJIT’s volleyball story and other non-tech items aside, the week’s strongest NJ tech signal is clear: more AI guardrails, more AI in public systems, and more research translating tech into real-world impact.

AI Policy Push: Lawmakers introduced dozens of AI bills, including proposals to pause advanced systems and impose safety guardrails, as tech leaders warn about existential risks. Aviation Tech: The FAA plans to roll out an AI system to help manage air traffic and reduce delays, starting with decision support during disruptions. Surveillance Cameras in NJ: Cherry Hill will stop using Flock license-plate cameras, while Cheltenham is moving ahead with AI-enabled Packetalk cameras for a construction site and possible future hotspot use. Defense & Space-Adjacent Tech: The U.S. Navy awarded contracts to sustain EMALS on Ford-class carriers and to keep Trident II D5LE2 missile design work moving, supporting long-term deterrence. Nuclear Deterrence: Lockheed Martin received $76.6M for next-gen Trident II D5LE2 design, with work spread across multiple states including New Jersey. Local Tech & Innovation: Reckitt is integrating commercial and R&D operations into its New Jersey campus and expanding manufacturing and science capabilities. Consumer Tech: Apple’s iPhone 18 lineup goes on sale worldwide with new AI-image authentication features. NJ Data Points: Hunterdon County’s typical home value rose 1.6% to $635,506 in August 2026, per Zillow.

FAA & AI in Aviation: The FAA plans to roll out “SMART,” an AI system for air traffic flow planning, starting with decision support during disruptions, under an $875M, 12-year contract. NJ Tech & Public Safety: Cherry Hill will end its Flock license-plate camera contract by Dec. 31, while Cheltenham is set to use AI-enabled Packetalk cameras at a construction site and may expand later. AI Policy in Congress: Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) unveiled two bipartisan AI bills, including mandatory national-security reviews for advanced AI releases and a “China FIREWALL” ban on Chinese-developed AI in federal systems. Pricing Rules & Consumer Data: Delta denies using personal data for individualized fares in a formal response to Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., as states like New Jersey and Maryland tighten surveillance-pricing limits. Health & Biotech in NJ: Amneal won FDA approval for a new lanreotide injection launch, and Reckitt is advancing a $600M U.S. transformation that folds R&D into its New Jersey campus. STEM in the Region: Rutgers’ DSL-SURF program is giving undergrads 10 weeks of hands-on lab research, while NJ-related education efforts highlight continued STEM pipeline building.

Nuclear Finance: Holtec Nuclear postponed its planned $900 million IPO, citing market instability; the Camden, N.J.-based firm makes nuclear-waste storage containers and is working toward small modular reactor plans. AI + Power Grid: A new study warns PJM could face electricity shortages unless supply keeps pace with data center growth, raising stakes for the region’s tech buildout. Cyber/Consumer Tech: The U.S. ITC opened a Section 337 probe that could lead to an iPhone/Samsung/Google import ban tied to spatial audio patents, with Samsung Electronics America listed in Ridgefield Park. Public Health: CDC reported 3,471 measles cases in the U.S. as of Sept. 17, with New Jersey among the jurisdictions reporting cases. NJ Tech Leadership: NJIT’s New Jersey Innovation Institute named Jennifer D’Angelo interim president, highlighting work across AI, cybersecurity, healthcare interoperability, and advanced manufacturing. Local Housing Data: Zillow put Hudson County’s typical home value at $640,103 in August (down 0.9% year over year). Telecom: Verizon is seeking FCC permission to retire copper landlines in nine states including New Jersey, shifting legacy voice customers to fiber or wireless.

Supply Chain & Manufacturing: Reckitt (Mucinex, Biofreeze, Lysol) says it will invest $400M over four years, including expanding its Wilson, North Carolina Mucinex plant and consolidating commercial plus research-and-development work into a Nutley, New Jersey campus with a new science and innovation center. AI Governance in NJ: New Jersey lawmakers advanced a bill that would require AI companion chatbots to clearly tell users they’re talking to a computer, not a human—aimed at services popular with teens and seniors. Privacy & Pricing Rules: NJ’s Fair Price Protection Act is moving the state toward limits on “surveillance pricing” for groceries, as regulators and courts nationwide wrestle with how consumer data drives personalized prices. Data Centers & Power Costs: The House passed a Ratepayer Protection Act to push utilities to shield consumers from electricity bill spikes tied to nearby AI data centers, reflecting growing local backlash. Healthcare Training: South Park High School launched a Health Science CTE pathway, adding hands-on medical science coursework from freshman through junior year. Public Health & PFAS: A Pennsylvania study of PFAS exposure near military bases (including NJ) links higher toxic levels with elevated blood pressure, higher cholesterol, and lower childhood development. Tech in the Real World: Wonder plans to cut 533 NJ jobs as it consolidates production facilities, shifting operations to Swedesboro.

AI & Policy: Rep. Josh Gottheimer (Tenafly) is pushing the “Stop Rogue AI Act,” arguing Congress must set national standards for tracking and controlling AI agents as warnings about catastrophic risks keep escalating. Healthcare Ops: A VA New Jersey quality project cut veterans’ chemo infusion appointment delays by using earlier orders, pre-infusion bloodwork, and faster post-transfusion monitoring. Public Health: Rutgers researchers report a strong link between maternal depressive symptoms after delivery and higher infant mortality in a New Jersey birth-record study. Medical Research: Bristol Myers Squibb shared two-year Phase 3 durability data for Sotyktu (deucravacitinib) in psoriatic arthritis, with consistent safety through extended follow-up. Anesthesia Safety: HSS studies at ESRA examine how GLP-1 use and withholding times affect predicted full-stomach risk before surgery as GLP-1 and cannabis use rise. Legal/Privacy: NJOPD says a class-action settlement sped up expungements by forcing NJ State Police to meet processing deadlines. Energy/Environment: A week of coverage highlights growing pressure on regulators as data centers expand and climate impacts mount.

Subsea Connectivity: EXA Infrastructure says it will build EXA Meridian, a 6,552-kilometer transatlantic subsea cable linking New Jersey and the UK, targeting service in 2029 with 500+ Tbps capacity. AI + Energy Policy: The House passed the Ratepayer Protection Act to push regulators to stop electricity bills from spiking near AI data centers, a move aimed at calming PJM-region reliability fears. Cyber/Privacy + Local Tech: Montclair residents urged safeguards on automatic license plate reader cameras, arguing the cloud-linked systems expand surveillance beyond traffic enforcement. Health Tech + Research: A new push on brain aging highlights habits that may delay cognitive decline, including exercise, not smoking, and following a MIND-style diet. Higher Ed Governance: Rutgers-Newark faculty called for Dean Mattis’s removal amid an ethics investigation tied to a writing retreat business. OpenAI Copyright Fight: A New Jersey-linked lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft keeps growing, now topping 550 publishers alleging unauthorized use of news reporting. Nuclear Business: Holtec Nuclear suspended its planned U.S. IPO, citing market conditions. Local Tech Scam: A Bergen County-related arrest-warrant phone scam was exposed by a New Jersey influencer after callers used personal details to sound credible. STEM Talent: A 17-year-old Montvale student won $50,000 for an AI model that sharply improved nuclear reactor heat-limit predictions.

Health Innovation in NJ: Rutgers and RWJBarnabas Health launched the Rutgers/RWJBarnabas Health Innovation Hub at HELIX, using Amazon Web Services to run rapid prototyping projects for students and clinicians aimed at improving medical education, clinical innovation, and patient care. Pharma Manufacturing Expansion: Hovione opened a 31,000-square-foot East Windsor facility that doubles U.S. spray drying capacity, adding GMP-ready spray dryers and about 80 jobs as part of a broader $100M U.S. investment cycle. Biotech Ops & Automation: Cellares and GenomeFrontier Therapeutics partnered to test automated manufacturing for GF-CART01 on Cellares’ Cell Shuttle platform, supporting GenomeFrontier’s U.S. clinical push. Healthcare Real Estate Deal: The Clinical Group and Mediplex Property Group formed a strategic alliance to combine development expertise and launch a Physicians Fund for joint projects. Digital Infrastructure: EXA Infrastructure announced EXA Meridian, a new 6,552km transatlantic subsea cable linking New Jersey and the UK, targeting service in 2029 with 500+ Tbps capacity. Local Tech/IT: WhiteLabel IT Solutions rolled out right-sized colocation for small server deployments, including 24/7 support and remote hands. Public Sector Data: Monmouth County completed its countywide tax mapping initiative after NJ Division of Taxation certified the final municipal tax map.

AI & Politics: Princeton faculty donations skewed nearly 100% to Democrats, with a new study finding zero Republican contributions across 34 departments. Immigration Detention: A DHS watchdog report describes metal “torture boxes” used at a Florida ICE facility, raising fresh alarms about humane-treatment standards. Healthcare Tech: Rutgers and RWJBarnabas Health launched a health innovation hub with AWS and AI to speed medical education and clinical tools across New Jersey. Medical AI Partnership: OpenEvidence and Penn Medicine expanded AI clinical decision support to thousands of clinicians, with plans to extend to Botswana via the Botswana-UPenn Partnership. Energy & Data Centers: A bipartisan House push targets “ratepayer protection” so large AI data centers pay for grid upgrades instead of shifting costs to utility customers. Environmental Risk: Equinix’s Secaucus data center spilled about 5,000 gallons of diesel into a tributary after a “computer glitch,” triggering cleanup and scrutiny. Consumer Tech Law: New Jersey’s Fair Price Protection Act puts a spotlight on electronic shelf labels and “discriminatory surveillance pricing.” Research & Community Health: Rutgers-backed work on arts prescription programs finds better tracking can help scale social prescribing.

Fusion Research: UK Atomic Energy Authority and Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory plan to link their AI fusion supercomputers (SUNRISE and STELLAR-AI) to speed design work for future fusion power plants, using data from the MAST Upgrade facility in Oxfordshire and PPPL’s NSTX-U in New Jersey. Biotech & Drug Regulation: Elevar Therapeutics (Fort Lee) filed a European Medicines Agency marketing authorization application for lirafugratinib for advanced/metastatic cholangiocarcinoma with FGFR2 fusions/rearrangements, building on Phase 1/2 results. Healthcare Tech: Atlantic Health Goryeb Children’s Hospital earned a first-time spot on U.S. News’ Best Children’s Hospitals list, ranking No. 3 in New Jersey. Digital Performance & SEO: A Montclair web/SEO firm says more than half of manufacturer websites miss Google mobile performance benchmarks, warning that slow pages can hurt lead generation. Public Health Access: NJ’s Department of Health launched a text-based peer support program with Somethings for rural teens and young adults, aiming to reduce delays in mental health help. AI in the Real World: DreamVu released Liberty3D, a 16K 360° dataset with metric depth for training AI world models using direct real-world observations. Local Business & Tech: Conduent named Narayanan Sundaresan CTO, with a focus on scaling AI capabilities across its technology stack.

AI Safety Debate: Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei says AI should slow so safeguards can catch up, warning systems could “go rogue” and even coordinate attacks; President Trump and VP JD Vance push back, framing regulation as a political trap. NJ Education Outcomes: A new report says New Jersey’s record graduation rate is masking math readiness gaps for college-bound students, with Rutgers placement data showing more freshmen landing below calculus than in recent years. Healthcare AI in Practice: A Medicare AI prior-authorization pilot is tied to lengthy treatment delays, raising concerns that the tech was deployed before the surrounding process was fully tested. Digital Pricing Scrutiny: A Senate hearing highlights fears that electronic shelf labels and AI-driven shopper tracking could enable personalized pricing that changes between pickup and checkout. Meta Settlements: Meta agreed to pay up to $18B over state claims that Facebook/Instagram were designed to drive compulsive use among youth, including new safety “guardrails.” Public Charge Fight: NJ and other AGs sue to block a Trump administration public charge rule that would penalize immigrants for using public benefits. Local Tech & Learning: Students in Pennsylvania showcased applied AI projects, including medical imaging help and tools for course planning—plus ideas for data center siting. Health & Sleep: A Tulane study links sleeping with light exposure to higher cardiovascular risks. South Jersey School Funding: Cinnaminson voters weigh a $76M bond referendum for security, HVAC, and space upgrades. Business/Health Tech: Apollo is reportedly negotiating a ~$20B buyout of J&J’s orthopedic unit, with J&J headquartered in New Brunswick.