AGP Executive Report

AI in Skilled Trades: NEST Integrated Facilities Management is putting $200,000 into an AI initiative with Saint Joseph’s University to improve technician scheduling, service estimates, and day-to-day efficiency—explicitly aiming to support workers, not replace them. Health Care Outcomes: Newark Beth Israel Medical Center marked the birth of rare MoMo twins, highlighting high-risk maternal-fetal medicine and Level 4 NICU care for shared-placenta pregnancies. GLP-1 Precision Medicine: Penn-led research suggests different GLP-1 therapies may fit different cardiometabolic goals, using a new effectiveness index to move beyond “one best drug for everyone.” NJ Public Health Progress: A federal analysis finds New Jersey led the biggest drop in death rate in the U.S. from 2015 to 2025, with experts pointing to long-term health care access efforts. Tech + Finance: Elon Musk’s X Money expands to all U.S. Premium subscribers, adding FDIC-insured deposits and bill-pay features through NJ-based Cross River Bank. Space Science: Scientists analyzed a meteorite that crashed into a New Jersey home, finding clues it came from a salty asteroid region. Local Housing/Business: Jersey City’s HEDC reviewed a $9.21M 2026 budget, with revenue tied to construction code enforcement and hotel occupancy tax. Wildlife Watch: Delaware’s red knots returned in strong numbers, with many staying in Delaware rather than concentrating in New Jersey during the spring stopover.

Drug Enforcement: An Atlantic City man, James Angelozzi, was sentenced to 5.5 years after a 2023 Atlantic City Expressway stop turned up fentanyl, heroin, cocaine and xylazine, plus more drugs found in his home. Wildlife & Conservation: A rare bobcat was caught on camera peeking into a Sussex County backyard, with NJDEP noting bobcats are endangered in the state and sightings can be logged via the NJ Wildlife Tracker app. Health & Biotech: Otsuka says new two-year Phase 3 VISIONARY results for VOYXACT in IgA nephropathy will be presented at GlomCon Hawaii, supporting a supplemental FDA filing for traditional approval. Neuroscience Research: Rutgers researchers launched a new South Asian dementia risk-tracking effort (SAMARTH) after reviewing 25 years of data showing the need for better population-specific risk work. Healthcare Systems: Tower Health announced an affiliation with Jefferson Health to expand specialty care and collaborate on research and education without changing Tower’s day-to-day control. Public Safety Tech: New York’s proposed self-checkout bill would require a 10% discount on kiosk purchases, adding another regulatory twist to automation. AI Infrastructure Backlash: A new report finds public opposition to AI data centers is driven largely by environmental concerns like water, energy use, noise and pollution. Local Tech & Logistics: QX Accounting Services and K1x announced integration to automate K-1 extraction and reduce manual processing in 1040 workflows. Space/Science: Expedition 501 reports a massive freshwater aquifer under the sea off the Northeast, potentially supplying water for centuries—though scientists stress it’s not an immediate source.

Voter-roll tech fallout in NJ: New Jersey’s noncitizen-voter controversy keeps widening as IDEMIA pushes back on Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s “software error” claim, while new court data show the state sends jury summonses to about 75,000 noncitizens annually—raising fresh questions about how election and court databases are built and used. Consumer tech regulation: Sherrill signed the Fair Price Protection Act, giving NJ shoppers a private right to sue if “surveillance pricing” algorithms charge them more for the same groceries based on personal data. Indoor entertainment meets tech: TruGolf Links opened its first indoor golf venue in Cherry Hill, pairing simulator golf with a full restaurant and bar, with plans for dozens more sites across NJ and nearby states. Space science closer to home: NASA-linked researchers say a meteorite that punched through a Hillsborough roof carried signs of ancient salty water and possible life-building ingredients. Health & food safety: A major cyclosporiasis outbreak tied to shredded iceberg lettuce is hitting restaurants and supermarkets across multiple states, including NJ-area consumers. Road safety: A new analysis highlights reckless driving—especially drunk driving—as the leading cause of U.S. traffic deaths.

Surveillance Pricing Crackdown (NJ): Gov. Mikie Sherrill signed the Fair Price Protection Act, banning retailers from using shoppers’ personal data to set different prices for identical grocery items, with penalties and a short pause on new electronic shelf-label deployments. Privacy vs. Police Tech (NJ): A new wave of scrutiny is hitting Flock-style license-plate reader cameras, as residents question privacy tradeoffs and national cases show officers allegedly misusing the systems. WNBA Tech for Officiating (Secaucus, NJ): The WNBA will launch a centralized replay center at the start of the 2027 season, using the NBA’s Secaucus hub to speed reviews and improve consistency. Health Research (Rutgers, NJ): New findings suggest eating within a restricted daily window—like a nine-hour span—and avoiding late-night food may help slow cognitive decline in older adults. Space Science (Hillsborough, NJ): NASA-linked researchers say a meteorite that crashed into a New Jersey home carried signs of salty water and possible life-building ingredients from the early solar system. Energy Storage (Delaware, regional): A report estimates battery storage could save Delaware close to $1 billion over 10 years, factoring utility and reliability benefits.

Surveillance & Privacy: New Jersey residents are split as license plate reading cameras (including Flock) expand, with supporters citing faster crime-solving and critics warning of location tracking and privacy creep. Sports Tech: The WNBA will use a centralized replay center in Secaucus for the 2027 season, aiming for faster, more consistent officiating reviews. Space Science: A meteorite that crashed into a Hillsborough home is giving NASA scientists clues about early solar-system salty water and possible life-building ingredients. Election Integrity Tech & Policy: The First Circuit kept an injunction blocking parts of a Trump election-integrity order in 23 states, while NJ’s voter-roll controversy continues as IDEMIA disputes the state’s “software error” framing. Consumer Data Law: NJ’s Fair Price Protection Act lets shoppers sue retailers over surveillance pricing, taking effect Feb. 1, 2027. Broadband Access: Alaska was ranked the biggest “internet desert” in a new state-by-state analysis, highlighting the digital divide. Cybersecurity at Borders: CBP and Qatar partners expanded remote baggage screening for JFK-bound flights.

Clean Energy Grants Fight: 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 state voted for Kamala Harris in 2024, contradicting earlier claims about project quality—sparking accusations of political “weaponization.” NJ Higher-Ed Oversight: Rutgers-Newark is investigating a dean accused of billing the university through a company she co-owns, with payments totaling about $155K over nine years. Border Tech at JFK: U.S. CBP and Qatar partners launched International Remote Baggage Screening for Qatar Airways’ Doha–JFK route, using pre-departure imaging for remote review. Healthcare Research in NJ: Organon shared new pooled Phase 3 findings on VTAMA cream for atopic dermatitis at a pediatric dermatology meeting. Election Tech Fallout in NJ: NJ lawmakers and officials continued to debate the state’s noncitizen voter-roll registration error tied to the Motor Vehicle system and vendor responsibilities. Broadband Gap: Alaska was ranked the nation’s biggest “internet desert,” scoring near zero on high-speed access and fiber availability.

NJ Tech & Privacy: Gov. Mikie Sherrill signed the Fair Price Protection Act, banning “surveillance pricing” that uses shoppers’ data and AI to set different prices for the same items, and adding a one-year moratorium on new electronic shelf labels while the state studies their impact. Cyber & Courts: The U.S. Supreme Court ruled geofence warrants are “searches” under the Fourth Amendment, tightening rules for location-data demands from tech firms. Health Tech: Organon shared new pooled Phase 3 results for VTAMA cream (tapinarof), showing early, consistent improvements for atopic dermatitis across pediatric age groups and adults. Food Safety: Brooklyn Roasting Company recalled cold brew sold in New York and New Jersey after FDA flagged botulism risk tied to room-temperature storage. Crypto & NJ Bankruptcy: Bitcoin mining pool Poolin filed for Chapter 11 in the District of New Jersey, with a $52M bid for West Texas assets and major claims tied to frozen user balances. Data Centers: Nebius says it plans a large data center in Butler Township, targeting 1.2 gigawatts of power and pledging no ratepayer bills.

Voter-Roll Probe: New Jersey hired an independent firm (CSG) to investigate how a software flaw mistakenly registered thousands of noncitizens after DMV answers to the citizenship question were “no,” with fewer than 400 reportedly voting—while the DOJ signals a tougher, broader push on illegal voting. Consumer Tech Policy: Gov. Mikie Sherrill signed the Fair Price Protection Act, banning businesses from using consumer data to set individualized grocery prices and adding a one-year pause on electronic shelf labels. Aviation Software Trial: The FAA is testing “Mobile Clearance,” letting pilots request and receive IFR departure clearances inside ForeFlight and Garmin Pilot as text to cut radio congestion and readback errors. Biotech & Pharma in NJ: Merck (NJ) is rolling out early access licensing for once-monthly HIV PrEP pill alimatravir across 129 low- and middle-income countries, and BeOne Medicines will invest $300M to expand its Hopewell, NJ manufacturing and research campus. Power & Industry: TE Connectivity agreed to acquire Astrodyne TDI, a Hackettstown-based power management and filter specialist, to strengthen mission-critical power electronics.

NJ Election Tech Fallout: A federal elections expert says New Jersey’s Motor Vehicle Commission “software error” that registered 6,600 noncitizens is a tiny “blip” (about 0.1% of the list) and shouldn’t justify sweeping federal voter-ID legislation, even as DOJ demands records and Republicans use the case to push the SAVE America Act. Privacy vs. Public Safety: The debate over Flock license-plate cameras in New Jersey is heating up, with supporters citing faster crime-solving and critics warning about weak rules on data collection, storage, and sharing. Consumer Tech Law: Gov. Sherrill signed New Jersey’s ban on “surveillance pricing” for grocery items, targeting dynamic pricing that uses shopper data. Health & Biotech: FDA expanded the CRISPR sickle-cell therapy Casgevy for children as young as 2, and a New Jersey-linked case highlights tick-borne Bourbon virus misdiagnosed as Lyme. STEM Infrastructure: Montclair State University broke ground on a $120M STEM building, while Ocean Power Technologies announced a subsea tech acquisition to expand autonomous maritime systems.

Bankruptcy & Crypto: Poolin filed for Chapter 11 in New Jersey after China’s crypto-mining ban, citing volatility and over $173M in liabilities. Investor Deal: Kornit Digital won preliminary approval for a nearly $20M settlement tied to claims it misled investors about textile-tech performance and customer issues. Health Research: Rutgers researchers report GLP-1 drugs may weaken the link between impulsivity and violence, while a separate study links ischemic placental disease to higher postpartum neurologic and psychiatric hospitalizations. Tech in Healthcare: ChristianaCare advanced its Epic electronic health record rollout ahead of an Oct. 3, 2026 go-live. AI & Infrastructure: A new push targets a “$3.7T” U.S. infrastructure gap by using tech to turn messy asset inspection records into actionable maintenance plans. Local Tech/Business: TruGolf opened its first NJ flagship simulator venue in Cherry Hill. Space/Science: A new dinosaur-era snake fossil from Brazil sheds light on early burrowing behavior. Sports Tech & NJ Transit: NJ Transit carried World Cup crowds to MetLife with minimal disruption, despite heavy planning and spending. Voter Tech Controversy: NJ’s noncitizen voter-roll error continues to fuel national political fights over election confidence and data handling.

Election Security & Identity Tech: The DOJ demanded New Jersey hand over data on about 6,600 noncitizens mistakenly registered to vote, plus details on roughly 400 who cast ballots, as the Trump administration presses states over election safeguards. Vendor Accountability: NJ Gov. Mikie Sherrill blamed a “serious software error” tied to the Motor Vehicle system and IDEMIA, while IDEMIA says the state controlled eligibility decisions and that its records were handled per design. Healthcare IT: ChristianaCare is nearing its Oct. 3, 2026 go-live for Epic, aiming to improve care coordination via MyChart and caregiver training. Nuclear & Ocean Tech: The Marine Minerals Administration and the NRC signed an MOU to coordinate on potential offshore reactor projects. Research at Sea (Rutgers): Rutgers oceanographers will co-lead a 25-day Atlantic expedition studying salt-finger mixing and its effects on marine life, chemistry, and carbon movement. AI in Daily Life: Amazon Music expanded Alexa+ conversational search and playlist building to all U.S. users.

Climate & Water Policy: New Jersey-linked AG Kwame Raoul joined a coalition suing the EPA over a rollback that would weaken hydrofluorocarbon phaseout rules, while another coalition filing targets proposed PFAS “forever chemical” drinking-water rollbacks—both moves raise alarms for public health and costs. NJ Voting Tech Fallout: A software glitch in the NJ Motor Vehicle system improperly registered about 6,600 noncitizens to vote (with fewer than 400 later voting), triggering DOJ civil-rights demands for identities and records and prompting calls for audits of the IDEMIA contract. AI in Daily Life: NerdWallet reports many Americans are using chatbots for personal finance planning, and NJ’s voter-roll mess is fueling broader scrutiny of how identity and data systems are built and governed. Auto Diagnostics & Biotech Moves: TOPDON USA is partnering with Solera to bring Identifix Direct-Hit repair data into its NJ-based TOPDON ONE tools, while Zoetis launched a long-acting cat pain therapy (Portela) in Canada and the EU. STEM & Research Investment: Montclair State broke ground on a $120M science building, and CHOP announced a $50M Einhorn Institute for early relational health. Health Watch: CDC reporting highlights a growing cyclospora outbreak tied to contaminated produce, with testing and tracing still underway.

GLP-1 Legal Clash (NJ court): Novo Nordisk filed in U.S. District Court in New Jersey, accusing Eli Lilly of “deliberately false” weight-loss drug ads that compare Lilly’s top doses to lower Novo doses while omitting newer higher-dose Wegovy options; Lilly says its claims are based on its SURMOUNT-5 trial. Election Tech Fallout (NJ): New Jersey said a Motor Vehicle Commission software error improperly registered about 6,600 noncitizens as voters in 2023-24 after applicants answered “no” to citizenship on a keypad; fewer than 400 reportedly voted, but DOJ opened a civil-rights probe and the White House pushed the SAVE America Act. Climate & Refrigerants (regional): New York AG Letitia James joined a coalition suing to block an EPA rollback that delays switching away from high-impact hydrofluorocarbons used in commercial refrigeration. Energy Costs (PJM region): A coalition warned data-center demand is driving higher electricity prices across PJM (covering NJ/PA/DE), with an auction showing a supply shortfall that could add $16.4B in costs. Public Safety Grant (Middlesex): Middlesex County won nearly $1.5M for pedestrian upgrades on Oak Tree Road and County Road 604 as part of its Vision Zero push. World Cup in NJ (media/tech): Spain’s 1-0 win over Argentina at MetLife Stadium drew a record 63M U.S. viewers, underscoring soccer’s mainstream pull.

Pharma Court Fight: Novo Nordisk sued Eli Lilly in New Jersey federal court, accusing Lilly of “deceptive” GLP-1 ads that use outdated dose comparisons and omit key context, escalating the Ozempic/Wegovy vs Mounjaro/Zepbound rivalry. Public Health Watch: Health officials are still tracing a cyclosporiasis outbreak, urging clinicians to test for Cyclospora in patients with persistent watery diarrhea and other GI symptoms as case counts remain far above last year. NJ Innovation Impact: NJIT and the state’s CSIT program say early-stage grants leveraged $26.8M into $524.5M in follow-on funding, supporting nearly 1,800 jobs and boosting NJ’s innovation economy. AI + Telecom Deal: Xtel Communications acquired SimpliMeta to expand engineering, professional services, and AI delivery for government, schools, and medical customers across New Jersey. Space Science in NJ: New research on a meteorite that crashed into a NJ home reports “alien world chemistry” and prebiotic building blocks tied to early solar system processes. Weather Disruption: Severe storms triggered mass flight cancellations across the NYC/Newark area, with airlines issuing waivers as heavy rain and damaging winds hit. Health Research: A new study links sugar substitutes to faster cognitive decline, adding to growing debate over long-term effects of low-calorie sweeteners.

NJ Education Watch: WalletHub ranked New Jersey among the top states for K–12 quality and safety, placing it third overall behind Massachusetts and Connecticut. Prison Staffing Pressure: A July 4 Roxbury Correctional Institution stabbing spree in Maryland reignited staffing concerns, with unions citing burnout and long shifts while officials dispute a direct link. Space Science in NJ: A Hillsborough meteorite study highlights complex organic molecules and salty-water clues tied to life’s building blocks, adding to growing evidence from New Jersey space rocks. AI + Government Skills: A New Jersey–linked expert argues AI literacy should be built into government workforce training, not treated as a one-off tech add-on. E-Bike Rules Now Live: New Jersey’s updated e-bike law is in effect, requiring registration, licensing, and for faster models, liability insurance. Semiconductor Market Mood: Chip stocks are swinging as investors weigh whether AI-driven demand can keep up with expectations. Healthcare Tech Trend: Full-body MRI screenings are back in the spotlight after a preventive scan found a brain tumor, renewing debate over benefits and risks. Robotaxi Regulation: DC and NJ are moving toward robotaxi rules backed by different players, raising concerns about regulatory capture.

World Cup Tech & Science: Spain’s 2026 World Cup win over Argentina didn’t just light up MetLife Stadium in New Jersey—it also triggered measurable vibrations across Spain, with seismic sensors in Madrid and other cities recording fan “bursts” tied to key match moments. Public Health: The CDC reports measles cases at 2,260 across 44 jurisdictions, with summer travel raising the risk of new outbreaks. Cyber/Platform Regulation: Tennessee’s trial against Meta alleges Instagram was designed to be addictive and harmful to teens, focusing on features like Reels, autoplay, and notifications. New Jersey Policy Watch: NJ’s updated e-bike rules are now in effect, requiring registration, licensing, and for faster bikes, liability insurance. Space Science (NJ): A meteorite that crashed through a New Jersey home is described as containing rare “alien world chemistry,” including salty-fluid signatures linked to early life-building processes. Tech Industry & Jobs: Samsung is cutting hundreds of U.S. roles as it moves its HQ from New Jersey to Texas, with 739 positions affected at its Englewood Cliffs site. Local Education: NJ public school enrollment fell to the lowest level in nearly 25 years, driven largely by declining birth rates.