AGP Executive Report

AI Workforce & Training: Connecticut is joining RAISE US, a new nonprofit backed by OpenAI, Microsoft, Anthropic, Amazon and others, to expand AI skills training and workforce policies in states including CT. Public Health Research: A new wave of studies is exploring whether GLP-1 drugs could help treat substance use disorders, but experts say stronger clinical trials are still needed. Connecticut Tech Policy: Connecticut’s new AI legislation and data privacy rules are taking effect, including requirements tied to LLM training disclosures. Energy & Defense Skills: SENEDIA’s New England submarine shipbuilding partnership has surpassed 10,000 trained across the region, supporting Navy workforce needs. Agriculture & Consumer Costs: Multistate AGs reached a settlement tied to an alleged egg price scheme, with millions of donated eggs planned. Local STEM Infrastructure: UConn Extension opened the Plant and Soil Health Center in Storrs, adding labs and public plant diagnostics. Affordability & Oversight: Connecticut AG William Tong joined a Greenwich summit on “Driving Down Costs,” targeting issues from housing to food prices. Retail Tech & Labor: Rhode Island passed a law requiring staffing ratios for supermarket self-checkouts, a model that could spread.

AI Workforce Push in CT: OpenAI, Microsoft, Anthropic and Amazon are backing Raise US, a $1B nonprofit effort to retrain workers for an AI-driven economy, and Connecticut is partnering to launch AI skills programs with employers and educators. Quantum in New Haven: A new lab-office building on the former Rt. 34 corridor is set to house QuantumCT and Unilever’s Global Innovation Center, as local leaders pitch New Haven as a quantum hub. UConn Plant Science Upgrade: The George Leigh Minor Plant and Soil Health Center in Storrs reopened in a new space with labs and public diagnostics, processing 15,000+ samples yearly. Public Water Shift: The South-Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority closed its $2.4B purchase of Aquarion, creating a new Aquarion Water Authority to serve 59 towns. Food Safety Watch: The CDC reports a rise in cyclosporiasis linked to a microscopic parasite causing explosive diarrhea, with Connecticut among states seeing cases. Health Tech & Training: Walmart is rolling out a fully funded Associate to Optician program in Connecticut, while Walmart and other employers expand AI-era training.

CT Privacy & Neurotechnology: Starting July 1, Connecticut will treat “neural data” from brainwave wearables as highly protected personal information, requiring explicit opt-in consent for collection and separate consent for selling to third parties. Workforce & AI: California launched an AI-unemployment tracker to flag occupations at risk of AI-driven job loss using unemployment insurance claims, while a new $500M+ retraining push (RAISE US) aims to help displaced workers transition into the AI economy. Quantum Research: D-Wave secured a $1.57M NSF grant tied to Yale-led fault-tolerant quantum computing work, expanding access to its dual-rail platform for scalable error-correction research. Local STEM Talent: ManufactureCT awarded scholarships to Connecticut students pursuing manufacturing and trades, including a Berlin High School student heading to General Dynamics Electric Boat. Engineering Education: IMEG handed out scholarships to 30 engineering students across dozens of schools, boosting the pipeline for future engineers. Community Science & Environment: The Pomperaug River Watershed Coalition celebrated a gala that unlocked federal funding for river restoration planning in Woodbury.

Manufacturing Workforce: ManufactureCT awarded scholarships to five Connecticut students, including Berlin High School senior Paola Cultrera, who plans to start at General Dynamics Electric Boat—another signal that CT’s STEM pipeline is feeding advanced manufacturing. Veterans & Public Records: Treasurer Erick Russell, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, and VA Commissioner Ron Welch reunited families with recovered military medals through Connecticut’s Unclaimed Property Program. Energy & Water Infrastructure: Eversource completed its $2.4B cash sale of Aquarion Water Company to a quasi-public Connecticut water authority, with proceeds earmarked to reduce Eversource debt. AI & Privacy in Schools: Coverage highlights how schools are scrambling to set AI rules, while Connecticut’s own transparency push for AI training disclosures takes effect. Consumer Tech Policy: A national debate is heating up over “surveillance pricing,” where AI could personalize what you pay using shopper data—raising fresh privacy concerns. Health Tech & Regulation: The FDA issued modified-risk orders for Zyn nicotine pouches, allowing specific lower-risk marketing claims. Court Rulings With Local Fallout: The U.S. Supreme Court upheld state bans on transgender girls and women in school sports, leaving Connecticut-related lawsuits unresolved.

AI & Higher Ed Integrity: NBC Connecticut reports Connecticut State Colleges and Universities special adviser Terrence Cheng submitted a 2,000-page report where at least 80% was generated with ChatGPT and GPT Zero, prompting questions about oversight and validation. Workforce for the AI Economy: Gov. Ned Lamont announced Connecticut is partnering with RAISE US, a new nonprofit backed by major AI and tech firms, to help states and employers retrain workers for AI-driven job change. CT STEM in Action: Central Connecticut State University students showcased AI-powered vehicle recommendation tools with The Hartford and built aerospace/vehicle-safety projects, highlighting growing industry-linked computing education. Public Safety Tech Training: The Connecticut National Guard and Enfield partners ran an active-shooter response exercise using communications and realistic scenario training. Cybercrime: The FBI says a Connecticut-linked “jackpotting” crew stole $500,000+ from I-95 ATMs using hardware and malware. Housing & Clean Energy: Norwalk cut the ribbon on Oak Grove Apartments, a $36M affordable project with rooftop solar. Biodiversity Research: A new study estimates Earth may have 14–20 million insect species, far above the long-used six million figure. Health Policy: States including Massachusetts, California, and New Jersey sued over Medicaid work requirements set to begin in 2027.

AI Workforce & Training: Gov. Ned Lamont says Connecticut is partnering with the new RAISE US nonprofit to build workforce infrastructure for the “AI economy,” aiming to help workers retrain and find new roles as technology reshapes jobs. University Tech & STEM Learning: CCSU computer science students wrapped spring projects with AI-powered vehicle recommendation tools built with The Hartford, plus an aerospace/vehicle-safety showcase. Healthcare Research & Practice: Central Connecticut State University nurse anesthesia faculty member Terri Williams was named a 2026 AANA Fellow candidate, highlighting leadership in patient care, education, and research. Public Safety Training: The Connecticut National Guard and Enfield Police ran a joint active-shooter response exercise at the Enfield Armory, practicing communications, breaching, and hostage negotiation. Privacy & Smart Tech: Reviews of XGIMI’s MemoMind One smart glasses raise concerns about camera-free design still enabling recording and data handling. Defense Manufacturing in CT: Quantum Cyber says it signed deals to buy a Bridgeport, Conn. facility and equipment to expand domestic autonomous defense manufacturing. Veterinary Medicine Update: New guidance suggests a shorter 42-day FIP treatment course may work for many cats, potentially improving access and adherence.

Social Security Math (Bipartisan): Sens. Bernie Moreno and Elizabeth Warren say lifting the payroll tax cap on taxable income (currently $184,500) could extend Social Security’s solvency for decades, framing it as a “common-sense” fix. Public Health (Lyme Prevention): With tick-borne disease rising, scientists are pushing prevention strategies, including a late-stage Lyme vaccine that cut risk by more than 70% in trials and could be the first U.S. approval in 20+ years. Housing & Safety Codes: States and cities are loosening building code rules to cut construction costs—like allowing some low-rise apartments to use a single stairway—while critics warn these changes could raise risk. CT Tech & Health Policy: Hartford Business Journal highlights Connecticut’s healthcare leadership amid workforce strain, reimbursement pressure, drug costs, consolidation, and fast-moving tech from AI to telehealth. Remote Sensing (UConn): Researchers using satellite data tracked an “urban pulse” in six cities, aiming to spot early signs of economic stress or stagnation. AI & Privacy (CT): Connecticut’s 2026 data privacy law takes effect, adding new requirements for businesses training large language models.

Defense Contracts: Lockheed Martin won a $2.2B Navy contract for F-35 Lightning II upkeep and maintenance, with most work in Fort Worth and completion targeted for 2028. AI Workforce & Privacy: RAISE US launched with $500M+ to retrain workers for the AI economy, while a bipartisan push helped get ATF to cancel a contract tied to adtech-sourced location data. Connecticut Water Science: DEEP christened the new $2.2M Long Island Sound research vessel, Sound Outlook, to track water quality gains and ongoing sewer-related nutrient concerns. Maternal Health: A new report finds Connecticut among states passing “substantive” maternal mental health bills as overall state activity rises. Reading Outcomes in CT: Connecticut schools are expanding early detection and science-of-reading screening to improve K-3 literacy results. Health Tech: Yale radiology experts discuss how AI is changing routine mammograms. Public Safety & Housing: States are adjusting fire and building code rules to cut housing costs, with safety experts warning about risks. Sports STEM Tie-in: The Travelers Championship in Connecticut draws international golf fans, including Norway supporters cheering Viktor Hovland.

Public Health Myth-Busting: A new fact check says sunscreen does not increase skin cancer risk, pointing to research showing it lowers melanoma risk—an especially timely message as Europe’s extreme heat drives more sun exposure. Connecticut Water Science: DEEP christened its new Long Island Sound research vessel, the Sound Outlook, to continue decades of water-quality monitoring and support ongoing work on nutrient pollution. Maternal Health Policy: A report finds a 46% jump in state maternal mental health bills, with Connecticut among states that enacted “substantive” measures to improve perinatal mental health services. AI & Privacy: U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden and Rep. Michael Cloud say ATF canceled a contract buying commercial location data, a win for privacy oversight. STEM Education in CT: Connecticut schools are expanding early reading detection using science-of-reading approaches to boost literacy outcomes. Research Spotlight: HSS researchers report how early-life skin immune cells help build lymphatic vessels, shaping immune health later in life.

Connecticut Education & Health: Connecticut schools are expanding early reading detection tied to the “science of reading,” with more screening capacity as parents seek help for reading delays. Long Island Sound Science: DEEP christened its new research vessel, the Sound Outlook, to track Long Island Sound water quality—especially nitrogen that can drive low-oxygen conditions and beach closures—while also highlighting local sewer uncertainty in Old Lyme. Maternal Mental Health Policy: A new report finds a 46% jump in state maternal mental health bills, with Connecticut’s HB 7214 creating an advisory committee to improve perinatal mental health services. AI Workforce & Training: OpenAI, Anthropic, Microsoft, and Amazon back the $500M RAISE US effort (with Connecticut among pilot states) aimed at retraining workers for an AI-shaped economy. Privacy & Data: U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden and Rep. Michael Cloud say ATF canceled a contract for commercial location data after oversight scrutiny. Sports Tech/Science Culture: The corpse flower “Penelope” is blooming at Milwaukee’s Mitchell Park Domes, a rare 24–48 hour event that draws STEM-curious attention to plant biology.

Connecticut Water Science: DEEP christened the new research vessel Sound Outlook to collect year-round Long Island Sound water-quality data, aiming to spot problems early like rising nitrogen that can trigger low-oxygen conditions, nuisance algal blooms, and beach closures. AI & Courts in CT: A District of Connecticut ruling says AI prompts used by an expert witness can be discoverable as part of methodology, a major signal for how generative AI may be treated in litigation. Workforce for the AI Economy: OpenAI, Microsoft, Amazon, and Anthropic are backing RAISE US, a new $1B effort piloting worker training approaches in Connecticut and other states. Privacy Compliance Deadline: Connecticut’s expanded data privacy law takes effect July 1, tightening coverage and raising enforcement risk for businesses that haven’t updated notices, audited sensitive data flows, and built opt-in consent for sensitive data sales. Health Research: HSS researchers report early-life skin immune cells help build lymphatic vessels, shaping lifelong immune health. Materials Breakthrough: Researchers achieved a low-loss, tunable dielectric for microwave electronics, targeting a long-standing tradeoff in wireless tech. Local STEM Events: The Connecticut Science Center hosts Pokemon Day with science activities, and NEAM in Windsor Locks runs aviation-themed programs for America’s 250th anniversary.

STEM Education in CT: East Hartford Public Schools will launch an East Hartford Science & Technology Academy at East Hartford Middle School starting fall 2027, with dedicated labs for robotics, prototyping, aerospace, data science, AI and biotechnology, aiming to serve 150–200 students in grades 5–8. AI Workforce Push: A new bipartisan nonprofit, RAISE US, backed by $500 million, is rolling out AI retraining and job-transition pilots with partners including Connecticut, plus major employers and OpenAI-linked leadership. Workplace Safety Tech: A report highlights how U.S. safety managers are leaning on centralized compliance and safety-data tools as OSHA rules expand across chemical hazards, heat illness, emergency response and workplace violence. Local Tech/Business: Insight Works expands its Microsoft Business Central reseller network with 10 new partners across multiple regions, extending ERP and data support. Public Health & Outdoors: CDC-linked reporting warns tick-bite emergency visits are rising, signaling a potentially tough summer for Lyme and other tick-borne illness. CT AI Policy: Connecticut’s latest AI legislation is framed as requiring more transparency and employer action.

CT Policy & AI Oversight: Connecticut’s new AI transparency/employment rules are moving toward implementation, with SB 5 requiring disclosures and adding guardrails for how automated tools affect hiring and other work decisions. Public Health & Housing Equity: A UVM study links historic redlining in Hartford neighborhoods to higher lead contamination in soil today, raising concerns for child health and ongoing discrimination. Workforce & AI Transition: A new national nonprofit, RAISE US, backed by $500M+ in commitments, aims to help states and employers retrain workers for an AI-driven economy—part of a broader push as job-loss fears grow. Healthcare Tech: TigerConnect expanded its AI-powered clinical scheduling and room collaboration tools, targeting hospital workflow strain. Biomedical Research: HSS researchers identified immune-cell behavior that drives abnormal joint tissue growth in rheumatoid arthritis, pointing to new treatment angles. Connecticut Leadership: Gov. Lamont appointed Sarah Karwan as general counsel, bringing federal prosecutor experience and public-safety legal leadership. Science Literacy: A new Smithsonian Natural History exhibit spotlights artifacts from across the U.S. for America’s 250th anniversary.

AI & Jobs in Connecticut: Former Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and ex-Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb launched RAISE US, a bipartisan nonprofit backed by $500M+ (target $1B) to retrain and redeploy workers for an AI-driven economy, with initial state pilots including Connecticut and major tech partners like OpenAI, Anthropic, Amazon, and Microsoft. Quantum Computing in New Haven: A Yale-led ERASE project won a new $4M NSF grant to advance error-correcting quantum computing and expand Connecticut’s quantum workforce, partnering with D-Wave. CT Privacy Update: Connecticut passed a law requiring data broker registries (effective 2027) to support deletion requests, joining a broader push for stronger state privacy rules. Public Health—Lyme Risk: Warmer weather is driving a busy tick season; Lyme disease can be missed early, so doctors urge prompt attention after bites. Local STEM/Health Tech: Vizium360 formed a strategic advisory board for its HIPAA-compliant AI patient engagement and reputation platform. Energy & Data Centers: A major regional power project, tied to growing electricity demand from advanced tech and data centers, marked completion in Ohio.

Connecticut Higher Ed & Research: UConn named Pamir Alpay its provost and EVP for Academic Affairs, citing his push for campus AI leadership and QuantumCT work. Workforce & Training: Eastern Connecticut State University will launch three new undergraduate certificates this fall—Geospatial Technology, Victim Services & Advocacy, and Emergency Services & Public Safety—aimed at both students and working adults. Campus Growth: UConn-linked quantum momentum also shows up in the state’s broader push to build tech capacity. Public Health & Environment: Lyme disease risk is expanding beyond the Northeast, with tick-bite ER visits up sharply and health officials warning that diagnostics and care may lag in newly affected areas. Wildlife Science: Bald eagles are rebounding, but lead ammunition is still stunting growth, renewing calls for non-lead ammo. Data & Privacy: Connecticut’s new AI-in-employment law adds compliance duties for employers using automated hiring tools. Local STEM/Infrastructure: Hartford’s North End sewer upgrades are moving forward under a state-MDC pilot to cut chronic flooding and sewage backups.

Connecticut AI & privacy: Connecticut signed a new law governing AI tools used in hiring and workplace decisions, adding a detailed compliance framework for “automated employment-related decision technology,” with major obligations rolling in through 2027. Public health & environment: A new University of Vermont study links historic redlining in Hartford neighborhoods to higher lead contamination in soil, raising concerns for child brain development and housing equity. Tech policy fight: The federal CFTC is suing Kentucky over prediction markets, and the agency has now launched actions against multiple states including Connecticut—fueling a broader battle over who regulates betting-style platforms. Consumer safety: A new Environmental Working Group report finds only about 20% of tested sunscreens meet its safety-and-effectiveness standards, urging shoppers to look for broad UVA/UVB coverage and proper reapplication. AI in medicine: ModMed says its AI clinical documentation tool has been used in more than 1 million patient visits, touting reduced clinician paperwork time. STEM industry: Qualcomm unveiled a data-center roadmap aimed at agentic AI demand, including new CPU and inference accelerator offerings.