AGP Executive Report

Indiana Energy Oversight: Lawmakers grilled utilities after the Aug. 11 derecho left parts of northwest Indiana without power for up to two weeks, and a committee approved recommendations that would require clearer emergency restoration procedures and more frequent vegetation-management audits. Workforce & Public Safety: Indiana State Police say they’re short nearly 200 troopers statewide, with recruiting efforts underway to restore highway and community patrol coverage. STEM & Education Data Use: Indiana colleges and universities shared how they use NSSE survey results to improve first-year learning, including themed learning communities and targeted outreach for commuter students. Battery & Manufacturing Tech: Ateios Systems brought a 50-MWh electrode coating line online in Newberry, scaling production of RaiCore electrodes for electronics and defense. Medical Imaging Pipeline: RadNet partnered with WIN-NextGen to introduce middle and high school students to radiology careers through mentorship and shadowing. PFAS Health Concern: Indiana University researchers highlight that “forever chemicals” may enter the body through skin exposure, not just food and water. Environment & Permits: IDEM opened public comment on proposed wastewater permit changes for AES Petersburg, including relocating discharges to the White River. AI & Cybersecurity: OpenAI accused Moonshot AI of large-scale attempts to extract hidden reasoning details from its models.

Digital Government & Data Management: Indiana earned an A- grade in the 2026 Digital States Survey for modernized online services and stronger privacy, plus an award for data management and use. Public Safety Tech & Privacy: Lawmakers and advocates are pushing back on Flock automated license plate readers, as the company updates rules on access and retention amid scrutiny. Healthcare Cybersecurity: Trimedx was named a Frost Radar “Visionary Leader” for healthcare infrastructure cybersecurity, highlighting how device data can be used to assess cyber-risk. STEM & Manufacturing Simulation: Visual Components launched FactoryLens, bringing NVIDIA Omniverse-powered digital twin visualization directly into its manufacturing simulation workflow. Education & Accessibility: Indiana marked a construction milestone for a new joint campus for the School for the Deaf and the School for the Blind and Visually Impaired. Health Research: A study reports only 60% of liver transplant recipients are vaccinated against hepatitis B, leaving many at risk. Local Schools Performance: Northeast Indiana districts lag the state on ILEARN proficiency in English and math, with only 31.5% statewide meeting both targets. Workplace Psychology: Research from IU Kelley finds “good news” from managers can boost supervisors’ mood but create hidden emotional pressure for subordinates. Space/Engineering Education: Purdue in Indianapolis showcased motorsports engineering talent at IMS’s Battle on the Bricks.

AI & Data Centers: A new coalition of OpenAI, Blackstone, SoftBank, QTS and major construction unions says it will push Indiana and other states toward stricter development standards instead of data-center moratoriums, targeting electricity, water, environmental protections, and community costs. Public Safety Tech: IMPD charged five officers over alleged misuse of Flock ALPR cameras, with audits finding potential misuse and officers placed on administrative duty with access revoked. Space Science: NASA’s Perseverance rover reports a complex history in Mars’ Jezero Crater, finding groundwater, lakes, and hot fluids in one area. Health & Research: Cure Alzheimer’s Fund awarded $6.4M to Cardinal Family Scholars to advance Alzheimer’s research; a JAMA trial found peer-supported online CBT eased anxiety after low-risk chest pain ER visits. STEM/Industry: CTS launched a digital temperature sensor platform for connected monitoring. Indiana Education/Assessment: Multiple higher-ed case studies highlight how Indiana-area schools and universities use NSSE survey data to drive curriculum and student engagement changes.

Indiana Higher Ed & Assessment: Indiana University Northwest and IUPUI are using the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) in practical ways—tailoring outreach through Canvas and email, mapping results to learning principles, and turning findings into changes like stronger service-learning linkages and first-year program tweaks. AI Policy & Politics: A split is forming as Trump backs AI self-regulation while a growing set of November candidates push for tougher AI guardrails, including safety testing, liability, and protections against deepfakes and discrimination. State Tech & Regulation: Indiana will oversee certain radioactive materials under a new federal agreement, aiming to speed permits and incident response while keeping safety and security standards. Research Funding: Indiana University topped $1B in research expenditures for FY2026 for the second straight year, with major growth in NIH and nonprofit-backed work. Workforce & Skills: Indiana’s trades pipeline gets a boost as skilled labor shortages drive higher wages for Gen Z apprentices, while local job fairs and scholarship programs target career access. STEM Access & AI in Academia: Ohio State and Google are expanding AI research and education with access to AI models, supercomputing, and campus tools. Data Centers & Community Impact: Big Tech and unions are pushing back against state data-center moratoriums by promoting standards meant to prevent ratepayer cost spikes. Local STEM/Community Wins: Tri-County School Corporation expands work-based learning, and Latinos Count awards scholarships to northeast Indiana students, including mechanical engineering and healthcare-track recipients.

Cancer Care & Research: UChicago Medicine and the AbbVie Foundation marked the end of construction on a 575,000-square-foot AbbVie Foundation Cancer Pavilion, a dedicated hub for cancer research and treatment opening to patients in April. Power & Emergency Response: Indiana lawmakers are holding a hearing on NIPSCO’s response to the Aug. 11 derecho, after residents reported long outages and lingering impacts; Purdue researchers are set to brief the public. Public Safety Tech: Gov. Mike Braun says Indiana should consider regulating license plate readers after allegations involving Flock-style cameras, framing it as a civil liberties discussion without abandoning law-enforcement tools. Smart Water Monitoring: OmniSite is promoting GuardDog cloud software for remote monitoring at municipal water and wastewater sites, aiming to catch equipment problems before failures lead to overflows. AI in Cities: Boston is partnering with an AI research group to “listen” to rat vocalizations and map where rodents go next, using ultrasonic microphones. Space Food Innovation: NASA awarded $650,000 to five U.S. teams for Mars food system designs under “Mars to Table.” Environment Watch: A new analysis flags atrazine contamination at harmful levels across hundreds of thousands of U.S. river miles, renewing pressure on regulators. Indiana Tech & Education (Assessment): Multiple higher-ed case studies highlight how Indiana schools use NSSE survey data to improve curriculum, student engagement, and assessment practices.

Indiana Economic Development: IEDC says 69 companies are moving to Indiana, targeting 5,385 new jobs with above-average wages, and highlights a $5M supercomputer push with IU and NVIDIA aimed at boosting AI research. Space & Defense: Sen. Jim Banks urges Indiana to host the new U.S. Space Academy at Grissom Air Reserve Base, citing runway and training capacity. Data Centers & Politics: Big AI and private equity firms team with unions to fight state moratoriums on data center construction, arguing standards protect communities and ratepayers. Cybersecurity: A new push argues multi-jurisdiction cybersecurity “buyers and shields” are becoming essential as federal funding and support shrink. Public Safety Tech: Gov. Mike Braun calls for lawmakers to consider regulating license plate readers after alleged misuse tied to Flock cameras. Health & Research: IU researchers land NIH funding to study HIV’s entry into the cell nucleus, while a study links COVID to worsening preexisting conditions for some adults. Local Tech in Action: Prism Controls plans to double its Michigan facility, adding jobs and expanding agricultural automation capacity.

Indiana Energy: Indiana is set to receive $175M from the federal DOE SPARK program to upgrade a key transmission “choke point” at the MISO–PJM seam, aiming to unlock 2,000–4,000 MW of transfer capacity, cut congestion, and potentially save ratepayers $50M–$150M annually. Amazon Robotics: Amazon plans to invest $100M+ in Greenwood, building a 585,000 sq ft advanced manufacturing site for robotics and fulfillment equipment, targeting a 2028 launch and about 300 jobs. Tech & Industry: TruGolf is advancing its Polymath acquisition, adding tokenization infrastructure and Polymesh to expand into regulated digital securities and tokenized real-world assets. Public Health & Environment: A new review finds atrazine is contaminating nearly a quarter of continental US river miles at levels that can harm wildlife and may threaten human health. Higher Ed (Indiana angle): IU–Purdue Indianapolis has long used NSSE data to drive curriculum and co-curricular changes, including themed learning communities tied to diversity goals.

Higher Ed Assessment: Indiana University Northwest, IUPUI, Anderson University, and other campuses are sharing how they use NSSE results in practical ways—mapping survey data to learning goals, improving first-year programs, and boosting response rates with incentives and student-led assessment. Public Safety Tech: Court proceedings begin for five IMPD officers charged in the Flock camera scandal, including allegations of misuse of automated license plate reader data tied to fraud and official misconduct. Health & Biotech: Indiana University researchers link infant gut microbes and diet-derived metabolites to childhood asthma risk, while another Indiana-led study finds regular exercise is associated with lower alcohol-related liver damage. Energy & Industry: Indiana’s power grid gets a federal boost (including a $175M SPARK-related effort), and Switzerland-based Givaudan plans a $215M liquids production facility in West Harrison with 250+ jobs. Workforce for the AI era: Former Gov. Eric Holcomb co-chairs RAISE US, a $500M+ effort to help states and employers retrain workers for AI-driven jobs. Local Economy: Amazon announces major Indiana manufacturing investments, including a Greenwood robotics facility and 300 high-wage jobs.

Energy Policy: The U.S. Energy Department is ordering Indiana’s R.M. Schahfer and F.B. Culley coal plants to stay available through Dec. 18 after a federal appeals court vacated an earlier emergency order—raising fresh questions about reliability, costs, and federal power. Public Safety Tech: Indianapolis police officers were charged over alleged misuse of Flock automatic license plate readers, adding to a growing national push for limits, oversight, and possible warrant requirements for ALPR surveillance. School Safety Funding: Indiana’s Secured School Safety Grant Program is sending more than $300,000 to Hancock County districts, but lawmakers note this year’s totals are down or flat compared with prior rounds. Health Policy: Medicaid work requirements are starting in January, and multiple states are demanding medical documentation sooner than federal rules require—prompting lawsuits over access for people too frail to work. STEM & Research: IU Indianapolis and other Indiana campuses continue using student engagement survey data to shape first-year programs, while a UC researcher won NIH-linked funding to study bone complications in sickle cell disease. Tech Industry: SK hynix is weighing whether to expand U.S. memory production beyond packaging, as it builds an Indiana plant aimed at advanced HBM supply.

Higher Ed Assessment in Indiana: A new report highlights how Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis and other campuses use the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) to shape first-year programs, including themed learning communities and student-focused assessment efforts. Public Safety Tech Scrutiny: A U.S. Senate hearing put Flock Safety’s automated license plate reader network under the microscope, with lawmakers pressing on oversight gaps and whether searches can identify people in images. Health Research Funding: University of Cincinnati hematology researcher Jahnavi Gollamudi won major grants to study bone complications in sickle cell disease, targeting inflammation-driven damage and chronic pain. Energy Reliability vs. Coal: The U.S. Energy Department renewed orders keeping Indiana coal plants available after a court challenge to its emergency authority, setting up continued legal fights over grid reliability. Immigration Data Point: Indiana employers in the “Other Services (except Public Administration)” category filed 15 H-1B petitions in 2025, all approved, according to federal data. Local Tech & Industry: Maersk began running PUMA’s North American distribution network using automated warehouses in California, Arizona, and Whitestown, Indiana. Space Education Push: Sen. Jim Banks urged the new U.S. Space Academy commission to consider Grissom Air Reserve Base in Indiana as its home.

Indiana Energy: Indiana won $175M in federal DOE funding to relieve a regional “choke point” between grid operators, aiming to unlock 2,000–4,000 megawatts of transfer capacity and cut congestion costs for ratepayers. Amazon Manufacturing: Amazon plans a $100M+ Greenwood, Indiana manufacturing operation creating about 300 jobs by 2028, adding to the state’s robotics and advanced manufacturing push. Logistics Automation: Maersk is taking over PUMA’s North American distribution network, running three highly automated warehouses in California, Arizona, and Whitestown (near Indianapolis) using AutoStore systems. Education + AI: Northwest Allen County Schools is using MagicSchool, an AI learning tool, after a $37,500 state grant—while other districts have paused similar tools when funding ended. Public Safety Tech: Indiana’s Flock and license-plate camera controversies keep growing, with reports of misuse and calls for warrant requirements. Health Policy: Medicaid work requirements are tightening in some states, with disputes over how applicants prove they’re too medically frail to work. STEM/Research: IU Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center secured a $22.8M grant renewal to advance precision medicine, and IU cybersecurity experts are addressing AI security risks in research.

Energy & Infrastructure: Indiana won $175M in federal SPARK funding to relieve a regional electricity “choke point” between grid operators, aiming to unlock 2,000–4,000 megawatts of transfer capacity and cut congestion costs for ratepayers. AI in Schools: Northwest Allen County Schools rolled out MagicSchool, an AI tutoring tool, using a $37,500 state grant—while other districts adjusted or paused use as funding changed. Education Tech & Assessment: A new set of campus stories highlights how Indiana universities are using National Survey of Student Engagement results to drive real changes, including student-led assessment efforts. Public Safety Tech: Florida Rep. Greg Steube introduced the FLAFO Act to require warrants for federal use of automated license plate reader surveillance, citing misuse cases including in Indiana. Health Research: IU and other regional teams secured major grants, including NIH funding tied to sickle cell bone complications and Alzheimer’s precision medicine work. Manufacturing & Robotics: Amazon plans a $100M+ Greenwood robotics manufacturing facility, targeting 300 skilled jobs and production by 2028. STEM Outdoors: Hannibal’s Sodalis Nature Preserve will host a bat walk and night hike to spotlight endangered Indiana bats.

AI & Cybersecurity in Indiana Education: Indiana University Indianapolis is leaning on AI as a “thought partner,” while a separate Indiana-focused look at data center growth raises questions about power, environment, and local impacts. Workforce & Training: Vincennes University Jasper named Ashley Schaefer as director of its Center for Technology, Innovation and Manufacturing, aiming to align battery/sustainable energy expertise with regional industry needs. K-12 Cyber Pathways: Bloomfield Schools became the first in the nation to offer a cybersecurity career pathway, partnering with state and education groups. Broadband & Rural Connectivity: New Mexico awarded $100K for Pueblo of Zia fiber to reach unserved homes, a reminder of how small grants can move last-mile infrastructure. Local Tech Governance: Indianapolis Public Schools declined to overturn its decision to withdraw from Enroll Indy, keeping the district’s shift toward PowerSchool and changing how families enroll. Public Safety Tech Scrutiny: A Senate probe highlighted Flock Safety and other surveillance camera firms refusing testimony, as Indiana-related reporting continues to focus on misuse allegations. Health Tech Watch: FDA advisers backed a blood test (Grail’s Galleri) that may detect signals from 50+ cancers, with experts warning about false results and real-world impact.

Energy & Grid Tech: Indiana is set to receive $175M from the federal DOE SPARK program to boost electricity transfer capacity at the PJM–MISO “seam,” aiming to cut congestion and save ratepayers up to $150M a year. Robotics & Manufacturing: Amazon will invest $100M+ in a Greenwood, Indiana plant to build robotics equipment for fulfillment operations, creating about 300 skilled jobs by 2028. Cyber/AI in Government: Indiana earned an A-grade in the 2026 Digital States Survey for modernizing online services and data management, including its Ask Indiana AI chatbot. Public Safety Tech Misuse: Indianapolis charged five officers over alleged misuse of Flock license-plate cameras to track people they knew; IMPD says it tightened access and will audit further. STEM & Workforce: Northeast Indiana’s Learn More Earn More push gets a Nov. 9 summit focused on work-based learning and talent pipelines. Health Policy Watch: Federal regulators are cracking down on online sellers of compounded peptides, warning that “research use” marketing can still be treated as human use. Local Science & Nature: Monarch migration sightings are drawing citizen-science tracking in Indiana, including school field trips feeding data into national monitoring.

Biotech & National Security: Indiana Sen. Todd Young says China’s biotech rise is shifting the U.S. debate from manufacturing dependence to a broader innovation threat, as Chinese assets surge in biopharma licensing value. Medical Tech & AI Regulation: Indiana University researchers helped build an FDA device-review sorting model that uses a device’s recall history to triage 510(k) submissions, aiming to cut review workload while improving recall outcomes. Water & Infrastructure: CHA acquired Indiana-based Midwestern Engineers, expanding local water, wastewater, stormwater, and survey expertise across Indiana. Space Science: Purdue-linked research reports NASA’s Perseverance found multiple water episodes at Mars’ Jezero Crater, including hot groundwater activity. STEM Education & Workforce: Purdue and the University of Illinois signed an MoU to strengthen the semiconductor workforce, while Purdue Student Government appointments highlight ongoing campus tech leadership. Public Science Outreach: Indiana Audubon is running free Northern Saw-whet Owl banding programs at Indiana Dunes and Mary Gray Bird Sanctuary to track migration. Local Tech & Public Safety: Indiana police cases continue to surface around misuse of Flock license-plate reader cameras, with multiple officers charged or facing discipline. Healthcare Access Debate: Indiana State Medical Association’s convention spotlights physician “scope creep,” but critics argue Hoosiers’ bigger issue is shortages and unaffordable care.

Cybersecurity & Public Safety: Indiana’s new Office of Cybersecurity has hired its first director, aiming to coordinate state, local, education, and private-sector preparedness and response. Law Enforcement Tech Oversight: Marion County prosecutors charged five Indianapolis police officers for alleged misuse of Flock license-plate-reader cameras, following audits and suspensions tied to questionable searches. Healthcare Policy & Costs: Eli Lilly says about 700,000 U.S. seniors have started GLP-1 weight-loss drugs under Medicare’s temporary “bridge,” with taxpayers covering roughly $195 per patient per month. Higher Ed Governance: IU Bloomington faculty debated free speech and raised concerns about enrollment-driven financial transparency and spending priorities. School Safety Funding: Orange County districts received $165,587 in state matching grants for security measures, including officers, equipment, and threat assessments. STEM & Workforce: A Danielsville student won a $2,500 skilled trades scholarship tied to precision machining, with a path toward competing at the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis. Local Tech Regulation: Owen County approved a one-year moratorium on new data center development while it drafts permanent rules. Health Coverage Fight: Medicaid enrollees and medical groups sued over new Medicaid work requirements, arguing the rules improperly restrict who qualifies for exemptions.