AGP Executive Report

Energy & Utilities: Indiana investment analysts are warning clients to steer clear of Indiana’s investor-owned utilities, citing “political intervention” tied to a disputed regulator firing and possible profit cuts. Autonomous Logistics: Arrive AI is set to demo autonomous delivery tech in Fishers, including live robot-to-arrive point handoffs and simulation-driven network design. Data Centers (Myths vs. Facts): The Northwest Indiana Forum pushes back on fears around an Amazon Web Services data center near Wheatfield, addressing water, utility costs, emergency services, and traffic concerns. Cybersecurity & M&A Tech Risk: CCS launched an IT due diligence service aimed at spotting cybersecurity exposure, technical debt, software licensing issues, and integration problems before deals close. Higher Ed STEM Spotlight: Rose-Hulman again ranks No. 1 for undergraduate engineering education (28 straight years), while Purdue and other Indiana schools place in the latest U.S. News Best Colleges list. Public Health & Policy: A 20-state coalition led by AG Hanaway warns about Chinese GLP-1 drug suppliers and alleged knockoff ingredients exploiting oversight gaps. Healthcare Access: Indiana’s medical association convention highlights the “scope creep” debate as a backdrop to ongoing rural care shortages.

Cybersecurity Pipeline: Indiana launched its Cybersecurity Pathway in Action, using high school coursework to route students toward colleges, military service, and employers—highlighting local ties to NSA Crane. STEM in the Classroom: Bill Nye is set to appear at IU Auditorium for “A Conversation with Bill Nye,” continuing Indiana’s push to keep STEM education visible and exciting. School Safety Funding: Madison County schools received $475,000+ through Indiana’s Secured School Safety Grant Program for security upgrades, part of a broader $26M statewide grant push. Broadband Build Momentum: A new report says BEAD eligibility is shrinking fast as states and private providers expand coverage, with investment topping $90B. Data Center Disruption: An overheated data center knocked 23 credit unions offline, underscoring how critical cooling and reliability are for financial services. Research & Innovation: Purdue posted major gains in U.S. News rankings, including record program spots across engineering, AI, and computer science. Health Tech Policy: Medicaid work requirements are being challenged in court, with Indiana included among plaintiffs.

Autonomous Delivery in Indiana Tech: Arrive AI will demo its secure “Arrive Point” robot-to-handoff system with Nexus AMR at VARTECH 2026 (Sept. 21-22), aiming to let drones, robots, and couriers exchange packages without a person in the loop. AI + Local Business Webs: NevTech says it’s building Indiana-focused websites designed to be readable by search engines and AI assistants, plus an AI answering service to capture calls. Semiconductor Manufacturing in West Lafayette: HanmiGlobal is managing construction of SK hynix’s $4B+ AI memory advanced packaging plant in West Lafayette, targeting cleanroom completion in Oct. 2028. Data Center Transparency Fight: A report highlights how nondisclosure agreements can hide data center details from the public, including in Indiana communities. Forensic Science Week (Indiana): Indiana State Police is promoting National Forensic Science Week (Sept. 20-26) and sharing lab stats from 2025. STEM Education in Indiana: Huntington University installed a curved LED “Volume” for virtual production training in digital media arts, funded via a regional development grant. Health Tech Consumer Watch: Consumer Reports tested midlife wellness gadgets (weighted vests, walking pads, vibration plates) and found fit and use-case matter.

Indiana Tech Sports: Indiana softball routed Indiana Tech 15-1 on Sept. 20 at Andy Mohr Field in Bloomington, with the Hoosiers scoring early and piling on despite both teams’ errors. Energy & Tech Policy: AAA reports $5-plus gasoline pressure as geopolitical strains tighten fuel markets, with Strait of Hormuz disruptions and refinery damage feeding into higher diesel costs. AI & Workforce: A new analysis warns U.S. chip fabs could face a shortfall of up to 157,000 workers by 2030, driven less by engineering graduates and more by too few choosing semiconductor manufacturing. Biotech & Indiana Industry: Eli Lilly completed its acquisition of EtaiBexli, adding mental-health treatment work as investors watch broader AI and pharma moves. Local Tech/Innovation Ecosystem: Elevate Ventures opened a new downtown Indianapolis office aimed at connecting innovation-based entrepreneurs with shared space and tech-enabled support. Indiana STEM in the spotlight: Purdue anthropology and the Tippecanoe County Historical Association hosted Indiana Archaeology Month activities, including hands-on artifact viewing and atlatl demonstrations. Public Safety Tech: An IMPD officer faces termination after alleged misuse of Flock automated license plate reader technology, now under criminal investigation.

Workforce & Health Tech Training: Indiana’s Power Up Indiana backs employer-led pathways into higher-paying health care roles, with Deaconess expanding credentialing for nursing, sonography, imaging, lab tech, medical assisting and coding, and DaMar Staffing training community health workers and patient-service roles. AI Infrastructure Skills: A Meta-backed America’s Workforce Academy is preparing blue-collar workers for data-center construction; it’s already running fiber technician training in Indianapolis and Columbus and is launching new general construction training in Houston. Nuclear Power (Indiana): Navy plans Indiana’s first power-producing nuclear reactor, a microreactor at NWS Crane. Data Centers & Local Policy: Michigan City’s proposed data-center moratorium got tabled, leaving residents and environmental groups frustrated while zoning rules get reconsidered. Chip Supply Chain: SK hynix is in talks with Intel about making US memory chips, signaling continued push to expand domestic semiconductor capacity. Research & STEM Community: Butterfly Pavilion scientists finished a final survey for a Northwest Parkway pollinator corridor, guiding habitat management. Indiana Education/Community: IU Indianapolis housing costs and options highlight ongoing dorm affordability pressure for students. Local Science Recognition: A Namibia conservationist, Dr. Laurie Marker, was nominated for the Indianapolis Prize for cheetah protection and human-wildlife conflict work.

Health Workforce Training: Indiana’s “Power Up Indiana” backs employer-led pathways into higher-paying health care roles, with Deaconess Health System expanding credential training for nursing, imaging, lab tech, and more. Public Health & Food Security: A new documentary, “Working Hungry,” spotlights how college food insecurity (about 41% on average) is outpacing the broader U.S. population. Data Centers & Local Governance: Michigan City’s data center moratorium effort was tabled, frustrating residents and environmental groups worried about permitting and zoning changes. Energy Infrastructure: Indiana Michigan Power unveiled plans for a 765-kilovolt transmission line study that could run through multiple northeast Indiana counties, with route options and public input. STEM & Research in Indiana: Purdue and the Pacers Foundation partnership continues to expand hands-on learning through dedicated basketball courts, while other Indiana education and research items highlight ongoing campus innovation. Housing Costs & Affordability: Coverage continues on dorm pricing and “dorms vs. debt traps,” alongside Zillow county-by-county typical home value updates across Indiana.

Pharma Transparency Fight: Public Citizen says FOIA-obtained “most-favored nation” deals between the Trump White House and drugmakers like Pfizer and Eli Lilly are so heavily redacted that the public can’t judge their impact, with critics arguing loopholes could protect high prices and cost Medicaid billions. Local Tech & Public Safety: Marion residents packed a data center town hall as questions swirled around AI, health, and whether the projects are ever a good idea. Cyber-Privacy & Policing: Indianapolis police suspended an officer and recommended termination after improper use of automated license plate reader searches; the department says it tightened rules and will publish broader policy. Indiana Semiconductor Push: Reports say SK hynix is exploring a U.S. memory-chip deal with Intel, potentially via leasing Ohio capacity—raising supply-chain and talent questions for the state’s tech ambitions. STEM in Schools: Fort Wayne’s Amp Lab model is inspiring Perry Township’s first career-connected innovation program on a university campus, aiming to build real-world entrepreneurial skills. Health & Food Tech: FDA flagged a Saratoga Potato Chips recall in Indiana over undeclared soy allergen risk, with no illnesses reported.

Aviation Infrastructure: Gary Chicago International Airport broke ground on a new, taller air traffic control tower, funded with more than $20M from the FAA, aiming for better visibility and modern communications as aircraft operations evolve. Public Safety & Surveillance Oversight: Indianapolis police suspended an officer and moved toward firing after improper use of an automated license plate reader, tightening rules that require each search to tie to a case or incident number. Health Tech & Drug Approval: The FDA granted full approval to Inluriyo (imlunestrant) plus Verzenio (abemaciclib) for certain ER+/HER2–/ESR1-mutated advanced or metastatic breast cancer, based on the EMBER-3 trial. STEM & Research in Indiana: Rose-Hulman Ventures highlighted student capstone-style innovation work, from medical-device prototyping to engineering projects aimed at real-world problems. AI, Talent, and Chips: A new report warns the U.S. semiconductor push could face a 157,000-worker shortfall by 2030, with too few engineers entering chipmaking—an issue Indiana tech employers will feel. Disaster Response Funding: Indiana Bond Bank launched RAPID, a recovery advance program to speed money for public infrastructure repairs after storms and floods. Climate & Safety Tech: A new machine learning system uses satellite data to improve flash flood warnings, targeting faster, more reliable alerts. Cancer Research Support: Indiana State’s seventh annual CUREFA Game will raise funds for Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance, tying athletics to biomedical research.

ALS Research & Funding: HOPE-Neuron Therapeutx opened a Regulation Crowdfunding round to fund the first human trial of SELtx, a device-enabled, non-drug approach that conditions a patient’s own blood. Flood Forecasting Tech: A new satellite-and-machine-learning system (TACLS) aims to spot flash-flood risk earlier, targeting the moments when warnings can still save lives. Data Center Power Crunch: A report warns the PJM grid could fall short of demand six times per decade as data centers expand, with “worst case” scenarios pointing to frequent reliability problems. Local Tech Policy: Gary, Indiana paused new data center development for a year via an executive order, citing grid, water, and community impacts. Indiana Biotech Expansion: Israeli ag-biotech IBI Ag is setting up its North American HQ in Indiana under the Iron Nation-Indiana initiative, using AI protein engineering for bioinsecticides. Defense Tech Collaboration: Purdue Applied Research Institute and Lockheed Martin signed an MOU to expand work in hypersonics, propulsion, cybersecurity, autonomous systems, and microelectronics. Healthcare Automation Deal: Vyne Medical was sold to MRO, while Vyne doubles down on dental revenue-cycle automation. Cyber/Logistics AI: Arrive AI highlighted a medical drone delivery “chain of custody” framework to handle handoff gaps across FAA/FDA/DEA and state boards. Agriculture Jobs Push: Gov. Braun promoted Givaudan’s Indiana agribusiness expansion tied to new production and jobs.

SNAP Relief Update: Indiana got federal approval for an Automated Mass Replacement waiver so storm-affected households can see partial SNAP benefit replacements added to EBT cards around Sept. 26—no extra paperwork for recipients. Public Safety Tech & Privacy: Bloomington City Council passed zoning changes for housing affordability and introduced an ordinance to ban city use of automated license plate readers and related surveillance data sharing with third parties. Cybersecurity: A ThreatsDay roundup highlights attackers using AI tools, exposed services, and pay-per-install malware funnels—another reminder that security mistakes keep spreading across new platforms. Health & Research: A new study reports findings of a parasite and bacterium in postmortem samples from suicidal youth, adding to the debate over biological contributors to mental health crises. AI Infrastructure in Indiana: Reuters reports SK Hynix is in talks with Intel about making memory chips in the U.S., with Ohio and Indiana-linked supply chain implications. School Safety Grants: Jay County schools received $110,000+ through Indiana’s Secured School Safety Grant program for upgrades and safety tech. Local Tech Oversight: Michigan City residents criticized additional Flock Safety spending during a public hearing amid privacy and oversight concerns.

Advanced Nuclear in Indiana: The U.S. Department of Defense says Indiana’s first advanced nuclear microreactor will be installed at Naval Weapons Station Crane by September 2028, aiming to deliver around-the-clock power for critical missions. Chip Supply Chain Watch: Reuters reports SK Hynix is in talks with Intel about making memory chips in the U.S. for the first time, with possible Ohio leasing or a joint venture—no deal finalized yet. AI + Power Grid: Google, Nvidia, and Emerald AI launched the AI Energy Management Alliance to help data centers use flexible load and demand response, including Google’s reported 1GW demand response capacity. Health Tech & Standards: Regenstrief Institute partnered with West Coast Informatics to support LOINC development and delivery via FHIR services. Rural Health Funding: Indiana will receive $120M to expand rural health care access, maternal-infant services, and workforce capacity. Education Workforce Pipeline: RISE UNITED opened applications for its Freedom Readers Fellowship, training parents/caregivers as literacy coaches in Marion County schools. Business Regulation: A new Red Tape 50 ranking puts Indiana near the top for speed and ease of doing business, with permitting and regulatory friction included. Drug Review Update: Aquestive Therapeutics resubmitted an FDA application for Anaphylm (dibutepinephrine) sublingual film after a prior complete response letter.

HPV Drug Breakthrough in Indiana: IU researcher Dr. Elliot Androphy’s Indianapolis startup Kovina Therapeutics is pushing new medicines aimed at HPV infections and HPV-linked cancers, building on decades of work that helped enable the HPV vaccine. AI + Chips Watch: Reuters reports SK Hynix is in early talks with Intel about making memory chips in the U.S. for the first time, with possible Ohio leasing or a joint venture—though both sides say nothing is finalized. Indiana Education & Literacy: Indiana lawmakers highlight rising IREAD scores for a fifth straight year, with more than 88% of third graders passing statewide. School Safety Funding: Henry County schools received over $285,000 through Indiana’s Secured School Safety Grant Program for upgrades like security staffing and site improvements. Local Tech Policy Fight: A federal push is underway to rein in Flock automated license plate readers, as Indiana lawmakers face renewed scrutiny over surveillance and guardrails. Purdue + Community STEM: Purdue and the Pacers Foundation dedicated basketball courts honoring Fever legends Tamika Catchings and Stephanie White at Tarkington Park. IU Major Gift: IU received a $100 million donation to expand Kelley graduate programs and scholarships, including added AI and emerging tech training. Bioscience + Health Research: A new study defines early-onset cirrhosis from fatty liver disease (MASLD), showing a distinct risk profile tied to genetics and type 2 diabetes.

Semiconductor Supply Chain: Reuters reports SK Hynix is in exploratory talks with Intel about making memory chips in the U.S. for the first time—possibly by leasing part of Intel’s Ohio facility or via a joint venture with major cloud firms—though SK Hynix says nothing is decided and Seoul could raise concerns. Indiana Tech & Industry: The same week, Indiana-based industrial safety vendor Trio Mobil is showcasing an AI-powered prevention-first platform in Indianapolis at the NSC Safety Congress & Expo, aiming to reduce forklift and pedestrian risks with real-time alerts. Privacy & Policing Tech: An EFF review of Flock Safety license-plate camera audit logs finds officers across dozens of agencies entering jokes and random keystrokes as “reasons” for searches, raising questions about how the surveillance tool is being used. Local STEM/Community: Purdue Fort Wayne unveiled a new music facility featuring rare recording technology, adding to Indiana’s growing maker-and-research ecosystem. Health Research: A long-running study links starting menopause hormone therapy within 10 years of menopause to lower rates of serious cardiovascular events, though it’s observational.

Home Insurance Costs: Insurify says about 1,900 counties saw higher home insurance prices in the first half of 2026, with severe weather risk—especially thunderstorms with hail, tornadoes, lightning, and damaging winds—driving the jump. AI & Tech Policy: Dreamforce opened in San Francisco as leaders including OpenAI, Anthropic, and Nvidia faced fresh calls for curbs on AI development, while Indiana election officials also braced for extra steps after the Supreme Court blocked changes to mail voting rules. Indiana Defense Tech: A Navy nuclear microreactor milestone is highlighted for Naval Weapons Station Crane, pointing to more resilient onsite power for critical systems. Local Tech & Infrastructure: Portage officials held a Flock camera presentation focused on transparency about where cameras are placed and how they’re used. Health & Care Innovation: Priority Life Care in Fort Wayne is expanding dementia memory care using the Validation Method to better understand emotions behind behavior. STEM/Research in Indiana: Purdue Fort Wayne unveiled a new music facility with rare recording technology, and Indiana schools continue adding tech-focused programs and training.

Indiana Renewable Energy & Housing: A Ball State study found no statistically significant drop in Indiana home values near large wind or utility-scale solar projects, using Indiana sales data from 2004–2024. AI in Compliance: FacilityOS launched a ContractorOS AI Compliance Assistant that matches and fills contractor compliance documents in bulk, cutting onboarding admin work by up to 95% while keeping a human review step. Indiana Nuclear Resilience: The Navy plans an advanced microreactor at Naval Weapons Station Crane in Indiana, aiming for deployment by Sept. 2028 to keep critical operations running if the grid fails. Public Safety Tech Scrutiny: A report says Muncie police signed a $300,000 Flock surveillance contract without City Council approval or public notice, raising concerns about long-term data use for AI training. Healthcare Tech: Guardant Health said its Shield blood test for colorectal cancer screening will be covered by EviCore by Evernorth starting Jan. 1, 2027. STEM Funding in Indiana: Purdue faculty earned 2026 NSF CAREER awards, spanning robotics/AI, environmental science, engineering, physics, and biomedical research.

AI Policy Push: Rep. Victoria Spartz says Congress must regulate AI fast and “drag” Big Tech to the table, citing concerns from former AI researchers. Indiana Higher Ed & Workforce: Purdue reports a 13% jump in incoming freshmen plus record graduation and retention gains, and it opened a new Rittal + Eplan smart manufacturing lab to boost hands-on engineering training. Cancer Tech & Coverage: Guardant Health’s Shield blood test for colorectal cancer screening is getting broader coverage via EviCore by Evernorth starting Jan. 1, 2027. STEM in Schools: A Grand Forks virtual high school educator was named to the Mark Cuban Foundation Teacher Fellowship to develop classroom best practices for AI use. Local Environment & Funding: Owen County SWCD and NRCS will host a public forum to shape how federal conservation dollars are allocated locally. Indiana Food/Health Innovation: Purdue physics researcher David Nolte is building laser/Doppler/AI imaging to better match chemotherapy drugs to individual tumors. Energy & Climate: A federal court limited the U.S. Energy Dept.’s power to delay coal plant retirements, while a separate report flags Indiana among states with the most coal plants as EPA climate rules face potential repeal. Community & Access: Earlham College expands its INspire Earlham free-tuition program for Indiana families earning $100K or less.