AGP Executive Report

AI & Business: NEWaukee launched a proprietary Brand Trust Quotient (BTQ) AI agent to score brand trust from real customer journey moments and benchmark competitors. Public Health: Wisconsin pediatricians marked 20 years since HPV vaccine approval, but state data shows nearly half of teens still aren’t getting shots. Water & Accountability: Milwaukee’s sewerage district (MMSD) approved an independent third-party audit of its wastewater operator, Veolia, after complaints about maintenance and performance ahead of a major ~$700M contract decision. Energy Policy: A federal push is expected to fund modernization of Alliant Energy’s Columbia Energy Center coal plant in South Central Wisconsin, tying into broader “clean, beautiful coal” export and plant funding. Education & Tech Policy: Milwaukee reading leaders say DPI reneged on promised literacy grant support, while UW-Madison La Follette students helped MMSD plan compliance for Wisconsin’s new K-12 cell phone limits. STEM & Research Leadership: Versiti named physician-scientist Jorge Di Paola to lead its Blood Research Institute as chief scientific officer. Workforce & Governance: Wisconsin Elections Commission chair Don Millis says election rules may shift only if courts order changes before the Aug. 11 primary and Nov. 3 general. Science in the Field: UW-La Crosse archaeology students used ground-penetrating radar at Hixon House and found a mysterious dome-like structure.

Public Safety in Milwaukee: The Common Council Steering & Rules Committee will hold a June 8 hearing on what’s working and what isn’t in public safety, following a south-side street takeover and a new South Side Safety Plan focused on accountability, prevention, and police-community ties. Healthy Homes Returns: Milwaukee’s ECO Healthy Homes Program is restarting after an EPA grant was cut last year, aiming to help homeowners spot environmental hazards and energy inefficiencies—especially after flooding and mold damage. Tech & Industry Leadership: Brady Corporation named Vineet Nargolwala CEO, succeeding Russell Shaller, as the company highlights technology-driven growth. Wisconsin Higher Ed: UW System regents will consider a 2% tuition increase for 2026-27 and approved a new name for the Menomonie campus: UW–Stout Polytechnic. AI in Sports: Huupe launched Arena, an in-ground smart basketball hoop with AI shot analysis and interactive stats. Health & Research: A lead-level drinking-fountain device story spotlights scaling challenges for cities facing water contamination. STEM & Learning: Riveredge Nature Center unveiled major accessibility upgrades, expanding nature programming for people of all abilities.

Wisconsin PFAS cleanup: Wisconsin reached a $10M settlement with Tyco and Johnson Controls to address PFAS contamination in Marinette County, with state and DNR officials pointing to drinking-water cleanup benefits. Animal research scrutiny: UW–Madison is investigating a student animal-rights group over a flyer tied to an April raid at a beagle breeding facility, as activists press for more oversight and alternatives to animal testing. Public health & aging: Dane County Alzheimer’s advocates won a national award for pushing NIH research priorities, including work tied to federal legislation. Water quality planning: Milwaukee County Parks is seeking public input on improving Veterans Park Lagoon, where algae and cyanobacteria blooms have plagued the 14-acre site, using a Great Lakes Restoration Initiative feasibility study. STEM education spotlight: Milwaukee School of Engineering published its Spring 2026 honors list, highlighting students in biomedical engineering and civil engineering. Tech & workforce pipeline: Housecall Pro announced 2026 Trade Academy Scholarship winners, citing a surge in Gen Z interest in HVAC, electrical, and plumbing training.

Education & Child Care: Wisconsin’s rural school closures are accelerating as failed ballot referendums leave districts unable to reopen, while the Child Care Bridge Payments are set to expire—prompting many providers to raise tuition and some to consider closing. Animal Welfare & Campus Policy: UW–Madison is investigating a student animal-rights group tied to a “Save the Beagles” flyer connected to the Ridglan Farms raid, fueling debate over free speech and accountability. Health & Research Advocacy: Dane County Alzheimer’s advocates won a national award for pushing federal dementia research priorities, including work tied to NIH-focused legislation. State & Federal Food Policy: A federal judge temporarily blocked USDA from attaching gender and immigration-related conditions to billions in SNAP-linked funding, a win for 20 Democrat-led states. Tech & Infrastructure (Rail): Wisconsin passenger rail expansion is getting a spotlight in Milwaukee with a June 25 conference aimed at faster, more frequent intercity service. Local Tech/Policy: Waukesha is weighing rules for e-bikes and e-scooters after multiple reported crashes and sidewalk incidents.

Great Lakes Stewardship: Michigan’s Great Lakes and Fresh Water Week runs June 6–14, spotlighting community action, education, and a “free fishing weekend” June 13–14 with license waivers in state parks. Wisconsin Rail Push: A statewide passenger rail expansion effort takes center stage at a Milwaukee conference June 25, aiming to connect Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay and more with faster, more frequent service. UW System Watch: The Universities of Wisconsin Board of Regents approved a fourth tuition increase in four years—2% for in-state undergrads plus higher fees—citing rising costs. PFAS Cleanup in Wisconsin: Wisconsin reached a $10M settlement with Tyco Fire Products for PFAS contamination in Marinette County, with money earmarked for cleanup and continued replacement wells. AI Talent Pipeline: Persistent Systems teamed with Databricks and MSOE to build an AI engineering talent pipeline via a Databricks-powered hackathon. Emergency Preparedness Funding: UW–Whitewater will manage $225K to create a technologically advanced regional Emergency Operations Center for campus and nearby counties. Local Tech & Safety: Waukesha is considering rules for e-bikes and e-scooters after multiple resident complaints and crashes. Space Weather: NOAA says a geomagnetic storm could boost Northern Lights visibility farther south than usual, with possible minor impacts to satellites and GPS.

Passenger Rail in Wisconsin: A new “Thinking Big About Wisconsin Passenger Rail” conference is set for June 25 in Milwaukee, aiming to build momentum for faster, more frequent intercity service and spotlighting speakers from city leaders to rail coalitions. Higher Ed Costs: The UW System Board of Regents approved a fourth tuition increase in four years, raising in-state undergraduate tuition 2% and fees about 3.5% on average. Workforce Training: NWTC Aurora will add a new path to a Wisconsin Class B commercial driver’s license, with online theory and an October road/range test. Emergency Preparedness Tech: UW-Whitewater is receiving $225,000 to create a technologically advanced Emergency Operations Center for regional response. AI Talent Pipeline: Persistent Systems teamed with Databricks and MSOE to expand an AI engineering talent initiative via a Databricks-powered hackathon. PFAS Cleanup Accountability: Wisconsin announced a $10M settlement with Tyco Fire Products tied to long-running PFAS contamination in Marinette, including a trust for cleanup and replacement wells. Local Arts Impact: Madison’s Overture Center is projected to contribute nearly $67M to the local economy, with a big jump from earlier seasons. Privacy & Student Data: The FTC finalized a modified order against Wisconsin-based Illuminate Education after a major student-data breach tied to weak security practices. Education Funding Fight: The Milwaukee Reading Coalition says DPI won’t route state literacy funds to its planned commission, raising concerns about how Act 20 money will flow.

Higher Ed & Workforce Skills: UW–Stout has officially rebranded as UW–Stout Polytechnic, a Menomonie-focused shift toward hands-on, lab-heavy technical training after a unanimous UW Board of Regents vote. Public Safety Tech: Milwaukee’s 911 dispatch is rolling out major upgrades this fall, including text-to-911, real-time translation, improved GPS tracking, and instant call transcription. PFAS Accountability: Gov. Evers and the DNR announced a major PFAS settlement with Tyco tied to Marinette-area contamination, requiring clean drinking water, discharge fixes, and additional funding into a PFAS trust. Data Center Pressure: Wisconsin counties are moving toward data center moratoriums, with new efforts in Dane and Brown reflecting growing local pushback over safeguards. Animal Research Scrutiny: UW–Madison is facing renewed scrutiny over Ridglan Farms beagle experiments, with the university saying the work improved anesthesia and surgical care while critics demand action. Health & Environment: Wisconsin AGs joined a multistate push urging the EPA to keep researching microplastics in drinking water. Health Science: A rare Lyme strain, Borrelia mayonii, is reported in New York as tick-borne cases surge.

PFAS Accountability: Wisconsin reached a $10M settlement with Tyco Fire Products over PFAS contamination tied to its Marinette facility, with money going to the state PFAS trust fund and Tyco providing clean drinking water for affected residents for up to 20 years. Higher Ed Leadership: The Universities of Wisconsin Board of Regents elected UW-Madison alumnus Kyle Weatherly as president and Ashok Rai as vice president, setting priorities around access and student success. Biodiversity in the Spotlight: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service designated about 1.5 million acres of critical habitat for the endangered rusty patched bumblebee, including areas in Wisconsin, shaping how federal projects are planned and permitted. Transit Update: Milwaukee County Transit System reported a small 2026 surplus after fare hikes and route changes, while warning of a projected 2027 shortfall needing state aid. Public Health Debate: A Wisconsin senator’s Senate hearing highlighted claims of possible links between COVID-19 injections and aggressive cancers, with witnesses clashing on causation. STEM/Research & Animals: UW-Stout Polytechnic’s name change cleared the Board of Regents, while separate reporting continues to spotlight beagle rescue and adoption efforts tied to past research breeding.

PFAS Accountability in Marinette: Wisconsin announced a major settlement with Tyco Fire Products over “forever chemicals,” including a new $10M payment into the state PFAS Trust Fund plus continued replacement wells, monitoring, and clean drinking water for affected residents. Higher Ed Costs: The Universities of Wisconsin Board of Regents approved a 2% tuition increase for the fourth straight year, with supporters citing rising operating costs and critics warning about student impact. UW-Stout Rebrand: The Menomonie campus officially became UW-Stout Polytechnic, a name meant to spotlight applied, career-focused learning. Data Center Biodiversity Planning: Vantage Data Centers and Ramboll are using biodiversity modeling for a Port Washington campus, aiming for a large boost in habitat restoration and support for species like the rusty patched bumblebee. Public Safety Tech Backlash: Wisconsin communities continue weighing Flock-style surveillance after privacy and misuse concerns, with some ending contracts and others tightening oversight. Mental Health Demand: Local providers say demand is rising, especially for youth, as workforce shortages strain access. Transit Update: Milwaukee County shared progress on MCTS costs, fare evasion, and planning for a 2027 redesign, alongside new bus rollouts. Space Weather Watch: NOAA flagged conditions for northern lights that could reach as far south as parts of the Midwest, depending on cloud cover.

Emergency Tech Upgrade: Milwaukee is rolling out Motorola Solutions’ next-generation 9-1-1 platform (VESTA 911) to improve call handling, real-time info sharing, translation, and multimedia communications for faster responder coordination. Surveillance Backlash: Wisconsin communities are ending contracts with Flock Safety amid privacy and misuse concerns, with reporting alleging thousands of license-plate camera searches across the state. Health Policy Watch: Federal Medicaid work rules are now set, and Wisconsin advocates warn the added bureaucracy could block or destabilize coverage for eligible people. UW Research & Animal Welfare: UW-Madison is investigating a student group tied to messaging around a beagle “raid” at Ridglan Farms, as hundreds more beagles are released to rescues. Healthcare Partnership: Marshfield Clinic received a UW-Stevens Point Regents Business Partnership Award for expanding clinical education, internships, and scholarships. Public Safety Systems: Brown County is launching a digital mutual-aid “box alarm” system to speed coordination among fire departments and 911 calltakers. Clinical Decision Tool: A pictogram-based shared decision aid (HCQ-SAFE) improved hydroxychloroquine adherence and reduced decisional conflict for lupus patients.

AI Hardware & Software: NVIDIA and Microsoft expanded their partnership for agentic AI, pitching a “full stack” that spans Windows PCs, Azure, and local deployments. AI Politics: A new look at the “political geography” of AI exposure maps where techlash fears are strongest ahead of November. Data Center Pressure in Wisconsin: Sen. Kelda Roys unveiled a clean-energy plan that also calls for statewide guardrails on hyperscale data centers and AI, while residents in Mount Pleasant raised noise concerns tied to Microsoft’s growing campus. Water & Environment: The Driftless Area Water Study is hosting June events to share private well results, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service finalized critical habitat protections for the rusty patched bumble bee. Public Safety & Policy: Wisconsin’s DSPS updated electrical and plumbing codes effective Sept. 1, and Milwaukee County approved a reckless-driving impoundment tool under Vision Zero. Health & Research: A UW-Madison Peace Corps alum from Oconto heads to Mongolia to teach English, and Wisconsin’s Wausau East seniors completed the IB Diploma program.

State Archives Spotlight: A new look at Wisconsin’s State Archive Preservation Facility highlights its massive North American history collection—3.8 million print publications, 25,000 maps, 3 million images, and 750,000 historic objects—stored in climate-controlled space on Madison’s west side. Election Policy & Postal Rules: The U.S. Postal Service proposes major changes to absentee voting by mail, including a new “Mail-In and Absentee Participation List” of eligible voters and barcode-linked tracking that Wisconsin officials say could face legal challenges. UW-Madison GenEd Update: UW-Madison is revising general education requirements for incoming students starting Summer 2026, removing the current university-wide ethnic studies requirement but keeping ethnic studies via a new category structure aligned with UW System transfer goals. AI + Data Centers in Wisconsin: Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella says Azure’s data centers will use a “new approach” to improve cooling and reduce water use, pointing to a Wisconsin facility design claim. Animal Research Fallout: Wisconsin continues to see beagle releases tied to the Ridglan Farms settlement, with 135 more dogs slated for transfer and adoption. Workforce & Education: UW-Green Bay expands for-credit graduate certificates for working professionals, including biotech, data and analytics, and conservation/sustainability options. Manufacturing Tech in the Badger State: The Wisconsin Drives Manufacturing Summit at Lambeau Field put AI and automation “to autonomy” on center stage, with Rockwell Automation leadership discussing software-defined plants and training needs.

Animal Welfare & Research Accountability: The first Wisconsin beagle rescued from Ridglan Farms has been adopted in Florida, while 135 more beagles are being released from the embattled research breeding facility, with dozens headed to Dane County partners for spay/neuter and placement. Higher Ed Costs: UW-Madison is set to vote on a 2% tuition hike plus a 3.5% fee increase, continuing a fourth straight year of increases as the system cites inflation and ongoing financial restructuring. Manufacturing Tech & Workforce: Wisconsin Drives Manufacturing Summit at Lambeau Field highlighted how AI, digital twins, and automation are reshaping plants and training, with Rockwell Automation and Harley-Davidson leaders discussing “automation to autonomy.” Local Tech for Small Business: Milwaukee-area developers launched Eventini to help event planners and food trucks connect, including a truck-focused point-of-sale system. Energy & Data Centers: Generac signed a global backup-power supply deal with a major hyperscale data center operator, underscoring the growing push for resilient power infrastructure. Environment & Health: Wisconsin’s PCB legacy remains in focus as reporting revisits long-term contamination impacts on waterways and workers. Public Safety & Consumer Protection: BBB warns employment scams are shifting to “task-based” schemes that lure job seekers with video “likes” and subscriptions.

AI Policy & Ethics: A new Vatican encyclical urges tighter oversight of artificial intelligence, echoing Wisconsin experts’ concerns about workplace disruption and child safety. Workplace Rules: States are rolling out fresh labor laws this summer, including pay-range requirements in job ads, limits on noncompetes, and bans on forced employee microchipping. Consumer Protection: Wisconsin political news spotlights Mandela Barnes’ proposal to stop “surveillance pricing” and AI-based discrimination in insurance decisions, pushing for upfront pricing disclosure. Higher Ed & Affordability: The Universities of Wisconsin Board of Regents will consider a 2% resident tuition increase for 2026–27 to manage rising costs while keeping UW affordable. Public Health: Dane County is installing free tick check stations at parks as urgent care and ER visits for tick bites hit seasonal highs. Agriculture Research: A Wisconsin farmer says modern corn hybrids are making the old “knee-high by the Fourth of July” rule obsolete, with faster growth and earlier nitrogen side-dressing. Healthcare Leadership: WellSpan appoints Dr. Kevin Lewis to oversee physician teams, aiming to advance clinical growth and system performance. STEM Spotlight: UW-Eau Claire student Taylor Thelen earns a Fulbright UK Summer Institute award for study in Belfast.

Manufacturing & Industry: CMD Corporation formally launched CMD Manufacturing Solutions from its Appleton, Wisconsin facility, packaging decades of contract manufacturing, precision assembly, and fabrication for OEM partners. Food & Health Tech: Laurel’s Coffee is leaning into clean-label ready-to-drink coffee with A2 dairy, pitching gut-friendly benefits as RTD consumers demand simpler ingredients. Wildlife Research: Wisconsin Public Service will band peregrine falcon chicks with tiny real-time transmitters, aiming to map where young birds go in their first year. AI & Local Power Planning: Brown County is weighing a data center moratorium as lawmakers and residents push for guardrails on energy demand, water use, utility rates, and local impacts. Policy & Courts: The Wisconsin Supreme Court is taking public input on proposed judicial recusal rule changes tied to campaign support, with legal groups urging a slower, advisory-committee approach. STEM Community: UW-Stout is hosting 1,100+ for summer STEAM camps, classes, and a Menomonie mural festival, including hands-on tech tracks like 3D printing, robotics, and virtual reality. Agriculture Economics: Wisconsin dairy leaders marked June Dairy Month, highlighting the state’s scale and economic impact as production and exports stay strong.

STEM Education & Workforce: NCWIT Wisconsin honored 98 students statewide with Aspirations in Computing Awards, including five Whitewater High School students tied to FIRST Robotics and multiple computer science pathways. Agriculture Tech & Climate-Smart Farming: The Farmers for Soil Health cover crop incentive program reopened with higher payments ($35/acre, up to 2,000 acres) and a new one-year contract structure for eligible Wisconsin producers. AI & Work: A Wisconsin Alumni Association webinar (“From War to AI”) highlighted how conflict, geo-economic shifts, and AI adoption are reshaping the economy, with UW-Madison computer science leadership in the mix. Privacy & Public Safety Tech: A growing backlash against Flock automated license plate readers continues, with Dayton city workers reportedly covering cameras after policy concerns. Corporate Accountability in Food: A PLOS Climate report says most major meat and dairy environmental claims are unsupported “greenwashing,” including companies with Wisconsin operations. UW Policy & Curriculum: UW-Madison revised general education categories for incoming students, removing the ethnic studies requirement while aligning with UW System core-gened changes. Wildlife Conservation Infrastructure: States are expanding wildlife road crossings to cut animal-vehicle collisions, with Wisconsin listed among the highest-collision states.