AGP Executive Report

Cancer Research: Updated TUSCANY trial data show tuspetinib (HM43239) plus venetoclax and azacitidine delivers high complete remission and MRD-negative rates in newly diagnosed AML patients unfit for intensive chemo, with manageable safety. AI & Energy Policy: Lawmakers are pushing back on AI data centers, but federal action is stalled; Sen. Mark Warner’s bill would shift more grid and connection costs from ratepayers to operators. Privacy & Surveillance Tech: Automated license plate readers are appearing in major retailer parking lots, including some Connecticut sites, raising fresh privacy questions about notice, retention, and access. State AI Regulation: After Trump urged states to hold off, more states are moving ahead with targeted AI rules covering real-world uses like schools and workplaces. Health Insurance Costs (CT): Connecticut regulators are reviewing proposed 2027 rate hikes from major insurers, with Attorney General William Tong calling the increases unaffordable and unfair. Space Planning: The American Astronomical Society meeting opens in Pasadena as NASA’s ASTRA mission planning gears up for major flagship and probe selections.

AI Policy Watch: States are moving ahead with targeted AI rules even as Congress stalls, focusing on how chatbots interact with children and how employers use AI—setting up a growing clash between federal and state oversight. Connecticut Tech & Privacy: Connecticut’s privacy amendments and “data brokers to DNA” updates add new guardrails for how personal data is collected and used. Space Planning: The American Astronomical Society’s 248th meeting in Pasadena is shaping NASA’s ASTRA mission planning for the 2030s, with major observatories like the Roman Space Telescope in the mix. Public Health & Environment: Environmental justice advocates warn federal rollbacks are shrinking enforcement and community decision-making power, even as the movement continues. CT STEM/Research: Yale researchers reported new managed-care findings tied to gender differences in provider practice characteristics and Medicare payment patterns among diagnostic radiologists. Local Science & Safety: Fairfield crews rescued two fishermen after a fast-rising tide trapped others at Penfield Beach, with search efforts continuing for the missing person.

Higher Ed in CT: CCSU’s proposed R2 “comprehensive polytechnic” shift is sparking debate over whether applied, tech-focused training could dilute liberal arts and whether the curriculum is being built with enough shared governance. Public Safety Training: Connecticut is developing a community-driven police curriculum for Hartford, Bridgeport, New Haven and nearby towns, with training centered on implicit bias, reconciliation, and procedural justice. Health & Tech: A Yale School of Medicine report finds gender differences in how diagnostic radiologists are represented, practice, and paid in Medicare fee-for-service—raising questions about fairness and access. Workforce & Policy: Connecticut’s new AI law creates compliance duties for employers, including disclosure of automated employment-related decision tech. Research Funding: Nonprofits and research groups are pushing back on a proposed federal rule that would expand political appointees’ power over research grants, warning it could destabilize science nationwide. Space Science: The 248th American Astronomical Society meeting opens Sunday in Pasadena, with community input feeding NASA’s ASTRA mission planning for the 2030s. Biomed: Agios presented new 52-week RISE UP Phase 3 results for mitapivat in sickle cell disease, including analyses tied to hemoglobin response and transfusion burden.

CCSU Debate: Central Connecticut State University’s proposed shift to an R2 “comprehensive polytechnic” model is sparking faculty and governance concerns about whether liberal arts could be sidelined. Public Safety Training: Connecticut is building a community-driven police curriculum for Hartford, Bridgeport, New Haven and surrounding towns, focusing on implicit bias, reconciliation, and procedural justice, with Yale Law School’s Justice Collaboratory leading the work. Health & Safety: America’s Poison Centers reports a rise in teen overdoses tied to diphenhydramine (Benadryl/Zzzquil), warning parents about misuse trends. Tech & Privacy: A new report highlights how connected cars can collect detailed driving and in-cabin data, raising opt-out and consent questions. Workforce & Policy: A national look at hiring since 2020 shows Connecticut’s job openings up slightly (+1.5%), contrasting with bigger gains in states like Idaho and Mississippi. Higher Ed Tech: CBS Stations is using AR/VR to bring “America 250” stories to life, including content spanning New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.

Police Training Update: Connecticut is building a community-driven curriculum for urban police officers, drawing on Yale Law School’s Justice Collaboratory work to address implicit bias, reconciliation, and procedural justice in Hartford, Bridgeport, New Haven and surrounding towns. Education & AI: States and districts are scrambling to set guardrails as AI use in K-12 grows; lawmakers are pushing AI literacy, coordinator roles, and statewide teacher training to reduce uneven classroom rules. STEM Workforce & Career Planning: Connecticut highlighted career pathways at Newington High School, connecting students to college, apprenticeships, trades, military service, and high-growth industries. Energy & Grid Tech: A new white paper argues distributed battery storage deployment is mainly blocked by state regulatory and interconnection rules, not the batteries themselves. CT Science & Museums: Yale Peabody Museum’s renovation and expansion in New Haven won an AIA architecture award, adding new learning and research space plus upgraded climate-controlled labs. Health & Environment: A Lyme disease-focused discussion points to rising tick threats and prevention efforts as cases climb.

AI in Schools Catch-Up: States are racing to set rules as teachers already use AI tools, with lawmakers pushing AI literacy, training, and clearer district guidance. CT Public Safety Training: Connecticut is building a community-driven curriculum for urban police officers, aiming to address implicit bias, reconciliation, and procedural justice. Surveillance Pricing Lawsuit: A class-action claims The Washington Post used subscriber data to set unequal prices, raising new questions about privacy and algorithmic pricing. CT Privacy & Microplastics: Connecticut is part of the push for stronger privacy rules, while a multistate effort urges EPA to expand monitoring of microplastics in drinking water. UConn Shipbuilding Initiative: UConn launched a coordinated program to align shipbuilding research, workforce development, and supply-chain work for maritime industry needs. Public Health: Lead exposure is down overall, but disparities persist for children of color and low-wealth families. Community Tech & Safety: Bristol approved traffic-camera rules for speeding and red-light violations in safety zones, with citations handled after image review.

AI Pricing Rules: New York and Connecticut are among the first states moving to curb “surveillance pricing,” where AI uses personal data to guess what you’ll pay—while lawmakers debate whether to ban the practice outright or allow limited uses. K-12 AI Guardrails: States are scrambling as AI in schools grows, with districts lacking clear policies; lawmakers are pushing for AI coordinators, teacher training, and student literacy. UConn Shipbuilding Initiative: UConn launched a coordinated effort to link shipbuilding research, workforce training, and supply-chain work, citing more than $130M already secured for maritime R&D. Workforce + R&D Incentives: Henkel is seeking up to $1.4M in Connecticut tax exemptions to build a Trumbull R&D center, aiming to consolidate consumer-brand lab teams. Privacy + Health Research: A new study highlights how online health research needs stronger checks against fake or duplicate responses to protect data quality. Cyber/Defense Manufacturing: Quantum Cyber plans to expand Connecticut defense manufacturing with an advanced filament division tied to 3D-printed drone production. Public Safety Tech: GoNetspeed is expanding fiber in East Brunswick, targeting connections this fall. Policy Watch: The House vote failure keeps FISA Section 702 on track to expire, raising near-term uncertainty for intelligence operations.

Connecticut AI & education policy: A new Connecticut AI law is in the spotlight for what it means for K-12 and higher ed, as districts nationwide scramble to set classroom guardrails and build AI literacy. Courts & AI transparency: A federal judge ordered disclosure of an expert witness’s AI prompts in a Connecticut case, a potential first-of-its-kind move that could reshape how AI is used in litigation. Energy & utilities in CT: Gov. Ned Lamont proposed utility reforms aimed at forcing Eversource and United Illuminating to “earn” monopoly privileges, tighten oversight, and push more cost control and technology deployment. STEM workforce & robotics: Connecticut continues expanding robotics and AI-focused pathways to rebuild the manufacturing workforce, including new robotics efforts tied to student STEM training. Privacy & surveillance pricing: A federal study highlights how firms can use consumer behavior to set personalized prices, feeding a growing debate over data use and consumer protection. National science/tech watch: The CFTC proposed rules to rein in prediction markets tied to war and other high-stakes events, while markets reacted to renewed Iran-U.S. tensions and tech selloffs.

AI in Schools: Connecticut lawmakers and districts are still catching up as AI use spreads in classrooms; a new report highlights how teachers are often left to “navigate AI” on their own when policies lag, pushing states toward AI coordinators, teacher training, and student AI literacy. Workplace AI & Privacy: Connecticut’s expanding AI regulation and privacy updates are also drawing attention from employers trying to comply with new notice and disclosure expectations. Energy & Research Policy: A major national debate is heating up around nuclear power in New Hampshire, while ocean scientists warn that federal moves to dismantle ocean monitoring could weaken climate and marine-data work. Immigration Tech Talent: A federal court ruling struck down the Trump administration’s $100,000 H-1B fee, a win welcomed by states and research-heavy employers worried about costs for AI, cybersecurity, and medical roles. STEM Industry Signals: Ouster unveiled a new color lidar traffic system aimed at better detection and analytics, underscoring continued investment in sensing for “physical AI.” Connecticut STEM Workforce: Local coverage spotlights student robotics efforts and STEM workforce-building events across the state.

Connecticut AI & privacy rules: Connecticut signed a sweeping AI law requiring notice when automated tools materially influence employment decisions, plus new disclosure duties for certain AI uses—an immediate compliance checklist for employers and HR teams. Higher ed momentum: Central Connecticut State University earned a formal accreditor commendation after six straight semesters of enrollment growth, with Fall 2025 enrollment up 12.7% year over year. STEM workforce push: Connecticut continues leaning into student robotics to build the STEM pipeline, while schools add AI degrees and certificates to meet demand. Cybersecurity in critical infrastructure: Sen. Rick Scott introduced bills aimed at tightening cybersecurity risk assessments for maritime facilities and coordinating federal defenses against cyber threats. Health & research funding: The Jackson Laboratory won a $1.8M Michael J. Fox Foundation grant to advance Parkinson’s disease modeling focused on the GBA1 gene. Environment & food systems: A new study finds farmed eastern oysters are breeding with wild populations in Long Island Sound, potentially boosting dwindling oyster numbers. Space: NASA named a University of Michigan graduate as a mission specialist for Artemis III, scheduled for 2027. Legal/tech accountability: A Connecticut court ruling suggests AI prompts used by experts may become discoverable in litigation when they shape expert methodology.

AI & Workplaces: Connecticut’s new CART Act adds notice and disclosure duties for employers using automated employment decision tech, with phased deadlines starting in 2026–2027. AI & Courts: A Connecticut federal ruling in a climate case suggests AI prompts used by experts may become discoverable when they shape how experts review documents. AI & Education: Charter Oak State College launches a new online B.S. in Finance with FinTech and ethics, plus AI fluency support; other Connecticut colleges are adding AI degrees and certificates to meet demand. Privacy & Pricing: Connecticut becomes the second state to restrict dynamic pricing that uses personally identifiable data, joining a growing wave of state AI and consumer-data rules. Health Research: The Jackson Laboratory wins a $1.8M Michael J. Fox Foundation grant to advance Parkinson’s disease modeling tied to the GBA1 gene. Public Health/Environment: A former Bridgeport munitions testing site is being redeveloped as an urban forest, while new work on “urban pulse” uses satellite data to track how cities change over time.

AI Policy in Connecticut: Gov. Ned Lamont signed a sweeping AI law (SB 5) that targets high-risk uses, including online safety, AI companions, and automated employment decision tools, with new notice and disclosure duties kicking in between Oct. 2026 and Jan. 2028. Immigration & Tech Workforce: A federal judge in Massachusetts struck down Trump’s proposed $100,000 H-1B fee as an unlawful tax, a win for states and employers that rely on skilled foreign workers in areas like healthcare, education, and research. Public Health & Climate: Connecticut tick testing data shows Lyme-infected ticks are already spiking early in the season, with infection rates rising to 38.5% by May 19 after winter conditions favored tick survival. STEM Education & Innovation: The University of New Haven launched “Connecticut Invents” with FORGE and NextMinds to help student inventors commercialize ideas, pairing tuition-free education with IP and business support. Environmental Cleanup to Access: Bridgeport’s former Remington munitions testing site is moving toward preservation plans, turning cleaned land into an urban forest for public use.

Immigration & Tech Workforce: A federal judge in Massachusetts struck down the Trump administration’s plan to impose a $100,000 “tax” on new H-1B visa petitions, siding with a multistate challenge that said the fee exceeded presidential authority—an immediate win for Connecticut employers that rely on skilled foreign workers. Public Health: Connecticut tick data shows early-season Lyme risk is climbing fast, with adult tick infection rates rising to 38.5% by May 19; residents are urged to take precautions as warmer weather boosts tick activity. Education & AI Policy: Connecticut’s new AI law now reaches K-12, adding computer science requirements that include AI and emerging tech, plus classroom and workforce training provisions aimed at safer, more responsible use. STEM Workforce: Connecticut is leaning into student robotics, backing statewide programs since 2024 to help build a pipeline for advanced manufacturing jobs. Biomed Materials: UConn Health researchers report porcine-derived hydrogels could help close a gap in regenerative engineering for muscle and tissue repair. Privacy & Retail Tech: Connecticut expanded its data privacy rules, including new limits on personalized pricing tied to consumer data. Drones & Defense Manufacturing: Quantum Cyber signed an LOI to buy a Bridgeport facility to support large-scale autonomous drone production. Local Culture with a STEM Angle: Mystic Museum of Art will open “Luxe, CT: Velvet Mills to Modern Runways,” tracing Connecticut textile innovation from historic mills to today’s fashion.

Connecticut Economy & Innovation: A new WalletHub study ranks Connecticut No. 16 overall for state economies, but highlights a standout strength: innovation potential (No. 7), pointing to the state’s aerospace, advanced manufacturing, medical tech, and research base. AI Attitudes vs. Use: A Granite State Poll from UNH finds New Hampshire residents’ worries about AI are rising (nearly two-thirds expect negative effects over the next decade), even as AI use at work climbs to 59%. AI Adoption Map (CT in context): Microsoft data shows Vermont has low AI tool use (23.3%), while Connecticut ranks higher (No. 8) and Chittenden County leads within Vermont—an adoption gap that tracks with local job mix. School Tech Backlash: A report on “anti-tech” resistance in schools spotlights parents alarmed by early device rollouts, arguing the push for tech in K-12 is colliding with real concerns about how students learn. Local Tech & Privacy: Norwich residents report large drones near homes at night; police are investigating, underscoring how thin drone rules leave multiple plausible explanations. Public Health Access: CT Mirror reports medically complex children can wait years for palliative care support, showing how long waitlists can delay help for families. PFAS Crackdown: A nationwide look at “forever chemicals” notes Connecticut among states moving toward new 2026 PFAS disclosure and restriction rules.

CT Education & Tech: Parents are sounding alarms about how K-12 schools are rolling out iPads and Chromebooks, arguing the “tech-skeptical” shift is happening too fast and without clear safeguards. AI Adoption in New England: Microsoft data shows Vermont’s AI use is near the bottom, while Chittenden County leads the state; Connecticut ranks higher, underscoring uneven regional uptake. Public Safety & Drones: Residents in Norwich report large drones swooping near homes at night; police are investigating, highlighting how thin drone rules can leave communities guessing. AI, Real Estate & Work: A new look at how AI firms are becoming major office tenants raises questions about what happens to traditional jobs as leasing and workplace expectations change. Health Tech & Research: A Connecticut-based biotech startup, Bexorg, is drawing scrutiny for reviving human brains for drug testing—raising major ethics and oversight questions. Environment & Data Centers: A climate round-up flags a UN report estimating data centers’ huge electricity, carbon, and water impacts as AI demand surges. Policy Watch (CT): Connecticut’s TEAM teacher mentorship program is criticized for focusing on paperwork instead of real growth for new educators.

PFAS Crackdown: A state-by-state push to rein in “forever chemicals” is accelerating, with Connecticut among states adding disclosure rules or restrictions as PFAS scrutiny grows and a Lululemon investigation keeps the issue in the spotlight. Food Aid Fight: A federal judge temporarily blocked the Trump USDA from attaching broad gender and immigration conditions to SNAP and other funding, arguing the requirements are vague and could disrupt nutrition support and research. SNAP Legal Roadblock (Update): The same SNAP challenge is moving forward with a preliminary injunction, keeping the new “2026 Conditions” from taking effect while the case proceeds. AI in Courts: Florida amended rules to require attorneys to verify that legal authorities cited in filings actually exist, after AI tools produced fictional “hallucinated” cases. Connecticut Education: A principal argues CT’s TEAM teacher mentorship program is stuck on paperwork instead of growth, calling for real support for new teachers. CT Science Center: The Connecticut Science Center previewed summer plans, including a major shark exhibit and an outdoor kids’ space funded by local donors. Bioethics/Health Tech: A Connecticut-based biotech startup says it keeps human brains “alive” for drug testing, raising fresh ethical and safety questions. Privacy & Surveillance: Connecticut lawmakers are among those weighing guardrails on license plate camera data sharing as privacy advocates warn about long-term tracking.