AGP Executive Report

Pilotless cargo aviation: The FAA tested a hybrid-electric, crewless cargo aircraft (Elroy Air’s Chaparral) at Houma-Terrebonne Airport, aiming to speed delivery of critical medical supplies—especially for rural communities. Cybersecurity & identity theft: The FBI is investigating claims that a dark-web marketplace (Nexus) is selling scans tied to 153 million U.S. and Canadian driver’s licenses, raising alarms about synthetic identity fraud as generative AI makes forged documents harder to spot. Louisiana Tech research boost: Louisiana Tech received a $954,000 NSF grant to expand engineering research capacity and train doctoral fellows through the EPSCoR Graduate Fellowship Program. Low-carbon steel in Donaldsonville: Hyundai Steel broke ground on a $5.8B electric arc furnace mill targeting 2.7 million tons annually and positioning Louisiana for advanced, lower-emissions manufacturing. AI surveillance controversy: Flock license-plate cameras continue to draw pushback in New Orleans and around Tulane, with critics warning about privacy and expanded tracking. STEM recognition: Taiwanese researcher Wong Chi-huey won the 2027 ACS Alfred Bader Award for bioinorganic/bioorganic chemistry work on carbohydrates and human health.

Identity & Privacy Breach: The FBI has opened an investigation into a dark-web service (Nexus) allegedly selling digital scans of 153M+ U.S. and Canadian driver’s licenses, with reporting pointing to Louisiana-based IDScan.net as the likely source. Cybersecurity How-To: Coverage also highlights practical steps people can take to reduce exposure if their ID data is compromised. Manufacturing & Jobs: Hyundai Steel officially broke ground on its $5.8B Louisiana electric arc furnace mill, targeting 2.7M metric tons of steel annually and commercial production in 2029. Coastal Science: New U.S. Geological Survey research links nutrient pollution in rivers to older nitrogen and phosphorus stored in soil and groundwater—fueling Gulf “dead zones” that affect Louisiana fisheries and drinking water. AI in Schools: New rules in major districts show a patchwork approach to student AI, with some banning most use while others allow limited tools. Local Health Equity: Greater Baton Rouge’s Black Nurses Association chapter was chartered under the National Black Nurses Association to tackle health disparities. Tech & Surveillance Debate: LSU students are questioning privacy as Flock license-plate cameras expand around campus.

Identity & Privacy: A dark-web service is reportedly selling digital scans of 153 million U.S. and Canadian driver’s licenses, with the FBI opening an inquiry into where the data came from—raising fresh alarm for Louisiana’s identity-verification ecosystem. Surveillance & Campus Tech: LSU students are questioning privacy as Flock license-plate cameras expand around Baton Rouge and the LSU area, after past misuse cases elsewhere. Cybersecurity for Everyday Life: A separate-computer approach for online banking is getting renewed attention as a practical extra layer—though it won’t make accounts “untouchable.” Data Centers & Automation: Meta is testing dual-armed robots to swap network cables inside data centers, while insurers eye a major new market for insuring data-center assets. Louisiana Industry Push: Hyundai and POSCO’s $5.8B electric-arc furnace steel mill in Donaldsonville is moving forward as a low-carbon supply hub for autos and advanced industries. Higher Ed Reality Check: Multiple reports highlight a widening university budget crisis, with layoffs and program cuts affecting faculty job security nationwide.

Waterfowl Watch: A Sept. 1 mid-continent survey reports duck numbers at a low since 1993 for mallards and an overall 2% decline, with May ponds up 14%—a potential boost for Louisiana’s 2027-28 hunting seasons. AI & Compute: Crusoe’s $3B Series F at a $30B valuation highlights how Jane Street’s massive AI compute commitments are reshaping demand beyond the usual hyperscalers. Cybersecurity: IDScan.net faces class-action lawsuits after reports of 153M+ driver’s license scans offered on the dark web, prompting FBI scrutiny and renewed identity-theft fears. Energy Efficiency at Home: ReClaim Energy, United Way, and HousingNOLA launched HOMEstrong in Slidell to cut bills via HVAC-efficiency upgrades using Solar Saver tech. Industrial Tech in Louisiana: Hyundai-POSCO’s $5.8B electric arc furnace steel mill broke ground, with South Korea urging the U.S. to ease tariffs on imported equipment. Privacy & Surveillance: Livingston Parish debated restricting private security cameras in public rights-of-way, balancing privacy, property rights, and public safety. Education Outcomes: New NCES figures show mixed six-year bachelor’s completion rates across Louisiana parishes for Hispanic/Latino and other groups.

Hyundai Steel’s Louisiana push: Hyundai and POSCO broke ground on a $5.8B electric-arc-furnace mill in Ascension Parish, targeting 2029 startup and 2.7 million metric tons a year, with executives pitching future uses from advanced manufacturing to even SpaceX-style rockets. Permits and public scrutiny: The ceremony happened even as an air permit is still under review, with a long public-comment window and local debate over air quality and jobs. Trade friction: South Korea’s industry minister urged the U.S. to ease tariffs on equipment needed for the mill, citing Section 232 pressures. Cybersecurity shock in Louisiana: New Orleans-based IDScan.net faces class-action lawsuits after a dark-web service allegedly offered 153M driver’s license scans, raising alarms about permanent, high-fidelity identity theft risk. Privacy vs. surveillance: Livingston Parish is weighing limits on private cameras in public rights-of-way, with residents and officials clashing over safety, property rights, and AI-enabled misuse. STEM in the state: LSU students showcased digital twin projects spanning deep-space crew health, cultural heritage preservation, and other real-world applications.

Steel & Permits: Hyundai and POSCO held a $5.8B groundbreaking for an electric-arc furnace mill in Ascension Parish, but above-ground work can’t start until Louisiana DEQ approves a massive air permit still open for public comment through Sept. 15. Trade & Supply Chains: South Korea’s industry minister urged the U.S. to ease tariffs on equipment needed for the Louisiana steel project, arguing it’s vital for cross-border manufacturing competitiveness. Cybersecurity & Identity Theft: A New Orleans identity-verification firm, IDScan.net, is now at the center of an FBI probe after a dark-web service allegedly offered scans tied to more than 150M U.S. and Canadian driver’s licenses—raising alarms about how verification systems can be bypassed. Public Health (COVID): A Tulane-led study in eastern Sierra Leone found SARS-CoV-2 spread widely by early 2022, yet most people showed little illness, pointing to possible pre-existing antibody protection. Obesity Drug Watch: Baton Rouge researcher Eric Ravussin says retatrutide could become a “blockbuster” weight-loss medication, with Louisiana facing the key question of pricing and access. Mental Health & Heat: Louisiana 988 leaders are urging earlier help as extreme temperatures appear linked to rising crisis calls. Local Medicine: A Southwest Louisiana surgeon highlights faster recovery from robotic prostate cancer surgery and stresses early screening, especially for African American men.

Artemis II & Michoud: Sen. John Kennedy welcomed the Artemis II crew to NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility, spotlighting Louisiana workers who built key parts of the SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft. SpaceX & Louisiana industry: A new guest column argues SpaceX’s planned massive launch facility near Pecan Island is a rare, decades-scale economic win for Acadiana—while urging Louisiana institutions to plan better for environmental and infrastructure impacts. Cybersecurity & identity theft: The FBI opened an investigation after a dark-web service, Nexus, allegedly sold scanned driver’s licenses for more than 153 million people, with Louisiana-based IDScan.net named as a likely source; Hertz customers are now facing a “compound problem” as lawsuits begin. Data centers & workforce: Louisiana Delta Community College in Monroe is training data center technicians with hands-on fiber installation and a mock data center, reflecting growing STEM demand tied to new facilities. Public safety tech debate: A national pushback against Flock surveillance cameras continues, with more communities restricting or removing the system and lawmakers weighing limits. Local STEM agriculture: LSU AgCenter’s tea-production workshop at Hammond Research Station drew prospective growers, showing Louisiana’s expanding interest in niche crops.

NSF Boost for Tech Research: Louisiana Tech won a $954,000 National Science Foundation grant to expand engineering research capacity and fund six doctoral fellows through the EPSCoR Graduate Fellowship Program. AI Workforce in Hammond: Southeastern Louisiana University will host an AI-focused Industry Connect Distinguished Lecture Sept. 17 with Envoc founder Calvin Fabre, creator of Louisiana’s LA Wallet digital driver’s license app, discussing how AI is reshaping work and digital identity. Drone Training Gets FAA Certified: Southern University’s drone certification class earned FAA certification, training students (and the public) on airspace rules and practical uses like land surveying. Local Tech for Public Safety: Sterlington secured a $4,725 state grant to install surveillance cameras aimed at illegal dumping and littering, with police and code enforcement reviewing footage. Cybersecurity Shock in Louisiana: A New Orleans-based ID verification firm, IDScan, is under investigation after reports that a dark-web service offered scans tied to 150+ million U.S. and Canadian driver’s licenses. SpaceX Traffic Planning: Lafayette is reviving expressway planning to handle equipment and traffic tied to a planned SpaceX project in Vermilion Parish. Military Tech Update: The first F-15EX Eagle II for Kadena Air Base, Japan, departed Boeing’s St. Louis plant, marking a major Indo-Pacific modernization step.

AI Compute Race: Anthropic’s $35B Lambda deal highlights how frontier AI is constrained by power, chips, and physical sites—an unusual three-way setup ties Anthropic’s training to Nvidia-supplied GPUs and Lambda’s cloud at Hut 8’s Texas campus. Data Center Backlash: A growing wave of opposition to new data centers is spreading beyond North Carolina, fueled by concerns about water, noise, and AI’s broader impact—often amplified by online misinformation. Cybersecurity & IDs: The FBI is investigating a dark-web service allegedly selling scans of 153M U.S. and Canadian driver’s licenses, raising alarms about identity verification systems. Louisiana Tech & Education: Louisiana Tech lists Summer 2026 graduates, while Louisiana’s National Education Scorecard reports strong reading and math growth—alongside ongoing debate over K-12 funding. Public Safety & Health: New Orleans flood protection officials spent $23,000 probing alleged email access and bug sweeps, and a teen died after a brain-eating amoeba infection. Energy & Industry: Hyundai’s Louisiana steel project faces scrutiny as hydrogen plans remain unclear, even as the company touts lower emissions than coal-based steelmaking.

Identity & Cybersecurity: The FBI is investigating a dark-web service (“Nexus”) allegedly selling digital scans of 153+ million U.S. and Canadian driver’s licenses, with reporting pointing to a New Orleans-based identity verification firm as a likely source—raising alarms about how third-party ID checks can turn into permanent, sellable copies. Coastal Science & Mapping: Near Space Labs partnered with USM’s Gulf Blue to map Gulf Coast shorelines and wetlands from about 45,000 feet, aiming to track erosion and storm-driven change for faster, better decisions. AI in Education: Two Louisiana-area perspectives clash in back-to-school debate—one teacher argues for productive AI use, while another bans it outright—highlighting the policy fight over how students should use AI. Autonomous Aviation: Elroy Air says it completed the first uncrewed autonomous cargo flights under the FAA/USDOT eVTOL Integration Pilot Program in Houma, a Gulf Coast test for drone logistics. Energy & Industry: A $25.5M Carencro expansion will add 129 jobs for aerospace/defense precision manufacturing, while Iberville Parish moves to revive an industrial development board to speed infrastructure for new projects. Data Centers & Power: PwC projects AI infrastructure investment could reach $31.6T by 2050, with power supply shaping where growth lands.

Space & Tech in Louisiana: SpaceX is planning a $100 billion Starbase-style spaceport in Vermilion Parish, with multiple launch complexes and major job creation, while state leaders frame it as an economic diversification win. Wetlands & Wildlife: A Vermilion Parish wetlands story is getting attention again: whooping cranes near the planned Starbase Louisiana area produced 10 chicks, a rare rebound tied to long-running restoration work. Health & Research: North Oaks Medical Center earned American Heart Association Stroke Gold Plus recognition for evidence-based stroke care, including rapid clot-dissolving treatment and better outcomes for patients with Type 2 diabetes. State Tech Upgrades: Louisiana OMV is rolling out a new computer system aimed at cutting delays and wait times after years of outages and complicated workflows. Industry & Energy: CITGO is advancing a $310 million Lake Charles Refinery Depentanizer Project to boost gasoline-blend production and flexibility. Local STEM & Agriculture: Northeast Louisiana Research Station’s 96th Annual Field Day highlighted seed preservation, garden trials, and LSU AgCenter research. Policy Watch: The U.S. House passed a stopgap funding bill extending federal operations through Dec. 11, delaying a shutdown fight.

Space & Industry in Louisiana: Gov. Jeff Landry says SpaceX’s Starbase Louisiana in Vermilion Parish could drive thousands of launches and a major jobs boost, with construction targeted for 2027 and first launches in 2029—while other big South Louisiana projects (LNG, steel, and more) stack up alongside it. Cybersecurity & Identity Theft: An FBI inquiry is underway after a dark-web service allegedly sold digital scans of 153M+ U.S. and Canadian drivers licenses, with hints that images were collected via a Louisiana-based identity verification provider. Health & Research: Tulane researchers are using AI to speed the search for higher-temperature superconductors, and a major diabetes study highlights infection risk as a serious, often-overlooked threat across diabetes types. Environment & Water Tech: LSU and URI won a $4M NSF grant to advance wetland science and restoration planning, and 374Water is bringing PFAS destruction tech to WEFTEC in New Orleans. Public Safety Tech: NOPD is rolling out a public dashboard for drone usage as privacy concerns keep rising. Local Infrastructure: The U.S. Army Corps advanced the plan to replace New Orleans’ Industrial Canal lock after completing the environmental review.

AI & Risk: A new look at the Three Mile Island meltdown argues AI investors may be underpricing “populist” backlash risk—how a country hosting most of the AI buildout could decide it doesn’t want it nearby. Critical Infrastructure in Louisiana: 374Water is back at WEFTEC in New Orleans, pitching supercritical water oxidation as a new waste-destruction category aimed at PFAS, biosolids, and organic waste. Space & Cybersecurity: SpaceX’s $60B Cursor acquisition is tied to reports that Russian-speaking hackers already weaponized the AI coding tool against at least seven companies. Defense Tech: American Rheinmetall delivered the first Lynx XM30 prototype to the U.S. Army, starting developmental and performance testing as it competes to replace the Bradley. Energy Buildout: ONE Nuclear Energy’s “Project Cayman” would add a 2.88 GW gas plant plus a large battery storage system near Ascension Parish’s RiverPlex MegaPark. Storm Watch: Tropical Storm Edouard is strengthening and expected to make landfall near the Texas–Louisiana border, with warnings for both coasts. Health Policy: A federal judge stayed a mifepristone lawsuit through Dec. 1, keeping current access rules in place for now. Local Tech & Privacy: New Orleans police drone use faces renewed privacy pressure as the ACLU and Eye on Surveillance call for a pause.

Data Centers & Research: An LSUS professor says Louisiana needs an independent geospatial and environmental research institute to study the impacts of massive data-center builds in northwest Louisiana, including air and water quality and industrial activity. Public Transit Tech: Shreveport unveiled SporTran’s first autonomous electric shuttle for the Shreveport-Bossier area, backed by nearly $1 million in federal funding. Space & Storm Readiness: Gov. Jeff Landry says official permits for SpaceX’s “Starbase Louisiana” will land within six months, with the site designed to handle Louisiana’s harsh weather. Energy Resilience: Entergy is hardening Louisiana’s grid with modern infrastructure to reduce outage risk and speed restoration during severe storms. Surveillance Backlash: New Orleans faces renewed scrutiny over drones and automated surveillance, while nationwide nurses protest Palantir’s healthcare and law-enforcement tech. Local Tech in Law Enforcement: DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office added a live-streaming camera rig to its beagles to improve search-and-rescue decisions. Healthcare Tech & Recognition: Rapides Regional Medical Center unveiled a new “Community Heart” sculpture, and Starr Regional Medical Center honored a long-serving nurse with the DAISY Lifetime Achievement Award. Consumer Tech & Privacy: Verizon says it’s ready for Tropical Storm Edouard with backup power and satellite messaging, while a Texas city debates Flock license-reader privacy and accountability.

Nuclear + Data Centers: ONE Nuclear signed a binding LOI for Louisiana’s Project Cayman, a 2.88 GW natural gas plant paired with a 700 MW / 2.88 GWh battery system and a co-located high-capacity data center campus, positioning it near major transmission buildout and close to SpaceX-linked infrastructure. Cancer Tech: Tulane researchers are testing an AI + high-res 3D imaging approach (MAGIC-SCAN) aimed at telling surgeons within minutes whether cancer margins are clear, potentially cutting the wait for pathology results. Flood Forecasting: ICEYE and the Water Institute’s FloodID are expanding predictive flood modeling for U.S. insurers and emergency managers, updating forecasts as new observations arrive—built from Louisiana flood challenges. Space Tech: NASA launched a new space telescope/“space telegraph” mission to probe dark matter and dark energy on a million-mile journey. Energy + Fertilizer: Blue Point One broke ground on a $3.7B ammonia plant in Louisiana, targeting 1.4 million metric tons annually by 2029 to boost domestic fertilizer supply. Grid + AI Demand: A new report highlights how rising energy demand from data centers and cooling needs is driving higher residential utility bills. Public Safety Tech: ICEYE predictive flood modeling and Louisiana’s broader tech push also show up alongside surveillance-camera policy debates, including how funding flows into Flock camera networks.

Space & Industry: SpaceX is moving from talk to construction mode, planning a $100B Starbase on Louisiana’s Gulf Coast with 10 Starship launch pads and deep-water logistics, with early work starting in 2027 and first pads targeted for 2029. Autonomous Transit: SporTran launched Louisiana’s first self-driving public bus pilot in Shreveport, using a federal grant and a 12-passenger vehicle with a licensed driver behind the wheel while the system is tested. Energy & Climate Policy: A proposed Evergreen Sequestration carbon capture injection project in the Starks–DeQuincy–Fields–Hyatt area is drawing grassroots scrutiny over redacted plans and concerns about CO2 pipeline routes. STEM & Workforce: LSU engineering students are networking through Engineering Tiger Connections, highlighting robotics and career pathways. Health Tech: LSU Pennington Biomedical researchers won an NIH award to build a digital platform helping teens with ADHD learn to drive with parents and clinicians. Local Tech in Education: Louisiana BESE approved new fitness-based physical education standards starting 2027–28, shifting from worksheets to active demonstrations and standardized testing. Environment: Researchers found the Gulf of Mexico’s “dead zone” was smaller than expected this year, tied to higher-oxygen water after Tropical Storm Bertha.