AGP Executive Report

Veterans Mental Health: IVHSP filed a petition urging VA to fix a cross-state licensure gap that blocks community-care therapists from following mobile veterans, asking VA to amend 38 C.F.R. § 17.417 so community-care mental health providers get the same federal preemption VA-employed clinicians already have. Local Government & Schools: Toledo Public Schools kicked off community meetings for its “Transformation 2.0” plan as it closes multiple buildings and tackles a $68M deficit; Bulloch County named Torian White, PhD, as sole superintendent finalist ahead of a June 11 contract vote. Healthcare & Caregiving: Georgia Today spotlights Emory’s push to expand access to clinical trials via satellite hospitals; CMS updates keep rolling in on nursing home performance across the state. Public Safety & Infrastructure: Savannah approved “Light Up Savannah” with Georgia Power for LED upgrades and network controls, while Channel 2 raised concerns about school-zone camera tickets outside posted hours. Business & Culture: Hyatt Regency near Truist Park finished a full renovation; Getty awarded $1.8M to expand access to Black visual arts archives.

First Amendment Clash: NetChoice sued to block Nebraska’s new social media rules on age verification, parental consent, and parent “monitoring” of minors’ messages—arguing it violates free speech and minors’ access to online services. Tech & Work: HUANUO debuted its FlowLift™ Pro monitor arms at DreamHack Atlanta, pitching faster setup and smoother adjustments for gamers and creators. Local Politics: With the May 19 election near, Bulloch County voters are getting a candidate-by-candidate look at the County Commission and Board of Education races. Public Health: Georgia is among states tied to a 31-state salmonella outbreak linked to backyard poultry, with CDC reporting most cases involve contact with birds. Health Policy: A new study finds abortion bans are disrupting miscarriage medication care in states with restrictions. Georgia Industry: Gov. Kemp announced HK USA will expand in Columbus with a $13M investment and 35 new jobs. Courts Watch: The U.S. Supreme Court will consider whether federally funded school employees can sue privately under Title IX. Crypto/Markets: Bitcoin ATM operator Bitcoin Depot filed for Chapter 11 and shut down its network.

NBA Conference Finals: The playoffs are down to four teams, and the East matchup is set: Knicks vs. Cavaliers, with New York coming off a second-round sweep and Cleveland surviving a road Game 7. West Finals: The headline clash is Thunder vs. Spurs, with back-to-back MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leading OKC while Victor Wembanyama’s Spurs try to pull off a breakthrough. Public Health: CDC is escalating Ebola response after WHO declared the DRC/Uganda outbreak a public health emergency of international concern, while officials say the risk to the U.S. remains low and won’t confirm reported American exposures. Georgia Tech & Industry: Atlanta’s IPPE spotlighted MOBA’s next-gen egg processing systems built around digital traceability and connected operations. Tech/Policy: The FCC moves toward Auction 114 for new FM opportunities, with a filing freeze tied to the process.

Sports & Local Spotlight: The Braves host the Red Sox Sunday with Atlanta favored at home, while the Aces roll into Atlanta to face the undefeated Dream—Las Vegas is the pick to keep its streak going. Autonomous Vehicles: Residents in Buckhead report a surge of Waymos circling cul-de-sacs for hours, often empty, turning a “robotaxi” rollout into a neighborhood traffic headache. Public Health: The hantavirus cruise story keeps unfolding: Americans remain in quarantine with no positives reported, and a Canadian traveler has a presumptive positive result while final lab confirmation is pending. Georgia Weather & Planning: Georgia’s extended drought remains a live issue, and a practical guide on frost dates by ZIP code is trending for gardeners. Tech & Policy: The FCC’s next FM auction (Auction 114) is set for 2027, with a filing freeze starting May 11—plus a Georgia e-waste researcher is pushing safer, more scalable handling systems. Crypto & Courts: A lawsuit seeks to force Tether to move OFAC-frozen USDT tied to Iran’s IRGC, raising new questions for sanctions compliance.

Public Health Watch: Canada reported a traveler with a presumptive hantavirus positive test after leaving the MV Hondius cruise ship; the patient is stable in isolation while lab confirmation is pending. Georgia Tech & Research: Georgia Tech’s Urban Honeybee Project is spotlighting how tech can track urban habitat impacts on bee health, with honeybees actively monitored on campus rooftops. Consumer Protection: Georgia AG Chris Carr’s Consumer Protection Division says it secured $50M+ in savings and restitution in 2025, including major actions tied to predatory contracts and deceptive schemes. Data Center Politics: New Hampshire’s “Distant Dome” coverage shows states are clashing over local control versus statewide rules for data centers—an issue Georgia communities are watching closely. Local Tech Incident: Waymo robotaxis reportedly got stuck routing into an Atlanta dead-end street, prompting an apology and a fix. Nuclear Debate: An archbishop urged the NNSA to halt plutonium pit production, calling it immoral and challenging the agency’s nonproliferation claims.

FDA Shake-Up: The acting chief of the FDA’s drug center was fired days after the commissioner’s exit, keeping pressure on how the agency regulates medicines. Food Culture: A “biblical eating” trend is going mainstream online, with influencers claiming it helps everything from depression to skin—while the FDA’s broader push to clean up the food supply stays in the spotlight. Georgia Tech Buzz: Georgia Tech’s rooftops are alive with the Urban Honeybee Project, turning a sustainability lab into a real-world classroom for how cities affect pollinators. Sports & Local Talent: Georgia Southern’s women’s basketball coach Heather Macy has assembled a new 2026-27 staff, while the Braves and Red Sox keep trading blows in a tight early-series matchup. Health Watch: Hantavirus monitoring continues to shift across states as officials stress risk is still low in the U.S. Tech & Capital: Atlanta-based Silicon Road Ventures launched an India-focused agentic AI fund with an option to expand into the U.S.

Hantavirus Response Escalates: Two more people tied to the MV Hondius outbreak were moved from Emory in Atlanta to a Nebraska quarantine unit, as CDC/WHO officials stress the risk to the general public remains low and that Andes virus spreads mainly through close contact with infected rodents. Public Health Messaging: Federal leaders—including the White House and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.—are getting daily updates, while guidance highlights disinfectants and monitoring of exposed residents. Georgia Tech & Science in the Spotlight: Emory physicist Justin Burton is taking lab work to classrooms, and a new study out of Emory and Baylor is probing whether psilocybin could affect aging biology beyond the brain. Education & Community: Atlanta Public Schools earned a “District on the Rise” nod for faster math/reading recovery, while Georgia charter authorizers approved new funding and renewals. Local Life: Nicholson’s library is launching free summer meal bags for kids, no eligibility checks.

AI Security: Microsoft says its MDASH multi-modal agentic scanning harness beat Anthropic’s Mythos Preview on UC Berkeley’s CyberGym benchmark (88.4% vs 83.1%), using 100+ specialized agents to find and assess real-world vulnerabilities. Public Health: WHO updated the MV Hondius hantavirus outbreak to 10 cases (including 3 deaths) after the CDC confirmed one earlier inconclusive U.S. test was negative; CDC says 41 people are under monitoring in Nebraska and Georgia, with risk to the general public “extremely low.” Georgia Tech & Business: Airia launched “Form Review Step,” adding a human verification checkpoint for AI-extracted documents before they enter regulated systems of record. Local Life: A UGA student died after jumping from a cliff into Alabama’s Lake Martin while celebrating graduation. Policy Watch: Georgia insurance and fire safety commissioner candidates face questions on tort reform, AI use, and rate requests ahead of the May 19 Democratic primary. Environment: Georgia’s loggerhead nesting season is underway, with early nests reported on St. Catherines and Cumberland.

WNBA & NFL buzz: The WNBA schedule hits a double-header night as Arike Ogunbowale looks set to keep rolling for Dallas, with props pointing to another high-scoring game. The NFL’s 2026 slate is out too, and the early talk is all about who got the kinder start and who didn’t. Georgia Power fight: Environmental groups are pushing the Georgia Public Service Commission to force Georgia Power to share more fuel-cost burden with ratepayers, arguing the utility’s coal decisions cost customers $152 million. World Cup heat pressure: Climate scientists and World Weather Attribution warn FIFA’s heat protections are still too weak, with about a quarter of matches projected to hit dangerous conditions. DeKalb public safety: DeKalb County approved a $26.5M contract for three new fire stations, including moves in Tucker, Decatur, and Lithonia. Local crime: Police say a suspect is in custody after a fatal Beltline stabbing. Education wins: Madison County High School earned AP Honor School status, and Georgia named 316 schools statewide as AP Honor Schools for 2026. Health watch: CDC says it’s monitoring Americans exposed to the hantavirus outbreak tied to the MV Hondius, with public risk still described as low.

Medical Cannabis Expansion: Gov. Brian Kemp signed Georgia’s SB 220, widening the state’s medical marijuana program—adding new qualifying conditions like lupus and letting cardholders legally vape for faster relief, while also replacing the old 5% THC cap with a new possession limit. Public Utilities Spotlight: Ten candidates are competing for two seats on the Georgia Public Service Commission in the May 19 primary, a race that can directly shape Georgia Power decisions and customer bills. Health Watch: A daily multivitamin may help slow biological aging in older adults, according to a new clinical analysis. Tech & Policy: Georgia’s SB 540 moves the state into the chatbot-safety spotlight with disclosure, child protections, privacy controls, and crisis-response rules. Culture: The Library of Congress added major pop and music milestones—Taylor Swift’s “1989,” Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies,” and more—to the National Recording Registry. Outbreak Update: An oncologist tied to the hantavirus cruise outbreak has been cleared to leave Nebraska’s isolation unit.

Cybersecurity Funding: Georgia just announced nearly $9.9M in state and local cybersecurity grants for 44 entities, with extra focus on protecting K-12 schools as cyber threats keep hitting classrooms. Elections Overhaul: Gov. Kemp called lawmakers back for a special session to redraw voting maps and fix a looming ballot problem tied to QR codes ahead of November. Medical Cannabis Expansion: Kemp signed SB 220, expanding Georgia’s medical cannabis program—adding new qualifying conditions and allowing vaping for patients. Data Center Water Pressure: The week’s biggest Georgia tech story remains the fallout from reports that a major data center used tens of millions of gallons of water without paying, intensifying scrutiny on oversight and local impacts. Public Safety & Schools: Decatur delayed a major early learning center financing decision, while Covington is weighing a parent-liability ordinance aimed at curbing youth crime tied to recurring disorder. Health Watch: The hantavirus cruise response continues, with U.S. passengers still in federal quarantine as CDC testing and monitoring play out.

Solar & Resilience: CKR Solar won a 2026 FlaSEIA Award for a Tampa Bay project combining residential solar, battery storage, and vehicle-to-home charging—an upgrade built for reliability in storm-prone Florida. Mortgage Automation: Candor Technology integrated with Freddie Mac’s AIM Check API to automate W-2 income calculations, aiming to cut manual steps in loan origination. Crypto Lending: Coinbase added Solana as eligible collateral for USDC-backed non-custodial loans (up to $100,000), with a 70% loan-to-value cap. AI & Linux for Builders: Red Hat unveiled AI-focused desktop options at its Atlanta summit, including Red Hat Desktop and Fedora Hummingbird Linux for developers working with OpenShift. Georgia Schools Under Pressure: Emory research finds lunch debt is spreading statewide, with more than 1 in 20 students carrying some debt and food insecurity hitting about one in three families. World Cup Housing Alarm: Residents in host cities are warning that short-term rental boosts could tighten supply and push rents higher during the tournament. Right Whale Hope: North Atlantic right whales saw their best calving season in 15+ years, with 23 calves spotted—still a fragile rebound.

Hantavirus Quarantine Watch: Georgia is again in the middle of the MV Hondius fallout, with two patients treated at Emory and more Americans placed into federal quarantine as officials monitor possible Andes strain exposure; experts are urging calm, saying it’s not spreading like COVID, but questions are growing about how contagious it may be in close-quarters settings. Data Center Backlash: A DeKalb County vote on data-center zoning is kicked to June 23, while the week’s biggest outrage keeps building after reports that a Blackstone-owned QTS facility used about 30 million gallons of water without paying during a drought. Local Power Moves: Kemp signed a bill making some metro Atlanta local races nonpartisan starting in 2028, drawing sharp claims of unfairness from critics. Public Safety Tech: Carrollton police completed Project Lifesaver training, adding tracking for people prone to wandering. Water Funding: GEFA approved $74.7M in loans for water, wastewater, and solid-waste projects across 14 communities. Education Leadership: Carroll County schools are reshuffling top roles ahead of next year as a new superintendent prepares to take over.

Hantavirus Watch: Health officials are monitoring four Californians tied to the Dutch cruise ship MV Hondius after three passengers were identified; one was exposed on a flight near a returning passenger, and two others were moved to secure care in Nebraska while others return home—risk to the public is described as “extremely low.” Georgia Sports & Doping: World Rugby handed Georgia’s men’s team a major anti-doping blow—former captain Merab Sharikadze gets an 11-year ban, plus long suspensions for players and the team doctor over urine sample substitution. State Budget: Gov. Kemp signs the FY2027 Georgia budget Tuesday—$38.5B, up about 2%, with priorities including early childhood literacy, foster care support, disability services, health insurance funding, and cost-of-living adjustments. Tech & Education: Instructure says it reached an agreement with Canvas hackers to delete stolen data after finals chaos, following ShinyHunters’ ransom threats. AI Infrastructure Pushback: Corporate clean-energy demand stays strong even as incentives shift, with CEBA reporting record procurement momentum.

Data Center Scrutiny Hits DeKalb: DeKalb County is moving toward new zoning rules for data centers, with a May 12 public hearing and a June 2 committee-of-the-whole deep dive on a proposal tied to a 2 million-square-foot Ellenwood facility. Water-Use Backlash Escalates: A separate report says a Georgia-area data center used about 30 million gallons of water through unaccounted-for connections before residents complained—fueling outrage as drought conditions persist. School Construction Funding Fight: Decatur City Schools will consider a costlier financing switch for its Early Childhood Learning Center, potentially avoiding a referendum but raising interest-rate pressure. Public Health Watch in Georgia: Georgia Department of Public Health says two people linked to the hantavirus cruise outbreak are being transported to Emory for monitoring, with officials stressing low public risk. Tech & Jobs: ProSat Networks is expanding professional Starlink and wireless installs across Georgia, while a Cocoa job fair (Erdman Automotive) targets automotive hiring. AI Manufacturing Push: Georgia Tech is rolling out an AI-driven manufacturing testbed aimed at bridging lab tools to real factory use.

NBA Playoffs: The Knicks steamrolled the 76ers 144-114 in Philadelphia to sweep the series and lock up a spot in the Eastern Conference finals again, with a record-setting 11 threes in the first quarter and a road-fan takeover that even Josh Hart couldn’t resist needling. Public Health: Seventeen Americans exposed to a hantavirus outbreak on the MV Hondius are being monitored in Nebraska and Atlanta after arriving from the Canary Islands; one passenger is “mildly PCR positive” and is in a biocontainment unit while the rest are quarantined for up to 42 days. Georgia Watch: A Texas firm is seeking permission to drill two exploratory oil wells in rural Quitman County—potentially the first new oil exploration in Georgia since 2014—sparking renewed groundwater and environmental concerns. Tech & Health: Biozen won FDA clearance for a cuffless fingertip blood pressure device, aiming for a broader U.S. launch later this year. Metro Atlanta: A new study flags sprawl’s hit to affordability, transportation costs, and fatal crash risk.