AGP Executive Report

AI in Vermont politics: An AI-generated deepfake video of Rep. Becca Balint is circulating on Vermont social media, with lawmakers now testing how new state disclosure rules will apply to election ads and videos. Public safety tech: Vermont schools reported “swatting” bomb threats using garbled AI voices; officials say the threats were hoaxes, but the incidents show how quickly AI can be weaponized. Health research: A new review links pesticide exposure during pregnancy and early childhood to higher risk of childhood leukemia and brain tumors, with the strongest signals around prenatal exposure. Brain science: UVM researchers report menopause-related changes in resting brain activity across pre-, peri-, and post-menopause stages, pointing to hormone fluctuations as a key driver. Workplace retirement policy: The U.S. Department of Labor’s proposal to expand 401(k) access to alternative investments is moving forward after a massive comment surge—supporters call it “democratizing” wealth-building, critics warn about fees and risk. Microplastics push: California AG Rob Bonta joined multistate comments urging the EPA to expand monitoring of microplastics in drinking water. Local quality of life: St. Albans City Council tackled downtown noise and renewed complaints about a sulphurous smell from a milk treatment plant.

AI Oversight Debate: Sen. Bernie Sanders says the U.S. should slow AI’s rollout with a federal moratorium on new data centers and push for public ownership stakes in major AI firms, arguing Big Tech shouldn’t decide how AI affects jobs and society. Health Tech & Care Access: Vermont regulators approved a freestanding multi-specialty surgery center in Hartford, aiming to cut wait times and expand outpatient options in the Upper Valley. Neuroscience in Vermont: UVM researchers report menopause-related changes in brain activity across pre-, peri-, and post-menopause stages, linking shifts to estrogen fluctuations. Public Safety & Tech Misuse: Vermont school districts faced “swatting” bomb threats using garbled AI-generated calls; officials say the threats were hoaxes. Energy & Aviation: Burlington’s Beta Technologies highlighted progress toward FAA certification for its electric air taxis, with new manufacturing activity tied to Vermont’s airport expansion. Climate & Food: Brattleboro’s BMAC hosts a talk on how climate change is reshaping Vermont winemaking, with local winemakers discussing adaptation. Science & Policy: A review links pesticide exposure during pregnancy and early childhood to higher risks of childhood leukemia and brain tumors.

Public Health Research: A new review links pesticide exposure during pregnancy and early childhood to higher risks of childhood leukemia and brain tumors, with the strongest signals around acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Vermont Energy & Grid: In Vergennes, a proposed battery energy storage system is paused after neighbors raised safety concerns, even as advocates say storage is key for making solar and wind more reliable. Vermont Tech & Community Data: The Pride Center of Vermont is relaunching as an online organization, using community mapping research to guide a statewide “infrastructure” approach for LGBTQ support. STEM Education & Youth: Vermont Envirothon wrapped up with teams competing in forestry, soils, aquatics, wildlife, and current environmental issues; Hannaford Career Center won and will represent Vermont at nationals. Local Science Learning: Jason Chin, a Caldecott Medal-winning children’s author/illustrator known for science-and-nature books, visits Richland Library June 17. Policy & Privacy: Advocates say Vermont’s new data privacy law won’t do enough to protect consumers from Big Tech. AI & Safety: An ACLU lawsuit alleges police relied too heavily on facial recognition AI, leading to a wrongful arrest. Construction & Tech: PC Construction’s Shawn Walsh Hockey Center and Alfond Arena renovation earned major industry awards, highlighting engineering and safety work.

Vermont Policy & Health: Vermont’s first-in-the-nation ban on paraquat is now law, targeting an herbicide linked to Parkinson’s disease and pushing growers toward alternatives. AI & Public Safety: An ACLU lawsuit argues law enforcement leaned too hard on AI facial recognition, leading to a false arrest in a dropped child-luring case. Data Privacy: Vermont’s new data privacy law is headed to Gov. Phil Scott’s desk, but advocates say it won’t meaningfully rein in Big Tech’s data practices. Tech & Society: Middlebury economist Caitlin Myers’ research claims smartphone diffusion after the iPhone’s 2007 launch helped drive a decline in U.S. births, sparking fresh debate over phones, relationships, and fertility. Research & Environment: SUNY Plattsburgh’s Lake Champlain Research Institute unveiled a new research boat, the R/V Leptodora, to upgrade Lake Champlain science with modern sonar and gear. STEM in Vermont Classrooms: GEMS students showcased a year-long gravel wetland project designed to filter runoff into Lake Champlain. Rural Tech & Economy: UVM’s Leahy Institute will host the RISE Summit on AI and the future rural economy, bringing community leaders and researchers together. Infrastructure & Resilience: Montpelier approved $81,040 to plan a “River’s Edge Master Plan” for flood mitigation and dam removal. Construction Innovation: Postech Killington is expanding engineered screw pile foundations and ledge pinning across Rutland and Windsor counties for faster builds on rocky terrain. Federal Tech Policy: A federal court vacated a Trump-era $100,000 H-1B fee policy, a win for universities and research pipelines.

Electric Air Mobility: Vermont-based Beta Technologies’ Alia 250 drew major attention in a futuristic eVTOL demo over Burlington Airport, with claims of much lower operating costs than helicopters. Broadband Expansion: Fidium is extending 100% fiber service in Shelburne, bringing symmetrical multi-gig speeds to thousands more homes and businesses. Public Land Governance: Vermont’s push for formal rulemaking on state land management planning is framed as a chance to demand real public accountability backed by science. Health & Brain Research: UVM researchers report menopause rewires brain activity during “resting state” scans, linking estrogen shifts to changes that may relate to midlife cognitive decline. Tech in Elections: An AI-generated video targeting Rep. Becca Balint highlights how synthetic media is already showing up in Vermont campaign messaging. Cybersecurity Policy: U.S. Sen. Rick Scott introduced bills aimed at tightening cybersecurity oversight for maritime infrastructure and critical systems. STEM for Students: Bonnyvale Environmental Education Center hosted a solar sprint competition in Brattleboro, with student teams building and racing solar-powered vehicles. Community Tech & Learning: Vermont’s chronic absenteeism law targets getting students back in classrooms, citing education outcomes tied to attendance. Innovation Exhibit: Smithsonian’s “Spark! Places of Innovation” is coming to Bellows Falls libraries, spotlighting how rural communities drive invention.

Vermont Research & Health: UVM researchers report that menopause reshapes brain activity, with estrogen shifts tied to changes that may help explain cognitive symptoms and later dementia risk. Higher Ed & Science Careers: Vermont State Colleges granted emeritus status to Dr. Helen Mango, a longtime Castleton geology and chemistry professor. Tech & Infrastructure: Fidium expanded its all-fiber service in Shelburne, bringing symmetrical multi-gig speeds to more than 2,100 homes and businesses. Public Health & Policy: Vermont signed a new law aimed at reducing chronic absenteeism, targeting the post-pandemic drop in daily school attendance. Local Learning & Tools: A Burlington-area education report highlights students losing a critical learning tool, while a separate letter argues school tech AI features are undermining basic supports like spell-check. Workforce Development: Northwest Career and Technical Center held a Skilled Trades Signing Day as students locked in future careers in health care, construction, manufacturing, and more. Space & Biotech: AST SpaceMobile set a June 17 launch date for BlueBird satellites, and Vermont-linked BioSapien won a regional Startup World Cup biotech prize for a 3D-printed drug delivery platform.

Maine Senate Primary: Voters head to the polls Tuesday in a high-stakes Democratic contest for the chance to challenge Sen. Susan Collins, with Graham Platner’s campaign still roiled by recent allegations and scrutiny over past conduct. UVM Health Workforce Training: UVM Health’s Project SEARCH program is celebrating graduates who spent a year rotating through real hospital departments, building workplace skills and exploring health care careers. Flu Treatment Breakthrough: UVM researchers report an “accidental” lab finding that H1N1 and H3N2 invade lung cells via different routes, pointing to more targeted antiviral design. Electric Aircraft Manufacturing: Beta Technologies is stepping into the spotlight with Alia flight demonstrations and expanded production plans in Vermont. Public Health in Burlington: The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America is bringing a free education and caregiving conference to Burlington on July 15. Legal/Tech Immigration: A federal judge struck down Trump’s proposed $100,000 H-1B fee as an unlawful tax, a win for employers relying on skilled foreign workers. Energy Storage Debate: Battery storage projects are drawing local pushback and safety-and-siting questions, including in Vergennes. Vermont Health Research: UVM’s heart-brain researchers are hosting a public symposium supported by a renewed NIH grant.

Electric Aviation in Vermont: Beta Technologies is ramping up production of its all-electric Alia aircraft in Burlington, building conventional and VTOL variants and preparing charging-infrastructure support as it targets meaningful future output. Biomedical Research: UVM’s Vermont Center for Cardiovascular and Brain Health celebrates a renewed $12M NIH COBRE grant, backing interdisciplinary heart-brain studies and a public symposium. Public Health & Environment: A new USGS soil model finds PFAS in Vermont and nearby states is largely driven by atmospheric deposition, with soil pH emerging as a key factor for groundwater-relevant monitoring priorities. Energy Storage Debate: Vergennes residents push back on a proposed battery energy storage site, raising safety and aesthetic concerns as developers argue lithium iron phosphate is safer. Wildlife Disease Control: Quebec launches a raccoon rabies “catch and release” vaccination push near the Vermont border, aiming to immunize 800–1,000 animals. Tech Policy & Privacy: Connecticut expands its Data Privacy Act with new data broker rules, geolocation limits, facial recognition restrictions, and added compliance for consumer genetic testing. Workforce Skills: UVM Health’s Project SEARCH program wrapped up with graduates gaining real workplace experience for healthcare careers.

Workforce & Inclusion: UVM Health’s Project SEARCH wrapped up with eight graduates, including a Burlington student with Down syndrome and Type 1 diabetes, highlighting real workplace rotations and independence-building for young adults with disabilities. Local Water Protection: Lewis Creek Association is expanding its LCA Steward Program to slow the spread of aquatic and terrestrial invasive species across Bristol Pond and Monkton Pond, using community monitoring to protect Vermont waterways. School Community Debate: At CVSD, parents and residents continue a polite but stalled fight over a proposed artificial turf field at CVU, with concerns centered on clean drinking water and environmental safety. Public Health & Policy: Vermont became the first state to ban paraquat, a weedkiller tied to Parkinson’s disease, as the state moves toward phased-out use and farmers transition to alternatives. Science & Health Research: UVM microbiology professor Emily Bruce reports a flu entry mechanism difference between H1N1 and H3N2, pointing to new prevention angles. Tech & Education Culture: A national look at parents pushing back on tech in K-12 spotlights how early device rollouts are reshaping school debates.

AI Public Ownership: Sam Altman met Sen. Bernie Sanders after Sanders floated a plan for the public to hold a 50% stake in major AI firms, and Trump also signaled interest in an “American people” equity partnership—an unusual convergence of tech and populist politics. Vermont Tech Policy: Gov. Phil Scott vetoed a data center law meant to curb bill spikes and pollution, drawing sharp criticism from environmental groups and lawmakers. Health & Environment: Vermont became the first state to ban paraquat, a weedkiller tied to Parkinson’s risk, as regulators elsewhere face backlash over how they review paraquat. Local Research & Science: UVM lab work found a key protein (Rab11B) helps explain how different flu strains enter human lungs—pointing to better prevention strategies. STEM in the Community: CCV graduation drew about 500 associate degree recipients, including many first-generation students and veterans. Digital Life & Kids: A national look at “anti-tech” backlash in schools highlights how parents are reacting to heavy-handed classroom tech rollouts. Climate Resilience: Culvert Crawlers is mobilizing Vermonters to monitor culverts and help towns prioritize maintenance after flooding.

AI & Public Ownership: Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders’ push for Americans to hold a 50% stake in AI firms is getting high-level attention—OpenAI CEO Sam Altman met with Sanders and signaled support for the broader idea, while Trump floated a similar “equity for the American people” approach. Data Centers & Vermont Policy: Gov. Phil Scott vetoed a data center law aimed at limiting cost and pollution impacts, drawing fire from environmental groups and lawmakers. PFAS Crackdown: A state-by-state wave of “forever chemical” rules is accelerating, with Vermont among the states moving toward disclosure and restrictions. Health & Environment: Vermont became the first state to ban paraquat, an herbicide linked to Parkinson’s disease. Science Journalism Award: WCAX won a New England Emmy for its Huntington Gorge drought report warning about exposed hazards. Space/Tech in the Air: Vermont-based Beta Technologies showcased its electric aircraft plans, including near-term cargo flights and later certification work. Community Science: Darwin’s Ark is recruiting more cat owners nationwide, including Vermont, for a genetics and behavior study. Workforce Inclusion: UVM Health’s Project SEARCH celebrated graduates with real workplace training for young adults with disabilities. Local Culture: Brattleboro’s Latchis Theatre is leaning into classic-film programming, including a sold-out “Casablanca” return.

AI equity push: OpenAI CEO Sam Altman met with Sen. Bernie Sanders after Sanders floated a plan for the public to take a 50% stake in AI firms, and Trump also signaled interest in a White House partnership that would let Americans benefit from AI success. Data center fight in Montpelier: Gov. Phil Scott vetoed a Vermont law meant to curb unchecked data center growth, drawing fire from lawmakers and environmental groups over power costs and pollution. Public health in the field: Vermont became the first state to ban paraquat, an herbicide linked to Parkinson’s disease, with a phase-out for current users. Vermont science & health: UVM researchers report brain activity differences across menopause stages, pointing to a possible neurological phase tied to hormone shifts. Tech in the sky: Vermont-based Beta Technologies flew media in its all-electric Alia CX300, aiming to reshape short-haul aviation and move toward certification. Local environment & wildlife: Vermont Fish & Wildlife reminded anglers to avoid disturbing spawning sea lamprey in the Connecticut River basin. STEM outreach: UVM Health’s Project SEARCH program graduated eight participants, highlighting workplace skills for young adults with disabilities. Climate watch: A new climate roundup flags data centers’ growing electricity and water footprint as AI demand surges.

AI Wealth Policy: The Trump administration is reportedly in talks with major AI firms about taking equity stakes and seeding “universal basic capital” accounts for Americans—an idea getting bipartisan political momentum. Vermont Tech & Aviation: Burlington-area startup Beta Technologies is showcasing its all-electric Alia CX300 and pushing toward revenue-cargo flights, with certification targeted for late 2027, plus an eVTOL follow-on. UVM Research: UVM researchers report new brain changes across the menopause transition, suggesting menopause may also be a neurological phase. Cyber & Privacy in Vermont Schools: Vermont officials warn that “swatting” bomb threats are becoming more common, including recent AI-generated hoax calls to multiple schools. Public Health & Environment: Vermont is reminding people to avoid disturbing spawning sea lamprey in the Connecticut River system, while national coverage highlights EPA battery-recycling best practices and ongoing microplastics research. Workforce & Inclusion: UVM Health’s Project SEARCH celebrated graduates with real workplace rotations—supporting independence and job skills for young adults with disabilities.

Workforce & Disability Inclusion: UVM Health’s Project SEARCH wrapped up with eight graduates, including a Burlington High School alum who gained real workplace rotations and more independent diabetes management. AI & Public Safety: Vermont school districts are seeing more “swatting” hoax bomb threats driven by AI-generated voices, prompting evacuations and renewed calls for better response readiness. Public Health Research: UVM researchers report a new potential path to flu treatment and prevention by studying how influenza viruses enter human cells. Environmental Policy: Vermont’s AG coalition backed EPA’s push to add microplastics to drinking-water research priorities, urging more monitoring. Wildlife Management: Vermont Fish & Wildlife reminded anglers to avoid disturbing spawning sea lamprey in the Connecticut River basin. Agriculture & Climate Resilience: Smokey House Center won a Farm to School grant to install a Berry Alley Cropping agroforestry system with student planting and soil-health benefits. Tech & Local Economy: Alarm.com is seeking Lawrence city incentives to renovate a downtown building for office expansion. Transportation Safety Regulation: FMCSA is accepting public comment on epilepsy-related commercial driver exemptions from federal rules. Recreation Rules: Vermont tightened wake-boat restrictions with a 500-foot buffer and $300 fines starting June 11.

AI policy in Congress: Rep. Lori Trahan (Westford) and a Republican partner unveiled a bipartisan AI safety bill after weeks of talks, but it’s already sparking backlash from Democrats and tech-safety groups who say it could undercut state efforts on child safety and civil rights. AI ownership talks: Separate reporting says Sam Altman has discussed with senior Trump officials the idea of major AI firms voluntarily giving the federal government equity stakes, with returns potentially funding public goals like a household dividend. Data centers vs. communities: A new national fight is heating up over data centers’ electricity demand, with lawmakers and regulators debating moratoriums and rate protections as local opposition spreads. Vermont clean-tech & aviation: Beta Technologies showed off its all-electric Alia A250 and conventional CX300 in Vermont flight demos, while DeltaClimeVT announced clean-energy pilot projects to test Vermont’s future. Vermont environment & health: Vermont became the first state to ban paraquat, linked to Parkinson’s; Vermont also reminded anglers to avoid disturbing spawning sea lamprey in the Connecticut River basin. Northern lights: NOAA issued a Strong Geomagnetic Storm watch, with a chance the aurora could be visible in Vermont tonight if skies cooperate. STEM workforce pipeline: Vermont’s ACE Aviation Careers Education Academy returns to Hartness State Airport for hands-on STEM and flight exposure for ages 12–16. Local land & learning: Vermont Land Trust honored 2026 Land Steward Awards winners, and schools across Greater Rutland County showcased farm-based learning tied to local food systems.

Northern Lights Watch: NOAA issued a Strong Geomagnetic Storm (G3) watch for tonight, with a chance auroras could dip as far south as Vermont and Massachusetts—though clouds may spoil the view. Clean Energy & Grid Tech: Vermont’s DeltaClimeVT energy accelerator picked four utility-linked pilot projects totaling $110,000, aiming to test cleaner tech for grid reliability and expand EV charging access. Aviation in Vermont: Beta Technologies showcased its all-electric eVTOL Alia A250 during flight demos in Burlington, alongside its conventional CX300, as it pushes toward FAA certification. Broadband Planning: A new look at BEAD implementation urges Vermont lawmakers to keep state broadband offices empowered and staffed so connectivity buildouts don’t stall before deadlines. Education & Workforce: U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon visited Vermont’s Essex-Westford career and technology center amid protests tied to federal workforce-development priorities. Local Tech & Privacy: Commentary flags Manchester’s license plate reader rollout as a surveillance and security risk, citing concerns about access beyond local control. Health & Environment: Vermont’s paraquat ban—linked to Parkinson’s risk—was highlighted as the legislature adjourned, alongside other 2026 policy moves.