AGP Executive Report

Social Media Accountability: A landmark trial in Oakland is putting Meta and Google on the hook for alleged child-safety harms, with 29 states seeking up to $1.4 trillion and major design changes to Facebook and Instagram. AI & Energy Infrastructure: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott ordered limits on new data centers over power-grid reliability concerns, as AI demand strains electricity supply. Colorado River Water Cuts: Federal rules for 2027–2028 keep New Mexico in the “no set cuts” group, while Arizona, California and Nevada face steep reductions as Lake Mead and Lake Powell hit record lows. New Mexico Tech & Public Safety: New Mexico AG Raúl Torrez highlighted the Crime Gun Intelligence Center’s ballistic-tech results, linking recovered guns to cases across jurisdictions. Uranium & Tribal Health: Reporting on the White Mesa uranium mill spotlights Ute Mountain Ute concerns as the U.S. pushes to expand domestic nuclear fuel. Local Tech Access: Bayard Public Library added a grant-funded digital navigator for free one-on-one tech help and workshops. Wildfire Impacts: Frijoles Fire’s growth is raising fears for Santa Cruz Lake tributaries and downstream flooding risks.

Renewables & Energy Supply: A new AP report spotlights how GE Vernova dominates U.S. wind turbine supply, with SunZia Wind Farm in New Mexico reaching 3.5 gigawatts and underscoring how a few manufacturers shape the clean-energy buildout. Nuclear Policy: California’s Diablo Canyon retirement fight is back in the spotlight as officials consider extending the plant again, arguing nuclear as a “bridge” for emissions-free power. Tech & Local Impact: Oracle’s Project Jupiter data center push in Doña Ana County faces scrutiny over secrecy, public outreach, and community backlash as the facility grows tied to OpenAI computing plans. Public Safety Tech: New Mexico AG Raúl Torrez announced progress from the Crime Gun Intelligence Center, using ballistic technology and cross-jurisdiction coordination to link guns to shootings and solve cold cases. Water & Climate Risk: Federal officials set major Colorado River cuts for California, Nevada, and Arizona, intensifying drought pressure across the Southwest and raising stakes for planning and conservation. AI & Kids Lawsuit: A landmark trial opens against Meta over alleged addictive design and child data practices, with states seeking up to $1.4 trillion and families pushing for product changes. Health & Community Tech Access: Bayard Public Library adds a grant-funded digital navigator for free one-on-one help, aiming to close the local digital divide. Wildfire Aftermath: Frijoles Fire coverage highlights smoke and downstream flood concerns as monsoon rains loom and drought conditions worsen.

Colorado River Water Cuts: Federal officials finalized a two-year plan forcing major reductions for California, Nevada and Arizona as Lake Powell and Lake Mead hit record lows, with Arizona facing the steepest cuts while upper-basin states including New Mexico avoid mandatory reductions for now. Local Tech for Digital Equity: Bayard Public Library added a grant-funded “digital navigator” for free one-on-one tech help, plus workshops and tools like printing, scanning and mobile Wi‑Fi hotspots. Meta Child-Safety Trial Fallout: Prince Harry and Meghan backed a landmark case by 29 states accusing Meta of designing Facebook and Instagram to harm children, framing it as a business choice tied to data and engagement. New Mexico Higher Ed Pressure: New Mexico’s two largest universities received a Trump administration letter urging public commitments on admissions, free speech, research and academic rigor. Public Safety Tech in Santa Fe: Santa Fe police used an expanded drone program to track and relocate a bear near schools after a $2M approval. Animal Health Watch: USDA and partners are monitoring the return of New World Screwworm, warning the risk is currently low but urging vigilance for symptoms in animals. Science & Space History: A New Mexico-linked look at how scientists prepared for the Trinity nuclear test highlights how measurement and success criteria shaped the historic experiment.

Colorado River Water Cuts: The Interior Department finalized 2027–2028 operating rules, ordering major reductions for California, Nevada and Arizona (1.25 million acre-feet annually, plus 700,000 acre-feet in voluntary conservation), while upper-basin states including New Mexico avoid mandatory cuts for now as Lake Powell and Lake Mead hit record lows. Local Water Impacts: A New Mexico column highlights Elephant Butte Lake’s collapse to about 2% of conservation capacity and the knock-on effects for ramps, farmers and tourism. Meta Child-Safety Trial: In Oakland, a landmark multistate case against Meta opened with claims that Facebook/Instagram were built to “hook, hold, harvest and hide” data on kids, with up to $1.4 trillion at stake. Geothermal for AI Power: Ormat Technologies is pivoting to AI-driven enhanced geothermal systems (EGS), using oilfield-style techniques and signing power deals aimed at supplying data centers. Autonomous Trucks in NM/TX: Atlas and Kodiak plan to scale driverless oilfield fleets from 28 to 100 trucks, with public-road operations targeted for early 2027. STEM Policy Push: States including Tennessee are expanding advanced math pathways, while New Mexico universities are reviewing a federal higher-education letter tied to admissions, research and free speech. Tech & Privacy at Home: Taos residents join a national effort to resist Flock automated license plate readers after the town ended its contract.

Colorado River Water Cuts: The Bureau of Reclamation finalized a two-year operating plan for 2027–2028, ordering Arizona, California and Nevada to cut a combined 1.25 million acre-feet per year, with possible larger reductions if conditions worsen—while Upper Basin states including New Mexico avoid mandatory cuts for now. Local Tech in Action: Santa Fe police used a newly expanded $2M drone program to track and relocate a bear near schools and mobile home parks, showing how surveillance tech is moving from policy to practice. Education & AI: Albuquerque Public Schools is still using the AI reading/tutoring tool Amira, even as some districts opt out over privacy concerns about recording students’ voices. Privacy vs Surveillance: Taos residents are joining a national push against Flock automated license plate readers after the town council ended its contract renewal. Water, Data Centers, and Court Fight: Opponents of Project Jupiter in Santa Teresa filed another emergency petition to challenge groundwater use tied to the AI data center’s construction. STEM Funding via Fun: After federal budget cuts, Colorado researchers launched “Fat Marmot Week” to raise donations for long-running marmot studies. Health Research: A New Mexico–linked study reports bisphosphonate use after HR+ breast cancer diagnosis is tied to lower mortality, while results differ for triple-negative cases. Meta Trial Watch: The first week of a landmark child-safety trial in California opened with states alleging Meta designed Facebook/Instagram to hook kids and mishandled child data.

Meta child-safety trial: A landmark Oakland case pits 29 U.S. states against Meta over claims Facebook and Instagram were engineered to be addictive to kids, with potential penalties that could reach $1.4 trillion and possible forced redesigns. Social media regulation ripple: The same legal fight is also being framed as a broader challenge to how platforms avoid liability, with states arguing they can’t hide behind federal protections. New Mexico tech & health watch: New Mexico health officials warn that a longer mosquito season could extend West Nile risk into the fall, especially for people on immune-modifying meds. Local STEM building: Navajo Preparatory School broke ground on an Indigenous STEAM facility in Farmington, adding maker space and programs in engineering, robotics, and film. Energy & infrastructure: Data centers’ electricity demand is accelerating, reshaping power planning nationwide. Solar research: A study finds shifting sunlight outdoors can cut output from next-gen perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells. Defense manufacturing: U.S. tests containerized low-cost missiles at White Sands, signaling a push for distributed, cheaper strike capacity. Climate + water: Colorado River reservoirs hit record lows again, keeping Southwest water cuts on the table.

Roadless Rule Fight: The Trump administration has filed a proposed rule to rescind the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule nationwide, with a Sept. 21 comment deadline—setting up another clash over wildfire risk, logging access, and protections for millions of acres. AI & Power Demand: A new look at data centers’ electricity appetite warns AI buildouts could rapidly reshape local grids and rates, with projections that data centers may consume a huge share of U.S. power by mid-century. Project Jupiter in NM: Oracle’s OpenAI-linked data center push in southern New Mexico is facing scrutiny over secrecy and community impacts, even as developers ramp up outreach and donations. NM Water Tech Funding: New Mexico is opening a second round of roughly $35 million for brackish groundwater projects, aiming to move from planning into treatment and infrastructure. Local Water Pressure in Deming: Deming is considering a five-year moratorium on transferring city water rights as data center interest grows and the city updates its long-range water plan. UNM Science in the Sky: UNM physics faculty Timothy Dolch is joining NANOGrav research after an NSF award to improve pulsar observations for low-frequency gravitational waves. Meta Child-Safety Trial: A landmark multi-state case accuses Meta of designing Facebook and Instagram to addict children, with potential penalties up to $1.4 trillion. Public Health & Pets: The FDA issued emergency authorization for a dog chewable treatment to address New World screwworm infestations as detections continue. Carson National Forest Security: ATF is offering up to $10,000 rewards after suspected IEDs were turned in near ranger stations in Taos and Rio Arriba counties.

FDA Leadership Shake-Up: President Trump has nominated Dr. Heidi Overton, a UNM-trained physician and White House Domestic Policy Council deputy, to lead the FDA, aiming for faster cures, lower drug prices, and more innovation—after her predecessor’s May resignation left major work unfinished. Meta Youth-Safety Trial: In Oakland, a landmark federal case accuses Meta of engineering Facebook and Instagram to be addictive for kids and mishandling data under age 13; testimony from former Meta engineer Arturo Bejar says the company treated child safety as secondary to growth, with penalties potentially reaching $1.4 trillion. New Mexico Tech & AI Infrastructure Fight: Opponents are pushing a New Mexico Supreme Court challenge over the Project Jupiter air permit process for a planned AI data-center complex in Doña Ana County. Hypersonics in New Mexico: Castelion announced a $1 billion Series C to scale hypersonic missile production at its Sandoval County Project Ranger site. Public Safety Tech: New Mexico’s Crime Gun Intelligence Center says ballistic forensics linked firearms to 527 crimes across the state since December 2025. Health Policy: New Mexico will keep full childhood vaccine recommendations despite a Trump executive order aimed at reducing the routine schedule.

FDA Leadership Shake-Up: President Trump has nominated Dr. Heidi Overton, a UNM School of Medicine alum and White House health-policy aide, to lead the FDA—raising immediate scrutiny as the agency faces vaccine and drug-policy fights. Public Health & Vaccines: New Mexico health officials say they’ll keep full childhood vaccine recommendations despite a Trump executive order aimed at reducing the routine schedule. Food Safety: CDC data suggests U.S. cyclospora cases linked to recalled Mexican iceberg lettuce may be trending down, though thousands of confirmed and probable cases remain. New Mexico Tech & Environment: Opponents of Project Jupiter’s air-quality permit are asking the NM Supreme Court to pause the Sept. 14 hearing, arguing they need more time to prepare. Public Safety Tech: NM’s Crime Gun Intelligence Center says ballistic forensics have connected firearms to 527 crimes and helped drive arrests in 41% of leads. Big Tech & Kids: A landmark multistate trial in Oakland accuses Meta of designing Facebook/Instagram to addict minors and mishandle child data, with penalties potentially reaching $1.4T. Defense Tech: Castelion announced a $1B Series C to scale production of its low-cost hypersonic “Blackbeard” missile. Water & Climate: Lake Mead and Lake Powell hit new historic lows, intensifying Southwest drinking-water and power risks.

Meta Youth Addiction Trial: A landmark federal case in Oakland opened as 29 states accuse Meta of designing Facebook and Instagram to keep children hooked and of mishandling under-13 data, with an internal “teen time spent” goal and the “Young Ones Are The Best Ones” memo cited; Meta denies wrongdoing and says it prioritizes safety. New Mexico Tech & Quantum: Quantinuum is expanding Albuquerque operations, adding a research facility focused on integrated photonics for its trapped-ion quantum computing platform, backed by city and state incentives. Local Tech Jobs: Albuquerque City Council approved millions in tax incentives for cybersecurity, quantum, and space-tech projects tied to 200+ jobs over 10 years. Navajo Museum Dispute: Navajo Code Talker descendants criticized New Mexico’s plan for a scaled-down museum site, saying they weren’t properly consulted. Autonomous Trucks Regulation: States are writing rules as autonomous truck deployments face pushback and litigation, including a Teamsters challenge to California DMV regulations. Climate & Forest Policy: The Trump administration moved ahead with plans to rescind the Roadless Rule, potentially reopening millions of acres to logging and road building. Western Water Stress: Arizona warned of a legal fight over Colorado River cutbacks under the administration’s 10-year plan as reservoirs hit record lows.

Meta Trial (Kids’ Safety): In Oakland federal court, 29 states accuse Meta of designing Facebook and Instagram to addict children, while Meta denies wrongdoing as opening arguments begin and a verdict could force major product and privacy changes. Albuquerque Tech Incentives: The City Council approved more than $40 million in tax incentives for three local tech projects—cybersecurity, quantum computing, and satellite/space tech—aimed at 200+ jobs over 10 years. Forest Policy Shift (Roadless Rule): The Trump administration moves to rescind the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule, a change that could affect about 44 million acres of national forests, including New Mexico units, and intensify wildfire and habitat debate. Public Health (Vaccines): CDC data show kindergarten vaccine coverage slipping (MMR and DTaP both around 92%) while exemptions exceed 4% nationwide amid a major measles surge. Los Alamos Death Mystery: An autopsy for a Los Alamos National Laboratory worker found dead in a remote forest says she died from a gunshot wound, but the manner of death remains undetermined, deepening an FBI-linked investigation. Energy & NM: U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright says New Mexico has “room to grow” in oil and gas as federal permitting and production expansion remain central. AI Climate Impact: A report warns planned Big Tech data centers could drive massive CO2 emissions, colliding with climate targets.

Youth Safety in Social Media: A landmark federal trial starts Tuesday in Oakland as 29 states’ attorneys general—led by California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey—accuse Meta of designing Facebook and Instagram to be addictive for children and of violating child-privacy rules, with plaintiffs seeking up to $1.4 trillion and court-ordered product changes; Meta denies the claims and says it has worked with experts and law enforcement. New Mexico’s Stakes: New Mexico AG Raúl Torrez points to a recent New Mexico loss for Meta that resulted in nearly $1 billion in penalties, raising the pressure for what could come next. Wildfire Air Quality: Frijoles Fire grows past 11,300 acres, and officials warn smoke could drive “very unhealthy” air in Nambe and Española. Geothermal Exploration Tech: Sanborn’s airborne magnetic survey in Nevada is completed to support geothermal drilling by mapping subsurface geology. STEM Education: Society for Science selects 100 educators for its 2026–2027 Advocate Program, funding $326,000 to expand student research and science competitions. Aviation Maintenance: Reliable Airlines appoints Patrick Jemison as VP of Maintenance to oversee airworthiness and compliance for its C208 fleet.

Meta child-safety trial: A coalition of 29 U.S. states is set to begin a landmark federal case in Oakland accusing Meta of designing Facebook and Instagram to hook minors, with potential penalties up to about $1.4 trillion and court-ordered product changes. New Mexico water focus: Rep. Melanie Stansbury highlighted water infrastructure needs in mid-August posts, tying science to rural and tribal support. New Mexico Tech governance: New Mexico Tech staff voted “no confidence” in two administrators, citing alleged harassment, retaliation, and budget mismanagement, and asked for a third-party review. STEM leadership in NM: The Legislative Council named Ethan Watson as the next director of the Legislative Council Service, a key role in bill drafting and legal research. Space & science: New Mexico State University astronomy research suggests strongly magnetized accretion disks around supermassive black holes could form giant planets. Colorado River crisis: Lake Powell hit a record low, underscoring worsening drought pressures across the basin. Public health: A Walmart soup kit recall was issued over possible Listeria contamination. Heat impacts in NM: Emergency-room visits for heat emergencies are rising as record temperatures strain households without air conditioning.

Meta in court over teen safety: A multistate coalition is set to begin a landmark California trial against Meta over claims Facebook and Instagram were designed to hook children, with states seeking up to $1.4 trillion and sweeping operational changes (like counts, infinite scroll, autoplay, filters, and parental verification). New Mexico judge’s Meta penalty: Separately, a New Mexico judge ordered Meta to pay $567 million into a children’s mental health fund and labeled the company’s conduct a “public nuisance,” directing account and notification changes for minors. Colorado River alarm: Lake Powell hit a record low, now about 30 feet from losing hydropower, underscoring the drought-driven squeeze on water and electricity across the Southwest. AI infrastructure in NM: Project Jupiter’s hyperscale data center fight continues, with critics citing emissions, pipeline hurdles, and legal/political obstacles. Defense testing access: The U.S. opened more missile test ranges, easing a backlog that previously delayed testing slots at White Sands. Tech policy pulse: A Reuters/Ipsos poll finds broad bipartisan support for age-verification laws for teens, while warning that verification can misidentify users and create security risks. Hypersonics materials: Cadoux says its premiumHPA material is headed to a Pluto Aerospace hypersonic test flight from Spaceport America.

Meta child-safety ruling: A New Mexico judge ordered Meta to pay $567 million into a children’s mental-health fund, calling Facebook/Instagram/WhatsApp a “public nuisance” and ordering account and notification limits for minors, with Meta saying it will appeal. Border surveillance tech: A private contractor, Metrea, is reported to have flown surveillance-equipped aircraft along the U.S.-Mexico border using gear that can mimic cell-tower tracking, raising fresh questions about signals intelligence. Colorado River crisis: Lake Powell hit a record low elevation, underscoring drought pressure on water and hydropower across the Southwest. UNM research & health: UNM psychologist William R. Miller released details on a new book updating decades of science on how people can rethink and reduce alcohol use. HIV prevention study: A primate study reports a three-part treatment started soon after exposure prevented a virus from taking hold. Nuclear weapons oversight: A newly released, partially unredacted JASON study summary says plutonium pits are aging but still adequate, while recommending continued pit production. Defense testing access: The U.S. opened more missile test ranges to private and allied firms, easing a long wait that often pushed testing to White Sands in New Mexico. Local community: Albuquerque’s Jewish Community Center named a new CEO, Gal Stav, aiming to broaden access for people of all backgrounds.

Child Safety & Social Media: A New Mexico judge ordered Meta to pay $567 million into a children’s mental health fund, calling the company a “public nuisance” and directing changes like deleting accounts under 13 and limiting minors’ notifications and visible engagement. Tech Policy & Privacy: A Reuters/Ipsos poll finds most Americans back age-verification laws for teens, but warns that verification tech can misidentify users and create a high-risk target for hackers. Nuclear & Environmental Oversight: A newly released, partially unredacted JASON study summary says plutonium pits are aging but remain adequate—while still recommending pit production, fueling renewed debate over Los Alamos and Savannah River plans. Energy & Climate Tech: New Mexico’s Environment Department proposed rules to curb methane leaks using third-party monitoring tech such as satellites and aircraft. Public Health Research: A three-part treatment started within days of exposure prevented a virus similar to HIV from taking hold in infant monkeys, pointing to possible newborn strategies. Spaceport America: Virgin Galactic pushed first commercial flights to February 2027 after “many small issues,” with ground testing expected soon at Spaceport America. Wildlife & Health: Valley fever testing gaps in Arizona hospitals show many pneumonia patients aren’t being tested for the fungus, and screwworm detections continue to track across Texas and New Mexico.