AGP Executive Report

In-Home Pet Care Expansion: CodaPet added a licensed veterinarian to expand compassionate in-home pet euthanasia in San Diego, aiming to let families say goodbye at home. Vaccine Guidance: Major U.S. doctor groups urged updated flu and COVID-19 shots this fall, stepping in as shifting federal advice leaves patients confused. Oregon Tech Jobs Watch: A strong U.S. jobs report masked weakness in the information sector, including losses tied to computing infrastructure and data services—raising questions for Oregon’s high-tech hiring. Surveillance Tech Debate: Washington cities are rethinking Flock AI license-plate camera deals after vandalism and contract cancellations, with critics pushing for clearer public outcome reporting. Oregon Climate & Wildfire Response: Oregon is using faster detection and more aggressive early attack tactics six years after the Holiday Farm Fire. Coastal Tsunami Readiness: Oregon emergency managers are urging coastal towns to plan for vertical evacuation structures, warning that evacuation time may be too short after Cascadia shaking. Central Oregon Cancer Care: St. Charles opened a new Redmond cancer center with advanced radiation and infusion capacity. Animal Testing Policy: Oregon researchers and clinicians are weighing how changes to primate research plans could affect ongoing malaria vaccine work. Bird-Safe Lighting: Central Oregon groups launched “Lights Out” to reduce nighttime light during migration and cut bird collisions.

Wildfire Response Upgrade: Six years after the Holiday Farm Fire, Oregon officials say they’re leaning harder on faster detection and an aggressive goal of putting fires out at 10 acres or less. Public Safety Tech + Privacy: Umatilla is using Flock automatic license plate readers to curb shootings, reporting 28–30% fewer gun-violence incidents, while residents debate privacy and future data use. Healthcare Labor Pressure: Oregon Nurses Association and other Rogue Valley clinicians plan to meet Salem lawmakers over Asante concerns, including safe-staffing violations, closures, and anti-union spending. Conservation Staffing Cuts: A new report says U.S. Fish and Wildlife staffing is down about 3,600 nationwide, with Oregon down 40% since 2024, raising alarms for species protection capacity. Earthquake Readiness: Nevada is moving toward ShakeAlert earthquake early warning with new congressional funding for the Nevada Seismological Laboratory and USGS planning. Renewables in Oregon: PacWave South, Oregon State’s grid-connected wave test site off Newport, has opened—aimed at speeding development of wave energy devices. Science/Health Breakthrough: Early research suggests psilocybin could prevent chemotherapy-related nerve damage, with human trials slated to begin soon. Wildlife Watch: Downtown Portland’s crow roost is back, with counts expected to climb above 20,000 by winter.

Wave Energy: PacWave South, a pre-permitted, grid-connected wave test facility off Newport, Oregon, officially opened Aug. 27, aiming to cut testing delays and speed up marine power innovation. Semiconductors: Park Systems opened a new regional office in Hillsboro to support Oregon’s “Silicon Forest” customers with faster engineering and service. Wildlife & Water Quality: An Oregon farmer converted 70 flood-prone acres of barley into a managed wetland near Upper Klamath Lake; four years later it’s drawing tens of thousands of birds and supporting federally endangered fish. Cybersecurity & Privacy: The U.S. military disabled advertising trackers on phones and computers after concerns that location data could be used to target forces. Health & Research: A study finds gestational diabetes is linked to higher cardiometabolic risk within the first few years postpartum. AI & Fraud: An Oregon man accused of using fake NFL identities on dating apps allegedly misled Google’s AI search summaries, helping fuel a multi-state scam. Labor & Policy: Oregon workers at a Eugene hospice unionized and won a first contract with major pay gains, highlighting how workplace power can shift economic outcomes.

Oregon Public Safety: A pedestrian was killed after being struck by a car on SE Belmont in Portland, with police shutting down a stretch of the corridor while they investigate. Energy Infrastructure: Pacific Power has released preliminary preferred routes for its Blueprint South transmission project, including a 500-kilovolt line through Central and Southern Oregon, after public pushback. Environmental Science: USGS research finds beaver dams can slow storm runoff in Portland-area creeks, buying time even if they don’t prevent flooding. Health & Environment: Oregon State and Portland State researchers report elevated lead levels near Hillsboro and Troutdale airports tied to leaded aviation fuel from small aircraft. Fisheries: Oregon’s yelloweye rockfish fishery is set to reopen after 25 years as the population rebounds, giving scientists new samples to study. Science & Tech (Global): Sodium-ion batteries are moving into real deployment in 2026, with major makers starting commercial production. Local Tech/Industry: Laika’s Portland-made stop-motion film “Wildwood” is drawing massive attention, showing how handcrafted animation can thrive in an AI era.

Lead in the air near Oregon airports: Oregon State and Portland State researchers report lead levels up to ~7x higher around Hillsboro and Troutdale, tied to single-piston aircraft using leaded fuel, raising public-health alarms for nearby communities. Flood control from beavers: A USGS study of Fanno and Bronson creeks found beaver dams store hundreds to over 1,200 cubic meters more water during storms, slowing runoff and buying time for flood response. Power grid planning: Pacific Power narrowed “Blueprint South” transmission options, naming a preliminary preferred 500-kilovolt route through Central/Southern Oregon and a preferred 230-kilovolt connection east of Bend after public pushback. Vaccines made easier in Oregon: Gov. Tina Kotek announced a statewide standing order so Oregonians can access recommended flu/COVID vaccines with fewer barriers as the 2026-27 season approaches. Wildlife staffing cuts: Federal data show U.S. Fish and Wildlife staffing down sharply, with Oregon down 40% since 2024, threatening conservation capacity. Local STEM spotlight: A 13-year-old Beaverton student built a portable device that harvests water from atmospheric moisture via condensation, advancing toward national science competition recognition.

Oregon Health Policy: Gov. Tina Kotek announced an Oregon Health Authority statewide standing order to keep recommended vaccines accessible and affordable as the 2026-27 respiratory season ramps up. Federal Workforce Impact: A new report says U.S. Fish and Wildlife staffing has fallen by 3,600 during Trump’s second term, with Oregon down 40% since 2024—raising concerns for conservation and enforcement capacity. Wildfire Tech Upgrade: Oregon Department of Forestry’s Southwest headquarters added night-vision gear for helicopters, helping crews spot and support firefighting after dark. Aviation & Pollution: OSU and Portland State researchers found lead from small planes may be leaving higher contamination in moss near Portland-area airports, with levels up to seven times higher near Hillsboro and Troutdale. Geothermal Push: The U.S. Department of Energy opened a Geothermal Center of Excellence in Golden to accelerate hot-rock drilling and power generation. Local Conservation Grants: Wildhorse Foundation awarded $447,230 across Washington and Oregon, including funding for water-quality monitoring at KoosKooskie Commons in Walla Walla. STEM Spotlight: An Oregon middle-schooler built a portable device that harvests water from atmospheric moisture for plants, aiming to tackle farm water shortages.

Energy Policy: Researchers say 2027 could be the biggest year yet for state renewable energy siting bills, with most proposals aiming to restrict projects even as a smaller share would help deployment. Geothermal Push: The U.S. Department of Energy opened a Geothermal Center of Excellence in Golden to speed up hot-rock drilling and power generation. Cybersecurity & Defense: The U.S. military disabled ad-trackers on government devices after concerns that commercial location data could expose troop movements. Wildfire Tech & Costs: Oregon’s Department of Forestry added night-vision capability to helicopters for after-dark fire spotting, while a new look at Northwest utility wildfire spending warns costs may land on customers. Aviation Pollution: OSU and Portland State found lead from small, leaded-fuel planes shows up in nearby moss at up to 7x higher levels near Portland-area airports. Biodiversity & Field Science: U.S. Fish and Wildlife staffing is down sharply in Oregon and across the West, raising concerns for conservation capacity. Local STEM Spotlight: A 13-year-old Oregon student built a device that harvests water from air moisture for plants, aiming to tackle farm water shortages.

Energy & Climate Tech: The U.S. Department of Energy opened a Geothermal Center of Excellence at the National Laboratory of the Rockies in Golden, aiming to help companies drill and turn hot rock into electricity, with test wells possible on-site. Wildfire Tech: Oregon’s Department of Forestry added night-vision gear to Southwest helicopters to help crews spot small fires after dark and support safer operations. Aviation & Environment: An OSU/Portland State study found lead from piston-engine aircraft is showing up in moss near Portland-area airports, with levels up to 7x higher near Hillsboro and Troutdale. Public Safety & Infrastructure: Lane County is getting $2M for rural emergency communications, including a new Bear Mountain tower and upgraded radio equipment. Wildlife & Staffing: A report says U.S. Fish and Wildlife staffing is down sharply nationwide, with Oregon down 40% since 2024. Policy & Courts: A federal court upheld Oregon’s packaging EPR law, offering a first-of-its-kind roadmap for similar programs. Health: Major medical groups urged updated fall flu and COVID shots to cut through shifting guidance. Elections Tech: A coalition of AGs won longer-term court relief blocking USPS mail-voting changes.

Wildfire Tech in the Pacific Northwest: Bridger Aerospace and OroraTech are integrating satellite-based wildfire detection and fire-spread predictions into IGNIS, with recent testing tied to Oregon’s Grasshopper Fire. Public Health & Water Quality: Oregon DEQ says new tests from the Ross Island lagoon and the Willamette River found cyanotoxins below Oregon Health Authority recreational thresholds, after cancellations over a severe algae bloom. Healthcare Access: CVS says updated 2026–2027 COVID-19 vaccines are now available at CVS Pharmacy and MinuteClinic nationwide, with appointments and walk-ins. Broadband Buildout: The NTIA reports all 56 BEAD final proposals approved, with construction next; Louisiana also targets 15,000 BEAD serviceable locations by early 2027. Local Tech & Industry Growth: Hillsboro’s North Hillsboro tech corridor adds nearly 295,000 sq. ft. of industrial space as Trammell Crow breaks ground on phase two of Sewell Corporate Park. Policy Watch: A study finds private equity ownership may affect childcare outcomes, while Oregon lawmakers face another record wildfire-cost bill.

Earthquake Tech: Congress is funding Nevada’s ShakeAlert early-warning planning, extending the system already operating in Oregon and neighboring states—aiming to add precious seconds for “Drop, Cover, and Hold On.” Wildfire Science: Researchers say the biggest home damage often comes from small, fast-moving fires, not just the largest ones—pushing new approaches for prevention and response. Coastal Safety: Oregon emergency managers released guidance for building tsunami vertical evacuation structures, estimating the coast needs at least 20 engineered sites. AI & Governance: A Washougal startup, Resect AI, launched with $25M to detect and stop AI hallucinations from happening, targeting enterprise compliance needs. Healthcare Research: OHSU-led work in Science finds cancer-fighting T cells need small amounts of ROS, and tumors can escape by removing those molecules—pointing to new immunotherapy targets. Local Tech in Action: Missoula County is using Oregon-based Dax robots to measure sidewalk ADA accessibility faster than traditional crews. Policy & Courts: Oregon is again challenging Trump mail-voting restrictions at the Supreme Court.

Wave Energy in Oregon: Oregon State University and PacWave have officially opened PacWave South, a pre-permitted, grid-connected wave energy test site off the coast near Newport, aiming to cut regulatory delays for developers and speed up real-world testing. Wildfire Tech for First Responders: Bridger Aerospace is partnering with OroraTech to plug satellite thermal intelligence and fire-spread simulation into its IGNIS wildfire operations software, targeting earlier threat detection for crews and incident commanders. Freight Safety Upgrade: Oregon DOT is expanding the PrePass Bypass Mobile App statewide so qualified carriers can bypass participating weigh stations at highway speed while getting in-cab safety alerts. Public Safety Planning: Oregon emergency managers issued new guidance for tsunami vertical evacuation structures, noting the state has only one and needs many more given Cascadia Subduction Zone risk. AI and Work Titles: Intel is dropping its 44-year “Fellow” title for “distinguished engineers,” reshaping its technical leadership standard around measurable progress. Health Guidance: Major U.S. medical groups released updated fall flu and COVID-19 vaccination guidance to reduce confusion amid shifting federal policy. Oregon Community Impact: Crime Stoppers of Oregon is dissolving after 43 years, citing tech changes, a data breach investigation, and fewer reward cases.

Data Center Education: University of Oregon law professor Greg Dotson and CS professor Jun Li launched an interdisciplinary course on data center expansion, pairing legal siting rules with the tech behind the facilities. Massage Enforcement: Oregon regulators are using a new “unlicensed” sticker under HB 3819 to quickly flag illicit massage businesses, warning of health risks and pointing workers to the National Human Trafficking Hotline. EV Charging Growth: OpConnect opened new Portland headquarters to scale EV charging tech, including battery-backed charging, bi-directional charging, and microgrids. AI + Connectivity: AWS announced a 420 Tbps Japan-to-Washington subsea cable planned for 2029, aimed at feeding data centers and AI-heavy workloads. Semiconductor Supply Chain: UBS says China is unlikely to match ASML’s EUV lithography within a decade, though it may ramp DUV faster. Wildfire Updates: Hagen Fire is 53% contained with evacuations reduced; Paradise Fire is 22% contained with further evacuation rollbacks. Public Safety Tech: FAA talks drone operations at scale, focusing on airspace modernization, security, and counter-UAS coordination. Health Policy: A national review finds menopause is largely missing from public prison policy documents, with Oregon among the few that address it. Arts Return: Oregon Children’s Theatre plans to restart stage shows in 2027 after a financial pause.

Oregon wildfire updates: The Paradise Fire is at 9,593 acres and 22% contained, with evacuations reduced to Level 2 in parts of Umatilla County; the Hagen Fire is 61,302 acres and 53% contained, with many areas still under Level 3/2/1 readiness. Public health & research: A massive genetics study links fibromyalgia to neurological roots, while new work on sudden cardiac arrest in young athletes finds bystander CPR and AED use strongly improve survival. AI & enterprise: AWS is letting Amazon Quick users discover approved AI agents and Model Context Protocol servers via the AWS Agent Registry, aiming to cut duplicate setup. Oregon science in the spotlight: University of Idaho researchers identified a new spider species, Hexura vandal, named for the Vandal mascot. Privacy policy fight: California data brokers face a veto push over a bill restricting sales/sharing of sensitive consumer data, including precise geolocation. Local community tech/health: Oregon universities brace for continued drops in international enrollment amid visa delays and policy shifts.

Teacher Misconduct Watch: Eugene’s 4J says Robin Chappell—disciplined by the state in a 2021 case involving unauthorized Zoom recording and inappropriate comments—remains employed and teaching engineering at Churchill High. Semiconductor Expansion: Lam Research broke ground on a major new R&D lab in Tualatin, a project tied to a large Oregon investment and more cleanroom capacity. Local Science Discovery: University of Idaho researchers identified a new spider species in Idaho, adding to the region’s biodiversity map. Election Tech & Access: KTVZ is launching a 2026 midterm debate and town hall series with live streams and League of Women Voters forums. Privacy vs. Surveillance: Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden and Rep. Pramila Jayapal are pushing for a federal audit of DHS journalist and union record demands. Public Health & Safety: OSU/Portland State research finds leaded aviation fuel is driving elevated lead near Oregon airports, with tree moss used as a natural air monitor. Food Safety: Hodo recalled thousands of tofu cases after ink from packaging may have migrated into the product. AI Governance: A new analysis argues AI compliance should start from privacy basics to avoid regulatory gaps. Rural Tech in Healthcare: Federal funding is aimed at expanding surgical robotics and telehealth in rural areas.

Wildfire resilience for Oregon’s power grid: A new NRECA update details how rural electric co-ops and wildfire mitigation tech partners are advancing projects to better assess risk and protect electricity supplies as fires intensify. International students & visas: Oregon universities are bracing for a potential drop in enrollment after reports of student visa delays and policy uncertainty tied to the Trump administration. Engineered geothermal progress: Mazama Energy says its Athena well at Newberry, Oregon, hit 10,350 feet in 15 drilling days, a major step toward faster, cheaper superhot engineered geothermal economics. Nuclear supply-chain milestone in Oregon: NuScale Power and MillenniTEK report first-of-a-kind boron-oxide pellets for a reactor safety system, signaling progress toward commercialization readiness. Local tech business growth: Pacific Office Automation expands into Houston via acquisition of On Demand Inc., adding a new showroom and services footprint. Public safety & health: A deadly THC facility explosion in Oklahoma leads to murder charges for the owner, while Oregon health coverage also flags risks from extreme heat worsening pesticide exposure for farmworkers.

Oregon Packaging Fight in Court: A federal judge upheld Oregon’s packaging extended producer responsibility law (RMA), rejecting constitutional challenges and setting an early roadmap for similar fights in California and Colorado. Public Health & Safety: Oregon State and Portland State researchers found leaded aviation fuel is driving higher lead levels near Portland-area regional airports, raising concerns for kids. Zoo Science Breakthrough: Oregon Zoo’s Tula-Tu became the first West Coast elephant calf to receive an experimental mRNA vaccine against EEHV, after the zoo lost a calf to the virus. Energy & Infrastructure: The Pentagon is speeding up a competition for a $700M Oregon over-the-horizon radar construction effort, with a fast-track schedule. Sustainability in the Real World: Portland’s long-running LED streetlight conversion is credited with cutting energy use and saving about $1.5M a year. Food Recall: Northwest Naturals recalled nearly 2,000 pounds of frozen raw pet food after FDA tests found salmonella and listeria. Wildlife & Climate Research: OSU researchers say funding uncertainty threatens studies in the Pacific Northwest’s experimental forests after major wildfire impacts.