AGP Executive Report

AI Infrastructure in WV: Anthropic agreed to pay about $45B over six years for AI computing capacity tied to Nscale’s Monarch Compute Campus in Mason County, with roughly 460 megawatts of power and Nvidia’s Vera Rubin systems expected to come online late 2027—another sign that West Virginia’s energy and data-center buildout is becoming a major tech lever. Local Tech & Health: WVU Medicine performed West Virginia’s first single-port robotic-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy, aiming for less pain and faster recovery for lung cancer patients. AI for Ecosystems: WVU researchers are using AI with local monitoring sensors to speed up access to ecosystem health data, helping scientists respond sooner to events like droughts and wildfires. Surveillance Guardrails: In Charleston, opponents of Flock-style automated license plate readers pushed for limits on storage and access to sensitive surveillance data. Public Health & Safety: ICE arrests surged in July, and a Stateline analysis links lower jail handoffs to stricter non-cooperation “sanctuary” policies—West Virginia is cited among states limiting cooperation. Community Tech Literacy: Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has 46,048 enrolled WV children (about 51% of those eligible), leaving nearly 43,900 still waiting for books.

AI Infrastructure Deal: Reports say Anthropic has agreed to pay about $45B over six years for AI computing capacity tied to Nscale’s West Virginia data center campus, with roughly 460 megawatts of power and Nvidia’s next-gen Vera Rubin systems expected to come online in late 2027—another sign that West Virginia’s energy and chip access are becoming the real battleground for frontier AI. Surveillance Policy Push: In Charleston, opponents of automated license plate readers and other surveillance tech are organizing to add “guardrails,” arguing for limits on warrantless tracking and tighter control over who can access sensitive data. Health Tech in WV: WVU Medicine performed West Virginia’s first single-port robotic-assisted lung cancer surgery, aiming for less pain and faster recovery than traditional minimally invasive approaches. Workforce Housing: Thomas is moving ahead with a $4.3M workforce housing and coworking project, breaking ground Sept. 4. Local Tech & Research Leadership: WVU’s Heart & Vascular Institute marked its 10th anniversary, highlighting growth in regional care and research.

AI Data Center Deal: Anthropic agreed to pay about $45B over six years for computing capacity from Nscale, tied to roughly 460 megawatts at Nscale’s West Virginia campus using Nvidia Vera Rubin systems—Gov. Morrisey calls it a major win for the state’s AI strategy. Healthcare Tech: WVU Medicine performed West Virginia’s first single-port robotic-assisted lung surgery (lobectomy), aiming for less pain and faster recovery for select patients. Transplant Leadership: Dr. Rakesh Sindhi was named executive director of the WVU Medicine Center for Organ Transplantation to expand access and innovation. Sports Safety Tech: South Charleston High got Riddell Axiom helmets via a WVU Medicine foundation partnership, bringing real-time head-impact data to trainers. Workforce & Manufacturing: BridgeValley and WVU Parkersburg won nearly $2M to build an advanced manufacturing training corridor across 11 counties. Public Health: FDA says the cyclospora outbreak linked to recalled iceberg lettuce has reached 20 states and 11,458 illnesses, with two deaths in Michigan. Environment Restoration: WV DNR and WVDEP announced restoration of Turkey Run Lake into a free-flowing stream and wetland complex, targeting completion by end of 2027.

AI Infrastructure Deal: Gov. Morrisey says Anthropic is reportedly set to spend about $45B over six years for AI computing capacity at Nscale’s West Virginia data center in Mason County, tied to NVIDIA’s Vera Rubin tech—about 460 megawatts—highlighting the state’s push for siting and regulatory certainty. Workforce & Manufacturing: BridgeValley CTC and WVU Parkersburg won nearly $2M from the Appalachian Regional Commission to expand advanced manufacturing training across 11 counties, including new open-access training labs. AI in Everyday Life: WVU researcher Anthony Sicilia is studying why generative AI can become unreliable over longer conversations, with NSF support focused on getting AI agents to admit what they don’t know. Public Safety Tech Backlash: A Mother Jones investigation finds some places used opioid settlement money to buy Flock AI license-plate cameras, fueling criticism that funds are going to policing over treatment. Health & Food Safety: The cyclospora outbreak linked to recalled iceberg lettuce has now been confirmed in 20 states, with a Chicago couple filing the first Illinois lawsuit tied to Taylor Farms/Taylor Fresh Foods. Local Environment: WVDNR and WVDEP will restore Turkey Run Lake in Jackson County by draining the 15-acre lake and returning it to a free-flowing stream and wetlands, with work through 2027. Sports Tech: South Charleston High is getting new Riddell Axiom helmets via a WVU Medicine/Thomas Foundation partnership that tracks head-impact data for safer play.

AI & Compute in West Virginia: Anthropic agreed to a reported $45B, six-year deal to rent about 460MW of AI computing capacity from Nscale at its West Virginia campus, using Nvidia’s Vera Rubin systems—showing how power and data-center space are now the bottlenecks for frontier AI. AI Reliability Research: WVU researcher Anthony Sicilia is studying why generative AI can become “people-pleasing” and grow overconfident during long chats, even when users push back—aiming to help AI recognize uncertainty. Public Safety Tech Backlash: Vigilante protests against Flock license-plate cameras are escalating, with some people vandalizing devices and others calling for arrests—fueling a growing privacy-and-surveillance fight. Rural Health Oversight: A $50B rural health transformation program is drawing criticism for limited transparency, making it harder to track fraud risk and whether projects deliver results. Big Tech Child-Safety Settlement: Meta reached a multistate settlement worth up to about $17.1B, including major child-safety changes for Instagram and Facebook; West Virginia is among the states in the broader case. Local Tech/Business: HD Media (Charleston) agreed to acquire AIM Media properties across Indiana and Ohio, expanding its regional footprint. Healthcare Innovation: WVU Medicine performed West Virginia’s first single-port robotic lung surgery for lobectomy, aiming for less pain and faster recovery. Disaster Readiness: A report warns West Virginia may be unprepared as federal disaster recovery rules shift toward states taking on more responsibility.

AI Research in WVU: WVU computer scientist Anthony Sicilia is studying “AI sycophancy,” where chatbots can flip from correct answers to agreeing with users’ wrong claims—funded by a $940,000 NSF grant. Child-Safety Tech Regulation: Meta agreed to pay up to about $17.1B in a multistate settlement over teen social media addiction, with major Facebook/Instagram changes (including stronger teen controls and overnight limits); West Virginia is reported as potentially receiving nearly $115M. AI Data Centers in WV: Anthropic will rent power and computing capacity from Nscale in West Virginia for six years—about 460 megawatts—using Nvidia’s Vera Rubin chips starting late 2027. Healthcare Innovation: WVU Medicine performed West Virginia’s first single-port robotic-assisted lobectomy for lung cancer, aiming for less pain and faster recovery. Transportation & Resilience: The rebuilt Sgt. Elbert Kinser Bridge won regional “Best Use of Technology & Innovation” honors after Hurricane Helene damage. STEM Support for Teachers: Your Community Foundation mini-grants are back, offering up to $750 for classroom projects across several WV counties.

Child Safety Crackdown on Social Media: Multistate attorneys general announced a record $17.1B Meta settlement over claims Instagram and Facebook were built to be addictive and harmful to kids, with court approval pending and major default protections for minors (age checks, tighter teen time limits, fewer notifications during school hours, and overnight feed limits). West Virginia Tech & Space: TMC Technologies and WVU won a NASA SBIR Phase I contract to develop autonomous health management for distributed small spacecraft swarms in lunar/cislunar missions. Local Transit Tech Fades: WVU alumni-created PRT Status app shut down after eight years, ending a student-made way to track campus transit delays. West Virginia DMV Modernization Hit: WV DOT issued a 30-day cancellation notice for a $63M DMV computer upgrade contract, raising concerns about delays to cloud migration and online services. Robotic Surgery Upgrade: WVU Medicine United Hospital Center expanded total knee and hip replacements using the Mako 4 SmartRobotics system for CT-based personalized surgical planning. Surveillance Tech Backlash: Huntington’s Flock mass-surveillance ballot effort could cost the city, as residents and civil liberties groups challenge the contract process and privacy risks.

DMV Modernization: West Virginia has canceled a $63.5M contract to automate and modernize Division of Motor Vehicles systems after lawmakers questioned the procurement; the winning vendor says delays mean citizens keep waiting for upgrades. Robotics in Healthcare: WVU Medicine United Hospital Center in Bridgeport is rolling out Mako 4 SmartRobotics for total knee and hip replacements, using CT-based planning to tailor procedures. Public Safety Tech Backlash: Huntington’s Flock Safety surveillance deal is facing a ballot fight after residents collected signatures to ban third-party mass surveillance tech, with critics citing privacy and process concerns. Water & Utilities: Fayette County’s PSD sale talks show progress as parties reach a settlement framework for American Water acquisitions, while still working through grant repayment details. Firefighter Health Data: Fairmont Fire Department becomes the first in West Virginia to earn NIOSH “Gold Helmet” status for participating in a national cancer registry. Policy & Food Choices: A new study finds SNAP restrictions tied to soda purchases cut sugary drink buying by more than 12% in early 2026. STEM Education: Oak Hill High School students took part in a STEAM TAC coding immersion focused on solving real-world park parking problems.

STEM in Schools: Oak Hill High School students hosted a STEAM TAC immersion lesson, designing an innovative transportation system to tackle parking shortages at New River Gorge National Park—part of a statewide program reaching 47,000+ students. AI Surveillance Backlash: In Huntington, residents are collecting signatures for a ballot initiative to ban mass surveillance tech and void the city’s $2.1M Flock Safety contract after months of public pushback over privacy and policing. Public Health & Food Policy: A new look at SNAP waivers finds states restricting “junk” purchases have reshaped buying habits, while a separate report highlights how food recall counts can be misleading amid overlapping outbreaks. Healthcare Costs: West Virginia ranks highest for healthcare cost burden relative to income, with hospitals and prescriptions driving the gap. Carbon Capture Funding: Mantel secured an $18M investment to scale modular molten-borate carbon capture for heavy industry. Power Grid Fight: West Virginia PSC staff urged pausing or dismissing NextEra’s MARL transmission line application, citing due-process timing and completeness concerns. Ecosystem Monitoring Tech: WVU researchers are using AI to speed up processing of forest “breathing” sensor data so scientists can respond to drought and wildfire faster. Local Mental Health Access: Monongalia County WIC added postpartum mood disorder screenings using trained staff and the Edinburgh screen.

AI + Ecosystems in WV: WVU researchers are using AI to speed up how scientists interpret “forest breathing” data from flux towers, aiming to make drought and wildfire monitoring usable in near real time. Local Tech Governance: Huntington City Council is still building “guardrails” for its $2.1M Flock surveillance camera contract, as the company shifts data retention from 30 days to 7 and lawmakers debate what the system can and can’t do. Public Health + Food Safety: A multistate Salmonella outbreak tied to imported jalapeños has sickened hundreds, including cases reported in West Virginia, renewing scrutiny on how recalls and investigations are tracked. Healthcare Access: Monongalia County WIC now screens clients for postpartum mood disorders, using trained staff and the Edinburgh questionnaire to route at-risk patients to care. Energy + Grid Planning: West Virginia’s largest industrial power users back delaying consideration of the Mid-Atlantic Resiliency Link transmission line, arguing route changes need more time for affected communities. STEM for Youth: The Carl Hopkins West Virginia Youth Aviation Expo returns Sept. 26 at The Bridge with hands-on STEM activities, including rocket building with NASA.

Water Infrastructure Push: Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced an extra $145 million for West Virginia water and wastewater upgrades, with WVU, Marshall, and the state’s regional planning councils helping small systems win grants and cut through delays. University-Backed Grants: The same partnership is aimed at technical and grant-writing support statewide, targeting failing systems, boil-water orders, and public health risks. Rare Earths From Coal Waste: WVU researchers are helping lead a push to recover rare earth minerals from abandoned coal mine drainage, using a Mount Storm pilot that produces rare earth oxides while restoring polluted sites. AI Surveillance Backlash: Huntington residents are mobilizing to challenge Flock Safety license-plate reader contracts after a 6-4 council vote, seeking a ballot measure to unwind the deal and curb mass surveillance. STEM for Kids: The Carl Hopkins West Virginia Youth Aviation Expo returns Sept. 26 at The Bridge with hands-on rocket building and NASA/Fairmont State STEM activities. Robotics Milestone: WVU Medicine UHC highlighted surgeon Sugam B. Vasani reaching 3,000 robotic-assisted surgeries.

Campus Safety: WVU Tech police are investigating vehicle break-ins and an auto theft on the Beckley campus, urging people to lock cars and keep valuables out of sight. Local Tech & Privacy: Huntington residents are pushing back on Flock Safety license-plate reader cameras, launching a petition drive after a 6-4 council vote approved a five-year contract. Public Health Policy: West Virginia’s bid to use SNAP for “hot, healthy” ready-to-eat foods appears to have stalled, likely running into federal rules that bar SNAP for hot prepared items. Water Infrastructure: Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced an extra $145 million for water and wastewater upgrades, with added help for small, struggling systems. AI in Education: Charleston-area educators are training for AI literacy, using live demos to show how generative tools can produce wrong or nonsensical outputs. STEM/Space Engineering: NASA’s NOS3 simulator—built with West Virginia ties—marks a decade of helping spacecraft teams test flight software earlier. Business & Community: WVU’s business school named 2026 inductees to the West Virginia Business Hall of Fame, honoring leaders tied to the state.

Surveillance & Privacy: Huntington residents are pushing back against Flock Safety’s license plate reader deal after a 6-4 City Council vote, launching a “Get the Flock Out” petition drive to ban third-party mass surveillance and cancel the contract. Public Safety Tech: In Florida, a sheriff credited Flock cameras with helping track a homicide suspect to a West Virginia motel, fueling the debate over whether the tech is worth the privacy tradeoff. Health Policy: West Virginia’s SNAP “hot, healthy” waiver push appears to have stalled, with federal rules likely blocking benefits for ready-to-eat hot foods. Water Infrastructure: Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced an extra $145 million for water and wastewater upgrades, with WVU and others helping small systems with grants and technical support. Space Software: TMC Technologies marked a decade of NASA’s NOS3 digital-twin simulator, tied to West Virginia’s STF-1 spacecraft. AI in Healthcare: Marshall’s IDEA District is welcoming Synthesis Health, aiming to use AI and medical imaging to improve rural radiology access. Energy & Materials: WVU researchers are expanding work on rare earth recovery from abandoned coal mine drainage, targeting a domestic supply chain. Legal Fallout: Anthony Fauci’s lawyers launched a defense fund as state and federal investigations continue.

Surveillance & Privacy Fight: Huntington residents are pushing a ballot measure to “Get the Flock Out” after a 6-4 City Council vote approved Flock Safety’s license-plate reader and camera contract, with organizers aiming for 4,000 signatures and citing safety vs. mass surveillance concerns. Public Safety & Infrastructure: WVDOT says it’s studying safety measures after repeated crashes on an interstate stretch where multiple vehicles have gone over barriers and into a nearby yard. Water Crisis Funding: Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced an extra $145 million for water and wastewater upgrades under a new Clean, Clear Water Strategy, with WVU, Marshall, and regional councils helping small systems with grants and technical support. AI in Healthcare: Marshall University says Synthesis Health will move into its IDEA District to use AI and medical imaging to improve rural radiology access. Tech Policy & Data: Flock is adjusting its plate-reader data retention and sharing rules amid growing backlash, including a shift toward shorter retention and more controls. STEM & Learning Access: Doddridge County Schools is offering free home Wi‑Fi for students via Citynet, plus laptops, supported by federal rural broadband funding. Rare Earths From Coal Waste: WVU-linked research highlights how acid mine drainage from abandoned coal sites can be processed to recover rare earth minerals, aiming to reduce reliance on China. Health & Consent: An Ohio mother says her son’s organs and tissue were donated without her consent, reigniting debate over donor notification and emergency-contact practices. Climate & Space Science: NASA’s MAVEN mission reports a rare “toothpaste-like” magnetic effect that squeezes Mars’ upper atmosphere during a solar storm.

AI in Education: Charleston educators are piloting AI literacy training so students learn how chatbots can fail, using a “map demo” that produced obvious errors to teach skepticism. Rural Broadband: Doddridge County Schools is offering free home Wi‑Fi installation for families with students, backed by Citynet and federal rural funding, running through July 2027. Healthcare Tech & Access: Marshall’s IDEA District is welcoming Synthesis Health, aiming to use AI and medical imaging to expand radiology support for rural communities. Local Health Upgrades: Vandalia Health Urology is reopening in a renovated Morgantown space with expanded exam rooms and procedure suites designed for new treatments. Energy Infrastructure Watch: West Virginia PSC staff asked to pause or dismiss NextEra’s MARL transmission line case after route changes raised due-process and cost concerns. Privacy & Surveillance: As Flock license plate cameras face scrutiny, local police are also seeking access to more privately owned security video. Space Science: NASA’s MAVEN mission detected a rare “toothpaste-like” magnetic effect that squeezes Mars’ upper atmosphere for the first time. Community Science Funding: The West Virginia Farmers Market Association opened applications for its 2026 Mini-Grant Program, offering up to $5,000 for market upgrades and tech.

AI & Data Centers: Nscale, building AI data-center campuses including a major West Virginia site, is reportedly seeking a $3B IPO as it scales power from hundreds of megawatts toward multi-gigawatt capacity. Energy & Grid Politics: West Virginia PSC staff asked for a pause or dismissal of NextEra’s MARL transmission line after route changes affected new landowners and raised due-process and timing concerns. Local Tech for Rural Life: Doddridge County Schools is offering free home Wi‑Fi installation for students via Citynet, funded through federal rural broadband programs, running through July 2027. Health Tech & Care Access: Vandalia Health Urology is reopening in renovated space at Mon Medical Center with expanded exam rooms and procedure suites, aiming to reduce delays and support new treatments. Public Safety & Weather: The Pittsburgh NWS says the region hit a record 30 tornadoes in 2026 and logged the wettest first half of August on record, driving flash-flood warnings. Community Tech & Business: West Virginia real estate brokers are challenging the state’s patchwork of listing services, pushing for a more centralized statewide MLS approach. EV Charging: Wawa is expanding its branded EV charging network with multiple new high-speed locations across the region. Health & Policy: Lawyers for Anthony Fauci launched a legal defense fund amid growing state and federal investigations tied to COVID-19 handling.