AGP Executive Report

Maine 9/11 Commemoration: Maine marked the 25th anniversary of Sept. 11 with ceremonies across the state, including memorial events in Augusta, Portland, Freeport, Lewiston, and Presque Isle. Aviation Security Then and Now: A look at how TSA screening and airport security at Portland International Jetport evolved since 9/11, including what changed after the hijackers passed through. Education & Reading: A new report says many Maine schools still aren’t consistently using evidence-based reading instruction aligned with the “science of reading,” as proficiency concerns persist. Local Tech & Transparency: A Houlton man sued again over alleged noncompliance with FOAA requests for surveillance camera data tied to a facial recognition system. Climate & Coasts: A new map estimates more than 10 million dead trees along the Atlantic coast as saltwater pushes inland. Marine Impacts: Harpswell faces a potential clam die-off tied to an algal bloom, threatening marine life and harvesters’ incomes. Health & Community: A Kennebunk mother’s JC Strong Fund has raised over $108,000 for childhood cancer research after her son’s Ewing’s sarcoma diagnosis.

School Tech Funding: RSU 9 administrators warn that changes to the federal E‑Rate program could cost the district thousands by disrupting reimbursements for internet and related school technology. Cybersecurity: Maine home-medical-equipment firms are in the spotlight after incidents at AdaptHealth and McKesson, as a new poll finds most organizations are worried about cyber threats. Elections & Data: Maine voters report a surge in political text messages, with the Maine Ethics Commission saying many are legal under current disclosure rules. Public Health: Doctors in Maine are urging fall flu, COVID-19 and RSV shots, pointing to new guidance from major medical groups. Food Safety: The 2026 Cyclospora outbreak is tied to iceberg lettuce, with Maine among affected states. Coastal Science: Harpswell and Brunswick are monitoring a Casco Bay algal bloom after harvesters found dead clams, with potential multi-year impacts. Environment & Land Use: A proposed rollback of the federal roadless rule threatens a rare New England forest stretch. Emergency Preparedness: Hancock County’s new $5.5M emergency operations center is set to open in November.

Data Centers in Bucksport: The town council is weighing a temporary moratorium on new data center proposals to “update regulations” before a real project arrives, with residents split between protecting local standards and risking lost investment. Shellfish Health: Harpswell and Brunswick are responding to a widespread Casco Bay algal bloom; dead clams and worms could disrupt harvesting for up to two years as marine officials map impacts and ask locals to document conditions. Maine Waste Stream Study: The DEP is hosting a Sept. 15 webinar on results from a statewide waste characterization study funded by a USEPA recycling grant, with Q&A from MRRA and MSW Consultants. HIV Outbreak Update: Maine CDC reports a new Penobscot County HIV case, bringing the outbreak total to 46, with officials stressing the real number may be higher. Bridge Collapse Findings: MaineDOT released early findings on the Aug. 13 partial collapse of the Llewellyn Estes Bridge in Old Town, pointing to a possible beam failure and bringing in federal experts for deeper analysis. Kelp Genetics Research: Bigelow Laboratory researchers found four distinct sugar kelp populations along Maine’s coast, underscoring the need for regional management as warming shrinks kelp forests. Oil Spill Response Training: Maine IFW and DEP trained more than 50 responders in Hermon Pond, using smartphone reporting to feed a real-time map during oiled wildlife drills. Historic Preservation: New York’s board recommended adding 23 properties and districts to the state and national registers, including sites tied to community life and historic downtowns.

Coastal Resilience: A new look at Maine-relevant shoreline reality says beaches can’t be frozen in place as sea levels rise, forcing tough calls on nourishment, buyouts, and who pays for adaptation. Energy Storage: Jackery’s EnergyGuard Max touts a big leap in whole-home battery backup, aiming to solve resilience and affordability pain points in the home energy transition. Education & 9/11: As the 25th anniversary nears, at least 40 states now require or encourage schools to teach about 9/11, with growing focus on impacts on students today. Public Health: New guidance urges New Englanders to prepare for respiratory virus season, highlighting higher risk for older adults and people with chronic conditions. Maine Recovery School: Maine opened its first recovery high school for teens already in substance-use recovery, using opioid-settlement funding and a campus-based model to support return to home districts. AI in Rural Care: CMS officials promote AI “avatars” for rural health, but Maine providers question whether it will actually cut costs or close gaps. Local Tech/Industry: Mid-Coast Energy Systems marks 50 years in heating, plumbing, electrical, and geothermal services across Maine. Environment & Fisheries: A Brunswick Dam fish-passage panel invites the public to weigh options to restore migratory fish runs. Health Care Staffing: Southcoast Health adds new physicians and advanced practice providers across multiple specialties. Safety Incident: Fire officials say a Rockland machinery fire at Fisher Engineering was linked to lost ground and static electricity.

Maine Senate Watch: A new CNN/SSRS poll finds Democrat Troy Jackson leading Sen. Susan Collins 48% to 45% among likely voters, with the race still within the margin of error—another sign Maine’s midterm contest is staying razor tight. Cybersecurity Gaps: A new report from NASCIO and General Dynamics says states worry local governments can’t keep up with critical-infrastructure cyber threats, citing uneven local capacity and limited authority. Trade War Ripple Effects: Trump’s new Canada retaliation includes bans on some Canadian imports (including alcohol) and tariff changes on others, with Maine and New Brunswick businesses bracing for higher costs and rushed shipping. AI in Schools: Microsoft says it will adopt legally binding student privacy and oversight standards for AI-related school licenses, a move unions say still needs broader, enforceable rules. Public Safety Tech: Brewer, Maine shut down its license-plate reader program after a vendor allegedly kept driver records beyond the state’s 21-day limit. Local Science & Industry: Biddeford withdrew its appeal over UNE’s proposed research pier after a corridor commission vote extended the permit. Shipyard & Maritime Training: Portsmouth Naval Shipyard hosted a senior civilian personnel official and Marad named 16 maritime training Centers of Excellence, including a Maine center. Fire at Fisher Engineering: A machine fire at Fisher Engineering in Rockland led to evacuation; investigators cited lost grounding and static electricity.

Portsmouth Naval Shipyard: The Navy is set to award more than $654M for power and water upgrades to modernize Seavey Island infrastructure, boosting resilience for nuclear submarine support. Trade War Impacts Maine: U.S. Sen. Susan Collins urged the Trump administration to de-escalate tariffs on Canada after exemptions for cement and road salt, while many other goods face bans—raising pressure on Maine’s forest products and small-town winter budgets. Rural Maternity Care: Parity Healthcare Analytics and Maine’s RMOMS partnership say nurse workforce “decision intelligence” could unlock over $1.1M in recurring annual RN labor savings across three rural hospitals while protecting access to obstetric services. Broadband Expansion: GoNetspeed plans a fiber build in Amsterdam, NY, aiming for up to 6 Gbps symmetrical service for 8,700 homes and businesses starting spring 2027. Education & Affordability: UVM’s new Regional Tuition Break will cut out-of-state tuition by 35%+ (over $18,000) for eligible New England students in select majors starting fall 2027. Privacy Tech Concern: Reports say U.S. police are warning that Meta smart glasses could enable covert recording in detention and jail settings. Food Security: SNAP cuts could ripple into school meal programs, putting free breakfast and lunch at risk for more than a million children.

Maine STEM & space outreach: The Challenger Learning Center of Maine hosted a Bangor “Bangor Greendrinks” networking night with VR trips to the International Space Station, drone racing, and night-sky viewing—aimed at bringing adults into STEM, not just K-12 students. Clean energy boats (Maine-built): A mostly solar-electric 49-foot catamaran, Firefly, built at Lyman-Morse Boatbuilding in Thomaston, is heading from Maine to Camden to start ferrying students for hands-on science lessons on the Delaware River. NOAA fisheries modernization: Sen. Angus King co-sponsored the Fisheries Science Modernization Act to update NOAA’s fish stock counts with more accurate, cost-effective surveys—key for Maine’s fisheries. Park service shake-up: Reporting says Trump plans a hub-and-spoke National Park Service restructure that could elevate major parks like Acadia into “hubs,” raising concerns about transparency and staffing. Maine infrastructure tech: MaineDOT released video and new details on the Aug. 13 Old Town bridge partial collapse, including use of fiber-reinforced polymer composite tub girders developed with the University of Maine and made by Basalt International. Health research boost: Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor is building an open-access Parkinson’s “stem cell toolkit” with engineered genetic signatures, backed by major grants.

Marine Ecology: University of Maine and Bigelow Labs report Gulf of Maine kelp forests are retreating as invasive red turf algae expands, with researchers now tracking how the reef’s bacterial makeup is shifting too. Public Health & Food Safety: Maine’s 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is seeing steady use, with nearly 2,400 contacts in July and fast counselor response times, while new research explains why “black spot” on prawns is harmless melanosis—not spoilage. Cybersecurity & Finance: A Bank of America-Infosys McCamish incident highlights how third-party breaches can spill into bank operations, underscoring tougher vendor risk management. STEM & Industry in Maine: Elmet Group says it will acquire ams OSRAM’s tungsten and molybdenum operations in Germany, expanding its manufacturing footprint for refractory metals. Workforce Development: Region Two School of Applied Technology in Houlton is funding construction-student stipends via a Machias Savings Bank grant, aiming to reduce barriers to skilled trades. Local Tech/Policy: Camden’s Mt. Battie Street bridge replacement is up for discussion, with some residents pushing for a pedestrian-only option. Space Weather: NOAA says northern lights could appear across parts of 11 states before dawn Tuesday as minor G1 storm conditions are possible.

Maine Drought Watch: Maine’s drought is worsening again, with dry wells, groundwater far below normal, and the U.S. Drought Monitor flagging severe conditions in parts of the state—raising risks for farms, drinking water, and wildfire season. Marine Tech & Research: UMaine’s Advanced Structures and Composites Center launched 3Dirigo X, a 30-foot 3D-printed, fiber-reinforced thermoplastic boat aimed at offshore speeds near 40 knots, while Voltage Vessels shared progress on a 3D-printed composite RHIB prototype for U.S. maritime defense evaluation. Coastal Ecology: Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust is hosting a guided eelgrass paddle in Great Salt Bay to teach eelgrass ID and highlight its role in carbon storage and marine nursery habitat. Space Weather: NOAA is tracking possible coronal mass ejections that could spark minor G1 auroras across parts of 11 states before dawn Tuesday. Wildlife on the Beach: A great white shark was spotted off Wells Beach, prompting safety reminders as Maine’s warming waters and seal recovery may be linked to more sightings. Local Infrastructure Decision: Camden’s Select Board will discuss whether the Mt. Battie Street bridge over the Megunticook River should become pedestrian-only, with DOT planning replacement options. Health Care Access: Maine gubernatorial candidates outlined sharply different plans to tackle rising health costs and access problems as Medicaid and coverage pressures mount.

Maine Climate Resilience: A new report highlights Maine’s race to armor its shoreline against climate change, with local projects and permitting pressures shaping what gets built and where. Coastal Restoration: Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust is running a guided eelgrass paddle in Great Salt Bay (Sept. 18) to teach residents how eelgrass supports marine life and stores carbon. Marine Science: A minke whale washed up on Rocky Neck, and the Seacoast Science Center is coordinating a necropsy to understand what happened. STEM Education: Maine Discovery Museum was selected as a national hub for the Meaningful Math initiative, expanding statewide math programming with community partners. Energy & Grid Risk: Researchers modeled how a rare, massive solar storm could disrupt U.S. industries and the power grid, with the Northeast flagged as especially vulnerable. Tech & Local Impact: Data centers remain a flash point, with new reporting on rising opposition and the real-world land, water, and power concerns communities face. Local Engineering Jobs: IMEG acquired Bennett Engineering Inc. in Maine, expanding mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection, telecom, and lighting design capacity.

Space Weather & Power Grid Risk: A new AGU study models a rare Carrington-level solar storm and finds the Northeast and Northern Plains would be most vulnerable, with potential widespread grid failure and major daily economic losses. Food Safety: A cyclospora outbreak tied to Taylor Farms shredded iceberg lettuce has become the largest of its kind, with thousands sick across many states, after long gaps in facility inspection. Marine Wildlife: A dead minke whale washed up on Rocky Neck, and the Seacoast Science Center is coordinating a necropsy. STEM Education in Maine: Maine Discovery Museum was named a national hub for the Simons Foundation’s Meaningful Math initiative, with a new Math Path opening Sept. 14. Energy & Tech Policy: Electricity prices are rising fastest in states where demand fell, while data centers face growing public resistance nationwide. Ocean Ecology: Warm-water shark sightings are increasing in New England, tied to warming ocean conditions. Local Science & Community: An Aroostook County teacher is sharing decades of native-plant know-how through a new herbal business.

Climate & Wildlife: Warming waters are pushing more shark species into New England, with experts pointing to a growing, repeatable seasonal pattern off Cape Cod and the Islands. Energy Tech: DIY plug-in solar kits are gaining traction in the US, aiming to make rooftop power feel more like an appliance than a costly project. Data Centers & Public Backlash: Data centers are spreading fast, but opposition is rising too—driven by land, water, power, and climate concerns, with the fight showing up in elections and local hearings. Maine Research & Manufacturing: UMaine launched a new 3D-printed 30-foot boat, 3Dirigo X, designed for offshore wind and rougher sea conditions. Ocean & Offshore Wind: UMass Dartmouth received $500,000 for offshore wind research, including paid internships and studies tied to cod spawning and future Gulf of Maine development. Health & Science Education (Maine): UMaine researchers are using zebrafish to study how the immune system responds to influenza, and another UMaine-led program boosted middle-school fruit intake via smoothies. Local Industry: The Maine Potato Board is gearing up for harvest, supporting growers with research, seed potatoes, and irrigation/storage know-how.

Maine Education: Four Maine educators were named state finalists for the 2027 Maine Teacher of the Year—Lewiston High’s Abby McCoy (Chemistry/Forensic Science), Windham High’s Adrianne Shetenhelm (English/Alternative Education), Cony’s Gretchen Livingston (Spanish), and Crescent Park’s Gina Welch (Pre-K). UMaine Research & Health: UMaine students are studying how the immune system responds to influenza using zebrafish, aiming to control inflammation by targeting a blood-pressure related mechanism; separately, UMaine’s fruit-and-smoothie program helped rural middle schoolers boost fruit intake from 78% to 98% and eat about four times more fruit. Offshore Wind & Marine Science: UMass Dartmouth received $500,000 for offshore wind research, including paid internships and a study on how offshore wind affects Gulf of Maine cod spawning plus a data-collection strategy for future development. 3D Printing in Maine: UMaine launched the 30-foot 3Dirigo X, a large-scale 3D-printed boat designed for offshore conditions up to about 40 knots, pushing toward faster vessel manufacturing. Local Environment Watch: Belfast residents continue pushing back on environmental harm tied to a proposed land-based fish farm, while Eastport is set for a Sept. 9 hearing on citizen ordinances targeting a proposed underwater computing project. Energy & Water: Researchers expect 2027 to bring the biggest wave of state energy siting bills, and Maine drought conditions are worsening as water shortages threaten farms and daily life.

Maine Tech & Research: UMaine researchers launched a 30-foot 3D-printed boat, 3Dirigo X, aimed at offshore conditions up to 40 knots—pushing large-scale additive manufacturing toward real production. Ocean & Climate Science: UNH deployed a cabled ocean observing system near the Isles of Shoals, adding real-time Gulf of Maine monitoring with sensors for water chemistry, currents, and marine life. Health & Food Innovation: UMaine students studied how zebrafish immune responses to influenza could reveal new inflammation controls, and another UMaine program boosted middle-school fruit intake by using smoothies and recipe cards. Energy & Jobs: UMass Dartmouth received $500,000 for offshore wind research, including paid internships and work on how wind affects cod spawning in the Gulf of Maine. Local Governance & Data Centers: Eastport residents seek a formal role in federal review as the city considers a ban on an underwater computing/data center project. Environment & Water: Farmers rethink water use as shortages threaten food production, while Maine’s drought concerns continue to grow. Policy Watch: A federal court blocked major USPS mail-voting changes, and Maine’s Supreme Judicial Court upheld a ruling limiting a teen’s church attendance based on parental authority.

Offshore Wind Research: UMass Dartmouth won $500,000 from Maine’s offshore wind workforce and marine research push—funding paid internships and a Gulf of Maine study on how offshore wind affects cod spawning. Gulf of Maine Tech for Science: UNH and partners deployed a cabled ocean observatory near the Isles of Shoals with acoustic and ocean sensors, supported by a $6.2M Office of Naval Research grant, to boost real-time coastal monitoring. Health Lab in Maine: UMaine researchers used zebrafish to study how the immune system responds to influenza, linking early findings to inflammation control via a blood-pressure related mechanism. School Nutrition, Proven: UMaine’s smoothie program helped rural middle schoolers dramatically increase fruit intake—selection rose from 78% to 98%, with students eating about four times as much fruit. Local Water & Climate Stress: A drought-hit Maine essay notes how quickly conditions can swing from dry brown trees to sudden downpours, underscoring how volatile water availability is. Energy Planning: Block Island Utility District discussed how extreme summer demand spikes forced reliance on costly spot-market power, highlighting the challenge of balancing contracts with real-world weather. Broadband Push: NTIA opened a new round of BEAD broadband proposals to reach newly identified unserved locations. Maine in the Courts: Maine’s Supreme Judicial Court upheld a ruling limiting a teen’s church attendance based on parental authority. Environment & Industry: A proposed Kingfish aquaculture project in Jonesport was put on indefinite hold after a weak share offering.

Solar Policy in Jay: Jay voters will decide in November on a 180-day moratorium on commercial solar farm development after a petition drive forced the issue onto the ballot. Cancer Care: New England Cancer Specialists in Maine is offering expanded access to an investigational oral inhibitor, daraxonrasib, for eligible patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer. Right Whale Rules: The U.S. House passed a bipartisan bill extending the pause on new North Atlantic right whale-related lobster regulations through 2035, sending it to the Senate. University Funding & Israel Boycotts: The House advanced a GOP-backed bill that would cut off certain federal funds to universities that participate in boycotts of Israel, with 33 Democrats voting yes. Broadband: NTIA is opening the door to additional federal broadband proposals under BEAD to cover newly identified unserved locations. Privacy & Surveillance: York residents are pushing to ban Flock AI surveillance cameras and automatic license plate readers, citing misuse risks. Emergency Tech for Deaf Travelers: Maine’s Turnpike Authority launches a pilot emergency notification app that turns detected sounds like alarms and sirens into tactile alerts. Cybersecurity: A class action investigation targets IDScan.net after reports of massive driver’s license data exposure, with Hertz customers potentially affected.