AGP Executive Report

Northern Lights Forecast: NOAA says aurora viewing could be good Sunday night across Montana and several nearby states, with the best chances just before and after midnight. Montana Tech & Industry: Montana State University opened a new Wool Lab aimed at boosting the regional wool industry, pairing hands-on training with lab support for producers and students. Energy Policy: Sen. John Thune says year-round E15 ethanol sales likely won’t pass without compromises for small oil refiners, keeping the farm-bill fight alive. Local Governance: Gov. Gianforte’s 56-county tour continued with visits to Montana producers and manufacturers, including GrainMaker Mills and cattle operations in Ravalli and Lake counties. Environment & Mining: A cross-border coalition is pushing for an independent review of Glencore’s proposed Fording River coal mine expansion, citing downstream selenium impacts reaching Montana and Idaho. Public Health/Healthcare Training: A UM Master of Public Administration graduate credits the program with practical skills gained while working full time. STEM Education: UW’s engineering summer program for teachers brought hands-on robotics and physical computing training to educators.

Montana Agriculture Tech: Montana State University opened a new Wool Lab (about $10M) to help ranchers and students modernize wool production, with extension specialist Brent Roeder pushing hands-on learning and a stronger regional wool industry. Biofuels Policy: U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said year-round higher ethanol blend sales (E15) likely require compromises for small oil refiners, setting up a tough farm-biofuels negotiation. Local Industry & Leadership: Gov. Greg Gianforte’s 56 County Tour highlighted Montana manufacturers and producers, including GrainMaker Mills and livestock operations recognized for stewardship. STEM Education in Montana: UW’s engineering summer program for teachers brought hands-on robotics and physical computing training to educators, aiming to boost classroom tech skills. Environment & Land Use: A coalition is pressing for an independent review of Glencore’s proposed Fording River coal mine expansion in B.C., citing downstream contamination impacts on Montana and Idaho. Public Health & Food Safety: Pennsylvania’s SNAP error-rate problem could trigger major budget costs if payment mistakes aren’t cut. Community Tech Access: Virginia City’s century-old library modernized with added tech and connectivity while preserving its historic character.

Archaeology Training: Eastern Wyoming College’s Archaeology Field School is putting students in real excavation work for six weeks at the POWARS II Site near Sunrise, building hands-on professional skills. Glacier Tragedy: A Kansas City great-grandfather died after a 45-pound rock crashed through a Jeep roof during a Glacier National Park trip, underscoring the hazards of steep cliff roads. Montana Education & Workforce: UM’s Master of Public Administration program is helping graduates build practical leadership skills while working full time, and UW’s engineering summer program is giving teachers hands-on tech savvy with robotics and physical computing. Local Industry & Policy: Gov. Gianforte’s 56 County Tour kept focus on Montana producers and manufacturers, while Montana hemp processors praised a Senate delay on a THC ban affecting floral hemp products. Mining & Water Concerns: A cross-border coalition is pressing for an independent review of B.C.’s Fording River coal mine expansion, citing selenium pollution impacts downstream into Montana and Idaho. Tech in Montana: Central Montana Resource Council is inviting public input on how AI data centers should be governed to protect land, water rights, and grid reliability. Cancer Research: A new study explores chemotherapy adjuvant strategies aimed at overcoming multidrug resistance in cancer cells and organoids.

Montana Critical Minerals: Sen. Steve Daines and Sen. John Curtis introduced the Critical Mineral and Extraction Tax Parity Act, aiming to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign processing by expanding incentives for domestic clean-energy manufacturing. Local Energy & Data Centers: Central Montana Resource Council is inviting public input on how AI data centers could affect land, water rights, and grid reliability, with a community booth at the Aug. 22 Farmers Market. Hemp Policy: Big Sky Scientific CEO Pat Farrell called a U.S. Senate delay on a hemp ban “a huge win for Montana,” buying time for a longer-term fix on THC limits. Mining Watch: Montana DEQ opened public comment on a draft environmental assessment for WRH Nevada’s Crossover Project exploration near Lake Mary Ronan, including deep drilling and heavy water use. Wildlife & Public Lands: UM researchers are studying e-bike use and trail conflicts, while Montana’s wolf management debate continues after criticism of the state’s wolf population model. STEM Education: University of Wyoming’s Engineering Summer Program for Teachers trained 52 K-12 educators on physical computing with robotics and coding. Health & Science: A new cancer study explores chemotherapy adjuvants designed to overcome P-glycoprotein drug resistance.

Critical Minerals Policy: Sen. Steve Daines and Sen. John Curtis unveiled a bill aimed at reducing U.S. dependence on foreign critical minerals by expanding tax incentives for domestic clean-energy manufacturing. Local Energy & Data Centers: Montana communities are being asked to weigh in on how AI-driven data center growth should be managed, with concerns focused on land, water rights, and grid reliability. Wildlife Science & Management: Montana’s wolf debate keeps heating up after criticism that the state overestimated wolf numbers using a flawed model, raising questions about how decisions are made. Public Land Tech & Conflict: UM research on e-bikes finds trail-use tensions are real, with technology changing how people share public lands. Environmental Review: Montana DEQ is taking public comment on a proposed deep exploration project near Lake Mary Ronan, including plans for heavy drilling and large water use. Food & Farming Research: MSU biocontrol work highlights how “weed bugs” are tested and deployed, with Montana examples of what landowners can expect. Outdoor & Fisheries: A Sidney angler landed a 117-pound paddlefish after it avoided recapture for 22 years. Community Tech Access: Virginia City’s century-old library is modernizing—adding computer access, tech for meetings, and Wi-Fi hotspots—while preserving its historic character.

Wolf Management Fallout: A Montana model used to justify killing hundreds of wolves is being slammed as deeply flawed, with critics saying the state overestimated wolf numbers by at least a third—raising fresh questions about Fish, Wildlife & Parks methods and lawsuits. National Parks Safety: Two separate reports describe fatal rockfall incidents at Glacier National Park, underscoring how unpredictable geology can turn outdoor travel into a high-risk science-and-safety story. Energy & Grid Planning: A draft Ninth Power Plan for Washington, Oregon, Idaho and western Montana calls for adding 11,000 megawatts by 2032, driven by data centers, electrification, and growth—plus major public comment hearings. Local Climate Tech: Missoula’s new heat map highlights “heat island” hotspots and where shade and greenspace could cool neighborhoods. Agritourism in Montana: The Montana Agritourism Conference is set for Nov. 5–6 in Lewistown, aiming to help farms and ranches grow visitor-based businesses. Right to Compute vs. Data Centers: Montana’s “Right to Compute” law is now shaping how counties respond to proposed AI data centers, with Broadview’s Quantica plan drawing pushback. Grid Resilience Funding: Montana DEQ awarded federal-backed grants for 10 resilience projects, including transmission upgrades on the Fort Peck Reservation.

Livestock Protection: Montana Sen. Steve Daines joined a bipartisan push to fund nonlethal tools—range riders, guard dogs, and electric fencing—to reduce wolf and bear attacks on cattle and sheep, with up to $20 million a year proposed. Heat & Cities: Missoula County released a new heat map showing where lack of shade and greenspace leaves neighborhoods hotter, highlighting “heat island” risks and the cooling role of trees and water. Energy Planning: The draft Ninth Power Plan for the Pacific Northwest calls for major additions by 2032—over 11,000 MW of new generation, 5,000 MW of storage, and 1,000+ MW of efficiency—plus public hearings starting in September. Rangeland Research: A free webinar will examine how woody plant encroachment is changing forage quality on Saskatchewan rangelands. Power Reliability Grants: Montana DEQ awarded $10.34M for 10 grid resilience projects, including transmission upgrades on the Fort Peck Reservation. Tech & Local Control: A new Montana law limits how local governments can respond to data center proposals, raising questions for communities facing AI-driven growth. Montana Innovation Network: Innosphere, MPQA, and the Headwaters Tech Hub signed an MOU to build a unified Mountain West innovation and test facilities network. Wildlife & Livestock Policy: Montana’s child abuse case drew criticism over weak inter-agency coordination, with calls for better training and faster protective action. Science in the Park: Makoshika State Park’s hadrosaur fossil was restored and returned to public display after a two-year rescue effort.

Digital Privacy: A new anti-fraud database called DecryptAds is being used to map how ad tech can turn everyday app use (like weather checks) into warrantless location surveillance for federal agents. Wildfire & Health: Missoula and partners are running heat-smoke response drills, while Montana’s Bridger Ridge Run is weighing cancellations based on Air Quality Index thresholds as smoke lingers. Climate Research: Missoula’s new county heat map shows where neighborhoods run hottest, linking tree cover and shade to cooler temperatures—useful as summers warm and nights stay hotter. Water Quality: UM researchers and Missoula are monitoring pesticides in Pattee Creek to track emerging contaminants and improve runoff management. STEM in Montana: The Montana Heritage Center is rolling out an LED-and-audiovisual immersive exhibit, and Montana State is expanding eclipse-related student involvement. Public Health: A rabies update in Roosevelt County emphasizes why bite exposures must be treated as urgent, even when cases are rare. Energy & Industry: Eastern Montana Fertilizer Plant backers say they’re advancing grant and loan requests that could boost domestic fertilizer supply. Healthcare Access: Intermountain Health says a KRAS-targeting pancreatic cancer drug is entering expanded access in Montana via an FDA program. Local Governance Tech: Montana’s “Right to Compute” law is already shaping how counties may respond to proposed AI data centers.

Wildfire readiness: Missoula County wildfire mitigation staff urged homeowners to clean gutters, secure attic vents, and rethink landscaping as bigger, more destructive fires push Montana toward “do something now” planning. Education staffing crunch: East Helena Public Schools says it’s facing a hiring “crisis” just weeks before classes, with major gaps in math/science/foreign language and kitchen/bus roles statewide. Water quality monitoring: Missoula partnered with UM’s pesticide monitoring program to sample Pattee Creek runoff for emerging contaminants under an EPA grant. AI data centers & local control: Montana’s “Right to Compute” law is now shaping how counties may respond to proposed AI data centers, with Broadview’s Quantica plan drawing a citizen petition fight. Public health via telehealth: UM and Providence launched a rural child abuse care network using telehealth training and specialist connections for under-resourced communities. Cancer breakthrough: Intermountain Health in Montana is among sites offering an FDA expanded-access pancreatic cancer drug targeting KRAS mutations. Astronomy in Montana’s orbit: Montana State students and NASA-supported teams are helping run eclipse balloon science during the 2026 total solar eclipse. Recreation management: Montana FWP named Amy Grout regional recreation manager for northwest Montana. Local governance: Madison County submitted ballot language to let voters switch from commission to charter government.

Solar Science & Community Viewing: NASA says the Aug. 12 eclipse will be total over parts of Spain, Iceland, Greenland and northern Russia, while Montana will see only a partial eclipse—so plan for safe viewing and expect some cloud risk. Montana Education Grants: Mountain America Credit Union is opening applications for 2026–27 educator grants in Arizona, Idaho, Montana and Nevada, funding hands-on classroom projects. Local Ag Innovation: In Havre, a family-run Montana company is testing a liquid biological crop nutrition approach aimed at cutting fertilizer costs and reducing reliance on volatile pricing. Wildfire Health Tech: In Big Sky, residents built DIY air cleaners using box fans and high-grade filters to reduce smoke exposure during Montana’s air quality alerts. Climate & Wildlife Under Pressure: Montana State University research highlights how extreme heat can push large mammals to rely on movement rather than fast adaptation, while Western drought is driving fishing restrictions as rivers warm. Courts & Energy Policy: A federal appeals court struck down Biden-era stove and oven efficiency rules, including a challenge that names Montana among the states. Higher Ed Strain: A new report warns deferred maintenance in colleges is becoming a “ticking time bomb,” with repairs likely to snowball if funding and upkeep lag.

Wolf Policy Clash: Montana FWP says its wolf count is lower than before (725 vs. 1,094), while critics argue the data is still too shaky and warn proposed quotas could push wolves toward local collapse. Courtroom Tech: A federal appeals court struck down Biden-era efficiency rules for gas and electric stoves and ovens, a decision that directly affects Montana and other states tied up in appliance regulation. Privacy in Practice: Billings is using license plate readers for parking enforcement, but the program is drawing scrutiny over how location data is collected and stored. Wildfire Science & Health: A NASA Cold War-era spy plane flew over B.C. wildfires to study smoke and storm formation, while Montana groups are teaching residents DIY air cleaners to cut wildfire particle exposure. Aquatic Impacts: Record heat is driving fishing restrictions across the West, including parts of Montana, as warmer rivers threaten trout survival. Space & Skywatching: NASA is chasing the Aug. 12 eclipse with balloons and a high-altitude jet, and Montana State students are set to help run eclipse ballooning experiments in Spain. Cancer Breakthrough Access: Intermountain Health hospitals, including in Montana, are joining a national expanded-access effort for a new pancreatic cancer drug.

Wolf Management Debate: A Montana op-ed argues FWP’s wolf counts are unreliable and calls for a moratorium on wolf killing, citing a revised estimate of 725 wolves (down from 1,094) and warning that proposed quotas could push the population toward collapse. Wildfire & Forage Crops: MSU research says lingering wildfire smoke can still hurt Montana perennial forage by slowing photosynthesis and reducing plants’ ability to “winterize,” even after much of the wheat and barley harvest is done. Solar Science & Skywatching: A partial solar eclipse will be visible across parts of the U.S. and Canada Aug. 12, followed by the Perseids meteor shower; safe viewing requires certified eclipse glasses. Industrial Gas in Montana: Big Sky Industrial reported progress at its Big Sky Carbon Hub, including Phase 1 construction and infrastructure installs, targeting first revenue in Q1 2027. Helium, Energy, and Drilling: Phoenix Energy highlighted strong Q2 results and Montana drilling milestones, including four-mile lateral switchback wells. Local Tech & Privacy: A Montana-related story spotlights digital IDs expanding to more states, including Montana, as privacy and data-use questions grow. Climate Record: NOAA says July 2026 was the hottest month ever recorded in the contiguous U.S., underscoring intensifying heat trends.

UAP Records: The Pentagon released a fifth batch of declassified UFO/UAP files, including an FBI interview describing a huge silent triangular object over Bagram in 2002 and new footage from a 2021 Gulf of Oman incident involving “cold orbs” on sensors. Climate Extremes: NOAA says July 2026 was the hottest month ever recorded across the contiguous U.S., with every state in the warmest third of its historical July record—another sign heat waves are getting more intense and harder on people and infrastructure. Montana Wildlife Policy: A bipartisan bill led by Sen. Steve Daines would fund nonlethal tools—range riders, guard dogs, and electric fencing—to reduce wolf and bear attacks on livestock. Public Health Funding: HHS canceled dozens of Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program grants, including awards in Montana, cutting about $68 million early. Tech & Privacy: California moves to regulate neurotech and brain-data use, as lawmakers and companies race to shape how sensitive brain information can be collected and used. Montana Digital IDs: Montana is among the states supporting digital driver’s licenses in Apple Wallet and Google Wallet, easing airport and other ID checks. Energy & Drilling: Phoenix Energy reported big Q2 gains and noted first four-mile lateral switchback wells in Montana. Space Science: ESA’s Proba-3 mission is already reshaping solar wind models, with a Europe eclipse set to help validate revised space-weather forecasts.

Neurotech & Privacy: California lawmakers move to regulate how employers can use brain-data from neurotechnology, adding new limits on sensitive “brain data” and AI-driven decisions. Space Science: ESA’s Proba-3 mission has already reshaped solar wind models, and Wednesday’s total solar eclipse over Europe will serve as a live test of the updated forecasting work. Atmospheric Monitoring: A plane over Utah’s Great Salt Lake is collecting ozone measurements to better understand how ground-level ozone forms and affects health and crops. Wildlife Management: Montana’s wolf numbers remain disputed after FWP revised its iPOM method downward; critics argue proposed quotas could push wolves toward functional extermination. Public Health & Food Safety: Walmart recalls Bettergoods pistachio nut butter in multiple states, including Montana, after salmonella contamination tests. Montana Outdoors Tech: A Western Montana developer is building apps to help people identify species and learn about the outdoors, turning local knowledge into easy tools. Climate & Water: Western drought impacts keep showing up, including Lake Powell’s shrinking levels forcing marina and ramp changes.

AI Governance: OpenAI strategist Dean Ball argues frontier labs must counterbalance state power, as regulators struggle to rein in systems that can reshape software, science, medicine, and security. Public Safety Tech: Volunteers in Las Vegas used a thermal imaging drone to track a lost dog—then vandals smashed it—prompting a Montana donor to replace the gear. Education Policy: The U.S. Education Department is granting more states flexibility to consolidate and waive federal requirements, shifting control toward state priorities. Montana STEM & Space: Montana State students will help lead NASA-supported eclipse ballooning during the 2026 total solar eclipse, using 360-degree cameras and ozone sensors. Health & Training in the region: Utah State completed a new veterinary education building as its four-year DVM program expands to address rural veterinarian shortages. Food Safety: Walmart recalled a pistachio nut butter over possible salmonella contamination, including distribution to Montana. Local Tech in Montana: MontanaFair is rolling out digital ride ticketing at MetraPark in Billings, replacing paper tickets with tap-and-go options. Climate & Water: Lake Powell is near record lows, forcing marinas to relocate and adapt as the Colorado River crisis deepens.

Solar Eclipse Planning (Montana): A total solar eclipse on Aug. 12 will be total over parts of Europe, but U.S. viewers get a partial show. Forecasts point to northeast Montana as one of the better bets for clearer skies, with wildfire smoke a key variable. Eclipse Research (Montana State): MSU students and staff will lead NASA-supported eclipse ballooning in Spain, using 360-degree cameras and ozone sensors to study how the eclipse changes the atmosphere. Climate & Water (West): Lake Powell is down to about 23% and nearing record lows, forcing marina and boat-ramp changes as the Colorado River crisis deepens. Wildlife Science (Paddlefish): North Dakota biologists tagged a paddlefish in 2007; 18 years later, the same fish was recaptured at 98 pounds—rare long-term growth data. Public Health (Cyclospora): A major cyclosporiasis outbreak tied to iceberg lettuce has spread across 15 states, with cases and hospitalizations tracked by CDC updates. Local Tech & Services (Montana): MontanaFair in Billings is rolling out digital tap-and-go ride ticketing, replacing paper tickets with app and kiosk options. Policy Watch (AI): Multi-state AGs are demanding transparency from OpenAI after an AI security breach involving Hugging Face.