AGP Executive Report

Juneau Flood Mitigation: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says it will soon post a request for proposals for a long-term approach to drain Suicide Basin, aiming to “evacuate” glacial outburst water after this year’s flood—potentially with private-sector help. Rural Health Funding: Alaska health officials approved just $4.5M of a $272M Rural Health Transformation Program allocation, leaving most awards pending and raising deadline pressure for providers. Public Media Tech Upgrades: Alaska Public Media received $1.15M in grants to modernize broadcast and IT systems, expand reach, and add disaster recovery capabilities statewide. AI Governance Gap: A new report argues Alaska is lagging behind other states on AI rules for children, privacy, transparency, and bias—despite passing a narrower 2026 law targeting deepfake harms and CSAM. Bering Sea Ocean Chemistry Tool: Researchers unveiled a model to help predict ocean acidity impacts on Bering Sea crabs, responding to climate-driven stress on shellfish. Southeast Salmon Update: Pink salmon are finally showing up in Southeast Alaska after a historically weak start, with catches improving as more males appear—suggesting a possible rebound.

Arctic Defense Drills: U.S. Northern Command staged Operation TUNDRA MERLIN near Nome, linking F-35s, F-16s, aerial refueling, radar, and HIMARS precision fires to show a distributed way to detect, intercept, and strike high-end threats across Alaska’s northern approaches. Fisheries Science Modernization: Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s bill would push NOAA to use environmental DNA (eDNA) and other aquatic “bimolecular” tools in fish stock assessments, including a national pilot program and routine eDNA sampling. Local Tech & Power Planning: Ketchikan City Council discussed impacts of a borough library ballot measure, approved up to $25M in electric revenue obligations for utility work, and backed a Silvis Lake hydro upgrade grant application. Space Watch: NASA says a partial solar eclipse on Aug. 12 will be visible from Alaska to the lower 48, with peak viewing in Anchorage around 8:21 a.m. ET—plus safety reminders to use ISO 12312-2 eclipse glasses. Aviation Safety: The FAA ordered structural inspections of about 1,429 Boeing 737 Max jets worldwide for possible “bear strap” cracking, even though no cracks have been found in the Max fleet yet. Wildfire Health: New research finds prenatal PM2.5 exposure fell overall from 2003–2019, but wildfire smoke’s share more than doubled, making smoke the dominant contributor to high-pollution pregnancy days by 2019.

Aviation Safety: The FAA has ordered inspections of 471 Boeing 737 Max jets for possible cracks in a structural component near the forward galley door, with the directive effective Sept. 10, 2026. Space & Skywatching: NASA highlights the Aug. 12, 2026 total solar eclipse, including a rare “sunset eclipse” in parts of Europe and the path of totality across Greenland, Iceland, northern Russia, the Atlantic, Spain, and a sliver of Portugal. Public Health: CDC reports the drug-resistant fungus Candida auris is spreading across the U.S., with cases rising yearly since 2019 and concentrated in healthcare settings. Alaska STEM Angle (Environment & Science): An Alaska explainer looks at how summer daylight affects animal behavior, focusing on circadian rhythms and why “how animals sleep” depends on species and conditions. Alaska Policy & Oversight: A state legislative committee ordered an audit of the Alaska Board of Fisheries after concerns about transparency and process. Arctic Tech/Health: ANTHC is set to receive a $400 million federal settlement over unpaid healthcare costs.

Broadband & Rural Connectivity: SpaceX urged the FCC to “wind down and sunset” High-Cost USF subsidies, arguing Starlink and other low-Earth orbit services make the legacy program unnecessary. Critical Minerals for Defense: Lockheed is reportedly in talks to secure North American scandium and germanium supplies to cut China dependence for aircraft parts and infrared sensors. Alaska STEM in the Spotlight: A peer-reviewed study found most Alaska seafood samples have low or non-detectable “forever chemical” PFAS levels, with only 10 of 40 compounds detected and none above lab qualification limits for tested salmon. STEM Education & Community: Anchorage’s Kenai River Sport Fishing Association expanded its Junior Classic to 120 kids, adding new science stations on fish, river ecology, and Alaska Native cultural practices. Energy Tech in Alaska: A Napaimute hydrokinetic turbine test aims to generate electricity from the Kuskokwim River while researchers monitor whether salmon can safely pass. Space & Tech: Rocket Lab’s Neutron faces a 2028 defense mission deadline as it prepares its next earnings report.

Spaceport Planning: Alaska Aerospace is seeking $3.51M for a Pasagshak freight ramp study, aiming to move launch supplies by barge to reduce road impacts as Rocket Lab ramps up activity. Health & Research Partnership: Yale psychiatry faculty Crouch, Cook, and O’Malley are teaming with SEARHC in Southeast Alaska to expand trauma and substance-use training plus culturally aligned clinical care. Fisheries Update: Yukon River chinook salmon are already moving through the Whitehorse fish ladder in numbers suggesting one of the strongest runs in years, though still below historical averages and conservation targets. Public Health Policy: Alaska’s vaccine schedule confusion continues as families face two competing immunization lists (federal vs. American Academy of Pediatrics) after a judge halted a federal change. Wildlife Science: New Alaska research finds black bear “hibernation” isn’t one long sleep—bears spend much of the day awake in the den, reshaping how scientists think about metabolic slowdown. Economy & Jobs: An Alaska labor analysis says the state lost a larger share of federal jobs in 2025 than nearly any other state, pushing federal employment to its lowest level since at least 1990.

Arctic Research Legacy: The University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute marks its 80th anniversary, tracing back to Truman-era legislation that helped cement UAF’s role in Arctic science. Arctic Energy & Policy: The U.S. Interior Department proposes targeted updates to the Arctic Exploratory Drilling Rule, aiming to streamline oversight while keeping federal control. Alaska Public Safety Tech: Anchorage Police seek upgrades for its Real Time Crime Center, with assembly members pressing for clarity on what the system can do. Critical Minerals Supply Chains: Lockheed is reportedly in talks to secure U.S. supplies of scandium and germanium, part of a broader push to reduce defense reliance on China. Southeast Alaska Cleanup: BoatUS Foundation-backed work is removing dozens of abandoned and derelict vessels in Metlakatla, Yakutat, and Sitka to improve marine habitat. STEM in the Spotlight: New research suggests ancient hunters disproportionately targeted female woolly mammoths—an Alaska Science Forum tie-in for local interest in deep-time science. Skywatching: NASA highlights Aug. 12 as a rare double-feature night—Perseids peak plus a partial solar eclipse visible from Alaska.

Arctic STEM & Policy: The U.S. Interior Department proposed updates to the Arctic Exploratory Drilling Rule, aiming to modernize 2016 requirements for blowout preventer monitoring, source control gear, subsea isolation, and spill-response planning in the Beaufort and Chukchi seas. Ocean & Climate Science: A Fisheries and Oceans Canada deepwater ecology scientist warned that deep-sea mining could devastate slow-growing deep-ocean life—sponges, long-lived fish, and ancient lineages—arguing it would be worse than climate change and pollution combined. Alaska Wildlife & Safety: A humpback whale strike sank a Gustavus family’s sailboat in Glacier Bay National Park; the family survived and later found whale skin on the recovered vessel. Alaska Community & Sports: The Arctic Winter Games are back on a two-year cycle, with Fairbanks named host for the next event in 2028. Tech & Finance (Alaska-linked): Western Union launched a Solana-powered Stablecard in 37 markets, tied to Anchorage Digital’s USDPT stablecoin, expanding instant Visa spending for international transfers. AI Security: A coalition of state attorneys general, including Pennsylvania, is demanding OpenAI preserve records after an alleged AI security breach linked to access of other AI networks.

Coastal Ecology: A new report-style look at Alaska’s Pacific blue mussels warns they’re vanishing from places like Southeast Alaska, even as docks still show mussels clinging to shore—highlighting how these “foundation species” shape intertidal habitat and biodiversity. Arctic & Climate Science: Researchers say Alaska’s glaciers are melting longer as summers warm, with satellite radar work tying higher temperatures to weeks of extra melt—plus cruise routes are already shifting as the ice retreats. Energy & Permitting: Chugach Electric is studying a proposed 400-foot Caribou Creek hydro dam near the Matanuska Glacier; residents at Glacier View raised concerns about landslides, flooding, river icing, and impacts to recreation and gold mining claims. STEM in Health Policy: A CDC measles-vaccine push comes as U.S. cases hit a 35-year high, while a separate pregnancy study links wildfire smoke to worsening air-quality impacts for expectant mothers. Tech & Industry: Western Union launched StableCard, letting remittance recipients receive and spend dollar-backed stablecoins on Solana via a Visa card—an example of fast-moving financial tech. Defense Supply Chains: Lockheed Martin is reportedly in talks to secure U.S. scandium and germanium supplies as policy tightens mineral waivers tied to reducing China reliance.

Arctic Energy Policy: The U.S. Department of the Interior proposed updates to 2016 exploratory oil-and-gas rules for the Arctic Outer Continental Shelf, aiming to cut “unnecessary regulatory burdens” and reflect newer technology while keeping federal oversight. Climate & Ecosystems: A new look at Alaska pollinators highlights how warming, shifting snowmelt, invasive plants, and changing tundra plant communities could reshape bee survival and nesting. STEM Education & Tech Use: The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District is considering classroom screen time limits, with policies meant to keep tech use purposeful and protect the learning relationships educators provide. Space Research (Alaska-linked): BYU researchers are helping NASA prep for the Dragonfly mission to Titan by studying Earth dune landscapes as analogs for what the rotorcraft will explore. Science in the Field: Kapiʻolani Community College students visited Nome to study kōlea migration, documenting Arctic bird species and sharing their findings back with the program. Public Science/Outreach: The Alaska SeaLife Center’s plankton art exhibit turns Gulf of Alaska zooplankton research into a hands-on, community-facing display. Wildlife Tragedy: Katmai National Park reported a second bear-cub death at Brooks River tied to infanticide by an unrelated mother bear.

Alaska Politics: A Southeast Alaska candidate for U.S. Senate, Dan J. Sullivan, will still be on the August primary ballot after an Alaska Supreme Court ruling—now listed as “Daniel J. Sullivan Jr.” with the incumbent label handled differently by the Division of Elections. Rural Health Tech: Alaska is among the states moving fast on the Rural Health Transformation Program’s Rural Tech Catalyst Fund, using funds for remote, roadless-friendly tools like unmanned drones, remote pharmacy dispensing, and portable diagnostics. STEM & Weather AI: Colorado State University researchers won DOE Genesis Mission awards—one for an AI foundation model to improve precipitation forecasting from ice-containing clouds, and another to support the AURORA-AI effort for more reliable remote power grids (including work tied to Alaska’s UAF). Healthcare Access: The FDA approved an expanded use of Pluvicto for metastatic prostate cancer, but access depends on licensed nuclear medicine facilities—highlighting how regulation shapes who can get advanced therapies. Space & Astronomy: NASA is urging eclipse watchers to tune in for Aug. 12’s total solar eclipse, with totality sweeping across Greenland, Iceland, and Spain.

Science Funding Fight: A Senate spending bill would temporarily block a White House rule that lets political appointees override federal science grant decisions, raising alarms about politicized research and harm to rural and biomedical work. Alaska Military Build-Up: Gov. Mike Dunleavy launched an Alaska Military Affairs Office to coordinate military installations, industry, and communities as troop and base investment ramps up. Mining Impacts on Native Communities: Alaska Native leaders in Dot Lake Village are bracing for a nearby man camp tied to the Manh Choh gold project, citing safety and sexual violence concerns. Arctic Climate Research: At Toolik Field Station, scientists warn that thawing permafrost may release far more carbon than current planning models account for. Biodiversity Work in Alaska: UAF entomologist Derek Sikes is expanding a massive insect collection to close Alaska’s big gap in identified species. Space & Skywatching: NASA highlights August’s total solar eclipse path, with Alaska seeing a partial view, plus the Perseids meteor peak. Ocean & Wildlife: UH-Hilo researchers report the first known blacktip shark nursery habitat in Hawaiian waters, underscoring how habitat changes can reshape animal movement.

Arctic Geopolitics: Trump renewed claims that the U.S. could take “operational control” of Greenland by 2029, drawing pushback from Greenland and Denmark and highlighting the island’s strategic role in missile warning, space surveillance, and rare-earth supply chains. Aviation Engineering: A new look at why no current Boeing or Airbus freighter matches the 747-400F’s front-loading nose-door design—an issue as cargo fleets retire and next-gen widebodies arrive without the same capability. Disaster Risk Mapping: Researchers built a national landslide exposure map covering 128 million buildings, finding 6.5 million Americans live in landslide-prone zones—small-scale hazard swings that are hard for communities to plan around. Alaska Connectivity: The FCC is considering changes to E-Rate, putting internet subsidies for Alaska schools and libraries at risk. Climate & Alaska Roads: As permafrost thaws, Alaska’s ground instability is linked to rougher, riskier infrastructure planning. Marine Science: UH-Hilo researchers identified the first known blacktip shark nursery habitat in Hilo Bay using acoustic tagging. Skywatching: NASA highlights Aug. 12’s total solar eclipse (partial in Alaska) plus the Perseids peak and late-August lunar eclipse—big astronomy moments for Alaskans.

Alaska Internet Access: The FCC is weighing major cuts to the E-Rate program that subsidizes internet for Alaska schools and libraries, putting remote classrooms and libraries at risk. Arctic Research Milestone: UAF’s Geophysical Institute is celebrating 80 years since Congress created it in 1946, highlighting its long-running Arctic research leadership. Southeast Forests: The Tongass has issued a Record of Decision for the South Revilla Integrated Resources Project, setting up up to 83 million board feet of timber harvest over 15 years alongside habitat and recreation improvements. NOAA Port Decision: NOAA is restarting a process to decide where its Pacific operations should be based as the Newport lease expires in 2031, with a multi-year selection timeline. Marine Science & Care: The Alaska SeaLife Center marks nearly three decades of work in wildlife response, education, and research—and argues Alaska needs to invest again as ocean conditions change fast. STEM Skywatching: NASA’s August 2026 sky calendar spotlights a total solar eclipse on Aug. 12 with a partial view possible in Alaska, plus major meteor and lunar events.

E-Rate Uncertainty: The FCC is weighing cuts or a full rethink of the E-Rate internet subsidy that helps Alaska schools and libraries stay connected. Arctic Research Milestone: UAF’s Geophysical Institute marked 80 years since Truman signed the law creating it—an Arctic science engine with roots in wartime geophysics. Skywatching for Alaska: NASA highlights Aug. 12’s total solar eclipse over Greenland/Iceland/northern Spain plus a partial eclipse visible from Alaska, followed by the Perseids and a late-month partial lunar eclipse. Heat Advisory: The first-ever heat advisory for Anchorage and parts of Southcentral Alaska warns of upper-70s temperatures through the weekend before a cooler, wetter shift. Ocean Monitoring Returns: Northwest ocean observatories are starting to come back after being yanked, with gliders and redeployed systems tracking low-oxygen and warming seas. Landslide Risk Map: A new U.S. map estimates 6.5 million people live on landslide-prone slopes—Alaska is a smaller share, but the exposure picture is clearer nationwide.

Arctic Climate Watch: NOAA’s August outlook for western Alaska points to above-normal temperatures and rainfall, with Nome’s August typically the wettest month and fog less common than earlier in summer. Heat & Public Safety: The first-ever heat advisory for Anchorage and parts of Southcentral Alaska runs through the weekend, with highs in the 70s and a return to cooler, wetter weather expected next week. Wildlife & Fisheries: UAF researchers using underwater microphones report endangered Cook Inlet belugas are skipping peak summer feeding during high human activity, shifting detections toward fall. Conservation & Indigenous Voices: The Mother Kuskokwim Tribal Coalition urges Panthera’s board to address conflicts of interest tied to mining plans they say could harm Canada lynx habitat near Donlin Gold. Aviation Safety: The NTSB released the final report on the 2025 Bering Air crash, citing airspeed management and overweight operations, while Alaska pilots still seek answers. Space & STEM Careers: NASA assigned Arctic drilling engineer Deniz Burnham to a Soyuz mission targeting March 2027, with work aimed at Moon and Mars drilling. Science Discovery: Fossils long labeled as mammoth bones in Alaska’s interior were reidentified as whales using stable isotopes and ancient DNA. Skywatching: NASA’s August guide highlights a total solar eclipse on Aug. 12 (partial in Alaska) plus the Perseids and a late-month partial lunar eclipse.

Alaska Infrastructure & Climate Risk: Fairbanks North Star Borough’s Planning Commission approved the 2026 Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan, updating FEMA-aligned risk work with a wider scope that still centers wildfire, severe weather, flooding, earthquakes, and permafrost thaw/ground failure. Public Health & Air Quality: A large U.S. study found wildfire smoke is now the top pollutant affecting pregnancy outcomes, with smoke-linked pollution rising enough to offset broader declines from cars and industry. Permafrost & Roads: An Alaska Science Forum piece explains why deep thawing permafrost keeps roads rough for decades, with unstable soils in valley areas potentially thawing far into the future. Emergency Repairs Near Hyder: Temporary repairs to the Fish Creek Levee are nearing completion after a glacial outburst sent the Salmon River into a new channel, damaging a wildlife observation walkway and parts of Salmon River Road. Space & STEM Careers: NASA assigned Alaska-based astronaut Deniz Burnham to her first ISS mission, targeting March 2027, with tech demos aimed at future Moon/Mars exploration. Disaster Mapping: A new national landslide exposure map estimates 6.5 million Americans live in highly susceptible landslide zones, highlighting major rural vulnerability. Northern Lights Planning: NOAA forecasts aurora chances this weekend, with Alaska expected to have the strongest viewing odds.