AGP Executive Report

Pediatric Care Spotlight: U.S. News & World Report marks 20 years of its Best Children’s Hospitals rankings, naming 90 top children’s hospitals across 34 states and adding a closer look at pediatric and adolescent behavioral health. Texas Health: Texas Children’s Hospital is again No. 1 in Texas for the 18th straight year, also topping Pediatric Cardiology & Heart Surgery and ranking first in Pediatric Diabetes & Endocrinology. Border & Public Safety: CBP officers at the Pharr International Bridge seized more than $25 million in methamphetamine hidden in a shipment labeled as cabbage, tomatillo and cilantro. Environment & Energy: The Trump administration is rolling back climate rules for coal and gas power plants, ending federal limits on emissions. Tech & Space: Samsung and Verizon completed a key 6G ISAC trial in Texas, while NASA’s lunar “Gateway” planning raises new logistics questions for future moon traffic. Health Alerts: A Houston-based company is recalling injectable products nationwide after elevated endotoxin levels were found. Local Life: Willis homeowners are pushing back on a plan to add up to $75 a month to HOA fees for a community internet service. Sports Injuries: The Texans placed LB Henry To’oTo’o on injured reserve after a shoulder injury.

Workforce & Education: Gov. Greg Abbott announced $1.327 million in Jobs and Education for Texans (JET) grants for West Central Texas schools to buy career-tech equipment and train 356 students for high-demand jobs like nursing and welding. Health & Families: A new guide from Pediatric Eye Specialists explains pediatric cortical visual impairment (CVI), a brain-based cause of vision loss, and why early diagnosis and coordinated care matter. Local Schools: Alief ISD opened its new Young Women’s Leadership School, a single-gender campus focused on sisterhood, STEM, and leadership for 6th and 7th graders. Climate Policy: The EPA is set to announce the U.S. will no longer limit climate pollution from power plants, a major shift with big public-health stakes. Business & Tech: A study from South finds 76% of U.S. companies underestimate Latin American developer talent, despite better outcomes in quality and communication. Sports: The NFL’s early scoring fireworks included Buffalo’s 36-31 win over Houston, while Cleveland’s Deshaun Watson debut struggled in a 34-10 loss.

Bills-Texans Recap: Josh Allen powered Buffalo to a 36-31 win over Houston at Reliant Stadium, finishing with 334 passing yards and four total touchdowns as the Bills finally snapped a long losing streak in Houston. Sports Betting Buzz: With Week 2 on deck, Polymarket has the Texans favored over the Bengals, but the spread and totals suggest a close, coin-flip kind of game. Cancer Research: NANOBIOTIX says its Phase 1 results for radiotherapy-activated JNJ-1900 (NBTXR3) in inoperable recurrent lung cancer show no dose-limiting toxicities and reports promising one-year control and survival rates. AI in Texas Communications: Story & Strategy and Texas Tech are teaming up for an Oct. 22 AI leadership forum in DFW, highlighting that many communicators use AI but far fewer have clear company rules. Local Community: Kerrville CVB won four statewide Destination Excellence Awards, and Kerr County 4-H clubs showcased youth programs for local families. Travel Incident: A woman was arrested after allegedly stripping naked and performing lewd acts on an American Airlines flight into Miami.

Local Restoration: Houston’s Lee Quigley Bronze Restoration Company cleaned and polished Carthage’s “Footprints in the Sand” monument, reviving the bronze Jesus sculpture after nearly a decade outdoors. Texas Sports Spotlight: Arch Manning powered Texas’ 24-23 comeback over No. 1 Ohio State, erasing a 20-point fourth-quarter deficit in a historic rally. NFL Kickoff in Houston: Bills-Texans season opener headlines Sunday, with Buffalo favored in early odds and plenty of betting promos circulating ahead of kickoff. Public Safety: A wrong-way crash on Florida’s I-75 sent two Texas travelers to the hospital; investigators are still tracing how the driver entered the interstate. Health & Access: UT Health San Antonio trauma leaders say rural Texans often wait too long for transfer to trauma centers, and a statewide AI effort aims to speed up care. Tech & Mobility: Lyft is moving deeper into driverless robotaxis via its Waymo partnership, marking a major step toward commercial service. Missing Person (San Antonio): Police are asking for help locating Nathaniel David Sanchez, last seen near South Texas Medical Center.

College Football Playoff Stakes: No. 4 Texas erased a 20-point fourth-quarter deficit to beat No. 1 Ohio State 24-23, with Arch Manning leading the comeback and Hollywood Smothers scoring the winner with 25 seconds left. Local Sports: Sam Houston’s return to Elliott T. Bowers Stadium didn’t go as planned, as Tulsa spoiled the reunion. Defense & Development: Austin-based Alien Control Systems is expanding with a new 191,000-square-foot plant to scale production of its Bullfrog counter-drone system for the U.S. and allies. Public Health: Red tide along the Bolivar Peninsula is prompting warnings about breathing problems and seafood-related illness, especially for people with asthma or COPD. Texas Courts & Safety: A Fort Worth daycare is accused in a lawsuit of running a “child fight club,” alleging a teacher encouraged her son to attack a 4-year-old. Tech & Labor: Apple published details on supplier labor expectations and forced-labor prevention, plus training efforts tied to its manufacturing network. Mental Health & AI: A new poll finds many Americans are using AI chatbots for mental health, raising concerns about what happens when that advice follows patients into care.

NFL Kickoff Texas Spotlight: The Bills open Week 1 at the Texans in Houston, with Buffalo listed about a 1.5-point favorite and a 44.5-point total, as Josh Allen looks to shake off past struggles in the building and new coach Joe Brady debuts. College Football Buzz: No. 1 Ohio State visits No. 4 Texas in Austin for a top-five showdown, with both teams loaded with former five-star recruits and Arch Manning’s final season adding extra stakes. Public Safety in Austin: An Austin audit finds most APD, Fire, and EMS workers report traumatic events, with many saying they rarely get follow-up and some fearing confidentiality when seeking mental-health help. Health & Environment: Texas officials warn of red tide along the Bolivar Peninsula near Crystal Beach, urging people to avoid affected waters and watch for breathing irritation and fish kills. Animal Health Alert: A New World screwworm case has been confirmed in a Texas horse, prompting restricted animal movement and new USDA guidance for hunters and wildlife workers. Tech & Consumer Law: A Texas judge rules TikTok misled parents about child safety features, including “restricted mode” not working as marketed.

G20 Energy Talks in Houston: The White House says a Russian official will attend next week’s G20 energy meeting in Houston, drawing fresh European anger after Moscow’s recent return to in-person G20 ministerials. Texas Politics & Religion: Gov. Greg Abbott vows to ban Sharia law in Texas, as debates over curriculum and “radical Islam” themes continue to roil the state. Local Health & Safety: Austin Public Health confirmed a measles case tied to an unvaccinated infant, while Texas families report SNAP benefits vanishing quickly and officials extend replacement deadlines after Tropical Storm Edouard. Houston Area Traffic Crash: A driver was critically hurt when a truck hit a utility pole, snapping lines and shutting down Houston Levee Road for hours. Sports (Texas Focus): Gregory-Portland beat Calallen 47-7 behind QB Carter Dominguez, and the Texas Rangers fell 9-1 to Arizona. Wildlife & Outdoors: Dove season opened statewide in Texas for the first time, following updated population findings. Community & Culture: A Texas 9/11 memorial stair climb honors first responders, and Channel 2 reporter Tom Jones was inducted into NATAS’s Silver Circle.

SNAP Relief for Storm Victims: Gov. Abbott and HHSC say federal approval lets Texans in affected counties apply longer for SNAP replacement benefits after Tropical Storm Edouard, with applications due Sept. 21 and help via 2-1-1. Texas Health Backlog: HHSC is asking lawmakers for more funding as hundreds of thousands of Texans wait on Medicaid and SNAP processing, with advocates warning families can’t afford delays. Prison Heat Funding Fight: Texas prisons are seeking $298 million for more air-conditioned beds as heat illness risk persists and a court timeline looms. TikTok Child-Safety Lawsuit: A Texas judge ruled TikTok misled parents about Restricted Mode and underage safety, finding violations of state consumer protection law. Tech & Jobs in the Austin Orbit: Wiwynn plans a major Socorro expansion tied to Amazon server-rack manufacturing, aiming for nearly 1,000 jobs by 2027. Local Culture & Community: Denton launches a Halloween Artist Mentorship Program to pair emerging artists with established creatives for downtown installations. Sports (Texas spotlight): Week 2 college football features Ohio State at Texas, plus Texans-Bills NFL opener coverage and betting chatter.

RNC Midterm Convention Wraps in Dallas: Republicans closed out their first-ever midterm convention with high-energy speeches from GOP leaders, including House Speaker Mike Johnson and Vice President JD Vance, as the party vowed to keep control of Congress. Trump’s “Last Stand” Pitch: Trump framed the election as a referendum and pushed a promise of $5,000 “dividend” checks for adults if Republicans win both chambers—without clear funding details. Public Safety Alerts: Texas DPS issued an active Silver Alert for 90-year-old Stanley Dodd and another for 91-year-old Ralph Ramsey; authorities also issued an Amber Alert for 17-year-old Darian Rangel. Health & Community: Texas State Parks is hosting veteran ruck hikes for mental health awareness this September, while a Tivy freshman is rebuilding after pneumonia led to sepsis, organ failure, and limb loss. Travel Tip: TSA says peanut butter counts as a liquid at airport security, subject to the 3.4-ounce rule. Sports (Texas spotlight): No. 1 Ohio State visits No. 4 Texas Saturday night on ABC.

Public Health: Austin Public Health confirmed a measles case in an unvaccinated infant, with likely exposure tied to international travel and visits to local clinics (Vik Complete Care Lakeway on Sept. 5 and Texas Children’s Pediatrics on Del Rio Blvd on Sept. 8), prompting contact tracing and reminders that MMR protection is key as school resumes. Healthcare Politics: President Trump says the federal government will mail $500 Obamacare refunds to about 1 million people in 30 states starting in October, as part of a broader push that also includes a separate $5,000 “dividend” promise tied to GOP midterm wins. Texas Elections: A new N+ Univision poll shows Gov. Greg Abbott and challenger Gina Hinojosa tied at 47%, and places James Talarico narrowly ahead of Ken Paxton in the Senate race. Workforce Health/Innovation: SHIFT launched a Clinical & Performance Advisory Council, naming trauma expert Dr. Brandi Luedtke as founding advisor to support frontline workers’ stress and recovery. Local Education & Mental Health: Pearland ISD approved a UTHealth Houston partnership bringing a youth mental health program (YAM) to students through 2028. Crime & Safety: Fort Worth police arrested a juvenile suspect accused in the Sept. 3 shooting of a hotel security guard outside the Crescent Hotel. Sports: Texas high school football Week 3 previews highlight top matchups, including No. 15 Waxahachie vs. Guyer.

Politics & Elections: President Trump kicked off the first-ever GOP midterm convention in Dallas with a promise of $5,000 “dividends” to every adult if Republicans keep the House and Senate, urging supporters to “pretend” he’s on the ballot as he spotlighted Texas’ Senate race. Local Housing & Homelessness: West Houston leaders backed a partnership aimed at moving people living unsheltered into permanent housing, pairing law enforcement outreach with nonprofit case management and hotel stays. Public Health: Houston’s childhood obesity problem is highlighted with higher obesity rates among Black youth and low physical activity, pointing to access and affordability barriers. Health & Safety: A Sharpstown apartment outage left families without power for days in extreme heat, with residents reporting spoiled food and disrupted school for children. Education & Tech: An Indian-origin couple donated $20 million to the University of North Texas to launch a College of Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Analytics. Wildlife: Fort Worth Zoo celebrated eight critically endangered gharials born over June, part of an ongoing conservation effort.

Midterm Politics: Republicans are gathering in Dallas for a two-day “Trump-a-Palooza” midterm convention built around President Trump, even as some candidates skip it and organizers aim to spotlight Democrats as extremists. Texas Relief: Gov. Abbott says Bexar County SNAP recipients get more time to replace storm-damaged food, with the reporting deadline extended to Sept. 17. Local Economy & Tech: UNT is launching a new College of AI and Advanced Analytics after a $20 million donation from Anuradha and Vikas Sinha, aiming to expand scholarships and research. Health Research: UTHealth Houston researchers report monoclonal antibodies targeting MMP-9 slowed and even reversed diabetic peripheral neuropathy in diabetic mouse models. Energy & Water: Texas regulators approved an emergency order suspending certain reservoir pass-throughs in the Coastal Bend for 120 days due to drought. Sports (Texas): Wimberley’s Texans pulled away late to beat Fredericksburg 28-3 in their home opener.

Politics & Religion in Texas: Republicans are turning Muslim issues into a midterm campaign theme, with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott attacking a proposed Muslim-led development and raising “sharia courts” claims that developers and civil rights groups dispute. Local Governance: Harris County commissioners advanced a proposed property tax increase to close a budget gap, setting a Sept. 17 public hearing on a rate up to $0.41750 per $100 of taxable value. Health & Safety: A Houston man says a truck struck and killed his pregnant horse while he rode with a trail group; the horse remained near a Harris Health facility for days before removal. Education: Fort Worth ISD parents say new leadership has created a “culture of fear,” while the district points to recent state performance gains. Community & Culture: The Multicultural Greek Council and National Pan-Hellenic Council hosted a campus block party celebrating minority-Greek heritage and community. Business/Innovation: BrYet won Italian AIFA approval for a first-in-kind cGMP manufacturing line for its ML-016 cancer therapy, clearing the way for clinical supply shipments to Australia.

Traffic Safety: Two people from Evant died in a head-on crash on SH 36 in Comanche County when a pickup tried to pass in a no-passing zone and both drivers made mirrored shoulder-avoidance moves; one other driver suffered minor injuries. Local Government: Brownwood City Council approved a 2026-27 property tax rate of $0.71750 per $100 valuation, up 1.7%, and also passed utility rate changes covering water/sewer tap fees, sanitation schedules, landfill fees, and new landfill access and whitegoods charges. Business Leadership: Huntington named Brant Standridge president of the holding company and its bank subsidiary, expanding his oversight of revenue-generating businesses. Texas Politics & Courts: Texas leaders push to crack down on alleged “birth tourism” even after a federal judge blocked Trump’s nationwide executive order. Health & Policy: A Texas judge declined to block the state’s ban on most hemp-derived THC products, even as a federal crackdown was delayed. Trade: Canada’s new tariffs on about $20 billion in U.S. imports took effect, escalating the U.S.-Canada trade war. Sports (Texas): Texas Tech is No. 13 in the week 1 AP poll after beating Abilene Christian; Patrick Mahomes is expected to start Week 1 for the Chiefs. College Football (Southwest): Week 4 Southwest Super 15 rankings put Allen at No. 1 after a 50-6 win over DeSoto.

Texas Economy: A new national ranking puts Texas near the top for business strength, but flags weaker housing and rising foreclosures as real risks. Labor Day Travel: AAA reports higher airfares, gas prices, and hotel costs heading into the holiday weekend, with drivers feeling the pinch. Local Health & Safety: Texas hospitals warn of major Medicaid funding uncertainty, while a separate report highlights a listeria recall affecting pork products. Education Watch: A Houston-area charter school analysis finds most students not on track for college readiness, underscoring ongoing student outcomes pressure. Community & Culture: El Paso marks BTS’s visit with a local “weekend” celebration, showing how tourism and pop culture keep feeding Texas events. Sports (Texas angle): The Texans’ Week 1 opener vs. Buffalo is in focus as coaches and players talk injuries and what to expect.

Local Politics: Rep. Don Bacon is gearing up to back an “old-school” Republican for president in 2028, while the broader GOP fight over Texas’ future keeps heating up. Health & Food: Texas hospitals warn they could lose $27 million daily in Medicaid funding, and East Texas childhood obesity rates are tied to processed foods and food insecurity. Public Health Alerts: Officials warn of rising mosquito-borne dengue cases in Florida as surveillance and spraying ramp up. Texas Spotlight: Houston native Regan Hutsell won Miss America 2027, ending Texas’ 50-year wait. Tech & Services: Labor Day brought reports of Gmail and broader Google outages, with users seeing login and sending problems even as official dashboards showed no incident. Sports: Houston’s Texans chase a Super Bowl goal by first reclaiming the AFC South title, while SEC Week 1 results keep the conference looking deep. Travel & Money: Fall travel can be cheaper—Kayak says prices drop in the fall shoulder season—and diesel hit a low of $5.19 in Andrews County.