AGP Executive Report

Earthquake Watch: A 6.0 quake struck northeast of Antigua and Barbuda, about 80 km away, at a depth of 31 km. Regional Impact: Strong shaking was reported across multiple islands, including the British Virgin Islands, Dominica, St. Martin, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Montserrat, St. Lucia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and more—no immediate injuries or major damage reported. Reef Tech: In the U.S. Virgin Islands, researchers say an autonomous underwater robot (CUREE) can track marine life by combining sound and vision, including homing in on shrimp and tailing a barracuda for nearly 1,000 feet. Policy & Business: PayPal agreed to settle a U.S. Justice Department probe tied to its minority-business initiative, while a new report puts Trump’s “Golden Dome” missile defense plan at a potential $1.2T price tag over 20 years. Local Angle: For St. Croix, a Red Cross disaster recovery official’s research highlights how leaders coped with Irma and Maria while running recovery at the same time.

Earthquake Watch: A powerful 6.0 quake rattled the Eastern Caribbean, with the latest reports saying it struck about 80 km northeast of Antigua and Barbuda at a depth of 31 km. Regional Impact: Strong shaking was felt across multiple islands, including the British Virgin Islands, Dominica, St. Martin, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Montserrat, St. Lucia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and more, though there were no immediate reports of major damage or injuries. Tech & Science (USVI tie-in): A new autonomous underwater reef robot from Woods Hole is showing how combining sound and vision can help map coral biodiversity hotspots—testing included work around the U.S. Virgin Islands. Tourism Signals: Curaçao is being flagged as a fast-rising family travel destination in a new Caribbean tourism trends report.

Earthquake Watch: A powerful 6.0 quake struck northeast of Antigua and Barbuda on Saturday morning, at about 31 km deep, with the epicenter roughly 80 km NE of St. John’s; strong shaking was reported across multiple islands including the U.S. Virgin Islands, while there were no immediate reports of major damage or injuries. Reef Tech: In the U.S. Virgin Islands, researchers tested an autonomous underwater robot (CUREE) that uses sound and cameras to hunt coral-reef biodiversity hotspots—successfully homing in on shrimp and even tracking a barracuda for nearly 1,000 feet. Tourism Signals: Curaçao is being flagged as a fast-rising family travel destination, with family-sized groups driving overperformance versus regional trends. Defense Budget: A new report says Trump’s “Golden Dome” missile defense plan could cost $1.2T over 20 years.

Coral Tech Breakthrough: Woods Hole researchers unveiled CUREE, an autonomous underwater robot that maps coral reef biodiversity hotspots by fusing real-time sound and vision—aimed at finding where marine life concentrates without relying on divers. Defense Spending Watch: A new Congressional Budget Office estimate says Trump’s “Golden Dome” missile defense plan could run about $1.2T over 20 years, with space-based interceptors driving most of the cost. Local Relevance for the VI: Blue Star Museums is back—starting May 16 through Sept. 7, active-duty service members and families get free museum admission, including in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Business & Policy: PayPal agreed to settle a U.S. Justice Department probe tied to its minority-business initiative, including fee waivers and a new small business effort. Weather & Climate: NOAA reports April 2026 as the world’s fourth-warmest April on record, with oceans near record highs. Quick Hits: Powerball climbed to $69M (May 13: 22, 31, 52, 56, 67; Powerball 15).

Marine Tech Breakthrough: Woods Hole researchers unveiled CUREE, an autonomous underwater robot that maps coral reef biodiversity hotspots by fusing real-time sound and vision, aiming to spot where marine life concentrates without relying on divers. Defense Spending Watch: A new Congressional Budget Office estimate puts President Trump’s “Golden Dome” missile defense plan at about $1.2 trillion over 20 years, with satellites expected to drive most of the cost. Local Tourism Angle: Curaçao is being flagged as a fast-rising Caribbean family-travel destination, and the U.S. Virgin Islands is named alongside it as demand is outpacing regional trends. Business & Policy: PayPal agreed to settle a U.S. Justice Department probe tied to its minority-business initiative, including fee waivers and a new small business program. Community Resilience: A study highlights how senior disaster relief leaders in the U.S. Virgin Islands managed recovery while living through Hurricanes Irma and Maria themselves. Quick Hits: Powerball climbed to $69M for May 13; Spirit’s shutdown continues to ripple into new low-cost airline route plans.

Marine Tech Breakthrough: Woods Hole researchers unveiled CUREE, an autonomous underwater reef robot that maps biodiversity hotspots by fusing real-time sound and vision—aimed at spotting where marine life concentrates on fragile coral systems. Defense Spending Watch: A new government estimate says Trump’s “Golden Dome” missile defense plan could run about $1.2 trillion over 20 years, with even a built system potentially overwhelmed by major nuclear arsenals. Local Tech & Connectivity: ProSat Networks says it’s expanding professional Starlink installation and managed wireless/IT services across the U.S., including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands—targeting homes, businesses, and maritime users. Money & Odds: Powerball climbed to a $69M jackpot for Wednesday’s drawing (22, 31, 52, 56, 67; Powerball 15; Power Play 2x). USVI Public Safety: On St. Croix, Warren Freeman returned to court for a status conference tied to a May 4 bank disturbance that escalated into an assault on an officer.

Autonomous Ocean Tech: Woods Hole researchers unveiled CUREE, an autonomous underwater robot that maps coral reef biodiversity hotspots by fusing real-time sound and vision—aimed at spotting where marine life concentrates without relying on divers. Defense Spending Watch: A new Congressional Budget Office estimate says Trump’s “Golden Dome” missile defense plan could run $1.2 trillion over 20 years, with even a built system potentially overwhelmed by major nuclear arsenals. Local Legal/Health Pressure: On St. Croix, Warren Freeman returned to court for a status conference tied to an Oriental Bank disturbance that escalated into an alleged assault on an officer. Tourism Signals: Curaçao is being flagged as a fast-rising Caribbean family destination, with family-sized groups overperforming regional trends. Everyday Tech in the Mix: PayPal agreed to settle a U.S. Justice Department probe over its minority-business initiative, including fee waivers tied to the settlement terms. USVI Access Note: Blue Star Museums is offering free summer admission for active-duty military and families, including participating sites across the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Ocean Tech: A new autonomous underwater robot, CUREE, is mapping coral reef biodiversity hotspots by fusing real-time sound and video—aimed at finding where marine life concentrates without relying on divers. Lottery Watch: Powerball climbed to a $69M jackpot (cash value $31.2M) for Wednesday, May 13; winning numbers were 22, 31, 52, 56, 67 with Powerball 15 and Power Play 2x. Defense Spending: A government report says Trump’s “Golden Dome” missile defense plan could cost $1.2T over 20 years, and may still be overwhelmed by major nuclear arsenals. Local Angle (USVI): Blue Star Museums is again offering free summer admission for active-duty military and families, with participating sites across the U.S. Virgin Islands and beyond. Business & Tech: PayPal agreed to settle a U.S. Justice Department probe tied to its minority-business initiative, including fee waivers tied to about $1B in transactions.

Powerball Watch: Powerball’s jackpot climbed to $69M ahead of Wednesday’s drawing, with 22, 31, 52, 56, 67 and Powerball 15 plus Power Play 2x—and yes, U.S. Virgin Islands visitors can buy tickets at authorized retailers. Marine Tech: A new autonomous underwater robot, CUREE, is using sound and vision in real time to map coral reef biodiversity hotspots more precisely than diver-led surveys. Defense Costs: A government report says Trump’s “Golden Dome” missile defense plan could run $1.2T over 20 years, with the system potentially still overwhelmed by major nuclear arsenals. Local Culture & Travel: Deering Estate is set to join the Blue Star Museums free-admission program for military families starting May 16. Tourism Demand: A Caribbean travel report flags Curaçao as a standout for family travel growth, alongside the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Tourism Momentum: Curaçao is being singled out in a new Amadeus/CHTA report as a standout for family travel, with family groups (3–5 people) making up 27.6% of Caribbean arrivals and Curaçao showing especially strong growth in demand for multi-bedroom stays and family-friendly experiences. Military Community Perk: Blue Star Museums kicks off May 16 and runs through Sept. 7, offering free admission to active-duty service members and their families at participating museums across the U.S., including the U.S. Virgin Islands. Defense Costs in Focus: A new government report says Trump’s “Golden Dome” missile defense plan could run up to $1.2 trillion over 20 years, with concerns it still may be overwhelmed by major nuclear arsenals. Local Health & Safety Angle: On St. Croix, court coverage highlights the ongoing clash between public safety and the mental health crisis, as Warren Freeman faces charges after an incident at Oriental Bank. Medicare Admin Update: CMS says DMEPOS appeals and rebuttals shift to National Provider Enrollment contractors starting May 8, including coverage for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

DEI Probe Settlement: PayPal agreed to settle a U.S. Justice Department probe tied to its Economic Opportunity Fund for minority-owned businesses, including giving up about $30M in processing fees from roughly $1B in transactions, while not admitting wrongdoing. Medicare Tech Shift: CMS says DMEPOS appeals and rebuttals move to NPE contractors starting May 8, with Novitas covering NPEast (including the U.S. Virgin Islands) and Palmetto covering NPWest—no change to appeal rules, but suppliers must route filings correctly. Cyber Confidence Drops: A new NASCIO-Deloitte study finds state CISOs are far less confident in protecting public data than in 2022, citing aging systems, tougher threats, and budget gaps. Local Resilience Story: A St. Croix disaster recovery official’s research highlights how senior leaders had to manage recovery while living through Irma and Maria themselves. Energy Jobs: Oil and gas extraction employment hit its lowest level since 2022. Odds & Ends: Mega Millions climbs to $232M ahead of the May 12 drawing.

Energy Jobs: U.S. oil and gas extraction employment slid to 115,200 workers in April 2026—the lowest since 2022—continuing a two-year-April drop that hints at lingering pressure in the sector. Connectivity Push: ProSat Networks says it’s expanding professional Starlink installation and managed Wi‑Fi/IT services across Georgia and nationwide, including U.S. territories like the U.S. Virgin Islands. Lottery Buzz: Powerball climbed to $58 million for the May 11 drawing (no jackpot winner reported), keeping the jackpot chase hot across participating states and territories. Disaster Leadership Lens: A new look at U.S. Virgin Islands recovery work highlights a tough reality: senior responders often had to lead while living through the same hurricanes themselves. Healthcare Admin Update: CMS says Medicare DMEPOS appeals and rebuttals processing shifts to National Provider Enrollment contractors starting May 8, including coverage for the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Starlink Push in the States: ProSat Networks says it’s ramping up professional Starlink installation and managed wireless/IT services across Georgia—and now claims nationwide coverage, including U.S. territories like the U.S. Virgin Islands, targeting homes, SMBs, and maritime customers. Public Safety Meets Trauma: A new look at disaster leadership highlights a hard reality from the U.S. Virgin Islands’ 2017 hurricane recovery—senior responders were often survivors too, juggling grief and command at the same time. Cybersecurity Worry for Government: A new NASCIO-Deloitte study finds state CISOs’ confidence is sliding, with only 22% “very/extremely” confident in protecting public data, as phishing, third-party risk, and AI-enabled attacks loom. Medicare Admin Shift: CMS says DMEPOS appeals and rebuttals move to NPE contractors starting May 8, with no expected processing interruptions. Lottery Buzz: Powerball climbed to a $57M jackpot (cash value $25.7M) ahead of Monday’s drawing.

Climate Watch: April 2026 landed as the world’s fourth-warmest April on record, with NOAA saying record-high heat covered 7.4% of Earth’s surface and oceans hitting near-record warmth. Regional Finance: A new “World’s Best Banks 2026” snapshot highlights Latin America’s tighter conditions—banks are getting more selective while fintech keeps expanding. Caribbean Spotlight: Dominica’s volcanic heat is shaping its “Nature Island” identity, from geothermal pools to black-sand beaches. Local Policy & Health Tech: Medicare DMEPOS appeals and rebuttals are shifting to National Provider Enrollment contractors starting May 8, with USVI and Puerto Rico included under Novitas Solutions. Cybersecurity: A study finds state CISOs’ confidence in protecting public data has dropped sharply since 2022, citing aging systems and rising threats. USVI Courts: St. Croix’s Warren Freeman returns to court amid allegations tied to a May 4 bank disturbance.

In the last 12 hours, coverage in the Virgin Islands–relevant tech/business lane was dominated by two themes: (1) U.S. political scrutiny tied to Jeffrey Epstein and (2) a Medicare administrative change affecting DMEPOS appeals. Multiple articles report that Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick faced sharp questioning during a closed-door House Oversight Committee interview, with Democrats alleging he misled lawmakers about the length of his relationship with Epstein and calling him a “pathological liar.” Separately, the healthcare-technology/claims workflow story moved forward: National Provider Enrollment (NPE) DMEPOS contractors will take over Medicare durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics and supplies (DMEPOS) appeals and rebuttals starting May 8, replacing C-HIT (Chags Health Information Technology) for those submissions.

Also in the last 12 hours, the news mix included routine lottery updates (Powerball jackpot rising to $30M for May 6) alongside additional Epstein-linked reporting that adds detail to the broader legal narrative (e.g., communications and interactions described in released files, and a separate report about a professor emailing Epstein hundreds of times after his sex-offender conviction). While these items are not “tech” in the narrow sense, they are part of the same high-attention information environment driving public-sector and institutional scrutiny.

From 12 to 72 hours ago, the DMEPOS transition was reiterated with more operational detail: jurisdiction-based routing to two NPE contractors (Novitas Solutions for NPEast and Palmetto GBA for NPWest) covering states and territories including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. That same window also carried a cybersecurity policy signal: a NASCIO–Deloitte study found state CISOs’ confidence has dropped sharply (only 22% “extremely/very confident” protecting public data, down from 48% in 2022), citing aging infrastructure, sophisticated threats, and budget constraints—an important continuity point with earlier “cybersecurity paradox” framing in the week’s coverage.

Looking across the broader 3 to 7 day range, the coverage shows continuity in public-sector tech concerns (a “Cybersecurity Paradox” framing and the study’s themes) while also broadening into adjacent tech-policy and digital finance. For example, a multistate antitrust settlement approval involving Google’s Play Store app distribution and billing practices was reported as moving toward implementation, and a separate fintech item described Uphold launching an “Auto-Invest” feature for direct deposit investing (with noted availability limits including the U.S. Virgin Islands). However, beyond the DMEPOS transition and the cybersecurity confidence study, the older articles are more background than corroboration of a single major new development for the Virgin Islands specifically.

In the last 12 hours, the most prominent thread in the coverage is renewed detail around the Jeffrey Epstein case and its aftermath. A Guardian investigation says lawyers for billionaire Leon Black privately reached out to a powerful federal judge in 2024 to challenge the alleged victim’s claims, leading to a reversal of a $2.5 million award and later a smaller settlement. Separately, DOJ-released files say an SPS professor emailed Epstein hundreds of times after Epstein’s sex-offender conviction, including messages that referenced Epstein’s private island in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Also in the last 12 hours, the news mix includes routine but time-sensitive public-interest items: lottery updates (Mega Millions reaching a $195M jackpot for the May 5 drawing) and a broader look at Howard Lutnick’s congressional scrutiny after Epstein-related documents revealed an island visit. While these are not necessarily “technology” developments, they are the dominant, most immediate items in the provided feed.

Beyond the immediate window, cybersecurity and infrastructure concerns form a clear background theme. A study cited in the coverage reports state chief information security officers are losing confidence in their ability to secure public-sector data: only 22% of state CISOs said they were “extremely” or “very confident” (down from 48% in 2022). The same material points to aging infrastructure, sophisticated cyberthreats, and budget constraints, with third-party breaches, phishing, and AI-enabled attacks flagged as top anticipated threats. An additional “cybersecurity paradox” commentary reinforces that state leaders’ optimism and preparedness vary widely.

Other technology-adjacent business and policy items in the 7-day range include a major antitrust settlement milestone involving Google’s Play Store and in-app payments (with Attorney General Raoul announcing court approval of a $700 million settlement and changes to allow alternate payment systems and app distribution outside Google’s ecosystem). There are also corporate updates from Onity Group (Q1 2026 results) and a financial-tech product launch from Uphold (Auto-Invest for Direct Deposit), plus environmental and public-safety stories that touch the region’s lived context (e.g., sunscreen impacts on corals and weather advisories for Puerto Rico/nearby waters).