Data Centers & Energy Policy: U.S. lawmakers led by Don Davis and Kristen McDonald Rivet introduced a bill to claw back major tax breaks for data centers, arguing families are already squeezed while power and water burdens grow. Regulatory Pressure on AI Power Builds: North Carolina regulators denied Duke Energy’s $584M gas turbine plan near an Amazon data center, while separate reporting highlights judges allowing some data center projects to proceed despite local moratoriums. Courts & Accountability: A judge rejected a Chatham County bid to pause new data center projects, keeping development momentum alive even as communities push back. Coastal Fisheries: A Wake County judge ruled the state failed to protect coastal fisheries, with none of 13 managed stocks deemed viable, setting up further remedy proceedings. PFAS & Chemical Industry: North Carolina is tied to major PFAS settlement developments involving major chemical makers, as regulators and industry face renewed scrutiny. Transportation & Safety Tech: After Hurricane Helene shut down major freight corridors for months, NCDOT used truck-cab alerting to push targeted reroute messages before drivers hit dead ends. Workforce & STEM: The Future of STEM Scholars Initiative opened 2027 applications, aiming to feed the chemical industry pipeline through HBCU scholarships and mentorship. Local Business & Growth: Reckitt is progressing a $600M U.S. transformation that includes expanding its North Carolina manufacturing footprint.