MLB Draft (NC ties): The Chicago White Sox opened the 2026 MLB Draft by taking UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky first overall, with the Red Sox later selecting UNC shortstop Jake Schaffner at No. 20—another reminder that North Carolina college talent is still driving pro pipelines. Pest Control & Housing Costs: North Carolina officials warn “super termites” (Formosan termites) may be spreading beyond initial detections, including a trail linked to railroad ties—raising the stakes for homeowners and local pest-management demand. State Policy (Hemp): NC lawmakers advanced House Bill 328 to cap THC in hemp-derived drinks and edibles at 0.4 milligrams and raise the purchase age to 21, setting up a major compliance shift for producers. Energy & Data Centers: Gov. Josh Stein signed a budget change ending NC’s data-center power tax exemption, signaling the end of a subsidy era as AI-driven electricity demand surges. Public Health: Cyclosporiasis cases are climbing nationwide, with North Carolina reporting at least 205 cases as officials race to identify the source. Weather/Construction: Eastern NC faces rounds of storms Sunday into Monday with localized flooding risk, while NCDOT’s highway construction training program just graduated seven workers in Surry County—fueling the region’s labor pipeline.