Data Centers & Local Rules: Macon County plans a September public hearing to tighten its High Impact Land Ordinance to better restrict data centers, after residents packed meetings and argued for stronger buffers and limits on overnight operations. Cybersecurity & Retail: Chick-fil-A says a security incident may have exposed personal information tied to a limited number of Chick-fil-A One loyalty accounts, prompting account resets and direct customer outreach across multiple states including North Carolina. Banking Deal (Carolinas): Optus Financial (Durham’s M&F Bancorp) and Optus Financial Corporation announced a merger under the Optus Bank banner, aiming to create the nation’s largest Black-owned financial institution with $1.27B in assets and expected closing by year-end. Energy Costs: Dominion Energy warned northeastern North Carolina customers that hotter-than-usual demand for air conditioning could mean bigger monthly bills, even without widespread outages. Housing Supply: Zillow research says empty lots for sale could cut the national housing shortage by more than 6% if just one home were built on each small listed lot, with North Carolina among the states with the most such listings. Public Health: North Carolina’s cyclosporiasis situation continues to drive recalls and monitoring, including FDA updates tied to lettuce products. Disaster Relief Politics: Sen. Ted Budd testified to push additional federal disaster funding for Western North Carolina’s Hurricane Helene recovery, arguing federal programs have struggled with the region’s terrain. Food Safety: Fresh & Ready Foods recalled spicy breakfast burritos from its Charlotte facility due to undeclared soy/sausage.