Egg Price-Fixing Fallout: DOJ and 17 states reached a settlement with Cal-Maine Foods, Versova, and Hickman’s Egg Ranch over alleged collusion to manipulate egg price quotes; the companies will pay $3.3 million and donate about 53 million eggs to food banks, including 3 million eggs headed to North Carolina. State Budget Watch: North Carolina lawmakers unveiled a 634-page $34B budget package with teacher and state employee raises, a personal income tax cut (3.99% to 3.49%), and major Helene relief funding, with critics warning the process leaves little room for amendments or public input. AI for Business and Government: Gov. Josh Stein’s AI Leadership Council released an AI Strategic Roadmap aimed at protecting residents, preparing workers, and reshaping how state government serves the public, with 17 goals spanning safety, literacy, privacy, and accountability. Local Tech Tension: In the Triad, officials are debating data centers tied to AI demand, including calls for moratoriums in Greensboro and shifting stances in Forsyth County. Workforce and Health Policy: UNC Charlotte economist John Connaughton, whose economic forecasts guided business decisions for decades, died at 78; meanwhile, a federal judge ruled against a former UNC business professor’s retaliation and discrimination claims. Food Assistance Pressure: SNAP recipients in the region are reporting renewed chaos tied to benefit renewal and paperwork problems, highlighting how administrative friction can hit household budgets fast.