Data Centers & Local Politics: A Wells Fargo report says U.S. local moratoriums on data center builds have jumped to 374, with North Carolina among the states seeing the most pushback—driven by worries about electricity costs, grid capacity, water use, and neighborhood impacts ahead of midterms. AI Regulation: Gov. Maura Healey is urging federal guardrails on AI development, echoing calls from major AI leaders to slow “frontier” progress until safety keeps up. Energy & Costs: Dominion Energy North Carolina is facing two potential electric bill increases—one for base rates and another for fuel costs—estimated at about $40 per month combined for a typical residential customer if approved. PFAS Settlement: Chemours, DuPont and Corteva reached a $455M PFAS settlement with North Carolina and local entities tied to Fayetteville Works contamination and other alleged sources. Local Business Succession: Durham launched “Keep It Durham-Owned,” a program to help small business owners plan succession and explore employee ownership to preserve local jobs and wealth. Retail Expansion: Costco is back in the mix for Asheville after submitting a new application for a large Enka Commerce Park facility, including a gas station and tire center. Sports & Tourism: The PGA Tour’s Biltmore Championship Asheville returns to the city for the first time in 84 years, with a locally designed trophy and expected economic impact. Crime/Justice: A Mecklenburg businessman and controller pleaded guilty to felony state tax charges in Wake County, including aid and abet embezzlement and obstruction.