Energy & Grid Reliability: The U.S. declared a power emergency in the Southeast as extreme heat strains grids, and an emergency order lets Duke Energy run plants at maximum output through Friday night to help avoid blackouts in North Carolina and South Carolina. EV Infrastructure: Optimus Energy Solutions bought 52 DC fast-charging stations across 26 South Carolina locations, migrating them to the ChargePoint network to expand access, especially in rural areas. Policy & Finance: South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott renewed push for the CLARITY Act, linking stablecoin rules to consumer safeguards and continued U.S. dollar reserve dominance. Local Government & Fraud: Surfside Beach’s mayor defended the town’s handling of a $545,000 fraud case, saying the contractor—not the town—absorbed the loss after an ACH payment was sent to a spoofing account. Real Estate & Growth: Park Circle’s new “The Walk at Park Circle” adds 28 luxury townhomes off S. Rhett Avenue, with move-in-ready prices starting in the mid-$500,000s. Health & Food Safety: The FDA issued a recall of Farm Rich Pizza Cheese Crunchers in 21 states, including South Carolina, over possible metal contamination. Agriculture & Leadership Politics: In the GOP agriculture commissioner race, candidates traded barbs over a Facebook ad tied to hemp imagery, as the contest heads toward runoff dynamics. Community & Nonprofit Spotlight: Katie Stagliano of Summerville’s Katie’s Krops appeared on the Jennifer Hudson Show after being selected for a national Remarkable Women initiative. Workforce Signals: A new hiring map shows South Carolina’s job openings up 3.7% since 2020, a modest gain compared with stronger demand states like Idaho.