Nuclear & Energy: Idaho’s High Desert hit a new milestone for next-gen reactors, with Antares’ Mark-0 prototype reaching criticality and DOE now validating multiple novel designs—an effort aimed at faster, smaller, factory-built power for surging demand. Defense & Shipbuilding: The U.S. Navy opened a $650M IDIQ field for composite RIB builders, setting up long-term procurement for rigid-hull inflatable boats used across missions. South Carolina Policy & Local Economy: Greenville is moving toward a November vote on a penny sales tax to fund property tax relief and infrastructure, using a new state framework that lets municipalities propose local options. AI, Data Centers & Power: The Trump administration expanded its Ratepayer Protection Pledge to keep AI data-center buildouts from driving higher bills for households, while Brookfield and NextEra unveiled a $100B Paducah data-center campus paired with up to 4.6 GW of dedicated generation. South Carolina Business & Manufacturing: Airsys is investing $60M in a Woodruff headquarters and manufacturing campus, targeting 215 jobs and early-2027 production for energy-saving cooling tech. Public Safety & Health: South Carolina’s MUSC Health expanded SoundHound’s AI agent “Emily” to retail and specialty pharmacies, topping 2.2M patient calls, and a study found ED-based automated outreach reaches only about 1 in 5 smokers for Quitline referrals. Transportation: SCDOT is proposing a roundabout at the Hwy. 41/Reflectance Drive intersection after a fatal crash, with bidding eyed for 2027 and construction in 2028. Retail: Big Lots is closing more stores again after its bankruptcy rescue, with additional shutdowns reportedly planned in South Carolina. Agriculture & Community: South Carolina’s agribusiness ecosystem continues to get attention through state SBDC support, as the state pushes growth in farming-related enterprises.