Data Centers & Grid Reliability: A transmission-line fault in Ashburn’s “Data Center Alley” triggered hyperscale sites to switch to backup power, dropping more than 3 GW from PJM in seconds—Dominion says it was normal protection switching, not load shedding. Energy Costs & Policy Fight: A new “Ratepayer Protection Pledge” is drawing governors and utilities, but critics argue tariff rules still risk shifting grid upgrade costs onto households; Virginia is also weighing how to allocate power-grid upgrade costs tied to data center growth. State Theater Renovations: Hertford Town Council tabled an MOU for the State Theater renovation, asking for revised language—town will handle construction activities while the nonprofit foundation leads fundraising and marketing. Defense & Manufacturing: Virginia-based CoAspire won a $70M Navy prototype deal to develop an affordable ground-launched cruise missile for allies, with a reported ~900 km potential range. Pharma Supply Chain: Phlow welcomed a $15.97M EDA investment to build an end-to-end domestic commercialization pathway for medicines, linking API and finished-dose manufacturing to regulatory approval. Local Business Finance: Carter Bankshares approved a $0.10 quarterly dividend; HomeTrust Bancshares reported Q2 results and a higher dividend. Agriculture & Innovation: Moa Technology raised £22.2M to advance novel herbicide programs toward commercialization.