Data Centers & Local Power/Water Pressure: Mount Carmel Township residents are pushing back on AI data center plans, arguing new state standards don’t erase zoning authority and that the “pause” debate is really about transparency and environmental impacts. In Shalersville, an open house for a Bitdeer-linked proposal drew protests and calls for a statewide ban, while Luzerne County GOP nominee Stacy Garrity renewed her push for a data center development pause and questioned Gov. Shapiro’s timing and community impacts. Energy Costs & Grid Reliability: As PECO rates rise and lawmakers weigh solutions, a House committee heard testimony that grid-scale battery storage could help stabilize Pennsylvania’s power system and ease price pressure. Stormwater & Flood Resilience: Lawrence Township completed a streambank stabilization project on Moose Creek under the USDA NRCS Emergency Watershed Protection program, part of the recovery from Tropical Storm Debby. Tick-Borne Risk: CDC data show ER visits for tick bites are at their highest for this time of year since 2017, with warmer conditions driving increases in the Northeast and Midwest. STEM & Water Education: Allegheny College’s Creek Connections program won renewed PPG Foundation funding to keep free classroom and field learning focused on western Pennsylvania waterways. Legal/Policy Watch: The Pennsylvania Supreme Court upheld that a municipal stormwater “stream protection fee” is effectively a tax and can’t be imposed on tax-exempt entities. Outdoor/Community Nature: A First Friday bird photo exhibit and a weekend bird walk highlight local habitat-based learning, while a nature note says turtles are increasingly seen as they head out to nest in June.