Energy & Storage Policy: Ward County commissioners sent a proposed battery storage zoning ordinance back to the planning commission after NextEra asked for smaller setbacks (from a half-mile toward a quarter-mile) and a voluntary waiver option, while residents pushed back over noise and other impacts. Ag & Farm Health: A Fargo roundtable is tackling rural farmer mental health and suicide prevention, with leaders pointing to stigma and the need for outreach that reaches producers who may not call 988. Ag Markets: The late-June USDA Acreage Report showed “very little change” for North Dakota-relevant corn and soybean planting—soybeans up, corn roughly steady—keeping U.S. corn/soy acreage near record levels. Potato Processing Investment: Agristo broke ground on a 630,000-square-foot Grand Forks potato facility, targeting frozen food production and projecting major regional economic impact. AI Data Centers: Applied Digital brought 75 MW of Building 2 online at Polaris Forge 1 in Ellendale, lifting operational capacity to 175 MW on a fully leased campus. Coal Innovation Pilot: DOE awarded $75M for coal-related pilots; UND’s Falkirk Mine project will use AI sorting and sensing and explore higher-value lignite uses. Housing Funding: ND Housing Finance Agency opened applications for affordable housing development assistance via HOME, LIHTC, HTF, and the state Housing Incentive Fund. Local Tax Authority: Grand Forks County is moving toward a home rule charter amendment that could let the county set lower maximum mill levy caps, with any change headed to a November vote. Grid Buildout: Otter Tail and Xcel proposed a 150-mile, 345-kilovolt transmission line from near Fargo into South Dakota, with construction targeted for mid-2030s. Transportation Industry: NDDOT is calling for presentations for the 2027 North Dakota Transportation Conference (March 9-10 in Bismarck).