House Pushes for Data Center Crackdown

North Carolina House Representatives are pushing for fast action on a bill that would require large data centers to cover their own electricity infrastructure costs—shifting grid upgrade expenses off utility ratepayers and onto tech giants like Google, Amazon, Microsoft, and Meta.

Senate Bill 730, now titled the Ratepayer Protection Act, responds to a wave of data center construction across the state, which has strained the state’s electrical grid and triggered ratepayer concerns about who pays for the upgrades required to support massive power demands.

Key provisions would require new data centers above a certain size to fund their own transmission upgrades, conduct noise studies, and allow local governments to assess impacts on water, air quality, agricultural resources, and thermal plumes before approval.

Representatives were pressing committee members for a vote as early as June 2.

Regulators Approve 40% Water Rate Hike

The North Carolina Utilities Commission approved a 40% water rate increase on May 26 for Carolina Water Service, a private utility serving residents in areas without city-run water systems—including communities around Lake Norman and suburban areas near Charlotte.

The increase will be phased in over three years and sets the water rate at $19.23 per 1,000 gallons, up from the current $13.78 rate and above the $18.46 rate Carolina Water originally proposed. It will appear directly in monthly household bills across multiple counties where residents have no alternative provider to switch to.

Carolina Water Service attributed the rate hike to infrastructure upgrades, forever chemical cleanup efforts, and Hurricane Helene recovery costs.

Consumer advocates raised objections throughout the review process, arguing the increase was excessive and poorly timed.

Lawmakers Narrow Social Media Ban Scope

North Carolina lawmakers are narrowing the focus of House Bill 301, shifting from a broad ban on social media for young teens to targeting platforms with highly addictive features.

The revised measure zeroes in on design elements such as infinite scrolling, autoplay videos, non-disableable push notifications, algorithm-driven feeds, and engagement tools like likes and shares.

It would maintain the age tiers from the original bill, prohibiting platforms from allowing anyone 13 or younger from having an account, while 14- and 15-year-olds would need parental consent.

On Tuesday, Senate committees recommended refining it to address “addictive social media platforms” while expanding some oversight to other app categories like news, sports, e-commerce, gaming, and entertainment. House Bill 301 has already cleared the House and would need re-approval after Senate amendments.

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➤ Charlotte: U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson announced the results of Operation Spring Cleaning, a three-month crackdown targeting violent crime and drug trafficking. Authorities federally charged 56 defendants, arrested 157 fugitives, and seized 110 firearms and nearly 255 kilograms of drugs. (More)

➤ Bertie County: Sheriff Tyrone Ruffin held a press conference Monday updating three 2026 homicides, announcing charges in each case, including the fatal shooting of a 16-year-old and the victim’s mother, who was critically injured. (More)

➤ Knightdale: Residents are concerned after Carolina Water Service reported high uranium levels in drinking water again, four months after an earlier incident, despite recent tests showing safe levels. (More)

➤ NC State: University researchers are partnering with NCDOT on a study on how to best prepare the state’s roads and bridges for increasingly severe future storms, building on lessons from Hurricane Helene’s damage. (More)

➤ Johnston County: Clayton High School valedictorian Leen Hijaz says her diploma is being withheld after she addressed immigration and Gaza during her graduation speech. (More)

➤ Asheville: Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College is investing more than $1 million to help local high schoolers enter high-paying careers, partnering with Buncombe and Madison counties to close talent gaps. (More)

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➤ The Carolina Hurricanes lost to the Vegas Golden Knights 5-4 in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final last night, surrendering the decisive goal with just three minutes to go in the final period. (See Highlight)

➤ The Charlotte Hornets guaranteed forward Moussa Diabate’s $2.46 million salary for next season after averaging career highs in points and rebounds during the 2025-26 campaign. (More)

➤ Cornelius resident Denny Hamlin won the NASCAR Cup Series Cracker Barrel 400 this weekend, his 62nd career victory. The win leaves him one short of matching the late Kyle Busch’s career total. (More) 

➤ Bunn High School swept Burns to win the NCHSAA 4A baseball state championship, the program’s first title since 1979, when it was a 2A school. (More) 

➤ Wake Forest football landed a commitment from Charlotte Chambers safety Keland Shelton. The 2027 recruit chose the Demon Deacons over Missouri and Virginia. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NHL | MLB | Soccer | WNBA | Tennis

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➤ Novant Health earned top federal quality rankings as four of its North Carolina hospitals received the highest five-star Medicare ratings from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in mid-May reports. (More)

➤ Raleigh will host the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Small Business Matchmaking Series, connecting North Carolina firms with federal infrastructure contracting opportunities. (More)

➤ IQExit, a Wilmington startup, is pitching a new “exit readiness intelligence” platform to help small business owners prepare years in advance for a successful sale, since approximately 92% of businesses end in closure rather than a sale. (More)

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➤ Carbon dating of newly found artifacts on Croatoan Island, including a brass dress hook made of gun metal and a musket ball embedded in a deer jawbone, strengthens evidence that Roanoke’s “Lost Colony” survivors relocated during the late 1500s to Croatoan Island and integrated with Native Americans. (More)

➤ The 2026 Stellar Awards, which celebrate gospel music, will take place at Charlotte’s Spectrum Center on Aug. 15, bringing the nation’s top gospel performers to the Queen City for the annual televised ceremony billed as gospel’s greatest night. (More)

➤ Southern Living rounded up seven classic Southern summer recipes: cream corn, butter beans, peach ice cream, squash casserole, tomato pie, blackberry cobbler, and fried okra. (Access Recipes)

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Which of these Southern summer vegetable recipes is your favorite?

1. Cream corn
2. Butterbeans
3. Squash casserole
4. Tomato pie
5. Fried okra
6. Other

Yesterday’s Results:

Are you watching Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final?

1. Not planning on it: 51%
2. Of course: 30%
3. Maybe: 19%

What Native American tribe is believed to have descended from the Roanoke Island colonists and Hatteras Indians?

Show me the answer