AI Power Push in East Texas: SWEPCO’s H.W. Pirkey plant in Hallsville is being rebuilt from the ground up to burn natural gas, with AEP saying data-center demand is driving incremental power needs through 2030. Data Center Backlash, Again: Environmental groups say Vantage Data Centers and VoltaGrid dodged major-source permitting for off-grid gas generation near San Antonio and are threatening to sue. Ratepayer Protection Politics: Trump expanded an EPA-backed “Ratepayer Protection Pledge” with 200-plus signatories, aiming to keep utility costs from landing on households as AI builds out. Storm Aftermath Watch: Tropical Storm Bertha weakened after a landfall near the Texas-Louisiana border, leaving mainly localized heavy rain and flash-flood risk, while heat and humidity move back in. Public Health Alerts: CDC-linked reports highlight rising cyclospora and cryptosporidium illness nationwide, with Texas mentioned among affected areas. Wildlife & Land: USDA announced $35 million to fight feral swine, citing billions in annual damage to agriculture and health. Heat Safety: North Texas faces another round of triple-digit heat with feels-like values near 107.