Big Bend Border Wall: Crews are clearing brush in Big Bend National Park near Santa Elena Canyon for U.S. Customs and Border Protection survey and design work, with officials insisting it’s not a 30-foot wall or stadium lighting—yet locals and lawmakers keep pushing back as construction concerns grow. Data Center Policy: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is leaning on new guidelines and audits tied to electricity, water, noise, and light impacts, saying noncompliant AI data centers won’t be approved, while Democrats argue for stronger enforcement through legislation. AI Compute Shift in Texas: Riot Platforms signed a $9B, 20-year compute deal with Anthropic using 191 MW from its Rockdale, Texas facility—another sign of miners pivoting toward AI infrastructure. EV Service Expansion: Volara Motorsports Group says it’s preparing to open authorized Arcimoto “E-Garages,” starting with Eugene, aiming to support repairs for the remaining Arcimoto fleet. Workforce & Aerospace: Pratt & Whitney Canada landed a nine-year, $1B contract to overhaul PT6A-68 engines for the U.S. JPATS T-6 trainer fleet, supporting long-term maintenance work tied to Texas-adjacent defense training supply chains. Labor Scrutiny: The U.S. Labor Department’s Inspector General expanded an H-1B fraud probe to Dallas, conducting door-to-door checks at offices tied to more than 500 approved petitions. Food Supply Pressure: A new report highlights rising labor, input, and regulatory costs squeezing U.S. fresh produce growers as imports have surged since 2010, intensifying competition during key harvest periods.