Data center water pressure in Virginia: A new local investigation finds governments in the region between Northern Virginia and Richmond have allocated at least 19.6 million gallons a day to Amazon for data-center cooling, with the total likely higher. Local zoning shifts tied to climate resilience: Accomack County voted to remove Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act “seaside” rules while adding state-required resiliency standards, including stronger protections tied to mature trees. Drought response: Gov. Abigail Spanberger urged voluntary, commonsense water conservation as Virginia records its driest stretch since 1941, with precipitation running well below average. Chesapeake Bay wildlife debate: Ocean Harvesters pushed back on a new paper linking Chesapeake Bay osprey reproductive declines to reduced menhaden availability, arguing it doesn’t prove direct causation tied to Virginia’s commercial fishery. Federal grid rules for big loads: Federal regulators ordered grid operators to revise or justify connection rules for data centers and other large customers, aiming to speed hookups while protecting residential and small commercial customers. Strasburg residents question a proposed data center: Residents raised concerns about governance, water use, and conflicting project size figures at a public forum for a proposed 4.5 billion-dollar project.