Antitrust & Grocery Consolidation: The National Grocers Association is urging regulators to scrutinize Kroger’s $1.65B plan to buy Giant Eagle, warning divestitures could reduce local choice and raise prices for shoppers and independent grocers. Energy Costs & Data Centers: A Reuters review highlights how AI-driven data centers are pushing up factory power bills in Ohio and the Rust Belt, with capacity charges jumping sharply for manufacturers. Weather & Grid Reliability: More than 485,000 customers across the U.S. were without power after extreme weather, underscoring ongoing reliability pressure. Egg Price-Fixing Settlement: Minnesota AG Keith Ellison announced a multi-state settlement tied to DOJ allegations that major egg producers coordinated to manipulate prices, with millions of eggs headed to food banks. Small Business Hiring: NFIB’s June report shows Ohio small businesses still struggling to fill openings, even as plans to hire remain steady. Ohio Agriculture: Ohio Dept. of Agriculture and Indigo Ag are partnering under H2Ohio to expand conservation incentives for farmers. Local Governance & Economic Development: DeWine joined Mahoning River mayors to spotlight dam removal and riverfront redevelopment aimed at boosting recreation and regional growth. Public Safety Tech Grants: Steubenville police say Mary Jane Brooks Charitable Trust funding is helping expand drone, K-9, and license-plate reader tools for investigations. Corporate Dealmaking: Swiss manufacturer Georg Fischer is selling its turbine and aerospace foundry business to Cleveland-based CPP, expected to close by late 2026. Higher-Ed Policy: Ohio lawmakers are moving to require attendance at GOP-created university civics centers, a move students say feels like political indoctrination.