Outdoor Conservation Funding: The North Dakota Industrial Commission approved $6 million in Outdoor Heritage Fund matching grants for six projects, including Game and Fish’s Donation-Supported PLOTS, Audubon Great Plains’ Conservation Forage Program II, and working-lands and grassland efforts aimed at better habitat and access for sportsmen, ranchers, and outdoor recreation. Data Centers & Local Impacts: In Mandan/Morton County, a packed public hearing drew concerns about future data-center limits—especially road costs, noise and light pollution, and potential environmental effects on migratory birds—while purchase agreements show a developer is still evaluating a possible Mandan site. Federal Energy & Land Use: The Interior Department released a major USGS update on coal potential beneath federal lands, highlighting large reserves tied to active mines, including four in North Dakota. Wildlife Protection Shift: A new federal rule rolling back Endangered Species Act habitat protections is raising alarms that states can’t fully replace safeguards for nesting, spawning, and other critical habitat needs. Air & Water Alerts: NDDEQ issued harmful algal bloom advisories for Devils Lake and Lake Brekken, and is monitoring wildfire smoke impacts expected to affect air quality, with eastern ND likely hit harder. Weather Watch: Another heat dome is set to push triple-digit temperatures across the Plains, and NOAA forecasts a chance to see northern lights from parts of the northern US including North Dakota. Controlled Environment Agriculture: NDSU will host its third annual North Dakota Controlled Environment Agriculture conference in September, focusing on precision agriculture for greenhouses and indoor farming.