AI Policy Crossroads: North Carolina is in the middle of the national fight over whether AI needs government guardrails or should be allowed to race ahead, with lawmakers and candidates pushing for limits and moratoriums on data center growth while Trump argues for winning the AI race. Higher Ed Growth: The UNC System hit a record 260,199 students this fall, up 1.4%, as enrollment and transfer numbers rise amid concerns about future demographic declines. Local Water Planning: Raleigh Water says Triangle demand could double by 2065, prompting long-term supply options as the region recovers from the worst drought since 2007. Energy Reliability: Duke Energy won a national emergency recovery award for its Winter Storm Fern response, restoring power to nearly 200,000 customers quickly using self-healing grid tech. STEM Access: NC College Connect expanded direct community college admission eligibility to more seniors, including those below the prior GPA cutoff. STEM in the Classroom: Rowan-Cabarrus Community College named its 2025-26 Excellence in Teaching Award recipients, highlighting STEM tutoring and student support. Public Safety Tech: A state bank regulator group released an AI supervisory framework for examiners, signaling what banks may face in upcoming reviews.