AgOptions Grants: Western North Carolina farm businesses can apply for 2027 AgOptions grants, with $10,000 awards and an Oct. 9 deadline after contacting county Cooperative Extension agents; info sessions run Aug. 10 in Mills River and Aug. 12 in Newland. AI Search Marketing: Mooresville agency Online Advantages reports six months of testing on improving brand visibility in AI Overviews and answer platforms, sharing 12 practical lessons from real campaigns. Water & Sewer Buildout: Wilkes County approved about $3.8M for larger water and sewer pipelines along widening of N.C. 115, aimed at boosting capacity for areas including the North Wilkesboro Speedway. Health & Aging: A Durham-area report highlights research suggesting controlling midlife risks like blood pressure, diabetes, and smoking could delay dementia by up to 13 years. Public Safety Tech: New scrutiny continues around Flock license plate cameras, as activists push back and police defend the systems’ role in locating stolen vehicles and missing people. Invasive Species: North Carolina confirmed the yellow-legged hornet in Matthews, raising concerns for bees and pollinators as the pest expands. Hurricane Forecasting: Scientists are tagging sharks with ocean sensors to better measure conditions beneath the surface and improve hurricane intensity forecasts. Dementia Prevention: Another dementia-focused item points to vascular control in midlife linked to more dementia-free years. Cyclospora Update: The cyclospora outbreak tied to iceberg lettuce continues expanding, with cases now reported across many states and thousands of illnesses.