Steel Investment in Middletown: Vice President JD Vance joined Sen. Jon Husted and U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright to tout Cleveland-Cliffs’ $1 billion modernization at Middletown Works, backed by a rescoped $500 million DOE award—aimed at strengthening U.S. steelmaking and supporting thousands of construction and union jobs. AI Data Centers & Politics: A leaked GOP memo and broader reporting keep tying Ohio’s AI data center boom to election risk, with cross-party voter backlash focused on electricity, water, subsidies, and local control. Energy Costs & Utility Relief: Ohio regulators and utilities are juggling data-center demand with consumer protection, as AEP Ohio and data center partners pledge $18M to help customers pay electric bills while PUCO sets processes to limit potential cost impacts. Local Business & Retail: KFC closed more than 300 locations nationwide over the past year, including 18 in Ohio, signaling pressure on fast-food footprints even as Yum! Brands reports growth. Scams Watch: BBB Scam Tracker updates show Ohio cities still seeing fraud losses—Trenton logged one employment scam in July, while other small-city reports continue to surface across the state. Ohio Industry Pulse: GasBuddy price checks highlight ongoing fuel volatility, with select counties posting notably low E15/E85 and midgrade prices in the week ending Aug. 15.