Energy Affordability: Maryland electricity bills are up 50.9% over five years, now about 24% above the national average, as Gov. Wes Moore blames utility “double dipping” and data-center demand while critics argue state decarbonization rules are squeezing reliable local generation and could contribute to voltage-collapse/rolling-blackout risk by summer 2027. Local Data Center Pushback: Federalsburg, the first Eastern Shore town to ban data centers, approved a new ordinance after residents raised concerns about energy, water, noise, and health impacts. Consumer Prices: A broad sweep of goods and services shows price spikes across the board over the last five years, with big hits to rent, childcare, and car insurance. Immigration & Labor: Salvadorans with TPS face renewed uncertainty as layoffs and work disruptions ripple through D.C.-area federal contractors, hospitals, restaurants, and construction. Agriculture & Food Tech: UMD and USDA researchers helped develop “CRISPR-Combo,” a gene-editing approach aimed at speeding regeneration for harder-to-grow crops. Defense Industry: The Army awarded nearly $196M in first production contracts under a rapid electromagnetic warfare push, including spectrum analyzers and AI-driven sensors. Ports & Trade: MarineTraffic’s port-call analysis tool highlights how vessel activity can signal shifting trade routes earlier than traditional market reads. Environment: Chesapeake blue crab numbers jumped 46% in the latest winter survey, though scientists still can’t explain why female counts fell. Water Quality Crisis: Dundalk residents say a Back River wastewater plant odor is so bad they can’t eat crabs fished from the water, with state inspections citing operational failures. Healthcare/Pharma: A Fourth Circuit ruling blocks imported Gilead-branded HIV drug sales into the U.S., with a Maryland patient shipment from Turkey at the center of the dispute. Space Policy: NASA launched a Space Academy hosting competition for governors, but Congress still controls whether it becomes real.