Like a tornado descending from the heavens, data centers are tearing through homes across the US, roaring like a jet engine, leaving schools without power, and decimating entire communities unlucky enough to stand in their path.

Case in point, one Georgia family has been forced to sell their home, after the state utility concern decided it needed to build a new transmission line to connect new AI data centers.

As reported by CBS, the Brown family of Coweta County, Georgia decided to sell their home to Georgia Power, rather than risk seizure by eminent domain.

Ansley Brown, whose parents raised her in the home, told CBS, "it's ours. It's our family. We belong here."

The Browns are just one of likely 300 landowners who will have their property seized so that Georgia Power — a for-profit, investor-owned corporation — can make a cozy home for the tech industry.

"To us it's theft," Browns' mother told CBS. "It's literally a billion-dollar company stealing land from smaller people, people who can't fight back. We don't have the money to fight Georgia Power."

For its part, the utility company told CBS they "have worked hard to be transparent, negotiate in good faith," and "make the process as easy as possible."

The Browns, understandably, don't see it that way.

"You can't tear down 35 miles of rural Georgia and it not hurt something or somebody," the mother said. "And to say that you're doing it in the name of data centers is a slap in the face to us, our community, our animals."

More on data centers: Massive Data Center Cooks Nearby Residents Alive Amidst Deadly Heatwave

A farming family in Ohio says a pipeline developer has, for the moment, backed off efforts to use eminent domain on property the family has held for generations.

The dispute centers on a natural gas pipeline tied to Meta's new data center and on how large corporate developments can come into conflict with the people who already live and work on the land.

What happened?

According to BG Independent News, Will-Power sought to purchase some of the Luidhardt family's land north of Bowling Green, Ohio, for a natural gas line linked to Meta's Middleton Township data center. Jon Luidhardt said the family declined, after which the company pursued eminent domain to force a sale.

After that, Jon Luidhardt and his father, Ken Luidhardt, turned to Maurice Thompson, executive director of the 1851 Center for Constitutional Law. Thompson asked for an intervention from the Ohio Power Siting Board, saying a project built for the benefit of a single company should not justify taking private property.

"It's land that's been in my family for at least three generations," Jon Luidhardt said, per BG Independent News. "We want to continue a fourth and fifth generation of farming."

Thompson said Will-Power later informed regulators that the line would be redirected around Luidhardt Farms and taken off the family's property, although a revised map still had not been submitted.

Why does it matter?

The dispute extends beyond one Ohio farm. It raises questions about whether state authority should be used to help a private corporation secure land for infrastructure that mainly benefits its own operations.

Thompson said eminent domain is generally meant to serve a public use, not the needs of one private company. He argued the proposed Apollo pipeline was "solely to fuel a single private business, rather than to heat Ohioans' homes or fuel their cars."

Jon Luidhardt said offers to some landowners have gone as high as $200,000 per acre. "They offer an insane amount of money, and a lot of people have sold out," he said. "Money isn't an object to them, and they don't care about family history."

There is also an environmental concern. The pipeline would support a natural gas-powered facility for the data center, locking in additional polluting infrastructure as communities weigh the costs of rapid industrial expansion.

What's being done?

So far, the main challenge to the project has come from legal opposition. Thompson's intervention did not produce a court ruling, but it appears to have pushed the company to change the route.

The family had previously worked with Thompson to stop another pipeline from crossing its land. Jon Luidhardt said the possible reroute offers some reassurance, but he wants to see the updated filing before treating the issue as resolved. He also said he wanted the case tested in court. "They finally had someone stand up to them," Luidhardt said.

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Thompson was more direct, according to BG Independent News: "When we shine a light on that issue, the takers tend to scatter like cockroaches and suddenly find another way that they previously declared to be impossible."

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Los Angeles officials have sued a property owner they say tried to empty an apartment building almost as soon as he bought it.

Because the building is covered by local rent-control protections, tenants cannot be forced out without a legally valid reason.

What happened?

The case, announced Wednesday by Los Angeles City Attorney Hydee Feldstein-Soto, names Femi G. Olanipekun, the landlord, and concerns an eight-unit apartment property in the Historic South-Central neighborhood.

As described in the complaint and reported by KTLA, Olanipekun purchased the building on Oct. 29, 2025. Within five days, residents were allegedly told they had until March 2026 to give up their units.

City attorneys say Olanipekun linked that demand to his view that the current rents were too low. They argue that reason does not satisfy Los Angeles' Rent Stabilization Ordinance, which permits evictions only for just cause.

The lawsuit also accuses him of shutting off water and waste services, imposing extra charges, removing parking and storage access, discarding tenants' belongings, and telling residents to remove their pets. The city is seeking an order to stop the alleged conduct, plus restitution, civil penalties, and punitive damages.

Why does it matter?

Sudden pressure to leave can disrupt work, school, childcare, transportation, and access to community support, all while forcing families to search for new housing in an already expensive market.

Rent-stabilized units are often among the few affordable options left in major cities. If tenants are pushed out so owners can pursue higher rents, the consequences can reach far beyond a single building.

Housing rules can also shape whether renters can make everyday, money-saving changes at home. Across the country, landlords have prevented renters from adopting practical habits such as gardening and hanging clotheslines to dry their laundry — steps that can help cut grocery and utility bills.

When tenants are dealing with harassment or threats of displacement, those kinds of lower-cost, lower-waste lifestyle choices can be even harder to maintain.

What's being done?

By bringing the matter to court, the city is trying to stop the alleged behavior and warn other landlords against similar actions.

Tenant protections are meant to prevent exactly this kind of abrupt upheaval.

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"California and the City of Los Angeles have enacted tenant protection laws to ensure tenants can live in their homes free from harassment and unlawful eviction practices," said City Attorney Feldstein Soto, according to KTLA. "This suit sends a clear message that my office will continue to enforce these laws and hold accountable landlords who violate tenants' rights." 

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WASHINGTON (AP) — Byron Donalds, a Republican congressman running for Florida governor, on Monday announced legislation intended to prevent artificial intelligence data centers from driving up utility costs, the latest sign of a political backlash over the new technology.

The proposal, if passed by Congress, would require data centers to obtain all their electricity and water needs from private sources, rather than the power grid or public water systems. The idea aligns with an earlier, voluntary initiative from President Donald Trump.

"If you talk to these guys who are building these data centers, if it means that they have to pick up the utility costs, they're more than willing to do it," Donalds said in an interview with The Associated Press. "It's in their interest to make sure that we can construct these centers, and I think the number one way you address and mitigate the concerns that people are having is to just ensure their utility bills aren't going up in the process."

Donalds' proposal is noteworthy coming from a candidate backed by pro-AI political action committees and Trump. The legislation comes during a rapid nationwide buildout of data centers to match growing demand for artificial intelligence systems. Major technology firms at the heart of the AI boom have quickly become some of the world's most valuable and watched companies, while the Trump administration has aligned itself with the industry's major players.

Several major tech companies developing AI infrastructure have committed to agreements with the Trump administration to cover the expenses of building new power sources rather than shifting the burden to residential households. But given the expected increase in demand, it's unclear if the voluntary agreement is legally enforceable.

The furious pace of construction and high stakes of the technology have raised concerns among many Americans. In Florida, more than 20 counties and municipalities have voted to reject the construction of major data centers, while others have banned their construction for at least a year. Residents and local leaders often cite concerns over increased utility bills, disruption of local communities and environmental damage as major reasons for the pauses.

"These companies have been a step behind and didn't realize how quickly the ground was shifting under their feet," said Matt Gorman, a Republican strategist. Gorman said that progressive climate activists and conservative populists have both seized on the data center issue, requiring tech firms to "tell a better story" and address concerns from across the political spectrum.

"This is a full-court effort here," Gorman said. "If you don't tell that story, you're going to have it mandated on you from lawmakers of both parties."

Donalds is running to succeed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a fellow Republican who in May signed legislation that required large-scale data centers to pay their own energy and water costs entirely. Donalds, should he be elected governor, said he'd focus on improving efficiency among data centers and moving the facilities away from population centers.

"We just want to make sure that if they do get built, they're being built efficiently while protecting ratepayers and protecting Florida's water," Donalds said. "The real public policy question for the country and for states is how are we going to generate baseload power for future energy demands, whether it's for hyperscale data centers or for anything else."

James Fishback, a far-right Republican candidate for governor, has made opposition to data centers a center of his primary challenge to Donalds. And David Jolly, a former congressman and the leading Democratic gubernatorial candidate, this month called for a moratorium on the construction of data centers.

Travis Fisher, a fellow at the Cato Institute, said public companies usually push for the best deals to access public utilities. He said any willingness to pick up a bigger tab for energy and water reflects the political pressure facing tech firms.

"They are very afraid that they're going to, I'd say, lose their social license to operate, as if they're basically going to get run out of town or banned," said Fisher.

NEED TO KNOW

• A mom of six died after she dove into a river in Volusia County, Fla., to save her 4-year-old son

• The child was unharmed, but the 43-year-old woman died after bystanders rescued them both from the water

• "She loved each of us unconditionally and would do anything for her kids," wrote Nicole Grayson's daughter

A mom of six died after she jumped into a Florida river to save her 4-year-old son.

On Saturday, July 18, a 4-year-old boy was playing near a wooden fence located on the edge of the St. Johns River in Ed Stone Park in DeLand when he dropped an object into the water, the Volusia Sheriff's Office said in a statement. When the little boy attempted to retrieve it, he fell into the river, a preliminary investigation revealed. In response, his mother, 43-year-old Nicole Grayson, went into the water to save him. 

By 4 p.m. local time, deputies were dispatched to the park following reports that the mother and child were in the river, authorities said. While emergency teams were en route, one bystander flagged down a boater, who threw two life preservers to Grayson and her son. 

"Grayson became submerged as she struggled to hold her son above water," officials said. 

Fortunately, the person in the boat was able to get close enough to pull the 4-year-old child, who was unharmed, from the fast-moving river. Another witness then jumped in and was able to help lift the woman in distress onto the boat. The rescuer performed CPR until emergency services personnel arrived and were able to take over. 

Grayson was transported to a nearby hospital, where life-saving efforts continued. Despite the efforts of her medical team, the woman died in the ICU on Saturday around 10 p.m., the sheriff's office said. 

Following the tragedy, Grayson's eldest child, Montraevia Adams, created a GoFundMe to cover funeral expenses and support the family. 

"She was an incredible mother who raised six children," wrote Adams, who did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment. "She loved each of us unconditionally and would do anything for her kids."

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

"We were truly blessed to have a mother who was caring, supportive, selfless," the grieving daughter continued, "and always willing to sacrifice her time to make sure we had what we needed."

Officials — who also shared the GoFundMe fundraiser — recognized Grayson's last brave act in their release.

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"Sheriff Chitwood and the entire Volusia Sheriff's Office send sincere thanks all who jumped in to help with the rescue," authorities said, "and deepest condolences to Ms. Grayson's family and friends for their loss of a mother who gave her life to save her son."

Read the original article on People

(The Center Square) – California cities targeted in a new lawsuit are pushing back against claims from Attorney General Rob Bonta that they failed to comply with the state's mandate on affordable housing.

Bonta announced enforcement actions last week against Calexico, Costa Mesa, Half Moon Bay, Ridgecrest and Turlock for noncompliance with the California Housing Element Law.

Enacted in 1969, California's Housing Element Law requires every city and county to adequately plan to meet the housing needs of all residents. Instead of forcing local governments to build houses directly, the state law requires governments to update zoning and land-use policies so the private market can build enough housing to meet demand.

"We are in a state of emergency in California when it comes to housing production," Bonta said during a July 16 press conference announcing the legal actions. "No single local jurisdiction, no city, no county is responsible for building all the housing that we need in California. But every city, every county is responsible for building some of the housing that we need."

The actions taken by Bonta are part of a coordinated effort by Gov. Gavin Newsom and the state Department of Housing and Community Development.

Leaders from four of the five named cities said the lawsuit is unnecessary because they are already actively working with the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) toward certification.

Calexico City Manager Ben Martinez told The Center Square via email that staff continues to work closely with HCD to address feedback and incorporate required updates.

"The City of Calexico anticipates submitting a revised Housing Element to HCD in the near future for further review and consideration," Martinez said, adding that the Imperial County city, which is by the border between California and Mexico, has made "substantial progress" toward compliance.

Costa Mesa Mayor John Stephens called the legal action "entirely unwarranted," noting the state's own complaint acknowledges the Orange County city is currently awaiting state comments on its latest submission.

Stephens highlighted local progress, including rezoning completed in April, opening a 100-bed shelter, and expanding affordable housing projects at state-owned and city-funded sites.

"There is no reason for a lawsuit," Stephens said in a statement emailed to The Center Square.

Officials with Half Moon Bay, which is about 30 miles south of San Francisco, echoed the frustration. They pointed out that HCD determined in February 2026 that the San Mateo County city's plan met statutory requirements, leaving only local rezoning updates to finalize.

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Mayor Debbie Ruddock noted in a press release that, as a coastal city, Half Moon Bay must get additional reconciliation with the California Coastal Commission, a process that added a year to the timeline.

"Given our ongoing work with HCD and the Coastal Commission, we are surprised that the State feels this additional action is necessary," Ruddock said, pointing out that the city added 144 housing units between 2023 and 2025 and has 100 more affordable units approved.

The Half Moon Bay City Council plans to hold public hearings on the required rezoning in the near future.

As The Center Square reported on July 16, Turlock is also in the final stretch of its approval process.

Public Information Officer Joseph Spangler noted that HCD recently confirmed the Central Valley city's draft plan addresses all previous statutory issues.

City Manager John J. "J.J." Murphy said the staff has established a clear timeline to adopt the remaining rezoning package, with planning commission and city council public hearings scheduled for August.

"The city has made significant progress toward Housing Element compliance, and we have a clear path forward," Murphy said.

The city of Ridgecrest, which is surrounded by the Mojave Desert in Kern County, has yet to respond to The Center Square's requests for comment.