Data Centers vs. Taxpayers? The National Fight Over AI Infrastructure | The Center Square Daily

North Carolina Republican U.S. Senate candidate Michael Whatley joins Greg Bishop to discuss the race against former Governor Roy Cooper, the issues shaping the campaign, and why control of the U.S. Senate could be critical heading into the November elections. Whatley weighs in on taxes, public safety, economic policy, and how Republicans plan to appeal to independent voters in one of the nation's most closely watched Senate contests. Georgia drivers are seeing relief at the pump after state lawmakers and Governor Brian Kemp suspended the state's fuel tax, allowing motorists to keep more money in their pockets. We examine how the tax holiday has impacted state revenues, what it means for taxpayers, and how gas tax rates compare across the country. The battle over AI data centers is heating up nationwide as states and local governments wrestle with questions about energy use, water consumption, tax incentives, infrastructure costs, and economic development. From Tennessee and Wisconsin to Virginia, Louisiana, North Carolina, and Illinois, officials are taking dramatically different approaches as communities weigh the promises and potential costs of massive new projects. Illinois lawmakers and Governor J.B. Pritzker remain divided over data center tax incentives and future development policies, while local communities debate whether the projects create enough long-term jobs to justify public support. Also in this episode: • Pennsylvania lawmakers advance election administration changes involving mail-in ballots. • Georgia voters continue casting ballots ahead of key primary runoff elections. • North Carolina's sports betting revenues continue to grow. • Wisconsin business owners report concerns about rising property taxes and the state's economic direction. • A new study examines where fast food takes the biggest bite out of household budgets and what that says about affordability across America. America's Talking: Pennsylvania - https://www.thecentersquare.com/pennsylvania/article_7bac4c90-a6ab-4a26-a44b-30e39a4020ff.html Georgia - https://www.thecentersquare.com/georgia/article_decb265e-e1ad-43e8-b028-086a947d5186.html North Carolina - https://www.thecentersquare.com/north_carolina/article_3ace709a-3483-42a0-a3d4-949d5d85d8b0.html Wisconsin - https://www.thecentersquare.com/wisconsin/article_a0e0d680-503b-4ce8-88dc-6e70512b2a16.html Join Greg Bishop for stories impacting taxpayers, businesses, and communities across the country. #NorthCarolina #MichaelWhatley #RoyCooper #USSenate #Midterms #GasPrices #GasTax #DataCenters #ArtificialIntelligence #IllinoisPolitics #WisconsinBusiness #PennsylvaniaPolitics #SportsBetting #FastFoodPrices #Taxpayers #CenterSquareDaily ____________ 👉 Read more: https://www.thecentersquare.com 📩 Sign up for the newsletter for daily updates 00:00 Intro 03:12 Michael Whatley 13:01 Break 13:45 GAS TAX 19:54 Break 20:35 Data centers 32:33 BREAK 33:24 Wisconsin Business 39:04 BREAK 39:01 State Rankings: FAST FOOD