Energy & Finance: Cypress Creek Energy closed $3.5B financing for Phase 1 and 2 of the Steel River Energy Center in Arkansas, a Mississippi County, Ark. solar-plus-storage project that will add 1.63 GW of solar and 1.9 GWh of batteries, with full buildout targeting 2.45 GW and 2.9 GWh by 2029. Port & Trade: The Port of Gulfport cleared a major step toward channel deepening as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recommended dredging for congressional authorization, aiming to deepen from 36 to 46 feet and widen from 300 to 350 feet to keep Gulfport competitive for larger cargo ships. Workforce Training: Mississippi State and industry partners (including Bollinger Shipyards and CHAND) are building an Integrated Logistics Support curriculum to strengthen shipbuilding workforce training. Food Safety: Mississippi’s seafood industry can register for a free ServSafe course in Biloxi on July 7, with limited spots. Environment & Health: Southeast Mississippi air-quality monitoring shows more moderate-or-worse pollution days over the past decade, raising respiratory risk. Weather Watch: NOAA officially declared El Niño has arrived, with a 63% chance it strengthens to “very strong” later this year—something Mississippi businesses and agriculture will be watching. Data Centers & Rates: A new report says Amazon data centers in Mississippi have already contributed to higher electricity rates for local customers. Local Economy: Casey’s sold 41 convenience stores for $42M in fiscal 2026 and exited Mississippi entirely, selling 10 CEFCO sites.