Local news was hot last week. A proposed AI data center gained a LOT of attention, even earning some national news.

440 acres of farmland in Missouri is being taken over for a data center, residents are outraged and had no idea because the government keep the whole thing a secret with non disclosure agreements

Residents will not be allowed to vote on it

“In St. Charles, Missouri, where a… pic.twitter.com/ClN7Khbg6y

— Wall Street Apes (@WallStreetApes) August 17, 2025

The proposed data center in St. Charles, Missouri, where I locally report, was to be placed on the city’s well-head, where drinking water comes from.

It drew a lot of attention at the Tuesday meeting, to say the least:

https://www.midriversnewsmagazine.com/news/st-charles-residents-pack-city-council-meeting-to-address-controversial-data-center-proposal/article_365125d4-677e-4b39-8d24-9fc5f4ac686f.html

But for now, that’s all on hold.

https://www.midriversnewsmagazine.com/news/st-charles-city-council-passes-one-year-moratorium-on-data-center-applications/article_ad654d5a-e41a-496d-bce4-2ad917f8b9ba.html

A special meeting was called by the city council on Friday to pass a one-year moratorium on all data center applications. This gives city officials time to review the full impacts these AI data centers have on long-term jobs, the environment, and the health and well-being of residents.

It was a long week, with some long meetings that brought about some long-term thinking.

I don’t know how it will turn out in the future, but it was well worth my time to show up and report. Showing up is a big deal when it comes to these decisions.