• Environmental activist Erin Brockovich has adopted a new cause: the impact of data centers.
• She said residents are especially angry about NDAs between developers and local leaders.
• That lack of transparency, she said, is fueling anger among residents who feel ignored.

Big Tech is expanding into communities across the country — and they aren’t all that happy about it.

Many residents in cities and towns where tech companies are looking to build large data centers to power their AI products are mobilizing against them, concerned about a possible drain on water supplies, a surge in electricity costs, and a decline in their overall quality of life.

Now, legendary environmental activist Erin Brockovich, famously played by Julia Roberts in the 2000 film about her work, has joined the fight.

Brockovich said on a recent episode of “The Jim Acosta Show” that communities are angry because they feel shut out of the decisions being made in their own backyards — and that the projects are being “shoved down their throat in secrecy.”

Brockovich said that residents learn about projects in the proposal stage, only to find that local officials are limited in what they can say because of nondisclosure agreements. In other cases, she said, projects are presented as warehouses rather than data centers.

“There’s a lot of secrecy and NDAs at a very proposal stage,” Brockovich said.

That lack of transparency, she said, is fueling anger among residents who believe their concerns are being ignored.

High-profile data center projects have faced backlash in recent months. A massive data center project in Utah backed by “Shark Tank” investor Kevin O’Leary has sparked statewide opposition, for example, leading Utah Gov. Spencer Cox to unveil a new “framework” for data center development on Friday that addresses many of the community’s concerns.

“Utahns deserve confidence that water resources, air quality, utility rates, wildlife, and quality of life will be protected. This framework helps ensure that data center development aligns with Utah’s long-term interests and reflects Utah values,” Cox wrote in an X post.

Microsoft, which once relied on NDAs in the early stages of data center development, said earlier this year that it would stop requesting them after local opposition.

“We’ve made the decision that being transparent with the communities where we operate or seek to operate is paramount,” the company said. “This shift is about strengthening public trust, enabling better dialogue, and ensuring that our growth is matched by meaningful engagement.”

Microsoft has adopted its own framework for building data centers called the “Community-First AI Infrastructure Plan.” It promises to pay for its own electricity, minimize water usage, and create local jobs, among other things.

Brockovich, who has spent decades working with communities on environmental fights, said residents are not opposed to hearing difficult information. What they object to, she said, is being excluded from the process.

“I’ve worked in communities for 30 years,” she said. “They handle the truth.”

• Lori Bufka, 64, cares for her aging mother in Arizona due to high assisted living costs.
• Bufka’s mother lives in a nearby trailer, reducing care costs and enabling family support.
• Tech aids Bufka in remotely monitoring her mother, enhancing her caregiving abilities.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Lori Bufka, 64, who is caring for her mother with dementia in Arizona. Assisted living became too expensive for her mother, so Bufka moved her into a trailer next to their home, where her mother would have enough space and safety. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

I was a college professor and retired from a community college in Florida. I raised two boys, both of whom are married, and I have five grandchildren. I had retired to do van life with my partner, who has been with me for seven years. I realized, though, that you can only do so much van life before you need a place to come home to. So we bought a tiny house in Arizona.

I’m an only child, and my mom was in assisted living in California. When she went into assisted living, her veteran benefits and Social Security were enough to cover the cost of her care. She was in assisted living for over seven years, and she had sold her house and had some savings. The rate kept going up and up, and it was draining her savings.

The cost was about $4,700 a month, and it was about to go up to $5,200, which was a couple of thousand dollars more than what she earned.

She’s 88, and I wanted to keep her there as long as she could. When I got the notice that the rate was going up again, and that they were going to raise her quality of care cost because her dementia was getting worse, her savings were down to almost nothing. They said that she would be moved to a dementia unit with four other people, and I didn’t want that to happen to her.

Additionally, as her dementia got worse, she would get so many scam calls. She was savvy her whole life and worked as a lead for a law firm and a real estate agent, but it came to a point where I had to turn off her phone.

It was cheaper to take care of Mom at home

My partner and I decided that we could probably take care of her. It would be a lot cheaper. We started making the moves to bring her here so that I could take care of her. I brought my mom in to live by us in November.

There wasn’t going to be room for her and my partner, so I had to give her a little model home in the same trailer park. Hers is about 700 square feet and is about a minute’s walk from me. There are a lot of older people here, and the owner keeps a good eye on everyone. I knew that she wasn’t going to be with me, but she needed care as if she were.

The trailer was in the low five figures, and we bought it using two-thirds of her savings and one-third of my savings. The rent for the space a little over $500 monthly. It’s so much cheaper this way because my partner and I split the caregiving. Her utility bills run about $200 monthly in the winter and $70 in the summer. Caring for her started to become a little much for me, but because we’re in the mountains, there aren’t many home health organizations here, and none take her insurance.

She went into hospice care, and we hired someone to come for a few hours a week. It was supposed to be $37 for two hours, but when I got the bill, they tacked on mileage, so it became $92. We figured it wasn’t worth it, so now hospice volunteers visit every now and then, and hospice covers medically necessary appointments. We know we’re probably going to take care of her until she dies, unless she gets to a point where I can’t take care of her.

It was a huge change in our lifestyle

We haven’t been traveling since November, and I haven’t been away from her for more than three hours at a time. My mom is deaf, and it would’ve been challenging to deal with that from afar.

My mom is somewhat independent still. She can dress herself and go about her day. I wake up every morning and make sure she’s still in bed, then I turn on her coffee maker. I bring her breakfast over and leave notes about what she should do, like how to use the microwave. I check on her every half hour until she finally gets up. I come over before lunch to give her pills, eat lunch with her, and then sit with her until the afternoon, when she watches TV by herself. She can’t cook dinner, so my partner cooks all her meals, and we bring them over.

The trailer has a bedroom at the back, then a small bathroom, kitchen, and living room. The rooms are big enough for her to guide her walker through, and because of how narrow it is, it lessens the fall risk. They had an old-fashioned bathtub that you had to step over to get in, but the woman who owns the trailer park hired a guy to lower the height. We also had to install railings on the porch. The kitchen has an electric stove, which is great because a gas stove isn’t good when someone has dementia, because they can accidentally light a fire.

Tech has helped me take care of her remotely

One of the biggest nightmares is that people with dementia can’t work the TV and telephone. She got to the point where she could barely use the remote, and she would start pushing buttons and would not stop.

I had come across JubileeTV, a TV system that lets you change channels remotely. The price wasn’t prohibitive for us. The Jubilee remote replaced the Roku remote and came with a cover, so the buttons she can actually press are limited to volume and channels. If I’m out at the store, I can use the telescope function to see what she’s done with the TV and get it back to what she wants to watch.

I often call her, so it comes up on the TV, and she uses closed captioning so she can read what I’m saying. The app has an automatic connect function because my mom wouldn’t be able to answer a call or find the buttons to do so. The communication function also allows my sons to call her, and her hospice nurses can do the same.

I have used the app’s drop-in function to look in and see if she’s OK. I use that in conjunction with Blink cameras to make sure she doesn’t fall. Those have been important because my mom has fallen a lot since she moved here. I probably check on her three or four times during the night and frequently during the day. One time, she put Dawn dishwashing soap in her glass of water because she wanted to add flavor, so I’ve had to stop her from doing unsafe things a few times.

I also have smart plugs from Alexa that let her control her radiator heater and other electronics. She has a cheap laptop that I put the Google Live Transcribe app on.

Tech has helped me in so many ways, and seeing her age at home has been somewhat stress-relieving.

• I’ve always made a point to travel with my kids so they could experience and enjoy new places.
• When they were younger, it was draining and not as enjoyable for me.
• Once they turned 10, things changed, and family vacations became something we could all appreciate.

It was one of those days that only parents of younger kids can truly relate to. We were on our annual family beach vacation in Mexico, where the beaches are beautiful, meals are included, and the goal is to relax.

No one really knew what set the kids off (do we ever?), but I remember saying to myself, “This was supposed to be a vacation.”

If I’m being honest, I didn’t really enjoy family vacations as much when my kids were younger. I was so focused on packing and planning for them that I didn’t really stop to think about what the vacation meant for all of us. I had an idea of what trips would be like: connecting with each other, having new experiences, and making those core memories that get stored in an orb like in the movie “Inside Out.”

Unfortunately, trips became more about what to pack, what we forgot, how to make it until the next nap, and planning evenings so kids can go to bed at a reasonable hour. It was a lot — until one day, things finally changed.

Travel was so much work

The logistical stress of packing, schedules, snacks, and gear is enough to deter a parent from going on vacation in the first place. Then there is the emotional burden of constantly having to watch your kids to keep them safe.

The lack of downtime as parents, as we are always “on,” means there is no time to enjoy that drink or sleep in the morning after a busy day.

But the most daunting task of a family vacation is the pressure to make it magical. Young kids are filled with wonder and amazement, and I wanted to expose my own to as much as possible. After all, we are the gatekeepers of what the world has to offer, and are usually the first in line to get to see that discovery. I didn’t want to miss those opportunities.

Age 10 was a turning point

There was an interesting shift that happened around the age of 10 that I remember vividly on one of our family trips. My daughter asked if she could go explore a bit by herself, and I let her.

At first, I was hesitant, but I trusted that she would come back or find an adult if there was a problem. She came, happy to tell me everything she saw, beaming with a new sense of independence.

As my kids enter their tween years, the desire to do things on their own grows exponentially. They gain a sense of independence by figuring things out, and I get a bit of a break. The longer attention span has helped us engage in activities for longer, so we can connect and learn together instead of rushing.

While vacations used to be planned around naps, meal times, and early bedtimes, now our days are filled with activities we’re all invested in. This is where those core memories are made, and vacations become easier and more enjoyable.

Now we’re all enjoying ourselves

While those trips when my kids were younger had their own kind of magic, looking back, I can say they weren’t as enjoyable for me. I loved having the opportunity to introduce them to the world, but it really did feel like parenting in a different location.

It’s OK if parents don’t love every stage of travel. For me, travel finally feels like a vacation now that every member of the family gets a say on what to do. In the end, getting to relax and recharge together is the best kind of trip you can hope for.

• DoorDash’s corporate communications team is hiring an executive social strategy and operations lead.
• The company described the role as a “fight promoter meets growth hacker meets clip merchant.”
• Compensation ranges between $136,000 and $200,000.

DoorDash is hiring an “executive communications professional” who’s maybe not your typical PR person.

Specifically, the delivery service is looking for someone who embodies a “fight promoter meets growth hacker meets clip merchant.”

In a May job posting, DoorDash said it’s trying to build the “next generation of local commerce,” which includes autonomous robots, agentic commerce, and in-store software.

“These efforts require a nimble ‘build in public’ mentality to reach and engage with technical talent, the terminally online, policymakers, market observers, and prospective partners,” the company said.

DoorDash is looking for an experienced candidate who can help its social media accounts participate in real time conversations on X.

“This is not a traditional executive communications role. It is not press-office PR. It is not brand social,” DoorDash said. “It’s a judgment-heavy, social-first role at the intersection of corporate strategy and internet culture focused on influence, credibility, and distribution.”

Compensation for the new position ranges from $136,000 and $200,000 in addition to a benefits package.

For many companies, social media is an invaluable marketing tool that connects them with customers and gives them opportunities to shape the public’s opinion about their products.

Brands are increasingly becoming bolder with their social presence, using snark and sarcasm to capitalize on online conversations, especially on X.

Wendy’s was one of the first to embrace this strategy when, in the late 2010s, its X account regularly roasted other users and got into lighthearted spats with other companies.

Duolingo took a similar approach, replying to users with cheeky responses, participating in viral trends, and leaning into what some industry professionals describe as “unhinged marketing.”

Recently, the internet had a lot of opinions about fast-food chain cheeseburgers, for example, after McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski took a devastatingly small bite of the Big Arch burger during a taste test in February.

Although social media users mocked Kempczinski — and a wave of rival CEOs jumped at the chance to join the conversation — the taste test sent McDonald’s online engagement skyrocketing. The footage has gained 16.5 million views on Kempczinski’s Instagram, not counting views from accounts that reshared the video.

DoorDash now appears to want a piece of that action. In its job posting, it notes that “traditional comms or PR experience is not required.”

• My sister is married, recently bought a house, and is pregnant with her second child.
• I’m two years older, single, child-free, and renting in a shared community house.
• I’m happy for my sister, but sometimes feel jealous. I’m learning to embrace my own path.

I’m a single 30-something renting in a community house in central Vancouver, where I can enjoy everything the city offers. I work a flexible freelance schedule, and fill my time with friends, new hobbies, and traveling.

In so many ways, I truly love my life. I know I’m lucky.

But I’m also ready to find a partner and start building a life together.

This dream sometimes feels far away, especially when I start comparing myself to other people, like my sister, who is married, has recently bought a house, and is pregnant with her second child.

She’s one of my best friends, and I am genuinely thrilled for her. But I still feel jealous at times.

I struggle with comparison sometimes

My sister and I have always been close and see each other weekly. Having her, my brother-in-law, and nephew is a privilege, and I’m genuinely so happy for them.

Sometimes, when I compare our lives, jealousy creeps in. I look at her beautiful family and think, “Why can’t I have that?” It’s hard to admit this; I sometimes feel guilty that I can’t just “be happy for her.”

I think it’s common to fall into this comparison trap. When looking at other people’s lives, it’s easy to see where I’m “behind” in terms of career, family status, income, house, or other areas. It’s particularly hard when cultural or societal standards dictate where I “should” be in my thirties, even if it’s an outdated expectation.

But there’s really something behind the truism, “comparison is the thief of joy.” Getting caught up in it can cause unnecessary pain, which is something I never want to impact my relationship with my sister.

Both things can be true at once

While comparison is human nature to some degree, I don’t want to get stuck there. A helpful mindset shift for me is recognizing how two things can be true at once.

I can be excited for my sister’s life, and I can feel disappointed that I don’t have the same. I can even feel both grateful and sad over things in my own life.

One emotion doesn’t negate the other — both things are true at the same time. And by acknowledging all emotions, I can stop dwelling so much on the negative ones and embrace the good.

I’m learning to live my life as it is now

I’m not perfect at it, but this mindset has helped me embrace where I am today, instead of wasting energy comparing myself to my sister or anyone else. I can embrace my unique story and appreciate all the good things in my own life, and in my sister’s life, too.

While I still want a partner, a house, and a family one day, I’m also grateful for what my life without them affords, like time freedom and opportunities to travel or have new experiences.

Ultimately, learning to accept the mixed emotions we all experience in life is helping me embrace my own path and make the most of life today.

• It’s the start of hurricane season, and with it comes the risk of home damage.
• Cotality ranked states with the biggest risk of hurricane damage, and some of the results were surprising.
• Gulf states have more homes susceptible to hurricane wind damage, but the Northeast’s damage can hit harder.

For a lot of homeowners, summer means more than vacations — it also means staying vigilant during hurricane season.

A problem most associated with Southern states hugging the Gulf Coast, like Florida and Texas, hurricanes also pose a serious threat to the Northeast.

Property data and analytics firm Cotality found that while Florida and Texas have the highest amount of homes with moderate or greater risk of hurricane wind damage, the damage in the Northeast can be more devastating.

“While hurricanes hit the Northeast less frequently than the Gulf Coast, the region’s immense population density and property value mean the stakes are incredibly high,” Cotality vice president of insurance market insights Maiclaire Bolton-Smith said in a release.

“It’s critical that homeowners in the Northeast understand that while landfalling hurricanes may not be as frequent as other states, the risk is still real.”

As for metropolitan areas, New York City ranks ahead of any Florida city, with a reconstruction cost value of more than $1.9 billion. The metro also has the most homes with a moderate or greater risk of hurricane wind damage.

In total, more than 32.2 million homes across the United States are at moderate or greater risk from hurricane winds alone, accounting for over $12.26 trillion in reconstruction cost value, according to Cotality.

Below, see the states where homeowners are at the highest risk of hurricane damage.

Median home price data is from Redfin.

15. Maryland

Number of homes with moderate or greater risk: 479,881

Reconstruction cost value: $179.6 billion

Median home price: $446,900

14. Alabama

Number of homes with moderate or greater risk: 768,390

Reconstruction cost value: $232.7 billion

Median home price: $299,000

13. Pennsylvania

Number of homes with moderate or greater risk: 781,797

Reconstruction cost value: $360 billion

Median home price: $308,500

12. Connecticut

Number of homes with moderate or greater risk: 813,066

Reconstruction cost value: $426 billion

Median home price: $445,100

11. Georgia

Number of homes with moderate or greater risk: 836,172

Reconstruction cost value: $243.1 billion

Median home price: $373,700

10. Mississippi

Number of homes with moderate or greater risk: 837,860

Reconstruction cost value: $241.8 billion

Median home price: $265,200

9. Virginia

Number of homes with moderate or greater risk: 1,146,781

Reconstruction cost value: $426.4 billion

Median home price: $462,400

8. South Carolina

Number of homes with moderate or greater risk: 1,482,345

Reconstruction cost value: $476.9 billion

Median home price: $397,600

7. Louisiana

Number of homes with moderate or greater risk: 1,657,255

Reconstruction cost value: $515.7 billion

Median home price: $260,300

6. Massachusetts

Number of homes with moderate or greater risk: 1,785,383

Reconstruction cost value: $1 trillion

Median home price: $645,400

5. New Jersey

Number of homes with moderate or greater risk: 2,208,651

Reconstruction cost value: $1.2 trillion

Median home price: $545,300

4. New York

Number of homes with moderate or greater risk: 2,213,104

Reconstruction cost value: $1.2 trillion

Median home price: $595,900

3. North Carolina

Number of homes with moderate or greater risk: 3,165,030

Reconstruction cost value: $1.1 trillion

Median home price: $381,700

2. Texas

Number of homes with moderate or greater risk: 4,763,476

Reconstruction cost value: $1.5 trillion

Median home price: $341,800

1. Florida

Number of homes with moderate or greater risk: 8,249,592

Reconstruction cost value: $2.3 trillion

Median home price: $416,800