UVM Leadership: The University of Vermont Foundation named Christopher D. Jacobsen, Ph.D., as its next president and CEO, starting Aug. 3, aiming to boost philanthropy and alumni support for UVM’s land-grant mission. Clean Water Planning: Vermont DEC is taking public comment on draft five-year “tactical basin” plans for the Upper Connecticut River Basin and for the West, Williams, and Saxtons Rivers Basin, with hybrid meetings in late June. Vermont Energy Costs: A new statewide analysis says fossil-fuel price spikes tied to the war in Iran have added about $124 million in estimated costs for Vermont drivers and fuel oil customers since early March. Citizen Science in Milton: Milton’s first BioBlitz runs July 18–Aug. 2, inviting residents to document local wildlife and plants via iNaturalist to build a town biodiversity database. Public Health & Tech: Research links smartphone use to a major share of America’s birth-rate decline, adding to the debate over how modern life affects fertility. Higher Ed Pressure: Boise State faculty say enrollment growth plus state budget cuts are driving larger class sizes and burnout. AI Ownership Debate: Bernie Sanders unveiled a plan for public direct ownership of AI companies via a sovereign wealth fund funded by a one-time tax on major AI firms. Local Infrastructure: Londonderry announced construction is set to begin this month on its South Village wastewater project, funded largely through ARPA. Wildlife & Disease Watch: A potentially deadly tapeworm is spreading across the U.S., with Vermont included among areas where it has been detected in recent years.