Emporia drops the case against a teacher arrested at a data-centre meeting
Emporia has dismissed its municipal case against teacher Lux Claridge, arrested after clapping at a hyperscale data-centre meeting, and sent the file to the county attorney. Nationally, more than 15 candidates have signed the AI Pact, which includes limits on data-centre tax breaks and backroom deals; all but one current signer is a Democrat.
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The municipal case is dismissed
Emporia, Kansas, has dismissed its municipal case against high-school teacher Lux Claridge, arrested after clapping during a city commission meeting about a proposed hyperscale data centre. Claridge had been held for eight hours and charged with disorderly conduct and interfering with a law-enforcement officer. A message from the assistant city attorney said the dismissal in municipal court was without prejudice, leaving another case possible, and that the file had been sent to the county attorney for review.[1]
Public comment returns
After the arrest, the city commission moved its meetings online and ended public comment, citing public safety. The city's announcement schedules an in-person special session and the restoration of public comment at regular meetings. The proposed facility at the centre of the dispute would sit on prairie land near Claridge's home. The commission says a vote on banning hyperscale data centres outright depends on permission from a county court. Emporia did not answer 404 Media's request for comment.[1]
Data centres enter a campaign pledge
More than 15 candidates across the country have signed the AI Pact, WIRED reports. Alongside mandatory safety reviews for AI models and a right to sue over model-caused harms, it asks signers to oppose policies that enable data-centre tax breaks, backroom deals and excessive energy use. The pledge stops short of demanding a data-centre moratorium. All current signers but one are Democrats; Dan Osborn, running independently for the US Senate in Nebraska, is the exception.[2]
