DC weekly roundup: Virginia’s AI veto; data centers’ public image; Trump’s crypto soiree

This week in the DMV (emphasis on the “V”), we’ve got a look at the latest in Virginia legislators’ attempts at AI legislation, with the bill’s proponent and critics discussing its various dimensions and national implications. We’ve also got highlights from the recent Data Center World conference, including what some local boosters hope to emphasize while they fight for their narrative.

Read on for Technical.ly’s weekly roundup of top regional news, then test your knowledge of recent headlines with this new quiz.

📰 News Incubator: What else to know

• Data shows local storytelling boosts regional economies. [Technical.ly]

• Trump is hosting a dinner with more than 200 crypto investors this month at his golf club in DC. Attendees have to buy the president’s personal crypto coin to get a seat. [WIRED]

• DC is bracing for a “mild recession” thanks to federal cuts. [Axios] 

• MPower Financing, a fintech firm in DC that specializes in student loans for international students, nabbed a $313.2 million securitization. [Washington Biz Journal]

• Property owners are trying to convert nearly 30 acres from residential zoning to industrial and commercial in Loudoun County. The planning commission denied the proposal. Data centers surround the land, and residents of a nearby community are nervous that converting the land would be a detriment to their neighborhood. [LoudounNow]

• ICE and Department of Homeland Security agents are visiting restaurants across DC and demanding I-9 forms. [WAMU]

• Didn’t make it to Builders or Philly Tech Week? No problem: We have the takeaways, including insights from DMV figureheads. [Technical.ly]

• Check out tips for selling your business (before you burn out). [Technical.ly]

• DC Councilmember Charles Allen of Ward 6 introduced legislation to set safety standards for batteries used in electric bikes and scooters. [Charles Allen]

🗓️ On the Calendar

• Work on civic tech projects with local developers at the next Civic Tech DC event on May 14. [Details here]

• VC in DC is hosting its monthly meetup for people working in venture capital on May 15. [Details here]

• DC Tech Party is hosting a networking meetup on May 21 for technologists and entrepreneurs. [Details here]

• Solidify your career vision on May 19 at the next Women and Gender eXpansive Coders workshop. [Details here]

• Coworking space Venture X in Adams Morgan is hosting an open house on May 20. [Details here]

• ​AI for Good Innovation Summit takes place at International Square on May 29. [Details here]

• Cowork with fellow developers at the next DC Code and Coffee on May 31. [Details here]