Fraud Crackdown on PPP: Federal-state coordination is ramping up after a nationwide sweep tied to COVID-era SBA lending, with Nebraska Treasurer Joey Spellerberg signing an MOU with DOJ’s fraud unit in Kansas City and prosecutors reporting hundreds of millions in alleged losses; local cases include Cedar Rapids indictments over $4.5M in PPP claims and Morgantown pleas/sentences tied to falsified applications and forgiveness. Local Business Boosts: Fullerton’s “Shop. Play. Dine. Stay.” gift card program is back for a second round, offering shoppers a 50% bonus at 14 participating downtown businesses. Health Insurance Pressure: Illinois warns Medicaid enrollees could lose coverage starting Oct. 1, while Connecticut finalized 2027 health plan rates with double-digit increases—another hit for small employers and families. Small Business & AI: Hancom plans Nomadian, an AI workforce platform for solo entrepreneurs, and Hispanic business owners report high long-term commitment and growing AI adoption. Trade/Tariffs Watch: A Whitehorse chamber says Canada’s tariff relief rules miss many SMEs due to a $1M revenue threshold, and U.S.-Canada tariff changes are raising uncertainty for cross-border operators. Crypto Policy: The Senate is set to vote on the Clarity Act, a major potential shift for digital-asset rules. Procurement/Tech: Rise8 launches “Outcome Factory” with a 180-day mission outcome guarantee, and the U.S. Navy orders production rounds of Castelion’s Blackbeard hypersonic weapon.