Data Centers & Power: The U.S. Department of Energy ordered the Southwest Power Pool to dispatch extra generation across a 17-state region as extreme heat strains the grid, with the order set to run through Aug. 3—another reminder that AI-driven electricity demand is colliding with reliability limits. Nebraska Energy & Renewables: Fortitude Mining says it has energized a new 12 MW Grand Island facility and is pushing toward a larger Zcash mining expansion tied to a HeartSciences merger; separately, Adapture Renewables and REC Power completed a sale of 68 MW of operating distributed solar projects that includes Nebraska assets. Healthcare & Eligibility: Nebraska began enforcing federal Medicaid work requirements May 1, and the reporting burden is heavy—states must rebuild eligibility and verification processes, with CMS estimating about $15 million per state. Research & STEM Funding: NSF awarded Nebraska EPSCoR $10 million to expand statewide STEM partnerships and innovation through the NSPIRE program. State Economy Snapshot: Nebraska gaming revenue neared $25 million in June, up 20% year over year. Education/Policy: The DOJ is suing states over in-state tuition for undocumented students, adding to a growing legal fight that includes Nebraska. State Rankings: Nebraska placed No. 5 in U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 Best States, ranking top-10 in infrastructure and fiscal stability.