Omaha Public Schools Budget Crunch: OPS says a Nebraska Department of Education miscalculation tied to free and reduced-price lunch funding created a $50.6 million shortfall, prompting a plan that includes smaller staff pay increases, a property tax levy increase, and a $27 million reserve draw—while officials insist students won’t see direct cuts. Broadband Reliability: West Omaha Quantum Fiber customers report 15+ days without internet, leading to complaints to the Nebraska Public Service Commission and calls for providers to offer local customer contact numbers. AI Policy Money: Anthropic announced a $20 million donation to a group backing AI regulation, with Reuters noting the group’s political committees have contributed to Nebraska Sen. Pete Ricketts. Ag Policy & Farm Ops: USDA launched a Nebraska acreage reporting modernization pilot (Seward County) and Sen. Deb Fischer highlighted Farm Bill text priorities aimed at precision ag tools and rural connectivity. Food Safety Fallout: The Taylor Farms iceberg lettuce recall tied to cyclosporiasis expanded to 27 states, with the outbreak still climbing. Energy Storage Milestone: WATTMORE says it completed construction of a 3 MW/12 MWh long-duration storage project for Lincoln Electric System, moving toward final commissioning. Community Support: Nebraska Diaper Bank partnered with Hope Harbor in Grand Island to expand diaper access and connect families to additional help.