Biomedical Research Funding: UAMS-led Arkansas INBRE just got a five-year NIH extension worth $19.6M, pushing the program’s 30-year total to $107.7M and keeping mentoring and lab access flowing for undergrads, grads, and faculty. Education & Testing: Arkansas ATLAS results show statewide proficiency rising to 42.2% (up from 35% in 2024), with math at 44.2%, science at 44%, and English at 39.5%—but most students still aren’t meeting grade-level targets. AI Power Grid Push: Regulators backed faster connections for power-hungry AI data centers, a move that could matter for Arkansas as more data-center development ramps up. Skilled Workforce Focus: Rep. French Hill and Rep. Jonathan Jackson relaunched a bipartisan skilled workforce caucus, spotlighting shortages in healthcare, aviation, tech, construction, and energy. Broadband Training: UA Hope-Texarkana opened enrollment for an eight-week fiber optic technician fast-track, aiming to feed Arkansas’s growing broadband workforce. Public Health Tech: Essex County, N.J. is using GIS and machine learning to predict rodent hot spots and target prevention sooner. Health Care Access: A national look at “left behind” care highlights how missing hospice paperwork can delay pain relief after hospital discharge. Local Health Milestone: Jones Eye Institute marked its 100th no-cost cataract surgery through its “Gift of Sight” program.