Health Policy & Access: California DHCS updated prior-authorization rules for complex rehab technology, cutting paperwork for wheelchair repairs and parts when monthly costs stay at or under $2,500. Biotech & Research: Stanford and Palo Alto’s Arc Institute used an AI model to generate new bacteriophages that can’t infect humans or animals, a step toward safer lab-made virus tools. AI & Safety in Courts: Jury selection began in Oakland for Meta’s federal youth-harms case over claims the company tracked children under 13 without parental consent. Public Safety Tech: LAPD says its “drone as first responder” program has been dispatched 9,800+ times, arriving before patrol officers in 73% of calls. Environment & Climate: Scientists report a mysterious surviving colony of sunflower sea stars after mass die-offs, offering hope for kelp-forest recovery. Energy & Infrastructure: A new inspector general report warns California’s high-speed rail authority could run out of funding by Dec. 2027 without a financing fix. Robotics & Mobility: A Kookmin University team, working with Hyundai, presented SharedKD to compress 3D object-detection models for self-driving. Space/Marine Tech: Uber Japan’s robotaxi pilot in Tokyo will use Nissan LEAFs with Wayve AI, with Hinomaru Kotsu managing fleet operations.