Livestock Health Innovation: UNL researchers unveiled a low-cost, updateable swine influenza vaccine approach using DNA in lipid nanoparticles, with strong antibody responses in 7–14 days and no worsening respiratory distress in later infections—aimed at protecting Nebraska’s major swine sector. Microplastics Research: A Washington Post reporter visited UNL/UNO labs to see how microwaving plastic can release billions of nanoparticles, tracked with laser-based tools—spotlighting how particles may end up in food and water. Public Health & Civil Liberties: A hantavirus cruise passenger in Nebraska remains under federal quarantine after HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. overruled a CDC recommendation, fueling a state–federal dispute. Tech & Culture in Nebraska: Edgeworks digitized and 3D-scanned Nebraska’s I-80 Bicentennial Sculpture Garden for America 250, expanding access to public art through emerging media. Policy Watch (AI): States are moving ahead with targeted AI rules despite federal hesitation, focusing on real-world impacts like child-facing chatbots and workplace use. Environment: Experts warn the U.S. has lost about half of its historic grasslands, with remaining native prairie crucial for biodiversity and ecosystem health. Legal/Consumer Protection: The FTC and Nebraska joined a lawsuit targeting WPATH over alleged misleading claims about pediatric gender-affirming care.