Special Education Funding Fight: Nebraska parents are warning federal lawmakers that proposed cuts could slash special education support, with one group saying the state could lose $42 million and rural districts would feel it hardest. Faster Rural Health Care: Great Plains Health in North Platte is rolling out MALDI-TOF lab testing to identify bacterial causes of sepsis in under 24 hours, helping doctors target antibiotics sooner. Medicaid Eligibility Changes: Starting Oct. 1, new federal rules will tighten Medicaid eligibility for certain noncitizens in Nebraska, and some current members could lose coverage even before their renewal date. Local Schools & Taxes: Omaha Public Schools is proposing an 8.2-cent levy increase to help close a $50.6 million state aid shortfall tied to a prior state miscalculation. Community Safety: Norfolk Catholic earned a Heart Safe designation through Children’s Nebraska’s Project ADAM, adding AEDs and training for cardiac emergencies. Education Outcomes: Nebraska reports a 47.2% six-year bachelor’s completion rate for Hispanic/Latino students entering in 2018, according to federal data. Public Safety Tragedy: Cass County is investigating a fatal SUV crash with a Union Pacific train near Plattsmouth that killed a grandfather and grandson. Culture & Learning: UNO’s Center for Afghanistan Studies is marking decades of resources and renewed interest after 9/11 and the 2021 U.S. withdrawal. Arts in Nebraska: A new gallery show, “No Story Comes from Nowhere,” opens with work by Byon Anway, Faridun Zoda, and Joe Pankowski. Grasslands Event: Grassland Gallery returns Sept. 26 at Haythorn Land & Cattle Co., blending art, agriculture, and conservation in the Sandhills.