Insurance Rulemaking: Texas is nearing final adoption of mandatory right to appraisal rules after a public hearing, setting the stage for how policyholders can challenge claim disputes starting Sept. 1. Energy Markets: Oil is back near $100 a barrel as Iran-backed Houthi attacks disrupt Red Sea shipping, pushing up gasoline prices and raising inflation-rate worries. AI + Industry Ops: Austin Regional Clinic says ambient AI with Suki cut documentation time 18.5% and boosted coding accuracy, a rare scaled-up healthcare efficiency win. Industrial Tech for Supply Chains: Houston-based Neuralix pitches AI as a decision layer for inventory and procurement, aiming to reduce excess, duplicates, and obsolete stock. Local Energy + Land Use: A Texas solar project is using thousands of sheep to manage ground cover under 900 MW of panels, turning maintenance into a livestock operation. Permitting + Manufacturing: Caldwell County halted construction on Aalo Atomics’ liquid-sodium testing facility over water-well and septic permitting gaps. Materials + Defense Supply: HydroGraph urges Texas and federal leaders to designate graphene a critical material to reduce defense exposure to foreign graphite. Weather + Risk: A 5.1 quake hit the Texas Panhandle, with reports of shaking but no initial damage.