Vaccine Policy Clash: Sen. Bill Cassidy called President Trump’s childhood vaccine overhaul “stupid policy,” arguing splitting MMR into separate shots is inconvenient and adds injections without clear benefit. Rural Access & Reform: Sen. Ron Wyden’s “Reimagining Health Care for America” tour heads to Medford, Oregon, with both in-person and virtual hearings focused on costs, rural maternity care, primary care closures, and uninsured rates. Medicaid Spending Watch: Rockford, Illinois Medicaid bills for pathology and lab procedures jumped 74.5% in 2024, while other local Medicaid categories show similar upward pressure. Workforce Pipeline: Alaska Native Medical Center expands clinical rotation access via a new UAA–ANTHC partnership aimed at building a sustainable local health workforce. Food Safety & Oversight: FDA inspections continue to surface “voluntary action indicated” findings across multiple counties, underscoring ongoing compliance issues. Public Health Risks: Bedbugs are rising, with some researchers warning about possible links to antibiotic-resistant infections like MRSA. Tech & Health Liability: A federal appeals court cleared the way for thousands of social media addiction lawsuits against Meta and TikTok to proceed. Marijuana Rescheduling: A key federal deadline arrives Aug. 17 as the DEA weighs moving marijuana to Schedule III, with major implications for patients and state programs.