Kansas City Contracting Fight: Kansas City City Council advanced a plan to replace its Minority- and Women-owned Business Enterprise program with a broader small-business contracting effort, after Missouri AG Catherine Hanaway sued over the city’s race- and sex-based contracting approach and after U.S. Supreme Court limits on local bias remedies. Public Safety & Courts: A Jackson County judge upheld an arbitrator’s decision reinstating Kansas City firefighter Dominic Biscari after a deadly 2021 crash that killed three; the city is weighing an appeal. Ballot Access/Legal Fallout: Court records detail how investigators narrowed on five out-of-state defendants accused in a Lincoln petition signature fraud case tied to proposed city charter election-date changes. Election Watch: St. Louis County reported higher-than-average turnout in the Aug. 4 primary, with turnout varying by district and one competitive GOP House race. Energy & Infrastructure: Gas prices in Missouri eased in the week ending Aug. 1, with multiple county-level “lowest” reports from GasBuddy; separately, Monett-area residents heard concerns about CAFOs, sludge, and data centers at a public meeting. State Government: Missouri Supreme Court is seeking swift action in a redistricting ballot measure dispute, while Missouri lawmakers also took first steps toward regulating AI. National/Defense: Gov. Kehoe highlighted a Panama trade mission focused on Missouri’s economic ties and the National Guard’s State Partnership Program.