Local Business Boost: Manhattan’s 40-year Spud Fest drew crowds and highlighted homegrown small businesses like a new cafe that adjusted to serve festivalgoers faster. Cost-of-Living Policy: Victoria’s opposition pledges a $50 weekly road toll cap for cars, light commercial vehicles and small fleets, with rebates via Service Victoria—aimed at cutting costs for tradies and small businesses. Energy Bills & Regulation: A Pennsylvania Senate hearing focused on preventing future electric bill spikes, with lawmakers pointing to power-plant retirements, timing issues and grid reliability risks. Retail Payments Rules: Louisiana’s new law blocks debit card surcharge fees to shoppers, but critics warn it may not fully address who ultimately charges the costs. SME Support & Grants: Nigeria’s SMEDAN launched BRYNE, offering weekly ₦250,000 seed funding to 52 young entrepreneurs plus training and mentorship, while also rolling out 250,000 free business name registrations via its portal. Payments M&A: Deluxe acquired Celero Commerce to expand digital payment capabilities for SMBs, targeting more merchant relationships and bank partners. Online Reputation: A practical guide urges SMBs to monitor reviews, respond fast, and publish helpful content to protect sales. Legal/Founder Scrutiny: Selena Gomez’s team says fraud claims tied to Wondermind are “completely meritless” and plans to seek dismissal. Tech & Startups: Cursor officially joined SpaceX after the acquisition closed, positioning it for access to large-scale GPU resources.