School Nutrition Funding: U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich and Andy Kim introduced a bill to permanently raise school meal reimbursement rates under the Healthy Meals Help Kids Learn Act—adding 45 cents to lunch and 28 cents to breakfast, with annual adjustments. Food Assistance Changes: SNAP benefit amounts and eligibility rules update Oct. 1, including higher maximum allotments (e.g., a family of four up to $1,023 in most states/territories). BVI Business & Infrastructure: People’s Leadership Movement leader Mark H. Vanterpool says the Virgin Islands Government should convert the Road Town Administration Building into a mixed-use commercial hub (small-business mall, conference space, and hotel) instead of moving ministries back. Water Crisis: Persistent BVI water shortages are reportedly leaving some residents without running water for weeks, with claims that some people on Jost Van Dyke have resorted to bathing in the sea. Maritime Trade Tension: USVI Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. is pushing for talks with the BVI after U.S. federal agencies raised concerns about BVI commercial recreational vessel licensing and its impact on USVI commerce. Finance & Compliance: FinCEN flagged about $17.5B in suspicious activity tied to suspected healthcare fraud, urging financial institutions to stay alert. Corporate Transparency: A U.S. final rule keeps U.S. companies and U.S. persons exempt from beneficial ownership reporting under the Corporate Transparency Act, including permanent exemptions for certain company applicants and FinCEN ID holders. Energy & Investment: Orca Energy Group announced a $1.50 (Cdn) per-share special distribution and updates on its Tanzania Songo Songo licence expiry and related arbitration claims. Local Education Support: H. Lavity Stoutt Community College received $35,916.39 from the estate of Alfrieda Mae Johnston to support future VI students. Scholarships: MHV BVI Group says 22 students will receive a combined $100,000 in scholarships through the Judith E. Vanterpool Scholarship Fund.