SBA & Federal Contracting Shake-Up: The SBA is proposing major changes to its 8(a) program, including removing the “social disadvantage” presumption for individually owned applicants—an overhaul that could reshape who qualifies for set-aside contracting. Health Care Cost Pressure: California small businesses are getting squeezed by fast-rising employer healthcare costs, with premiums climbing far faster than inflation—raising fears for business survival and coverage stability. Local Solar Fight: California’s CPUC advanced a community solar plan critics call “unworkable,” arguing it effectively hands control back to utility pricing that blocks new projects. Fraud Crackdown: Coordinated federal action led to arrests tied to fraudulent COVID-19 relief loans, including SBA PPP and EIDL schemes. Cybersecurity for SMBs: Federal warnings say Russian hackers abused small office/home routers to steal logins—another reminder to lock down network gear. Business Real Estate: BKM Capital and Kayne Anderson bought a 281-property, 8.5M sq. ft. light industrial portfolio in a major LA-area deal. Travel Perks for Owners: Delta’s SkyMiles Platinum Business card review highlights checked-bag and priority perks plus a companion certificate, aimed at frequent flyers without lounge access. Local Business Boosts: Seattle launched a “Buy Black Card” prepaid discount to drive spending at Black-owned businesses during major sports events. Energy Reliability Warning: A new report warns the Eastern grid may face emergency peak power shortages by June 2027, pushing SMBs to plan for outages.