Homecare Overhaul: Gov. Maura Healey signed a Massachusetts law creating a statewide licensing system for homecare agencies, with state oversight and enforcement aimed at improving safety and accountability for older adults and people with disabilities. Higher Ed Workforce Pressure: A new report highlights how Massachusetts universities are cutting jobs and shifting toward less stable employment as budgets tighten, affecting the state’s large higher-education workforce. Coastal Resilience Funding Push: Boston is moving to fortify its coastline against flooding, with leaders arguing the city and state need a real funding stream to meet upcoming protection timelines. Energy Utility Merger Fight: New England governors, including Massachusetts, oppose the proposed NextEra-Dominion electricity merger, warning it could raise rates and disrupt regional infrastructure work. Defense Research Scrutiny: The Pentagon ordered audits of 30 universities’ ties to foreign entities of concern, including major Massachusetts institutions, with potential funding consequences. Robotics IPO Buzz: China’s Unitree is set to begin trading after a record IPO, underscoring how fast “embodied AI” and humanoid robotics are moving into mainstream investment. Offshore Wind Meets Fishing: A new legal-policy report examines how relocating boulders for offshore energy could affect fishermen and seabed habitats, and how to better include commercial fishing in planning. Banking Consolidation: Hometown Financial’s CEO says scale is key in low-margin banking as the company moves toward more acquisitions and a conversion to shareholder ownership.