The AI buildout is bumping into a literal bottleneck: experts warn a $725B infrastructure wave is constrained by power, memory, and bandwidth needs, and the first US small modular reactor in nearly 50 years signals a shift toward new energy sources for data centers (small modular reactor). [P]Regulation and geopolitics are reshaping access — the US is easing limits on Anthropic while export controls and EU lobbying complicate who can run the most capable models (Anthropic Fable 5 update, limited Mythos deployment). And the human side is fraying: from misinformation and copyright fights to job disruption and ethical risks in healthcare, the debate over trust, taxation, and winners-versus-losers is accelerating.

Authorities found 117 dead dogs at a California rescue, a shocking abuse discovery that highlights gaps in oversight and animal-welfare enforcement (NBC). [P]Law-enforcement encounters also turned tragic in Phoenix when an officer shot a dog during a burglary response (KTAR), even as search-and-rescue teams in Venezuela showcased the life-saving power of trained canines after an earthquake (NYT).

America’s literacy troubles are becoming urgent, with experts calling for renewed focus to lift reading skills across ages (literacy crisis). [P]In Texas, the education board moved to require Bible stories for over 5 million students, sparking debates about curriculum and civic literacy (Scripps). Local libraries and summer programs are countering the slide with playful engagement — because nothing fixes a reading gap like dinosaurs and snacks (Reading Is Dino-Mite).

Vegetarian cooking is getting a glow-up with 25 inventive dinner recipes that prove plant-based meals can be satisfying main events, not sad substitutes (25 vegetarian dinners). [P]Chef JJ Johnson is back for Season 6, nudging home cooks toward bolder flavors and techniques (JJ Johnson), while practical food-waste strategies encourage turning leftovers into new dishes — less guilt, more deliciousness (waste-not tips).