Defense & Manufacturing: The U.S. Navy selected Boeing to develop the F/A-XX sixth-generation carrier fighter in a deal worth $20B-plus, a win that could further boost Boeing’s St. Louis-area production footprint. Local Utilities: Neosho approved selling its water and wastewater system to Missouri American Water, with residents set to see first bills in late October or early November as the utility targets aging-pipe water loss. Cybersecurity & Consumer Protection: Missouri is tied to a multistate settlement with Labcorp over the AMCA data breach, with regulators emphasizing vendor data security as a non-delegable duty. Food Safety: A new survey finds only 31% of Americans strongly believe the U.S. food system produces safe food, as scrutiny grows around delayed traceability rules and a withdrawn salmonella plan. Public Safety Funding: Southeast Missouri crime-victim and crisis centers are bracing for federal Crime Victims Fund cuts, including a reported 16% reduction for one child advocacy and rape crisis center starting Oct. 1. Energy Costs: Gas prices stayed volatile but mixed across Missouri counties, with multiple GasBuddy reports showing localized lows for regular, midgrade, and diesel. Retail & Groceries: Hy-Vee will rebrand remaining Dollar Fresh Market stores to its main banner, adding amenities like bakeries and full-service meat cases. Community & Housing Taxes: Jackson County unveiled interactive websites to estimate property tax credits for homeowners facing assessment increases above 15%.