Higher-Ed & Skills Pipelines: Wisconsin-Green Bay is first in the state to pilot a reduced-credit “three-year” bachelor’s (100 vs. 120 hours), with Pennsylvania’s system exploring similar options—part of a broader push to cut costs and speed entry into the workforce. Workforce Readiness: Illinois Gov. Pritzker’s bill would let high schoolers swap more career/technical education for foreign-language requirements, aiming to boost job-ready skills in trades like welding and web development. Labor Market Signals: U.S. initial jobless claims rose to 197,000 (still below forecasts), while unemployment claims are edging up—suggesting cooling demand without a major layoff wave. Economy Watch: GDP grew at a sluggish 1.5% in Q2 as imports weighed on growth, even as consumer spending stayed resilient; inflation remains above the Fed’s 2% target. AI & Hiring Reality: Employers are increasingly fighting fake applications and identity fraud—Greenhouse says 1 in 4 job applications could be phony by 2028—while Gen Z may gain an edge by leaning into AI-native skills. Fed Split: Three Fed dissenters argued for rate hikes to rein in stubborn inflation. Veterans Jobs: DAV and RecruitMilitary® are co-hosting the Dallas Veterans Job Fair Aug. 6 with 77+ employers and free career support.