The TOPGUN Experience Comes to Palm Springs Air Museum

Elite F/A-18 Super Hornet Pilots to Share their Stories

PALM SPRINGS, Calif., Oct. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The iconic Blue Angels F/A-18 Super Hornet featured in Top Gun: Maverick as one of Captain Pete 'Maverick' Mitchell's on-camera aircraft makes its debut at the Palm Springs Air Museum's 30th anniversary celebration on Saturday, November 7, 2026 at 1 PM. The plane will be received into the museum's permanent collection with Water Salute and short dedication program, followed by birthday cake. Also on hand will be Darkstar from Top Gun: Maverick, and an operational F/A-18 Super Hornet from VFA-122.

Guest speakers for five exclusive evening TOPGUN F/A-18 Super Hornet Visitor Experiences between November 2026 and April 2027 are now set. Each 90-minute experience starts at 6 PM and features a distinguished F/A-18 pilot who will share behind-the-scenes stories, an up-close look inside the cockpit, light refreshments, Darkstar in the hangar, and branded merchandise for sale. Tickets are $65 per person ($50 for PS Air Museum members). Kids 12 & under free with one adult ticket. Evening tickets include admission to the museum during the day.

Captain Jeremy "Silas" Debons, U.S. Navy, former Commanding Officer of the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, who flew Bureau Number 165536, said, "This Super Hornet represents the very best of naval aviation. I had the privilege of flying this aircraft as it supported the testing and development of the F-35 program and other advanced flight test missions. It's fitting that this aircraft now begins a new mission at the Palm Springs Air Museum, where visitors can appreciate not only its role in Top Gun: Maverick, but its real contribution to advancing the future of naval aviation."

TOPGUN Experience Dates and Confirmed Aviator Speakers:

- Saturday, November 7, 2026 - Lieutenant Commander Evan "Squints" Goss, U.S. Navy. Goss is a combat veteran, instructor pilot assigned to VFA-122, and a member of the Navy's F/A-18 Tactical Demonstration Team for the 2025–2026 airshow seasons. Goss supported military operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Yemen.

- Saturday, November 28, 2026 - Commander Frank "Walleye" Weisser, U.S. Navy (Ret.) A 21-year Navy veteran, Weisser has over 5,000 flight hours, nearly 500 aircraft carrier landings, and three combat deployments. He then served two tours with the Blue Angels, including Lead Solo Pilot. Weisser flew F/A-18 fighter jets for the spectacular aerial sequences in TOP GUN: MAVERICK.

- Saturday, January 2, 2027 - Capt. Jeremy "Silas" DeBons Commander, USN Test Pilot School PAX River. DeBons has flown over 4,500 mishap free flight hours in over 120 aircraft. He has served as instructor and Commander of the US Naval Test Pilot School.

- Saturday, March 27, 2027 - Capt. A.J. "Face" McFarland, US Navy (Ret.) is an elite test pilot with over 4,000 flight hours and 373 carrier landings. He concluded his service as Commodore of Naval Test Wing Pacific, steering critical test programs through global crises.

- Saturday, April 17, 2027 - Cmdr. Cassidi "Butch" Reese, US Navy, China Lake VX-31 Chief Test Pilot. Reese deployed aboard USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74), USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), and USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) in support of Operations IRAQI and ENDURING FREEDOM and INHERENT RESOLVE, flying nearly 200 hours over 30 combat missions.

General Admission: $65 | Palm Springs Air Museum Members: $50 | Children 12 and under: Free with paid adult ticket. All evening tickets include daytime admission to the Museum same day.

About the Aircraft

Aircraft Bureau Number 165536 is one of the earliest production F/A-18 Super Hornets ever built. It served as a flight test and chase aircraft supporting the development and evaluation of the F-35 Lightning II and other advanced aviation programs before joining the U.S. Navy Blue Angels flight demonstration team. It later appeared in Top Gun: Maverick as one of Captain Pete 'Maverick' Mitchell's featured on-camera Super Hornets. It now begins a new mission as the first F/A-18 Super Hornet ever placed on permanent public display outside a military installation, and will be unveiled Nov 7, 2026 to the public.

About the Palm Springs Air Museum

The Palm Springs Air Museum is home to more than 75 historic aircraft representing World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Cold War, and modern military aviation. The Museum encompasses more than 91,000 square feet of exhibit space and is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Admission ranges from $24 to $26. Children 12 and under are free with a paid adult. Active-duty military personnel and their immediate families receive free admission with valid ID. For more information visit PalmSpringsAirMuseum.org or call 760-778-6262.

Contact:

Ann Greer - 323-363-8243, [email protected]

SOURCE Palm Springs Air Museum

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NAVER D2SF Invests in On-Device AI Startup TraceWeave

- TraceWeave develops its own post-Transformer AI architecture that enables AI agents to run on memory-constrained devices

- Completes paid pilot in mobility; pursues commercialization across robots, drones, smart glasses, and more

- NAVER D2SF continues to invest in on-device AI and next-generation device technologies

SEOUL, South Korea, Oct. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- NAVER D2SF has made a new investment in TraceWeave, an on-device AI startup led by co-founder and CEO Jaeyoung Park. TraceWeave is the team behind Phase-TITAN, a post-Transformer architecture that understands long contexts and carries out multi-step tasks while keeping memory usage constant. NAVER D2SF recognized the company's core technology for enabling AI agents on resource-constrained devices.

As AI expands to robots, vehicles, smart glasses, and drones, its applications are advancing beyond simple chatbots toward complex reasoning and decision-making. In Transformer-based models, the key-value cache (KV-Cache) grows with context length, requiring more memory. On-device constraints in memory, battery life, and heat have made it difficult to implement AI agents that understand long contexts and perform complex tasks.

TraceWeave's Phase-TITAN is a new AI architecture designed to resolve this memory bottleneck by replacing the conventional Transformer architecture altogether. TraceWeave develops its own AI models rather than relying on existing open-source models. Memory usage remains constant as context grows. According to TraceWeave, at a 1M-token context without quantization, a comparable Transformer's KV-Cache holds tens of gigabytes or more, while its 1B Phase-TITAN model holds 0.04 GB. This enables agents to call tools, interpret results, and decide on their next actions entirely on the device, without cloud calls. TraceWeave's internal benchmarks on RULER and BFCL indicate that Phase-TITAN maintains performance on par with Transformer models of the same size and larger.

TraceWeave has demonstrated a multi-step agent running on a smartphone using only its CPU, without cloud calls. In mobility, it completed a paid pilot with the autonomous driving affiliate of a global automotive group, identifying driving-data frames that improve the partner's autonomous driving model without human annotation. It is also validating in-vehicle agent performance with a global automotive electronics software company and exploring opportunities in robots, drones, smart glasses, and wearables. TraceWeave was a Top 20 finalist in NVIDIA's 2026 Inception Grand Challenge.

TraceWeave was co-founded in October 2025 by researchers with backgrounds at ETH Zurich, Google, and KAIST. The team combines engineering expertise grounded in computational neuroscience and physics with business development capabilities, designing its own architecture and validating it in device environments that reflect real-world customer needs. In this seed round led by Mirae Asset Capital, TraceWeave raised approximately KRW 3 billion at a pre-money valuation of approximately KRW 30 billion. Based at NAVER D2SF @Gangnam, the company plans to use the funding to expand its research and engineering team for next-generation architecture development and grow its business.

"Taking the KV cache out was never the hard part. Staying capable without it was," said Jaeyoung Park, co-founder and CEO of TraceWeave. "The best part is no part. Phase-TITAN already delivers Transformer-class capability without the Transformer's memory tax, and the next one goes well beyond its class, with the memory still fixed."

"On-device AI is a core technology for implementing complex, advanced AI across diverse device environments beyond PCs, and it also offers advantages in reducing cloud call costs and protecting privacy," said Sanghwan Yang, Head of NAVER D2SF. "TraceWeave is a team that is innovating AI architecture to overcome the limitations of existing AI models and bring AI to on-device environments."

SOURCE NAVER D2SF

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LIBBY, Mont., Oct. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Why is it challenging to sell a Montana cabin or lifestyle property to out-of-state buyers? HelloNation has published an article that answers this question with insights from Re/Max Lifestyle Properties's Real Estate Expert Shawna Norry of Libby, Montana. The article explains how sellers can prepare their properties, improve online listings, and address buyer concerns before showings begin.

The HelloNation article explains that selling a Montana cabin or lifestyle property requires understanding how buyers search for homes. Many out-of-state buyers begin their research online, often months before visiting northwest Montana. Clear photos, accurate descriptions, and visible signs of maintenance help these buyers evaluate properties from a distance.

The article notes that basic home preparation can make a meaningful difference. Working utilities, clean interiors, and good lighting show that a property has been maintained. These details matter most for buyers considering year-round living or remote work in Libby, Troy, and the Yaak.

According to the article, sellers should also consider how visitors experience a home as soon as they enter. Clean floors, uncluttered rooms, and natural light create a welcoming first impression. Real Estate Expert Shawna Norry provides insights into how simple improvements help buyers understand a property's condition and potential.

Exterior maintenance is another important part of preparing a mountain property for sale. The HelloNation article recommends checking siding, decks, railings, driveways, and drainage before listing. Addressing small repairs can help buyers feel more confident about a property's safety and long-term upkeep.

The article also highlights features that attract buyers to northwest Montana. Waterfront access, mountain views, usable acreage, and reliable home systems can influence purchasing decisions. Updated heating, plumbing, and wells may be particularly valuable for buyers seeking comfortable year-round access.

Professional photography plays an important role in marketing a Montana cabin or lifestyle property. The article explains that bright, clear images help buyers understand room layouts and surrounding land. Simple staging and wide interior photographs can make online listings easier to evaluate without requiring major renovations.

The HelloNation article also addresses the challenges of marketing remote properties, including cabins in the Yaak. Buyers benefit from information about driveway conditions, tree spacing, outbuildings, wildlife activity, and seasonal access. These practical details help people understand what living in a more secluded location may involve.

According to the article, transparency can reduce uncertainty for out-of-state buyers. Clear property descriptions and accurate information about road conditions, utilities, and maintenance allow buyers to make informed decisions. Real Estate Expert Shawna Norry emphasizes the importance of highlighting both a property's appeal and its practical considerations.

The article further explains that preparation can simplify the selling process for property owners. Listings that answer common buyer questions may attract more serious inquiries and reduce confusion during showings. This approach applies to waterfront homes, mountain cabins, and larger properties with acreage.

The article concludes that successful property marketing begins with maintenance, honest descriptions, and strong visual presentation. Sellers who understand buyer expectations can better communicate what makes their property suitable for different lifestyles. These steps help prospective buyers assess homes before traveling to northwest Montana.

Selling Your Cabin or Lifestyle Property in Libby, Troy & The Yaak features insights from Shawna Norry, a real estate expert of Re/Max Lifestyle Properties in Libby, Montana, in HelloNation.

About HelloNation

HelloNation is America's Good News Network, a premier media platform built on the idea that good news travels faster when real people tell real stories. Through its community-focused publications and innovative "edvertising" approach, HelloNation delivers content that informs, inspires, and spotlights the leaders making a meaningful impact in their communities.

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DENVER, Oct. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- DaVita today issued the following statement in response to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Kidney Care National Plan and related remarks regarding the future of kidney care:

DaVita shares the Administration's urgency to accelerate progress for Americans living with kidney disease. We have worked closely with federal leaders for decades and look forward to continuing that partnership, building on what is working and moving faster where more progress is needed.

Today's introduction of the Kidney Care National Plan reflects many of DaVita's priorities. Given that 87% of adults with chronic kidney disease do not know they have it, we agree with the need to identify kidney disease earlier, slow its progression, expand patient choice and improve coordination across the kidney care continuum. Today, the majority of DaVita patients are supported by care plans that extend beyond dialysis following decades of our advocacy and leadership in care model innovation. This includes the Kidney Care Choices model from CMMI, which has proven that value-based kidney care can have tremendous impact on patient lives. We are also expanding our multispecialty capabilities to help more patients benefit from advances in treatment that can slow disease progression.

Related to transplantation, DaVita helps patients navigate the transplant process, invests in technology that better connects patients and transplant centers, and pursues innovations aimed at addressing the organ shortage. Progress has not come fast enough because of the critical shortage of viable human organs. Today, roughly 90,000 Americans remain on the kidney transplant waiting list.

Where we differ is the suggestion that kidney care has lacked innovation or that scale stands in its way. Kidney care is increasingly a proving ground for technology, clinical science and new models of chronic care. DaVita has invested in proprietary technology to better connect care across settings and enable more personalized, coordinated care. In fact, today we are in the middle of rapidly deploying a major clinical innovation across our centers that brings dialysis treatment one step closer to the natural kidney and is associated with meaningful improvements in clinical outcomes and quality of life. Scale helps us make these investments with world-class expertise and extends advancements in care to patients more quickly and broadly.

There is no debate that changing the trajectory of kidney disease is the common goal. Efforts to prevent kidney disease and slow its progression must not be conflated with the distinct imperative to deliver high-quality, lifesaving care to people who have already reached kidney failure. Both are essential to improving kidney health in America.

We look forward to working with the Administration to be part of the solution in turning the ambitions of this plan into meaningful progress for Americans with kidney disease.

Contact: [email protected]

SOURCE DaVita

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First New Intersection on the Las Vegas Strip in 60 Years Moves Toward Development

State Senator Fabian Doñate and Assemblymember Cecelia González will back state funding commitments to expedite road and infrastructure enhancements on the Las Vegas Strip.

LAS VEGAS, Oct. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- State Senator Fabian Doñate (District 10) and Assemblymember Cecelia González (District 16) announced their support in the upcoming legislative session to expedite construction of the first new intersection on the Las Vegas Strip in 60 years, at Russell Road and Las Vegas Boulevard. Chetak Development, who is proposing the Diamond Arena, is facilitating development of the intersection and the bypass road.

The intersection will be the first major exit from Interstate 15 to the Strip for northbound traffic arriving from California, and it will serve as the entrance to a new backside bypass road running from the I-15 and Russell Road exit to Tropicana Avenue. Both the new intersection and the bypass road are located in Senate District 10 and Assembly District 16.

The Route

The bypass road's Strip entrance will be on undeveloped property north of the Little Church of the West wedding chapel on Las Vegas Boulevard and will not impact that business.

Northbound I-15 traffic will use the existing Russell Road off-ramp to reach the east side of the Strip on a new four-lane road that connects to Haven Street, then to Koval Lane, and on to Tropicana Avenue. Haven Street will be extended north to Reno Avenue through land owned by the MHA Nation.

The result is a bypass road east of Las Vegas Boulevard that allows vehicles to exit I-15 at Russell Road and travel directly to Tropicana Avenue by way of Koval Lane. It will be the South Strip equivalent of Frank Sinatra Drive, which serves the west side of the Las Vegas Strip.

Chetak is in final negotiations with Object Dash, LLC to erect two Boring stations northeast and west of the proposed Diamond Arena. That agreement would also provide the land necessary to create the Las Vegas Boulevard entrance to the new bypass road.

Legislative Support

Assemblymember González emphasized the impact of the project: "The South Strip is long overdue for this significant economic development opportunity. I am proud to support my district through innovative projects like this one."

Senator Doñate added, "Road design and construction must be rapidly executed, given that there will be a surge of traffic in this area when the Las Vegas Athletics open their state-of-the-art baseball stadium in February 2028. I strongly support this effort and stand ready to work with Chetak Development and other local stakeholders on any additional infrastructure enhancements to support economic development on the Las Vegas Strip."

Serving Allegiant Stadium, the Athletics and a Future NBA Arena

The new intersection and bypass road will directly benefit both Allegiant Stadium and the Las Vegas Athletics by creating a road that joins the two sports facilities and by giving each direct backside ingress and egress from the east. It will also allow locals and tourists to travel quickly from resorts on the east side of Las Vegas Boulevard to the south end of the Strip, I-15, the Athletics' stadium and Allegiant Stadium without using the busy Tropicana Avenue and Las Vegas Boulevard intersection.

The bypass road will also be an essential transportation component for any proposed NBA arena site near Allegiant Stadium. It was reported by Sports Business Journal on October 14 that one of the Las Vegas Raiders owners has joined a leading proposed NBA ownership group and prefers that the NBA arena be located on the South Strip near Allegiant Stadium. Both the proposed Diamond Arena site at the northeast corner of Las Vegas Boulevard and Four Seasons Drive and the alternative site at Bali Hai Golf Club would have improved ingress and egress from the new Strip intersection and bypass road.

Chetak's Commitment

Chetak Development, the developer of the Diamond Arena project, has committed to developing the new intersection and bypass road regardless of whether the ultimate NBA arena site is the Diamond Arena location, Bali Hai Golf Club or another South Strip location near Allegiant Stadium, because of the benefit to South Strip economic development and to the community.

Traffic Relief at Tropicana

The Tropicana intersection has been cited as one of the busiest street intersections in the world, with daily traffic volumes approaching 100,000 vehicles, and it typically experiences substantial traffic delays. NDOT informally estimates that the new Strip intersection and bypass road will decrease traffic on Tropicana Avenue at Las Vegas Boulevard by an estimated 22 percent.

Construction Impact and Timeline

There will be virtually no impact on existing traffic during construction, because most of the new road will be built on land not previously used for roads. The land for the bypass road comes from three sources:

- 75% from existing public roads and private landowners

- 16% from property the County acquired in 2021 that has an existing north-south road that will become part of the new road

- 9% from building over an existing county drainage ditch and placing the ditch in the middle of the new road

The project is estimated to take 24 months to complete.

MEDIA CONTACT: Tom Letizia

702-545-8777 • [email protected]

SOURCE Las Vegas Diamond Arena

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BELLEVUE, Wash., Oct. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Greenview Heights, the newest community by Conner Homes, is now open for sales with two decorated model homes. The official grand opening for this community is Saturday, October 24. Located in growing Snohomish County, just minutes from historic Snohomish, WA, this collection of new quality townhomes offers homebuyers modern living spaces within a vibrant community setting.

Greenview Heights presents a unique opportunity for homebuyers seeking quality craftsmanship and thoughtful design. The community features 84 townhomes across three distinct floor plans, ranging in size from 1,334 square feet to 2,174 square feet. Each home features an attached garage, a covered deck, 2 to 5 bedrooms, and up to 3.5 bathrooms. On two floor plans, the first floor features a flex room with a private bathroom that is perfect as a home office or guest suite.

"We are especially proud of Greenview Heights," said Erin Fowler, President of Conner Homes. "Homebuyers are drawn to this part of Snohomish County for its convenient access to shopping, outdoor recreation, schools, and commuter routes. With attractive exteriors, oversized windows, and quality craftsmanship throughout, Greenview Heights is an ideal fit. Pet owners will especially love our fenced dog park with views of the stunning Snohomish River valley."

Inside Conner Homes' Greenview Heights townhomes, homebuyers will notice quartz countertops, 36-inch upper kitchen cabinets, and luxury vinyl plank flooring on the main and entry level floors. Customers have the flexibility to personalize their homes by selecting from curated kitchen, flooring, storage, and other options. Further customization is available at Conner Homes' design center in Bellevue. Prices at Village Towns start in the $600's.

About Conner Homes:

Conner Homes' mission is to create great neighborhoods and customer experiences. The company has been designing and building homes for over 65 years and is one of the few remaining local homebuilders in the Seattle area. Conner Homes builds townhomes and single-family homes and currently has seven open communities, with additional communities opening this year. For more information about Conner Homes, visit www.connerhomes.com. Conner Homes is an Equal Housing Opportunity Builder.

Contact: [email protected]

SOURCE Conner Homes

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Partnership Supports Student-Athlete Performance, Sustainable Facility Solutions and Lasting Community Impact

IRVING, Texas, Oct. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Conference and Ecore Athletic today announced a partnership naming Ecore Athletic the Preferred Athletic Flooring Provider of the American Conference.

Ecore Athletic is a leader in high-performance athletic rubber flooring, engineering surfaces for courts, tracks, strength and conditioning areas, fitness studios, locker rooms and recovery spaces.

"Ecore Athletic shares our commitment to investing in student-athletes, our member institutions and the communities where we compete," said American Commissioner Tim Pernetti. "This partnership elevates every space where our student-athletes train, compete and recover, and it leaves a lasting mark in Tampa long after the final buzzer of our basketball championships. It is another example of American RISE Ventures building innovative partnerships that deliver true value in unique ways."

As part of the agreement, Ecore Athletic will receive the designation of Preferred Athletic Flooring Provider of the American Conference. Ecore Athletic will also donate a court to Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Tampa Bay during the 2027 American Conference Men's and Women's Basketball Championships, played March 9-14, 2027, at the Yuengling Center and hosted by the University of South Florida. The court will remain in the Tampa community after the championships.

"Partnering with the American Conference is a natural extension of Ecore's mission to elevate athletic spaces with high-performance flooring that supports the evolving needs of sports facilities," said David Sides, vice president of strategic partnerships at Ecore. "Student-athletes across the Conference deserve surfaces built for performance and built to last, and we're proud to engineer flooring solutions for the full athletic facility, from weight rooms and training areas to locker rooms and recovery spaces."

BUILT FOR PERFORMANCE

Court sports place unique demands on the floor, from repeated jumping and landing to quick changes in direction. Ecore Athletic court surfaces deliver shock absorption, responsiveness and reliable ball rebound.

Ecore's patented itsTRU® technology fusion bonds a performance rubber backing to a range of surface materials, delivering the specific combination of performance, durability, acoustics and aesthetics each space requires. Its court surfaces are engineered around shock absorption, energy restitution, traction and ball rebound.

Through the partnership, American Conference member institutions will gain access to Ecore Athletic flooring across the full athletic facility, along with Ecore's expertise when evaluating flooring needs for renovations, facility upgrades and new construction.

Student-athletes train, recover and prepare throughout the building, and each space places different demands on the floor. A basketball court calls for ball response, traction, shock absorption and energy restitution. A strength-training surface must withstand repeated heavy impacts. Fitness, wellness and recovery spaces require surfaces engineered for their specific use.

SUSTAINABILITY BUILT INTO EVERY SURFACE

Circularity is core to Ecore's business model, with the company reclaiming end-of-life rubber and transforming it into high-performance products.

Ecore reclaims approximately 474 million pounds of waste rubber each year, including used commercial tires, and turns it into high-performance flooring.

Ecore's TRUcircularity™ Takeback Program reclaims eligible rubber flooring, turf and track systems at the end of their useful life. The material is cleaned, ground and reprocessed into new surfaces and components.

For American Conference member institutions, sustainability can be considered across the full life of an athletic floor, from the materials used in a new surface to what happens when that surface is replaced.

IMPACT BEYOND THE GAME

The partnership will also extend beyond American Conference campuses and competition venues.

During the 2027 American Conference Men's and Women's Basketball Championships, Ecore Athletic will donate a multi-purpose court to Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Tampa Bay.

"Sports have always been about more than the game at Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Tampa Bay. They teach teamwork, build confidence, develop character, and create opportunities for young people to discover what they're capable of achieving," said Dr. Diana Santangelo, Sr. Vice President of Programs at Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Tampa Bay. "Thanks to Ecore Athletic and the American Conference, our Club members will have access to a high-quality space where they can compete, grow, and dream bigger. This investment goes far beyond a basketball court. It's an investment in the potential of every young person who steps onto it."

The court will remain in the Tampa community after the championships, giving local young people a place to play on the same kind of performance surface engineered for college athletes.

"This partnership is a great example of how we can leverage the collective strength of the American Conference to create value for our member institutions," said Bryan Calka, chief commercial officer of the American Conference. "Ecore brings innovative solutions and expertise that can help our institutions create high-performance environments designed to support student-athletes at every stage of their training and recovery."

The partnership was executed through American RISE Ventures, the wholly owned commercial division of the conference created to lead revenue generation, sponsorship strategy, brand partnerships, technology and emerging business opportunities. The agreement also builds on Ecore Athletic's growing presence in collegiate athletics following its recent partnership with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics.

About American Conference

The American Conference is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association. The league was founded in 1979, reconstituted in 2013 as the American Athletic Conference, and rebranded as the "American Conference" in 2025. With the conference office in Irving, Texas, the American is comprised of the following institutions: University of Alabama at Birmingham, United States Military Academy West Point (Army, in football only), University of North Carolina at Charlotte, East Carolina University, Florida Atlantic University, University of Memphis, United States Naval Academy (Navy, in football only), University of North Texas, Rice University, University of South Florida, Temple University, University of Texas at San Antonio, Tulane University, University of Tulsa and Wichita State University (basketball and Olympic sports).

Under the leadership of Commissioner Tim Pernetti, the American sponsors 20 sports, nine for men and 11 for women; is a member of the College Football Playoff; has television partnerships with ESPN and CBS Sports; and in the spring of 2019 signed a foundational television agreement with ESPN that commenced in 2020-21 and extends through the 2033-34 academic year. For more information, please visit TheAmerican.org.

About Ecore Athletic

Ecore Athletic empowers human performance with safe, durable athletic surfaces that boast exceptional acoustic and ergonomic characteristics. From indoor and outdoor sports and recreational tracks and courts to fitness, functional training, health and wellness, and therapy/rehab spaces, Ecore Athletic surfaces offer unparalleled durability, performance and noise absorption in countless design aesthetics.

Through its patented itsTRU® technology, Ecore fusion bonds its VCR "muscle" to a variety of surface materials, helping athletes, clients and students stay safe and perform at their peak for longer.

Ecore's commitment to circularity drives sustainable solutions designed to enhance athletic performance while promoting environmental stewardship for a greener planet free of rubber waste. Headquartered in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Ecore International serves customers in more than 75 countries.

For more information about how Ecore is leading the world's rubber circularity economy, visit www.ecoreintl.com. To learn more about Ecore Athletic's complete line of sports, recreation and fitness surfacing and flooring, visit www.ecoreathletic.com.

SOURCE American Conference

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Scholars honored for work examining online doctoral education, career optimism and healthcare leadership will be celebrated at the Oct. 22–23 Knowledge Without Boundaries Summit

PHOENIX, Oct. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- University of Phoenix College of Doctoral Studies announces the recipients of its inaugural President's Award, recognizing excellence in research, scholarship and doctoral inquiry that contributes to knowledge and professional practice in organizational effectiveness, leadership and professional development. The award-winning works use quantitative research, thematic analysis and qualitative narrative inquiry to examine challenges in online doctoral education, workforce development and healthcare leadership. The award recipients will be honored on Friday, Oct. 23, during the University's 13th annual Knowledge Without Boundaries Summit, held virtually Oct. 22–23, 2026.

"Strong scholarship begins with meaningful questions and uses rigorous approaches to develop insights that can inform professional practice," said Kimberly Underwood, PhD, chair, Center for Organizational Wellness, Engagement and Belonging (CO-WEB) at University of Phoenix. "These award recipients have taken different approaches, from quantitative research to thematic analysis and qualitative inquiry, but each work contributes valuable perspectives to challenges facing educators, employers and organizational leaders. Their work demonstrates the important role of academic research in advancing our understanding of complex organizational issues and offers meaningful insights into the conditions that help people feel connected, supported and able to contribute."

Meet the 2026 President's Award recipients

Research Award: Marlene Blake, PhD; Sushil Jindal, PhD; and Martha Zepeda, DNP

Impact of Faculty and Curriculum on Online Doctoral Integration: A Quantitative Perspective

Published in College and University, this quantitative study examines the relationship between faculty engagement, peer connections, curriculum and online doctoral students' academic and social integration. Drawing on survey responses from 265 doctoral students, the researchers found significantly higher levels of faculty and curriculum integration among students who entered a redesigned doctoral program in 2020 or later, compared with those enrolled before the redesign. The findings underscore the importance of intentional faculty engagement, structured academic support and meaningful connections in fostering connection within online doctoral education.

Scholarship Award: Christine Marquis, DM; Marlene Blake, PhD; and Scott McCalla, DM

Five Years of Insights from the Career Optimism Index: Shifting Sentiments and the Future of Work

Using a structured thematic analysis, the scholars synthesized findings from five annual University of Phoenix Career Optimism Index® reports, identifying patterns in workforce sentiment between 2021 and 2025. Led by Dr. Christine Marquis during her doctoral student experience, the work identifies persistent worker resilience and career optimism alongside challenges involving burnout, skill development, artificial intelligence and disconnects between employer and employee perceptions. A central finding suggests that workers increasingly rely on personal adaptability and self-direction to sustain career optimism, highlighting opportunities for organizations to strengthen employee support, skill development and career growth pathways.

Dissertation Award: Ashley Meredith, DHA

Exploring Organizational Strategies for Black Women in Healthcare Leadership: A Qualitative Narrative Inquiry

Dr. Meredith, who earned her Doctor of Health Administration degree from University of Phoenix in 2026, conducted a qualitative study exploring organizational conditions that support or hinder Black women's progression into healthcare leadership. Through interviews with 15 Black women working in healthcare across the United States, her research identified challenges involving organizational structures and access to leadership opportunities. Her findings offer recommendations for more transparent advancement pathways, meaningful mentorship and sponsorship, and greater organizational accountability in leadership development.

The President's Award for Organizational Excellence and Empowerment was established in 2026 to recognize scholarly contributions to organizational excellence and professional practice. Every submission was scored by the Research, Scholarship & Thought Leadership working group of the President's Advisory Council on Community & Engagement through a review process evaluating alignment with the award's purpose, contributions to knowledge and practice, demonstrated impact and innovation.

Award recipients to be honored at the 2026 Knowledge Without Boundaries Summit

The award recipients will be recognized during the 2026 Knowledge Without Boundaries Summit, a virtual research conference sponsored by the College of Doctoral Studies and the Research and Scholarship Enterprise. This year's theme, "Research as Sense-Making in Times of Uncertainty," invites scholars, practitioners and community partners to explore how research can inform understanding, reflection and responsible action amid evolving social, economic and organizational challenges.

The President's Award ceremony will take place Friday, Oct. 23, during the Summit's opening session beginning at 10 a.m. Arizona time, followed by presentations from the award recipients at 11 a.m. Scholarship Award recipient Scott McCalla, DM, will also serve as the Summit's keynote speaker.

The Summit is open to external guests, free to attend, and registration is available here.

About the College of Doctoral Studies

University of Phoenix's College of Doctoral Studies focuses on today's challenging business and organizational needs, from addressing critical social issues to developing solutions to accelerate community building and industry growth. The College's research program is built around the Scholar, Practitioner, Leader Model which puts students in the center of the Doctoral Education Ecosystem® with experts, resources and tools to help prepare them to be a leader in their organization, industry and community. Through this program, students and researchers work with organizations to conduct research that can be applied in the workplace in real time.

About University of Phoenix

University of Phoenix is Built for Real Life. 50 Years Strong. The University innovates to help working adults enhance their careers and develop skills in a rapidly changing world through flexible online learning, relevant courses, academic AI pillars, and skills-mapped curriculum for associate, bachelor's and master's degree programs. Active students and alumni have access to Career Services for Life® resources including career guidance and tools. For more information, visit the University of Phoenix website. 

SOURCE University of Phoenix

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Rondo Energy and Rio Tinto Advance Australia's Largest Thermal Energy Storage Project

GLADSTONE, Australia, Oct. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Rondo Energy and Rio Tinto have started front-end engineering and design on the project for a 360 MWh storage / 30 MW discharge Rondo Heat Battery, supported by a grant from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA).

ARENA's funding for the project will be provided in stages, with an initial $3.6 million to complete front-end engineering and design work. Following successful completion of that study, ARENA will provide up to $38 million for deployment. ARENA has also approved up to $33.3 million in conditional contingency support, which would only be made available in defined circumstances to manage specific project risks, including cost overruns and electricity costs.

If progressed, the project would be delivered at Rio Tinto's Yarwun alumina refinery near Gladstone, Queensland and would be one of the first large-scale demonstrations of thermal energy storage for industrial process heat globally, and a world-first for the alumina industry.

Rondo Heat Batteries use abundant, low-cost midday electricity to charge, storing energy as high-temperature heat in refractory brick, and supplying energy as 24/7 continuous process heat to industry. Typically, the heat is delivered as steam, directly into an industrial facility's steam network. Australia regularly has 4-6 hours of surplus solar-generated renewable electricity in the middle of the day, but industrial facilities need heat 24 hours a day, not just when the sun is shining. By charging when electricity is cheap and abundant and discharging continuously, Rondo Heat Batteries turn short periods of low-cost electricity into 24/7 delivery of low-cost steam.

For energy-intensive industries such as alumina refining, Rondo Heat Batteries create a pathway to electrification that addresses both emissions and energy costs. Because the heat battery slots into the existing steam network, the facility's processes run exactly as before — the only thing that changes is the energy for that heat: no longer from fossil fuels, but sourced from low cost electricity instead. The Yarwun study will assess the technical and economic viability of integrating the technology into refinery operations.

"This project shows how Australia's abundant energy can become a competitive advantage for industry," said Dr. Kira Rundel, Rondo's Head of Australia. "Heat batteries allow manufacturers to use low-cost electricity to produce the reliable, round-the-clock heat their operations need. Australia's largest heat battery will show how factories can cut emissions without increasing energy costs, helping Australian industry to increase global competitiveness and supporting local manufacturing jobs."

Rio Tinto Pacific Operations Managing Director Armando Torres said: "Reducing emissions from alumina refining is complex, particularly when it comes to generating the high-pressure steam needed for our operations.

"This study will help us determine whether thermal energy storage can provide a technically and economically viable alternative to fossil fuels for part of Yarwun's steam requirements.

"The best way to tackle challenges of this scale is through collaboration between industry, government, and technology partners. We welcome ARENA and Rondo's support as we assess technologies that could help reduce our Scope 1 emissions while maintaining reliable operations at Yarwun."

About Rondo Energy

Rondo Energy delivers firm heat and power, including combined heat and power (CHP), to heavy industry and provides power solutions and long duration storage to data centers. For industrial heat applications, Rondo Heat Batteries convert 4-6 hours of low-cost electricity into continuous 24-hour, high-temperature heat, delivered as steam or hot air up to 1,000°C. The heat delivered integrates directly with existing industrial equipment and processes, eliminating on-site emissions and running on lower cost energy. Rondo heat storage can integrate with steam turbines to deliver combined heat and power (CHP) for industry, and long duration power-to-power solutions for large energy consumers such as data centers. Built on proven refractory brick as the thermal storage medium, Rondo's platform is engineered for multi-decade operation in the most demanding industrial environments.

Rondo Heat Batteries have been delivering firm heat and power at scale since 2023, with operational facilities serving customers in fuels and cement (including steam driving turbines for electricity) in the United States and in Asia. The next unit will come online shortly - a 100 MWh Rondo Heat Battery under construction in Europe for a chemical plant. Rondo is a global company based in California, with teams across North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Australia. Providing heat and power solutions to the alumina industry is an area of focus for the company due to the strong fit of Rondo's technology with the heat and power needs of the alumina industry.

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The two parties are exploring business opportunities in stablecoin payments and corporate treasury management.

- Jointly identifying new use cases and business opportunities in stablecoin-based global payments and fund transfers

- Reviewing the potential of digital asset-based financial infrastructure for global corporate finance and treasury management

- Linking MoonPay's global network with Dunamu's GIWA blockchain to support global ecosystem expansion

NEW YORK, Oct. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- MoonPay, a global crypto payments and stablecoin infrastructure company, is pursuing a strategic collaboration with Dunamu in the field of global financial infrastructure built on digital assets.

The two companies will jointly identify new business opportunities across areas including stablecoin-based global payments and fund movement, and corporate finance and treasury management. By combining MoonPay's global financial services and network with Dunamu's technology and business capabilities, including its GIWA blockchain, they plan to explore the potential applications of digital asset-based financial infrastructure.

First, the companies will look for collaboration opportunities in global payments and fund movement using stablecoins. Drawing on both companies' technology and infrastructure, they will review a range of cases in which digital assets can be used for cross-border payments and fund transfers, and examine the business potential of new financial service models.

The companies will also pursue collaboration in global corporate finance and treasury management. They will jointly review ways to apply digital asset-based financial infrastructure to corporate finance and treasury operations, and identify related business opportunities and usage models.

Expanding Dunamu's GIWA blockchain ecosystem is another key area of collaboration. Leveraging their respective global ecosystems and partner networks, the two companies will explore ways to broaden access to GIWA-based services and digital assets and strengthen the GIWA ecosystem's global connectivity. In particular, by linking MoonPay's global services and network with Dunamu's blockchain infrastructure, they aim to increase overseas market access for services and assets within the GIWA ecosystem and jointly identify new business opportunities in global markets.

"For stablecoins to function as global financial infrastructure, it is important to have the technology and network to support not only cross-border payments and fund transfers, but also the real financial operations of businesses," said Bugeon Lee, Head of APAC at MoonPay. "By combining Dunamu's blockchain capabilities with MoonPay's global financial infrastructure, we will explore new possibilities for digital assets and work together so that the GIWA ecosystem can expand into global markets."

Going forward, MoonPay and Dunamu plan to firm up the technical and commercial potential in their main areas of collaboration, namely stablecoin-based global payments, corporate finance and treasury management, and GIWA ecosystem expansion, and to continue identifying new business opportunities that draw on both companies' strengths.

About MoonPay

MoonPay is a global financial technology company that provides infrastructure for moving value across traditional and digital financial systems. Founded in 2019, MoonPay serves more than 35 million customers in 180 countries and more than 1500 enterprise clients across crypto and fintech. Its products support payments, trading, commerce, stablecoin infrastructure and other services that connect conventional payment networks with blockchain-based financial rails. MoonPay maintains regulatory licenses and authorizations in multiple jurisdictions, including the United States and European Union. For more information, visit www.moonpay.com.

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