New capability brings automated, campaign-based user access reviews to Seasoft Identity, helping mid-market organizations reduce manual review work, act on inappropriate access faster, and simplify audit preparation

GARDEN CITY, N.Y. , Oct. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Seasoft Solutions today announced the general availability of User Access Reviews (UAR) for Seasoft Identity, bringing automated access certification and remediation into a single workflow.

User access reviews are an important part of security and compliance programs, but they often become time-consuming, manual exercises. Organizations usually rely on spreadsheets, application exports, email follow-up, and separate remediation processes to determine whether employees have appropriate access and then act on what reviewers find.

Seasoft Identity User Access Reviews simplifies that process. IT or Security teams define what systems and applications need certification and who should review them. Seasoft Identity assembles the campaign from access data already in the platform, routes it to reviewers, and provides a workspace where they can evaluate access by role or system. When inappropriate access is identified, it can be remediated instantly through the platform's existing provisioning pipeline.

"Access reviews help organizations maintain control over access, without creating another manual project," said Taylor Barstow, Chief Technology Officer at Seasoft Solutions. "We built User Access Reviews around a simple idea: the people responsible for reviewing access should be able to understand what they are certifying, and when something needs to change, that change should happen in the same workflow. This gives organizations a more practical way to manage access and produce the evidence they need."

From manual certification to an integrated workflow

Traditional access certification can require IT and compliance teams to compile access information from multiple systems, organize it for individual reviewers, chase responses, interpret findings, coordinate remediation, and reconstruct evidence for auditors. Seasoft Identity brings those steps together.

With User Access Reviews, organizations can:

- Launch reviews in minutes. Campaigns are assembled using access data Seasoft Identity already holds, eliminating exports, manual data collation, and per-reviewer spreadsheets.

- Make access easier to understand. Translate technical identifiers into readable system and permission names so reviewers can make informed decisions.

- Include reviewers without Seasoft Identity accounts. Reviewers can be invited automatically when a campaign launches.

- Turn findings into access changes. Exceptions can be remediated through the existing provisioning pipeline, with outcomes visible within the review.

- Build audit-ready evidence as work happens. Capture attestations, findings, resolutions, remediation activity, and audit records as part of the workflow.

- Give auditors read-only visibility. Share completed or in-progress reviews with auditors without granting change rights.

- Measure remediation time. Each exception carries a timing history from identification through verified remediation, making the window between finding inappropriate access and removing it measurable.

User Access Reviews can be configured around different governance models, including team-based or system-based campaigns and suggestion-only or direct-editing workflows. The platform also uses a point-in-time access snapshot to anchor a campaign to a defined set of access facts while the review is underway.

Making more frequent access reviews practical

Access certification is commonly performed on a recurring schedule, particularly when organizations need to demonstrate compliance with requirements such as SOC 2, SOX, HIPAA, or PCI. But when each review requires significant manual coordination, expanding review coverage or increasing review frequency can be difficult.

By reducing the operational work required to assemble, complete, remediate, and document a review, Seasoft Identity is designed to make broader and more frequent access certification more practical for organizations that may not have the resources or need for large enterprise IAM platform implementations.

"Mid-market organizations face many of the same access governance responsibilities as larger enterprises, but they often have far fewer people available to manage them," said Barstow. "User Access Reviews gives those teams a simpler way to keep access under control without turning every certification cycle into a major project."

To learn more about Seasoft Identity and User Access Reviews, visit Seasoft Identity User Access Review or contact Seasoft Solutions.

About Seasoft Solutions

Seasoft Identity delivers a complete approach to employee access management throughout the entire employee lifecycle, closing the gaps left by partial solutions. The platform gives organizations visibility and control over application access, with one-step complete access removal that mitigates the security risks associated with employee and consultant offboarding. Surveys show up to 80% admit to leaving with active passwords. Seasoft Identity makes protecting your organization from unauthorized access a full-time mission, not a part-time job. Learn more at Seasoft Solutions or experience Seasoft Identity with a free 30-day trial.

Seasoft Solutions is brought to you by the same team that created Software Engineering of America (SEA), whose products are licensed in more than 10,000 data centers worldwide, with customers that include 90% of the Fortune 500 and more than 85% of the Forbes Global 2000.

Media Contact:

Bri Gasquet

VP, Marketing

Seasoft Solutions

[email protected]

(516) 998-4660

SOURCE Seasoft Solutions

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- Travelers gain access to EF Adventures' leadership in guided, active travel, coupled with Backcountry's outdoor and gear expertise

- Collection includes hiking tour through Sedona, the Grand Canyon and Zion National Park (near Backcountry's global headquarters), and additional tour adventures across Norway, the Italian Dolomites and Patagonia (Chile and Argentina)

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. and SALT LAKE CITY, Oct. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- EF Adventures, a leader in active-travel and cultural immersion, and Backcountry, the online specialty retailer for outdoor gear and expertise, today announced the launch of a collection of hiking and multi-adventure tours across three continents departing in 2027. The tours in the EF Adventures x Backcountry Collection were designed by two trusted experts in travel and outdoors gear, helping adventure seekers take on extraordinary terrain across stunning landscapes and waterways, supported by the right guidance and preparation intended on delivering EPIC, memory making experiences. Visit here to learn more: https://www.efadventures.com/backcountry.

The collection starts with a tour close to Backcountry's global headquarters in Utah. American Southwest Hiking with Backcountry: Sedona, the Grand Canyon & Zion takes travelers through the red-rock canyons and high-desert trails of Backcountry's home state of Utah and the greater Southwest — the terrain the brand's Gearhead® Experts know best. From there, the collection of new tours reaches three of the world's most iconic mountain landscapes: the glaciers and fjords of western Norway, the alpine ridgelines of Italy's Dolomites, and the wind-scoured peaks of Patagonia.

Every guided tour in the collection is led by a tour director working with EF Adventures who has expertise in the local destination and the various activities involved, be it hiking, kayaking, white water rafting, etc. Tour directors go beyond logistical support, helping travelers learn about the local destination, inclusive of culture, food, environment, and about the locals living within a community. Tour directors also focus on community building within a traveling group, with the goal of turning strangers at the start of each hike into a community of lifelong friends once they summit the peak of each trail.

Tours are built around a Backcountry signature moment — a defining day on the trail or water, supported by gear selected specifically for that itinerary's conditions. Travelers are also paired with a dedicated Backcountry Gearhead, an outdoor expert who works with them one-on-one ahead of departure on gear selection, layering and packing, so they arrive prepared for the environment ahead.

"Our travelers come to EF Adventures because they want more from an active trip - incredible experiences in the outdoors, but also a deeper connection to the places, cultures and people they encounter along the way, guided by experts and local guides who bring each destination to life." said Heidi Durflinger, CEO of EF World Journeys, operator of EF Adventures. "Our partnership with Backcountry extends that experience to how travelers prepare for the adventure ahead. Confidence on the trail or on the water starts long before the trip begins, and connecting every traveler with a Gearhead who understands exactly what their adventure will need in terms of apparel or equipment gives them a new level of personalized support. Starting the collection in Utah, on Backcountry's home ground, felt like the perfect place to begin — and from there, we can't wait to help travelers explore this beautiful world."

The four tours span moderate to challenging activity levels and run from 7 to 14 days, with one departure per itinerary in 2027.

THE COLLECTION

American Southwest Hiking with Backcountry: Sedona, the Grand Canyon & Zion

7 days (9 days with the Zion National Park region extension) | Departs April 25, 2027 | Activity level: Moderate | From $6,190 USD per person, land only

The collection's anchor adventure moves through three of the American Southwest's defining landscapes. Travelers hike Sedona's red-rock formations, descend into the Grand Canyon, and finish among the sandstone walls and slot canyons of Zion National Park, with an optional two-day extension that adds the hoodoos of Bryce Canyon. It is high-desert hiking at its most dramatic — exposed, sun-drenched and, for Backcountry, home terrain.

Backcountry signature moment: A guided descent of the Bright Angel Trail into the Grand Canyon, with Backcountry hydration offerings at the trailhead, e.g., electrolytes, hydration packs, etc., and could include a professional photographer to capture the group on the trail.

Gear built into the itinerary could include Backcountry's Tahoe Sun Hoodies provided ahead of departure for sun protection in exposed desert conditions, plus an on-tour hydration solution travelers keep.

Norway Multi-Adventure with Backcountry: Bergen & the Sognefjord Region

9 days | Departs July 15, 2027 | Activity level: Intermediate | From $6,290 USD per person, land only*

A multi-sport route through western Norway's fjord country, beginning in the harbor city of Bergen and working inland through the Sognefjord region. Travelers move between hiking, glacier travel and paddling across changing coastal and alpine conditions — the kind of itinerary where layering decisions matter as much as fitness.

Backcountry signature moment: A guided hike on the Nigardsbreen glacier, followed by kayaking the narrow, UNESCO-listed waters of the Nærøyfjord.

Gear built into the itinerary could include Backcountry's Peale insulated jackets and co-branded dry bags, plus crampons selected for the glacier terrain travelers take on.

Italy Hiking with Backcountry: The Dolomites

11 days | Departs August 21, 2027 | Activity level: Intermediate | From $ 7,150 USD per person, land only*

Eleven days in the limestone towers of northern Italy, a range with as much mountaineering heritage as it has hiking. Travelers work through high alpine meadows and ridgeline trails between mountain villages, with a visit to the Messner Mountain Museum — founded by the first climber to summit Everest without supplemental oxygen — connecting the terrain to the climbing history that shaped it.

Backcountry signature moment: A full-day hike along the Seceda ridgeline, with a photographer accompanying the group across one of the most recognizable skylines in the Alps.

Gear built into the itinerary could include Backcountry's Waas LT Down Vests, an insulated layer built for the swings between valley warmth and exposed alpine cold.

Chile & Argentina Hiking with Backcountry: Patagonia

14 days | Departs November 4, 2027 |Activity level: Challenging | From $$11,290 USD per person, land only*

The collection's most demanding itinerary and its bucket-list departure. Two weeks of hiking across the Chilean and Argentine sides of Patagonia, through the granite spires of Torres del Paine and out onto the Southern Patagonian Ice Field. Big mileage days, remote terrain and weather that can turn several times before lunch.

Backcountry signature moment: The ascent to Mirador Las Torres for the classic view of the Torres del Paine towers, plus a mini-trek on the surface of the Perito Moreno Glacier.

Gear built into the itinerary could include Backcountry's Kanarra Rain Jackets, a shell chosen specifically for Patagonia's fast-moving wind and rain.

* Land only prices on tours include accommodations, included excursions, adventure equipment, most meals, and a tour director for the entirety of each EF Adventure. EF Adventures also makes flights (with included airport transfer), "cancel for any reason" insurance, and trip extension opportunities available for an additional fee.

A GEARHEAD FOR EVERY TRAVELER

Backcountry's Gearheads are the retailer's in-house outdoor experts — climbers, skiers, paddlers and hikers who advise customers one-on-one. In the co-branded collection, every booked traveler is introduced to a named Gearhead after booking and can reach that expert directly in the months before departure, working through a curated gear list built specifically for their itinerary's terrain and conditions.

"We've spent thirty years helping people figure out what they actually need for the conditions they're heading into, and the honest answer is that most gear questions are really trip questions," said Kevin Lenau, President at Backcountry. "These four itineraries gave us something specific to solve for, glacier travel in Norway, wind and rain in Patagonia, sun and heat in the Southwest. Our Gearheads get to work with travelers on a real adventure with a real date on it and then see them use the gear where it matters. Having the collection start in Utah, in our own backyard, makes it that much better."

TRAVELER BENEFITS

- A dedicated Backcountry Gearhead for one-on-one gear, layering and packing guidance ahead of departure

- A curated, itinerary-specific gear list built by Backcountry's outdoor experts

- Select Backcountry gear provided for use on tour, matched to each destination's terrain and conditions

- A 15% Backcountry discount and Summit Club+ access

- A co-branded welcome kit

- A full-time EF Adventures Tour Director, plus local guides, throughout the itinerary

REFER A FRIEND

Any traveler who has booked with EF Go Ahead Tours, EF Ultimate Break, or EF Adventures can now share a personal referral link via email, text, social media, or their respective EF World Journeys mobile app. Travelers receive $100 in travel credit for every friend who books using their referral, with every fifth referral earning $500. There is no limit to how many referrals can be made, and rewards never expire. Click here to learn more.

Court ordered Auction under orders of the US. Bankruptcy Court

PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Forty-six homes in Philadelphia and its suburbs will be sold at online auction this month under orders of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, with opening bids set at $25,000 or $50,000 depending on the property.

Bidding opens Tuesday, Oct. 6, and the auctions close Oct. 13 through 15. Tranzon Alderfer is conducting the sale with Tranzon Driggers, the court-approved auctioneer in the RAD Diversified REIT bankruptcy.

Most of the properties are rowhomes and other single-family houses in Philadelphia. The rest include a smaller number of multifamily buildings and several properties in Chester and Delaware counties. Nearly all are sold individually, and a few are grouped into packages.

"People hear 'bankruptcy auction' and assume it's only for big investors. It isn't," said Samantha Kelley, CEO of Tranzon Alderfer. "Most of these homes sell on their own, and at these opening bids, someone looking for their first house can bid right alongside a landlord with fifty units."

Tranzon Alderfer has been selling property in Pennsylvania since 1959, when Sanford A. Alderfer started the family auction business in Harleysville. The Alderfer family is still part of the company, which has long been a member of the national Tranzon auction network.

Under owner Thomas Saturley and Kelley, a third-generation auctioneer, the company is growing its Pennsylvania business from offices in Harleysville and Philadelphia. More and more of its work comes from bankruptcy trustees, lenders, attorneys and financial advisors in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland.

"When a court is overseeing a sale, everything has to be done right and, on the record, and usually it has to be done fast," Kelley said. "That's the work we want to be known for in this region."

Auction at a glance:

- 46 properties in Philadelphia, Chester and Delaware counties

- Single-family homes and multifamily buildings

- Opening bids of $25,000 or $50,000, depending on the property

- Online bidding opens Oct. 6; auctions close Oct. 13–15

- 10% buyer's premium

Closing times vary by property. Property details, auction terms and bidding instructions are at www.tranzon.com/pennsylvania.

All properties are sold as-is, where-is, with all faults, and without warranties of any kind. Each sale is conducted under Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings pending in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida, Case No. 8:26-bk-01636-CPM, In re: RAD Diversified REIT, Inc., et al., and is subject to approval by that Court. Secured lenders may participate in the auctions through credit bidding. Property information is believed to be accurate but is not guaranteed. Prospective bidders should consult the official auction materials and terms of sale and are responsible for conducting their own independent due diligence before bidding, including verification of property condition, zoning, title, and any municipal liens or violations. The buyer is responsible for all outstanding real estate taxes. A 10% buyer's premium applies. In the event of any conflict between this release and the official auction terms, the auction terms govern.

Tranzon Alderfer, Lic. Real Estate Broker. Sanford L Alderfer, PA Auction Lic# AU-001980-L & RM422401. Tranzon Driggers, Lic. Real Estate Broker.

Equal Housing Opportunity

Media Contact

Merideth Fanning Gilmor, Modern Global Communications • 917.860.5792 • [email protected]

About Tranzon Alderfer

Founded in Harleysville in 1959 by Sanford A. Alderfer, Tranzon Alderfer is a Pennsylvania auction and real estate firm and a longtime member of the national Tranzon network. The company handles auctions of real estate and business assets, including bankruptcy, court-ordered and portfolio sales, and is led by CEO Samantha Kelley from offices in Harleysville and Philadelphia.

SOURCE Tranzon Driggers

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ConductorAI Secures APFIT Award to Support the Defense Intelligence Agency

Selection marks DIA's first APFIT award, as well as one of the APFIT program's first pure software solutions

SCARBOROUGH, Maine, Oct. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- ConductorAI announced today it was selected for an award through the Department of War's Accelerate the Procurement and Fielding of Innovative Technologies (APFIT) program in support of the Defense Intelligence Agency.

The funding will support the deployment and scaling of ConductorAI's Conduit™ platform. Conduit is an agentic AI system that encodes complex policies, tradecraft, and institutional expertise into intelligent decision workflows, enabling analysts and operators to complete document approvals in minutes rather than months. Its agentic search and orchestration capabilities allow organizations to process millions of pages of structured and unstructured data – Office documents, images, video, and more – and encode complex approval logic into repeatable, auditable AI-powered decision trees. The result is a measurable acceleration in high-stakes processes: partner information sharing, e-discovery and investigations, ITAR and export control compliance, security classification, and foreign military sales, among others.

"We are deeply grateful to the Defense Intelligence Agency and the Office of the Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering for their commitment to putting transformative AI capabilities into the hands of the analysts and operators who need them most," said Zachary Long, co-founder and CEO of ConductorAI. "This recognition reflects what we hear every day from mission partners: the bottleneck in national security isn't access to information – it's the speed at which organizations can act on it. Conduit is solving that problem."

By reducing time in critical review and approval processes, the capability is intended to help DIA move relevant intelligence and decisions to operators, planners, and mission partners faster. The Defense Intelligence Agency has made accelerating artificial intelligence for the DoW community a defining priority, standing up its Digital Modernization Accelerator as an organization to centralize AI expertise and speed capability delivery across the enterprise. That effort aligns with Executive Order 14179's directive to sustain America's global AI dominance. It also advances the 2026 National Defense Strategy's priority to increase burden-sharing with U.S. allies and partners, which depends on getting properly vetted intelligence into partner hands at the speed of relevance.

The Office of the Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering has designated Applied Artificial Intelligence (AAI) as a critical technology area, with a mandate to transform the Department of War into an "AI-First" organization in alignment with the White House AI Action Plan, fundamentally reshaping decision-making and operational efficiency across the force.

About ConductorAI

ConductorAI provides AI-powered decision infrastructure for defense, intelligence, and government customers. Its flagship Conduit™ platform distills complex policies and expert tradecraft into agentic workflows that accelerate document review, approvals, and compliance at mission speed. Conduit is FedRAMP High authorized and deployed at every classification level. ConductorAI is headquartered in Maine, with offices in New York City and Arlington, and is proudly made in the USA.

SOURCE ConductorAI

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Strategic Acquisition Enhances Pharmacy Diversification into Underserved Market, Supporting the Launch of New High-Value, High Margin Healthcare Services for Regional Providers and Patients

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla., Oct. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- NextPlat Corp (NASDAQ: NXPL) ("NextPlat" or the "Company"), a global consumer products and services company providing healthcare and technology solutions through e-commerce and retail channels worldwide, today announced that it has completed the previously announced strategic acquisition of an independent pharmacy ("the Pharmacy") in a rural community near Pensacola in the panhandle region of northwest Florida.

NextPlat acquired the Pharmacy and its inventory for total cash consideration of $1,485,439. For the year ended December 31, 2025, the Pharmacy generated approximately $5.6 million in sales. The Pharmacy was profitable, maintained positive working capital, and operated with a debt-free balance sheet and is expected to contribute to the continued growth and profitability in the Company's PharmcoRx healthcare segment throughout the fourth quarter.

"This acquisition synergistically expands our pharmacy footprint in Florida, adding access to the large Pensacola market and to the greater panhandle region where we have an opportunity to rapidly introduce our full array of high-value service offerings to local patients and providers," said David Phipps, CEO of NextPlat. "Our teams are quickly working to integrate this pharmacy into our growing PharmcoRx network and see a clear path to enhancing its profitability as we layer in our higher-margin contracted services for 340B, long-term care and senior living providers across a region where those offerings are largely unavailable today. Looking ahead, as we continue to grow organically, we are actively exploring additional opportunities to acquire well-established, profitable community operators that can provide us with diversification and further differentiate our business from traditional mass market retail pharmacies."

NextPlat's PharmcoRx unit currently operates five pharmacies serving patients in northern, central, and southern Florida providing full-service prescription fulfillment, medication management, high-touch, same day delivery, and integrated patient support and coordination with healthcare providers. Beyond traditional retail pharmacy services, PharmcoRx also provides higher margin contracted services including medication fulfillment, claims management and compliance reporting to 340B providers as well as to long-term care, senior living communities and government agencies.

Additional information on this transaction may be found in the Current Reports on Form 8-K that will be filed by NextPlat with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC").

For more information about NextPlat, please visit www.NextPlat.com and connect with us on Facebook, LinkedIn and X.

About NextPlat Corp

NextPlat is a global consumer products and services company providing healthcare and technology solutions through e-commerce and retail channels worldwide. Through acquisitions, joint ventures, and collaborations, the Company seeks to provide access to high-quality healthcare and pharmacy services supporting patients, providers, institutions, and public-sector organizations and creating online sales channels for the sales of products to domestic and international consumers. Through its subsidiaries, NextPlat provides pharmacy and healthcare data management services and prescription fulfillment services in the United States and operates an e-commerce division offering voice, data, tracking, and IoT products and services worldwide.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this release constitute forward-looking statements. These statements include the capabilities and success of the Company's business and any of its products, services or solutions. The words "believe," "forecast," "project," "intend," "expect," "plan," "should," "would," and similar expressions and all statements, which are not historical facts, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, including the Company's ability to successfully acquire and integrate pharmacies, and expand as intended, any of which could cause the Company to not achieve some or all of its goals or the Company's previously reported actual results, performance (financial or operating), including those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. More detailed information about the Company and the risk factors that may affect the realization of forward-looking statements is set forth in the Company's filings with the SEC, copies of which may be obtained from the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. The Company assumes no, and hereby disclaims any, obligation to update the forward-looking statements contained in this press release.

Media and Investor Contact for NextPlat Corp:

Michael Glickman

MWGCO, Inc.

917-397-2272

[email protected]

SOURCE NextPlat Corp.

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Voice4PIMD analyzes an individual's expressions, gestures, eye gaze, and other nonverbal cues—and translates them into information caregivers can understand.

NOTRE DAME, Ind., Oct. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Haley Hilt may not speak, but her grandfather, Ed Fennell, will tell you she says plenty.

After nearly two decades caring for Haley, who has a rare neurodevelopmental disorder, Fennell recognizes the subtle gestures, expressions, and sounds that signal when she is happy, uncomfortable, tired, or simply wants something. But he also worries about the future: Who will understand those signals when the people who know her best are no longer there?

"The vast majority of nonverbal or minimally verbal people do have something to say. They're people! They have joy. They have sorrow. They have pain. They have great feelings. They just don't have the language to do it," Fennell says.

Researchers at the University of Notre Dame are exploring whether artificial intelligence can help bridge that gap.

Making nonverbal communication visible

Computer engineering scientist Jarek Nabrzyski and his team are developing Voice4PIMD, a personalized AI system designed for people with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities.

Using cameras and sensors, the technology can capture facial expressions, eye gaze, body movements, heart rate, vocalizations, and other signals. Caregivers help train the system to recognize what those cues mean for a particular person, with the eventual goal of translating them into text or audio notifications.

The technology is intentionally individualized. A smile, movement, or sound may mean something entirely different from one person to another.

That personalization could eventually offer families something difficult to replicate: continuity of communication as caregivers change over a person's lifetime.

Advancing AI for an underserved population

The research is still in its early stages. Nabrzyski's team is beginning additional testing with families through LOGAN Community Resources in South Bend, Indiana, while researchers are also exploring applications for people with autism and dementia.

People with profound disabilities, he says, have historically received too little attention from research funding agencies—leaving significant questions about communication, caregiving, and quality of life unexplored.

For Notre Dame researchers, Voice4PIMD represents one possibility for what human-centered AI can accomplish when technological advances begin with the dignity and needs of the person.

Learn more about how Notre Dame is fighting for the future of nonverbal communication.

Contact: [email protected].

About the University of Notre Dame

The University of Notre Dame is a leading Catholic research university and a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), a consortium of the nation's leading public and private research universities. The only explicitly religious institution in the AAU, Notre Dame advances research and scholarship in service to humanity, pursuing discoveries that address complex challenges, improve lives, and contribute to the common good.

SOURCE University of Notre Dame

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When Women Know Something Is Wrong, But Medicine Doesn't Listen: Dr. Sameena Rahman's New Book Examines the Bias, Culture and Silence Behind Women's Sexual Health

Brown Girls' Disease? A Guide to Sexual Health and Empowerment Through a South Asian Lens challenges patients and clinicians to rethink how women's pain, sexuality and health concerns are understood

CHICAGO, Oct. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- What happens when a woman knows something is wrong, but the medical system doesn't listen? That question is at the heart of Dr. Sameena Rahman's new book that releases today, titled, Brown Girls' Disease? A Guide to Sexual Health and Empowerment Through a South Asian Lens.

An OB-GYN, sexual medicine specialist and menopause expert, Dr. Rahman tackles the conversations that medicine has too often avoided, including painful sex, low libido, pelvic pain, persistent genital arousal disorder (PGAD), menopause, trauma, cultural expectations and the impact of bias on women's health.

The book takes its provocative title from a disturbing comment Dr. Rahman heard during her medical training. A South Asian patient was experiencing such severe pelvic pain that she could not tolerate a pelvic examination. Rather than investigating the source of her pain, an attending physician dismissed her with the phrase "brown girls disease." For Dr. Rahman, that moment represents a much larger problem: What happens when clinicians make assumptions about a patient before taking the time to understand her experience?

"Women deserve to be heard before they are labeled," said Dr. Rahman. "Too often, symptoms involving sexuality, pain and reproductive health are minimized, psychologized or dismissed. My hope is that this book encourages women to advocate for themselves and encourages clinicians to slow down, listen and examine the assumptions we may bring into the exam room."

While the book is grounded in Dr. Rahman's experience as a South Asian woman and physician, the issues extend far beyond one culture. Women across racial and cultural backgrounds have long reported having their pain minimized, their sexual concerns dismissed and their symptoms attributed to stress or psychological causes rather than investigated.

For women of color, research has also highlighted the effects of chronic exposure to racism and structural stress on reproductive aging, a phenomenon researchers refer to as "weathering." These disparities underscore why culture, social conditions and bias cannot be separated from conversations about women's health.

Dr. Rahman asks readers to reconsider some of the messages women have been given for generations: that painful sex is simply something women should tolerate, that declining libido is an inevitable part of aging, that menopause symptoms should simply be endured, or that unexplained symptoms are "all in your head."

Her answer is not to suggest that every symptom has a simple explanation, but to ask a more fundamental question: What if we listened before we made assumptions?

Sometimes the Most Important Diagnostic Tool Is Time

A central theme of Brown Girls' Disease? is the importance of listening, particularly in sexual medicine. Many of the factors necessary to understand a patient's sexual health concerns emerge through a detailed medical history and conversation. But meaningful conversations require something increasingly difficult to find in modern medicine: time.

A 15-minute appointment may not provide enough space for a patient to feel safe discussing painful sex, trauma, libido changes, pelvic pain or other deeply personal concerns.

"Sometimes the diagnosis isn't in another lab test or another scan or another prescription," said Dr. Rahman. "Sometimes it is in something the patient has not yet had the courage, safety or space to talk about."

The book challenges clinicians to consider not only what medical training has taught them, but also what it may have left out… including the cultural assumptions and biases that can influence how patients are perceived and how their symptoms are interpreted.

It also gives women language and perspective to better understand their bodies, recognize when something does not feel right and advocate for the care they deserve.

A Book for Patients — and the Clinicians Who Care for Them

Brown Girls' Disease? is ultimately a call for a more thoughtful approach to women's sexual and reproductive health. Dr. Rahman encourages patients who have felt dismissed to recognize that their concerns are worthy of being heard, while challenging clinicians to look beyond assumptions and create space for honest conversations.

The book is particularly relevant for healthcare professionals working in OB-GYN, sexual medicine, menopause care, primary care and other areas of women's health, as well as anyone seeking to better understand the intersection of culture, sexuality, medicine and bias.

"Being heard may actually be what a patient needs before we can begin to understand what is happening," said Dr. Rahman. "We have a responsibility to ask better questions, listen more carefully and recognize that the patient's experience is an essential part of the diagnosis."

Brown Girls' Disease? A Guide to Sexual Health and Empowerment Through a South Asian Lens is available at major retailer book stores including Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com.

For more information, please visit www.thegsmcollective.com.

About Dr. Sameena Rahman

Dr. Sameena Rahman is an OB-GYN, sexual medicine specialist and menopause expert who is dedicated to changing the way women's sexual and reproductive health is understood and treated. She is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine and founder of the GYN & Sexual Medicine Collective; a concierge women's health practice affiliated with Ms. Medicine. She is a Fellow of the International Society for the Study of Women's Sexual Health (ISSWSH), a Menopause Society Certified Practitioner, host of Gyno Girl Presents: Sex, Drugs & Hormones, and a nationally recognized expert frequently featured in media on women's health, menopause and sexual medicine.

Brown Girls' Disease? A Guide to Sexual Health and Empowerment Through a South Asian Lens

By Sameena Rahman

Lioncrest Publishing; On-Sale Date:October 6, 2026

Price: $34.99 (hardcover) / $24.99 (paperback)

ISBN-13: 978-1544550657

Media Contact:

Daphne E. Ortiz

Statement PR

323.864.9890

[email protected]

SOURCE Dr. Sameena Rahman

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Nationally experienced banking strategist and enlisted U.S. Army combat veteran James Cunningham joins Citizens Bank of Edmond and ROGER Bank as Growth Officer to accelerate their next era of expansion, building on Citizens' 125-year legacy.

EDMOND, Okla., Oct. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Citizens Bank of Edmond and ROGER Bank have named James Cunningham as Growth Officer, adding a nationally experienced banking strategist and enlisted U.S. Army combat veteran to assist with the organization's next era of growth.

Cunningham joins Citizens and ROGER from USAA, where he served as Head of Military Affairs Strategy and previously served as a Bank Strategy Director. At USAA, he developed strategies spanning the organization's military engagement, marketing, and lines of business.

"We added James to the team to help build what comes next for Citizens and ROGER," said Jill Castilla, Chairman, President, and CEO of Citizens Bank of Edmond. "He has operated at a high level in banking, strategy, and technology, and he is also an Army combat veteran who understands what it means to put the mission first. As Citizens enters its next 125 years and ROGER expands its national impact through military business banking, James gives us the experience and firepower to move faster, think bigger, and execute at an entirely new level."

"Citizens and ROGER have a rare combination of bold vision, entrepreneurial speed, and an unparalleled commitment to the people they serve," Cunningham said. "There is tremendous opportunity to scale what these organizations have already built while creating entirely new ways to serve customers, communities, and the military. I am excited to help turn that opportunity into meaningful and measurable growth."

Cunningham previously worked at McKinsey & Company, advising clients across multiple markets on strategy, implementation, technology modernization, and digital business building. His experience also includes strategy and business development at Markley Group, investment banking at JPMorgan Chase, and portfolio strategy at Zions Bancorporation.

Earlier in his career, Cunningham led the Military Skills Translator at Miltary.com, quadrupling the product's revenue during his tenure. He also managed and developed digital platforms for Hiring Our Heroes, an initiative of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce connecting veterans and military spouses with employment opportunities.

Cunningham began his career as an Airborne Calvary Scout in the U.S. Army, attaining the rank of sergeant in two and a half years. He earned an MBA from Harvard Business School and graduated cum laude from the University of Utah.

"James understands banking from nearly every angle: capital, technology, products, customers, and strategy," Castilla said. "More importantly, he knows how to connect those pieces around a clear mission and move from strategy to execution. He integrates with the community wherever he is and we are excited to have him integrated into the Edmond and ROGER communities."

About Citizens Bank of Edmond

Founded in 1901, Citizens Bank of Edmond is Oklahoma County's oldest, continuously operating community bank and is dedicated to serving customers through innovative banking solutions and exceptional service. With a legacy of 125 years and headquartered in Edmond, Oklahoma, Citizens Bank of Edmond combines relationship-driven service with forward-thinking innovation to meet the evolving needs of customers and the community. Through a commitment to community investment, small business support, and innovative banking solutions, Citizens Bank of Edmond continues to build stronger communities while delivering exceptional financial experiences. Learn more at mycitizens.bank.

About ROGER Bank

ROGER Bank is a modern, veteran-founded digital bank dedicated to the financial well-being of U.S. military members and their families. Backed by Citizens Bank of Edmond in Oklahoma, ROGER is veteran-owned, led, and operated and was created to revolutionize the banking experience for those in uniform. As one of the nation's fastest-growing military banks, ROGER Bank offers high-yield checking and savings accounts, zero overdraft fees, and early direct deposit of military pay. ROGER Bank's team is composed of 100% veterans or active service members, and its advisory board includes distinguished military and industry leaders. Learn more at roger.bank.

Media Contact

[email protected]

405.916.7845

SOURCE Citizens Bank of Edmond

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INDIANAPOLIS, Oct. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Corteva, Inc. (NYSE: CTVA) today announced it will release its third quarter 2026 earnings on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, after the stock market close via press release and its website. The earnings will be presented in a live webcast on Thursday, November 12, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time.

The slide presentation that accompanies the webcast will be posted on the Company's Events and Presentations page. A replay of the webcast will be available on the Events and Presentations page until November 12, 2027.

About Corteva

Corteva, Inc. (NYSE: CTVA) is a global crop protection company with a leading portfolio of differentiated solutions, including award-winning conventional chemistries and advantaged biologicals, seed-applied technologies and nature-inspired products that help farmers increase yields and protect crops from the stresses of weather, insects, weeds and diseases. Driven by a robust innovation pipeline, deep customer relationships, operational excellence, and disciplined capital allocation, Corteva is focused on creating value for its farmers, channel partners, employees, shareholders, and the communities in which it operates. More information at corteva.com

SOURCE Corteva, Inc.

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Former Sunshine Minting President and CEO brings more than 35 years of global operational leadership in precious metals as Star Gold advances the Longstreet Gold-Silver Project

COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho, Oct. 6, 2026/PRNewswire/ -- Star Gold Corp. (OTCQB: SRGZ) ("Star Gold" or the "Company") today announced the appointment of Tom Power as Chief Operating Officer. Power, who currently serves on the Company's Board of Directors, brings more than 35 years of global operational leadership in precious metals, minting, and high precision manufacturing.

Power most recently served nearly two decades as President and CEO of Sunshine Minting, Inc. (SMI), one of the world's leading precious metals mints. Under his leadership, SMI grew from a 30-employee regional supplier into a multinational enterprise with hundreds of employees across five facilities in the United States and China, serving sovereign mints, major financial institutions, and the world's largest direct to consumer retailers.

"Tom's operational expertise and track record of scaling global manufacturing organizations make him an exceptional addition to Star Gold's executive team," said Lindsay Gorrill, Chairman and CEO of Star Gold Corp. "His leadership will be instrumental as we expand our footprint, strengthen our operational capabilities, and deliver long term value for our customers and investors."

As Chief Operating Officer, Power will oversee Star Gold's operations, supply chain, and organizational performance. He will focus on scaling the Company's operational infrastructure for accelerated growth, driving modernization across logistics and technology, and partnering with the CEO and Board to execute Star Gold's long term strategic roadmap.

Power's appointment reinforces Star Gold's commitment to:

- Operational maturity as the Company enters its next phase of scale.

- Disciplined capital deployment, supported by a leader with a history of expanding margins and improving operational leverage.

- Risk managed growth, backed by decades of experience navigating global supply chains, regulatory environments, and commodity driven markets.

- Institutional grade leadership that strengthens Star Gold's credibility with investors, partners, and strategic stakeholders.

At Sunshine Minting, Power led the company's transformation into a global market leader through strategic acquisitions, international expansion, and modernized production systems. He built and managed a multi facility operation with high volume throughput, advanced quality systems, and resilient supply chain infrastructure. He also negotiated and maintained high value contracts with sovereign mints, financial institutions, and global retail partners, and implemented automation and process improvements that strengthened margins and operational reliability.

Power began his career with Johnson Matthey Ltd., the Canadian division of UK based Johnson Matthey PLC. In 1997, he moved from Canada to the United States to join Sunshine Minting's senior management team, and in January 2007 he acquired 100% ownership of the company and became President and CEO. He maintains ongoing advisory relationships with Sunshine Minting.

"I'm honored to join Star Gold at such a pivotal moment," said Power. "The company's commitment to innovation, operational excellence, and disciplined growth aligns with my own values. I look forward to helping build the infrastructure and capabilities that will support Star Gold's next chapter."

Star Gold Corp. is conducting a Regulation A offering.

About Star Gold

Star Gold Corp. (OTCQB: SRGZ) is an emerging precious metals exploration and development company focused on advancing its flagship Longstreet Gold-Silver Project in Nye County, Nevada. The 100%-controlled Longstreet Project spans approximately 2,600 acres, comprising 137 unpatented mining claims and 5 additional unpatented claims held under lease with an option to purchase. Star Gold is strategically advancing the technical studies and documentation required to support a potential Environmental Impact Statement and move toward production, with a commitment to responsible exploration and sustainable development. For more information, visit www.stargoldcorp.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable United States securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the PEA, including anticipated mine plans, processing methods, capital and operating costs, metal production estimates, economic returns, mine life, cash flows, payback periods and rates of return; statements regarding the potential of the Longstreet Project; and statements regarding planned drilling, permitting and development activities. Forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's control, that could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those that are disclosed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the inherent uncertainties in mineral exploration and development; changes in gold and silver prices; the Company's ability to raise sufficient capital to fund planned activities; mining and development risks including risks related to infrastructure, weather, permitting and governmental regulation; the speculative nature of mineral exploration; environmental risks and hazards; title risks; and other risk factors described in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement that is made from time to time by the Company or on its behalf, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

Contact

Star Gold Corp.

Lindsay Gorrill

Chief Executive Officer

+1 (208) 664-5066

StarGoldcorp.com

SOURCE Star Gold Corp.

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