General News

Washington – September 20, 2026 -- Ninety-six percent of surveyed U.S. mayors say their residents are very or extremely concerned about the affordability crisis, according to a National Affordability Survey released by the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM). The survey, described as the most comprehensive affordability study ever produced by the Conference, polled 113 mayors across 39 states and Puerto Rico, representing roughly 34.1 million Americans.

Housing costs top the list of concerns, mayors report

Ninety-six percent of respondents identified untenable housing costs as the primary driver of the affordability crisis. Nearly 93% reported a rising cost of living in their cities over the past year, with 39% saying conditions have significantly worsened. Groceries, utilities, childcare, transportation and healthcare costs were also cited as contributing pressures.

Chicago – September 20, 2026 -- National Medical Fellowships (NMF) has awarded more than $50 million in scholarships and supported over 32,000 scholars across all 50 states since its founding in 1946, the organization announced ahead of its 80th anniversary celebration this October in Chicago, where its mission began.

NMF marks eight decades of funding medical education pathways

The nonprofit's support has extended beyond scholarships to mentorship, career development, service-learning programs, and clinical research leadership training for aspiring and current health professionals. Alumni from the program have gone on to work as physicians, educators, and health care leaders serving communities nationwide.

Chicago – September 20, 2026 -- The American Association of Endodontists (AAE) won four honors at the 2026 PRSA Chicago Skyline Awards for communications work combating dental health misinformation and promoting evidence-based endodontic care.

AAE secures four distinct award categories at the Sept. 17 gala

The winning initiatives were "Truth vs. Trends: How One Association Combats Trending Fear-Based Information," the "Worth Saving Campaign in 2025," "Combating Root Canal Misinformation Through Evidence-Based Public Education," and "Worth Saving: Reaching Digital-First Audiences Through Integrated Social Media Education." The awards were presented at Venue West in Chicago as part of PRSA Chicago's premier public relations competition for the greater Chicago area.

New York – September 20, 2026 -- Daikin U.S. Corporation will send executives to seven sessions during Climate Week NYC 2026, positioning its HVAC and refrigerant technology as a response to rising electricity demand and grid strain.

Daikin executives headline flagship grid-reliability panel on September 21

David Calabrese, Executive Vice President of Daikin U.S. Corporation, will join the Hub Live Flagship Session "Strait Talk, Reality Check: How Do We Keep the Lights on in an Uncertain World?" at The Glasshouse on September 21 at 1:00 p.m. Calabrese said buildings need smarter energy management and efficient HVAC technology to manage demand as electrification accelerates, rather than relying solely on new energy production.

Washington – September 20, 2026 -- More than half of U.S. women, 51%, report at least one negative healthcare experience in the past five years, compared with 39% of men, according to a new Gallup-Pivotal survey released Sept. 18, 2026.

The research, conducted by Gallup in partnership with Pivotal, the organization founded by Melinda French Gates, finds that 42% of women say their health has prevented them from doing everything they wanted to do in life over the past five years. Fifty-four percent report at least one health-related impact on family life or relationships, 42% on work or career, and 32% on community participation.

Knoxville, Tenn. – September 20, 2026 -- The University of Tennessee, Knoxville's Haslam College of Business rose four places to No. 15 among U.S. public business schools in the Bloomberg Businessweek Best Business Schools Rankings 2026-27. Nationally, Haslam climbed to No. 39, also up four spots from 2025.

Haslam's learning experience score jumps 38 places nationally

Among public institutions, Haslam ranked No. 4 for learning and networking, No. 6 for entrepreneurship and No. 17 for compensation. Nationally, the school placed No. 5 for learning experience, a 38-spot leap from 2025, and No. 10 for networking, up 11 places. Entrepreneurship rose to No. 17 nationally, a 15-spot gain, while compensation improved three spots to No. 43.

Las Vegas – – September 20, 2026 -- Allegiant Travel Company (NASDAQ: ALGT) has been named 2026's Best Low-Cost Airline in North America by Skytrax, marking the third consecutive year the carrier has won the title. The airline received the award during Skytrax's World Airline Awards ceremony in London, an event widely regarded as the industry's top honor for customer service.

Skytrax survey counted 24.8 million eligible entries from over 100 nationalities

The rating organization conducted the world's largest airline passenger satisfaction survey to determine the winners, running from September 2025 through August 2026. "We congratulate Allegiant on this fabulous achievement by winning this third successive award as North America's Best Low-Cost Airline," said Edward Plaisted, Chief Executive Officer of Skytrax, citing strong customer recognition of the airline's service standards.

Huntsville, Ala. – September 20, 2026 -- Industrial buyers who prioritize price over function when purchasing worktables face higher long-term costs from structural failure, workplace injuries, and premature replacement, according to Jim Johnson, owner of Worktables.com, in a new HelloNation feature.

Overloaded tables develop structural wear when buyers skip load-capacity checks

Johnson identifies unchecked load capacity as a primary failure point, noting that assumptions about table strength often lead to consistent overloading and eventual instability. He recommends buyers calculate actual equipment weight and task demands before finalizing purchases rather than relying on generic specifications.

Geneva – September 20, 2026 -- China's leading hospitals serving international patients recorded 1.28 million international patient visits in 2025, up 73.6% from three years earlier, Dr. John K. Hsiang, Chairman of Jiahui Health's Executive Committee, said at the WTO Public Forum 2026.

Inbound patient volumes surge past 1.28 million visits in 2025

Of the 1.28 million total visits, 413,000 were made by patients who travelled to China specifically for medical care, according to data cited by Dr. Hsiang. At Jiahui Health, overseas patient inquiries nearly doubled year on year in the first half of 2026. Dr. Hsiang was the sole Chinese healthcare representative invited to the forum's "Health Without Borders" session on medical tourism in services trade.

Frederick, Md. – September 20, 2026 -- Woodsboro Bank has appointed Mindy Kurz as Branch Manager of its new Mt. Airy branch, tapping a 30-year banking veteran to lead the community lender's expansion into Frederick County's Mt. Airy market.

Kurz brings three decades of branch leadership to the new post

Kurz most recently served as a Universal Banker, where she took on branch leadership duties while serving both consumer and business clients. Her background includes leading branch operations, developing teams, and building partnerships aimed at long-term community growth.