General News

Zurich – September 16, 2026 -- ABB and the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) have released a joint report concluding that 800-volt direct current (DC) distribution is emerging as the reference architecture for next-generation artificial intelligence data centers, as surging computing loads push conventional AC power infrastructure to its practical limits.

The report, titled "The Strategic Case for Hybrid AC/DC Power: Shaping the Transition to the Next Electrical Architecture," argues that decisions made by business leaders and policymakers over the next two to three years will determine which players shape the shift toward hybrid AC/DC grids and which merely inherit it.

Chicago – September 16, 2026 -- Prevent Blindness will present its 2027 Person of Vision Award to Reade Fahs, Executive Chairman of National Vision Holdings, Inc., the nation's leading eye-health advocacy organization announced.

Gala set for September 16, 2026, at The Venetian Resort in Las Vegas during Vision Expo

The award ceremony will coincide with Vision Expo, with all proceeds directed toward Prevent Blindness's sight-saving programs.

Fahs led National Vision for 23 years, building one of the largest U.S. optical retail chains

Fahs took the helm of National Vision in 2002 and served as CEO through 2025 before moving into the Executive Chairman role. Under his leadership, the company's portfolio expanded to include America's Best, Eyeglass World, Vista Optical and DiscountContacts.com.

Southern Pines, N.C. – September 16, 2026 -- DisposeRx, Inc. has launched a new monthly editorial series, the DisposeRx Medication Stewardship Center, aimed at reshaping how healthcare providers, pharmacists and caregivers manage the end stage of a prescription's life cycle.

DisposeRx CEO frames disposal as a patient safety issue, not just an environmental one

"This is not simply a conversation about medication disposal. It is a conversation about Medication Safety and completing the prescription journey," said William Simpson, CEO of DisposeRx. He said the starting point for the discussion is the household medicine cabinet, where unused prescriptions commonly accumulate.

Seattle – September 16, 2026 -- Nine in 10 children in low-income countries reach age 10 unable to read a simple text, even as global education aid is projected to fall from roughly $12-13 billion annually to $9.2 billion by 2027, according to a new sector report from nonprofit The Life You Can Save.

Financing gap reaches $97 billion annually across low- and lower-middle-income countries

The report puts the annual financing gap needed to meet global education goals at $97 billion, including $70 billion in Sub-Saharan Africa alone. Private philanthropy currently contributes approximately $1 billion annually to education globally -- less than 1% of that gap. In low-income countries, aid accounts for more than 12% of total education spending, while governments spend an average of just $55 per school-aged child annually; the report warns that in some countries, recent aid cuts could cut education budgets by as much as half.

Newark, NJ – September 16, 2026 -- New Jersey Community Capital (NJCC) has listed two rehabilitated single-family homes on Cortland Street in Newark's Ironbound at $384,900 each, roughly $50,000 below an estimated market value of $435,000, under a $2.625 million state appropriation sponsored by Legislative District 29.

State funding totals $2.625 million across two fiscal years

Senate Majority Leader M. Teresa Ruiz and Assemblywoman Eliana Pintor Marin sponsored the resolution restoring $1,125,000 for the program in the FY27 State Budget, building on a $1,500,000 allocation secured in FY26. Assemblywoman Shanique Speight joined the two in directing the combined funds to Newark housing stability efforts.

Miami – September 16, 2026 -- Nicklaus Children's Hospital Heart Institute has completed one of the first transcatheter-based Fontan procedures performed in the United States, allowing a 2-year-old patient with double-outlet right ventricle to avoid an additional open-heart surgery. The child, born with a complex congenital heart defect, is recovering at home following the procedure.

Catheter-based technique replaces traditional open-heart surgery for Fontan completion

The care team used a catheter-based approach, guiding specialized equipment through a blood vessel to complete the child's Fontan circulation rather than performing conventional open-heart surgery. The Fontan procedure is typically the final stage in a multi-step surgical series for children born with single-ventricle heart defects, rerouting oxygen-poor blood from the body directly to the lungs without passing through a pumping chamber.

New Orleans – September 16, 2026 -- David Vicknair, founding partner of Scott Vicknair Personal Injury Lawyers, has been named to the 2027 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® for Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs, the publication confirmed on September 16, 2026.

Peer Review Process Excludes Paid Nominations

The Best Lawyers in America® selection relies exclusively on the Purely Peer Review® methodology, drawing confidential evaluations from attorneys practicing in the same field and geographic region rather than applications or paid submissions.

Vicknair Credits Firm-Wide Culture for Recognition

"To receive recognition from other attorneys who understand the work, preparation, and responsibility that go into representing an injured client is incredibly meaningful," Vicknair said, attributing the honor to the firm's broader team culture around client advocacy.

Winston-Salem, N.C. – September 16, 2026 -- Reynolds American Inc. unveiled a nearly 33,000-square-foot mural on the north-facing wall of its Reynolds Central Distribution Center building at 1133 Reynolds Boulevard, a piece the artists believe is the largest mural on the East Coast by wall area.

Mural marks 150th anniversary of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company

Commissioned in early 2025, the artwork commemorates the 150th anniversary of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, founded in 1875. Local artists Leo Rucker and Joey Allen completed the piece using roughly 9,000 spray paint cans and 50,000 square feet of paint coverage, logging nearly 2,000 hours of work over 15 months.

Vancouver – September 16, 2026 -- Trilogy Metals Inc. (NYSE American: TMQ; TSX: TMQ) has been named to the 2026 TSX30, the Toronto Stock Exchange's annual ranking of top-performing listed companies, after its share price climbed 570% over the three years ended September 16, 2026.

TSX30 ranking measures three-year dividend-adjusted share price gains

The TSX30 list ranks companies by dividend-adjusted share price appreciation over a rolling three-year window. Trilogy's 570% gain places it among the exchange's top performers for the period.

CEO ties investor confidence to Arctic Project's role in US critical mineral supply

President and CEO Tony Giardini said the recognition reflects investor confidence in Trilogy Metals and in the strategic importance of the Arctic Project in northwestern Alaska to American critical mineral supply chain security. The company said it remains focused on advancing the project through permitting.

Charlotte – September 16, 2026 -- Carolina Water Service of North Carolina (CWSNC) has completed approximately $8 million in upgrades at the Fairfield Harbour Wastewater Treatment Plant, targeting long-term reliability of a regulated community utility asset.

CWSNC overhauls core treatment infrastructure at Fairfield Harbour

The project covered upgrades to the wastewater treatment process, installation of new piping, pumps and blowers, improvements to monitoring and control systems, and reconditioning of treatment tanks. The scope modernizes key operational components while maintaining environmental compliance standards.

Company frames investment as proactive infrastructure risk management

CWSNC President Don Denton said the utility works to ensure customers can trust the wastewater system operates reliably every day, describing the upgrades as part of a proactive and prudent maintenance approach.