Featured Stories
Solar and Storage Industry Launches New Grassroots Advocacy Platform to Turbocharge Efforts to Protect Energy Tax Credits
WASHINGTON, April 22 -- The Solar Energy Industries Association issued the following news release on April 21, 2025:
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Solar and Storage Industry Launches New Grassroots Advocacy Platform to Turbocharge Efforts to Protect Energy Tax Credits
Debut of "Solar Powers America" Comes as Congress Gears Up to Negotiate Reconciliation Package
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) today launched Solar Powers America, a new grassroots advocacy platform to empower Americans to stand up for policies that keep electric bills down and protect abundant American-made clean energy.
With
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WASHINGTON, April 22 -- The Solar Energy Industries Association issued the following news release on April 21, 2025:
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Solar and Storage Industry Launches New Grassroots Advocacy Platform to Turbocharge Efforts to Protect Energy Tax Credits
Debut of "Solar Powers America" Comes as Congress Gears Up to Negotiate Reconciliation Package
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) today launched Solar Powers America, a new grassroots advocacy platform to empower Americans to stand up for policies that keep electric bills down and protect abundant American-made clean energy.
Withboth chambers of Congress gearing up to return to Washington to negotiate a budget reconciliation package, SEIA is mobilizing people in communities across the country to influence the conversation in Washington. SolarPowersAmerica.org enables Americans to contact their representatives to urge support for the federal tax credits that fuel America's robust energy and manufacturing economy.
"Solar and storage are driving American energy and AI dominance, supporting thousands of good jobs, lowering energy costs, and delivering historic manufacturing investments," said Abigail Ross Hopper, president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). "Cutting federal clean energy tax credits would increase household electric bills the very next day. Now is the time for Americans to make their voices heard as Congress gears up to negotiate a budget package that could increase energy costs and stall America's fastest-growing energy technologies. Solar Powers America will help them to do just that."
Alongside the debut of Solar Powers America, SEIA is launching a new advertising campaign targeting key Congressional districts. The campaign encourages constituents to contact their lawmakers through SolarPowersAmerica.org and outlines what could be at risk if federal energy incentives are repealed.
Solar Powers America will serve as the hub for all of SEIA's federal and state grassroots advocacy moving forward, turbocharging the industry's engagement with communities nationwide in the work to ensure a strong U.S. solar and storage industry.
Learn more about SEIA's work to defend American clean energy.
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About SEIA(R):
The Solar Energy Industries Association(R) (SEIA) is leading the transformation to a clean energy economy. SEIA works with its 1,200 member companies and other strategic partners to fight for policies that create jobs in every community and shape fair market rules that promote competition and the growth of reliable, low-cost solar power. Founded in 1974, SEIA is the national trade association for the solar and solar + storage industries, building a comprehensive vision for the Solar+ Decade through research, education and advocacy. Visit SEIA online at www.seia.org and follow @SEIA on Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.
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Original text here: https://seia.org/news/solar-and-storage-industry-launches-new-grassroots-advocacy-platform-to-turbocharge-efforts-to-protect-energy-tax-credits/
[Category: Energy]
SME Education Foundation Celebrates Winning Teams of the Bright Minds Student Summit at RAPID + TCT & AeroDef Manufacturing
SOUTHFIELD, Michigan, April 22 -- The Society of Manufacturing Engineers issued the following news release:
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SME Education Foundation Celebrates Winning Teams of the Bright Minds Student Summit at RAPID + TCT & AeroDef Manufacturing
(SOUTHFIELD, Mich., April 21, 2025) - The SME Education Foundation is proud to announce the winners of the Bright Minds Student Summit at RAPID + TCT & AeroDef Manufacturing, held April 8-10 in Detroit. Hosted alongside SME conferences and events, Bright Minds Student Summits showcase the high-tech nature of modern manufacturing and promote the industry as an
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SOUTHFIELD, Michigan, April 22 -- The Society of Manufacturing Engineers issued the following news release:
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SME Education Foundation Celebrates Winning Teams of the Bright Minds Student Summit at RAPID + TCT & AeroDef Manufacturing
(SOUTHFIELD, Mich., April 21, 2025) - The SME Education Foundation is proud to announce the winners of the Bright Minds Student Summit at RAPID + TCT & AeroDef Manufacturing, held April 8-10 in Detroit. Hosted alongside SME conferences and events, Bright Minds Student Summits showcase the high-tech nature of modern manufacturing and promote the industry as anexciting, growing, and lucrative career path to high school students and educators.
The experience takes place over three days and delivers insightful programming featuring guided show-floor tours, technology demonstrations, and speakers, culminating in a friendly, gamified competition among teams. Each day of the Summit ended with the selection of a winning team that excelled in collaboration, innovation, and engagement throughout the event. Each student on the winning teams received an Ender 3D printer, totaling 15 printers awarded across the event.
"This is more than just an event--it's a spark," said Rob Luce, vice president of the SME Education Foundation. "Introducing students to advanced manufacturing technologies through the Bright Minds Student Summit helps them see what is possible and where their future can take them. We are not only building awareness, we are building pathways to meaningful careers and ensuring the next generation is prepared to lead the industry forward."
The 2025 winning schools are:
* Southeastern High School, Detroit, MI
* Lincoln Senior High School, Ypsilanti, MI
* Roosevelt INVEST High School, Hazel Park, MI
The first Bright Minds Student Summit of the year welcomed nearly 200 students, and 40 educators, from 11 schools in Michigan, providing direct exposure to additive manufacturing and 3D printing technologies and how they are applied to manufacturing sectors including automotive, aerospace, defense and more. Of the participating schools, seven are part of the SME PRIME (Partnership Response In Manufacturing Education) network--a signature program of the SME Education Foundation.
Participants engaged with over 30 student-friendly exhibitors across the show floor, exploring real-world applications of advanced technologies and learning directly from industry professionals. Bright Minds Student Summits serve as a launchpad for young talent, providing the inspiration and tools needed to pursue careers in manufacturing and engineering, and act as a platform for manufacturers to engage with the next generation of talent.
Minds Student Summit was an incredible opportunity for our students," said Bashar Mary, a teacher at Roosevelt INVEST High School. "Engaging directly with student-friendly exhibitors gave them real-world insight into how additive manufacturing is shaping the future of industry. It sparked new ideas, built confidence, and showed them that careers in advanced manufacturing are not only possible--they're exciting and within reach. Experiences like this are truly transformative for our students."
"The experience our students gained at the Bright Minds Student Summit was invaluable," said Trent Trout, a teacher at Saline High School. "Being able to interact with cutting-edge technologies and speak directly with industry professionals opened their eyes to new career paths they hadn't considered before. Events like this help make classroom learning real, and that kind of inspiration is a win in itself."
Part of a larger national initiative, Bright Minds Student Summits are being held at each of SME's regional Manufacturing Technology Series events throughout the year, helping to cultivate the next generation of manufacturing leaders from coast to coast.
To learn more about Bright Minds Student Summits and other SME Education Foundation initiatives, visit www.smeef.org.
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Original text here: https://www.sme.org/aboutsme/newsroom/press-releases/2025/sme-education-foundation-celebrates-winning-teams-of-the-bright-minds-student-summit-at-rapid--tct--aerodef-manufacturing/
[Category: Business]
Persistent Poverty Increases Risk, Speed of Cancer Death in Children: Study
ITASCA, Illinois, April 22 -- The American Academy of Pediatrics issued the following news release:
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Persistent Poverty Increases Risk, Speed of Cancer Death in Children: Study
A study examining the impact of persistent poverty on childhood cancer diagnoses found that children living in persistently impoverished areas are at a higher chance of death within 3 months of a cancer diagnosis. Persistent poverty - defined as when at least 20% of a community has lived below the federal poverty line for the past 30 years - can impact a child's ability to manage illnesses. This includes cancer,
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ITASCA, Illinois, April 22 -- The American Academy of Pediatrics issued the following news release:
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Persistent Poverty Increases Risk, Speed of Cancer Death in Children: Study
A study examining the impact of persistent poverty on childhood cancer diagnoses found that children living in persistently impoverished areas are at a higher chance of death within 3 months of a cancer diagnosis. Persistent poverty - defined as when at least 20% of a community has lived below the federal poverty line for the past 30 years - can impact a child's ability to manage illnesses. This includes cancer,one of the top three leading causes of death for children in the United States. A study, "Persistent Poverty and Pediatric Cancer Survival," published in the May 2025 Pediatrics (published online April 21), found an increased risk of death due to cancer in children living in persistent poverty. The study examined pediatric cancer diagnoses from 2006 until 2020 and found that children living in persistent poverty neighborhoods fared worse than their peers who did not live in persistent poverty neighborhoods or lived in neighborhoods that. Authors state this could be fueled by factors that stem from poverty, such as lack of access to care or transportation to receive care. Data showed that both Hispanic and Black children were more likely to be diagnosed in persistently impoverished areas, combining all the struggles of poverty with those of race. Authors suggest that physicians who understand the impact of persistent-poverty neighborhoods on pediatric cancer outcomes can help them address their patients' needs and identify opportunities for interventions. With poverty intensifying across the country (particularly in suburban areas further from care), authors stressed the need for continued study into the social drivers of health.
The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 67,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.
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Original text here: https://www.aap.org/en/news-room/news-releases/pediatrics2/2025/persistent-poverty-increases-risk-speed-of-cancer-death-in-children-study/
[Category: Medical]
New Jersey Becomes 50th State to Adopt Enhanced Protections For Annuity Consumers
WASHINGTON, April 22 -- The American Council of Life Insurers issued the following statement on April 21, 2025:
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New Jersey Becomes 50th State to Adopt Enhanced Protections For Annuity Consumers
WASHINGTON - American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI) President and CEO David Chavern and National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA) Trustee Dennis Cuccinelli made the following comment on the best interest annuity rule approved today by the New Jersey Department of Banking & Insurance:
"With New Jersey's action today, all 50 states have now adopted a best interest standard
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WASHINGTON, April 22 -- The American Council of Life Insurers issued the following statement on April 21, 2025:
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New Jersey Becomes 50th State to Adopt Enhanced Protections For Annuity Consumers
WASHINGTON - American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI) President and CEO David Chavern and National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA) Trustee Dennis Cuccinelli made the following comment on the best interest annuity rule approved today by the New Jersey Department of Banking & Insurance:
"With New Jersey's action today, all 50 states have now adopted a best interest standardfor annuity sales--an important milestone for consumers. This ensures people will get professional financial guidance they can trust on products that provides a reliable lifetime stream of income in retirement. At a time when millions of workers are nearing retirement without a pension, this kind of certainty matters more than ever."
New Jersey Department of Banking & Insurance Commissioner Justin Zimmerman approved the rule, which incorporates the best interest protections from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) Suitability in Annuity Transactions Model Regulation. This pro-consumer measure also aligns with the SEC's Regulation Best Interest to provide retirement savers with robust safeguards at the state and federal level.
Together, these models offer better protections for retirement savers than the U.S. Department of Labor's fiduciary-only regulation that limited consumers' access to retirement guidance and information. Before it was vacated by a federal court in 2018, the department's 2016 regulation left more than 10 million American workers' accounts, with $900 billion in savings, without access to professional financial guidance.
Each year through 2027, more than 4.1 million Americans will turn 65. Most will not have a defined benefit pension that provides a regular monthly income in retirement.
The U.S. Congress reaffirmed the importance of lifetime income when it passed legislation in 2019 and 2022 that made it easier for employers to include annuities in workplace retirement plans. With these enhanced state and federal consumer protections in place, millions of savers across the country can be confident that financial professionals are offering guidance on annuities that are in the consumer's best interest.
About ACLI: The American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI) is the leading trade association driving public policy and advocacy on behalf of the life insurance industry. 90 million American families rely on the life insurance industry for financial protection and retirement security. ACLI's member companies are dedicated to protecting consumers' financial wellbeing through life insurance, annuities, retirement plans, long-term care insurance, disability income insurance, reinsurance, and dental, vision and other supplemental benefits. ACLI's 275 member companies represent 93 percent of industry assets in the United States.
About NAIFA: Founded in 1890 as The National Association of Life Underwriters, NAIFA is the oldest, largest, and most prestigious association representing the interests of financial professionals from every Congressional district in the United States. Our mission - empowering financial professionals and consumers with world-class advocacy and education - is the reason NAIFA has consistently and resoundingly stood up for agents and called upon members to grow their knowledge while following the highest ethical standards in the industry.
Whit Cornman, 202-624-2442, WhitCornman@acli.com
Sheila Owens, 703-770-8226, sowens@naifa.org
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Original text here: https://www.acli.com/posting/nr25-021
[Category: Insurance]
Celebration of Construction on the National Mall 2025
MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin, April 22 -- The Association of Equipment Manufacturers issued the following news on April 21, 2025:
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Celebration of Construction on the National Mall 2025
Exhibitors and Partners Media Kits
Washington, D.C. - Construction equipment manufacturers, industry leaders and technology companies will showcase heavy machinery, breaking innovations and the future of infrastructure support during the Association of Equipment Manufacturers' bi-annual celebration of the construction industry, May 14-16, 2025.
Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, with Smithsonian museums, capital buildings
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MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin, April 22 -- The Association of Equipment Manufacturers issued the following news on April 21, 2025:
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Celebration of Construction on the National Mall 2025
Exhibitors and Partners Media Kits
Washington, D.C. - Construction equipment manufacturers, industry leaders and technology companies will showcase heavy machinery, breaking innovations and the future of infrastructure support during the Association of Equipment Manufacturers' bi-annual celebration of the construction industry, May 14-16, 2025.
Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, with Smithsonian museums, capital buildingsand national monuments surrounding this free celebration, our nation's industry professionals, policymakers and the public are observing equipment demonstrations, networking and enabling the construction industry to advance America's workforce and the infrastructure technology used for building our first-class society.
Equipment Exhibitors Media Kits
Listed here are participating organizations and exhibitors supporting equipment manufacturers, the construction industry and cutting-edge technology. Click on the links or the logos to learn more about exhibitors and gain access to media kits.
Partner Organization Media Kits and Information
The Celebration of Construction on the National Mall is supported by partnering organizations and associations that participate in sustainably building our infrastructure, the American workforce and leading policy advocacy for the future of the construction industry. Click on the links or logos here for information of how these organizations improve the construction industry each day with leadership, safety, and standards advocacy.
About AEM
The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) is North America's premier trade organization representing off-road equipment manufacturers and their value chain partners. With a history spanning over 130+ years, AEM serves more than 1,100 members companies across 200+ product lines in multiple sectors including construction, agriculture, mining, utility, and forestry. AEM supports an industry that contributes approximately $316 billion annually to the U.S. economy while sustaining 2.3 million jobs. Through advocacy, market intelligence, and industry collaboration, AEM works to advance the interests of equipment manufacturers and their partners in the global marketplace.
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Original text here: https://newsroom.aem.org/celebration-of-construction-on-the-national-mall-2025/
[Category: Business]
American Concrete Institute Launches ACI 323 PLUS -- Digital Subscription To Low-Carbon Concrete Code
FARMINGTON HILLS, Michigan, April 22 -- The American Concrete Institute issued the following news release:
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American Concrete Institute Launches ACI 323 PLUS -- Digital Subscription To Low-Carbon Concrete Code
The American Concrete Institute (ACI) is proud to announce the release of ACI 323 PLUS, an annual digital subscription that provides interactive access to ACI CODE-323-24: Low-Carbon Concrete--Code Requirements and Commentary. This new subscription, built on the ACI PLUS Platform, delivers an interactive experience optimized for performance on desktop and laptop computers.
Designed
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FARMINGTON HILLS, Michigan, April 22 -- The American Concrete Institute issued the following news release:
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American Concrete Institute Launches ACI 323 PLUS -- Digital Subscription To Low-Carbon Concrete Code
The American Concrete Institute (ACI) is proud to announce the release of ACI 323 PLUS, an annual digital subscription that provides interactive access to ACI CODE-323-24: Low-Carbon Concrete--Code Requirements and Commentary. This new subscription, built on the ACI PLUS Platform, delivers an interactive experience optimized for performance on desktop and laptop computers.
Designedto enhance how users engage with the Code, ACI 323 PLUS includes:
* Interactive in-document access to related resources and FAQs.
* Robust digital notetaking, including the ability to create up to ten unique sets of notes for personal use or sharing with other ACI 323 PLUS users.
* Chapter, section, and provision-based navigation.
* 3D graphics to support understanding technical content.
* Screen capture functionality for quick reference and collaboration.
ACI CODE-323-24 introduces a carbon budget approach and emphasizes the use of Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for benchmarking, aiming to standardize methodologies for reducing carbon emissions in concrete construction. The Code covers cast-in-place concrete with specified compressive strength between 2500 and 8000 psi and is intended for jurisdictions seeking to adopt low-carbon concrete practices.
The Code can be adopted as a stand-alone standard or used alongside structural design codes or low-carbon material codes. It is presented in a format that allows for reference without change to its language, while the accompanying Commentary provides background, suggestions, and deeper insight into Code provisions.
In conjunction with this release, ACI is also offering On-Demand Course: ACI CODE-323: Low-Carbon Concrete Code, which explains the definition of low-carbon concrete, an overview of the new ACI Code 323, and the development and purpose of the Code in more depth.
To learn more and subscribe to ACI 323 PLUS, visit concrete.org.
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Original text here: https://www.concrete.org/newsandevents/news/newsdetail.aspx?f=51746787
[Category: Construction]
ACOG: Preventive Care Critical to Protecting the Health of Ob-Gyn Patients
WASHINGTON, April 22 -- The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists issued the following statement on April 21, 2025:
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ACOG: Preventive Care Critical to Protecting the Health of Ob-Gyn Patients
The following is a statement from Stella Dantas, MD, FACOG, president of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG):
"Ob-gyns provide care to patients throughout the course of their lifetimes. We understand how important it is for our patients to be able to access preventive care that helps them live healthier lives, from lifesaving vaccines and contraception to
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WASHINGTON, April 22 -- The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists issued the following statement on April 21, 2025:
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ACOG: Preventive Care Critical to Protecting the Health of Ob-Gyn Patients
The following is a statement from Stella Dantas, MD, FACOG, president of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG):
"Ob-gyns provide care to patients throughout the course of their lifetimes. We understand how important it is for our patients to be able to access preventive care that helps them live healthier lives, from lifesaving vaccines and contraception toscreenings for a wide variety of conditions, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, mental health challenges, and intimate partner violence.
"We also know that for many patients, lifesaving preventive care can be financially out of reach. Ensuring access to this care without the burdens of copayments is a powerful way to help more people take advantage of preventive care and reduce disparities in health outcomes.
"Every day we see the ways in which individuals benefit from access to preventive care and screenings--also backed up by data--and how the health system overall is stronger as a result. Routine screening can lead to earlier detection of many life-threatening conditions, facilitating less intensive treatment and better outcomes. Regular mammography in line with clinical recommendations, for example, increases earlier detection of breast cancer, improving survival rates and reducing the burden of disease.
"Coverage of preventive care must be affordable, and it must be evidence-based and without bias. Preventive care provided by ob-gyns, such as STI screenings and preexposure prophylaxis for HIV, reflects the most up-to-date medical knowledge and can improve the health of individuals and communities alike when it is available to our patients without financial burdens.
"ACOG urges the Supreme Court to recognize that coverage of preventive care without copayments is a critical way to advance the health of all people, including those that face barriers in accessing care in our health care system. This should be a universal goal."
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Original text here: https://www.acog.org/news/news-releases/2025/04/acog-preventive-care-critical-to-protecting-the-health-of-ob-gyn-patients
[Category: Medical]
