The Article Outlines How Consistent Bookkeeping Helps Zephyrhills Business Owners Manage Cash Flow, Meet Tax Deadlines, and Avoid Costly Recordkeeping Mistakes.

ZEPHYRHILLS, Fla., Sept. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Why does consistent bookkeeping matter for small business owners in Zephyrhills, Florida? A HelloNation article answers that question and explains how organized financial records support cash flow, tax compliance, and long-term business stability.

The article explains that many small business owners delay bookkeeping until tax season arrives. That delay often turns simple recordkeeping into a stressful search for missing receipts and unclear numbers. Keeping records consistently instead gives owners a clear view of where money comes from and where it goes.

The article notes that cash flow is often the first casualty of poor recordkeeping. A business can appear profitable on paper while still running short on cash for payroll or rent. Florida businesses that collect sales tax need clear separation between tax collected and actual revenue to avoid shortfalls.

The article states that monthly recordkeeping leads to more accurate filing and less year-end stress. Monthly bookkeeping catches small errors early, before they turn into costly problems. It also helps business owners calculate quarterly estimated tax payments without relying on rough guesses.

The article also addresses United States citizens who run a business outside the country. It explains that citizenship, not location, determines federal tax obligations, so income earned abroad still must be reported. Currency conversion and foreign account disclosures add extra complexity for business owners living overseas.

The article describes how the foreign earned income exclusion can lower a tax bill for qualifying citizens living abroad. Claiming it correctly depends on clear documentation of where income was earned and how much time was spent in each location. The article notes that organized records support this documentation instead of relying on memory months later.

The article explains that federal tax compliance depends on more than filing a return once a year. The Internal Revenue Service expects supporting documentation for income, expenses, and deductions claimed on any return. An audit moves more smoothly when records already exist in an organized, accessible format.

The article suggests that professional support becomes valuable as transactions multiply and reporting rules grow more complex. Accountant Nils Lenz is featured in the article discussing how organized records support smoother tax filing throughout the year. The article adds that consistency in recordkeeping helps an owner stay confident in daily financial decisions.

The article adds that clear records also strengthen relationships with lenders and business partners. A bank reviewing a loan application wants accurate financial statements rather than last-minute estimates.

The article points out that many owners manage their own records in the early stages, and that approach can work for a simple operation. As transactions multiply and rules around deductions or foreign reporting grow more complex, professional support often becomes worth the investment. The article adds that matching the level of support to a business's complexity helps avoid wasted effort and costly gaps.

The article concludes that small business owners in Zephyrhills often underestimate the value of consistent bookkeeping. Accountant Nils Lenz's work centers on helping clients track expenses, manage cash flow, and prepare for tax season without added stress. Organized financial reporting supports compliance and long-term stability no matter where a business operates.

How Bookkeeping Services Support Small Businesses features insights from Nils Lenz, Accountant of Zephyrhills, Florida, in HelloNation.

About HelloNation

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

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Public decision contradicts Mexico's false claims and confirms its actions were arbitrary, discriminatory, and undertaken without good faith or transparency

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Sept. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) Tribunal published its decision confirming that the Government of Mexico violated international law through its arbitrary and unfair treatment of Vulcan Materials Company ("Vulcan" or the "Company") and its investments in Quintana Roo. The decision directly contradicts Mexico's attempts to portray its actions as legitimate environmental enforcement. The Tribunal declared Mexico's counterclaims of environmental harm inadmissible and found that Mexican environmental authorities improperly used regulatory powers to target Vulcan, shut down its lawful operations, and prevent the Company from meaningfully defending itself in Mexican proceedings.

Vulcan issued the following statement:

"Now that the Tribunal's decision is public, Mexico can no longer hide behind a false account of what happened. The Tribunal found that Mexico violated international law, acted arbitrarily, without good faith and transparency, and denied Vulcan basic due process. Mexico may continue to distort the decision, but it cannot change the facts."

"This dispute extends far beyond Vulcan. Mexico's unlawful mistreatment of an American company raises fundamental questions about property rights, the rule of law, and whether Mexico can be trusted to honor its commitments that are essential for fostering bilateral economic prosperity. Every U.S. business operating or considering an investment in Mexico should take notice: If the Mexican government can disregard Vulcan's rights with impunity, no American company's investment is secure."

Mexico's rejected environmental counterclaims of environmental harm are further undermined by Vulcan's longstanding and internationally recognized record of environmental stewardship. Over the course of its operations in Quintana Roo, the Company received six Clean Industry Awards from Mexico's own environmental enforcement agency, PROFEPA, and planted more than 80,000 native trees as part of its environmental restoration and conservation efforts. By contrast, after shutting down Vulcan's operations in Quintana Roo, the Mexican government allowed at least 12 nearby quarries to operate without the permits and environmental reviews that Mexico had imposed on Vulcan, underscoring Mexico's discriminatory treatment of Vulcan and the arbitrary application of environmental regulations.

The Tribunal's decision covers only a portion of Mexico's unlawful conduct. It does not adjudicate the May 2022 military shutdown, the March 2023 occupation of Vulcan's port or the September 2024 decree depriving Vulcan of the use and benefit of its property. Those actions remain unresolved and could give rise to additional legal, diplomatic, and economic consequences.

About Vulcan Materials Company

Vulcan Materials Company, a member of the S&P 500 Index with headquarters in Birmingham, Alabama, is the nation's largest producer of construction aggregates—primarily crushed stone, sand and gravel—and a major producer of asphalt and ready-mixed concrete. For additional information about Vulcan, visit www.vulcanmaterials.com.

Forward-Looking Statement Disclaimer

This document contains forward-looking statements. Statements that are not historical fact, including statements about Vulcan's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are sometimes identified by the use of terms and phrases such as "believe," "should," "would," "expect," "project," "estimate," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "will," "can," "may" or similar expressions elsewhere in this document. These statements are subject to numerous risks, uncertainties, and assumptions, including but not limited to general business conditions, competitive factors, pricing, energy costs, and other risks and uncertainties discussed in the reports Vulcan periodically files with the SEC.

Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results, developments, and business decisions may vary significantly from those expressed in or implied by the forward-looking statements. The following risks related to Vulcan's business, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements: general economic and business conditions; domestic and global political, economic or diplomatic developments, including the military conflict in the Middle East involving the United States, Israel and Iran; a pandemic, epidemic or other public health emergency; Vulcan's dependence on the construction industry, which is subject to economic cycles; the timing and amount of federal, state and local funding for infrastructure; changes in the level of spending for private residential and private nonresidential construction; changes in Vulcan's effective tax rate; the increasing reliance on information technology infrastructure, including the risks that the infrastructure does not work as intended, experiences technical difficulties or is subjected to cyber-attacks; the impact of the state of the global economy on Vulcan's businesses and financial condition and access to capital markets; international business operations and relationships, including actions taken by the Mexican government with respect to Vulcan's property and operations in that country; the highly competitive nature of the construction industry; the impact of future regulatory or legislative actions, including those relating to climate change, biodiversity, land use, wetlands, greenhouse gas emissions, the definition of minerals, tax policy and domestic and international trade; the outcome of pending legal proceedings; pricing of Vulcan's products; weather and other natural phenomena, including the impact of climate change and availability of water; availability and cost of trucks, railcars, barges and ships as well as their licensed operators for transport of Vulcan's materials; energy costs; costs of hydrocarbon-based raw materials; healthcare costs; labor relations, shortages and constraints; the amount of long-term debt and interest expense incurred by Vulcan; changes in interest rates; volatility in pension plan asset values and liabilities, which may require cash contributions to the pension plans; the impact of environmental cleanup costs and other liabilities relating to existing and/or divested businesses; Vulcan's ability to secure and permit aggregates reserves in strategically located areas; Vulcan's ability to identify, close and successfully integrate acquisitions; the effect of changes in tax laws, guidance and interpretations; significant downturn in the construction industry may result in the impairment of goodwill or long-lived assets; changes in technologies, which could disrupt the way Vulcan does business and how Vulcan's products are distributed; the risks of open pit and underground mining; expectations relating to sustainability considerations; claims that our products do not meet regulatory requirements or contractual specifications; and other assumptions, risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in the reports filed by Vulcan with the SEC. All forward-looking statements in this communication are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Vulcan disclaims and does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement in this document except as required by law.

Media Contact:

Investor Contact: Mark Warren (205)-298-3220

Media Contact: Jack Bonnikson (205)-298-3220

SOURCE Vulcan Materials Company

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Festival Partners Bring The Four-Day Celebration To Life Through Interactive Activations, Demonstrations, Competitions And Signature Experiences, Sept. 10-13

High-resolution images HERE

ATLANTA, Sept. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Atlanta Food & Wine Festival (AFWF) presented by Invesco QQQ returns Sept. 10-13 for its 16th year, bringing nearly 100 celebrated chefs, restaurants, beverage partners and culinary personalities to The Home Depot Backyard. Built around the theme "The City is the Story," the four-day festival will showcase the people and flavors shaping Atlanta's culinary scene through tasting experiences, live entertainment and interactive partner activations. Tickets are available at atlfoodandwinefestival.com.

This year's hosts include Monti Carlo, Andrew Zimmern, Shawn Osbey, Ford Fry, Kardea Brown and Kelli Potter. Featured culinary talent includes James Beard Award semifinalist Tana Bhamaraniyama of Tyde Tate Kitchen; cookbook author Renee Blackman; "Chopped" champion Gary Caldwell of Marcus Bar & Grille; Anthony Dudley of MICHELIN-recognized Hattie B's; James Beard Award semifinalists Monique and Paul Feybesse of Tarts de Feybesse; James Beard Award nominee Ronald Hsu of MICHELIN-recognized Lazy Betty; Billy Kramer of NFA Burger; James Beard Award nominee Duane Nutter of Southern National; Gee Smalls of Virgil's Gullah Kitchen & Bar; Biff "MrBBQ" Smith of Mobile Chef of Atlanta; and James Beard Award semifinalist Deborah VanTrece of VanTrece Hospitality Group. The complete roster is available at atlfoodandwinefestival.com/talent.

Returning Presenting Partner Invesco QQQ leads this year's festival partners. Goya Foods returns as Presenting Partner of the Tasting Tents and Official Hispanic Foods Partner, while Mike's Amazing serves as Presenting Partner of Stacked: The Burger Social and Official Mayo & Mustard Partner. Guests can also experience the Publix Culinary Demonstration Stage, wines and spirits from Pernod Ricard, Caymus Vineyards from Princess Cruise Lines, signature cocktails from The Coca-Cola Company, Blade and Bow Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, and hospitality from Official Host Hotel Omni Atlanta Hotel at Centennial Park.

"The strength of the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival comes from the incredible partners who share our passion for showcasing the South's culinary community," said Brett Friedman, founder and CEO of a21. "Their collaboration helps transform the festival into a one-of-a-kind experience guests can explore and enjoy in so many different ways."

Festival events include The Atlanta Standard hosted by Monti Carlo on Thursday; Flavors of Atlanta hosted by Andrew Zimmern on Friday; The Southern Spread hosted by Shawn Osbey and Stacked: The Burger Social hosted by Ford Fry and presented by Mike's Amazing on Saturday; and The Homecoming hosted by Kardea Brown and Southern Fried: A Fried Chicken Affair hosted by Kelli Potter on Sunday. Whiskey & Fire Atlanta will also take place Saturday at Guardian Works. Single-event tickets and multi-day passes are available.

As the presenting sponsor, Invesco QQQ is passionate about fueling innovation and excellence, values that align with AFWF's mission. Invesco QQQ is proud to support the culinary community in Atlanta, which also serves as Invesco QQQ's headquarters.

The festival is also proud to welcome Event Zero Foundation as its charitable partner. AFWF will support the foundation's mission to inspire and guide event organizers, businesses and communities toward sustainable practices.

AFWF will take place at The Home Depot Backyard, 1 Backyard Way, Atlanta, GA 30313. Guests must be 21 and older. For tickets and more information, visit atlfoodandwinefestival.com.

MEDIA CONTACT

RockawayMore

Dana Gidney | Jennifer Koenigsberg

[email protected]

305.751.9641

SOURCE a21

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Recognition across six categories highlights FlexFactor's AI-native approach to reversing eligible false declines during authorization

NEW YORK, Sept. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- FlexFactor, the payments technology company behind AI-native AcceptIQ, has been named a finalist in six categories at The Card & Payments Awards US 2026. Based on FlexFactor's review of the published 2026 shortlist, FlexFactor is the only organization with six finalist selections.

FlexFactor has been shortlisted for:

- Best Application of AI or ML in Financial Services

- Best Customer Service

- Best Early-Stage or Future Payments Initiative

- Best Industry Innovation

- Best Payment Facility

- Best POS Solution

These six selections span distinct areas of the payments ecosystem – from artificial intelligence and customer experience to future payments, industry innovation, payment infrastructure, and point-of-sale technology.

FlexFactor's Approach – Creating a New Decisioning Layer Inside Payment Authorization

Historically, payment technologies have largely operated on either side of authorization. Fraud, risk, and authentication technologies evaluate transactions before issuer response, while retries, dunning, and account updater solutions attempt recovery after a payment has already failed. FlexFactor created real-time decline decisioning to bridge this structural gap.

At the center of the capability is AcceptIQ, FlexFactor's AI-native platform for real-time payment decline decisioning. AcceptIQ evaluates transaction, issuer, merchant, data-quality, acquiring, and routing signals to determine whether a decline is recoverable, the likelihood of successful reauthorization, and the appropriate recovery path.

When AcceptIQ identifies an eligible false decline, FlexFactor can execute the recovery, purchase the merchant's invoice, guarantee the sale, and assume the recovery risk. This enables eligible false payment declines to be reversed before they become lost sales, wasted customer acquisition spend, lost lifetime value, or damaging customer experiences.

For the end customer, the recovery is invisible. Legitimate customers can complete their intended purchase without retrying the transaction, changing payment methods, or entering a separate recovery journey.

FlexFactor is live with more than 100 merchants and typically cures 15% to 20% of eligible declines across live deployments, with observed results varying by merchant profile, decline mix, and payment environment.

"Reversing a failed payment after it has already been declined by some of the world's most sophisticated payment systems is not a simple problem. Doing it in real time makes it even harder," said Guy Vatman, CTO of FlexFactor. "It requires evaluating multiple signals and determining the right recovery path within the authorization flow before that failed-payment experience reaches the customer. To solve that challenge, we built AcceptIQ, which creates real value for the payments ecosystem – enabling merchants to preserve legitimate sales as customers complete their purchase without even knowing a decline occurred."

A Word From The Card & Payments Awards

"For more than 20 years, The Card & Payments Awards have been about recognizing the organizations and people raising standards across the payments ecosystem. As we bring the Awards to the United States for the first time, the quality and breadth of this year's shortlist demonstrates the extraordinary level of innovation taking place across the industry. Being shortlisted is an achievement in itself. To be recognized across six categories is a significant result for FlexFactor and reflects the breadth of the work presented to our independent judging panel. We look forward to welcoming FlexFactor, alongside our wider finalist community, to Gotham Hall in New York on November 17." – Michael Harty, Founder & Managing Director, The Card & Payments Awards

The Card & Payments Awards US 2026

Established in 2005, The Card & Payments Awards recognizes excellence, innovation, and best practice across the payments industry. In 2026, the Awards bring their independent judging process and industry community to the United States for the inaugural US event.

The winners of The Card & Payments Awards US 2026 will be announced on Tuesday, November 17, 2026, at Gotham Hall, New York. The evening begins at 6 pm and continues until late.

Event – The Card & Payments Awards US 2026

Date – November 17, 2026

Venue – Gotham Hall, New York

Prime Sponsor – FIS

About FlexFactor

FlexFactor is a payments technology company transforming payment decline recovery through real-time decline decisioning during authorization. Its AI-native AcceptIQ platform identifies, evaluates, and reverses eligible false payment declines before customers experience a failed payment – helping merchants prevent legitimate transactions from becoming lost sales, wasted customer acquisition spend, lost lifetime value, and damaging customer experiences. FlexFactor supports one-time, recurring, and hybrid commerce through existing payment infrastructure, enabling merchants to improve payment performance without adding friction to checkout. FlexFactor is backed by Bessemer Venture Partners.

About The Card & Payments Awards

Since 2005, The Card & Payments Awards has recognized excellence and innovation across the global payments ecosystem. The Awards are built around an independent judging process and bring together organizations shaping the future of payments. The inaugural US Awards create a new platform to recognize the companies, technologies, partnerships, and people advancing payments across the United States.

Media Contacts

FlexFactor

Brennen Creer, CMO

[email protected]

The Card & Payments Awards

[email protected]

SOURCE FlexFactor

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L'université de Benghazi rouvre ses portes après 11 ans: un événement historique qui lui a permis de battre trois records du monde Guinness

Le projet de rêve de l'ingénieur Belqasim Khalifa Haftar redonne vie à l'un des établissements d'enseignement les plus prestigieux de Libye

BENGHAZI, Libye, 9 septembre 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Le 4 septembre 2026, l'université de Benghazi a officiellement rouvert toutes ses facultés et ses installations à l'issue d'un vaste projet de reconstruction et de réhabilitation mené par le Fonds libyen pour le développement et la reconstruction, sous la direction de son Directeur général, l'ingénieur Belqasim Khalifa Haftar.

Cette réouverture a marqué une étape historique pour l'enseignement supérieur en Libye, redonnant vie au campus principal de l'université après plus de onze ans de fermeture en raison des destructions massives qu'il avait subies pendant la guerre menée par les forces armées libyennes contre les groupes terroristes.

L'ingénieur Belqasim a personnellement supervisé le projet dans ses moindres détails. Ce qui n'était au départ qu'un rêve personnel est devenu l'une des initiatives éducatives les plus marquantes du Fonds. Fruit d'une réalisation exceptionnelle, une cité universitaire intégrée a été reconstruite en seulement trois ans, offrant un environnement universitaire moderne conçu pour répondre aux besoins des générations actuelles et futures.

Surnommée la « Mère des universités libyennes », l'université de Benghazi compte parmi les plus anciennes et les plus grandes institutions universitaires du pays, avec près de 100 000 étudiants. Au fil des décennies, elle a dispensé un enseignement gratuit et formé des générations de scientifiques, d'universitaires, d'experts et de responsables qui ont contribué à la mise en place des institutions libyennes.

Le projet concernait les facultés d'ingénierie, de lettres, de droit, de sciences et de langues, ainsi que la bibliothèque centrale, les bâtiments universitaires et administratifs, les laboratoires, les installations de service, les résidences étudiantes, les infrastructures et les voies de circulation internes.

La cérémonie d'inauguration a réuni des personnalités libyennes de premier plan, des ambassadeurs, des délégations internationales et environ 240 invités étrangers. Dirigé par le maréchal Khalifa Haftar et l'ingénieur Belqasim Khalifa Haftar, cet événement a mis à l'honneur la projection 3D, des effets visuels de pointe et un spectacle aérien de drones qui a permis d'établir trois records du monde Guinness : une formation en forme d'aigle, une plume formant l'inscription « Université de Benghazi » dans le ciel et la formation d'un symbole de paix.

Le Fonds a également envoyé plus de 1 000 étudiants à l'étranger pour y poursuivre leurs études, alliant ainsi la reconstruction matérielle à l'investissement dans le capital humain.

Cette réalisation s'inscrit dans le cadre de plus de 2 300 projets de développement mis en œuvre dans l'est et le sud de la Libye, incluant notamment la remise en état des universités et des établissements d'enseignement de Kufra, Al Bayda, Derna, Al Marj, Ajdabiya, Syrte, Brak al-Shati et Murzuq, ainsi que d'environ 250 écoles.

Cette réouverture représente donc bien plus que le simple retour à la vie d'un établissement scolaire : elle redonne à l'un des monuments scientifiques et historiques les plus emblématiques de la Libye une place centrale dans la vie nationale.

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New England Law clinches a top 10 national spot for public service, a top 100 ultimate bar passage rank, and a first-place tie for Massachusetts Bar Foundation fellowships

BOSTON, Sept. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Entering the new academic year, New England Law Boston is celebrating remarkable momentum across its campus, driven by a recent rise in national rankings, exceptional career outcomes, and elite academic recognition. The law school continues to build on a strong trajectory of attracting highly credentialed, well-rounded talent while positioning its current students and recent graduates for elite legal careers.

The boost to the school's institutional prestige is mirrored by an increasingly competitive admissions landscape. The school saw a 25 percent increase in applicants for the incoming class, driving the acceptance rate down to a highly selective 55 percent. Reflecting a student body of deep academic ambition, 8.5 percent of the incoming first-year (1L) class already hold graduate degrees, while 99 percent of all enrolled students have been awarded scholarships to support their legal journeys.

"There is an undeniable energy on campus right now as our community realizes the full scale of what we are achieving together," said James H. Kennedy III, CEO and Dean, New England Law Boston. "As an independent institution, our goal has always been to pair rigorous academics with early, immersive practical experience, and it's clear that the blueprint is working. We are drawing highly credentialed applicant pools, our current students are earning the region's most coveted opportunities, and our alumni are commanding elite positions in the legal workforce."

New England Law Boston's commitment to excellence before, during, and after graduation has yielded milestone markers across several key metrics:

- A Masterclass in Bar Passage: In its newly published national report, TaxProf Blog ranked New England Law Boston on its Top 100 list in the country for its ultimate bar passage rate, with the Class of 2023 achieving a stellar ultimate 93 percent pass rate. This elite performance places New England Law ahead of many traditional regional and direct peer institutions.

- A Premier Launchpad for Government Careers: For students looking to make an immediate impact in public service, New England Law has proven to be a premier destination. Law.com ranked the institution #10 in the United States for sending the highest percentage of graduates from its most recent class directly into government legal work. "Our team is intentional about developing relationships with public sector employers and ensuring that our students have the best opportunities available to explore careers at different levels of government, but I think it really speaks to the values of the students here," says Patrick Niebauer, Assistant Director of Career Services.

- Leading the Commonwealth in Fellowships: New England Law students proved their elite standing locally by tying for the #1 spot in the total number of fellowship placements awarded through the highly competitive Massachusetts Bar Foundation Legal Intern Fellowship Program.

- Family Law Excellence: Highlighting the institution's specialized academic strengths, preLaw magazine announced that New England Law will be recognized on the prestigious Family Law Honor Roll in its "Back to School" issue.

New England Law continues to distinguish itself as a sought-after school of access, drawing admitted students from 260 different colleges and universities across the globe. The incoming class features 34 percent of students from Massachusetts, 60 percent from other US states, and 6 percent from outside of the US. With ages spanning from 20 to 56, and 27 percent of students identifying as the first in their family to attend college or law school, the campus thrives on a rich variety of lived experiences.

ABOUT NEW ENGLAND LAW BOSTON

New England Law Boston was founded in 1908 as Portia Law School, the first and only law school established exclusively for the education of women. Today, New England Law offers its co-educational student body flexible, convenient programs that combine rigorous academics, dynamic community, and early access to practical experience, as well as a diverse, global alumni network spanning 29 countries, 50 states, and 99 practice areas. For more information, visit www.nesl.edu.

SOURCE New England Law Boston

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The awards recognize 104 women across nine categories whose leadership and innovation are shaping industries, organizations and communities across Canada, selected by an independent panel of judges.  The recognition comes during a transformational period for EQ Bank, including the integration of PC Financial and continued investment in technology, AI and customer growth. The achievement reflects the depth of leadership driving the bank's next phase of growth while advancing women in senior leadership and technology roles.

Anilisa Sainani joined EQ Bank in 2025 at a pivotal moment for Canada's Challenger Bank. She has been central to the acquisition and integration of PC Financial, a defining move that significantly expanded the bank's reach, impact and ability to create more choice and value for millions of Canadians. She is also a trusted voice in enterprise decision-making and a passionate builder of the next generation of executive leaders. Beyond EQ, she contributes to national economic dialogue through the C.D. Howe Institute and serves on the Boards of St. Joseph's Health Centre Foundation and Kingsway College School.

"It is a sincere privilege to be recognized alongside women who are shaping the future of business in Canada," said Anilisa Sainani, EVP and Chief Financial Officer, EQ Bank. "Throughout my career, I've benefited from leaders who invested in my growth, and creating those opportunities for others is something I care deeply about. I look forward to continuing to improve the lives of millions of Canadians through EQ Bank, while opening the door wider for the women who will lead next."

Janet Lin, who joined EQ Bank in 2021, leads the bank's technology and AI agenda. She established EQ's AI foundation through its AI Centre of Excellence and enterprise governance framework, and set the bank's AI ambition with the executive leadership team in 2026, helping translate emerging technology into better experiences for customers while equipping EQ's workforce to thrive. She also led technology due diligence and integration planning for the PC Financial acquisition and was recognized among the Toast Top 25 Women in Technology in 2025 for contributions to Canadian technology innovation.

"I'm grateful for this recognition, and to be part of a team that believes technology should make people's lives measurably better," said Janet Lin, SVP and Chief Information Officer, EQ Bank. "Canada has a real opportunity to lead in AI, and that advantage is earned by institutions willing to move first and move responsibly. I'm proud to be shaping that strategy at Canada's Challenger Bank, translating it into genuine innovation and value for our customers, and helping more women build their futures in technology."

The recognition of both Sainani and Lin reflects EQ Bank's commitment to building diverse leadership teams and creating opportunities for women to lead across banking, technology and innovation. Their achievements highlight the impact of inclusive leadership in driving performance, innovation and long-term growth.

About EQ Bank

EQB Inc. (TSX: EQB) is a leading Canadian financial services company with approximately $151 billion in combined assets under management and administration. It is the parent company of Equitable Bank, the country's seventh largest Schedule I bank by assets, which operates EQ Bank, Canada's Challenger Bank™. 

Our purpose is to remake banking so every Canadian gets ahead, every day. Since 1970, we have built thoughtful financial solutions that serve more than 4 million customers, turning everyday moments into meaningful progress. As the exclusive financial partner of Loblaw Companies Limited's PC Optimum™ loyalty program – one of Canada's largest loyalty programs with more than 18 million members – EQ Bank's financial solutions are deeply embedded into the daily lives of Canadians.  

We provide personal and commercial banking services to Canadian households and businesses through everyday banking, tailored lending and connected payments, while fueling competition and choice in Canadian banking. Through our subsidiaries, we also offer home and auto insurance, estate and trust services, credit union solutions and alternative asset management. 

To learn more, visit eqb.investorroom.com and eqbank.ca, or connect with us on Instagram, Facebook or LinkedIn.

About WXN Media

Building on nearly three decades of leadership through WXN (Women's Executive Network), WXN Media is a media company dedicated to telling the stories of exceptional women leaders through trusted editorial, prestigious recognition, and signature experiences.

Its portfolio includes Be Bold Magazine, The Bold Edit, The One Bold Truth, Signature Experiences, and Canada's Most Powerful Women: Top 100™, one of Canada's most prestigious leadership recognition programs.

For more information, visit https://wxnetwork.com/

Investor contact:

Lemar Persaud

SVP and Head of IR

[email protected]

Media contact:

Danielle Mason

Director, PR & Communications

[email protected]

SOURCE EQ Bank

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NYC's Largest Hunger-Relief Organization Warns New Federal Costs Could Strain State and Local Budgets, Increase Pressure on Food Banks, and Put Food Access at Risk

NEW YORK, Sept. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Food Bank For NYC, the largest hunger-relief organization serving all five boroughs, is calling on Congress to take two critical steps to protect food access for millions of vulnerable New Yorkers: delay for two years a new federal law that requires states to pay a share of SNAP food benefits and fully fund The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), a federal program that brings tens of millions of meals from U.S. farmers and producers to New Yorkers every year.

"Congress has an opportunity to prevent a food access crisis before it happens," said Leslie Gordon, President and CEO of Food Bank For NYC. "SNAP helps families buy the nutritious food they need, while TEFAP helps keep food banks like ours stocked. Weakening one while underfunding the other puts millions of New Yorkers at risk of food insecurity."

This request comes as New York prepares to absorb significant new costs because of historic changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which were enacted in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBA) budget (H.R. 1), and signed into law last year. These changes require states to share in the cost of SNAP benefits for the first time in the program's history.

Beginning October 1, New York will be required to cover a larger share of SNAP's administrative costs, a change expected to cost New York State approximately $168 million annually; an estimated $110 million in new costs for New York City each year.

Without Congressional action, even larger costs could follow.

In 2027, New York State could face more than $1.1 billion in new annual SNAP costs, with an estimated $700 million impact on New York City. Food Bank For NYC warns that these new costs could place significant strain on state and local budgets, creating challenges for programs that help families afford food and increasing pressure on food pantries and soup kitchens already working at capacity.

Under the new law, states with higher SNAP payment error rates will be responsible for covering a portion of SNAP benefit costs beginning in fall 2027. These payment error rates do not measure fraud. Instead, they reflect administrative mistakes that can occur when state agencies process large numbers of applications, renewals, and other complex program requirements.

Although New York State has made significant progress in reducing its payment error rate, it currently faces the highest cost-sharing requirement under the new law. Because New York has improved its error rate, it does not meet the benchmark for a two-year implementation delay available to other states.

Nearly 1.7 million people in New York City rely on SNAP support to help afford groceries. When families lose access to food assistance or see their benefits reduced, many turn to providers like Food Bank For NYC for help and programs like TEFAP become even more critical to helping food banks and pantries meet community needs.

Food Bank For NYC is the sole TEFAP provider in New York City and the nation's largest TEFAP distributor. The program supplies tens of millions of pounds of food to hundreds of community food pantries and soup kitchens across the five boroughs, many of which are already serving record levels of need.

Food Bank For NYC is urging Congress to delay SNAP State cost-sharing requirements for two years and to fully fund TEFAP to help protect access to food while states prepare to implement the new law.

To learn more about protecting SNAP and strengthening TEFAP, and to sign our petition, visit FoodBankNYC.org/hunger-action-month.

About Food Bank For NYC

Driven by our mission to empower every New Yorker to achieve food security for good, we harness the collective power of our network of food providers, partners, and volunteers to activate the right resources, supports, and expertise across the five boroughs. Our work with more than 800 soup kitchens, food pantries, and campus partners provides immediate and reliable access to food, while our economic empowerment programs give people the tools and know-how to improve their financial wellness. Community by community, we work together to make progress on a more hopeful, dignified, and equitable future for all. To learn more about our impact or get involved, visit foodbanknyc.org.

SOURCE Food Bank For New York City

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Rising chronic disease rates and the growing cost of specialty medications are placing added pressure on health care organizations, challenging their ability to deliver high-quality care amid financial realities. Learn about the considerations being discussed in exam rooms — and boardrooms — across the country.

What:

"Tough pill to swallow: Balancing access and affordability in pharmacy" attendees will learn:

- How preventive, value-based care can help reduce rising medication costs

- The role biosimilars could play in improving outcomes while controlling costs

- What GLP-1s reveal about whether value-based care can transform pharmacy policy, access, and affordability

Who:

- Peter J. Neumann, ScD, director, Center for the Evaluation of Value and Risk in Health, Tufts Medical Center

- Maisha Draves, MD, MPH, associate executive director, The Permanente Medical Group

- Stephen Parodi, MD, executive vice president, The Permanente Federation (moderator)

When:

- Tuesday, October 6, 2026

- 10:00 a.m. PT / 12:00 p.m. CT / 1:00 p.m. ET

Where:

Register to attend this complimentary virtual one-hour event. Can't attend live? Registering gives you access to the recording.

Join the conversation on social media using the tag #PermLiveLeadership.

To learn more about Permanente Medicine, visit permanente.org.

About Permanente Medical Groups

Permanente Medical Groups provide award-winning care to Kaiser Permanente's 12.9 million members. More than 25,000 primary care physicians and specialists are dedicated to the mission of providing high quality, affordable care to all our patients and communities. Our ethical, compassionate approach to value-based care is physician-led, patient-centered, and evidence-based. We work collaboratively, supported by state-of-the art facilities and technology, to provide world-class primary, complex, and chronic care in eight states — from Hawaii to Maryland — and the District of Columbia. Find out more at permanente.org.

About The Permanente Federation

The Permanente Federation is the national leadership and consulting organization of Permanente Medical Groups, which provide high-quality, affordable health care to the members of Kaiser Permanente. The Federation works to spread the ethical and compassionate value-based care we call Permanente Medicine. Our model of care is physician-led, patient-centered, and team-delivered. We foster and accelerate medical research, clinical innovation, and performance improvements. With Kaiser Foundation Health Plans and Kaiser Foundation Hospitals, we're expanding the reach of Kaiser Permanente's unique approach to integrated care delivery, transforming health care in America. Find out more at permanente.org.

[email protected]

SOURCE The Permanente Federation

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In the news release, Altesa BioSciences Presents Novel Clinical Data Demonstrating Vapendavir Significantly Reduces Key Inflammatory Biomarkers in Rhinovirus-Challenged COPD Patients at the European Respiratory Society International Congress 2026, issued 08-Sep-2026 by Altesa Biosciences Inc. over PR Newswire, we are advised by the company that a duplicated paragraph has been removed. The complete, corrected release follows:

Altesa BioSciences Presents Novel Clinical Data Demonstrating Vapendavir Significantly Reduces Key Inflammatory Biomarkers in Rhinovirus-Challenged COPD Patients at the European Respiratory Society International Congress 2026

Results build on previously reported reductions in virus load, illness severity, improved quality of life from a Phase 2a placebo-controlled challenge study evaluating oral vapendavir

BARCELONA, Spain, Sept. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Altesa BioSciences, a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company focused on addressing the impact of chronic lung diseases including COPD and asthma, today announced new clinical data showing that vapendavir — the company's investigational antiviral therapy — significantly reduced critical inflammatory biomarkers in COPD patients experiencing a rhinovirus infection. The data were shared in an oral presentation at the European Respiratory Society (ERS) International Congress 2026 in Barcelona, Spain.

The presentation, titled, "Inflammatory biomarkers are reduced by vapendavir treatment in rhinovirus-challenged COPD patients," was presented by Dr. Sebastian Johnston, MD, PhD, FMedSci, Professor of Respiratory Medicine and Allergy at the National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, in a session titled: "Respiratory infections: host response, complications and interventions."

The reductions observed in local airway inflammation are consistent with previously reported findings presented at the ERS International Congress 2025, in which vapendavir treatment significantly reduced viral load, illness duration and severity of lower respiratory symptoms, and improved quality of life, relative to placebo.

"These findings help explain why patients treated with vapendavir experienced less severe illness in this study — we're seeing a measurable reduction in the inflammatory response in the airway itself, not just an effect on viral load," said Dr. Sebastian Johnston, MD, PhD, FMedSci, Professor of Respiratory Medicine and Allergy at the National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London and Chief Medical Officer of VirTus Respiratory Research Ltd (the CRO that ran the study). "Rhinovirus infections are underappreciated as a driver of COPD exacerbations, in part because they are so rarely tested for in clinical practice. A treatment that addresses both the virus and the resulting airway inflammation could meaningfully change how we manage these patients."

About the Phase 2a challenge study and novel results

COPD patients in the study were experimentally challenged with rhinovirus and treated with either vapendavir or placebo beginning after the onset of symptoms. Analysis of nasal lavage samples showed that vapendavir treatment was associated with significantly lower levels of two key inflammatory molecules — IP-10/CXCL10 and GM-CSF — over the course of infection compared to placebo. Nasal levels of two additional biomarkers, IFN-α2a and IFN-λ1/IL-29, trended lower with vapendavir treatment but did not reach statistical significance.

"The data collectively support a mechanistic link between vapendavir's antiviral activity and reduced airway inflammation in COPD patients infected with rhinovirus," said Dr. Katharine Knobil, Altesa BioSciences' Chief Medical Officer. "Acute COPD exacerbations are the main driver of hospitalization, lung function loss, and reduced quality of life," she said.

"Deepening our understanding of the underlying disease biology is critical to developing therapies that bring much-needed relief to those living with a chronic and debilitating illness, and the data from this study has given us the ability to successfully progress into the Phase 2B CARDINAL study already underway and actively enrolling patients," the Altesa CMO concluded.

About Vapendavir

Vapendavir is an investigational oral medicine in development by Altesa BioSciences. Vapendavir demonstrated efficacy in patients with COPD by improving symptoms, reducing duration of illness and viral load, and maintaining small airway function after rhinovirus challenge. Vapendavir is now in late-stage clinical development and, if approved, has the potential to prevent the most common cause of COPD exacerbations, improve quality of life, and generate significant reductions in healthcare costs.

About the CARDINAL Study

The CARDINAL clinical trial is a Phase 2b multinational, randomized, placebo-controlled study in COPD patients experiencing rhinovirus infections that will enroll 900 people with COPD across the US and UK Participants will be closely monitored over time and, upon confirmed rhinovirus infection, will be randomized to receive one of two doses of vapendavir or placebo. The trial's primary objective is to assess improvement in respiratory symptoms using established patient-reported outcomes, with additional endpoints evaluating time to symptom resolution, quality of life, healthcare resource utilization, and lung function.

About Altesa BioSciences, Inc.

Altesa BioSciences is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company led by global experts in respiratory medicine and infectious diseases. Altesa is dedicated to improving the lives of people with chronic lung diseases, including COPD and asthma, by treating the principal cause of exacerbations and pathological inflammation — viral respiratory infections. www.altesa.com

Media Contact:

Peg Rusconi

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Altesa Biosciences Inc.

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