The selection highlights GUDEA's growing role in helping organizations track emerging narratives, identify reputational risk, and understand how online conversations take shape in real time

MINNEAPOLIS, Oct. 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- GUDEA, the leading AI-powered narrative intelligence platform known as the "Storm Tracker for the Internet," today announced it has been selected as a Top 20 Finalist in the Startup Battlefield 200 competition at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026. Selected from more than 2,500 startups that applied worldwide, GUDEA will compete on the Disrupt Stage in San Francisco for the $100,000 equity-free grand prize and the coveted Disrupt Cup.

The recognition marks a major milestone for GUDEA and comes just days after the company announced a $7 million seed round, co-led by Mudita Venture Partners and Collide Capital, to expand its work helping organizations detect, understand, and respond to rapidly evolving online narratives. Narrative Intelligence is a rapidly emerging field according to research and advisory firm Gartner, which this year published its inaugural Emerging Market Quadrant for Narrative Intelligence. The firm predicts that 45% of Chief Communications Officers (CCOs) will adopt these tools by 2029.

"We're honored to be the sole representative of the rapidly emerging Narrative Intelligence category named as a Top 20 Finalist in Startup Battlefield," said Keith Presley, co-founder and CEO of GUDEA. "At a time when narratives can shape markets, brands, and public trust in an instant, organizations need more than data, they need context to understand what's happening, clarity to determine what matters, and the ability to act on reliable signals before a narrative takes hold. GUDEA is built to help organizations turn signals into insights, and insights into strategic communications. We're excited to make that case on the Disrupt Stage."

GUDEA combines advanced analytics, behavioral intelligence, and real-time monitoring to help enterprises, public institutions, and other organizations move beyond traditional social listening. Its platform enables clients to identify emerging reputational threats, distinguish authentic from potentially coordinated online activity, and understand who is driving conversations, how narratives spread, and where they may gain traction.

TechCrunch Disrupt 2026 takes place October 13–15 at Moscone West in San Francisco.

For more information, visit gudea.ai.

About GUDEA

GUDEA is an AI-powered narrative intelligence platform that helps organizations understand how narratives form and spread across the digital landscape. By combining natural language analysis with behavioral modeling, GUDEA empowers leaders to anticipate public perception, identify key influencers, and respond to emerging conversations before they define reality.

About TechCrunch Disrupt

TechCrunch Disrupt is the world's leading authority in debuting revolutionary startups, introducing game-changing technologies, and discussing what's top of mind for the tech industry's key innovators. This year, Disrupt gathers the best and brightest entrepreneurs, investors, hackers, and tech fans in-person for interviews, demos, Startup Battlefield 200, Networking, and more.

SOURCE GUDEA

Share this article

Third annual initiative exceeds collection goal, with nearly 40,000 food items donated since 2024

CHICAGO, Oct. 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Beltone, a global leader in hearing technology, is celebrating a record-breaking year for its third annual Hear2End Hunger Food Drive, collecting 20,640 non-perishable food items to support local food banks and hunger-relief organizations across the country. The month-long initiative, held throughout September in recognition of Hunger Action Month, exceeded its goal of 20,000 items and increased collections by more than 41% over 2025.

Since its launch in 2024, Hear2End Hunger has continued to grow, with food collections increasing each year as Beltone Hearing Centers and their communities come together to support local hunger-relief efforts. That growth reflects the generosity and commitment of the hearing care professionals, patients and neighbors who make it possible.

"What started three years ago as an opportunity for our Hearing Centers to give back has grown into something truly special," said David Molella, President of Beltone Hearing. "To see our communities come together to collect more than 20,000 food items this year alone is incredible. We're grateful to the hearing care professionals, patients and neighbors who continue to embrace Hear2End Hunger and help make a difference in the communities we call home."

Recognizing Outstanding Community Contributions

As part of this year's food drive, the Beltone Foundation is recognizing the three hearing centers that collected the most food items by providing an additional $4,500 in donations to organizations serving their local communities.

- Uniontown, Pennsylvania: Led the nationwide effort with 6,927 food items collected and will present a $3,000 Beltone Foundation donation to Fayette County Community Action Food Bank.

- Visalia, California: Collected 1,353 food items and will present a $1,000 Beltone Foundation donation to Bethlehem Center.

- Warsaw, Indiana: Collected 865 food items and will present a $500 Beltone Foundation donation to Combined Community Services.

Representatives from each recognized Beltone Hearing Center will present the Foundation's donation to their respective community organizations, extending the impact of the food drive beyond the food collected throughout September.

Behind every donation is a person, family, or business choosing to make a difference in their community. That generosity has helped Hear2End Hunger grow into a nationwide tradition built on local connections and neighbors helping neighbors. Beltone looks forward to continuing that tradition in 2027, bringing hearing centers and communities together for a fourth year of giving back.

To learn more about the Beltone Hearing Care Foundation and its commitment to helping people and communities, visit https://www.beltone.com/en-us/why-beltone/beltone-foundation.

About Beltone

Beltone has been helping people hear better and live fuller lives for more than 85 years. As a trusted provider of personalized hearing care, Beltone combines innovative hearing technology with professional support and individualized solutions to help people stay connected to the people and experiences that matter most. With hearing centers across the country, Beltone is committed to making quality hearing care accessible to communities nationwide.

Recognized by Newsweek and USA TODAY as one of America's best hearing retailers and named as one of Forbes best employers, Beltone has been a trusted leader in the hearing care industry for over 85 years, providing reliable, affordable, and advanced hearing aids. With approximately 1,200 locations nationwide, its local offices offer personized service, and its hearing care professionals receive extensive training to provide the best care. As part of the GN Group, Beltone focuses on the needs of its patients through innovative hearing technologies and its "Independent Together" promise to its network. Visit Beltone.com and connect on LinkedIn.

SOURCE Beltone

Share this article

Embassy Suites by Hilton Dulles Airport Announces New Ownership

All-suite hotel near Washington Dulles International Airport to undergo property renovations while serving business and leisure travelers visiting Northern Virginia.

BETHESDA, Md., Oct. 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Embassy Suites by Hilton Dulles Airport, a premier all-suite hotel near Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), today announced new ownership and management with plans for a comprehensive renovation designed to enhance the guest experience and further strengthen its position as a leading hotel in Northern Virginia.

Located in Herndon, Virginia, along the thriving Dulles Corridor, the hotel provides convenient access to Dulles International Airport, Tysons, Reston Town Center, major technology companies, government agencies, and many of the Washington, D.C. region's most popular business and leisure destinations.

The hotel will continue operating under the Embassy Suites by Hilton brand and remain part of the Hilton Honors loyalty program, providing guests with the spacious accommodation, amenities, and service standards they expect from one of the hospitality industry's most recognized brands.

"We are excited about the future of Embassy Suites by Hilton Dulles Airport and the opportunities ahead for our guests, team members, and community," said Nick Shrestha, General Manager. "The planned improvements will build upon the hotel's longstanding reputation for hospitality while creating enhanced experience for travelers visiting the Dulles Airport area and Northern Virginia."

The planned renovation, scheduled to begin in 2027, will include upgrades to guest suites, public spaces, meeting facilities, and hotel amenities. These enhancements are intended to create a more modern and elevated environment for travelers while maintaining the comfort and convenience that have made the property a preferred choice for visitors to the Washington metropolitan region.

With its convenient location near Washington Dulles International Airport, complimentary made-to-order breakfast, evening reception, flexible meeting space, and spacious two-room suites, Embassy Suites by Hilton Dulles Airport continues to serve the needs of business travelers, government travelers, meeting attendees, and families exploring Northern Virginia and the nation's capital.

The hotel's experienced leadership team will ensure seamless operations and an exceptional guest experience throughout the renovation planning process.

For reservations or additional information, visit www.hilton.com.

About Embassy Suites by Hilton Dulles Airport

Embassy Suites by Hilton Dulles Airport is an all-suite hotel located in Herndon, Virginia, just minutes from Washington Dulles International Airport. The hotel features spacious two-room suites, complimentary made-to-order breakfast, an evening reception, meeting and event space, and convenient access to Reston, Tysons, Washington, D.C., and Northern Virginia's leading corporate, government, and technology centers. The property serves business travelers, meeting planners, government travelers, and leisure guests seeking comfortable accommodation near Dulles Airport.

For more information about the Embassy Suites by Hilton Dulles Airport or to book a reservation, visit hilton.com.

SOURCE B. F. Saul Company Hospitality Group

Share this article

Of the 11 models I ran on both easy and hard questions, the cheapest on easy work costs 3.6 cents per thousand right answers on my Strix Halo. Give that same model hard questions and a right answer costs 37 times more. Two other models in the set only get twice as expensive over the same jump.

I am a big fan of local LLMs. I control the models and the harnesses, and I pay no subscription fee. That doesn't make local free. I live in California, the land of expensive electricity, and I had never worked out what an answer costs from my Strix Halo system. That question made me wonder how different models stack up, so I measured twenty-seven of them with a power meter running.

Picking the right model is worth more than anything else I tested, and "the right model" depends on how hard your questions are. The cheapest model for easy questions can cost 37 times more per right answer once the questions get hard. Match the model to the job. The numbers behind that are below.

Count correct answers instead of tokens

A "correct answer" here means one of 190 small tasks with checkable answers, split roughly evenly across seven kinds. One kind gives the model a running total starting at zero and an empty stack of numbers, explains five operations, and asks it to apply twenty of them in order:

POP, POP, RESET, DOUBLE, ADD 3, PUSH 8, ADD 7, PUSH 1, RESET, ADD 6, POP, DOUBLE, PUSH 2, ADD 9, DOUBLE, RESET, PUSH 7, PUSH 9, DOUBLE, RESET

PUSH puts a number on the stack, POP takes the top one off and into the running total, and ADD, DOUBLE, and RESET do what they say. The answer is the final total and how many numbers are left on the stack. No single step is hard. You have to hold two values straight for twenty of them without losing your place.

The other six kinds share that shape: follow a chain of arithmetic, transform a list, pull facts from a paragraph padded with distractors, satisfy constraints, write a function that passes tests, and produce output in an exact format. A script decides right or wrong, and prompts run a few hundred tokens.

Those tasks turned out to be too easy, so I also ran 11 of the models against GPQA Diamond: four-way multiple-choice physics, chemistry, and biology written by domain experts and deliberately Google-proof. I ran the first 100 of its 198 questions against each model. That is the "hard questions" column throughout.

Everything is Q4_K_M, with four concurrent requests unless I say otherwise. Energy is integrated from 1Hz wall-power telemetry. I'm in Southern California, so prices use my actual summer consumer rates, not a friendly national average: 34 cents per kilowatt-hour off-peak and 58 cents on-peak. Every dollar figure below is on-peak unless the column says otherwise.

Expect a right answer to cost more as questions get harder

Here is the reason you're reading. The last column is the ratio between the two: how much more a right answer costs once the questions stop being easy. I call it the difficulty tax.

All figures are dollars per thousand correct answers.

"Reasoning off" on three of those rows means what it says. Gemma 4 ships with a reasoning mode enabled, and I measured it both ways. Leaving it on costs up to 48 accuracy points and 6x to 8x the money on easy work. The second post in this series covers that flag.

Two rows need a caveat. qwen3-coder-next (46GB) ran at half the concurrency of the others and nemotron-3-super-120b (77GB) at a quarter, because that much weight plus a large KV allocation hangs this machine. Fewer slots mean longer wall time, and I derive hard-task energy from wall time, so both costs are inflated relative to the rest. Read them as upper bounds. For coder-next that matters a lot, because it scored 79% on the hard questions, joint best in the set.

Read only the first column and qwen3-30b-a3b-instruct is the obvious choice at 3.6 cents per thousand, cheaper than everything else here. Read the second column and it drops to third from last, costing 37x more per right answer than it did a column earlier. Across these 11 models, the difficulty tax runs from 2x to 64x.

Stop sending a 125B model to add 20 numbers

Seven of the 27 clear 97% on my easy suite. For that work, they are interchangeable: you get a right answer either way.

devstral-2-123b is an excellent model, and here it is keeping a running total straight for 20 steps. It does that correctly, for 36x what the cheapest model charges to also do it correctly.

Sending a 125B dense model to add up 20 numbers costs 36x what the cheapest correct model charges for the same result. That is the half of "pick the right model for the job" that people already suspect. The other half needs the hard questions. The fact that seven models tie on my easy suite was my first clue that the suite was too easy, and the fourth post in this series covers what happened when I swapped in GPQA.

Match the model to your workload

There isn't one answer, and the difficulty tax is the reason.

For short, checkable work, which is most of what an agent loop does, use qwen3-30b-a3b-instruct, prompted to think. It costs 3.6 cents per thousand correct answers and takes eight seconds each, and nothing I measured is both cheaper and no worse. It is the best deal on this box by a distance, right up until the questions stop being easy.

For hard work, it is the wrong pick, and it isn't close. It scores 63% on GPQA, and a right answer costs $1.35 per thousand instead of 3.6 cents. Three models sit at the top of the hard questions within a point of each other: qwen3.6-35b-a3b and qwen3-coder-next at 79%, and ornith-35b at 78%.

On these numbers, qwen3-coder-next is the standout of the three. It matches the best hard-task score in the set and costs 4.8 cents per thousand on easy work, second-cheapest overall. A coding-tuned model taking the top score on graduate science questions is not a result I expected, and I re-read the samples twice because of it.

If you don't know which you have, gemma-4-26b-a4b with reasoning off is the hedge. It is the cheapest hard-task model I measured at 36 cents per thousand; it scores 100% on easy work, and its difficulty tax is 3x. It gives up the top of the accuracy range to be predictable, which for a machine serving mixed traffic is usually the right trade. It also costs 30% less per right answer than its dense sibling gemma-4-12b and scores no worse, on a third of the active parameters.

For simple work at volume where 72% accuracy is fine, gemma-3-4b costs 2.5 cents per thousand, still the cheapest thing here.

My own daily driver is none of those four. It is qwen3.6-35b-a3b, which sits in the expensive third of the easy-work cost table and looks dominated there. On hard questions it ties for first, using about an eighth of the tokens that qwen3-30b-a3b-instruct spends getting fewer of them right. A model can be cheap on easy work and expensive on hard work, and neither number settles the choice alone.

Before you pick, check two things that have nothing to do with the model name. Check whether reasoning is on by default and whether you want it, which was worth 48 points and 8x on Gemma 4. And check whether your model stops talking when told to, because twelve of mine wouldn't.

All of this comes from two tasks: a suite I wrote and a set of multiple-choice science questions. That is enough to show that a 125B dense model is a poor way to add up 20 numbers, and enough to show that the difficulty tax is real. It is nowhere near enough to pick your model for you. Take the tables as a shortlist and as a list of things worth measuring, then run your own work against the top few.

National Grid Provides Winter Bill Forecast, Customer Assistance and Energy-Saving Resources for New York City and Long Island Customers

Thousands of National Grid employees work 24 hours a day, seven days a week to keep natural gas flowing through thousands of miles of pipes and homes warm across Downstate New York.

As winter approaches, National Grid is working to help customers manage energy costs and prepare for colder weather. Energy supply prices are set by the market, but National Grid helps limit volatility by storing natural gas and securing some supply at fixed prices ahead of time. The company does not increase energy supply costs. Customers pay the same price National Grid pays, with no additional markup.

Through National Grid's current Downstate New York rate plan, more than $290 million in bill discounts are available to help income-eligible and vulnerable customers manage energy costs. In 2025, more than 3,100 customers received $1.4 million in support through National Grid’s Care & Share and Hope & Warmth programs.

HEAP opens in November in New York. EAP Project Warmth on Long Island supports customers and Hope & Warmth supports NYC customers.

"Every day, our 11,000 employees work to deliver safe, reliable, and affordable energy to our 4.6 million customers. We know energy affordability is a primary concern for so many families and business we serve," said Interim National Grid New York President Matt Barnett. "National Grid is committed to providing our customers with bill assistance programs, payment options, and energy efficiency solutions, especially in the winter months when market-based gas supply prices can be most volatile. We want any customer who needs assistance to contact us to find a solution that works for them.”

WINTER OUTLOOK

National Grid is providing customers with an early look at expected winter heating supply costs so they can plan ahead and take advantage of available assistance and energy-saving programs.

Long Island

Based on current market conditions, National Grid’s residential natural gas customers in Long Island and the Rockaways who use an average of 720 therms during the November to March winter heating season are forecasted to pay about $1461, or $5 more than they paid last year for the same amount of energy.

Residential customers are projected to pay about $120 less for natural gas supply this winter as compared to last winter, and an increase of $125 for delivery of gas as a result of a rate proposal approved by the public service commission in 2024.

New York City

Based on forecasts available at the end of September and assuming typical winter weather conditions, a typical New York City residential natural gas customer using 720 therms is expected to pay about $1765 or $87 more than they paid last year for the same amount during the winter heating season from Nov. 1, 2026 through March 31, 2027 compared to last winter.

Residential customers are projected to pay about $124 less for Natural Gas supply this winter as compared to last winter, and an increase of $211 for delivery of gas as a result of the rate proposal approved by the Public Service Commission in 2024.

Several factors influence winter energy bills, including weather, customer energy use and energy supply prices.

Importantly, a customer's bill contains two primary components:

- Supply charges reflect the cost of natural gas purchased in wholesale energy markets. These charges on customer bills are exactly what National Grid pays, without markup.

- Delivery charges cover the cost of maintaining and operating the energy network that safely delivers natural gas to homes and businesses. This includes a dedicated 24/7 workforce, maintenance and repairs, storm response, and system upgrades.

Expected changes in winter bills are driven largely by projected natural gas supply costs and market conditions. Winter bill forecasts are estimates based on market information available at the end of September and assume normal winter weather. Individual bills will vary depending on temperatures, household energy use, and changing market conditions throughout the heating season.

According to a 2023 American Gas Association report, the annual residential energy bill for a typical single-family home using natural gas is approximately 53% lower than a comparable home using heating oil and 46% lower than a comparable home using propane.

In addition, according to a September 2026 American Gas Association Energy Affordability White Paper, households that use natural gas for heating, cooking and clothes drying save an average of $1,030 per year compared to homes relying on electricity for those same energy needs, underscoring natural gas's role as an affordable heating option for customers.

National Grid does not produce natural gas, does not set wholesale natural gas prices and does not profit from supply charges. The company passes supply costs directly to customers without markup. Supply prices are determined by energy market conditions and the cost charged by suppliers.

CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE

Customers can take steps before winter arrives to better manage energy costs:

- Enroll in the Budget Plan to spread costs more evenly throughout the year.

- Explore available payment assistance and bill discount programs.

- Schedule a home energy assessment and complete recommended efficiency improvements.

- Review energy-saving tips and lower household energy use.

Customers who are having difficulty with affording their energy bills are encouraged to contact National Grid as soon as possible. There are several assistance programs for income-eligible customers, including:

- Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP): Opens in November in New York and provides grants to help eligible customers pay heating bills. Grants do not need to be repaid. Customers can contact their local department of social services to learn more and apply.

- Enhanced Energy Affordability Program: Provides a monthly bill credit to customers who do not qualify for HEAP and have a household income at or below the state median income.

- National Grid’s Energy Affordability Program: Provides monthly gas and electric bill credits for eligible customers, including many customers who qualify for HEAP.

- NYSERDA's EmPower+ New York Income-Eligible Free Weatherization Program: Offers eligible customers free home energy assessments and energy-saving improvements such as insulation, efficient lighting and appliance upgrades.

- National Grid Care & Share Energy Fund (to open in February 2027 provides grants to help income-eligible National Grid customers pay heating bills. To qualify for a grant, you must be a National Grid customer whose household meets the income guidelines of the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP).

Additionally, the utility’s Help Paying Your Bill page lists information about Consumer Advocates, payment plans, grants, monthly bill credits, extra time to pay and protections for customers with serious medical needs. Customers can also call National Grid at 1-800-642-4272.

ADDITIONAL CUSTOMER SOLUTIONS

- The Budget Plan: open to all residential customers, spreads payments out more evenly across the year to help better manage energy costs.

- NYSERDA Home Energy Assessment: Available through NYSERDA, this provides a top-to-bottom look at where a home is wasting energy. Customers can complete a virtual Home Energy Assessment and receive a free Home Energy Plan, the first step in the energy efficiency journey. The company also encourages customers to take advantage of additional payment and billing options, including flexible payment agreements and special protections.

ENERGY SAVING TIPS

Heating a home is a significant energy cost and energy efficiency can lower bills while enhancing comfort. Simply put, when customers reduce energy usage, they save money. National Grid offers the following tips:

- For every 1 degree a thermostat is set back, customers may be able to save 1% to 3% on their annual heating costs.

- Turn down the thermostat every time you leave the house for two hours or more, and each night before you go to bed. It takes less energy to warm up a cool house than to maintain a warm temperature all day and night.

- Consider a smart thermostat as an inexpensive, easy way to maintain comfort and cut heating costs. When used properly, a smart thermostat can save 10% on heating and cooling costs annually by automating energy-saving adjustments you would otherwise make manually.

- Insulate the attic, walls, ceilings, and floors to prevent heat from escaping.

- Take advantage of the sun: Open drapes during the day to capture warmth and close them at night to prevent heat loss through windows.

- Seal holes and cracks where cold air can get in, especially in the attic and basement. Reducing drafts in a home may save 15% in heating and cooling costs annually.

- Remove window air conditioning units during the cold months to reduce drafts. If this is not possible, use foam insulation or weatherstripping to fill any gaps between the unit and the window frame. Cover the exterior of the window unit with waterproof, breathable AC cover designed to withstand winter conditions without trapping moisture.

- If you’re looking to replace an appliance, choose an energy efficient model and save anywhere from 10% to 50% in energy costs. For example, replacing a refrigerator that is older than 15 years with a more efficient refrigerator may save hundreds of dollars over the lifetime of the unit.

- Unplug electronic devices when they are not in use. While it may appear as if electronics are powered off, they may actually be in standby mode and still consuming electricity. Eliminating phantom electricity by unplugging home electronics can save up to 10% per year.

- Repairing or replacing leaky faucets can save $20 per month in lost water. A 100-watt incandescent bulb and 16.6-watt LED bulb each provide approximately 1,500 lumens of brightness.

The article explains what homeowners can consider when comparing agents, pricing strategies, marketing plans, communication, and approaches to handling offers.

GREECE, N.Y., Oct. 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- What should you look for when choosing a listing agent? A HelloNation article featuring insights from Real Estate Expert Rick Visca of Visca Realty with Keller Williams GR in Greece, New York, provides the answer by explaining what homeowners can consider before selecting an agent to sell their home.

The article explains that local real estate experience can be an important starting point. An agent familiar with the area can discuss recent sales, current listings, and what buyers may expect locally. Sellers can also ask whether the agent has experience with similar properties, since different types of homes may attract different buyers.

According to the article, a home pricing strategy should rely on current market information. Recent sales, competing listings, location, and the home's condition can all help inform a suggested listing price. The article cautions sellers against choosing an agent only because that person recommends the highest price.

The article also encourages homeowners to examine an agent's real estate marketing plan. Since buyers often first see homes online, photos, accurate property information, and clear descriptions can be important. Some properties may also benefit from cleaning, simple repairs, or changes in furniture placement before photographs are taken.

Seller communication is another factor addressed in the article. Homeowners can ask how often an agent will provide updates and how information will be shared. Those updates may include showing activity, buyer comments, competing listings, and changes in local market conditions.

The article explains that offer negotiation involves more than comparing prices. Closing dates, inspection terms, financing needs, and other conditions may influence how sellers evaluate an offer. The final decision to accept, reject, or change an offer remains with the homeowner.

The home selling process may also bring unexpected developments, including inspection concerns, appraisal questions, financing issues, or changes to closing dates. The article notes that an agent should explain available choices clearly and keep homeowners informed as a transaction progresses.

Real Estate Expert Rick Visca advises homeowners to understand the listing agreement. Sellers can review the agreement's length, included services, fees, and terms for ending the agreement before making a commitment.

When choosing a listing agent, the article suggests that homeowners may benefit from speaking with more than one professional. Comparing approaches can provide a clearer picture of different ideas about preparation, marketing, pricing, and communication. Sellers can pay attention to whether each recommendation is supported by a clear explanation.

The HelloNation article also notes that an agent cannot guarantee exactly how quickly a home will sell or the final price a buyer will pay. Housing market conditions, buyer interest, and competing properties can influence the result. Instead, sellers can focus on an agent's knowledge, communication, and plan for managing the sale.

Choosing a listing agent ultimately involves understanding how that person approaches the entire transaction. The article explains that reviewing local experience, pricing, marketing, seller communication, and offer negotiation can help homeowners make decisions with better information throughout the home selling process.

How to Choose the Right Listing Agent to Sell Your Home features insights from Rick Visca, Real Estate Expert of Greece, New York, 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 publications and innovative "edvertising" approach, HelloNation delivers content that informs, inspires, and spotlights the leaders making a meaningful impact in their communities.

SOURCE HelloNation

Share this article

Stock Preachers News Commentary

VANCOUVER, BC, Oct. 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Stocks skidded midweek as the Nasdaq Composite dropped 449 points, or 1.65%, to 26,755.24, pulling its weekly loss to 2.23%. The S&P 500 fell 1.10% on the day and 1.18% for the week, while the Russell 2000 tumbled 1.70% and now carries an RSI of just 28.3, signaling deeply oversold small caps. The Dow held up relatively better, down 0.29%. Gold slid 1.93%, silver dropped 5.81%, and WTI crude bucked the trend, rising 1.36% to $95.42 a barrel. Active Companies from around the markets with current developments this week include: RTX (NYSE: RTX), Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT), Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY), Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. (TSX: ATD), and IBM (NYSE: IBM).

The broad equity retreat left every major index in the red for the week, with the Nasdaq's 2.23% weekly slide the steepest among the four. The S&P 500 sits just above its 50-day simple moving average support of 7,707.03, while the Dow trades right around its 20-day SMA support near 51,489.97, leaving both indices on the edge of short-term technical floors.

Volatility ticked higher but remained contained, with the VIX up 0.95 points to 16.22 and the VXN rising to 21.14. Both gauges stayed within their recent weekly ranges, suggesting the selloff has not yet triggered panic-level hedging even as the Russell 2000's RSI of 28.3 points to small-cap stress running well ahead of the broader market's unease.

Commodities sent a mixed signal. WTI crude's 1.36% daily gain and 66.18% year-to-date advance stood in sharp contrast to gold's 1.93% drop and silver's 5.81% slide, the latter now down 20.54% year to date. The 10-year Treasury yield edged up 3 basis points to 5.25%, while the euro slipped 0.33% against the dollar.

The full report lays out the index-by-index support and resistance ladder, sector standouts, and what traders are watching into the back half of the week.

The markets are certainly in a see-saw this week, you can read more news on these companies and other sectors at: https://stockpreachers.com/articles/energy-and-pharma-hold-the-fort-as-tech-takes-it-on-the-chin/

In other industry developments and happenings in the market this week include:

RTX (NYSE: RTX) Raytheon, an RTX business, has secured a five-year contract with two additional option years, valued up to $6.3 billion, for the production and sustainment of Standard Missile-3 Block IB interceptors. The award is part of recent agreements between Raytheon and the Department of War supporting replenishment of missile defense inventory used in combat.

Production will be primarily completed at Raytheon facilities in Tucson, Arizona and Huntsville, Alabama. "This award underscores Raytheon's commitment to increasing production of critical munitions, ensuring our customers have the defensive capabilities they need, when they need them," said Raytheon President Phil Jasper. Read the release.

Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) Lockheed Martin debuted its new PAC-3 Edge interceptor, designed to counter hypersonic and advanced missile threats as part of the U.S. Army's Future Interceptor program. The company will advance development and begin testing in 2027 to prepare for rapid deployment by 2031.

PAC-3 Edge features a Lockheed Martin-built seeker from its Strigo Product Center, which received a $250 million investment, along with a multi-pulse solid rocket motor designed by Northrop Grumman. "Lockheed Martin's PAC-3 Edge interceptor leverages the combat-proven PAC-3 MSE, delivering even greater maneuverability, power and velocity to ensure the Army's layered defensive architecture remains the most advanced in the world," said Tim Cahill, Lockheed Martin, Missiles and Fire Control president. Read the release.

Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) Eli Lilly announced new exploratory data from the TOGETHER-PsO Phase 3b trial evaluating Taltz and Zepbound used together versus Taltz alone in adults with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis and obesity. By Week 36, the combination showed changes in 482 differentially expressed proteins versus 140 for Taltz alone, and 467 differentially expressed genes versus 16.

Approximately 61% of people with psoriasis also have obesity or overweight with at least one weight-related comorbidity, according to the release. "The broader biomarker changes observed with Taltz and Zepbound, including those associated with skin clearance, may point to a meaningful relationship between immune and metabolic biology," said Mark Genovese, M.D., senior vice president of Lilly Immunology development. Read the release.

Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. (TSX: ATD) Alimentation Couche-Tard entered a definitive agreement with Irving Oil to acquire retail assets in Quebec and Ontario, including 50 retail sites already operated under the Quebec Alliance, two sites in Pembroke and Cornwall, Ontario, and fuel supply to 71 Couche-Tard owned and operated sites in Quebec.

The deal also covers 18 cardlock sites, 16 in Quebec and two in Ontario, with existing Irving Oil fleet customers continuing to be served under a long-term agreement. "This agreement builds on our longstanding relationship with Irving Oil and our experience operating these locations," said Stephane Trudel, Senior Vice President of Operations at Alimentation Couche-Tard. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals, including under the Competition Act. Read the release.

IBM (NYSE: IBM) IBM announced it has been selected for Stage C, the third phase of DARPA's Quantum Benchmarking Initiative, advancing it through an independent verification process testing quantum hardware, systems engineering and architectures toward building a fault-tolerant quantum computer.

DARPA launched the initiative in 2024 to determine whether an industrially useful fault-tolerant quantum computer can be built by 2033. "IBM expects to deliver the first fault-tolerant system in 2029, and we plan to scale the value of quantum computing well beyond that timeline," said Jay Gambetta, Director of IBM Research and IBM Fellow. Read the release.

DISCLAIMER: Nothing in this article should be considered as personalized financial advice. We are not licensed under securities laws to address your particular financial situation. No communication by our employees to you should be deemed as personalized financial advice. Please consult a licensed financial advisor before making any investment decision. This is a market commentary and is not a paid advertisement. This article is being distributed by Stock Preachers, which is wholly owned and operated by Market Equities Limited ("MEL"), a company incorporated under the laws of Ireland. This is an independent market commentary published on a non-paid basis. MEL has not been paid any fee by any company mentioned in this article for its production or distribution, and MEL has no advertising or digital media agreement with any company mentioned in this article. The companies mentioned have not reviewed or approved this article. Market Equities and its owners, operators, directors, and affiliates may, from time to time, hold positions in securities mentioned in this article or in the broad-market index funds that track them, and reserve the right to buy, sell, or hold such securities at any time without further notice. Information in this article was obtained from sources believed to be reliable, including company news releases and public market data, but its accuracy cannot be guaranteed. Market data is as of the time stated and may be delayed. Portions of this commentary were produced with the assistance of automated tools from that data and reviewed against it. Investing in securities involves risk, including the possible loss of some or all of your investment. Technical analysis describes past price and volume behavior and does not predict future results; support and resistance levels can fail at any time. References to the companies named in this article are provided solely as market and sector context and as summaries of each company's own public news releases. No partnership, affiliation, or endorsement is implied, and nothing in this article is a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any security. Quotations attributed to company executives are reproduced from those companies' own news releases. Forward-Looking Statements: This article may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including statements made by the companies mentioned in their own news releases. Such statements involve risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially. Readers should review each company's filings with the SEC and applicable Canadian securities regulators. Eagle Eye is an investor signal-intelligence platform affiliated with the publisher of this article. Eagle Eye is not a broker-dealer, and nothing it provides is investment advice. Data may be delayed. Always do your own research.

Contact Information:

https://stockpreachers.com

Media Contact: [email protected]

SOURCE Stock Preachers

Share this article

WALTHAM, Mass., Oct. 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Beacon Interactive Systems announced today that CEO and Co-founder ML Mackey has been named to the newly formed Massachusetts Small Business Development Center (MSBDC) Statewide Advisory Council.

The council is comprised of business, government, economic development and community leaders helping to guide the MSBDC's work with entrepreneurs and growing businesses across the Commonwealth. Established as part of the organization's five-year strategic plan, the council will advise MSBDC leadership on the emerging needs of small businesses, opportunities for collaboration and programs that support industry growth.

"Massachusetts has an extraordinary community of entrepreneurs, but turning a promising idea into a sustainable business takes more than ingenuity," said Mackey. "It takes access to the right guidance, connections and opportunities at each stage of growth. I've seen what small businesses can accomplish when those pieces come together, especially when new technologies move beyond the prototype and into real-world use. I'm excited to work with the MSBDC and my fellow council members to help more entrepreneurs make that journey."

As Beacon's CEO, Mackey has championed the utility of small business innovation and its power to transition cutting edge technologies into operational use. She serves on the Executive Committee of the National Defense Industrial Association Board, is a past Chair of the National Small Business Association, a past member of the Small Business Administration's Invention and Innovation Advisory Committee and the National Academies of Sciences Army Science & Technology Roundtable.

Beacon is a U.S. digital innovator accelerating the transition of technology impact into tactical advantage for the Department of War, its partners and allies. Beacon has combined commercial-sector expertise, deep defense knowledge and an end-user driven approach to develop and deploy mission-proven digital solutions to increase readiness, operational capacity and command visibility at scale. Today, Beacon's products are deployed on over 250 U.S. Navy vessels and across 19 ship classes. By delivering technology with an instinct for warfighter needs and the real-time insight needed to make informed decisions, Beacon helps defense organizations transition innovation into mission impact.

Media Contact: [email protected]

SOURCE Beacon Interactive Systems

Share this article

ATS Energy Secures New Investment to Accelerate Commercial Deployment and Meet Growing Demand for Waste-Heat Power Technology

Following rapid expansion of its customer pipeline and growing market demand, the Earthshot Prize winner is advancing manufacturing and preparing its first commercial Solid-State Generator for deployment in 2027.

LOVELAND, Colo., Oct. 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- ATS Energy, developer of breakthrough technology that converts industrial waste heat directly into electricity, today announced the closing of a new financing round to advance commercial production of its Solid-State Generator (SSG) technology.

ATS has demonstrated its technology, developed a significant commercial pipeline, and expanded its leadership and operational capabilities. The company is now building the production capabilities required to deliver on that pipeline, and this investment enables the transition.

The new capital will support production of ATS's proprietary thermoelectric cartridges, a core component of its Solid-State Generators, and completion of its first commercial unit, targeted for deployment by mid-2027. The financing will shorten the time required to produce and deliver subsequent installations as customer demand grows.

From Breakthrough Technology to Commercial Production

Industrial facilities generate enormous quantities of waste heat, much of which is released into the environment without producing additional value. ATS has developed a solid-state technology that converts this otherwise wasted thermal energy directly into usable electricity without turbines or moving parts.

The company's next phase centers on translating that innovation into commercial production.

"We have spent years building a proven track record of breakthrough technology," said Doug Hudson, Chief Executive Officer of ATS Energy. "What has developed over the past year is that markets are moving toward ATS Energy. We've moved well beyond early interest to commercial commitments, active proposals and a pipeline that continues to expand across multiple industrial sectors. That puts us in a tremendous position to meet the moment in delivering energy to industry. This investment responds to real commercial opportunity, and it positions ATS Energy to scale production, meet customer demand faster, and drive commercial deployments."

Building a Capital-Efficient Manufacturing Operation

Rather than investing heavily in its own manufacturing facilities, ATS is developing a production model supported by specialized contract-manufacturing partners. The strategy is designed to leverage established manufacturing capabilities, limit capital expenditures and provide a scalable foundation for future production.

ATS has also strengthened its technical and commercial leadership, including the addition of Chief Technology Officer Edward Ganja to help guide the company's transition to commercial manufacturing.

Together, these investments support ATS's objective of deploying its first commercial generator and beginning revenue-generating operations in 2027, while developing the production capabilities needed to support additional customer installations.

"We are scaling manufacturing with the discipline required for commercial-grade industrial deployment moving beyond proof-of-concept to deliver mission-critical equipment," said Terry Hill, Chief Operating Officer of ATS Energy. "We've been building the supply chain, identifying the right manufacturing partners and putting the processes in place to move toward repeatable production. By leveraging contract manufacturing, we can focus our capital on the technology, the product and our customers rather than building factories. Just as importantly, we're working to reduce the time between installations so we can respond to the demand we're seeing in the market."

Building on Rapid Commercial Momentum

Since completing its initial friends-and-family financing in 2025, ATS Energy has experienced a rapid acceleration in market interest, moving from early commercial development toward building a substantial pipeline of opportunities across energy-intensive industries.

That momentum has created an opportunity to accelerate the company's commercialization timeline. Rather than waiting for demand to mature, ATS is now moving to scale commercialization to meet growing energy demands.

For ATS, this investment represents more than additional capital. It marks a shift from developing a breakthrough technology to building a business positioned to deliver it at commercial scale.

Building on Global Recognition

ATS was awarded the 2024 Earthshot Prize in the Fix Our Climate category, recognizing the potential of its technology to address one of industry's largest sources of wasted energy. The company has been building recognition within the global energy community, including receiving second place in the Innovations for Traditional Energy, Electricity & the Grid category at the 2026 Energy Venture Day and Pitch Competition during CERAWeek. As industrial operators seek greater energy efficiency, reliable on-site power and lower operating costs, ATS is working to establish waste-heat-to-electricity conversion as a new source of industrial power.

About ATS Energy

Headquartered in Loveland, Colorado, ATS Energy develops solid-state power generation technology that converts industrial waste heat directly into usable electricity without moving parts. Its proprietary thermoelectric cartridges and modular Solid-State Generators are designed to help energy-intensive industries recover otherwise wasted energy, reduce operating costs and improve energy efficiency. ATS was awarded the 2024 Earthshot Prize in the Fix Our Climate category.

Learn more at www.ats.energy.

Media Contact: Liz Deets

Director of Public Relations

Field First Communications

[email protected]

720-413-6224

SOURCE ATS Energy

Share this article

ARMOR-FLEX* Sterilization Wrap, now available in the Halyard® product portfolio, was developed in-house to help prevent sterility breaches that can potentially compromise patient safety and lead to delays in the operating room

Patent-pending ASSURE-DRY* technology and proprietary manufacturing techniques make ARMOR-FLEX* stronger, more flexible and bacteria resistant than traditional sterilization wrap products

RICHMOND, Va., Oct. 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Owens & Minor today announced the launch of ARMOR-FLEX* Sterilization Wrap, the newest addition to its Halyard® product portfolio. Developed in-house and made in America by Owens & Minor, ARMOR-FLEX* is stronger, more flexible and more bacteria-resistant than traditional heavyweight sterilization wraps, helping to deliver greater strength, flexibility and bacterial resistance without adding weight.

Maintaining a sterile operating room environment is critical to infection prevention and patient outcomes, and can be affected by events that happen long before a surgical procedure begins.1, 2 Surgical instruments must remain sterile from the point of sterilization to the operating table, making the sterile wrap that protects them during transfer a vital barrier against contamination. Although many heavyweight wraps rely on bulk for protection, the additional weight can also make them more difficult to work with, slower to dry and more prone to incidents that may impact sterility. ARMOR-FLEX* takes a different approach, using patent-pending ASSURE-DRY* moisture management technology and proprietary manufacturing techniques to support clinicians while offering better protection for the patient.

"For Owens & Minor, being a good healthcare partner means developing unique solutions that address the real-world needs of the clinicians and better support their ability to provide patient care," said Dirk Benson, executive vice president and chief commercial officer, Owens & Minor. "With ARMOR-FLEX*, we've gone further by engineering an innovative product that delivers not just what our customers need, but what they want: a heavyweight sterilization wrap that doesn't compromise on safety, performance or ease of use."

ARMOR-FLEX* builds on nearly 50 years of operating room innovation, starting with the introduction of the first SMS single-use sterilization wrap in 1978. Developed in- house by Owens & Minor using patent-pending technology and manufacturing processes, ARMOR-FLEX* is made in America in Lexington, N.C. To learn more about ARMOR-FLEX* and the Halyard product portfolio, please visit HalyardHealth.com/ARMOR-FLEX*.

On December 31, 2025, Owens & Minor announced a new chapter in its long and storied history: the medical distribution, products and technology services business, formerly referred to as Products & Healthcare Services (P&HS), is now part of the Platinum Equity portfolio. The company continues to operate as a private standalone company under the Owens & Minor name, carrying on the legacy of excellence and service the company has long been known for.

About Owens & Minor

Owens & Minor is a global healthcare solutions company providing essential products, services and technology solutions that support care delivery in leading hospitals, health systems and research centers around the world. For over 140 years, Owens & Minor has delivered comfort and confidence behind the scenes so healthcare stays at the forefront, helping to make each day better for the hospitals, healthcare partners, and communities we serve. Powered by more than 14,000 teammates worldwide, Owens & Minor exists because every day, everywhere, Life Takes Care®.

*Registered Trademark or Trademark of O&M Halyard or its affiliates.

Media contact

Stacy Law

[email protected]

1 Back to Basics: Sterile Technique. AORN Journal, Volume 105, Issue 5. May 2017. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0001209217302193.

2 A Day in the Life of a Surgical Instrument: The Cycle of Sterilization. Annals of Surgery Open, February 2024. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11175864/. 

SOURCE Owens & Minor

Share this article