New Cox Automotive research finds 63% of vehicle shoppers plan to use AI, while only 29% of dealers say they are adjusting for AI-powered search

SAN ANTONIO, Sept. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- CarLocal.io is expanding its automotive AI answer engine and dealership visibility infrastructure as artificial intelligence becomes a more important starting point in the vehicle-shopping journey.

The shift is already showing up in industry research. According to Cox Automotive's Q2 2026 AI in Auto Retail Tracker, 63% of in-market vehicle shoppers say they definitely or probably will use AI during their next vehicle purchase. AI tools are now used as a vehicle research channel by 36% of shoppers, nearly level with automotive-specific websites at 38%.

Dealer adoption, however, has not moved at the same pace. Cox reports that only 29% of dealers say they are actively adjusting or in the process of adjusting for AI-powered search.

That creates a new challenge for automotive retailers: When a shopper asks an AI platform what vehicle to buy, where to buy it, how much it should cost or where to have it serviced, will that dealership be part of the answer?

"The biggest change isn't simply that consumers are using AI," said Chris J. Martinez, founder of CarLocal.io. "It's that the starting point of the shopping journey can now be a question instead of a traditional search. Dealers have spent years competing to rank on Google. The next challenge is making sure their dealership, inventory and local expertise can be understood and surfaced when consumers ask AI for an answer."

CarLocal.io is building around that shift.

The platform combines automotive AI search, answer engine optimization (AEO), generative engine optimization (GEO), structured dealership information, local automotive intent coverage and technical website infrastructure designed to make dealership information easier for search engines and AI systems to discover, interpret and connect.

The consumer-facing CarLocal experience is being developed to answer natural-language automotive questions, while the underlying infrastructure helps organize and connect dealership information across traditional search, answer engines and emerging AI interfaces.

The goal is straightforward: help local dealerships become part of the answer as automotive discovery moves from searching to asking.

How Vehicle Discovery Is Changing

The change is visible in the types of questions consumers can now ask conversational systems. Instead of searching only for a dealership or vehicle model, a shopper can ask which three-row SUV fits a specific budget, whether leasing or financing makes more sense for a particular situation, what to consider before buying a used electric vehicle, or where to service a vehicle locally.

Cox Automotive reported that among shoppers using AI, 26% use it to generate questions to ask dealers and 24% say it helps them feel more prepared when working with a dealership. Avoiding dealership staff was the least-cited dealer-relationship benefit at 17%, suggesting AI is often being used to prepare for the dealership interaction rather than eliminate it.

"The important change is not simply that consumers are using AI," said Chris J. Martinez, founder of CarLocal.io. "It is that the starting point can now be a question instead of a website. That changes what information needs to be available, how it needs to be structured and how a local dealership can become part of the answer."

What CarLocal Is Building

CarLocal is developing an automotive AI answer engine and dealership visibility platform around the shift from keyword search toward conversational discovery. The consumer-facing experience is designed to address natural-language automotive questions, while the underlying infrastructure organizes dealership information so it can be more readily interpreted across traditional search, answer engines and emerging AI interfaces.

What CarLocal Is Finding on Dealership Websites

CarLocal's internal analysis of automotive retail websites has identified recurring technical and content issues that can complicate machine discovery. These include orphaned content with weak or missing internal pathways, conflicting canonical signals, sitemap gaps, inconsistent dealership information and promotional language that cannot be tied to a current verified offer.

In a recent quality initiative across CarLocal's dealership network, the platform corrected more than 11,000 promotional claims, removed more than 23,000 unsupported promotional references from page content and resolved 573 canonical conflicts. CarLocal also applied more than 68,000 internal links to strengthen connections between automotive content and reduce orphaned pages.

These figures are internal operational findings from CarLocal's platform work, not an independent industry sample. They are included to show the types and scale of issues CarLocal has encountered within the dealership websites it currently supports and should not be generalized to all U.S. dealerships.

How CarLocal Is Responding

The platform combines traditional search-engine fundamentals with answer engine optimization (AEO), generative engine optimization (GEO), structured dealership information and local automotive intent coverage. CarLocal is also developing MCP-ready infrastructure around the Model Context Protocol, an open standard for connecting AI applications with external data sources and tools.

Within CarLocal's architecture, MCP is one component intended to prepare dealership information for a future in which AI assistants and agents may retrieve information, use external tools and help consumers move from research toward action through conversational interfaces. The consumer sees an answer; underneath it is an information layer intended to organize automotive knowledge and connect consumer intent with relevant local resources.

CarLocal separately evaluates whether content is technically accessible, whether it meets internal quality requirements and whether visibility can actually be observed. Publishing or analyzing a page is not counted as proof that an external search engine or AI system has surfaced it.

CarLocal.io Platform Metrics

As of September 2026, CarLocal supports 21 active dealership deployments and has analyzed more than 49,000 live automotive web pages. These figures describe platform deployment and technical analysis activity; they are not presented as independent evidence of consumer adoption, search-ranking gains or AI citation performance.

The quality initiative figures cited above are also internal operational counts. CarLocal reports them separately from third-party market research so readers can distinguish external consumer and dealer trends from observations generated through CarLocal's own platform.

Methodology and Sources

The consumer and dealer market statistics in this release come from Cox Automotive's AI in Auto Retail Tracker. Cox reports that its Q2 2026 wave surveyed 483 franchise and independent dealership decision-makers and 1,502 consumers planning to purchase a vehicle within the next 12 months. The Q2 surveys were fielded in May 2026, and dealership data were weighted by dealership size.

CarLocal platform figures are internal operational counts as of September 2026. They reflect active dealership deployments and pages processed or analyzed by CarLocal systems. They are provided for scale and product context and should not be interpreted as third-party market research.

Sources

Cox Automotive, AI in Auto Retail Tracker (Q1–Q2 2026): https://www.coxautoinc.com/retail/ai-in-auto-retail-tracker/

Cox Automotive, "New Cox Automotive AI in Auto Retail Tracker Finds Growing Gap Between Dealers and AI-Powered Car Shoppers," Aug. 11, 2026: https://www.coxautoinc.com/press-releases/new-cox-automotive-ai-in-auto-retail-tracker/

Cox Automotive, "How AI Is Influencing Vehicle Discovery and What Dealers Can Do About It," Aug. 26, 2026: https://www.coxautoinc.com/insights/how-ai-is-influencing-vehicle-discovery-and-what-dealers-can-do-about-it/

About CarLocal.io

CarLocal.io is an automotive AI answer engine and search visibility platform focused on helping consumers navigate vehicle research and ownership questions while helping local dealerships make accurate information more discoverable across traditional search, answer engines and generative AI. Its technology includes dealership website analysis, AEO, GEO, structured information, local intent coverage, content quality controls and MCP-ready infrastructure.

SOURCE CarLocal

Share this article

ATLANTA, Sept. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Delta Air Lines' (NYSE:DAL) Board of Directors today declared a quarterly dividend of $0.2150 per share. The dividend is payable to shareholders of record as of the close of business on October 15, 2026, and will be paid on November 5, 2026.

About Delta

No one better connects the world

Through exceptional service and the power of innovation, Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) never stops looking for ways to make every trip feel tailored to every customer.

There are 100,000 Delta people leading the way to deliver a world-class customer experience on up to 5,500 daily Delta and Delta Connection flights to more than 300 destinations on six continents, connecting people to places and to each other.

Delta served more than 200 million customers in 2025 – safely, reliably and with industry-leading customer service innovation – and was recognized by J.D. Power in 2025 for being No. 1 in Premium Economy Passenger Satisfaction. The airline also was recognized by Cirium as North America's most on-time airline in 2025.

We remain committed to ensuring that the future of travel is connected, personalized and enjoyable. Our people's genuine, enduring motivation is to make every customer feel welcomed and cared for across every point of their journey with us.

SOURCE Delta Air Lines

Share this article

RESTON, Va., Sept. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- ICF (NASDAQ:ICFI), a leading global solutions and technology provider, will release its third quarter 2026 results on Thursday, November 5, 2026, after the market close.

The Company plans to host a webcast call at 4:30 p.m. Eastern time on Thursday, November 5, 2026, to discuss its financial results for the quarter. Earnings results will be available at https://investor.icf.com before the call.

Call Access Process

Analysts and institutional investors may actively participate by registering online at https://register-conf.media-server.com/register/BI8f18d40afff846bb9db190b4233f0da3. Once registered, participants will receive dial-in information and a unique PIN to access the call as well as an email confirmation with the details.

General listeners can access the live webcast at https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/273vq66x.

A replay of the webcast will be available for one year following the live event at https://investor.icf.com/news-events.

For More Information

Investor information contact:

Lynn Morgen, AdvisIRy Partners, [email protected], +1.212.750.5800

or

David Gold, AdvisIRy Partners, [email protected], +1.212.750.5800

Company information contact:

Lauren Dyke, ICF, [email protected], +1.571.373.5577

About ICFS

ICF (NASDAQ:ICFI) is a leading global solutions and technology provider. At ICF, business analysts and policy specialists work together with digital strategists, data scientists and creatives. We combine unmatched industry expertise with cutting-edge engagement capabilities to help organizations solve their most complex challenges. Since 1969, public and private sector clients have worked with ICF to navigate change and shape the future. Learn more at icf.com.

Caution Concerning Forward-looking Statements

Statements that are not historical facts and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties are "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Such statements may concern our current expectations about our future results, plans, operations and prospects and involve certain risks, including those related to: the government contracting industry generally; our dependence on contracts with U.S. federal, state and local, and international government clients for the majority of our revenue; failure by Congress or other governmental bodies to approve budgets and appropriations in a timely fashion, reductions in government spending, and the impact of a lengthy federal government shutdown; the current Administration's policy changes, executive orders, and failure to spend Congressionally mandated appropriations, including the resulting effect on government audits and contract terminations; changes in federal government budgeting and spending priorities; our ability to estimate and control costs under our fixed-price contracts; the realization of our backlog; the dependence of our commercial work on sectors of the global economy that are highly cyclical; and our ability to acquire and successfully integrate businesses. These and other factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those indicated in our forward-looking statements are described in the "Risk Factors" section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, and in our subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements included herein are made only as of the date hereof, and we specifically disclaim any obligation to update these statements in the future.

SOURCE ICF

Share this article

The board of directors today declared a quarterly dividend of $0.2775 per share on the company's common shares, payable Nov. 2, 2026.

Key Takeaways:

- The board of directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.2775 per share on the company's common shares.

- Dividends on common stock as well as Series A and Series C preferred stock are payable on Nov. 2, 2026.

DALLAS, Sept. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The board of directors of AT&T (NYSE:T) today declared a quarterly dividend of $0.2775 per share on the company's common shares.

The board of directors also declared quarterly dividends on the company's 5.000% Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A and the company's 4.750% Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series C. The Series A dividend is $312.50 per preferred share, or $0.3125 per depositary share. The Series C dividend is $296.875 per preferred share, or $0.296875 per depositary share.

Dividends on the common stock and Series A and Series C preferred stock are payable on Nov. 2, 2026, to stockholders of record of the respective shares at the close of business on Oct. 12, 2026.

To automatically receive AT&T financial news by email, please subscribe to email alerts.

About AT&T

We help more than 100 million U.S. families, friends and neighbors, plus nearly 2.5 million businesses, connect to greater possibility. From the first phone call 150+ years ago to our 5G wireless and multi-gig internet offerings today, we @ATT innovate to improve lives. For more information about AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T), please visit us at about.att.com. Investors can learn more at investors.att.com.

SOURCE AT&T

Share this article

Webcast and conference call on October 30 at 7 a.m. PT (10 a.m. ET)

SEATTLE, Sept. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Weyerhaeuser Company (NYSE: WY) will release third quarter 2026 results on Thursday, October 29, after the market closes. The company will then hold a live webcast and conference call the following day, on Friday, October 30, at 7 a.m. Pacific (10 a.m. Eastern), to discuss the results.

To access the earnings release, live webcast and presentation online, visit the Investors section on www.weyerhaeuser.com.

To join the conference call from within North America, dial 877-407-0792 (access code: 13755109) at least 15 minutes prior to the call. Those calling from outside North America should dial 201-689-8263 (access code: 13755109). Replays will be available for two weeks at 844-512-2921 (access code: 13755109) from within North America, and at 412-317-6671 (access code: 13755109) from outside North America.

ABOUT WEYERHAEUSER

Weyerhaeuser Company, one of the world's largest private owners of timberlands, began operations in 1900 and today owns or controls more than 10 million acres of timberlands in the U.S., as well as additional public timberlands managed under long-term licenses in Canada. Weyerhaeuser has been a global leader in sustainability for more than a century and manages 100 percent of its timberlands on a fully sustainable basis in compliance with internationally recognized sustainable forestry standards. Weyerhaeuser is also one of the largest manufacturers of wood products in North America and operates additional business lines around product distribution, climate solutions, real estate, and energy and natural resources, among others. In 2025, the company generated $6.9 billion in net sales and employed approximately 9,500 people who serve customers worldwide. Operated as a real estate investment trust, Weyerhaeuser's common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol WY. Learn more at www.weyerhaeuser.com.

For more information contact:

Analysts - Andy Taylor, 206-539-3907

Media – Nancy Thompson, 919-861-0342

SOURCE Weyerhaeuser Company

Share this article

$50 million gift promises to further advance CSF Leak Program's patient access, research and innovation

AURORA, Colo., Sept. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- On an early summer day in 2017, Jen MacKenzie's busy and fulfilling life as a wife and homeschool mom suddenly began to slip away. She woke up with what felt like severe jet lag – a headache and profound fatigue. Within a couple of months, she was engulfed by other symptoms that left her sidelined from a normal active life: nausea, dizziness, brain fog and hyper-sensitivity to sounds.

"For me, it was a very specific onset. It felt like I was in quicksand," said the mother of two children, then ages 8 and 12. "I was grounded from daily life."

Jen's debilitating symptoms gradually robbed her of her ability to cook, drive and do most daily activities. The headache felt like a warm brick at the base of her skull. "It wasn't a headache in the commonly understood sense," she said. "It was weighted and warm, and deeply unsettling to experience."

Meanwhile, she described the dysfunction of her sensory systems as its own kind of pain. "It's really disorienting," she said. "It just felt like there were lots of aspects of pain and dysfunction that were happening simultaneously."

Why CSF leaks can take years to diagnose

During those first years, she saw her primary physician and specialists, including multiple neurologists, getting diagnosed with migraine, new daily persistent headache, cervicogenic headache, medication-overuse headache, temporomandibular dysfunction and other conditions. "None of the treatments did anything to provide relief or reduce the head pain," said Jen, who lives in Washington state.

She steadfastly explained to doctors what her life was like before the quicksand. "Honestly, I felt like I was going crazy, but I tried to trust that I knew what I was experiencing."

Almost exactly two years after onset, a primary physician suggested she might have a CSF leak, having seen a patient with similar symptoms a few years earlier. That prompted her to seek care specific to CSF leaks, including specialists out of state.

Her difficult journey continued for 5-1/2 years – "flat on my back staring at the ceiling" (with increased headache pain when standing a hallmark of CSF leaks) – before Jen learned of Andrew Callen, MD, and the Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Leak Program at the CU Anschutz School of Medicine.

She vividly remembers the phone call in which Callen quietly listened and said, "I'm happy to help." It was the moment Jen began to reclaim her life.

How a $50M gift will expand CSF leak care and research

Cerebrospinal fluid surrounds and protects the brain and spinal cord. When that fluid leaks, the resulting pressure changes can cause headaches and other neurological symptoms.

In just a few years, CU Anschutz has grown into one of the nation's leading centers for CSF leak diagnosis and treatment. Callen's team performs about 20 CSF leak procedures a week, totaling close to 600 a year, with approximately 50% of patients being out of network, out of state and even out of country, he said. "There just aren't enough places doing this work, so people have to find somewhere to go."

Callen said the landmark gift of $50 million from an anonymous donor will help "supercharge" the CSF Leak Program's patient access, research, innovation and overall impact for this undertreated and underdiagnosed illness.

What is a CSF leak?

Cerebrospinal fluid is a clear liquid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. It serves as a shock absorber to cushion the brain and spinal cord from sudden impact or injury, also making the brain feel lighter and keeping lower structures from being crushed by their own weight. It carries nutrients to the central nervous system and clears metabolic waste products from brain tissue. A leak can produce multiple debilitating symptoms, including headaches that worsen when standing.

Millions of women in the United States receive neuraxial anesthesia during childbirth each year, and accidental dural puncture is a recognized complication that can result in persistent symptoms in a subset of patients, Callen said. "And that is only one source of CSF leaks. We still have remarkably little population-level data on spontaneous leaks, so the true burden of this disease remains poorly understood."

The transformative gift will also help grow the CSF Leak team with additional specialists "who can devote their whole self to this," Callen said. "With our staffing model, we're booked into mid-2027 right now. And these people are, as Jen says, staring at the ceiling and suffering in silence. That's unacceptable."

Parents instill patient-centered care

Callen grew up in California's Bay Area and is the son of doctors. His late father was a pioneer in obstetric ultrasound, writing the textbook "Callen's Ultrasonography in Obstetrics and Gynecology."

"He used to always say to me as I was coming up through training (at the University of California San Francisco School of Medicine), 'Don't go into academics … It's all this stuff on these numbers and measurements; it's not about the patient anymore,'" Callen said.

"I was like, 'Dad, what are you talking about? You base your whole career on this. You love your job.'"

Passionate, patient-centered care was clearly ingrained in the younger Callen. He regularly sees heavy psychological burdens being carried across painful, frustrating and time-consuming patient journeys. According to CU Anschutz researchers in collaboration with the Spinal CSF Leak Foundation, nearly 80% of patients reported being misdiagnosed and saw a median of more than six clinicians before receiving the correct diagnosis.

"They're sick. They need help. Not in their head, but in their spine," Callen said. "So they arrive at their appointment, and I just feel devastated for them because it reminds me of somebody who is accused of a crime they didn't commit."

A critical moment of the treatment, he said, is sitting with the patient and listening to their story – free of preconceived notions. It's not uncommon for patients to show him pictures of their lives pre-onset – running marathons, climbing mountains, traveling the world, caring for their families.

"It is therapeutic for someone to say, 'I believe you. I believe you, and I'm not a miracle worker. I can't guarantee I'm going to find something to fix you, but I believe you. There's something going on here. You're not crazy.'"

How doctors diagnosed Jen's complex CSF leak

For Jen, the crushing claustrophobia of her condition – the relentless pain, sensory dysfunction, cognitive fog and nausea – began to finally lift after she arrived in Aurora.

Callen diagnosed her as having an iatrogenic CSF leak, meaning it was caused by a medical procedure. Using a specialized MRI protocol designed for detecting subtle CSF leaks, he localized a "bleb" along her lumbar spine: a small outpouching of the dura characteristic of a prior needle injury – and in retrospect this had been present on her earliest MRIs. After discussing this finding with her, it was suspected that when given an epidural during labor with her first child, the needle accidentally poked through the dura, which surrounds and contains the CSF in the spine.

Unlike iatrogenic/doctor-caused CSF leaks, a spontaneous spinal CSF leak occurs without a preceding medical procedure or specific precipitating event.

There are three subtypes of spontaneous leak:

- a bone spur that pierces a hole in the front of the dura;

- a tear in the side of the dura, near where the nerve exits the spine;

- a CSF venous fistula, which is an abnormal connection between the normal space containing CSF within the dura and veins outside the dura. Venous fistulas weren't described until 2014 and require more research as they still aren't well understood.

A patch, then surgery

Jen's treatment began with a patch using fibrin glue, a sealant made from pooled donated human plasma that is distinctly different from a typical blood patch. "Every one of these procedures is really something different, depending on the type of leak they have," Callen said.

The patch procedure took place in December 2022, giving her immediate, though temporary, relief. Her family then traveled home to Seattle, where she finally settled back into the living room couch.

Jen had spent the last couple Christmases in her bedroom as her husband had set up cameras so she could see her family opening gifts. "We shared Christmas for the first time in years," she said, holding back tears.

In February 2023, Jen returned to CU Anschutz for surgery performed by Callen's neurosurgical partner and leak program co-director Peter Lennarson, MD, and the CSF Leak team. Using a minimally invasive surgical approach, Lennarson repaired the bleb.

"Once I was awake and had my full faculties back, I was feeling better," Jen said. "I knew it worked."

What recovery after CSF leak treatment can involve

She went through a "rebound intracranial hypertension" period where her symptoms fluctuated, and some new symptoms appeared, as her body re-accommodated to her new sealed state. It wasn't until September 2025 – 2-1/2 years after the surgery – that Jen began to drive again. "For so many people," she said, "recovery is a really curvy line with ups and downs, so you just need patience and compassion for yourself because it's very complicated."

Callen said it's common for CSF leak patients to experience rebound intracranial hypertension, which causes a different type of headache and other lingering symptoms, which can last days to months, or even longer in some cases. It's another area where the CSF Leak Program gift will help advance research, potentially leading to better treatments.

"That's another reason we felt we needed to have a clinic and a program, not just a procedure service," Callen said. "For patients who've been living with this for a long time, after closing the leak, they develop a sort of CSF disequilibrium state.

Study data showed more than half of patients who used targeted systemic therapies modified treatment due to lack of efficacy

Among patients surveyed in the study, 94% of those open to a new systemic therapy expressed interest in molecular testing to help identify a more effective treatment

FRIENDSWOOD, Texas, Sept. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Castle Biosciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: CSTL), a company improving health through innovative tests that guide patient care, today announced the publication of a new study highlighting the challenges patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) experience in achieving their treatment goals and strong patient interest in molecular testing to help guide systemic therapy selection. The findings support the clinical need for molecular guidance in AD care. Castle's AdvanceAD-Tx test is designed to address this need by helping personalize systemic therapy decisions based on an individual patient's underlying disease biology.

"One thing came through clearly in this study: patients want better control of their disease and more information to help guide their treatment decisions," said study author Diego Ruiz Dasilva, M.D., board-certified dermatologist at Forefront Dermatology in Virginia Beach, Virginia. "AdvanceAD-Tx gives us an opportunity to bring objective molecular information into those conversations, helping personalize systemic treatment decisions and expedite the path to an effective therapy and symptom relief."

The study, published in Dermatology and Therapy, evaluated the treatment experiences, priorities and perspectives of patients with AD and their caregivers.1 Key findings include:

- Among participants who had used targeted systemic therapies, 55% modified their treatment due to lack of efficacy.

- Overall, 83% of respondents expressed interest in molecular testing to guide treatment selection, increasing to 94% among those open to initiating a new systemic therapy.

The study included 43 patients and caregivers who participated in a 32-question assessment at the 2024 National Eczema Association Eczema Expo. Respondents identified itch control (70%), effective skin clearance (58%) and safety or absence of side effects (50%) as the most important factors when considering AD treatment. Among participants who had used systemic therapy, inadequate skin clearance and persistent itching were the most frequently reported reasons for switching systemic therapies or adding topical treatment.

This new paper complements an earlier prospective, multicenter clinical validation study in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology that demonstrated the ability of Castle's AdvanceAD-Tx test to identify differences in systemic therapy class response in patients with moderate-to-severe AD.² Patients identified by the test as having a Janus kinase (JAK) Inhibitor Responder Profile who were treated with a JAK inhibitor were 5.5 times more likely to achieve at least 90% improvement in Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI-90) by three months and achieved that response 3.8 times faster than patients with the same molecular profile who were treated with a T helper type 2 (Th2)-targeted therapy. Patients identified by the test as having a Th2 Molecular Profile showed comparable clinical outcomes with either therapy class.

About AdvanceAD-Tx

AdvanceAD-Tx is a non-invasive gene expression profile (GEP) test designed to guide systemic treatment decisions for patients aged 12 years and older with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD). Using RNA expression data from lesional skin scraping samples—no biopsy required—the test evaluates 487 genes across 12 inflammatory and cutaneous biology pathways to reveal the underlying immune biology driving an individual patient's disease. The test classifies patients into one of two molecular profiles: a Janus kinase (JAK) Inhibitor Responder Profile or a T helper type 2 (Th2) Molecular Profile.

The prospective clinical validation study showed that patients with a JAK Inhibitor Responder Profile given JAK inhibitor therapy experienced significantly greater clinical benefit — including improved and faster skin clearance (EASI-90), greater likelihood of achieving no itch and remaining flare-free, and better quality of life by three months — compared to those treated with a Th2-targeted therapy. AdvanceAD-Tx provides clinicians with objective, molecular-based insights to help personalize systemic treatment decisions and improve care for patients. Learn more at https://castlebiosciences.com/tests/therapy-guidance/advancead-tx/overview.

About Castle Biosciences

Castle Biosciences (Nasdaq: CSTL) is a leading diagnostics company improving health through innovative tests that guide patient care. With a primary focus in dermatologic and gastroenterological disease, we develop personalized, clinically actionable solutions that help improve disease management and patient outcomes.

We put people first—empowering patients and clinicians and informing care decisions through rigorous science and advanced molecular tests that support more confident treatment planning. To learn more, visit www.CastleBiosciences.com and connect with us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook and X.

DecisionDx-Melanoma, DecisionDx-CMSeq, i31-SLNB, i31-ROR, DecisionDx-SCC, MyPath Melanoma, AdvanceAD-Tx, TissueCypher, Esopredict, DecisionDx-UM, DecisionDx-PRAME and DecisionDx-UMSeq are trademarks of Castle Biosciences, Inc.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which are subject to the "safe harbor" created by those sections. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements concerning AdvanceAD-Tx's ability to (i) provide objective molecular information to help guide systemic therapy selection, (ii) help personalize treatment decisions based on an individual patient's underlying disease biology, (iii) help clinicians and patients make more informed treatment decisions, (iv) help patients get to an effective therapy and achieve relief from their symptoms sooner and (v) improve patient care and treatment outcomes. The words "believe," "can," "may," "designed," "goal" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. We may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in our forward-looking statements, and you should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. Actual results or events could differ materially from the plans, intentions and expectations disclosed in the forward-looking statements that we make. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: subsequent study or trial results and findings may contradict earlier study or trial results and findings or may not support the results obtained in these studies, including with respect to the discussion of our tests in this press release; actual application of our tests may not provide the aforementioned benefits to patients; and the risks set forth under the heading "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, and our subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, each as filed or to be filed with the SEC, and in our other filings with the SEC. The forward-looking statements are applicable only as of the date on which they are made, and we do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as may be required by law.

References:

- Ruiz Dasilva D, Burshtein J, Weinberg J, et al. Patient experience and preferences for treatments in atopic dermatitis. Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). Published online September 8, 2026. doi:10.1007/s13555-026-01912-w

- Silverberg JI, Eichenfield LF, Armstrong AW, et al. The 487-gene expression profile test guides systemic therapy selection to improve outcomes for patients with atopic dermatitis: results from a prospective trial. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2026. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2026.02.034

Investor Contact:

Camilla Zuckero

[email protected]

Media Contact:

Allison Marshall

[email protected]

SOURCE Castle Biosciences, Inc.

Share this article

NORTHVILLE, Mich., Sept. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Cooper Standard (NYSE: CPS) today announced the appointment of Matthew Boddy as senior vice president, chief commercial officer. In this role, Boddy will lead the Company's global commercial organization in both its sealing and fluid handling product lines and will report directly to Jeffrey Edwards, chairman and CEO, Cooper Standard. Based at the Company's world headquarters in Northville, MI, Boddy will also join Cooper Standard's Global Leadership Team and serve as an officer of the Company.

"Matt brings extensive commercial leadership experience and a proven ability to drive business growth," said Edwards. "His knowledge of our global customers combined with his strategic mindset and collaborative leadership style make him well suited to lead our global commercial organization. We are pleased to recognize Matt's contributions and confident he will continue to play an important role in advancing Cooper Standard's global growth."

Boddy most recently served as Vice President, Business Development for the Company's Fluid Handling product line where he was responsible for leading global commercial strategy and driving top line growth. In this role, he worked closely with customers and cross-functional teams to support commercial excellence, to strengthen customer relationships and to advance key business priorities across the product line. Prior to joining Cooper Standard, Boddy held roles of increasing responsibility at Nemak, KSS (Key Safety Systems) and Lear Corporation.

Boddy earned a Bachelor of Science degree in management from General Motors Engineering and Management Institute (now Kettering University) and a Master of Arts degree in Economics from Walsh College.

About Cooper Standard 

Cooper Standard, headquartered in Northville, Mich., with locations in 20 countries, is a leading global supplier of sealing and fluid handling systems and components. Utilizing our materials science and manufacturing expertise, we create innovative and sustainable engineered solutions for diverse transportation and industrial markets. Cooper Standard's approximately 22,000 team members (including contingent workers) are at the heart of our success, continuously improving our business and surrounding communities. Learn more at www.cooperstandard.com or follow us on LinkedIn, X, Facebook, Instagram or YouTube. 

SOURCE Cooper Standard

Share this article

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., and CONROE, Texas, Sept. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Encompass Health Corp. (NYSE: EHC) today announced plans to expand inpatient rehabilitation capacity in the greater Houston area through two projects in Montgomery County, Texas: the Company's first small-format inpatient rehabilitation hospital in Conroe and a replacement hospital for its existing inpatient rehabilitation hospital in The Woodlands.

The 24-bed Conroe hospital will operate as a satellite location of Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of The Woodlands, bringing specialized inpatient rehabilitation care closer to patients in Conroe and surrounding communities. The hospital is expected to open in late 2027.

The Conroe project marks the Company's first small-format inpatient rehabilitation hospital, a new development model designed to complement its traditional hospitals and extend care into growing communities. Small-format hospitals will operate in connection with an existing Encompass Health hospital, allowing them to leverage established resources and expertise while expanding the Company's reach within a market. The model provides Encompass Health with an additional avenue to meet growing demand for inpatient rehabilitation services and bring specialized care closer to more patients.

"We are excited to strengthen our ability to serve patients throughout the greater Houston area while expanding our existing footprint," said Craig Funk, group president of Encompass Health's Southwest region. "By opening our first small-format hospital in Conroe, we will increase access to high-quality inpatient rehabilitation care closer to home for patients in communities north of Houston. This new model allows us to extend the reach of our existing hospital into growing communities while maintaining the high standards of care patients expect from Encompass Health."

In addition, Encompass Health plans to construct a new 60-bed replacement hospital on the existing Woodlands campus. The modern facility will feature all private patient rooms and enhanced amenities designed to support recovery. Construction is planned to allow the existing hospital to continue serving patients without interruption. The replacement hospital is expected to open in 2029.

"We are making a significant investment in our longstanding presence in The Woodlands through a new, state-of-the-art replacement hospital that will enhance the patient experience for years to come," said Funk. "Together, these two projects demonstrate our commitment to both strategic growth and continued investment in the communities we serve."

Both hospitals will serve patients recovering from major illnesses and injuries, including stroke and other neurological conditions, brain and spinal cord injuries, amputations and complex orthopedic conditions. Patients will receive 24-hour nursing care and physical, occupational and speech therapy from an interdisciplinary team of specialized nurses, therapists and physicians to help restore function and improve quality of life.

About Encompass Health

Encompass Health (NYSE: EHC) is the largest owner and operator of inpatient rehabilitation hospitals in the United States. With a national footprint that includes 177 hospitals in 39 states and Puerto Rico, the Company provides high-quality, compassionate rehabilitative care for patients recovering from major injuries or illnesses, using advanced technology and innovative treatments to maximize recovery. Encompass Health is recognized by Newsweek as America's Most Awarded Leader in Inpatient Rehabilitation and is ranked among Fortune's World's Most Admired Companies™ and Forbes' America's Best Companies. It is also recognized by Becker's Healthcare and Modern Healthcare as a top healthcare employer. For more information, visit encompasshealth.com and follow us on our newsroom, X, Instagram and Facebook.

From Fortune. © 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All rights reserved. Fortune® is a registered trademark and Fortune World's Most Admired Companies™ is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited and are used under license. Fortune and Fortune Media IP Limited are not affiliated with, and do not endorse products or services of Encompass Health.

Forward-looking statements

Statements contained in this press release that are not historical facts, such as those relating to the likelihood, timing and effects of the completion of hospital projects, are forward-looking statements. In addition, Encompass Health may from time to time make forward-looking public statements concerning the matters described herein. All such estimates, projections and forward-looking information speak only as of the date hereof, and Encompass Health undertakes no duty to publicly update or revise such forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Such forward-looking statements are necessarily estimates based upon current information and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual outcomes may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors. While it is impossible to identify all such factors, factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated include, but are not limited to, any adverse outcome of various lawsuits, claims and legal or regulatory proceedings that may be brought by or against the Company; the possibility that any project will experience unexpected delays; the ability to successfully complete any project consistent with Encompass Health's growth strategy, including development and maintenance of relationships with referral sources; disease outbreaks, including the speed, depth, geographic reach and duration of the spread; the actions to be taken by Encompass Health in response to disease outbreaks; changes in the regulation of the healthcare industry at either or both of the federal and state levels; competitive pressures in the healthcare industry and Encompass Health's response thereto; any prospective hospital's ability to attain and maintain proper local, state and federal licensing and permitting; potential disruptions, breaches or other incidents affecting the proper operation, availability or security of the information systems of Encompass Health, its vendors or its partners; Encompass Health's ability to attract and retain nurses, therapists and other healthcare professionals in a highly competitive environment with often severe staffing shortages; changes, delays in, or suspension of reimbursement for Encompass Health's services by governmental or private payors; general conditions in the economy and capital markets; and other factors that may be identified from time to time in Encompass Health's SEC filings and other public announcements, including Encompass Health's Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2025, and Forms 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2026, and June 30, 2026.

Media contact:

Polly Manuel | 205-970-5912

[email protected]

Investor relations contact:

Mark Miller | 205-970-5860

[email protected]

SOURCE Encompass Health Corp.

Share this article

Select Water Solutions Announces Agreement to Acquire Pilot Water Solutions

Pilot Water is a leading, private water midstream company with a core position in the Delaware Basin

Robust contract portfolio with 480,000 barrels per day of minimum volume commitment ("MVC") contracts and 306,000 acres dedicated under long-term agreements

Transaction consideration to consist of a combination of $600 million of cash and $100 million of Class A common stock, with $15 million of potential earnout cash consideration

Adds an estimated $120 - $130 million of 2027E EBITDA, before considering $10 – $15 million of additional targeted cost synergies

Strengthens Select's infrastructure-led business, with Water Infrastructure projected to represent approximately 70% of Select's pro forma profitability by 2027

Expected to preserve a strong balance sheet, with pro forma net leverage of less than 2.0x at closing

GAINESVILLE, Texas, Sept. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Select Water Solutions, Inc. (NYSE: WTTR) ("Select," the "Company," "we" or "us") announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement (the "Purchase Agreement") to acquire Pilot Water Solutions LLC ("Pilot Water"), a leading, private water midstream company with primary operations in the Delaware Basin, for an equity-and-cash transaction valued at $700 million, plus $15 million of additional potential contingent cash consideration. The transaction is currently expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2026, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.

Pilot Water's infrastructure platform consists of approximately 2.7 million barrels per day of active permitted disposal capacity, 0.9 million barrels per day of undeveloped permitted disposal capacity, and more than 700 miles of pipeline infrastructure. Pilot Water's revenues are supported by an attractive contract portfolio, with more than 80% of its annual revenue backed by long-term contracts with an average tenor of more than 7 years, including approximately 480,000 barrels per day of minimum volume commitments and 306,000 dedicated acres. Included in this contract portfolio is a new 175,000 barrel per day MVC-based contract, which is expected to increase Pilot Water's daily produced water volumes handled from approximately 850,000 barrels per day during the first half of 2026 to approximately one million barrels per day during 2027. More than 80% of Pilot Water's daily produced water volumes are handled in the core of the Delaware Basin in New Mexico and Texas, with additional operations in the Midland Basin, Eagle Ford, Haynesville, Rockies and Northeast regions.

For the full year of 2026, Pilot Water is expected to generate $100 – $110 million of 2026 Adjusted EBITDA, which is expected to grow to $120 – $130 million in 2027. This growth is primarily attributable to the earlier referenced 175,000 barrel per day MVC-based contract. Additionally, Select is targeting an additional $10 to $15 million of annual cost synergies that are incremental to the 2027 forecast and are expected to be achieved during the next 12 to 18 months.

The addition of Pilot Water into Select's existing Delaware Basin water infrastructure network will create a well-balanced, integrated recycling and disposal platform positioned to efficiently capture the full lifecycle economics of produced and treated produced water. Pilot Water's strategic disposal portfolio, including both active and undeveloped permitted capacity, will allow for long-term system optimization and water balancing capabilities across Select's pro forma network, including enhanced capture of Select's contracted volumes as the Delaware Basin continues to grow and mature. The collective water infrastructure platform will be supported by a strong combined contract profile, providing visibility into total produced water volumes handled growing to more than 2.5 million barrels per day during 2027. This combined contract portfolio includes over 600,000 barrels per day of MVC commitments and approximately 3.6 million acres under dedication or ROFR dedication with a weighted average remaining tenor of approximately 9 years.

Pilot Water's operational footprint complements Select's existing water infrastructure networks, notably creating a water midstream platform, which on a combined basis, comprises of 3.8 million barrels per day of recycling capacity, 4.8 million barrels per day of combined active and undeveloped permitted disposal capacity, over 1,600 miles of pipelines, and approximately 57.0 million barrels of treated and produced water storage capacity.

John Schmitz, Chairman of the Board, President and CEO, stated, "We are excited to announce our agreement to acquire Pilot Water Solutions, a leading private water midstream company with a core position in the Delaware Basin. We expect this acquisition to further solidify Select's position as a diversified, market leading water midstream platform operating across the United States. With Pilot Water, Select will add highly contracted, production-related earnings streams at an accretive valuation in the heart of the Delaware Basin. In addition to the cost synergies identified, we also believe there is meaningful long-term revenue synergy potential from the integration of our systems and the resulting additional commercialization potential of existing and undeveloped capacity. With this acquisition, we strongly advance our previously stated objective of growing our consolidated profitability-weighting towards our Water Infrastructure segment. Accordingly, looking ahead to 2027, Water Infrastructure is expected to comprise approximately 70% of the combined company's gross profit before depreciation and amortization on a pro forma basis.

"Pilot Water's sizable Delaware Basin water midstream footprint across Texas and New Mexico is very complementary to Select's existing footprint, providing significant opportunity to interconnect in both an operational and capital-efficient manner. By pairing Pilot Water's existing produced water volumes with Select's industry-leading Permian Basin water recycling footprint, we expect to optimize disposal capacity, preserve valuable pore space, and maximize the value potential out of every barrel through increased recycling , mineral extraction and future beneficial reuse. Select's ability to water balance across the broader Delaware Basin with a larger, integrated network positions us to deliver our customers with increased optionality, scaled produced water flow assurance and, ultimately, attractive economic savings. Furthermore, with nearly 90% of the combined company's MVCs underwritten by investment grade customers, Select will have significantly enhanced its long-term cash flow visibility and through-cycle stability across a diversified, blue-chip customer base and we expect to maintain a very disciplined balance sheet with less than 2.0x pro forma net leverage at closing. I am excited about the opportunities ahead to create enhanced long-term value for our shareholders and I look forward to welcoming all of Pilot Water's employees into the Select family soon," concluded Schmitz.

Transaction and Timing

Under the terms of the transaction, a subsidiary of Select will acquire Pilot Water on a debt-free basis for aggregate consideration of $700 million, including $600 million of cash (subject to customary purchase price adjustments) and $100 million of shares of Class A common stock of Select. The number of shares to be issued will be determined by dividing $100 million by the 30-day volume-weighted average price of Select's Class A common stock immediately prior to closing. Additionally, the sellers have a right to an additional $15 million contingent payment, payable upon the satisfaction of certain operational milestones expected in early 2027. The Purchase Agreement also provides that the sellers will receive a true-up payment, payable in cash, if the 30-day volume-weighted average share price as of the six-month anniversary of the closing date is lower than the 30-day volume-weighted average price at the closing date. In connection with the transaction, Select has entered into debt commitment letters with J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. and Bank of America to provide financing sufficient to fund the acquisition, subject to customary conditions. Select expects to fund the cash portion of the consideration with cash on hand, borrowings under our committed debt financings and/or, depending on market conditions, other debt financing.

The pending transaction, which is currently expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2026, is subject to customary closing conditions and receipt of required regulatory approvals, including the expiration or termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act.

Advisors

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and BofA Securities, Inc. acted as financial advisors to Select in connection with the transaction. Vinson & Elkins LLP is serving as Select's legal counsel on the transaction.

Conference Call and Additional Materials

Select will hold a conference call tomorrow, September 25, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time / 9:00 a.m. Central Time to discuss the acquisition. An investor presentation regarding the proposed transaction can also be found at https://investors.selectwater.com.

Please dial 201-389-0872 and ask for the Select Water Solutions call at least 10 minutes prior to the start time of the call, or listen to the call live over the Internet by logging on to the website at the address https://investors.selectwater.com/events-presentations/current. A telephonic replay of the conference call will be available through October 9, 2026, and may be accessed by calling 201-612-7415 using passcode 13762844#. A webcast archive will also be available at the link above shortly after the call and will be accessible for approximately 90 days.

About Select Water Solutions, Inc.