AmeriHealth Caritas Goes Live on HealthSherpa's Enrollment, Billing and Reconciliation Solution

HealthSherpa expands its multi-year Health Insurance Marketplace® relationship with AmeriHealth Caritas to include HealthSherpa Marketplace Operations, bringing data integrity, billing accuracy and financial transparency to its ACA offerings.

SACRAMENTO, Calif., Sept. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- HealthSherpa today announced it is expanding its relationship with AmeriHealth Caritas to include Marketplace Operations, HealthSherpa's enrollment, premium billing, and reconciliation solution for individual and family health plans offered both on and off the Health Insurance Marketplace.

AmeriHealth Caritas will utilize HealthSherpa to process and reconcile enrollments with the Health Insurance Marketplace, collect subsidy and member premiums, and work to resolve discrepancies inherent in the Health Insurance Marketplace before they affect members' bills or coverage.

The two companies have a longstanding partnership in streamlining enrollment and agent distribution for AmeriHealth Caritas' Health Insurance Marketplace plans. This expansion broadens the partnership beyond shopping and enrollment to include the day-to-day processes that help ensure members are enrolled correctly, premiums are collected accurately, and coverage stays up to date.

"As we continue to grow our Health Insurance Marketplace business, we need to add operational capacity to continue delivering the service our members deserve," said Loretta Lenko, President, Exchange, AmeriHealth Caritas. "HealthSherpa has been a trusted partner in our Health Insurance Marketplace shopping and distribution. Expanding that relationship into enrollment operations, billing and reconciliation gives us the means to support that growth."

"Our team built this product based on years of experience in the Health Insurance Marketplace, so we understand the complexities of the individual and family market," said Mary DeFilippo, Vice President, Marketplace Operations, HealthSherpa. "AmeriHealth Caritas shares our commitment to operational rigor and data accuracy on behalf of its members."

Extending HealthSherpa's role across the operational lifecycle will strengthen the back-end functions that support AmeriHealth Caritas' Health Insurance Marketplace business, giving AmeriHealth Caritas additional capacity to advance its ongoing work in network strategy, claims, and quality of care.

About HealthSherpa

HealthSherpa builds the operating infrastructure for the ACA market. Best known as the country's largest ACA quoting and enrollment platform and a CMS-certified web broker, HealthSherpa provides health plans with solutions across the full enrollment lifecycle — shopping and enrollment, agent distribution, premium billing, payment reconciliation, member correspondence, renewals and financial reporting. Founded in 2013 with the mission of helping Americans feel the comfort and security of having health coverage, HealthSherpa has helped more than 25 million people enroll in ACA coverage and supports tens of thousands of agents, agencies, carriers and community organizations. For more information, visit healthsherpa.com.

About AmeriHealth Caritas

AmeriHealth Caritas is one of the nation's leaders in health care solutions for those most in need. Operating in 13 states and the District of Columbia, AmeriHealth Caritas serves millions of Medicaid, Medicare, Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and Health Insurance Marketplace® members through its integrated managed care products, pharmaceutical benefit management and specialty pharmacy services, and behavioral health services. Headquartered in Newtown Square, Pa., AmeriHealth Caritas is a mission-driven organization with more than 40 years of experience serving low-income and chronically ill populations. For more information, visit www.amerihealthcaritas.com.

SOURCE HealthSherpa

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- First Annual Great American Christmas Movie Challenge Invites Fans to Predict Which Great American Christmas Originals America Will Watch Most

- Rank All 18 Movies, Get the Complete Order Right, One Wins $100,000

NEW YORK, Sept. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- One day after unveiling its best Great American Christmas lineup ever, Great American Media is turning the season over to the fans with the launch of the first annual Great American Christmas Movie Challenge, giving viewers the chance to put their Christmas movie knowledge to the test for a $100,000 grand prize.

Great American Media has created the best lineup of Christmas movies ever to premiere in one season with its 18-film Great American Christmas 2026 slate. Now, fans are being invited to predict the rankings, while America's viewing will determine the final order.

By the October 8 deadline, fans go to GreatAmericanFamily.com/Challenge to create their own Great American Christmas Movie List, ranking all 18 World Premiere movies from No. 1 through No. 18 based on the order they predict America will watch them most. At the conclusion of the Christmas season, Great American Media will reveal the final rankings. The eligible contestant who correctly predicts the complete order wins $100,000. If there is no winner, a $10,000 prize will be awarded to the eligible contestant with the most correct placements.

The Christmas Challenge comes alive every Wednesday night!

Beginning October 21 at 8 p.m. ET, Great American Pure Flix invites fans to join a live weekly Christmas celebration featuring exclusive advance screenings of upcoming Great American Christmas Originals, behind-the-scenes conversations, and the reveal of the latest Challenge standings. Each week, viewers will discover which movies America is watching most, see how their predictions are holding up, and share in the excitement as the competition builds toward the final rankings and the chance to win $100,000.

18 Great American Christmas movies. Rank them from MOST WATCHED No. 1 to No. 18. Get All 18 Right for a chance to win $100,000.

Great American Christmas 2026 begins October 8 on Great American Pure Flix, with premieres beginning October 10 on Great American Family and GFAM+.

Great American Christmas Movie Challenge - No purchase necessary. For eligibility, entry period, measurement methodology, scoring, tie-breaking procedures and complete Official Rules, visit GreatAmericanFamily.com/Challenge.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Pam Slay

Head of Network Program Publicity & Talent Relations

[email protected]

818.415.3784

[email protected]

SOURCE Great American Media

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SACRAMENTO, Calif., Sept. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Ten home insurance companies have sought $571 million in rate hikes under Insurance Commissioner Lara's rules allowing insurers to raise rates based on black box climate models, yet those companies have committed to sell just 12,000 new home insurance policies. Commissioner Lara's rules have failed to improve access to insurance for Californians, Consumer Watchdog said today.

At the same time, financial reporting shows home insurers in California and across the U.S. raked in record profits through the first half of the year, with Allstate as a standout.

Allstate is the latest insurer to seek a rate hike – $10 million – under the new rules. The company promises to sell 2,000 new home insurance policies, just a fraction of the 74,000 policyholders the insurer has dropped since 2023. All told, Californians would pay about $47 thousand in rate hikes for each new policy promised.

In return for using models Lara's rules were supposed to increase access to home insurance, but massive loopholes have allowed insurance companies to raise rates without significantly expanding sales. Read more. Ten insurance companies, including seven of the eight largest in the state, have sought rate increases under the regulation, yet only five have committed to a small increase in sales. The other five are using black box models under the rule while making zero commitment to increase coverage.

Consumer Watchdog's analysis is drawn from insurance companies' rate filings at the Department of Insurance. A detailed tracking spreadsheet is available upon request.

All companies that have filed under SIS

*All filings are for Homeowners.

**Companies showing "-" are already above the 85% commitment standard.

Premium increases in italics are not yet approved.

Since the regulations were announced three years ago this month, enrollment on the FAIR plan has more than doubled – climbing from 320,581 to 675,229 individual policyholders by June 2026. Including another 320,000 homeowners with unregulated surplus lines coverage, approximately one million Californians have now been forced out of the standard insurance market and into FAIR or surplus carriers.

"Did California homeowners come out ahead on a deal that lets insurers raise rates without showing their math? The answer is a resounding no. Half a billion in rate hikes only coaxed insurers into promising a few thousand more policies. That doesn't add up to better insurance coverage for California homeowners; far less Californians have standard home insurance now than when Lara started. As the FAIR Plan continues to grow Lara's plan has failed to meaningfully improve insurance options in California," said Carmen Balber, executive director of Consumer Watchdog. "Lawmakers and the next commissioner must do better – including a direct tie between wildfire mitigation and a home insurance guarantee - if we want to keep Californians insured."

Insurance industry profits are soaring, giving the lie to industry claims that insurance regulation in California prevents them from making a profit, said Consumer Watchdog.

According to the latest numbers released by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) in August, 2024 insurance profitability across each line of insurance, broken down by state, shows that California homeowners insurance companies did better than the nation in 2024, and on average over the last two decades.

Direct return on net worth – a measure of profitability that includes insurers' largest source of income, investments – for the homeowners line of insurance rose to 26.3% in California for 2024, compared to an average 23.9% nationwide. Over the past 20 years, California's average return on net worth was 9.7%, compared to 6.4% nationwide.

A report issued by industry vendor Verisk and the American Property Casualty Insurance trade association this month reported soaring property casualty insurer profits in the first half of 2026. Net underwriting income – money left over after the company pays all claims and overhead and before investment income is calculated – was $31.7 billion for the first half of 2026.

Allstate's 2nd quarter 2026 net income jumped to $3.2 Billion, 56% higher than last year. The insurer reported an adjusted net income return on equity of 44.2% over the past 12 months and Allstate's property-liability underwriting income also soared, increasing nearly 57% to $2 billion. Policies in force grew 3.8% to 215.9 million.

2025 was also a banner year for property insurers nationwide that enjoyed $68.7 billion in underwriting income in 2025 and more than $111 billion in investment income, according to an analysis by Public Citizen and the Revolving Door Project of the NAIC annual report.

A New York Times front page investigation, "California Promised Insurance Relief But Delivered Loopholes," explained how the regulations have huge loopholes that allow companies to raise rates without covering more people, despite their promise to do so. Read more.

SOURCE Consumer Watchdog

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Notta Introduces MCP and CLI to Bring Meeting Context Into AI Agent Workflows

New tools let users give their agents access to Notta transcripts, summaries, and recordings without manually exporting and sharing them

TOKYO, Sept. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Notta today introduced Notta MCP and Notta CLI, giving people who already work extensively with AI agents a direct way to bring meeting content into those workflows. Users can ask a connected agent to retrieve a Notta transcript or completed summary and use it alongside the context already available through their other tools.

For users who rely on tools such as Codex, Claude Code, and Cursor, an agent may already have access to project files, documents, and connected services. But a client's explanation, a decision made in a meeting, or the reasoning behind a change may still sit in Notta. Bringing that information into the agent's work has required users to find the recording, export or copy the transcript or summary, and provide it themselves.

Notta MCP and CLI make that context directly accessible. Once configured and authorized, users can request meeting content as part of the task they are already working on, without preparing a separate export to hand to their agent.

Bring Meeting Context Into the Conversation

Notta MCP connects compatible AI agents to Notta through Model Context Protocol, a standard for connecting AI applications to external tools and information. The agent can retrieve transcripts, read completed Notta summaries, and find records in response to a user's request.

For example, a user whose agent already has access to a project brief could ask:

"Find the Notta recording titled 'Client kickoff,' read its summary and transcript, and suggest updates to this brief based on what the client discussed."

The agent can use Notta's meeting content alongside the brief already in its context. Notta supplies the transcript and existing summary; the agent proposes the changes. The user can review those suggestions against the source conversation before applying them.

Access the Same Context Through Commands

Notta CLI provides a command-line interface for accessing Notta content. Users, scripts, and agents that can run terminal commands can retrieve transcripts and completed summaries, check transcription progress, and download exports.

MCP gives compatible agents a standard tool connection to Notta. CLI makes Notta available through explicit commands that can fit into an existing terminal-based workflow. Users can choose the entry point that suits their environment without installing both.

Both tools also support uploading audio and video files for transcription and exporting transcripts or the media associated with a recording.

Availability and Getting Started

Notta MCP and Notta CLI are available to all users on all plans starting September 23, 2026. A Notta account and authorization are required. MCP requires a client that supports local MCP connections; CLI runs in a terminal.

Visit Set up Notta MCP & CLI for installation instructions and a first request.

About Notta

Notta is an AI meeting and transcription platform that helps individuals and teams capture, transcribe, and summarize conversations. Learn more at notta.ai.

Contact: Notta, [email protected]

SOURCE NOTTA PTE. LTD.

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Experienced Under Armour and HydraPak commercial leader joins 2XU as Head of Wholesale & Business Development, North America, as the Australian performance brand enters its next phase of growth.

MELBOURNE, Australia, Sept. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Global performance brand 2XU today announced the appointment of Aaron Brown as Head of Wholesale & Business Development, North America, strengthening the brand's commercial leadership across the United States and Canada.

Brown joins 2XU at a pivotal point in the company's development, as the brand builds on a strengthened global foundation and increases its focus on North American expansion.

Over the past two years, following the acquisition of 2XU led by CEO Harry Markl, the business has focused on strengthening its foundations: investing in product innovation, sharpening its performance positioning and returning to the principle that has defined 2XU since its creation — where athlete meets science.

Together with COO/CMO Mathew Hayward, Markl and the leadership team have also strengthened 2XU's Australian home market and built the platform for the brand's next stage of international growth.

Brown's appointment is an important step in that strategy.

As Head of Wholesale & Business Development, North America, Brown will lead 2XU's wholesale and strategic business development agenda across the United States and Canada. His mandate will include strengthening existing retail and specialty partnerships, developing new commercial opportunities and expanding 2XU's presence across the performance sporting goods market.

He will also work closely with 2XU's established network of athletes, sporting organizations and partners as the brand builds greater relevance and visibility across North America.

Brown brings more than two decades of commercial and sporting goods experience to 2XU.

Most recently, he served as Vice President of Global Sales at HydraPak, with responsibility spanning global revenue strategy, sporting goods, run specialty and outdoor retail, OEM partnerships, international distribution and commercial development.

Prior to HydraPak, Brown spent more than a decade at Under Armour, ultimately serving as Director of Sales. His responsibilities included North American commercial strategy and leadership across key and specialty accounts in the United States and Canada, encompassing sales, merchandising, go-to-market execution, marketing, ecommerce, inventory and commercial planning.

That combination of performance brand, specialty retail, wholesale and North American marketplace experience aligns closely with 2XU's ambitions for the region.

"North America represents a significant opportunity for 2XU, but our approach is not about growth at any cost. We want to build the market properly — through great product, great partners and an authentic performance proposition," said Harry Markl, CEO.

"Aaron understands the North American sporting goods landscape, understands specialty and understands how to build long-term commercial partnerships. He joins us at exactly the right point in our journey."

Founded in Melbourne, Australia, 2XU has built an international reputation around technically advanced performance products, with particular authority in compression and triathlon.

The company is now increasing investment behind those foundations while accelerating innovation across compression, triathlon, running and training.

For Hayward, the North American opportunity is about building on the authority 2XU already has rather than attempting to reinvent the brand.

"2XU has something many brands spend decades trying to manufacture — genuine technical credibility," said Mathew Hayward, COO/CMO.

"We have history in triathlon. We have authority in compression. We have athletes who have trusted the product for years. Our job now is to take those foundations, combine them with the next generation of 2XU product innovation and build a much stronger commercial presence across North America."

"Aaron brings exactly the experience we need for that next stage. He knows the market, he knows the customer and, importantly, he understands how premium performance brands and their retail partners can grow together."

Brown said the combination of 2XU's heritage and renewed investment in innovation created a compelling opportunity.

"2XU has an incredible foundation to build from. The brand has genuine credibility with athletes, particularly in compression and triathlon, and there is significant opportunity to introduce the broader 2XU performance proposition to more consumers across North America," said Aaron Brown.

"I'm excited to work with our existing partners, develop new relationships across the United States and Canada, and help build the next chapter of 2XU in this market."

Brown will be based in the United States and will work closely with 2XU's global leadership and North American team.

ABOUT 2XU

Born in Melbourne, Australia, 2XU is a global performance brand built at the intersection of athlete and science.

Since its founding, 2XU has developed technically advanced performance products designed to help athletes prepare, perform and recover, establishing particular authority in compression and triathlon and expanding across running and training.

Today, 2XU products are worn by athletes around the world — from first-time competitors to elite performers — united by the pursuit of greater human performance.

2XU. Human Performance Multiplied.

SOURCE 2XU North America

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Ski-Doo Celebrates 18 Years of Free Avalanche Awareness Seminars

VALCOURT, QC, Sept. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Ski-Doo, an iconic brand of BRP Inc. (TSX: DOO) (NASDAQ: DOO), in partnership with Backcountry Access (BCA), is proud to announce its eighteenth year of free Avalanche Awareness Seminars through its Responsible Rider program, and invites snowmobilers, winter adventurers, and their riding partners to join the team for another season of lifesaving education. More than 35 free seminars will be held across Canada and the United States, all riders are invited to attend because safety is a shared responsibility.

Whether for riders that are new to the mountains or those that have years of backcountry experience, these seminars offer valuable knowledge that could make all the difference when conditions change. More importantly, they're designed not just for the rider, but for everyone that's part of the ride.

Bring friends. Bring family. Bring the riding group.

When in avalanche terrain, riding partners are the first responders. The people immediately on-site beside are the ones most likely to save a life in an emergency. That's why Ski-Doo strongly encourages attendees to bring those they share the mountains with. Avalanche awareness is most effective when everyone in the group understands the risks, recognizes warning signs, and knows how to respond when seconds count.

For nearly two decades, these seminars have helped riders make better decisions in the backcountry through practical, up-to-date education covering avalanche awareness, route planning, rescue techniques, safety equipment and forecast resources, while encouraging participants to pursue additional avalanche training. More than 30,000 snowmobilers have attended to date, making this one of the longest-running and most trusted avalanche education programs in the snowmobile industry.

Supporting the program for a ninth consecutive year is Backcountry Access (BCA), a leader in avalanche safety equipment and education. Their expertise, real-world experience, and innovative safety products continue to strengthen the seminar curriculum while helping riders understand how preparation and proper equipment work together to improve outcomes in the mountains.

The seminar content continues to evolve each year, reflecting modern riding styles, new technologies, current avalanche forecasting tools, and the latest best practices in backcountry travel. Sessions are informative, engaging, and designed specifically for today's snowmobiler.

Many seminar locations will include hands-on opportunities to practice with avalanche transceivers, probes, and shovels, helping attendees build confidence with the equipment they may one day depend on.

Win Valuable Safety Gear

BCA will once again provide prizes at every seminar stop while showcasing its latest avalanche safety products, including transceivers, airbags, radios, and rescue equipment.

Attendees at each seminar could win either a BCA Tracker avalanche transceiver, probe and shovel or a pair of BCA BC Link two-way radios, helping riders build the gear kit every backcountry group should carry.

Learn Beyond the Seminar

In addition to sponsoring the in-person series, Ski-Doo and BCA continue to expand access to avalanche education through a collection of online learning resources. Riders can access avalanche safety content through the Ski-Doo Owner Zone, alongside BCA's extensive library of educational videos and the snowmobile-specific SLEDucation series, created to help riders sharpen their knowledge throughout the season.

Learn From Industry-Leading Experts

Canadian seminars will be led by Marshall Dempster, a professional avalanche forecaster, lead Avalanche Canada instructor, Level 3 lead guide, and board member of the Canadian Motorized Backcountry Guides Association. Drawing on more than two decades of avalanche forecasting, rescue, guiding, and backcountry experience, Dempster brings practical, real-world insight that resonates with riders of all experience levels.

U.S. seminars will be presented by Mike Duffy, one of North America's most respected snowmobile avalanche educators. With more than 30 years of mountain riding and rescue experience, Duffy has trained recreational riders, guides, rescue teams, and military personnel throughout his career.

Open to All Riders

The Avalanche Awareness Seminars are free to attend, open to all experience levels, and welcome riders of every snowmobile brand.

For locations, dates, and registration information, visit the Ski-Doo website or follow Ski-Doo on Facebook and Instagram for updates.

Ride prepared. Ride informed. Ride together.

Participants are encouraged to register with the host dealer so they can plan meeting space accordingly and ensure a spot.

About Backcountry Access

Backcountry Access (BCA) is a leading manufacturer of snow safety equipment, including BCA Tracker™ avalanche transceivers, Float™ avalanche airbags, BC Link™ radios, MtnPro snowmobile gear, Stash™ backpacks, avalanche probes and shovels. BCA's mission is to save lives, not just sell products. BCA considers education to be as important as its equipment and delivers all its products with consumer education and knowledgeable customer service. BCA is North America's most trusted name in backcountry safety.

About BRP

BRP Inc. is a global leader in the world of powersports products and powertrains, built on over 80 years of ingenuity, innovation, and intensive consumer focus. Through its portfolio of industry-leading and distinctive brands featuring Ski-Doo and Lynx snowmobiles, Sea-Doo watercraft and pontoons, Can-Am on- and off-road vehicles, Quintrex boats as well as Rotax engines for karts, recreational aircraft and jet boats, BRP unlocks exhilarating adventures and provides access to experiences across different playgrounds. The Company completes its product lines with a dedicated parts, accessories and apparel portfolio to fully optimize the riding experience. Headquartered in Quebec, Canada, BRP had annual sales of CA$8.4 billion from over 110 countries and employed close to 17,000 driven, resourceful people as of January 31, 2026.

Ski-Doo, Lynx, Sea-Doo, Can-Am, Rotax, Manitou, Quintrex, and the BRP logo are trademarks of Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. or its affiliates. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

SOURCE BRP Inc.

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Leading Private Pod Network Now Spans Eight Locations Across Four Markets as Hotels Turn Available Square Footage into Revenue Without Capital Investment

BROOKLYN, N.Y., Sept. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- ALCOVE, whose premium, private Pods make the productive mindset a reality, today announced three new locations, doubling its national footprint from 16 to 33 ALCOVE Pods. The expansion includes ALCOVE Financial District at M Social Hotel New York Downtown, the company's first Manhattan location; ALCOVE Prospect Heights, a new 14-Pod Brooklyn Hub location; and ALCOVE Sonoma at Hyatt Regency Sonoma Wine Country, its third Bay Area location. ALCOVE now has eight locations across Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bay Area, and Seattle, ensuring that frequent-flyer executive guests can always reach an ALCOVE Pod, near home and away. Since opening less than two years ago, ALCOVE has served over 2,500 guests, who have reserved over 15,000 hours in ALCOVE Pods.

The new Prospect Heights location also introduces ALCOVE Summit, the company's first dedicated meeting venue. ALCOVE Summit hosts six guests in a light-filled Brooklyn space, with ALCOVE's signature finishes inspired by cafés in Mexico City and the South of France. Located alongside the 14 Prospect Heights ALCOVE Pods, Summit gives teams a place to meet together with the flexibility to take individual calls in private.

"With eight locations from coast to coast, our guests can count on ALCOVE's unparalleled private productive space, whether they're in Manhattan for business or Sonoma for a weekend trip," said Helen Knight, Founder and CEO of ALCOVE. "We're proudest of delivering an excellent guest experience and something our guests can't find anywhere else - reliable peace and quiet, exactly where and when they need it. We can't wait to bring ALCOVE to more guests and hotel properties around the country."

ALCOVE offers a private, hospitality-grade space for professionals who need reliable focus amid noise, travel, and constant disruptions. Designed by the creative teams behind Soho House, Glossier, and SoulCycle, each Pod features sound control, comfortable seating, customizable lighting, an external monitor, high-speed Wi-Fi, an adjustable sit-stand desk and more. Pods are reservable on demand, with no commitment needed, from $25 per hour, with guests staying an average of 3.5 hours per session. More than half return to reserve again. With over 40% of remote professionals taking calls from cars, closets, or bathrooms, ALCOVE offers an alternative in the neighborhoods where its guests live and the hotels where they stay.

The ALCOVE model also creates an opportunity for hotels to monetize available space without adding operational burden. ALCOVE installs, operates, and markets the Pods, while hotel partners earn a share of revenue with no capital or operating costs. More than half of guests at hotel partner locations come from outside the hotel, bringing net-new visitors to the property. ALCOVE currently partners with Hilton, Hyatt, Fairmont, Highgate and others.

"Today's business travelers and local professionals are looking for flexible, design-forward spaces where they can work, meet and connect beyond the traditional hotel lobby," said Alex Spektor, Managing Director at M Social Hotel New York Downtown. "ALCOVE complements our broader meetings and events offering by providing a premium, on-demand private workspace for focused work and calls. It enhances the experience for our guests, welcomes new visitors from the surrounding Financial District community and creates an additional revenue stream - all without requiring capital investment or added operational support from our team. We're excited to grow the partnership as demand for flexible workspace continues to evolve."

"Sonoma Wine Country welcomes a unique mix of leisure travelers, business guests and local professionals, and today's travelers increasingly expect flexibility in how they use a hotel," said Eddie Huang, Director of Front Office at Hyatt Regency Sonoma Wine Country. "ALCOVE gives our guests a quiet, thoughtfully designed space to work or take a call while still enjoying everything the destination has to offer. It has also allowed us to welcome members of the local community into the hotel in a new way, making it a natural extension of the guest experience we want to provide."

ALCOVE Financial District at M Social Downtown, ALCOVE Prospect Heights, and ALCOVE Sonoma at Hyatt Regency Sonoma Wine Country are open now and reservable at reservealcove.com.

Learn more: https://reservealcove.com/

Press contact: [email protected]

SOURCE ALCOVE

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"This new Kwanzaa stamp is not only a wonderful affirmation of African American culture, it will also make a beautiful, heartwarming addition to your cards and letters," said Norfolk, VA, Postmaster Matthew Toman, who served as the dedicating official. "With every new design, I continue to be amazed by the creativity of our artists and designers and their ability to capture the essence of Kwanzaa."

The first Kwanzaa stamp was released in 1997, and there has been a new one every two years since 2016. Previous stamps have included colorful illustrations of parents and children with Kwanzaa candles; a woman holding a bowl overflowing with harvest bounty; and a festive dance-and-drum performance.

Founded in the United States in 1966, during a time of social upheaval, Kwanzaa was meant to help unify African Americans from a wide array of religious and cultural backgrounds. With its name derived from the Swahili phrase "matunda ya kwanza," meaning "first fruits," Kwanzaa draws on ancient and modern first-harvest festivities occurring across the African continent. The holiday incorporates and reimagines many of these communal traditions as a contemporary celebration and reaffirmation of African American culture.

Each day of Kwanzaa is dedicated to one of seven principles: unity (umoja); self-determination (kujichagulia); collective work and responsibility (ujima); cooperative economics (ujamaa); purpose (nia); creativity (kuumba); and faith (imani). Collectively known as the Nguzo Saba, the principles are recalled in the traditional Kwanzaa greeting. The response to "Habari gani?" or "What is the news?" is the word for that day's principle, for example, umoja.

Kwanzaa also has three associated colors: black for the Pan-African people; red for the struggles they have endured; and green for the hope for a better future born from these struggles. Seven symbols — kinara (candleholder), mishumaa saba (seven candles), mazao (crops), mkeka (mat), muhindi (corn), kikombe cha umoja (unity cup) and zawadi (gifts) — are often displayed during Kwanzaa celebrations. The kinara holds one black, three red and three green candles, each representing one of the founding principles and lit on the corresponding day. Kwanzaa celebrations may also include a black, red and green banner, and people may dress in these colors, or in traditional African attire.

While Kwanzaa is a time for remembering past hardships and contemplating how history can inform and affect future happiness, the holiday also has a festive side, when families and communities may rejoice in the prospect of health, prosperity and good luck in the coming year.

Stamp design

The stamp features a digital illustration of a father holding his young daughter, the two of them smiling at each other while standing against a white background. He wears a green, yellow and white dashiki, with short sleeves in a dark pink print, plus a kufi hat in the same colors and a yellow wristwatch. She wears a short-sleeved dress of the same pink print, with a pink flower in her hair, and holds a zawadi, or gift, wrapped in white paper with green accents and a yellow bow. He holds a black, white and yellow kikombe cha umoja, or unity cup.

For the 11th Kwanzaa stamp, art director Antonio Alcalá hoped to feature art that would bring a fresh take on the celebration. He chose Cannaday Chapman for the job, having followed the artist's work for many years and admiring its distinctive spirit.

For his part, Chapman decided to focus on the family aspect of Kwanzaa, not least because he's a new father to a daughter. He also has fond childhood memories of celebrating the holiday with his family, including lighting the candles and wearing traditional clothing. Because of the small size of a stamp, it made sense to include just two people — and thus we have the first Kwanzaa stamp highlighting a father-daughter pair.

The stamp's color scheme is another first. "I wanted to use colors that felt fresh and unexpected compared to the traditional Kwanzaa palette," Chapman explained. "The lime green, pink and yellow combination is intended to be a vibrant, updated take on the traditional green, red and black."

"My goal for the Kwanzaa stamps is that they honor the celebration and the celebrants and appeal to the general public," Alcalá said.

News about the stamp is being shared on social media using the hashtag #KwanzaaStamp.

The Kwanzaa stamp is being issued in panes of 20. As Forever stamps, they will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price.

Postal products

Customers may purchase stamps and other philatelic products through The Postal Store at usps.com/shopstamps, by calling 844-737-7826, by mail through USA Philatelic or at Post Office locations nationwide. For officially licensed stamp products, shop the USPS Officially Licensed Collection on Amazon. Additional information on stamps, first-day-of-issue ceremonies and stamp-inspired products can be found at StampsForever.com.

Please Note: The United States Postal Service is an independent federal establishment, mandated to be self-financing and to serve every American community through the affordable, reliable and secure delivery of mail and packages to more than 170 million addresses six and often seven days a week. Overseen by a bipartisan Board of Governors, the Postal Service is currently pursuing a transformation plan aimed at restoring long-term financial sustainability, improving service, and maintaining the organization as one of America's most valued and trusted brands.

The Postal Service generally receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

For USPS media resources, including broadcast-quality video and audio and photo stills, visit the USPS Newsroom. Follow us on X, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Threads and LinkedIn. Subscribe to the USPS YouTube Channel. For more information about the Postal Service, visit usps.com and facts.usps.com.

National contact: Albert Ruiz

[email protected]

usps.com/news

Local contact: Philip Bogenberger

[email protected]

usps.com/news

SOURCE U.S. Postal Service

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Speediance Maps Its Next Chapter: From a Smart Home Gym to an AI-Powered Fitness Company

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- On September 18, Speediance outlined its evolution from a company known primarily for one smart home gym into an AI-powered fitness company built around a broader hardware portfolio, specialized intelligence and a connected user experience.

After establishing its presence with Gym Monster 2, Speediance is expanding from a single hero product to four products with distinct roles. Above that hardware foundation, the company is developing three complementary AI capabilities — Votus, Oryn and Somni — connected through AEVIS, an experience layer designed to carry relevant context across training, recovery and daily life.

From One Product to a Fitness Platform

Speediance's new portfolio gives each product a defined role while creating multiple entry points into one ecosystem.

Gym Monster Ultra — the flagship. Built for advanced strength training, it offers up to 260 pounds of digital resistance, 33 cable positions, a vertical high-lat pulldown, multi-grip pull-up setup and adjustable thigh restraint.

Gym Monster 3 — the home platform. The freestanding system delivers up to 220 pounds of digital resistance through 19 cable positions and requires no wall mounting.

Gym Nano — portable resistance and performance measurement. The 8.2-kilogram system provides up to 220 pounds of resistance, real-time velocity and power data, and performance assessments including peak force, rate of force development and left-right asymmetry.

Speediance Strap — physiological context for the ecosystem. The screen-free wearable uses greenteg Calera® technology to track wrist-based core-body-temperature trends, adding context around training, recovery, sleep and heat load.

Together, the products cover flagship strength, everyday home training, portable performance and recovery context, providing the physical and data foundation for Speediance's next transformation.

Building the Intelligence Layer

Speediance is developing three specialized AI capabilities, each focused on a different part of the training journey.

Votus — movement understanding. Using video from a single phone camera, Votus is designed to reconstruct movement in 3D and analyze exercise execution, including signals such as repetition speed.

Oryn — training and recovery decisions. Focused on exercise, nutrition and sleep, Oryn is being developed to assess a broader picture of the user and support decisions such as maintaining a session, adjusting load or prioritizing recovery.

Somni — possible future states. This human-state world-model research project explores how training and recovery choices could influence fatigue, sleep, appetite and trainable capacity. Somni is a technology preview and is not intended for medical diagnosis or treatment.

Votus, Oryn and Somni are internal project codenames used by Speediance and are not external-facing trademarks or commercial product brands. Somni remains at the technology-preview stage.

AEVIS and the CARE Loop

AEVIS brings these capabilities together as the user-facing experience layer. Now in public beta as a standalone iOS app in 105 markets, it is designed to retain relevant context around training history, available physiological and recovery signals, sleep, nutrition and daily schedules. Paired with Apple Watch, AEVIS can use available health and activity data without requiring Speediance training hardware. For Gym Monster users, it can also create customized workouts and send them directly to the equipment.

Speediance calls this operating model the CARE Loop: Collect, Analyze, Recommend and Execute. The system collects relevant data; analyzes it with AI; recommends courses, workouts and plans based on the available context; and brings those recommendations into action through Gym Monster and the broader Speediance ecosystem. Each completed activity can contribute new information to the next cycle.

AEVIS does not currently control Gym Monster resistance autonomously, and deeper integration remains on the company's roadmap. The direction, however, is clear: AI is becoming the intelligence layer connecting data, decisions and physical training across the Speediance ecosystem.

About Speediance

Founded in 2020, Speediance develops intelligent fitness systems designed to make professional training more precise, accessible and connected. Its portfolio spans digital resistance, connected training hardware, portable performance technology, physiological sensing and AI-powered coaching.

Website: www.speediance.com

*Speediance AI capabilities and AEVIS provide general fitness and wellness information and suggestions only. They are not medical devices and are not intended to diagnose, cure, mitigate, treat or prevent any disease or medical condition.

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World Animal Protection investigation reveals that ostriches are having their feathers pulled out with pliers to supply luxury fashion brands and fast-fashion retailers.

NEW YORK, Sept. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, World Animal Protection, together with Collective Fashion Justice, released its investigation, Blood Feathers, documenting rare video evidence that feather farms and feather-processing facilities in South Africa are torturing ostriches with pliers for the use of their feathers for fashion.

The report focuses on the animal suffering on commercial ostrich feather farms, the same farms supplying the fashion industry. The investigation focuses on farms in South Africa where 75% of the world's ostrich products are produced, including those made from feathers, meat and skin.

Key findings include:

- Investigators captured rarely seen footage of feather cutting, where feathers are cut above the bloodline, then later pulled from the skin with pliers.

- At one farm visited, ostriches were described as being live plucked every six months. This practice is prone to bleeding, hence the industry term 'blood feathers'.

- Farms and feather processing facilities in the region confirmed that they supply to YSL, Louis Vuitton, Dior and Chanel, as well as fast fashion giant Shein.

- Investigators saw birds injured, showing aggression and unable to stand. Some were wounded from pecking at each other's eyes and feathers.

In the 2024-25 season, 150,000 ostriches were slaughtered in South Africa for the feather, meat and skin trades. Furthermore, over 150 tonnes of ostrich feathers were exported from South Africa around the globe. The fashion industry often repeats the claim that feathers come from an ostrich's natural moult, but this investigation found it is impossible to rely on natural moulting at the scale the industry demands.

Ostriches are social, emotionally aware animals. In the wild they can live 30 to 40 years, but in the feather trade, they are killed in a fraction of that time. Birds bred for high-quality wing feathers can endure years of cutting or plucking before slaughter. Those bred for lower-quality feathers are plucked once and killed as babies, at just 10 to 14 months old.

Liz Cabrera Holtz, Senior Programs Manager, World Animal Protection, US states:

"Two in three shoppers said they'd drop a brand on the spot if they knew it sold products made with ostrich feathers. It's not hard to see why. Our investigation documented birds being pinned down and having their feathers ripped out with pliers, with no sedation or pain relief. This isn't 'natural molting." It's animal cruelty for the sake of a pretty dress."

Emma Håkansson, Founding Director at Collective Fashion Justice said:

"It is utterly inconsistent for the fashion industry to have largely banned fur, only to shift to ostrich feathers, which also come from a slaughtering industry full of suffering. Many brands, fashion councils and runways have banned ostrich skins, yet permit the feathers that come from the very same supply chain.

"With so many innovative fabric manipulation techniques and bio-materials available to create the same lightness, volume and movement consumers admire in feathers, there is no justification for this cruelty. These birds are exploited while the public is led to believe it's done in a 'natural' and 'responsible' way."

A wave of A-list celebrities has worn ostrich feathers on the Met Gala and Oscars red carpets, and the trend has trickled down from luxury houses to fast fashion. But some key players in the fashion industry are rejecting ostrich feathers and embracing positive change. Producers like FEVVERS, a plant-based alternative to feathers, are collaborating with luxury brands like Stella McCartney to bring innovative feather mimicry to the runway.

Nicole Williams English, Fashion Model and World Animal Protection US Ambassador

"As a fashion model and designer, I have always strived to avoid wearing garments made from animals because of the cruelty behind it. I'm grateful to World Animal Protection for this eye-opening undercover investigation exposing the disturbing reality of how ostriches are exploited for their feathers in the name of fashion. We've already seen major retailers, designers, and fashion weeks turn their backs on fur. Now it's time to do the same with feathers. Animal cruelty is never in fashion."

The industry is out of step with American values. An overwhelming 82% of Americans surveyed believe farming and killing ostriches for clothing and fashion accessories should be banned.

Once Americans understand how feathers are obtained, 76% of those surveyed say they would choose sustainable, faux alternatives if given the option. The message to the fashion industry is clear: consumers are ready for cruelty-free alternatives. Brands and major retailers like Nordstrom and Revolve need to listen and leave real feathers behind.

World Animal Protection US is calling on Nordstrom executives to adopt a wildlife-friendly policy and stop selling feathers.

About World Animal Protection 

World Animal Protection is a global organization working to end animal exploitation. We expose cruel systems, promote animal-friendly alternatives, and influence policy change. For 75 years, we've been rewriting the story for animals.

Working across almost 50 countries with offices in 12, we prioritize animals in farming and wild animals exploited for use in entertainment, as pets, and in fashion.

SOURCE World Animal Protection

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