Lisle, Ill. – September 22, 2026 -- Scientists at The Morton Arboretum are tracking how a strengthening El Niño could push back peak fall foliage across the Chicago region this year, potentially compressing the color season into a shorter, more intense stretch in late autumn.

Green Bay – September 22, 2026 -- Uneven room temperatures rarely mean a heating or cooling system has failed — the real culprit is often an airflow imbalance that a process called air balancing can fix, according to Green Bay HVAC professional Brian Sinkler of Sinkler Heating and Cooling, Inc.

Technicians test airflow at every vent to find the problem

Air balancing starts with measuring output from each vent to identify rooms getting too much or too little air. These readings pinpoint issues that adjusting a thermostat alone cannot solve.

Texas Hill Country – September 22, 2026 -- Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch has announced the birth of its third southern white rhino calf in three years, a rare feat among fewer than 10 such births publicly documented at U.S. facilities in 2026.

The milestone follows more than two decades of work toward the Ranch's first successful southern white rhino birth, which arrived in late 2023. Two more calves have followed within three years, turning that initial breakthrough into what officials call a sustained breeding program.

Anchorage, Alaska – September 22, 2026 -- Explore.org and Katmai Conservancy have opened the 12th season of Fat Bear Week, running September 22-29, 2026, inviting the public to vote online for the plumpest brown bear at Brooks River.

Voting decides the 2026 champion on September 29

Fans can cast votes in head-to-head matchups on the Fat Bear Week website starting September 22, with new rounds advancing bears each day. The 2026 Champion will be crowned September 29 at 5 p.m. Alaska Time.

Austin, Texas – September 19, 2026 -- Home energy company dcbel has launched its Ara Core Home Energy Station in Texas, a single system that connects solar panels, home batteries, the public grid and bidirectional EVs to give homeowners up to 85% energy independence and cut utility bills from day one.

Madison – September 19, 2026 -- Everlight Solar has been named a Best of Madison winner in the Solar Energy Company category, a recognition tied directly to homeowner support in the Wisconsin community the company calls home.

Beverly Hills, Calif. – September 18, 2026 -- Beverage entrepreneur Lance Collins has launched ZenWTR, a vapor-distilled alkaline water brand with a pH of 9.5, now sold at Whole Foods Market, Walmart, Amazon, QuikTrip, Kwik Trip, Bristol Farms and Erewhon, with H-E-B locations adding it starting October 5.

Collins, who previously founded FUZE, NOS, BODYARMOR and CORE Hydration, built ZenWTR through vapor distillation followed by ionization via electrolysis to hit the 9.5 pH mark. A proprietary blend of calcium, potassium and magnesium is added afterward for taste.

Dubai – September 17, 2026 -- Gorenje has launched the G600 dishwasher in the UAE and wider Middle East, an appliance the company says uses 10 percent less energy than the A-class industry standard while delivering full cleaning performance.

Smart Dosing cuts refills to once a month

The G600's Smart Dosing feature lets households fill the detergent container once and run up to 20 wash cycles, roughly a month of use, without refilling. The system automatically dispenses the precise detergent amount for each selected programme, aiming to reduce waste.

Verona, Wis. – September 16, 2026 -- Everlight Solar has been voted Madison's People's Choice Favorite Solar Company for 2026, marking the company's third consecutive year receiving the honor from the Wisconsin State Journal's People's Choice Awards.

Ticonderoga – – September 16, 2026 -- Homeowners in Ticonderoga, New York, are increasingly asking whether heat pumps can reliably heat their homes through long, freezing winters, according to a new HelloNation article featuring Nate Charboneau of Champlain Valley Heating and Plumbing, LLC.