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EPA to Hold Public Meeting on Modification of Remedy at New Bedford Harbor Superfund Site on October 28, 2026
WASHINGTON, Oct. 28 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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EPA to Hold Public Meeting on Modification of Remedy at New Bedford Harbor Superfund Site on October 28, 2026
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BOSTON, MASS (Oct. 19, 2026) -- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is hosting a virtual public meeting on October 28, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. via Microsoft Teams to present the draft eighth Explanation of Significant Differences (ESD) proposing to modify the upper and lower harbor remedy for the New Bedford Harbor Superfund Site.
Under the ESD, EPA would remove soil in areas where
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WASHINGTON, Oct. 28 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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EPA to Hold Public Meeting on Modification of Remedy at New Bedford Harbor Superfund Site on October 28, 2026
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BOSTON, MASS (Oct. 19, 2026) -- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is hosting a virtual public meeting on October 28, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. via Microsoft Teams to present the draft eighth Explanation of Significant Differences (ESD) proposing to modify the upper and lower harbor remedy for the New Bedford Harbor Superfund Site.
Under the ESD, EPA would remove soil in areas wherepolychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) contamination is higher than 1 part per million. The contaminated soil would be excavated to a depth of three feet and replaced with clean soil. The plan would also include land use controls for the property. These controls would allow the City of New Bedford to pursue residential development on the site, but would require a soil management plan to make sure any PCB-contaminated soil located deeper than three feet would be handled safely, if it were to be disturbed in the future.
"The City of New Bedford has been a key partner during EPA's implementation of the Superfund remedy, allowing EPA to perform remedy support work at the City's Sawyer Street property since the 1980s," said EPA Regional Administrator Mark Sanborn. "This proposed work is an important step as we near completion of the New Bedford Harbor Superfund Site cleanup."
EPA is seeking public input on the draft ESD during the 30-day public comment period starting on October 30, 2026, and ending on November 28, 2026. Beginning on October 30, 2026, the draft ESD Administrative Record can be reviewed and comments submitted via https://www.regulations.gov (Docket ID No. EPA-R01-SFUND-2026-6304). All comments are reviewed and responded to in writing by EPA prior to selecting a final alternative for the ESD, if necessary.
Meeting materials and link to join October 28th meeting at 6:00 p.m. will be posted prior to the meeting on https://www.epa.gov/new-bedford-harbor.
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Original text here: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-hold-public-meeting-modification-remedy-new-bedford-harbor-superfund-site-october
Team From Howard University Wins Grand Prize in 2026 DC Public Health Case Challenge
WASHINGTON, Oct. 22 -- The National Academy of Medicine issued the following news:
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Team From Howard University Wins Grand Prize in 2026 DC Public Health Case Challenge
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The National Academy of Medicine announced on Oct. 16 the winners of the 13th annual DC Public Health Case Challenge. This year's challenge topic was "Sustaining the Mind and Body: Preventing Multimorbidity of Mental and Physical Chronic Disease Development Among District of Columbia Residents." The competing teams were invited to design sustainable, feasible public health solutions to prevent or delay mental and physical
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WASHINGTON, Oct. 22 -- The National Academy of Medicine issued the following news:
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Team From Howard University Wins Grand Prize in 2026 DC Public Health Case Challenge
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The National Academy of Medicine announced on Oct. 16 the winners of the 13th annual DC Public Health Case Challenge. This year's challenge topic was "Sustaining the Mind and Body: Preventing Multimorbidity of Mental and Physical Chronic Disease Development Among District of Columbia Residents." The competing teams were invited to design sustainable, feasible public health solutions to prevent or delay mental and physicalmultimorbidity in an underserved D.C. population. The challenge required proposed solutions to focus on primordial, primary, or secondary prevention; address multiple levels of the Social Ecological Model; and consider chronic disease risk across the life course.
Chronic conditions such as mental illness, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, asthma, and HIV/AIDS are a considerable public health burden in the District of Columbia. Nearly half of D.C. adults ages 18-64 reported at least one chronic condition in 2023, and citywide averages can mask substantial differences in health risks and outcomes across communities. Mental and physical conditions can also interact and compound over time, underscoring the importance of prevention before multiple chronic conditions become established.
Teams from local universities -- each with up to six members from at least three disciplines -- had two weeks to develop innovative, feasible solutions with a hypothetical $3 million budget to be used during a four-year span. Proposals were evaluated by a panel of experts for interdisciplinarity, feasibility, creativity, equity, and practicality.
The 2026 Grand Prize winner was the team from Howard University, which included Isis Fuller, Nakiah Gipson, Zoe Thomas, Rakchhya Uprety, and Morgan Seymour, with faculty advisers Pamela Carter-Nolan, Briana Jeffreys, Elaine Meredith, and Monica Ponder. Their solution, "The Village Forward: Primary and Secondary Prevention of CVD and Serious Mental Illness During Re-Entry," focused on adults returning to D.C. from federal prison, a transition that can disrupt both physical and mental health care. The team identified strengths and gaps in existing reentry resources and proposed paid peer health navigators with lived experience of incarceration to connect participants with cardiovascular and mental health screening, primary and behavioral health care, and other community supports.
Three additional prizes were awarded:
The Harrison C. Spencer Memorial Interprofessional Prize was awarded to the team from George Mason University for "D.C. Health Ambassadors: Targeted Prevention of Multimorbidity of Obesity and Depression in D.C. Middle Schoolers." Focused on middle school students in Wards 7 and 8, the proposal combined an in-school education program -- adapting the existing FRESHFARM FoodPrints curriculum for older students -- with an after-school health ambassadors club and caregiver education and resources. Team members were Alexander Beltran, Ryan Michael Campbell, Isabel Gripp, Ariana Mendoza Maldonado, Ruqaya Nadeem, Prachi Singh, and their faculty advisers Iulia Fratila, Laura Santacrose, and Evelyn Tomaszewski.
One Wild Card Prize -- for a bold choice of population and health topic and understanding of the target population -- was awarded to a team from University of Maryland, Baltimore, for "BLOOM (Belonging, Life Skills, Optimism, Optimal Mental Health)," a project focused on supporting adolescents with autism as they transition toward adulthood. The 10-week after-school program proposed combining social and emotional skill-building with education on healthy relationships, consent, and sexual and reproductive health, as well as health screenings and referrals. Team members were Imraina Alam, Diana Russell Campbell, Jamie Guillergan, Sumiya Hashemi Miah, Janice JaeEun Nam, Maria Ana Diaz Paredes, and their faculty advisers Greg Carey and Rebecca Hall.
A second Wild Card Prize -- for an innovative solution to the case -- was awarded to a team from American University, whose proposal "Project H.E.R. (Health Empowerment Re-Entry)" aimed to support women returning to Wards 7 and 8 following incarceration. Beginning 60 days before release, the program paired participants with peer navigators and proposed 24/7 "smart health pods" along existing mobile health routes to provide low-barrier access to harm reduction supplies, medication, HIV screening and prevention resources, and connections to care during the first 90 days after release. Team members were Frank Baning, Melissa Chimunye, Katherine Mena, Sabrina Rios Sacramento, Delanie Smothers, and Christina Trinh, and their faculty adviser was Melissa Hawkins.
The 2026 Case Challenge judges were:
* Carlos Blanco, director of the Division of Epidemiology, Services, and Prevention Research, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health
* Adriane Casalotti, chief of government and public affairs, National Association of County and City Health Officials
* Jeanette Contreras, executive director, Organization for Latino Health Advocacy
* William Freeman, associate director of clinical quality measurement and informatics, American College of Cardiologists
* Makeba T. Green, professor and chair, Department of Social Work, Bowie State University
* Julie Pavlin, former senior director of the Board on Global Health, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
* Sue Pechilio Polis, vice president for government affairs and public relations, Lutheran Services in America
The DC Public Health Case Challenge, launched in 2013, aims to promote interdisciplinary, problem-based learning around a public health issue of importance to the Washington, D.C., community. The challenge is co-sponsored by the National Academy of Medicine's Kellogg Health of the Public Fund and the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine's Roundtable on Population Health Improvement, with additional support from its Global Forum on Innovation in Health Professional Education.
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Original text here: https://nam.edu/news-and-insights/team-howard-wins-grand-prize-2026-dc-public-health-case-challenge/
Popular Sculpture Garden Ice Rink Returns at the National Gallery of Art
WASHINGTON, Oct. 22 -- The National Gallery of Art issued the following news release:
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Popular Sculpture Garden Ice Rink Returns at the National Gallery of Art
October 21, 2026
Washington, DC--(Leer en espanol) The National Gallery of Art announces the return of a beloved winter tradition. The 2026-2027 Sculpture Garden Ice Rink season will begin Monday, November 23, and run through Sunday, March 7, 2027 (weather permitting).
A highlight of the National Gallery's annual wintertime programming, the ice rink sits within the museum's Sculpture Garden on the National Mall. Each winter the
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WASHINGTON, Oct. 22 -- The National Gallery of Art issued the following news release:
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Popular Sculpture Garden Ice Rink Returns at the National Gallery of Art
October 21, 2026
Washington, DC--(Leer en espanol) The National Gallery of Art announces the return of a beloved winter tradition. The 2026-2027 Sculpture Garden Ice Rink season will begin Monday, November 23, and run through Sunday, March 7, 2027 (weather permitting).
A highlight of the National Gallery's annual wintertime programming, the ice rink sits within the museum's Sculpture Garden on the National Mall. Each winter thegarden's central fountain transforms into a skating rink of more than 9,500 square feet. As they skate, visitors are surrounded by the National Gallery's collection of monumental sculptures by modern and contemporary artists, including Louise Bourgeois, Alexander Calder, Joan Miro, Ellsworth Kelly, and Claes Oldenburg.
The ice rink is managed by Guest Services, Inc.
Ice Rink Hours and Fees
The ice rink will be open from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Sunday through Thursday, and 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. It is located within the National Gallery's Sculpture Garden between 7th and 9th Streets along Constitution Avenue NW. After the National Gallery closes at 5:00 p.m., visitors may enter the ice rink via the entrances at Constitution Avenue and Madison Drive near 9th Street.
Skating sessions begin every hour on the hour and last 45 minutes, allowing a 15-minute break for ice maintenance. Two back-to-back 45-minute sessions cost $15 for adults and children 13 and over. Discounted tickets are available for $12 for adults 60 and over, children 12 and under, military service members, and students with a valid school ID.
Season passes are available for $265.
Skate rentals cost $7, and free lockers are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Additional ice rink benefits, including 10% off at the Pavilion Cafe and more, are available to visitors with a National Gallery of Art membership.
Skating Lessons and Group Packages
Skating lessons for all ages and abilities are available through the museum's partnership with Guest Services, Inc. Skaters can choose from group lessons, private lessons, and group packages for schools or special events. All lessons are led by Emme Porter, Bruce Porter Jr., and their Washington Elite Skating School team of instructors. Together Emme and Bruce Porter bring over 30 years of skating and coaching experience, and they are internationally recognized for their ice dancing.
Washington Elite Skating School offers three group sessions per season. Walk-in sessions depend on availability. Visit nga.gov/icerink for more details and to subscribe to email reminders about registration and ice rink promotions. Online registration is now available.
The ice rink will close in the event of heavy rain or snow and in extreme temperatures. The National Gallery and Sculpture Garden are closed on December 25 and January 1. For general ice rink information and closing announcements, visit nga.gov/icerink or call 202.216.9397.
Pavilion Cafe
Situated within the Sculpture Garden, the Pavilion Cafe offers the perfect complement to any ice rink visit. Enjoy panoramic views of the garden and a seasonal menu of freshly made soups, salads, sandwiches, flatbreads, and desserts. Beverages include coffee, tea, hot chocolate, wine, beer, and specialty coffee drinks. The cafe also offers seasonal delights such as hot cider, mulled wine, and pumpkin spice lattes with flavored whipped cream. A children's menu is available for ages 12 and under.
During the ice rink season, Pavilion Cafe hours are Monday through Thursday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Friday through Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. For more information about the Pavilion Cafe, visit nga.gov/dining or call 202.289.3360.
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About the National Gallery of Art
The National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, is the nation's art museum, home to a renowned collection of over 160,000 works of art from antiquity to today. Each year the museum welcomes millions of people in person and online to explore art, creativity, and our shared humanity. Located on the National Mall, admission to the West and East Buildings, Sculpture Garden, special exhibitions, and public programs is always free.
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Original text here: https://www.nga.gov/press/ice-rink-2026
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine: Report Identifies Four Moon Sites for Crewed Missions to Explore to Advance Scientific Discovery
WASHINGTON, Oct. 22 (TNSrep) -- The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine issued the following news release:
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New Report Identifies Four Moon Sites for Crewed Missions to Explore to Advance Scientific Discovery
October 21, 2026
WASHINGTON -- Future crewed missions to the moon should prioritize exploring the Bhabha Crater, Mons Hadley, the Orientale Basin, and the Aristarchus Plateau, says a new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Exploring these four lunar sites will allow astronauts to pursue important cross-disciplinary scientific
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WASHINGTON, Oct. 22 (TNSrep) -- The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine issued the following news release:
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New Report Identifies Four Moon Sites for Crewed Missions to Explore to Advance Scientific Discovery
October 21, 2026
WASHINGTON -- Future crewed missions to the moon should prioritize exploring the Bhabha Crater, Mons Hadley, the Orientale Basin, and the Aristarchus Plateau, says a new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Exploring these four lunar sites will allow astronauts to pursue important cross-disciplinary scientificquestions and provide a deeper understanding of how humans could live and thrive on the moon, the report says.
Studying the nonpolar regions of the moon will offer new opportunities to answer important scientific questions about our nearest celestial neighbor, as well as about the solar system and universe. With volcanic activity having ended over a billion years ago and no plate tectonics, the moon is geologically inactive, which along with other factors makes its surface a preserved record that scientists can study to better understand the moon's formation, and examine materials from space that have impacted the moon. Scientific exploration may also reveal the location of resources that could be used for human technology and spacefaring purposes.
"Exploring these lunar sites will allow scientists to unlock new information about the moon that has never been available to us before," said James Day, professor at Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the University of California, San Diego, and co-chair of the committee that wrote the report. "Returning to the moon will be a great achievement for humanity, and setting foot where we never have before will be a major moment for science."
The far side of the moon is shielded from radio frequency interference from Earth, making it an ideal place for groundbreaking discoveries in radio astronomy and other observations that could open new windows to investigating the universe. There are also important questions related to biology and human health that could be addressed -- for example, how lunar soil could be used to benefit long-term human habitation on the moon.
"The four sites that our report recommends would give astronauts the chance to study questions as varied as how to use lunar soil to grow plants, to understanding the sources of gravitational waves," said committee co-chair Daniel Dumbacher, professor of engineering practice in the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics at Purdue University. "These sites give science the best shot at learning as much as possible from a crewed mission beyond the South Pole of the moon."
Bhabha Crater
Bhabha Crater would be the farthest and most isolated location humans have ever explored. Human explorers would be able to access material from the moon's oldest preserved impact basin, investigate the lunar crust on the far side of the moon, and deploy radio and optical astronomy experiments.
Mons Hadley
On the near side of the moon, the Mons Hadley region is near the landing site for the Apollo 15 mission. Revisiting the site would provide new information for future crewed missions by allowing the study of hardware and biological materials left exposed to the lunar environment for more than 50 years. At Mons Hadley, explorers could collect new geological samples and samples from the Apollo 15 site to inform the Artemis program and moon-to-Mars planning. This site would also be suitable for a space weather observatory and an experiment to assess how material from the moon's surface may mitigate radiation hazards, the report says.
Orientale Basin
On the outer edge of the moon's disk as seen from Earth, the Orientale Basin provides access to the best-preserved, large, multi-ringed impact basin in the solar system. Visiting this site would offer an unmatched variety of geological materials and a seismically quiet environment that will yield insight into the deep structure and origin of the moon, the report says. Mission crews should return samples from the basin to Earth to better understand how the basin was formed, as well as deploy a gravitational wave observatory.
Aristarchus Plateau
Rising dramatically from ancient lava flows on the near side of the moon, the Aristarchus Plateau is a geologically rich volcanic landscape. This site would provide the opportunity to collect samples that will yield insight into the variety of volcanic processes that have shaped the moon and potentially important resources that could support future exploration. This site would also be suitable for establishing a space weather observatory to improve space weather forecasting and for assessing how material from the moon's surface may mitigate radiation hazards.
Improving Science Capabilities
The report also makes recommendations for NASA that would enhance the ability of astronauts to explore these locations and pursue scientific discovery. NASA should develop the capability for astronauts to travel farther than the current maximum of 2 kilometers for extravehicular exploration, and ensure that instruments deployed by astronauts can operate over many day-to-night cycles on the moon.
NASA should also develop a high-resolution observational tool to be placed in orbit above the moon to ensure continued safety and planning for lunar missions, as well as a simple, unpressurized crewed rover for short excursions, and continuous communications capabilities to be used by humans working on the surface of the moon.
The study -- undertaken by the Committee on Key Nonpolar Destinations Across the Moon to Address Decadal-Level Science Objectives with Human Explorers -- was sponsored by NASA. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine are private, nonprofit institutions that provide independent, objective analysis and advice to the nation to solve complex problems and inform public policy decisions related to science, engineering, and medicine. They operate under an 1863 congressional charter to the National Academy of Sciences, signed by President Lincoln.
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View report here: https://www.nationalacademies.org/projects/DEPS-SSB-24-06/publication/29401
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Original text here: https://www.nationalacademies.org/news/new-report-identifies-four-moon-sites-for-crewed-missions-to-explore-to-advance-scientific-discovery
Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas Awards Nearly $60 Million for Affordable Housing
DALLAS, Texas, Oct. 22 -- The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas, a district bank in the Federal Home Loan Bank System, issued the following news release:
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Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas Awards Nearly $60 Million for Affordable Housing
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Funding Awarded Through its Members Will Create 3,109 Housing Units
DALLAS, TEXAS, October 22, 2026--The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas) has awarded nearly $60 million in Affordable Housing Program (AHP) grants to 37 affordable housing projects located in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico and Texas.
The grants, totaling $59,792,101,
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DALLAS, Texas, Oct. 22 -- The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas, a district bank in the Federal Home Loan Bank System, issued the following news release:
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Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas Awards Nearly $60 Million for Affordable Housing
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Funding Awarded Through its Members Will Create 3,109 Housing Units
DALLAS, TEXAS, October 22, 2026--The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas) has awarded nearly $60 million in Affordable Housing Program (AHP) grants to 37 affordable housing projects located in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico and Texas.
The grants, totaling $59,792,101,will help create or rehabilitate 3,109 housing units for low-income individuals and families across the FHLB Dallas District.
"Access to quality, affordable housing strengthens communities and creates opportunities for families to thrive," said FHLB Dallas President and CEO Sanjay Bhasin. "Working alongside our members and community partners, we are investing in housing developments that will strengthen neighborhoods and help meet critical housing needs."
FHLB Dallas annually returns 10 percent of its profits in the form of AHP grants and contributes an additional 5 percent to voluntary community investment programs, benefiting the communities served by its member institutions.
This year's grants were awarded through 18 FHLB Dallas member institutions. Grants of up to $1.75 million per project were available to support the construction or rehabilitation of owner-occupied, rental and transitional housing, as well as housing for individuals experiencing homelessness.
Visit our Community Programs webpage for more information about community investment opportunities and see the Affordable Housing Program General Fund for a complete list of members and organizations receiving 2026 AHP grants.
About the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas
The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas is one of 11 district banks in the FHLBank System created by Congress in 1932. FHLB Dallas, with total assets of $107.8 billion as of June 30, 2026, is a member-owned cooperative that supports housing and community development by providing competitively priced loans and other credit products to approximately 780 members and associated institutions in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico and Texas. For more information, visit our website at fhlb.com.
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Original text here: https://www.fhlb.com/library/press-releases/2026/federal-home-loan-bank-of-dallas-awards-nearly-(1)
FHLBank Chicago Awards $5 Million to Expand Affordable Housing Developer Pipeline Across Illinois and Wisconsin
CHICAGO, Illinois, Oct. 22 -- The Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago, a district bank in the Federal Home Loan Bank System, posted the following news:
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FHLBank Chicago Awards $5 Million to Expand Affordable Housing Developer Pipeline Across Illinois and Wisconsin
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The Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago (FHLBank Chicago) has awarded $5 million through its 2026 Community First(r) Developer Program (Developer Program) to expand the pipeline of real estate developers advancing affordable housing across Illinois and Wisconsin. Delivered through FHLBank Chicago member institutions, this year's
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CHICAGO, Illinois, Oct. 22 -- The Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago, a district bank in the Federal Home Loan Bank System, posted the following news:
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FHLBank Chicago Awards $5 Million to Expand Affordable Housing Developer Pipeline Across Illinois and Wisconsin
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The Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago (FHLBank Chicago) has awarded $5 million through its 2026 Community First(r) Developer Program (Developer Program) to expand the pipeline of real estate developers advancing affordable housing across Illinois and Wisconsin. Delivered through FHLBank Chicago member institutions, this year'sgrants will support an estimated 95 fellowships and internships across 27 organizations. The awards bring total funding for the program since 2022 to $17 million.
"Expanding the supply of affordable housing takes more than identifying where homes are needed. It takes people with the skills and experience to move projects forward," said Katie Naftzger, Senior Vice President and Community Investment Officer, FHLBank Chicago. "The Developer Program gives emerging professionals the opportunity to learn through real projects while helping organizations build the capacity to advance housing in communities across Illinois and Wisconsin."
The Developer Program provides grant funding through FHLBank Chicago member institutions to nonprofit, for-profit and quasi-governmental organizations supporting career development for emerging affordable housing developers. Target grant amounts ranged from $50,000 to $200,000 per beneficiary organization to support internships and fellowships that provide hands-on experience in project management training, predevelopment planning, construction and financing and other aspects of affordable housing development. These efforts help cultivate the next generation of housing professionals and strengthen the foundation for long-term development across the region.
Among this year's recipients, Central Illinois Land Bank Authority (CILBA) received $200,000 through FHLBank Chicago member Servbank to support one anticipated fellow and two interns who will receive hands-on experience in affordable housing and community development. Participants will contribute to active redevelopment efforts in Casey, Mt. Sterling, Westville, Oakwood, Pontiac, Mattoon and Jacksonville, building experience in property redevelopment, development requests for proposals, vacant-lot development and affordable multifamily housing.
"All of the communities we serve have distressed or abandoned properties with potential and housing needs waiting to be addressed," said Mike Davis, Executive Director of the Central Illinois Land Bank Authority. "Giving emerging developers the opportunity to work directly on these challenges creates a valuable learning experience while bringing additional capacity to communities working to put vacant and underused properties back into productive use. We want participants to gain the experience and confidence to keep moving housing projects forward throughout the region and scale up our Vacant Lots to New Homes Initiative program to help rural communities address missing middle housing."
Wisconsin Partnership for Housing Development (WPHD) received $199,738 through FHLBank Chicago member Forward Community Investments to support two housing development fellows who will work alongside WPHD's development team on housing opportunities across the state. Fellows will gain experience in site identification, feasibility analysis, financing, due diligence, construction planning and project management while helping advance a portfolio of affordable homeownership and rental developments. WPHD estimates that projects supported by the fellows' work could help create or preserve 93 homes across Wisconsin, including developments in Madison, Beloit, La Crosse, Shorewood and Sun Prairie.
"The best way to learn housing development is to be part of the work from the beginning," said Todd Mandel, Executive Director at Wisconsin Partnership for Housing Development. "Our fellows will have the opportunity to evaluate sites, work through financing and due diligence, collaborate with communities and help move real housing developments forward. They'll finish the fellowship not only understanding how affordable housing gets built, but having helped advance homes for communities across Wisconsin."
Introduced in 2022, the Developer Program has awarded $12 million through 2025 and supported 215 internships and fellowships that help expand the pipeline of affordable housing developers across Illinois and Wisconsin. The program was established at the recommendation of FHLBank Chicago's Community Investment Advisory Council, a group of industry leaders that advises on affordable housing and community lending.
View the full list of 2026 Developer Program grant awardees below.
Beneficiary Organization City State Member Member State
KG Development Group Milwaukee WI Northwest Side Community Development Corporation WI
Wisconsin Partnership for Housing Development Madison WI Forward Community Investments, Inc. WI
Hope Community Capital LLC Madison WI League of Wisc, Municipalities M.I. WI
Northernstar Companies LLC Milwaukee WI WaterStone Bank, SSB WI
KABA-BAAL LLC Madison WI Forward Community Investments, Inc. WI
CUBIT Companies, LLC Wilmette IL IFF IL
Kankakee Regional Land Bank Authority Kankakee IL Peoples Bank of Kankakee County IL
Greater Fox Cities Area Habitat for Humanity Menasha WI The Bank of Kaukauna WI
Rule Enterprises Milwaukee WI Impact Seven, Inc. WI
Illinois Housing Council Chicago IL BMO Bank, NA IL
Beauty For Ashes Developers LLC Chicago IL Amalgamated Bank of Chicago IL
Zion Development Corporation Rockford IL Associated Bank, National Assn. WI
T.Spell Development Group, LLC Milwaukee WI IFF IL
AK Development, LLC (AKD) Milwaukee WI Spring Bank WI
Fifth Avenue Capital Partners Inc Downers Grove IL Republic Bank of Chicago IL
Impact Seven, Incorporated Rice Lake WI Cinnaire Lending Corporation IL
Full Circle Communities, Inc. Chicago IL CIBC Bank USA IL
University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Real Estate and Urban Land Economics Madison WI Forward Community Investments, Inc. WI
Emem Group LLC Milwaukee WI Cinnaire Lending Corporation IL
Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, Office of Rural Prosperity Madison WI Bank of Luxemburg WI
Habitat for Humanity Waukesha - Jefferson - Rock Waukesha WI Waukesha State Bank WI
Southwest Organizing Project Chicago IL Marquette Bank IL
Central Illinois Land Bank Authority Urbana IL Servbank, N.A. IL
Sunshine Management Chicago IL C3 Impact Fund, LLC IL
The Neighbor Project Aurora IL Old Second National Bank IL
Acts Community Development Corporation - DBA: Acts Housing Milwaukee WI North Shore Bank WI
FIT Investment Group Milwaukee WI Tri City National Bank WI
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Original text here: https://www.fhlbc.com/news/news-detail/2026/10/22/fhlbank-chicago-awards--5-million-to-expand-affordable-housing-developer-pipeline-across-illinois-and-wisconsin
EPA and Partners Enter Final Phase of $34 Million Project to Clean Up Contaminated Sediment in Superior Bay, Wisconsin
WASHINGTON, Oct. 22 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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EPA and Partners Enter Final Phase of $34 Million Project to Clean Up Contaminated Sediment in Superior Bay, Wisconsin
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CHICAGO (October 22, 2026) -- Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR); and Superior Water, Light and Power Co. (SWL&P) awarded a $10.1 million contract to clean up sediments in a 12-acre slip in Superior Bay, Wisconsin, known as the C Street Slip. This project is the final phase of a $34 million project agreement to
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Oct. 22 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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EPA and Partners Enter Final Phase of $34 Million Project to Clean Up Contaminated Sediment in Superior Bay, Wisconsin
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CHICAGO (October 22, 2026) -- Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR); and Superior Water, Light and Power Co. (SWL&P) awarded a $10.1 million contract to clean up sediments in a 12-acre slip in Superior Bay, Wisconsin, known as the C Street Slip. This project is the final phase of a $34 million project agreement toremove contaminated sediment and control sources of contamination in the St. Louis River Area of Concern.
"This milestone reflects years of commitment and collaboration among federal, state, local, and private partners to address legacy contamination in the St. Louis River Area of Concern," said EPA Region 5 Administrator Anne Vogel. "Removing this long-standing source of pollution will create lasting benefits for the community by improving environmental quality, supporting recreation, and strengthening an important Great Lakes resource."
"The EPA's award of a construction contract for the C Street Slip reflects the trust and partnership among Superior Water Light and Power, EPA, and the State of Wisconsin, built over many years of collaboration to meet shared objectives to clean up the slip," said Wisconsin DNR Secretary Karen Hyun. "The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is pleased to support this project and its contributions to correct legacy impacts in the St. Louis River and the broader efforts to protect and restore the Great Lakes."
"This is what partnership looks like. Working alongside the EPA and the Wisconsin DNR, we can do more for the betterment of the planet than any one of us could accomplish alone," said SWL&P President Rob Sandstrom. "This started as a project to clean up manufactured gas plant waste left from 125 years ago and because of this partnership, the EPA will be able to remove all sources of contamination from this slip. SWL&P customers, the Superior community, the St. Louis River estuary and Lake Superior all benefit from this collaboration."
Historical industrial use of the St. Louis River, along with wastewater discharges, contaminated the river's sediment with mercury, dioxins, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and other toxins.
Work on the C Street Slip project is expected to begin in 2027. Crews will remove approximately 23,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediment containing high levels of mercury and PAHs. The sediment will be dried and transported for disposal at an approved facility. Following sediment removal, a thin sand cover layer will be placed in the project area. Completion of this work will advance efforts to remove the St. Louis River AOC from the list of 23 AOCs remaining in the United States.
Background
The St. Louis River was designated as an Area of Concern under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement in 1987. An AOC is an area where significant environmental degradation has occurred. Draining 3,634 square miles of watershed and encompassing a 1,020 square-mile area, the St. Louis River is the second largest AOC in the United States.
EPA and partners--funded by the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and non-federal contributions through project agreements under the Great Lakes Legacy Act--have remediated more than 1.9 million cubic yards of contaminated sediment and restored more than 1,000 acres of important habitat within the St. Louis River AOC. To date, 13 of the 19 sediment remediation projects and 17 of the 19 habitat restoration projects necessary to delist the AOC have been completed.
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Original text here: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-and-partners-enter-final-phase-34-million-project-clean-contaminated-sediment
