Foundations
Here's a look at documents from U.S. foundations
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WLF Welcomes Jay DeSanto as Senior Litigation Counsel
WASHINGTON, April 30 [Category: Law/Legal] -- The Washington Legal Foundation issued the following news release:
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WLF Welcomes Jay DeSanto as Senior Litigation Counsel
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"Jay brings a wealth of commercial litigation experience and a proven track record in complex disputes to WLF's demanding litigation practice."
-Cory Andrews, WLF General Counsel & Vice President of Litigation
(Washington, DC)-Washington Legal Foundation (WLF) is pleased to welcome attorney Jay DeSanto as Senior Litigation Counsel.
Jay joins WLF from Crowell & Moring LLP, where he was a Partner in the firm's Washington,
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, April 30 [Category: Law/Legal] -- The Washington Legal Foundation issued the following news release:
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WLF Welcomes Jay DeSanto as Senior Litigation Counsel
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"Jay brings a wealth of commercial litigation experience and a proven track record in complex disputes to WLF's demanding litigation practice."
-Cory Andrews, WLF General Counsel & Vice President of Litigation
(Washington, DC)-Washington Legal Foundation (WLF) is pleased to welcome attorney Jay DeSanto as Senior Litigation Counsel.
Jay joins WLF from Crowell & Moring LLP, where he was a Partner in the firm's Washington,DC office and a member of the Litigation and Health Care Groups. At Crowell, Jay litigated complex commercial disputes across a range of industries. He defended leading insurers in multi-million-dollar lawsuits, represented clients in federal antitrust litigation, and helped craft briefs in major cases before the U.S. Supreme Court and federal appellate courts. A full-spectrum litigator, he handled all phases of litigation, including pleadings, discovery, depositions, trial presentations, dispositive motions, and appellate briefing.
Jay received his J.D., with honors, from The George Washington University Law School, where he was a Thurgood Marshall Scholar. He earned his B.A. in Political Science, magna cum laude, from The College of the Holy Cross.
"Jay brings a wealth of commercial litigation experience and a proven track record in complex disputesto WLF's demanding litigation practice," said Cory Andrews, WLF's General Counsel and Vice President of Litigation. Glenn Lammi, WLF's Executive Director and Vice President of Legal Studies, echoed those sentiments: "Jay's sharp legal mind is a perfect fit for WLF and our fast-paced Litigation Division."
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Original text here: https://www.wlf.org/2026/04/30/communicating/wlf-welcomes-jay-desanto-as-senior-litigation-counsel/
OMRF scientist to lead world's largest physiology group
OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma, April 30 -- The Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation posted the following news:
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OMRF scientist to lead world's largest physiology group
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Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation scientist Sue Bodine, Ph.D., has begun a one-year term as president of the American Physiology Society.
She was elected earlier and was installed as the society's 99th president April 26 at its annual conference in Minneapolis. With nearly 10,000 members, the APS is the world's largest association of physiologists.
"Physiology is the foundational study of how the body works," Bodine said.
... Show Full Article
OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma, April 30 -- The Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation posted the following news:
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OMRF scientist to lead world's largest physiology group
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Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation scientist Sue Bodine, Ph.D., has begun a one-year term as president of the American Physiology Society.
She was elected earlier and was installed as the society's 99th president April 26 at its annual conference in Minneapolis. With nearly 10,000 members, the APS is the world's largest association of physiologists.
"Physiology is the foundational study of how the body works," Bodine said."In essence, it is the bedrock of medicine, because it shows us how all of the body's parts function and interact. Physiology helps us understand everything from how diseases occur to how athletes can improve performance and prevent injuries."
Formed in 1887, the APS publishes 16 scientific journals. It serves as a hub for researchers of numerous disciplines, and it advocates for government policies and funding for scientific research.
That latter aspect is what most excites Bodine about her new leadership role. She recently participated in a congressional briefing about the importance of physiology research, which is funded primarily through grants from the National Institutes of Health.
"We recently launched a campaign called 'The Science Life Depends On' to highlight physiology as the foundation of health and medical advancement," Bodine said. "The goal is to raise awareness among the public and policymakers."
Bodine is a neuromuscular physiologist who studies how muscles respond to positive and negative factors like exercise or the lack thereof. Her lab looks for methods to slow muscle loss to help people maintain strength and independence as they age.
She is among several OMRF scientists tasked in recent years with leading national scientific research groups. For example, Holly Van Remmen, Ph.D., and Benjamin Miller, Ph.D., were elected president of the American Aging Association in 2022 and 2024, respectively, and Vice President of Research Courtney Griffin, Ph.D., was elected president of the North American Vascular Biology Organization in 2021.
"Dr. Bodine's election to this important position reflects her outstanding reputation within the national physiology community," Griffin said. "This is an exciting opportunity to showcase the exceptional scientific talent and leadership we have at OMRF."
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Original text here: https://omrf.org/omrf-scientist-to-lead-worlds-largest-physiology-group/
New Spectrum Sharing Rules Improve Satellite Broadband, Benefiting U.S. Consumers, Says ITIF
WASHINGTON, April 30 [Category: Computer Technology]-- The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation posted the following news release:
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New Spectrum Sharing Rules Improve Satellite Broadband, Benefiting U.S. Consumers, Says ITIF
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WASHINGTON-Following the Federal Communications Commission's approval of changes to the rules regarding satellite spectrum sharing, the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) released the following statement from ITIF Policy Analyst Ellis Scherer:
The FCC's new spectrum-sharing rules will allow satellite operators to provide better
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, April 30 [Category: Computer Technology]-- The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation posted the following news release:
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New Spectrum Sharing Rules Improve Satellite Broadband, Benefiting U.S. Consumers, Says ITIF
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WASHINGTON-Following the Federal Communications Commission's approval of changes to the rules regarding satellite spectrum sharing, the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) released the following statement from ITIF Policy Analyst Ellis Scherer:
The FCC's new spectrum-sharing rules will allow satellite operators to provide betterbroadband service to more Americans.
Removing restrictions on non-geostationary (NGSO) satellites while still protecting geostationary (GEO) satellite services will enable more productive spectrum use. That benefits American consumers because NGSO satellite broadband services now cover almost the entire United States.
The new FCC rules are also beneficial for America's technological competitiveness because they will enable further innovation in satellite connectivity, which will help foster growth across the entire U.S. space industry.
Contact: Austin Slater, press@itif.org
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Original text here: https://itif.org/publications/publications/2026/04/30/new-spectrum-sharing-rules-improve-satellite-broadband-benefiting-u-s-consumers-says-itif/
NFWF Announces $5.4 Million in Grants from Walmart's Acres for America Program
WASHINGTON, April 30 -- The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation posted the following news release:
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NFWF Announces $5.4 Million in Grants from Walmart's Acres for America Program
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WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 30, 2026) - The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) today announced the award of $5.4 million in grants through Walmart's Acres for America program, the nation's leading public-private land conservation partnership.
The seven awards announced today will support community-driven projects that permanently protect more than 177,000 acres of wildlife habitat throughout California,
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, April 30 -- The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation posted the following news release:
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NFWF Announces $5.4 Million in Grants from Walmart's Acres for America Program
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WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 30, 2026) - The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) today announced the award of $5.4 million in grants through Walmart's Acres for America program, the nation's leading public-private land conservation partnership.
The seven awards announced today will support community-driven projects that permanently protect more than 177,000 acres of wildlife habitat throughout California,Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma and Virginia. The grants will leverage $135.8 million in public and private matching contributions, generating a total conservation impact of $141.2 million. Additional funding was provided this year by the Life Time Foundation.
"The Acres for America program serves as a national model for the conservation of large, connected landscapes that benefit wildlife, support local economies and open new opportunities for everyone to fish, hunt, hike and otherwise enjoy the outdoors," said Jeff Trandahl, executive director and CEO of NFWF. "Thanks to the support of Walmart, the work of our grantees and all other project supporters across the public and private sectors, these natural landscapes and the wildlife populations they sustain will be protected."
"Walmart's Acres for America program continues to demonstrate how conservation at scale can support wildlife, strengthen communities and expand public access to the outdoors," said Hunter Hart, senior vice president of Walmart Realty. "These projects show what's possible when strong local leadership and public-private partnerships come together to conserve important landscapes across the country."
One of this year's projects will preserve nearly 20,000 acres of the iconic vistas and landscapes made famous by artist Georgia O'Keeffe through a grant to the New Mexico Land Conservancy. The project will protect Ghost Ranch in northern New Mexico, including five miles of Rio Chama frontage, through a conservation easement that guarantees public access. Supported by an additional contribution from the Life Time Foundation, this effort will safeguard a critical inholding surrounded by two National Forests and Abiquiu Lake by restricting development along Ghost Ranch's waterfront and shortgrass prairie habitat, ensuring long-term landscape connectivity.
"A healthy planet is essential to healthy people and thriving communities everywhere," said Sarah Emola, senior director of the Life Time Foundation. "By investing in the permanent protection of places like Ghost Ranch, we're helping conserve critical wildlife habitat, honor the cultural and natural significance of these landscapes and ensure they remain accessible for generations to come. Efforts like Acres for America reflect the power of partnership in safeguarding natural spaces that support our collective well being."
Another project in southeastern Oklahoma will protect 11,333 acres and establish the state's first official State Forest. Led by The Conservation Fund, the Musket Mountain effort safeguards an ecologically rich landscape within the Ouachita Mountains that supports federally endangered mussels, the threatened leopard darter and numerous species of concern. The project will maintain habitat connectivity across the region and secure long-term public access for recreation.
In Colorado's San Luis Valley, Western Rivers Conservancy will conserve 45,952 acres at the headwaters of the Rio Grande. The project will transfer the property to Colorado Parks & Wildlife, the U.S. Forest Service, and the Bureau of Land Management to ensure protection of more than 30 miles of coldwater streams that support native Rio Grande cutthroat trout and important habitat for big game including elk, bighorn sheep and mule deer. The project will keep this vast landscape intact for fish and wildlife, guarantee public access, and preserve important cultural sites.
A complete list of the 2026 grants from Acres for America is available here.
The Acres for America program began in 2005 when Walmart made an initial commitment of $34.5 million over 10 years to preserve an acre of wildlife habitat in the United States for every acre of land developed by the company. Having far surpassed the original goal of 100,000 acres, Walmart renewed the program for another 10 years in 2015 and again in 2025. With the addition of the latest round of grants, Acres for America has helped protect more than 2.2 million acres across 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
Over the past 21 years, Acres for America has funded 138 projects and has leveraged Walmart's $73.6 million investment with matching contributions that have generated a total conservation impact of more than $1 billion.
Learn more about Walmart's goal, together with the Walmart Foundation, to protect, more sustainably manage, or restore nature here.
About the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
Chartered by Congress in 1984, NFWF has grown to become the nation's largest conservation foundation. NFWF works with the public and private sectors to sustain, restore and enhance the nation's fish, wildlife, plants and habitats for current and future generations. Since its founding, NFWF has supported more than 7,200 grantee organizations and funded over 23,900 projects that have generated a total conservation impact of $12 billion. NFWF is an equal opportunity provider. Learn more at nfwf.org.
About Walmart
Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ: WMT) is a people-led, tech-powered omnichannel retailer helping people save money and live better - anytime and anywhere - in stores, online, and through their mobile devices. Each week, approximately 240 million customers and members visit approximately 10,500 stores and numerous eCommerce websites in 19 countries. With fiscal year 2023 revenue of $611 billion, Walmart employs approximately 2.1 million associates worldwide. Walmart continues to be a leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy, and employment opportunity. Additional information about Walmart can be found by visiting https://corporate.walmart.com, on Facebook at https://facebook.com/walmart, on X (formerly known as Twitter) at https://twitter.com/walmart, and on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/walmart/.
About the Life Time Foundation
The Life Time Foundation, a 501c(3) nonprofit created by Life Time, Inc. (NYSE: LTH) is dedicated to inspiring Healthy People, a Healthy Planet, and a Healthy Way of Life. Through financial grants and direct action, we support Youth Nutrition by helping schools serve wholesome, nourishing, minimally processed food to students; Youth Movement by championing physical movement programs that get children active and excited to move for life; and a Healthy Planet by supporting forestation and conservation initiatives, so everyone can live healthy, happy lives. For more information or to make a tax-deductible donation, visit www.ltfoundation.org.
Contact:
Matt Winter, 202-857-0166, matt.winter@nfwf.org
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Original text here: https://www.nfwf.org/media-center/press-releases/nfwf-announces-5-4-million-grants-walmarts-acres-america-program
Lowell Residents File Lawsuit Challenging Data Center Expansion
BOSTON, Massachusetts, April 30 -- Conservation Law Foundation issued the following news release:
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Lowell Residents File Lawsuit Challenging Data Center Expansion
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As the Markley data center has expanded, generators, cooling towers, and other infrastructure have been installed near neighboring houses, sometimes less than 100 feet from homes. Photo: Stephanie Safdi
April 30, 2026 (Boston, MA) - A coalition of Lowell residents, represented by Conservation Law Foundation (CLF), the Environmental Justice Law and Advocacy Clinic at Yale Law School, and Fitch Law Partners, has filed a lawsuit
... Show Full Article
BOSTON, Massachusetts, April 30 -- Conservation Law Foundation issued the following news release:
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Lowell Residents File Lawsuit Challenging Data Center Expansion
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As the Markley data center has expanded, generators, cooling towers, and other infrastructure have been installed near neighboring houses, sometimes less than 100 feet from homes. Photo: Stephanie Safdi
April 30, 2026 (Boston, MA) - A coalition of Lowell residents, represented by Conservation Law Foundation (CLF), the Environmental Justice Law and Advocacy Clinic at Yale Law School, and Fitch Law Partners, has filed a lawsuitin Massachusetts Superior Court challenging the expansion of a 352,000-square-foot data center in a residential neighborhood. The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) unlawfully approved the air permit allowing the facility's owner, Markley Group LLC, to operate dozens of diesel generators and cooling towers.
" For the last decade, this community has shown remarkable persistence in the face of consistent pollution, noise, dust, odors, and traffic right outside their homes," said Alex St. Pierre, CLF vice president for environmental justice. "Even as the years passed and the facility grew more disruptive, they continued to raise concerns-only to be dismissed and denied a fair hearing. They deserve to be heard and respected, and CLF is proud to work alongside them."
The air permit allows Markley to expand their data center by operating 27 industrial diesel back-up generators and 16 cooling towers. As the data center has expanded, generators, cooling towers, and other infrastructure have been installed near neighboring houses, sometimes less than 100 feet from homes.
MassDEP unlawfully approved the permit, failed to adequately address resident concerns, and improperly dismissed residents' appeal without granting them an opportunity to present evidence. The agency also allowed Markley to install and operate the new generators before it had a final permit through a side agreement discovered by residents during their appeal.
"The lawsuit challenges every aspect of Markley and MassDEP's efforts to ram the data center expansion through the agency approval process," said Yale Law School student attorney Mehrdad Dariush '26. "It alleges that MassDEP violated the state's Administrative Procedure Act by committing a number of legal and factual errors when it approved Markley's permit, and that the consent order violates the plaintiffs' rights to a fair hearing and exceeds the agency's statutory powers."
Lowell residents have raised issues about the data center for years. In March, the city council imposed a one-year moratorium on new data center construction.
"This is an important step forward in getting the respect our neighborhood has not had for the past 11 years. It didn't have to come to this, but Markley refused to listen to the neighborhood or respect state laws," said Jacob Fortes, a plaintiff in the lawsuit, addressing the Markley Group's arrival in the neighborhood in 2015. Fortes' home sits at the data center fenceline.
The full lawsuit can be read here.
Experts are available for further comment.
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Original text here: https://www.clf.org/newsroom/lowell-residents-file-lawsuit-challenging-data-center-expansion/
Growing National Debt and Affordability Are Key Issues for 2026 Election
NEW YORK, April 30 -- The Peter G. Peterson Foundation posted the following news release:
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Growing National Debt and Affordability Are Key Issues for 2026 Election
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Six months from election day, a new Peter G. Peterson Foundation survey shows a growing majority of Americans are concerned that the $39 trillion national debt is driving up their personal cost of living. At the same time, the U.S. Fiscal Confidence Index fell to a 22-month low at 42 in April (100 is neutral), reflecting voters' desire for their leaders to address the country's fiscal challenges.
The new national survey,
... Show Full Article
NEW YORK, April 30 -- The Peter G. Peterson Foundation posted the following news release:
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Growing National Debt and Affordability Are Key Issues for 2026 Election
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Six months from election day, a new Peter G. Peterson Foundation survey shows a growing majority of Americans are concerned that the $39 trillion national debt is driving up their personal cost of living. At the same time, the U.S. Fiscal Confidence Index fell to a 22-month low at 42 in April (100 is neutral), reflecting voters' desire for their leaders to address the country's fiscal challenges.
The new national survey,jointly conducted by Democratic firm Global Strategy Group and Republican firm North Star Opinion Research, finds:
* 92% of voters (including 94% of Democrats, 92% of independents and 89% of Republicans) are concerned that the national debt's effect on inflation is increasing the cost of living, including prices for groceries, energy, housing, transportation, and other goods and services. That overall percentage is up two points.
* 88% of voters (including 92% of Democrats, 87% of independents and 85% of Republicans) are concerned that the national debt is contributing to higher borrowing costs, such as credit card interest, car loan rates, and mortgage rates, up from 86% overall last month.
* 94% say they are more likely to support a candidate with a plan to address the debt, including 93% of Democrats, 94% of independents, and 96% of Republicans.
* In addition, 74% of voters (including 65% of Democrats, 86% of independents and 75% of Republicans) say they would consider supporting a candidate from a political party they do not usually support, if that candidate had a clear plan to address the debt.
* 97% of voters (up two points) say candidates this year should clearly explain their plan to prevent an automatic 23% annual cut to Social Security benefits -if Congress does nothing to address Social Security's deteriorating finances, these automatic cuts will occur in 2032, during the term of U.S. Senators elected this November.
* More than 7 in 10 voters want to hear more than they have heard over the past month about how candidates will tackle the debt and its impact on the cost of living.
"The rising national debt has effectively become a kitchen table issue for Americans because it contributes to rising costs across the economy, from grocery bills to car payments," said Michael A. Peterson, CEO of the Peterson Foundation. "Voters across party lines are looking for leadership and solutions on the debt, because they understand it's a critical issue for the nation's economy and their own personal finances. Fiscal confidence is the lowest it's been in almost two years, but voters are ready to support candidates who have a plan to put our nation on a stronger, more sustainable path."
April's U.S. Fiscal Confidence Index shows widespread agreement that addressing the debt should be a top-three priority for the president and Congress (81% agree/15% disagree), including agreement among 75% of Democrats, 79% of independents and 87% of Republicans. In addition, a nearly two-year high of 56% of voters agree that the president and Congress should spend a lot more time addressing the debt (up from 52% in March).
The Fiscal Confidence Index measures public opinion about the national debt by asking six questions in three key areas:
* CONCERN: Level of concern and views about the direction of the national debt.
* PRIORITY: How high a priority addressing the debt should be for elected leaders.
* EXPECTATIONS: Expectations about whether the debt situation will get better or worse in the next few years.
The survey results from these three areas are weighted equally and averaged to produce the Fiscal Confidence Index value. The Fiscal Confidence Index, like the Consumer Confidence Index, is indexed on a scale of 0 to 200, with a neutral midpoint of 100. A reading above 100 indicates positive sentiment. A reading below 100 indicates negative sentiment.
Fiscal Confidence Index Key Data Points:
* The April Fiscal Confidence Index value is 42\. (The March value was 43. The February value was 48.)
* The current Fiscal Confidence Index score for CONCERN about the debt is 37, indicating deep concern about the debt. The score for debt as a PRIORITY that leaders must address is 22, indicating that Americans want elected leaders to make addressing long-term debt a high priority. The score for EXPECTATIONS about progress on the debt is 67. The Fiscal Confidence Index is the average of these three sub-category scores.
The Peter G. Peterson Foundation commissioned this poll by Democratic firm Global Strategy Group and Republican firm North Star Opinion Research. The online poll surveyed 1,000 registered voters nationwide between April 20 and April 22, 2026. It has a margin of error of +/- 3.1%.
Detailed results can be found online at www.pgpf.org/FiscalConfidenceIndex.
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Original text here: https://www.pgpf.org/press/2026-4-fci-press-release/
CBCF Statement on Supreme Court Voting Rights Ruling
WASHINGTON, April 30 -- The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation issued the following statement on April 29, 2026, by President and CEO, Nicole Austin-Hillery:
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CBCF Statement on Supreme Court Voting Rights Ruling
In response to the Supreme Court decision in the voting rights case challenging Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, Louisiana v. Callais, CBCF President & CEO, Nicole Austin-Hillery issued the following statement:
"The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) acknowledges the Supreme Court's ruling in Louisiana v. Callais, which carries serious implications for key provisions
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, April 30 -- The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation issued the following statement on April 29, 2026, by President and CEO, Nicole Austin-Hillery:
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CBCF Statement on Supreme Court Voting Rights Ruling
In response to the Supreme Court decision in the voting rights case challenging Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, Louisiana v. Callais, CBCF President & CEO, Nicole Austin-Hillery issued the following statement:
"The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) acknowledges the Supreme Court's ruling in Louisiana v. Callais, which carries serious implications for key provisionsof the Voting Rights Act. As a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) institution dedicated to the nation's civic health through public education and leadership development, we remain steadfast in our mission: ensuring that the interests of Black Americans, and all underrepresented and historically marginalized groups, are prioritized and protected. The Voting Rights Act is a cornerstone of this mission.
As CBCF marks its 50th Anniversary this year, we are reminded of a founding principle: that we must ensure the perspectives and needs of every citizen are reflected in how we are governed. A healthy democracy requires the active protection of the rights of all voters, and every citizen deserves a fair and representative voice in it. Our work through leadership development, policy analysis, and the convening of voices underscores this principle.
At CBCF, we will continue to do our part to make sure every person has the tools needed to understand the rights of all voters. We will continue to encourage civic engagement through empowering communities with essential information about how redistricting affects their access to the ballot and local representation.
While legal interpretations of the Voting Rights Act continue to evolve through the court system, our resolve to support underrepresented and underserved populations and to serve as a resource remains unchanged.
We will continue to provide the information and education necessary to help communities navigate these changes. By working together, we can ensure that the fundamental promise of equal representation remains a reality for every person, regardless of their zip code or background."
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Established in 1976, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc. (CBCF) is a non-partisan, nonprofit, public policy, research, and educational institute committed to advancing the global black community by developing leaders, informing policy, and educating the public. For more information, visit cbcfinc.org. As a 501(c)(3), the CBCF takes no position on legislation or regulatory matters before Congress or any other government agency.
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Original text here: https://www.cbcfinc.org/press-releases/cbcf-statement-on-supreme-court-voting-rights-ruling/
[Category: Political]
