Featured Stories
Sacramento Metro Chamber Proudly Announces Deserving Award Recipients to Be Honored During the 132nd Annual Dinner & Business Awards
SACRAMENTO, California, Nov. 6 -- The Sacramento Metro Chamber issued the following news release:
* * *
Sacramento Metro Chamber Proudly Announces Deserving Award Recipients to be Honored During the 132nd Annual Dinner & Business Awards
11/5/2026
Sacramento Metro Chamber Proudly Announces Deserving Award Recipients to be Honored During the 132nd Annual Dinner & Business Awards
Tickets On Sale Now for Black-Tie Gala on January 22, 2027
-
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - The Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce invites the community to join the region's premier business awards celebration to salute
... Show Full Article
SACRAMENTO, California, Nov. 6 -- The Sacramento Metro Chamber issued the following news release:
* * *
Sacramento Metro Chamber Proudly Announces Deserving Award Recipients to be Honored During the 132nd Annual Dinner & Business Awards
11/5/2026
Sacramento Metro Chamber Proudly Announces Deserving Award Recipients to be Honored During the 132nd Annual Dinner & Business Awards
Tickets On Sale Now for Black-Tie Gala on January 22, 2027
-
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - The Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce invites the community to join the region's premier business awards celebration to saluteregional leaders for their dedication to leadership, innovation, and impact during the 132nd Annual Dinner & Business Awards. Proudly presented by SAFE Credit Union, tickets are on sale now for the highly anticipated black-tie gala that will be held at the SAFE Credit Union Convention Center on Friday evening, January 22, 2027.
A few 2026 award highlights include: Sacramentan of the Year - Christi Black-Davis of Black-Davis Group; Businessman of the Year - Larry Allbaugh of Buzz Oates; and Businesswoman of the Year -- Margaret Wong of McWong International.
"The Metro Chamber is incredibly proud to present the Capital Region's most prestigious business awards ceremony that is - remarkably - more than 130 years strong," said Robert Heidt, Sacramento Metro Chamber President & CEO. "From trailblazing executives to emerging young professionals, we look forward to celebrating the honorees and companies that exemplify what it means to lead with purpose and strengthen the heart of our business community."
After yet another year of inspirational nominations, the complete list of the 2026 honorees who will be recognized for their ongoing contributions to the Greater Sacramento region includes the following:
* Sacramentan of the Year - Christi Black-Davis, Black-Davis Group
* Businessman of the Year - Larry Allbaugh, Buzz Oates
* Businesswoman of the Year - Margaret Wong, McWong International
* Small Business of the Year - Randle Communications
* Al Geiger Memorial Award - Michael Lynch and Michael Casper, Improve Your Tomorrow
* Business Hall of Fame - Downey Brand
* Metro EDGE Young Professional of the Year - Roxana Garcia-Ochoa, Health Education Council
* Volunteer of the Year - Alexis Fitzpatrick, SAFE Credit Union
Since its inception in 1895, the Annual Dinner & Business Awards has been the Metro Chamber's longest running event where business leaders, community stakeholders, and members gather annually to recognize board leadership, recognize changemakers, and recognize businesses that shape the future of the region.
"Without a doubt, the 132nd Annual Dinner & Business Awards will be one of the most inspiring events of the entire year as we celebrate and honor so many deserving business leaders and incredible companies that drive our region forward," added Heidt.
To explore sponsorship opportunities or purchase tickets to the 132nd Annual Dinner & Business Awards presented by SAFE Credit Union, please visit this webpage. For more information about the Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, please visit www.metrochamber.org.
* * *
About Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce
The Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce leads with a collective voice that brings members together for business to prosper by providing opportunity, service, and solutions for a thriving regional economy. Established in 1895, the Metro Chamber is the largest, most prominent, and established voice for business representing members and their workforce in El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, Sutter, Yolo, and Yuba counties. The Metro Chamber provides businesses and individuals with the programs, services and advocacy needed to build vibrant communities, a ready workforce, connected region and strong business. For more information, please visit www.metrochamber.org.
* * *
Original text here: https://business.metrochamber.org/news-releases/Details/sacramento-metro-chamber-proudly-announces-deserving-award-recipients-to-be-honored-during-the-132nd-annual-dinner-business-awards-366115
[Category: Business]
Entrepreneurs' Organization: Business of Helping Others - How a Founder Found Renewed Purpose Through Social Entrepreneurship
ALEXANDRIA, Virginia, Nov. 6 -- Entrepreneurs' Organization issued the following news:
* * *
The Business of Helping Others: How a Founder Found Renewed Purpose Through Social Entrepreneurship
November 5, 2026
What happens when business success stops being enough? Philip Wilson's search for greater purpose led him to launch a company that creates a meaningful impact by providing clean water to those who need it most.
Diana Holquist, EO Global Contributing Writer
By any external measure, Philip Wilson was a successful entrepreneur. After earning his Wharton MBA at 25, he founded a battery
... Show Full Article
ALEXANDRIA, Virginia, Nov. 6 -- Entrepreneurs' Organization issued the following news:
* * *
The Business of Helping Others: How a Founder Found Renewed Purpose Through Social Entrepreneurship
November 5, 2026
What happens when business success stops being enough? Philip Wilson's search for greater purpose led him to launch a company that creates a meaningful impact by providing clean water to those who need it most.
Diana Holquist, EO Global Contributing Writer
By any external measure, Philip Wilson was a successful entrepreneur. After earning his Wharton MBA at 25, he founded a batterydistribution company in California and later sold it. Next, he co-founded a bank and sold that. Then, to be near family, he moved back to his home country, Guatemala, with his wife and children where he started a web services company, ran an organic coffee farm, and took on real estate projects.
But when he turned 40, he began to question his life.
At a family Christmas gathering, he told his mother he felt "like a leaf in the wind."
She handed him Viktor Frankl's Man's Search for Meaning. Frankl, a concentration camp survivor and influential psychiatrist, believed that for life to be bearable, a person must find meaning.
This struck a chord with Philip. He felt empty and unfulfilled.
He did not have to look far to find meaning. In rural Guatemala, families lacked clean drinking water, and children were dying from intestinal infections. To solve the problem, Philip's mother had created a foundation that distributed natural filters made from clay, sawdust, and colloidal silver, using technology developed in 1981 by Guatemalan biochemist Dr. Jose Fernando Mazariegos. But due to limited resources, they reached only about 2,000 families, while roughly 1 million others still went without. As long as the work depended on donations, it could never reach enough people.
So, ever the entrepreneur, Philip set out to find another way.
Change the Method, Not the Mission
His first idea was to run the foundation more like a business, selling filters instead of giving them away. It did not work. The thinking was sound, but grafting a for-profit approach onto an organization built on a non-profit mindset presented too many obstacles.
So, he started fresh. He founded EcofiltroOff-site link. and hired young people who believed in social entrepreneurship, the idea that working in the private sector toward a noble purpose was the most efficient way to get things done at scale.
Ecofiltro's strategy grew out of what Philip saw in rural villages and what he understood about human nature. Families boiled their water over wood fires, spending about US$15 a month on firewood. Many also owned phones, TVs, and other consumer items. Philip realized they could afford a filter if they understood it was a good investment.
To make the strategy work, Ecofiltro started with urban families, selling through Walmart and other retailers as a replacement for bottled water. That revenue let Ecofiltro sell to rural families at a price so low the filter paid for itself in three months or less. "If you give me US$30, I will return to you US$350," was Philip's pitch.
The distribution model was also strategic. To build trust in rural communities that often had little faith in outsiders, Ecofiltro donates filters to rural schools through a local distributor, then shows parents how to bring the same clean water home. More than 5,000 schools and about 1.5 million children now have filters.
To Philip, the key was always showing respect, noting that just because people did not have much money did not mean they lacked aspirations or did not want agency to do what was best for their families. Ecofiltro learned just how much that mattered. For the first several years, Ecofiltro sold rural families the same simple white bucket the foundation had used. When it introduced a modern version with a colorful lid and base, demand tripled, even at a higher price. "Like you and me, they want to show off something in their home," Philip says, "and they want it to be a good deal."
The Business of Helping Others
Philip believes that people often confuse social entrepreneurship with charity. He notes that the latter "is often not sustainable, which really does not help anyone."
He runs his factory "as if it is BMW or Ferrari," with real-time data, Six Sigma practices, and ISO certification. Ecofiltro takes no grants, government aid, or donations, and it earned more than US$10 million in revenue last year and expects about US$13 million this year. Ecofiltro now operates in 25 countries, including Central and South America, Europe, and the U.S. They recently established their first presence in Tanzania, Africa.
The challenge now is meeting demand. Philip is redesigning the factory's production process to speed up filter production, and he knows he has about 18 months to get it right before demand outstrips supply.
Ecofiltro is a certified B Corp, and Philip applies that commitment inside the company, too. About five years ago, he eliminated its hierarchy. Ecofiltro's roughly 200 employees in Guatemala now work in teams of about 20, and every month the company shares 25 percent of its profits among all employees. The rest goes back into the business. "It is the closest you can bring your collaborators to being entrepreneurs without them having to take financial risk," he says.
"This Is What I Was Meant to Be"
Philip's wife likes to say that when he started Ecofiltro, he was an 80-year-old 40-year-old. He used to fill his days with long vacations and CNBC, tracking his investments. Once he found his purpose, he says, "I turned into a teenager," curious and energized.
That feeling has not faded. "I have never had a day when I do not get up early," he says. He has reread Man's Search for Meaning three times, and he is convinced Frankl described something universal. "Our nature is to help others," he says. "Social entrepreneurship is helping on steroids if you do it right."
His only regret is the timing. "This is what I was meant to be," he says. "I wish I was doing this in my 20s."
His helping spirit shapes how he thinks about competition. Ecofiltro holds no patent. The biochemist who developed the filter donated the technology to humanity, and Philip honors that wish. Ecofiltro protects its brand, but any entrepreneur can come to the factory and learn to make the filters. "At the end of the day, I want clean water in every household," he says. "I wish there were hundreds of people doing this. It is such a silly problem to still have. Kids die from unclean water when there are so many ways to fix it."
He brings that same thinking to his hometown, Antigua. Coffee and tourism were not lifting people out of poverty, so next to the Ecofiltro factory he built El Cubo, a startup incubator that now houses 45 companies. Its purpose, he says, is "more and better jobs," and it has created hundreds of them.
An Open Invitation to EO Members
Philip joined EO in 2000, and he believes its members are exactly the people the world needs. When EOers tour his factory, he tells them they have the skills to "solve the biggest world problems, because we know how to scale things."
He thinks entrepreneurs in their 40s and 50s are especially ready to hear that message, but he is offering to mentor any EO member who wants to find more meaning in their life and business. He promises to share "the nitty-gritty, all the failure at the beginning, the things I tried, what works, what does not."
"EO is a filter for me," he explains. "I will not be wasting my time, because I know EOers have the skills, if their hearts are in the right place."
He advises starting by spending time alone and asking what you want your legacy to be. "What is something you would like to solve before you die, at scale? Start there." He adds, "Listen to your heart, not just your mind."
He promises the reward is worth it. Everyone is searching for happiness, he explains, but you cannot chase it. "If you focus on helping others and having a noble project, joy ensues."
* * *
Philip Wilson (EO Guatemala) can be reached at pwilson@ecofiltro.com to discuss social entrepreneurship and the power of market-based solutions to address poverty while preserving dignity and choice. Interested in becoming an EO member like Philip? Learn more here.
* * *
Original text here: https://eonetwork.org/blog/the-business-of-helping-others-how-a-founder-found-renewed-purpose-through-social-entrepreneurship/
[Category: Business]
EAA Welcoming Top Collegiate Aviators to Oshkosh for NIFA National Competition in May 2027
OSHKOSH, Wisconsin, Nov. 6 -- The Experimental Aircraft Association issued the following news release:
* * *
EAA welcoming top collegiate aviators to Oshkosh for NIFA national competition in May 2027
National Intercollegiate Flight Association's SAFECON in Oshkosh for third time
-
EAA AVIATION CENTER, OSHKOSH, Wisconsin -- (November 5, 2026) -- The National Intercollegiate Flight Association (NIFA) SAFECON flight competition is returning to Oshkosh on May 6-15, 2027, with the premier collegiate flight competition highlighting over 500 competitors from more than 30 schools. Young pilots from
... Show Full Article
OSHKOSH, Wisconsin, Nov. 6 -- The Experimental Aircraft Association issued the following news release:
* * *
EAA welcoming top collegiate aviators to Oshkosh for NIFA national competition in May 2027
National Intercollegiate Flight Association's SAFECON in Oshkosh for third time
-
EAA AVIATION CENTER, OSHKOSH, Wisconsin -- (November 5, 2026) -- The National Intercollegiate Flight Association (NIFA) SAFECON flight competition is returning to Oshkosh on May 6-15, 2027, with the premier collegiate flight competition highlighting over 500 competitors from more than 30 schools. Young pilots fromacross the country will compete for awards in a variety of aviation skills including landing, navigation, preflight, flight planning, crew-based simulations, safety, sportsmanship and more.
The entirety of the competition will be hosted on the EAA grounds, utilizing both the convention grounds and the museum including the EAA Education Center. All ground, spot landing, and flying events will be based at Wittman Regional Airport except for the cross country competition, which will start in Oshkosh and briefly leave the area. While the SAFECON activities are not organized spectator events, the event will make Wittman Regional Airport a very active place beginning with sanctioned practice activities on May 6 and competition on May 10.
"This competition brings together the nation's top collegiate pilots to showcase their flying skills," said Ren Scott, EAA's vice president of business development, sales, and events. "It's especially exciting to have these young aviators return to the community in 2027, as we celebrate the centennial of Charles Lindbergh's historic flight and the 100th anniversary of Wittman Regional Airport here in Oshkosh."
The airport, the annual home of the EAA AirVenture Oshkosh fly-in, is well-suited for hosting the national collegiate competition. The facility was founded in 1927 as the Oshkosh municipal airport and was acquired by Winnebago County in 1940. The airport was renamed in honor of National Aviation Hall of Fame member Steve Wittman in 1970, the same year the EAA fly-in convention came to the facility.
"Wittman's airfield configuration and our experience with large events makes us a great venue for SAFECON," said Jim Schell, Wittman Regional Airport Director. "Hosting the nation's top collegiate aviators for the third time in 2027 is a fantastic addition to our yearlong centennial celebration of this airport, which is a tremendous asset within our community's transportation infrastructure."
Thanks to the establishment of NIFA, these SAFECON competitions have made their way from being held exclusively at Ivy League schools in the 1920s and early '30s, to making its first appearance the EAA grounds in Oshkosh in 2023 and again in 2025. Teams arrive a few days prior to the competition, bringing economic impact to Oshkosh and the surrounding area.
"Bringing SAFECON to Oshkosh in 2027 is always a little like a homecoming for many of our competitors, as dozens of them are EAA members, previously attended AirVenture, or got their start in aviation through an EAA Young Eagles flight," said Andrew Ross, NIFA Executive Director. "The passion for aviation among these future aviation leaders is evident during the competitions in the air or the classroom."
* * *
About EAA
The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) is based in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and embodies The Spirit of Aviation through the world's most engaged community of aviation enthusiasts. EAA's 300,000 members and 900 local chapters enjoy the fun and camaraderie of sharing their passion for flying, building and restoring recreational aircraft. For more information on EAA and its programs, call 800-JOIN-EAA (800-564-6322) or go to www.eaa.org.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.eaa.org/eaa/about-eaa/eaa-media-room/eaa-news-releases/nifa-safecon-2027
[Category: Aerospace]
American Society of Clinical Oncology: Certain Forever Chemicals May Increase Risk of ER-negative Breast Cancer
ALEXANDRIA, Virginia, Nov. 6 (TNSjou) -- The American Society of Clinical Oncology posted the following news release:
* * *
Certain Forever Chemicals May Increase Risk of ER-negative Breast Cancer
Nov 6, 2026
ASCO Perspective Quote
"Chronic exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, is linked to liver damage, immune suppression, and an increased risk of cancer. By comparing patients with breast cancer to healthy controls, this study revealed an association between specific PFAS compounds and breast cancer subtypes. The evidence underscores a need to eliminate these 'forever
... Show Full Article
ALEXANDRIA, Virginia, Nov. 6 (TNSjou) -- The American Society of Clinical Oncology posted the following news release:
* * *
Certain Forever Chemicals May Increase Risk of ER-negative Breast Cancer
Nov 6, 2026
ASCO Perspective Quote
"Chronic exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, is linked to liver damage, immune suppression, and an increased risk of cancer. By comparing patients with breast cancer to healthy controls, this study revealed an association between specific PFAS compounds and breast cancer subtypes. The evidence underscores a need to eliminate these 'foreverchemicals' from our daily environment. Simple things like filtering drinking water and avoiding non-stick cookware and grease-resistant packaging when possible are two simple actions that may help protect our health," said Jane L. Meisel, MD, FASCO, medical oncologist at the Emory Winship Cancer Institute and an ASCO Expert in breast cancer.
Focus: Increased risk of breast cancer and exposure to certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)
Population: 50,884 breast cancer-free women ages 35-74 years who had a full or half-sister diagnosed with breast cancer
Main Takeaway: Two PFAS may increase ER-negative breast cancer risk due to exposure to those chemicals
Significance
* Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women, with rising incidence rates in the U.S. and worldwide.
* Hormone receptor-negative tumors are usually more aggressive and have poorer clinical outcomes.
* PFAS, often referred to as 'forever chemicals', are widely used in consumer products and ever present in the environment.
* The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) as carcinogenic to humans and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) as possibly carcinogenic; both are PFAS.
* Population-based studies of PFAS and breast cancer risk have been inconsistent, partly due to differing study designs and limited evaluation by hormone receptor status. Additionally, few studies have considered the impact of occurring, correlated PFAS exposures.
-
ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- Findings from a large, prospective study, together with updated meta-analyses, suggest two PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) and PFOS (perfluorooctanesulfonic acid), may increase ER- (estrogen receptor-negative) breast cancer risk. Given widespread exposure to PFAS and limited established risk factors for ER- tumors, these results have important public health implications. The research is published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
About the Study
"In this largest study to date to investigate associations between PFAS and breast cancer incidence, we observed significant findings for certain PFAS and ER-negative breast cancer. By identifying potentially modifiable environmental risk factors, our study may open new opportunities for prevention and highlights the need for future research to examine ER-negative breast cancer separately," said Alexandra J. White. PhD, MSPH, corresponding author and leader of the Environment and Cancer Epidemiology group at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, NIH, Research Triangle Park, NC.
This study assessed the associations between blood PFAS concentrations and breast cancer incidence within the Sister Study, a group of 50,884 breast cancer-free women age 35-74 years who had a full or half-sister diagnosed with breast cancer. The participants enrolled in the study in the United States and Puerto Rico between 2003 and 2009. Baseline questionnaires and home visits collected information on sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle, and breast cancer risk factors; the researchers also collected blood samples and took body measurements. Participants, or next of kin for deceased participants, were contacted annually for health outcomes and were also contacted every 2-3 years via detailed questionnaires. Retention of participants was around 80% throughout the follow-up period.
The study included 1,992 invasive or ductal carcinomas in situ (DCIS) breast cancer cases and a random sub-group of 2,328 participants from the Sister Study. The analytic sample include 202 Black, 84 Hispanic, and 1,323 non-Hispanic White breast cancer cases, and 539 Black, 168 Hispanic, and 1,562 non-Hispanic White sub-group participants. Cases and sub-group participants were followed for a median of 5.9 and 9.7 years and had a median baseline age of 57.2 and 55.6 years, respectively.
The investigators looked at risk associations by hormone receptor status and examined the effects of PFAS both as single chemicals as well as in a mixture with other PFAS. Seventeen PFAS were identified and quantified in blood samples.
The investigators also conducted a meta-analysis of previous studies that had pre-diagnostic blood samples which made evaluating PFAS exposure and breast cancer risk possible. Their latest meta-analysis builds on an earlier one and was expanded to capture additional publications from February 2023 to November 2025.
Key Findings
* PFAS concentrations were similar between cases and sub-group participants. PFAS concentrations were generally higher among participants who were older, postmenopausal at the time they joined the study, or for those who were born before 1945.
* There were negligible associations between 15 out of 17 individual PFAS and overall breast cancer incidence. There were two PFAS that did show a possible association: PFOSA was associated with a 29% higher risk among participants with detectable versus non-detectable concentrations and PFDA showed a suggestive positive association, with a 17% higher risk for each natural log-unit increase.
* Several PFAS showed stronger associations by ER status. PFOA and PFOS were positively associated with ER- tumors, which was most pronounced in the highest PFAS exposure quartile (67% higher risk in the top quarter of those exposed compared to those in the lowest exposure category for PFOA; 93% higher risk when comparing top and bottom exposure groups for PFOS). No corresponding associations were observed for ER+ tumors.
* In regard to progesterone receptor (PR) status, associations between PFAS and PR+ and ER+ and/or PR+ tumors were largely not seen except for PFOSA, which showed positive associations.
* The association between PFDA and overall breast cancer was found to be elevated in the meta-analysis. PFOA and PFOS showed no clear associations with overall breast cancer risk.
Next Steps
Future studies may look at investigating these associations in populations with higher PFAS exposure and a greater burden of hormone receptor-negative breast cancer to better inform targeted prevention efforts. The investigators note that research is also needed to assess the carcinogenic potential of newer PFAS replacement chemicals, which remain poorly characterized.
"Individuals can take steps to reduce their PFAS exposure where feasible, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency offers helpful information and resources," noted White.
This study was funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, NIH, grant numbers Z01ES044005, Z1AES103332, R01ES032831.
View the full study (https://ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/JCO-26-00318)
View the disclosures for Dr. Meisel: https://coi.asco.org/share/WDL-6RBB/Jane%20Meisel
ATTRIBUTION TO THE JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ONCOLOGY IS REQUESTED IN ALL COVERAGE.
* * *
About ASCO:
Founded in 1964, the American Society of Clinical Oncology, Inc. (ASCO(R)) is committed to the principle that knowledge conquers cancer. Together with the Association for Clinical Oncology, ASCO represents more than 50,000 oncology professionals who care for people living with cancer. Through research, education, and promotion of high quality patient care, ASCO works to conquer cancer and create a world where cancer is prevented or cured, and every survivor is healthy. Conquer Cancer(R), the ASCO Foundation, supports ASCO by funding groundbreaking research and education across cancer's full continuum. Learn more at www.ASCO.org, and follow us on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, Instagram, Bluesky, and YouTube.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.asco.org/about-asco/press-center/certain-forever-chemicals-er-negative-breast-cancer
[Category: Medical]
American Chemistry Council Statement on Results of 2026 Congressional Elections
WASHINGTON, Nov. 6 -- The American Chemistry Council posted the following news release:
* * *
American Chemistry Council Statement on Results of 2026 Congressional Elections
WASHINGTON (Nov 5, 2026) - The American Chemistry Council (ACC) and our member companies congratulate the newly elected members of Congress and look forward to working with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to advance policies that strengthen American manufacturing, drive innovation, and support a more affordable and prosperous future for all Americans.
American success relies on American chemistry. From agriculture
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Nov. 6 -- The American Chemistry Council posted the following news release:
* * *
American Chemistry Council Statement on Results of 2026 Congressional Elections
WASHINGTON (Nov 5, 2026) - The American Chemistry Council (ACC) and our member companies congratulate the newly elected members of Congress and look forward to working with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to advance policies that strengthen American manufacturing, drive innovation, and support a more affordable and prosperous future for all Americans.
American success relies on American chemistry. From agricultureand national defense to healthcare, energy, and advanced manufacturing chemistry is foundational to nearly every sector of the American economy. Without chemistry, technologies across industries, and the future they promise, would remain ideas on paper.
As we head into a new year addressing priorities that matter most to the voters who elected this new class, ensuring our industry can continue to innovate, invest, and manufacture here at home must remain a priority. America's chemical manufacturers will continue to power the breakthroughs that keep our nation strong.
ACC stands ready to work with the new Congress to advance practical, science-based policy solutions that strengthen U.S. competitiveness, support American jobs, and ensure the United States remains the best place in the world to manufacture chemicals and plastics.
* * *
American Chemistry Council
The American Chemistry Council's mission is to advocate for the people, policy, and products of chemistry that make the United States the global leader in innovation and manufacturing. To achieve this, we: Champion science-based policy solutions across all levels of government; Drive continuous performance improvement to protect employees and communities through Responsible Care(R); Foster the development of sustainability practices throughout ACC member companies; and Communicate authentically with communities about challenges and solutions for a safer, healthier and more sustainable way of life. Our vision is a world made better by chemistry, where people live happier, healthier, and more prosperous lives, safely and sustainably--for generations to come.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.americanchemistry.com/chemistry-in-america-industry-innovation-impact/news-trends?filters[article_type][0]=press release&sort[date]=desc
[Category: Chemicals]
AFIA's Free Feed Education Program to Highlight Key Regulatory Updates at IPPE 2027
ARLINGTON, Virginia, Nov. 6 -- The American Feed Industry Association issued the following news release:
* * *
November 5, 2026
AFIA's Free Feed Education Program to Highlight Key Regulatory Updates at IPPE 2027
Key Points:
* AFIA will host its annual Feed Education Program on Jan. 27 during IPPE in Atlanta, Ga.
* The free session will provide timely updates on evolving federal regulations and compliance requirements impacting feed manufacturing.
* Attendees will gain practical strategies to strengthen regulatory compliance, improve workplace safety and prepare their facilities for industry
... Show Full Article
ARLINGTON, Virginia, Nov. 6 -- The American Feed Industry Association issued the following news release:
* * *
November 5, 2026
AFIA's Free Feed Education Program to Highlight Key Regulatory Updates at IPPE 2027
Key Points:
* AFIA will host its annual Feed Education Program on Jan. 27 during IPPE in Atlanta, Ga.
* The free session will provide timely updates on evolving federal regulations and compliance requirements impacting feed manufacturing.
* Attendees will gain practical strategies to strengthen regulatory compliance, improve workplace safety and prepare their facilities for industrychanges.
-
The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) will hold its annual Feed Education Program on Wednesday, Jan. 27, from 8-10 a.m. ET, during the 2027 International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) in Atlanta, Ga. The free program will provide feed industry professionals with timely regulatory updates and practical strategies to help their operations stay ahead of evolving federal requirements.
With federal regulations and compliance expectations continuing to evolve, this year's program will equip feed mill managers, production professionals and safety personnel with the latest information needed to navigate an increasingly complex regulatory landscape. Attendees will gain valuable insights into developments involving the U.S. Department of Labor, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Food and Drug Administration and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, along with practical strategies to strengthen compliance and safety at their facilities. The program will also feature a panel discussion on "Facility Management, Building Ownership and Value Creation (People and Products)," exploring how effective facility management and strategic investments in people and operations can contribute to long-term business success.
"Keeping up with regulatory changes can be challenging, especially when you're focused on the day-to-day demands of running a feed facility," said Gary Huddleston, AFIA's senior director of feed manufacturing and regulatory affairs. "This program brings together timely updates and practical guidance to help feed manufacturers better understand what's changing, what it means for their operations and how they can prepare for what's ahead. It's also a great opportunity to connect with industry peers facing many of the same challenges."
Designed for professionals responsible for feed production, workplace safety and regulatory compliance, the two-hour session will provide actionable takeaways to help attendees make informed decisions, address emerging challenges and stay ahead of industry changes.
The program is free and open to all IPPE attendees. For more information or to register for IPPE 2027, visit ippexpo.org.
* * *
About IPPE
The International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE) is a collaboration of three shows - International Feed Expo, International Meat Expo and the International Poultry Expo - representing the entire chain of protein production and processing. The event is sponsored by the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA), the Meat Institute and U.S. Poultry & Egg Association (USPOULTRY).
* * *
About AFIA
Founded in 1909, the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA), based in Arlington, Va., is the world's largest organization devoted exclusively to representing the business, legislative and regulatory interests of the U.S. animal food industry and its suppliers. The organization's membership is comprised of more than 650 domestic and international companies that represent the total feed industry-manufacturers of commercial and integrated feed and pet food, ingredient suppliers, pharmaceutical companies, industry support and equipment manufacturers. AFIA members manufacture more than 75% of the feed and 70% of the non-grain ingredients used in the country. AFIA is also recognized as the leader on international industry developments and holds membership in the International Feed Industry Federation (IFIF).
* * *
About the Meat Institute
The Meat Institute represents the full community of people and companies who make the majority of meat American families rely on every day. The Meat Institute's hands-on regulatory and technical expertise, proactive advocacy, unique convening power, collaboration within and beyond animal agriculture, and sector-leading continuous improvement initiatives drive relationships and resources that ensure meat continues to be a vital, trusted pillar of healthy diets and thriving communities for generations to come. To learn more, visit MeatInstitute.org.
* * *
About USPOULTRY
U.S. Poultry & Egg Association (USPOULTRY) is the All Feather Association progressively serving its poultry and egg members through research, education, communications and technical services. Founded in 1947, USPOULTRY is based in Tucker, Georgia.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.ippexpo.org/media/permalink/?id=4735
[Category: Agriculture]
ACOG Statement on 2027 Final Physician Fee Schedule
WASHINGTON, Nov. 6 -- The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists issued the following news release:
* * *
ACOG Statement on 2027 Final Physician Fee Schedule
Nov 5, 2026
The following statement is from Camille A. Clare, MD, MPH, CPE, FACOG, president of the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists (ACOG):
"ACOG is deeply grateful to CMS for including AMA's new obstetric codes in the final 2027 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, and we look forward to ushering in a new system that will contribute to improved maternal health outcomes. This change follows years of ACOG advocacy
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Nov. 6 -- The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists issued the following news release:
* * *
ACOG Statement on 2027 Final Physician Fee Schedule
Nov 5, 2026
The following statement is from Camille A. Clare, MD, MPH, CPE, FACOG, president of the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists (ACOG):
"ACOG is deeply grateful to CMS for including AMA's new obstetric codes in the final 2027 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, and we look forward to ushering in a new system that will contribute to improved maternal health outcomes. This change follows years of ACOG advocacyand will address several challenges related to the current method of billing for prenatal care services.
"Thanks in part to the advocacy and engagement of ACOG members, the G-codes proposed over the summer were not included in the final fee schedule. HHS is allowing health plans to use 2026 CPT Maternity Care Services codes in 2027 for pregnancies for which the services begin in 2026 and end in 2027. All pregnancies that have their first prenatal visit in 2027 will use the new 2027 codes, including evaluation and management codes for prenatal visits.
"This new system represents an important step forward for patients and ob-gyns alike, replacing a one-size-fits-all bundled payment approach with a coding framework that more accurately reflects and supports the individualized care that is the hallmark of ob-gyn practice. Patients will have more insight into the cost of maternity care, including a clear view of which prenatal and postpartum visits are exempt from copays. The new codes will also allow physicians and researchers to access more data on quality of care and maternal health outcomes, ultimately supporting the sustainability of ob-gyn practices.
"ACOG has worked over the past months to ensure that its members are ready for these coding and billing changes and will continue to do so. ACOG will also be offering a number of patient-facing resources about what this change will mean; in brief, more tailored coding and more transparent billing to reflect the individualized care occurring in current clinical practice.
"ACOG's efforts to ensure appropriate and modernized payment across the spectrum of women's health are far from over. ACOG is currently leading an evaluation of the gynecologic codes and will be carefully monitoring the rollout of the new obstetric codes and how they impact the provision of maternal care. We look forward to partnering with CMS through the transition from 2026 to 2027 codes to ensure that all participants are in compliance."
* * *
Original text here: https://www.acog.org/news/2026/11/acog-statement-on-2027-final-physician-fee-schedule/
[Category: Medical]
