Featured Stories
Mott Foundation Commits Up to $25 Million to Support Trail Expansion Throughout Flint and Genesee County
FLINT, Michigan, June 19 -- The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation issued the following news:
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Mott Foundation commits up to $25 million to support trail expansion throughout Flint and Genesee County
New countywide strategic plan aims to create a 364-mile regional trail system
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As the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation marks its 100th anniversary, it has committed up to $25 million over the next five years to expand and connect nonmotorized trails and sidewalks throughout Flint and Genesee County.
Of the $25 million, $1.2 million was granted this month to support the first phase of the Grand
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FLINT, Michigan, June 19 -- The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation issued the following news:
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Mott Foundation commits up to $25 million to support trail expansion throughout Flint and Genesee County
New countywide strategic plan aims to create a 364-mile regional trail system
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As the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation marks its 100th anniversary, it has committed up to $25 million over the next five years to expand and connect nonmotorized trails and sidewalks throughout Flint and Genesee County.
Of the $25 million, $1.2 million was granted this month to support the first phase of the GrandTraverse Greenway Trail, which will connect the new state park in Flint to neighborhoods to the south. The Mott Foundation also previously granted approximately $2.75 million toward this initiative to connect several trail projects already underway.
The commitment supports a new strategic trails plan that the Genesee County Metropolitan Planning Commission developed in partnership with local municipalities and with community input. The Healthy, Happy, and Resilient Communities by 2030 plan, adopted in March, identifies 70 miles of missing links within the county's trail network. At the current pace of approximately 1.5 miles added per year, closing these gaps would have taken nearly 50 years.
The Mott Foundation's commitment, combined with other local, state and federal funding, will allow the county to accelerate that timeline and complete the work in five years, building on more than 19 miles of trails and sidewalks added over the past decade. The commitment also will support improvements to sidewalk infrastructure in Flint, helping link neighborhoods to the broader trail network.
"Safe, connected trails and sidewalks are essential infrastructure for healthy, thriving communities," said Ridgway White, president and CEO of the Mott Foundation. "We're proud to make this significant commitment to help Flint and Genesee County residents of all ages enjoy physical activity, while also accessing schools, parks, jobs and neighborhoods."
The creation of what will be called The Legacy Trails represents a total investment of more than $80 million that will connect more than 180,000 residents to core community services.
Beyond 2030, the strategic plan envisions a network centered on Flint, ultimately connecting 235 miles of future corridors to create a 364-mile regional trail system. The plan prioritizes projects that enhance connectivity to schools, parks and community destinations while ensuring equitable access for all residents. The goal is to have every household within one mile of a nonmotorized trail.
Learn more about The Legacy Trails, including what currently exists and what is planned, through the interactive map linked below.
"By connecting our communities through a modern trail network, we're creating opportunities for recreation, tourism and community growth that will have a positive impact on the residents of Genesee County for years to come," said Dale K. Weighill, chairman of the Genesee County Board of Commissioners. "This incredible partnership with the Mott Foundation will further our reputation as a destination for outdoor recreation, and we couldn't be more excited for what's to come."
The Genesee County Metropolitan Planning Commission will lead work under the strategic plan, coordinating with county officials and local municipalities. The five-year work program anticipates $12.9 million in funding during the first year and $73.6 million in subsequent years.
Mott's $25 million trails commitment is part of the Foundation's broader effort to strengthen and revitalize outdoor spaces for Flint area residents. In February, the Foundation announced a commitment of up to $20 million to improve and renovate playgrounds and parks in the city of Flint.
To learn more about Genesee County's Healthy, Happy, and Resilient Communities by 2030 plan, visit geneseetrails.com/trail-plan. To stay up to date on the Foundation's centennial initiatives, visit mott.org/100.
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Original text here: https://www.mott.org/news/releases/mott-foundation-commits-up-to-25-million-to-support-trail-expansion-throughout-flint-and-genesee-county/
Let's Talk Cough: Patient Groups Unite to Inform Drug Development in Chronic Cough
ARLINGTON, Virginia, June 19 -- The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America posted the following news release:
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Let's Talk Cough: Patient Groups Unite to Inform Drug Development in Chronic Cough
First-ever patient focused drug development meeting for chronic cough will be held in October 2026.
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Washington D.C. -- For the first time, a coalition of patient advocacy organizations is uniting to bring the voice of the chronic cough community directly to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, COPD Foundation, Global Allergy & Airways Patient
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ARLINGTON, Virginia, June 19 -- The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America posted the following news release:
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Let's Talk Cough: Patient Groups Unite to Inform Drug Development in Chronic Cough
First-ever patient focused drug development meeting for chronic cough will be held in October 2026.
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Washington D.C. -- For the first time, a coalition of patient advocacy organizations is uniting to bring the voice of the chronic cough community directly to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, COPD Foundation, Global Allergy & Airways PatientPlatform, and Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation announce Let's Talk Cough, a joint effort to document and elevate the lived experience of chronic cough. This initiative aims to capture the full impact of chronic cough across many conditions, current management strategies, unmet medical needs, and treatment outcomes that matter most patients--with the goal of informing the development of new therapies.
On October 28, 2026, Let's Talk Cough will culminate in a hybrid, externally-led patient-focused drug development (EL-PFDD) meeting, conducted in parallel with the FDA's PFDD initiative. The meeting will be streamed live, bringing members of the global chronic cough community together to share their experiences and perspectives. A "Voice of the Patient" report will summarize insights gathered during the Let's Talk Cough meeting and throughout the planning process, creating a resource for researchers, drug makers, regulators, healthcare professionals, and the broader chronic cough community.
Initial discussions about the initiative generated enthusiasm and validated the need for this initiative. "The burden of chronic cough is debilitating. It's a community that has been systematically dismissed, and Let's Talk Cough is much needed to elevate the experiences of a community with great unmet needs," stated Tonya Winders, President of the Global Allergy & Airways Patient Platform.
Chronic cough--defined as a daily or intermittent cough lasting 8 weeks or longer in adults or 4 weeks or longer in children--is commonly associated with chronic lung conditions like asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), bronchiectasis, and pulmonary fibrosis. Let's Talk Cough is designed to capture that shared experience while honoring the distinct perspectives of each community represented.
"Chronic cough is more than a symptom. It can take a significant toll on quality of life for patients living with a range of lung and respiratory conditions," said Dr. Amy Hajari Case, Chief Medical Officer of the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation. "Let's Talk Cough gives patients a platform to share the daily burden of living with a persistent cough for which effective treatment options remain inadequate."
Visit letstalkcough.org and complete the sign-up form to receive timely updates about the meeting on October 28, 2026, and other opportunities to participate and spread the word.
Let's Talk Cough is made possible by support from GSK and Trevi Therapeutics. Sponsor support is independent of all programmatic, scientific, and editorial decisions, which remain solely with the host organizations.
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About PFDD and the Let's Talk Cough Initiative
The Patient-Focused Drug Development (PFDD) initiative, initiated by the U.S. FDA in 2013, has been instrumental in providing a comprehensive understanding of the lived experience of more than 150 medical conditions to date. As an externally-led PFDD meeting, the October 28, 2026 Let's Talk Cough meeting provides a unique opportunity for patients with chronic cough to express their experiences, needs, and priorities directly to FDA staff, researchers, and developers of medical therapies.
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About the Host Organizations
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA)
Founded in 1953, AAFA is the oldest and largest non-profit patient organization dedicated to saving lives and improving the quality of life for people affected by asthma and allergic diseases through support, advocacy, education, and research. AAFA offers extensive support for individuals and families affected by asthma and allergic diseases. AAFA is the first asthma and allergy patient advocacy group certified to meet the standards of excellence set by the National Health Council. For more information, visit: aafa.org.
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COPD Foundation
The COPD Foundation is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to help millions of people live longer and healthier lives by advancing research, advocacy, and awareness to stop COPD, bronchiectasis, and NTM lung disease. The Foundation does this through scientific research, education, advocacy, and awareness to prevent disease, slow progression, and find a cure. For more information, visit copdfoundation.org.
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Global Allergy & Airways Patient Platform (GAAPP)
Global Allergy & Airways Patient Platform (GAAPP) is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to globally support and empower patients with allergies, airways and atopic diseases by protecting their rights and insisting on the duties of governments, healthcare professionals and the general public. With more than 200 organizations throughout 80 countries, GAAPP works to create a world where people live & breathe better. For more information, visit www.gaapp.org.
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Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (PFF)
The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (PFF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to accelerating research, empowering the pulmonary fibrosis and interstitial lung disease community, and transforming care so that everyone with pulmonary fibrosis can live a better life. Its ultimate goal is to find a cure for pulmonary fibrosis. For more information, visit https://www.pulmonaryfibrosis.org/.
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Original text here: https://aafa.org/lets-talk-cough-patient-groups-unite-to-inform-drug-development-in-chronic-cough/
International Myeloma Foundation's Black Swan Research Initiative Presents Data and Results of Phase 2 ASCENT Cure Trial at EHA 2026 Congress
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, California, June 19 -- The International Myeloma Foundation issued the following news:
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International Myeloma Foundation's Black Swan Research Initiative Presents Data and Results of Phase 2 ASCENT Cure Trial at EHA 2026 Congress
Quadruplet Dara-KRd combination demonstrates high rates of response in high-risk smoldering myeloma patients similar to that observed in NDMM; MRD negativity maintained in nearly two-thirds of patients, with median follow up of more than 4 years
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STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN -- The International Myeloma Foundation (IMF) is proud to announce that an oral
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NORTH HOLLYWOOD, California, June 19 -- The International Myeloma Foundation issued the following news:
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International Myeloma Foundation's Black Swan Research Initiative Presents Data and Results of Phase 2 ASCENT Cure Trial at EHA 2026 Congress
Quadruplet Dara-KRd combination demonstrates high rates of response in high-risk smoldering myeloma patients similar to that observed in NDMM; MRD negativity maintained in nearly two-thirds of patients, with median follow up of more than 4 years
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STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN -- The International Myeloma Foundation (IMF) is proud to announce that an oralpresentation was conducted for the Black Swan Research Initiative's(R) (BSRI) cure trial, Aggressive Smoldering Curative Approach Evaluating Novel Therapies and Transplant (ASCENT) at the European Hematology Association (EHA) 2026 Congress. The annual global hematology conference took place from June 11-14, 2026, in Stockholm, Sweden.
Abstract EHA-6678 Short S207: AGGRESSIVE SMOLDERING CURATIVE APPROACH EVALUATING NOVEL THERAPIES (ASCENT): A PHASE 2 TRIAL OF INDUCTION, CONSOLIDATION, AND MAINTENANCE IN HIGH-RISK SMOLDERING MULTIPLE MYELOMA was presented on Friday, June 12, by IMF Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) Member Shaji Kumar, MD (Mayo Clinic -- Rochester, MN) during the session on Amyloidosis and multiple myeloma precursors.
Launched in 2017, the phase 2 ASCENT trial is one of the cure trials funded by the IMF's Black Swan Research Initiative(R) (BSRI). The clinical trial is designed to see if early, aggressive treatment leads to deep response that translates into cure.
The ASCENT Trial (NCT03289299) is "a multi-center phase 2 study of carfilzomib, lenalidomide, daratumumab, and dexamethasone (Dara-KRd) in subjects with high-risk smoldering multiple myeloma (SMM)," as described in ClinicalTrials.gov.
This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of fixed-duration treatment with Dara-KRd in patients with high-risk smoldering multiple myeloma (HR SMM), defined by the IMWG 20/2/20 staging system or an IMWG score 9. The primary endpoint was stringent complete response (sCR), with secondary endpoints including measurable residual disease (MRD) negativity and progression-free survival (PFS).
Between May 2018 and December 2021, 87 patients with HR SMM (based on the IMWG 20/2/20 staging system or a total score 9 on the IMWG scoring system) were enrolled, with 51% males and a median age of 64. Patients received up to 24 cycles of Dara-KRd therapy across induction, consolidation, and maintenance phases. After a median follow-up of 52.4 months, the overall response rate was 97%, including 43 patients who achieved sCR or complete response (CR), and MRD negativity assessed by Euroflow (10-5 sensitivity) was achieved in 85% of patients at a median of 6.6 months. Ten patients progressed, median PFS was not reached, and the estimated 5-year PFS rate was 82%. Grade 3 or higher hematologic toxicities occurred in 22% of patients, and grade 3 or higher non-hematologic toxicities occurred in 70%; five deaths were reported during follow-up.
The estimated 5-year progression-free survival rate was 82%, while treatment-related toxicities were common, including grade 3 or higher hematologic toxicity in 22% of patients and non-hematologic toxicities in 70% of patients.
According to the oral abstract summary and conclusion, "the quadruplet Dara-KRd combination demonstrates high rates of response similar to that observed in newly diagnosed MM, that seem to be maintained in majority of the patients. Toxicities are in line with that observed in newly diagnosed MM. MRD negativity was maintained in nearly two thirds of the patients with a median follow up of more than 4 years. Future trials should explore such highly effective treatment approaches and the newer immunotherapies in this context."
"The outcomes of patients with myeloma have steadily improved over time with development of new therapies and we are likely curing an increasing number of patients. Given the long precursor phase preceding active myeloma, we have an opportunity to intervene early and potentially cure or at least prevent the progression to active myeloma. The ASCENT trial was a phase 2 trial designed to explore the feasibility of giving intense myeloma type therapy to patients with high-risk smoldering myeloma, albeit for a limited duration, to examine if we can eradicate the clonal plasma cell population. The results of the trial clearly show that this approach can achieve deep reduction in the myeloma clone, but more follow-up is needed to determine if we are curing anyone," said IMF SAB Member Dr. Kumar.
"The ASCENT trial represents an important step forward in our effort to determine if we can cure myeloma by early intervention at the high-risk smoldering myeloma stage. The depth and durability of response observed in this study demonstrate what is possible when we combine highly effective therapies with a carefully selected patient population. While longer follow-up is needed to determine the ultimate impact on cure, these findings reinforce the importance of continuing to pursue innovative approaches that may alter the natural history of myeloma before organ damage occurs," said Dr. S. Vincent Rajkumar, Chair of the International Myeloma Foundation's Board of Directors and Chairperson of the International Myeloma Working Group.
"The ASCENT trial reflects the bold vision that inspired the IMF's Black Swan Research Initiative nearly a decade ago -- to challenge conventional thinking and pursue the possibility of curing myeloma. These results underscore the value of investing in innovative research, global collaboration, and clinical trials designed to improve outcomes for patients before their disease progresses. We are deeply grateful to the patients, investigators, and research teams whose commitment has made this important milestone possible," said Heather Cooper Ortner, President and Chief Executive Officer of the International Myeloma Foundation.
The International Myeloma Foundation is truly proud and honored to have had the opportunity to present the positive and promising results of the Black Swan Research Initiative's phase 2 ASCENT cure trial at the EHA 2026 Congress.
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ABOUT MULTIPLE MYELOMA
Multiple myeloma is a cancer of the bone marrow plasma cells -- white blood cells that make antibodies. A cancerous or malignant plasma cell is called a myeloma cell. Myeloma is called "multiple" because there are frequently multiple patches or areas in bone where it grows. It often involves damage to bone and kidneys. Multiple myeloma is still incurable, but great progress has been made in terms of survival over the last two decades. The disease is twice as common and is diagnosed at a younger age in African Americans than white Americans. The most common presenting symptoms include fatigue and bone pain.
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ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL MYELOMA FOUNDATION
Founded in 1990, the International Myeloma Foundation (IMF) is the world's leading organization dedicated to multiple myeloma. The IMF is steadfast in its mission: accelerating the prevention and cure of myeloma and improving the quality of life for patients and families.
The IMF serves people impacted by myeloma at every stage of the disease by combining world-class research, trusted education, global advocacy, and direct support. A cornerstone of this work is the International Myeloma Working Group(R) (IMWG)--a network of more than 380 internationally renowned researchers and clinicians who establish the guidelines that shape how myeloma is diagnosed, treated, and managed across the globe.
Through its global network of support groups, educational programs, its 24/7 generative-AI myeloma assistant Myelo(R), its InfoLine, and its advocacy for greater healthcare access, the IMF helps people living with myeloma and their care partners navigate diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship. At the same time, the IMF ensures scientific advances translate into better care and outcomes.
Learn more at www.myeloma.org or contact the IMF InfoLine at (800) 452-CURE (2873) (U.S. & Canada), +1 (818) 487-7455 (worldwide), or infoline@myeloma.org.
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Original text here: https://www.myeloma.org/news-events/multiple-myeloma-news/international-myeloma-foundations-black-swan-research-initiative-presents-data-results-phase-2
Foundation for Economic Education Posts Commentary: Next Chapter in Transatlantic Tech War
DETROIT, Michigan, June 19 -- The Foundation for Economic Education posted the following commentary by Claudia Ascensao Nunes, president of Ladies of Liberty Alliance-Portugal:
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Europe's Digital Protectionism
The next chapter in the transatlantic tech war.
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When a government grants a monopoly in certain industries, it is protecting itself from competition it cannot control. The cost of that decision always falls on the people who depend on services that become more expensive, slower, and less innovative by decree.
This is exactly what the European Commission proposed on June 3, 2026,
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DETROIT, Michigan, June 19 -- The Foundation for Economic Education posted the following commentary by Claudia Ascensao Nunes, president of Ladies of Liberty Alliance-Portugal:
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Europe's Digital Protectionism
The next chapter in the transatlantic tech war.
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When a government grants a monopoly in certain industries, it is protecting itself from competition it cannot control. The cost of that decision always falls on the people who depend on services that become more expensive, slower, and less innovative by decree.
This is exactly what the European Commission proposed on June 3, 2026,this time applied to the digital infrastructure that supports hospitals, universities, public administrations, and businesses across Europe. It is called the Cloud and AI Development Act (CADA), and it is the centerpiece of the Tech Sovereignty Package. The logic behind it is protectionist: restrict who can compete, and guarantee market share for alternatives selected by the state.
CADA establishes four European "sovereignty" levels for cloud and artificial intelligence services. At Levels 3 and 4, which apply to healthcare, finance, energy, and public administration, it requires full European control, ownership within the EU, and complete immunity from US law, particularly the US CLOUD Act of 2018, which allows American authorities, with a court order, to compel companies such as Amazon, Microsoft, or Google to hand over customer data regardless of where it is physically stored. The objective is to eliminate this legal possibility for sensitive European data.
AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud currently account for roughly 70% of the European cloud market. In practice, CADA excludes them, or makes it extremely difficult for them to participate in the most valuable public sector contracts. To comply with the requirements of the highest sovereignty levels, these companies are effectively forced to create "sovereign clouds," separate and isolated versions of their global infrastructure with European data centers, exclusively European personnel, and local governance.
These sovereign versions cost between 20% and 30% more than their global equivalents, offer a reduced set of features, and evolve more slowly. Whether the end users are healthcare providers or educational institutions, everyone receives an inferior version of what already exists while paying more for it because the state requires it.
Today, no European provider offers capabilities comparable to AWS SageMaker or Azure ML. CADA does not create such a provider. It merely guarantees public contracts for second-tier alternatives, using taxpayer money to subsidize Europe's technological lag.
CADA arrives at a moment when transatlantic relations are under unprecedented strain. To understand why, it is necessary to step back. The Digital Markets Act (DMA) and the Digital Services Act (DSA), the European Union's flagship digital regulations adopted in 2022, impose significant obligations on platforms with substantial market power. They require companies to open their systems to competitors, limit how they promote their own services, and submit to audits and potentially massive fines. In practice, the companies affected are almost exclusively American: Google, Apple, Meta, Amazon, and Microsoft.
No European company is large enough to trigger these obligations. The result is a regulatory framework that, regardless of its stated intentions, functions as a legal competitive disadvantage imposed on US firms. That is why Washington classifies these measures as non-tariff barriers. They make it more expensive and more complicated for American companies to operate in Europe without imposing equivalent burdens on European competitors.
In August 2025, the US administration threatened immediate retaliation unless the EU backed away from enforcing these rules. In December of the same year, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), the federal agency responsible for US trade policy and international trade negotiations, escalated the dispute with a formal ultimatum, threatening tariffs and restrictions against European companies such as Spotify and DHL unless Brussels changed course.
The AI Act further intensified tensions. Its obligations for general-purpose AI models took effect in August 2025 and fell disproportionately on models developed primarily by American companies, reinforcing Washington's perception that the EU legislates against foreign competition rather than regulating markets neutrally.
A fragile trade agreement signed in Turnberry, Scotland, in July 2025 reduced tariffs on most European exports to the United States to 15% and temporarily stabilized the relationship. But that balance remains fragile. A finding of unfair trade practices would give the US government legal authority to impose new tariffs on European goods.
At the same time, European small and medium-sized businesses face a different but equally tangible pressure. They depend on affordable and scalable cloud services to compete in global markets, and they are the least able to absorb higher prices, forced data migrations, and the loss of features they have come to rely on. The consequences accumulate quietly: less innovation, slower growth, and reduced ability to compete with American and Asian firms operating without these restrictions.
Technological sovereignty is built by removing barriers to trade, reducing regulatory burdens, attracting global talent and capital, and allowing consumers, not bureaucrats, to decide which technologies best serve their needs. When the state replaces that choice with its own, what is lost is not merely efficiency. What is lost is the principle that markets exist to serve people, not to be managed on their behalf.
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Claudia Ascensao Nunes is a Portuguese writer and political commentator. She is the President of Ladies of Liberty Alliance - Portugal and a columnist featured in both national and international publications. Claudia collaborates with Young Voices and focuses on economic freedom, European policy, and transatlantic cooperation. She has over 20,000 followers on X (formerly Twitter), where she shares insights on politics, liberalism, and cultural issues.
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Original text here: https://fee.org/articles/europes-digital-protectionism/
FFRF Questions Auburn University Coach-led Prayers and 'Jesus' Uniforms
MADISON, Wisconsin, June 19 -- The Freedom From Religion Foundation issued the following news release:
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FFRF questions Auburn University coach-led prayers and 'Jesus' uniforms
The Freedom From Religion Foundation is demanding that Auburn University stop suffusing its men's baseball program with religion.
A concerned Auburn University family member has informed the state/church watchdog that the Auburn men's baseball team has Latin crosses on the backs of their new uniforms and "Jesus Won" written on the front. Additionally, both the Auburn baseball team Facebook page and the official
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MADISON, Wisconsin, June 19 -- The Freedom From Religion Foundation issued the following news release:
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FFRF questions Auburn University coach-led prayers and 'Jesus' uniforms
The Freedom From Religion Foundation is demanding that Auburn University stop suffusing its men's baseball program with religion.
A concerned Auburn University family member has informed the state/church watchdog that the Auburn men's baseball team has Latin crosses on the backs of their new uniforms and "Jesus Won" written on the front. Additionally, both the Auburn baseball team Facebook page and the officialAuburn Tigers fan group have posted a video and a photo, respectively, of the Auburn men's baseball team being led in prayer by what appears to be the coach.
The family member who brought the situation to FFRF's attention expressed concerns about the coercive pressure the players may be under to participate in team prayers and wear religious uniforms. They observed that non-Christian students would likely feel out of place and unable to refuse the coach's expectations for players to kneel and pray or wear team gear with the cross and "Jesus" written on it.
Notably, this is not FFRF's first time contacting Auburn University over unconstitutional entanglement of religion and sports, and this is not the first time Auburn University has prioritized religious practice over students' rights. In 2015, FFRF published its "Pray to Play" report, which heavily features abuses at Auburn. The report details how universities like Auburn have allowed their football coaches to impose their personal religious beliefs on players via the hiring of Christian chaplains. FFRF wrote to Auburn again in 2018 regarding football Chaplain Chette Williams, a university-employed chaplain who has proselytized and prayed with the football team. Finally, in 2023, FFRF wrote to the university after learning that multiple coaches had promoted a religious event where the head football coach had baptized a player.
FFRF is once again asking that Auburn University respect students' First Amendment rights -- by ceasing the usage of religious symbols and messaging on uniforms, and by the baseball team coach refraining from leading players in prayer.
These actions amount to official university favoritism toward religion over nonreligion, and Christianity over all other faiths. The religious uniforms and coach-led prayer also risk unconstitutionally coercing players into wearing religious symbols and participating in prayer. Men's baseball team players who wish to maintain their standing on the team and continue to have access to scholarships and other benefits of playing college sports will no doubt feel that going along with what the coaching staff wants is essential to being viewed favorably by their coaches and team. Players will not feel free to refuse to wear religious uniforms or to refuse to participate in prayer, for fear of retaliation or of losing their place on the team.
University employees are free to pray privately or to worship on their own time in their own way. Entangling the university's sports teams with Christianity needlessly marginalizes students and players part of the nearly one in three Americans who now identify as religiously unaffiliated. In addition, more than half of Generation Z (those born after 1996) are not Christian, with a recent survey revealing that almost half of Gen Z identify as religiously unaffiliated.
"Auburn University continues an upsetting and concerning trend of allowing athletics coaches to proselytize student-athletes with seemingly no real consequences," says FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor. "There are undoubtedly students who are too afraid to speak up about representing a religion that they are actually not a part of. They are owed an explanation as to why their rights are consistently being sidelined."
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The Freedom From Religion Foundation is a U.S.-based nonprofit dedicated to defending the constitutional principle of separation between state and church and educating the public on matters relating to nontheism. With more than 41,000 members, including hundreds of members in Alabama, FFRF is the largest association of freethinkers (atheists, agnostics and humanists) in North America. For more information, visit ffrf.org.
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Original text here: https://ffrf.org/news/releases/ffrf-questions-auburn-university-coach-led-prayers-and-jesus-uniforms/
[Category: Religion]
Court Should Order Restart of Wind Project Reviews, Environmental Groups Say
BOSTON, Massachusetts, June 19 -- Conservation Law Foundation issued the following news release:
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Court Should Order Restart of Wind Project Reviews, Environmental Groups Say
If these wind projects are further delayed or canceled, the resulting disruption will be felt throughout the country. Photo: Shutterstock
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Environmental groups have urged a federal court to move quickly in forcing an end to the Defense Department's de facto ban on new wind energy projects.
In an amicus brief (https://www.clf.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/wind-DOD-amicus.pdf) filed with the U.S. federal district
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BOSTON, Massachusetts, June 19 -- Conservation Law Foundation issued the following news release:
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Court Should Order Restart of Wind Project Reviews, Environmental Groups Say
If these wind projects are further delayed or canceled, the resulting disruption will be felt throughout the country. Photo: Shutterstock
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Environmental groups have urged a federal court to move quickly in forcing an end to the Defense Department's de facto ban on new wind energy projects.
In an amicus brief (https://www.clf.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/wind-DOD-amicus.pdf) filed with the U.S. federal districtcourt in Oregon, the groups said this latest anti-wind action from the Trump administration will lead to more air pollution from fossil-fuel energy sources, higher electricity bills, and greater damage from climate change if the court does not take immediate action. The resulting emissions alone would impose billions of dollars in costs on society in the coming years.
"This ban on wind energy blocks affordable, clean, and homegrown power," said Kate Sinding Daly, senior vice president for law and policy at Conservation Law Foundation. "After losing in court over similar efforts to stop or delay wind projects, the Trump administration should know better than to keep standing in the way of clean energy."
The Department of Defense has misused a routine review process to halt more than 100 proposed wind projects, the filing says. Projects impacted by the Department's review freeze are expected to provide approximately 46,000 megawatts of electricity generation capacity - enough to power 14 million homes.
"The Department's review freeze operates as a de facto ban on new wind development, with enormous and widespread harms to the public and the environment," the legal brief says. "If these projects are further delayed or canceled, the resulting disruption will be felt throughout the country."
The filing came from Conservation Law Foundation, Citizens Campaign for the Environment, Clean Air Task Force, Environmental Defense Fund, Environmental Protection Information Center, NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council), New York League of Conservation Voters, and the Sierra Club, which is represented by Earthjustice. The case is Renewable Northwest v. Hegseth. The groups urged the court to grant a preliminary injunction or stay, forcing the Defense Department to start considering and clearing wind projects again.
This is the latest in a series of actions by the Trump administration to block wind energy, the filing says. The groups argue that these actions are restricting much-needed new electricity generation at a time when electricity demand is rising and utility prices are skyrocketing across the country.
Experts are available for further comment.
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Original text here: https://www.clf.org/newsroom/court-should-order-restart-of-wind-project-reviews-environmental-groups-say/
Central New York Community Foundation Announces New Board Members
SYRACUSE, New York, June 19 -- The Central New York Community Foundation issued the following news release:
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Community Foundation Announces New Board Members
The Central New York Community Foundation board of directors recently elected four new members. The following new members were appointed to serve their first three-year term beginning July 1, 2026:
Davine Bey, CEO of DKON Consulting Group
Davine Bey is a talent management executive with more than 25 years of experience in recruitment, workforce strategy and organizational leadership. Throughout his career, Bey has held senior leadership
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SYRACUSE, New York, June 19 -- The Central New York Community Foundation issued the following news release:
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Community Foundation Announces New Board Members
The Central New York Community Foundation board of directors recently elected four new members. The following new members were appointed to serve their first three-year term beginning July 1, 2026:
Davine Bey, CEO of DKON Consulting Group
Davine Bey is a talent management executive with more than 25 years of experience in recruitment, workforce strategy and organizational leadership. Throughout his career, Bey has held senior leadershiproles at institutions including Syracuse University and Cornell University, where he led efforts to strengthen hiring, retention and overall workforce effectiveness.
Based in Central New York, Bey has built his career helping organizations align talent strategy with performance, leadership, and long-term growth. His work has supported employers and institutions in building stronger teams and more effective organizations, while maintaining a clear focus on people, performance and community impact.
Bey holds a bachelor's degree in English from Le Moyne College and an Executive MBA from Rochester Institute of Technology's Saunders College of Business.
Cecelia Cannon, Attorney and Managing Member at Bousquet Holstein PLLC
Cecelia Cannon is a litigation attorney who focuses her practice on trust and estate disputes and commercial litigation. Canon represents clients in complex matters involving estate and trust administration, guardianships, business valuations and conflicts among partners in closely held businesses. Canon is known for working closely with her clients to develop practical, thoughtful strategies that take into account both legal and personal considerations.
Originally from the Midwest, Canon made Syracuse her home after graduating from Cornell Law School and has been actively involved in the community ever since. She previously served as a board member of the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Onondaga County and is a graduate of Leadership Greater Syracuse.
Ben Sio, President of CenterState CEO
Ben Sio oversees CenterState CEO's day-to-day operations, including managing revenue and executing the organization's growth strategy. Most recently, Sio served as chief of staff and senior vice president of strategy, policy and planning. During his tenure with the organization, he has worked on a wide range of initiatives, including downtown revitalization, workforce development and entrepreneurship. Sio is committed to strengthening the region's economy and expanding opportunities for businesses and communities throughout Central New York.
Jeff Stoecker, Chief Communications and Marketing Officer at Syracuse University and Senior Vice President and Chief of Staff to Chancellor Haynie
Jeff Stoecker oversees Syracuse University's unified Division of Communications and Marketing. He previously served as chief communications officer, where he oversaw executive and internal communications, media relations, the university's overall communications strategy and served as its primary spokesperson.
Stoecker was recently appointed senior vice president and chief of staff to Chancellor Haynie and will assume those responsibilities on July 1, 2026. In that role he will serve as a member of the university's senior leadership team.
Previously, Stoecker was a vice president at FleishmanHillard, where he advised clients including Harvard University, Bose and Massachusetts General Hospital. Before entering the communications field, Stoecker spent nearly 13 years as a journalist, earning two Emmy Awards and several Associated Press Awards and worked as part of a Peabody Award-winning team covering the Newtown school shootings. A native of Cazenovia, New York, Stoecker is a graduate of Le Moyne College.
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Original text here: https://cnycf.org/community-foundation-announces-new-board-members-3/
