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Damon Runyon Announces Newest Class of SPARK Scholars
NEW YORK, July 24 -- The Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation issued the following news release:
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Damon Runyon announces newest class of SPARK Scholars
The Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation has named the 2026 cohort of the Damon Runyon Scholars Program for Advancing Research and Knowledge (SPARK), a one-year cancer research internship for post-baccalaureate scholars. Launched in 2023, the program provides promising young talent with rigorous scientific training and a network of mentors and peers to support their next steps into graduate school and beyond.
SPARK Scholars will conduct ... Show Full Article NEW YORK, July 24 -- The Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation issued the following news release: * * * Damon Runyon announces newest class of SPARK Scholars The Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation has named the 2026 cohort of the Damon Runyon Scholars Program for Advancing Research and Knowledge (SPARK), a one-year cancer research internship for post-baccalaureate scholars. Launched in 2023, the program provides promising young talent with rigorous scientific training and a network of mentors and peers to support their next steps into graduate school and beyond. SPARK Scholars will conductresearch in the labs of current or former Damon Runyon scientists at partnering institutions around the country. Each Scholar will receive a stipend of up to $50,000, along with a living allowance and a travel stipend. Throughout the year, they will gather for unique programming to foster community among the cohort and strengthen the skills needed for a research career. They will also have the opportunity to present a poster at the annual Damon Runyon Fellows' Retreat alongside other Damon Runyon scientists in September.
"Being surrounded by incredible scientists who took all sorts of paths to get there helped me see what options are available," said Carli Newman, one of the inaugural SPARK Scholars and a current PhD student in the Molecular Medicine and Mechanisms of Disease program at the University of Washington. "I could better imagine myself in their shoes."
2026 Damon Runyon SPARK Scholars
Olumide Adesioye with her mentors A. Thomas Look, MD (Former Fellowship Award Committee Member), and Nina Weichert-Leahey, MD (Damon Runyon Physician-Scientist '23-'27), at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston
Olumide is a recent graduate of Brown University, where she majored in Immunobiology. Olumide was born and raised outside Chicago by parents who immigrated from Nigeria. After acquiring a passion for biology in her A.P. Bio class in high school, she continued her studies in the biology department at Brown, where she sought out research positions throughout her undergraduate career. Her recent senior honors thesis examined the effects of menopause on immune cell spatial distribution within the endocervix. She is looking forward to learning more about how the immune system can be exploited to fight cancer as a Damon Runyon SPARK Scholar. Olumide is a recipient of the NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates and a Brown Undergraduate Teaching and Research Award. In her free time, she enjoys weightlifting, roller skating, photography, reading, and hair styling.
Margaret Hu with her mentor Todd Golub, MD (Damon Runyon Board Member, Damon Runyon-Rachleff Innovation Committee '07-'16), and Mounica Vallurupalli, MD (Damon Runyon-David M. Livingston, MD, Physician-Scientist '23-'27) at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, and the Broad Institute, Cambridge
Margaret was born in Wisconsin and grew up in Rochester, Minnesota. She attended Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota, majoring in Biology and Sociology/Anthropology. Margaret was first exposed to cancer research in Dr. Todd Golub's lab, where she spent her undergraduate summers studying the tactics employed by leukemia to evade macrophage phagocytosis. This experience fostered her curiosity about cancer's complex, ever-evolving nature and the wide range of strategies available to target this disease. She aspires to explore human disease at the most fundamental level in order to design elegant and effective new therapies. Margaret's achievements have been recognized by the Patricia V. Damon Scholar Award from Carleton College. In her free time, she volunteers with her local hospital and patient advocacy organizations and loves to hike, play the piano, and pick up new crafting hobbies.
Aiyina Meng with her mentor K. Mark Ansel, PhD (Damon Runyon Fellow '01-'04), at the University of California, San Francisco
Aiyina was born in Atlanta, Georgia, to Chinese immigrant parents, and has since lived in four states and three countries. She earned her B.S. in Biology and Biotechnology from Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) in Worcester, Massachusetts, where she developed her research foundation as a trainee in the federally funded Undergraduate Research Training Initiative for Student Enhancement at WPI program. Driven by firsthand experiences watching loved ones navigate serious health challenges, Aiyina has long been motivated to pursue research with meaningful applications in human health and disease. Her research as an undergraduate deepened her commitment to uncovering the molecular mechanisms underlying disease. Aiyina is passionate about translating fundamental science into real-world solutions. Her goal in research is ultimately to contribute to the development of more efficient, targeted cancer therapies. Outside the lab, she enjoys reading, taking long walks, and cooking.
Deahzana Randall with her mentor Santosha A. Vardhana, MD, PhD (Damon Runyon Clinical Investigator '23-'26, Damon Runyon-Rachleff Innovator '22-'24), at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York
Deahzana was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. She attended the University of Michigan as a first-generation college student, earning her B.S. in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology. Her interest in a research career arose from a personal genetic discovery, which sparked her desire to understand the scientific basis of disease. As an undergraduate, Deahzana was selected as a 2025 NK & Irene Cheung Scholar and completed a summer internship in the laboratory of Dr. Santosha Vardhana at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, where she explored mechanisms of T cell exhaustion. In the future, Deahzana hopes to attend graduate school with a goal of running her own laboratory and contributing meaningfully to the understanding of tumor progression and immune interactions. Outside of the lab, she enjoys reading, hiking, and watching anime.
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Original text here: https://www.damonrunyon.org/news/damon-runyon-announces-newest-class-spark-scholars-0
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Damon Runyon announces newest class of SPARK Scholars
The Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation has named the 2026 cohort of the Damon Runyon Scholars Program for Advancing Research and Knowledge (SPARK), a one-year cancer research internship for post-baccalaureate scholars. Launched in 2023, the program provides promising young talent with rigorous scientific training and a network of mentors and peers to support their next steps into graduate school and beyond.
SPARK Scholars will conduct ... Show Full Article NEW YORK, July 24 -- The Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation issued the following news release: * * * Damon Runyon announces newest class of SPARK Scholars The Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation has named the 2026 cohort of the Damon Runyon Scholars Program for Advancing Research and Knowledge (SPARK), a one-year cancer research internship for post-baccalaureate scholars. Launched in 2023, the program provides promising young talent with rigorous scientific training and a network of mentors and peers to support their next steps into graduate school and beyond. SPARK Scholars will conductresearch in the labs of current or former Damon Runyon scientists at partnering institutions around the country. Each Scholar will receive a stipend of up to $50,000, along with a living allowance and a travel stipend. Throughout the year, they will gather for unique programming to foster community among the cohort and strengthen the skills needed for a research career. They will also have the opportunity to present a poster at the annual Damon Runyon Fellows' Retreat alongside other Damon Runyon scientists in September.
"Being surrounded by incredible scientists who took all sorts of paths to get there helped me see what options are available," said Carli Newman, one of the inaugural SPARK Scholars and a current PhD student in the Molecular Medicine and Mechanisms of Disease program at the University of Washington. "I could better imagine myself in their shoes."
2026 Damon Runyon SPARK Scholars
Olumide Adesioye with her mentors A. Thomas Look, MD (Former Fellowship Award Committee Member), and Nina Weichert-Leahey, MD (Damon Runyon Physician-Scientist '23-'27), at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston
Olumide is a recent graduate of Brown University, where she majored in Immunobiology. Olumide was born and raised outside Chicago by parents who immigrated from Nigeria. After acquiring a passion for biology in her A.P. Bio class in high school, she continued her studies in the biology department at Brown, where she sought out research positions throughout her undergraduate career. Her recent senior honors thesis examined the effects of menopause on immune cell spatial distribution within the endocervix. She is looking forward to learning more about how the immune system can be exploited to fight cancer as a Damon Runyon SPARK Scholar. Olumide is a recipient of the NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates and a Brown Undergraduate Teaching and Research Award. In her free time, she enjoys weightlifting, roller skating, photography, reading, and hair styling.
Margaret Hu with her mentor Todd Golub, MD (Damon Runyon Board Member, Damon Runyon-Rachleff Innovation Committee '07-'16), and Mounica Vallurupalli, MD (Damon Runyon-David M. Livingston, MD, Physician-Scientist '23-'27) at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, and the Broad Institute, Cambridge
Margaret was born in Wisconsin and grew up in Rochester, Minnesota. She attended Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota, majoring in Biology and Sociology/Anthropology. Margaret was first exposed to cancer research in Dr. Todd Golub's lab, where she spent her undergraduate summers studying the tactics employed by leukemia to evade macrophage phagocytosis. This experience fostered her curiosity about cancer's complex, ever-evolving nature and the wide range of strategies available to target this disease. She aspires to explore human disease at the most fundamental level in order to design elegant and effective new therapies. Margaret's achievements have been recognized by the Patricia V. Damon Scholar Award from Carleton College. In her free time, she volunteers with her local hospital and patient advocacy organizations and loves to hike, play the piano, and pick up new crafting hobbies.
Aiyina Meng with her mentor K. Mark Ansel, PhD (Damon Runyon Fellow '01-'04), at the University of California, San Francisco
Aiyina was born in Atlanta, Georgia, to Chinese immigrant parents, and has since lived in four states and three countries. She earned her B.S. in Biology and Biotechnology from Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) in Worcester, Massachusetts, where she developed her research foundation as a trainee in the federally funded Undergraduate Research Training Initiative for Student Enhancement at WPI program. Driven by firsthand experiences watching loved ones navigate serious health challenges, Aiyina has long been motivated to pursue research with meaningful applications in human health and disease. Her research as an undergraduate deepened her commitment to uncovering the molecular mechanisms underlying disease. Aiyina is passionate about translating fundamental science into real-world solutions. Her goal in research is ultimately to contribute to the development of more efficient, targeted cancer therapies. Outside the lab, she enjoys reading, taking long walks, and cooking.
Deahzana Randall with her mentor Santosha A. Vardhana, MD, PhD (Damon Runyon Clinical Investigator '23-'26, Damon Runyon-Rachleff Innovator '22-'24), at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York
Deahzana was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. She attended the University of Michigan as a first-generation college student, earning her B.S. in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology. Her interest in a research career arose from a personal genetic discovery, which sparked her desire to understand the scientific basis of disease. As an undergraduate, Deahzana was selected as a 2025 NK & Irene Cheung Scholar and completed a summer internship in the laboratory of Dr. Santosha Vardhana at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, where she explored mechanisms of T cell exhaustion. In the future, Deahzana hopes to attend graduate school with a goal of running her own laboratory and contributing meaningfully to the understanding of tumor progression and immune interactions. Outside of the lab, she enjoys reading, hiking, and watching anime.
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Original text here: https://www.damonrunyon.org/news/damon-runyon-announces-newest-class-spark-scholars-0
Lumina Foundation Issues Commentary: Americans Haven't Given Up on College
INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana, July 23 -- The Lumina Foundation issued the following commentary by chief data and research officer Courtney Brown:
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Americans haven't given up on college. They've changed the scorecard.
For decades, colleges benefited from a simple assumption: prestige signaled value. A bachelor's degree from a respected institution was widely seen as the gold standard, while community colleges and certificates occupied lower rungs of the educational hierarchy.
The latest Gallup data suggest Americans are replacing that hierarchy with a different one--one built less on reputation ... Show Full Article INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana, July 23 -- The Lumina Foundation issued the following commentary by chief data and research officer Courtney Brown: * * * Americans haven't given up on college. They've changed the scorecard. For decades, colleges benefited from a simple assumption: prestige signaled value. A bachelor's degree from a respected institution was widely seen as the gold standard, while community colleges and certificates occupied lower rungs of the educational hierarchy. The latest Gallup data suggest Americans are replacing that hierarchy with a different one--one built less on reputationand more on demonstrated value.
And today, the public is increasingly asking different questions.
They're wondering if higher ed is affordable, if it's worth the investment, and if it'll prepare its students for work. And, newer to the list of questions, will education after high school help graduates adapt to technologies like artificial intelligence?
That's a fundamentally different scorecard, and shows that Americans are redefining what educational value means. Affordability is part of quality. Workforce preparation is part of quality. Preparing graduates for a rapidly changing economy is part of quality.
When Gallup asked Americans to compare four-year universities and community colleges side by side, they no longer graded them according to reputation. They graded them according to performance.
By that scorecard, community colleges perform remarkably well. By a wide margin, Americans believe two-year colleges do a better job than four-year institutions of providing an affordable education. That much is expected, but affordability is only the beginning.
Americans also give two-year colleges higher marks for providing a quality education, preparing students for the workforce, helping students adapt to technologies like artificial intelligence, providing access to education for people from all backgrounds, and promoting free speech and respect for different viewpoints. Four-year colleges lead in only one category: advancing knowledge and new discoveries.
That isn't simply good news for community colleges. It reflects something larger.
Americans appear to be redefining what educational value means. Affordability is no longer separate from quality. Workforce preparation is no longer secondary to prestige. Preparing graduates for a rapidly changing economy has become part of what people expect from a high-quality education.
Perhaps most striking, Americans reach these conclusions with relatively little partisan disagreement. Views of four-year colleges remain sharply polarized. Democrats and Republicans often disagree dramatically about how well four-year institutions perform.
Community colleges are different. They remain one of the few sectors of higher education that command relatively broad confidence across political lines.
If the story ended there, we might conclude that Americans have fundamentally shifted their preferences. But they haven't.
When Gallup asked parents what they most wanted their own child to do immediately after high school, the bachelor's degree remained the overwhelming first choice. Thirty-eight percent say they would prefer their child to enroll in a four-year college or university. Just 19 percent choose a two-year college. Seventeen percent prefer a job training or certification program.
That may seem contradictory. If Americans think community colleges outperform four-year institutions in many ways, why do they still prefer the bachelor's degree for their own children?
When evaluating institutions, they reward demonstrated performance: affordability, workforce preparation, preparing students for a changing economy, and broad access. When making decisions for their own families, they continue to view the bachelor's degree as the pathway offering the broadest long-term opportunity.
Gallup didn't ask why parents continue to prefer the bachelor's degree, so there are limits to our interpretation. But it suggests that Americans are separating two judgments. Aspirations for the bachelor's degree remain strong even as Americans apply a different set of criteria when judging institutional performance.
That distinction should matter to higher education leaders.
For decades, many four-year institutions benefited from the assumption that reputation alone communicated value. The Gallup findings suggest Americans are becoming less willing to make that assumption. Today, they increasingly judge institutions by what they deliver: affordability, workforce preparation, adaptability, and student outcomes.
Reputation still matters. But it no longer settles the question. Like consumers making any major investment, Americans compare costs with outcomes, weigh alternatives, and expect evidence that education will deliver on its promise.
The Gallup survey doesn't suggest Americans have given up on higher education. It suggests they've become more demanding consumers of it. Those aren't lower expectations for higher education. They're higher ones. And institutions will increasingly be judged not by what they've been known for, but by what they can prove.
* * *
About the Author
Courtney Brown is the foundation's chief data and research officer and leads Lumina's strategic planning, research, evaluation, data, and learning efforts
* * *
Original text here: https://www.luminafoundation.org/news-and-views/americans-havent-given-up-on-college-theyve-changed-the-scorecard/
* * *
Americans haven't given up on college. They've changed the scorecard.
For decades, colleges benefited from a simple assumption: prestige signaled value. A bachelor's degree from a respected institution was widely seen as the gold standard, while community colleges and certificates occupied lower rungs of the educational hierarchy.
The latest Gallup data suggest Americans are replacing that hierarchy with a different one--one built less on reputation ... Show Full Article INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana, July 23 -- The Lumina Foundation issued the following commentary by chief data and research officer Courtney Brown: * * * Americans haven't given up on college. They've changed the scorecard. For decades, colleges benefited from a simple assumption: prestige signaled value. A bachelor's degree from a respected institution was widely seen as the gold standard, while community colleges and certificates occupied lower rungs of the educational hierarchy. The latest Gallup data suggest Americans are replacing that hierarchy with a different one--one built less on reputationand more on demonstrated value.
And today, the public is increasingly asking different questions.
They're wondering if higher ed is affordable, if it's worth the investment, and if it'll prepare its students for work. And, newer to the list of questions, will education after high school help graduates adapt to technologies like artificial intelligence?
That's a fundamentally different scorecard, and shows that Americans are redefining what educational value means. Affordability is part of quality. Workforce preparation is part of quality. Preparing graduates for a rapidly changing economy is part of quality.
When Gallup asked Americans to compare four-year universities and community colleges side by side, they no longer graded them according to reputation. They graded them according to performance.
By that scorecard, community colleges perform remarkably well. By a wide margin, Americans believe two-year colleges do a better job than four-year institutions of providing an affordable education. That much is expected, but affordability is only the beginning.
Americans also give two-year colleges higher marks for providing a quality education, preparing students for the workforce, helping students adapt to technologies like artificial intelligence, providing access to education for people from all backgrounds, and promoting free speech and respect for different viewpoints. Four-year colleges lead in only one category: advancing knowledge and new discoveries.
That isn't simply good news for community colleges. It reflects something larger.
Americans appear to be redefining what educational value means. Affordability is no longer separate from quality. Workforce preparation is no longer secondary to prestige. Preparing graduates for a rapidly changing economy has become part of what people expect from a high-quality education.
Perhaps most striking, Americans reach these conclusions with relatively little partisan disagreement. Views of four-year colleges remain sharply polarized. Democrats and Republicans often disagree dramatically about how well four-year institutions perform.
Community colleges are different. They remain one of the few sectors of higher education that command relatively broad confidence across political lines.
If the story ended there, we might conclude that Americans have fundamentally shifted their preferences. But they haven't.
When Gallup asked parents what they most wanted their own child to do immediately after high school, the bachelor's degree remained the overwhelming first choice. Thirty-eight percent say they would prefer their child to enroll in a four-year college or university. Just 19 percent choose a two-year college. Seventeen percent prefer a job training or certification program.
That may seem contradictory. If Americans think community colleges outperform four-year institutions in many ways, why do they still prefer the bachelor's degree for their own children?
When evaluating institutions, they reward demonstrated performance: affordability, workforce preparation, preparing students for a changing economy, and broad access. When making decisions for their own families, they continue to view the bachelor's degree as the pathway offering the broadest long-term opportunity.
Gallup didn't ask why parents continue to prefer the bachelor's degree, so there are limits to our interpretation. But it suggests that Americans are separating two judgments. Aspirations for the bachelor's degree remain strong even as Americans apply a different set of criteria when judging institutional performance.
That distinction should matter to higher education leaders.
For decades, many four-year institutions benefited from the assumption that reputation alone communicated value. The Gallup findings suggest Americans are becoming less willing to make that assumption. Today, they increasingly judge institutions by what they deliver: affordability, workforce preparation, adaptability, and student outcomes.
Reputation still matters. But it no longer settles the question. Like consumers making any major investment, Americans compare costs with outcomes, weigh alternatives, and expect evidence that education will deliver on its promise.
The Gallup survey doesn't suggest Americans have given up on higher education. It suggests they've become more demanding consumers of it. Those aren't lower expectations for higher education. They're higher ones. And institutions will increasingly be judged not by what they've been known for, but by what they can prove.
* * *
About the Author
Courtney Brown is the foundation's chief data and research officer and leads Lumina's strategic planning, research, evaluation, data, and learning efforts
* * *
Original text here: https://www.luminafoundation.org/news-and-views/americans-havent-given-up-on-college-theyve-changed-the-scorecard/
Helmsley Charitable Trust Awards $2 Million to Support PET/CT Scanner Project at St. Anthony
NEW YORK, July 23 -- The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust posted the following news release:
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Helmsley Charitable Trust Awards $2 Million to Support PET/CT Scanner Project at St. Anthony
*
CARROLL, Iowa, July 23, 2026 -St. Anthony Regional Hospital announced today that it has received a $2 million grant from The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust to support construction of a permanent PET/CT scanner suite, an important addition to local cancer care services.
The addition of a permanent PET/CT scanner will significantly enhance early cancer detection and diagnosis ... Show Full Article NEW YORK, July 23 -- The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust posted the following news release: * * * Helmsley Charitable Trust Awards $2 Million to Support PET/CT Scanner Project at St. Anthony * CARROLL, Iowa, July 23, 2026 -St. Anthony Regional Hospital announced today that it has received a $2 million grant from The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust to support construction of a permanent PET/CT scanner suite, an important addition to local cancer care services. The addition of a permanent PET/CT scanner will significantly enhance early cancer detection and diagnosisfor patients in the region. The new scanner will replace the current mobile unit, allowing for more consistent access to services, while also serving as a backup CT scanner to support patient care needs.
"We are incredibly grateful to the Helmsley Charitable Trust for this generous support of the PET/CT scanner project at St. Anthony," said Sarah Foley, St. Anthony Foundation Director. "Having a permanent PET/CT scanner close to home means individuals facing cancer will have greater access, fewer delays, and the comfort of receiving advanced care right here in our community. We are thankful for Helmsley's partnership and belief in our mission to provide compassionate, high-quality healthcare for rural Iowa."
Construction is currently underway on the south side of the hospital, where the new PET/CT suite will be located. The project represents a continued investment in expanding access to high-quality, local healthcare services for patients and families throughout west-central Iowa.
"Access to advanced cancer care shouldn't depend on where you live," said Walter Panzirer, a Trustee of the Helmsley Charitable Trust. "This investment will help ensure that patients in west-central Iowa can receive critical diagnostic services close to home, reducing the burden of travel and enabling earlier detection and treatment. We are proud to support St. Anthony's in its work to strengthen cancer care in their community and improve access to lifesaving services for patients and their families."
St. Anthony is deeply grateful for the continued generosity of donors and partners who are helping make this project possible and strengthening healthcare for the entire region.
About St. Anthony Regional Hospital
St. Anthony Regional Hospital and Nursing Home were founded in 1905 by the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration. Today, the organization is sponsored by St. Anthony Ministries and maintains a special relationship with its founders. St. Anthony has provided compassionate care to the communities in west-central Iowa for more than a century and continues to fulfill its Franciscan heritage. With access to leading specialists, the latest technology and affordable, high-quality care, St. Anthony is dedicated to supporting every person's physical, spiritual, emotional and behavioral well-being. St. Anthony has been recognized for excellence in quality and safety by CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) and Consumer Reports. Learn more at StAnthonyHospital.org.
About The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust
The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust aspires to improve lives by supporting exceptional efforts in the U.S. and around the world in health and select place-based initiatives. Since beginning active grantmaking in 2008, Helmsley has committed more than $4.6 billion for a wide range of charitable purposes. Helmsley's Rural Healthcare Program funds innovative projects that use information technologies to connect rural patients to emergency medical care, bring the latest medical therapies to patients in remote areas, and provide state-of-the-art training for rural hospitals and EMS personnel. To date, this program has awarded more than $900 million to organizations and initiatives in the states of Hawaii, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, and two U.S. Pacific territories, American Samoa and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. For more information, visit www.helmsleytrust.org.
***
Original text here: https://helmsleytrust.org/news-and-insights/helmsley-charitable-trust-awards-2-million-to-support-pet-ct-scanner-project-at-st-anthony/
* * *
Helmsley Charitable Trust Awards $2 Million to Support PET/CT Scanner Project at St. Anthony
*
CARROLL, Iowa, July 23, 2026 -St. Anthony Regional Hospital announced today that it has received a $2 million grant from The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust to support construction of a permanent PET/CT scanner suite, an important addition to local cancer care services.
The addition of a permanent PET/CT scanner will significantly enhance early cancer detection and diagnosis ... Show Full Article NEW YORK, July 23 -- The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust posted the following news release: * * * Helmsley Charitable Trust Awards $2 Million to Support PET/CT Scanner Project at St. Anthony * CARROLL, Iowa, July 23, 2026 -St. Anthony Regional Hospital announced today that it has received a $2 million grant from The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust to support construction of a permanent PET/CT scanner suite, an important addition to local cancer care services. The addition of a permanent PET/CT scanner will significantly enhance early cancer detection and diagnosisfor patients in the region. The new scanner will replace the current mobile unit, allowing for more consistent access to services, while also serving as a backup CT scanner to support patient care needs.
"We are incredibly grateful to the Helmsley Charitable Trust for this generous support of the PET/CT scanner project at St. Anthony," said Sarah Foley, St. Anthony Foundation Director. "Having a permanent PET/CT scanner close to home means individuals facing cancer will have greater access, fewer delays, and the comfort of receiving advanced care right here in our community. We are thankful for Helmsley's partnership and belief in our mission to provide compassionate, high-quality healthcare for rural Iowa."
Construction is currently underway on the south side of the hospital, where the new PET/CT suite will be located. The project represents a continued investment in expanding access to high-quality, local healthcare services for patients and families throughout west-central Iowa.
"Access to advanced cancer care shouldn't depend on where you live," said Walter Panzirer, a Trustee of the Helmsley Charitable Trust. "This investment will help ensure that patients in west-central Iowa can receive critical diagnostic services close to home, reducing the burden of travel and enabling earlier detection and treatment. We are proud to support St. Anthony's in its work to strengthen cancer care in their community and improve access to lifesaving services for patients and their families."
St. Anthony is deeply grateful for the continued generosity of donors and partners who are helping make this project possible and strengthening healthcare for the entire region.
About St. Anthony Regional Hospital
St. Anthony Regional Hospital and Nursing Home were founded in 1905 by the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration. Today, the organization is sponsored by St. Anthony Ministries and maintains a special relationship with its founders. St. Anthony has provided compassionate care to the communities in west-central Iowa for more than a century and continues to fulfill its Franciscan heritage. With access to leading specialists, the latest technology and affordable, high-quality care, St. Anthony is dedicated to supporting every person's physical, spiritual, emotional and behavioral well-being. St. Anthony has been recognized for excellence in quality and safety by CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) and Consumer Reports. Learn more at StAnthonyHospital.org.
About The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust
The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust aspires to improve lives by supporting exceptional efforts in the U.S. and around the world in health and select place-based initiatives. Since beginning active grantmaking in 2008, Helmsley has committed more than $4.6 billion for a wide range of charitable purposes. Helmsley's Rural Healthcare Program funds innovative projects that use information technologies to connect rural patients to emergency medical care, bring the latest medical therapies to patients in remote areas, and provide state-of-the-art training for rural hospitals and EMS personnel. To date, this program has awarded more than $900 million to organizations and initiatives in the states of Hawaii, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, and two U.S. Pacific territories, American Samoa and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. For more information, visit www.helmsleytrust.org.
***
Original text here: https://helmsleytrust.org/news-and-insights/helmsley-charitable-trust-awards-2-million-to-support-pet-ct-scanner-project-at-st-anthony/
FIRE demands LA City Council end policy banning certain words during public comment
PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania, July 23 -- The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression posted the following news release:
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FIRE demands LA City Council end policy banning certain words during public comment
*
LOS ANGELES, July 23, 2026 -The Constitution forbids the government from banning words.
But the Los Angeles City Council doesn't seem to understand. In a recent move, the council banned the words "cunt," "nigger," and any of their "variations" during public comment periods at public meetings -words that, however offensive one may find them, are protected by the First Amendment.
The ... Show Full Article PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania, July 23 -- The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression posted the following news release: * * * FIRE demands LA City Council end policy banning certain words during public comment * LOS ANGELES, July 23, 2026 -The Constitution forbids the government from banning words. But the Los Angeles City Council doesn't seem to understand. In a recent move, the council banned the words "cunt," "nigger," and any of their "variations" during public comment periods at public meetings -words that, however offensive one may find them, are protected by the First Amendment. Thecouncil has a choice: Follow the law or face a lawsuit from the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression and the First Amendment Coalition, which outlined the rules' constitutional problems in a letter sent to city officials on Thursday.
"Free speech is under attack across the country," said Stacey Segarra-Bohlinger, a member of her neighborhood council who ran afoul of the word ban for saying "cunt" while criticizing the council for adopting the rule. "We can't let the city council set such a dark precedent. While I don't condone the use of slurs or epithets to insult or dehumanize others, I strongly oppose any infringement on the right of the public to speak freely, and that includes using strong language when it feels necessary."
In July 2025, the LA City Council enacted the word ban in response to complaints about attendees using the words while speaking during the public-comment portion of meetings. The text of the word ban doesn't even identify the words directly, instead going to great lengths to spell them out:
A public speaker may not use the N-word or C-word, or any variation of either of these words, in a Council or Committee meeting. To avoid ambiguity, the N-word is spelled 'n' followed by 'i' followed by 'g' followed by 'g' followed by 'e' followed by 'r.' The C-word is spelled 'c' followed by 'u' followed by 'n' followed by 't.' Examples of variations of these epithets include, but are not limited to, the words' plural forms and words created by adding '-ish,' '-y,' '-ly' or '-ing' to create related adjectives, adverbs, verbs, or gerundives.
Concerned that the word ban violated her free speech rights, Stacey took the podium in October. Singing to the tune of the "Ghostbusters" theme song, she criticized the policy and the council for being "afraid of the word 'cunt.'" She continued, "Kind of insane how you're more offended by bad words than police brutalizing citizens and journalists in the streets." The council warned her that if she used a banned word again, she would be removed. About a month later, Stacey protested the ban again, this time singing, "Still I won't call you a cunt," to the tune of "Someone Like You" by Adele. The council again warned her, and then removed her from the meeting and barred her from attending committee meetings for the rest of that day when she repeated the word.
In addition to prohibiting the banned words and any variation of them, the council adopted a separate rule banning someone who is removed from a meeting from attending future meetings for up to six business days depending on their recent removal history. This means a person who uses a banned word is not only subject to removal from one meeting, but from future meetings as well. That's an obvious violation of their right to petition their government.
According to Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson, the primary sponsor of both rules, the word ban is only the first step in council leadership's plan to more broadly regulate speech it deems offensive. He has publicly stated he is "eager to get in front of a judge."
Harris-Dawson has elaborated: "This is as much a step as we can take at this moment, we believe. But we think it will open us up to take additional steps in the future." In another instance, he said, "We're going to try to get in all the terms."
Take the council president at his word: Allowing the government to ban some words today will lead to the government banning more words tomorrow. That's why the First Amendment prevents the government from taking the first step down this slippery slope -particularly when most find the targeted words repugnant.
"A government that gets away with censorship won't stop at just two words. It will target other speech, too -particularly criticism," said FIRE attorney Zach Silver. "The council president himself has said he wants to ban more words in the future, and you should believe him."
As FIRE and the First Amendment Coalition explain in today's cease and desist letter, the word ban codifies unconstitutional viewpoint discrimination. It assumes that anyone who uses these words has a viewpoint that doesn't deserve to see the light of day. But the Constitution does not permit the council to prohibit speech merely because it perceives that speech as offensive. In the words of the Supreme Court, "one man's vulgarity is another's lyric."
In addition to violating the Constitution, the new rules also violate the Ralph M. Brown Act, a California law requiring government meetings to be open to the public and guaranteeing the public's right to attend and participate in those meetings. The Brown Act already authorizes the council to remove a speaker who disrupts a meeting, such as by exceeding their allotted time or speaking about matters over which the council has no jurisdiction -but using a particular word falls well short of this standard.
"The first target of censorship is never the last," said David Loy, the First Amendment Coalition's legal director. "Censorship anywhere gives aid and comfort to censorship everywhere. Now more than ever, it is essential to protect free speech against official attack from any quarter."
FIRE and the First Amendment Coalition's letter directly challenges the word ban and the rule barring speakers from subsequent meetings and warns the council that if it declines to repeal those rules within 30 days, FIRE and the First Amendment Coalition will file a lawsuit.
"The First Amendment does not permit viewpoint-based restrictions disguised as civility rules," Silver said. "There are no carve-outs for any particular words. City councils have to answer to the highest law of the land -the Constitution."
The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to defending and sustaining the individual rights of all Americans to free speech and free thought -the most essential qualities of liberty. FIRE educates Americans about the importance of these inalienable rights, promotes a culture of respect for these rights, and provides the means to preserve them.
The First Amendment Coalition protects and promotes a free press, freedom of expression, and the people's right to know. Nonpartisan and nonprofit, FAC believes that the broadest range of engaged and informed communities is essential to the health of our democracy -that the values expressed by the First Amendment provide a blueprint for an inclusive, equitable society and a responsive, accountable government. To that end, FAC educates, advocates, and litigates to advance government transparency and First Amendment protections for all.
CONTACT
Katie Stalcup, Communications Campaign Manager, FIRE: 215-717-3473; media@thefire.org
***
Original text here: https://www.thefire.org/news/fire-demands-la-city-council-end-policy-banning-certain-words-during-public-comment
* * *
FIRE demands LA City Council end policy banning certain words during public comment
*
LOS ANGELES, July 23, 2026 -The Constitution forbids the government from banning words.
But the Los Angeles City Council doesn't seem to understand. In a recent move, the council banned the words "cunt," "nigger," and any of their "variations" during public comment periods at public meetings -words that, however offensive one may find them, are protected by the First Amendment.
The ... Show Full Article PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania, July 23 -- The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression posted the following news release: * * * FIRE demands LA City Council end policy banning certain words during public comment * LOS ANGELES, July 23, 2026 -The Constitution forbids the government from banning words. But the Los Angeles City Council doesn't seem to understand. In a recent move, the council banned the words "cunt," "nigger," and any of their "variations" during public comment periods at public meetings -words that, however offensive one may find them, are protected by the First Amendment. Thecouncil has a choice: Follow the law or face a lawsuit from the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression and the First Amendment Coalition, which outlined the rules' constitutional problems in a letter sent to city officials on Thursday.
"Free speech is under attack across the country," said Stacey Segarra-Bohlinger, a member of her neighborhood council who ran afoul of the word ban for saying "cunt" while criticizing the council for adopting the rule. "We can't let the city council set such a dark precedent. While I don't condone the use of slurs or epithets to insult or dehumanize others, I strongly oppose any infringement on the right of the public to speak freely, and that includes using strong language when it feels necessary."
In July 2025, the LA City Council enacted the word ban in response to complaints about attendees using the words while speaking during the public-comment portion of meetings. The text of the word ban doesn't even identify the words directly, instead going to great lengths to spell them out:
A public speaker may not use the N-word or C-word, or any variation of either of these words, in a Council or Committee meeting. To avoid ambiguity, the N-word is spelled 'n' followed by 'i' followed by 'g' followed by 'g' followed by 'e' followed by 'r.' The C-word is spelled 'c' followed by 'u' followed by 'n' followed by 't.' Examples of variations of these epithets include, but are not limited to, the words' plural forms and words created by adding '-ish,' '-y,' '-ly' or '-ing' to create related adjectives, adverbs, verbs, or gerundives.
Concerned that the word ban violated her free speech rights, Stacey took the podium in October. Singing to the tune of the "Ghostbusters" theme song, she criticized the policy and the council for being "afraid of the word 'cunt.'" She continued, "Kind of insane how you're more offended by bad words than police brutalizing citizens and journalists in the streets." The council warned her that if she used a banned word again, she would be removed. About a month later, Stacey protested the ban again, this time singing, "Still I won't call you a cunt," to the tune of "Someone Like You" by Adele. The council again warned her, and then removed her from the meeting and barred her from attending committee meetings for the rest of that day when she repeated the word.
In addition to prohibiting the banned words and any variation of them, the council adopted a separate rule banning someone who is removed from a meeting from attending future meetings for up to six business days depending on their recent removal history. This means a person who uses a banned word is not only subject to removal from one meeting, but from future meetings as well. That's an obvious violation of their right to petition their government.
According to Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson, the primary sponsor of both rules, the word ban is only the first step in council leadership's plan to more broadly regulate speech it deems offensive. He has publicly stated he is "eager to get in front of a judge."
Harris-Dawson has elaborated: "This is as much a step as we can take at this moment, we believe. But we think it will open us up to take additional steps in the future." In another instance, he said, "We're going to try to get in all the terms."
Take the council president at his word: Allowing the government to ban some words today will lead to the government banning more words tomorrow. That's why the First Amendment prevents the government from taking the first step down this slippery slope -particularly when most find the targeted words repugnant.
"A government that gets away with censorship won't stop at just two words. It will target other speech, too -particularly criticism," said FIRE attorney Zach Silver. "The council president himself has said he wants to ban more words in the future, and you should believe him."
As FIRE and the First Amendment Coalition explain in today's cease and desist letter, the word ban codifies unconstitutional viewpoint discrimination. It assumes that anyone who uses these words has a viewpoint that doesn't deserve to see the light of day. But the Constitution does not permit the council to prohibit speech merely because it perceives that speech as offensive. In the words of the Supreme Court, "one man's vulgarity is another's lyric."
In addition to violating the Constitution, the new rules also violate the Ralph M. Brown Act, a California law requiring government meetings to be open to the public and guaranteeing the public's right to attend and participate in those meetings. The Brown Act already authorizes the council to remove a speaker who disrupts a meeting, such as by exceeding their allotted time or speaking about matters over which the council has no jurisdiction -but using a particular word falls well short of this standard.
"The first target of censorship is never the last," said David Loy, the First Amendment Coalition's legal director. "Censorship anywhere gives aid and comfort to censorship everywhere. Now more than ever, it is essential to protect free speech against official attack from any quarter."
FIRE and the First Amendment Coalition's letter directly challenges the word ban and the rule barring speakers from subsequent meetings and warns the council that if it declines to repeal those rules within 30 days, FIRE and the First Amendment Coalition will file a lawsuit.
"The First Amendment does not permit viewpoint-based restrictions disguised as civility rules," Silver said. "There are no carve-outs for any particular words. City councils have to answer to the highest law of the land -the Constitution."
The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to defending and sustaining the individual rights of all Americans to free speech and free thought -the most essential qualities of liberty. FIRE educates Americans about the importance of these inalienable rights, promotes a culture of respect for these rights, and provides the means to preserve them.
The First Amendment Coalition protects and promotes a free press, freedom of expression, and the people's right to know. Nonpartisan and nonprofit, FAC believes that the broadest range of engaged and informed communities is essential to the health of our democracy -that the values expressed by the First Amendment provide a blueprint for an inclusive, equitable society and a responsive, accountable government. To that end, FAC educates, advocates, and litigates to advance government transparency and First Amendment protections for all.
CONTACT
Katie Stalcup, Communications Campaign Manager, FIRE: 215-717-3473; media@thefire.org
***
Original text here: https://www.thefire.org/news/fire-demands-la-city-council-end-policy-banning-certain-words-during-public-comment
FFRF Co-Hosts Secular Gathering on Capitol Hill
MADISON, Wisconsin, July 23 -- The Freedom From Religion Foundation issued the following news release:
* * *
FFRF co-hosts secular gathering on Capitol Hill
Members of Congress, national secular leaders and advocates joined together in a Capitol Hill reception room Tuesday evening for the third annual Congressional Reason Reception.
The reception celebrated the Congressional Freethought Caucus, reason, constitutional democracy and the growing visibility of nonreligious Americans in public life. The Freedom From Religion Foundation, American Humanist Association and the Secular Coalition for ... Show Full Article MADISON, Wisconsin, July 23 -- The Freedom From Religion Foundation issued the following news release: * * * FFRF co-hosts secular gathering on Capitol Hill Members of Congress, national secular leaders and advocates joined together in a Capitol Hill reception room Tuesday evening for the third annual Congressional Reason Reception. The reception celebrated the Congressional Freethought Caucus, reason, constitutional democracy and the growing visibility of nonreligious Americans in public life. The Freedom From Religion Foundation, American Humanist Association and the Secular Coalition forAmerica hosted an evening filled with wit and humor, with leaders of the secular movement and keynote speaker Mary L. Trump.
The reception has served as a celebration of reason and joy in public life, a secular alternative to the dour and sanctimonious National Prayer Breakfast as debates over Christian nationalism, religious exemptions and the separation of church and state continue to shape national politics. Organizers said the event demonstrates that Americans who value secular government are increasingly organized and visible on Capitol Hill. Rep. Jared Huffman, D-Calif., co-chair of the Congressional Freethought Caucus, has quipped that it is "a boozy alternative to the National Prayer Breakfast."
"Our country was founded on freedom of religion and church-state separation. No wannabe king or theocratic sycophant hellbent on controlling people through religious extremism will change that," says Huffman. "Folks from all walks of faith -- or none at all -- came together to celebrate something far more American: a government run by reason, freedom of conscience and the Constitution. That's what the Reason Reception is all about. No matter how hard Christian nationalists fight to overturn democracy and force their extremism on the American people, we will be here defending church-state separation and our fundamental rights."
"Every year, some of the most reasonable people I know assemble to highlight the essential role that reason plays in protecting democracy, liberty, progress and justice for all," says Freethought Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md. "The Congressional Reason Reception celebrates and revives the spirit of Tom Paine and Ben Franklin and our Enlightenment Constitution, which cast off centuries of religious fanaticism and dogma, Holy Crusades, witch trials, Inquisitions and theocratic rule to usher in a new era of self-government, reason and democracy. Congratulations to our honorees, Katherine Stewart and Alison Gill, who are doing fine work to champion reason and common sense in our own time."
"All you need to do is read the Declaration of Independence to understand that our Founders did not want and did not intend for this to be a religious country," says Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Ore. "And now, when you look at what is happening with this administration and with Republican MAGA colleagues, they want this to be a white Christian nation. It is not -- and we will not let that happen. With your voices here and across the country, we will stop that from happening. We want the next generation to know that this is a country where you are free to believe in religion or free to not believe in religion."
"When I first came into Congress eight years ago, someone told me that religion is what politicians talk about when they don't want to talk about ethics," says Rep. Sean Casten, D-Ill. "And there is a deep truth there. I think the inverse of that is equally true, that if you talk about ethics, people think you're talking about their religion. And I think there's a power there. There's an ability there. What I think you challenge us to do, and what we have to challenge ourselves to do, is to speak about ethics and morality in a way that doesn't fall back on those religious texts."
"Trump has learned that to say 'God' or 'gun' gets you votes," says Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn. "And as I said in committee today, he is totally irreligious and doesn't have any idea of Matthew. Being in legislatures and congresses has taught me a lot about religion because so many people use it. ... Trump knows nothing about it. He is so obviously areligious. He really should be here with us, the other heathens. But he uses God to get votes, which is a corruption of God. And all about Christian nationalism is a corruption of Christian."
Mary Trump, the keynote speaker, remarks: "We've been on a very dark path for a very long time. So we need to do a better job of explaining to people why allowing religion and government to become intertwined is fatal to the American experiment on the one hand and detrimental to the pursuit of our freedoms on the other. We have the benefit, those of us in this room, of reason, of perspective. A lot of people who have made the choices they've made and voted the way they have voted don't have those luxuries. So we, from the benefit of where we stand, need to extend these people grace because that way I truly believe we can make common cause with people who in the grand scheme of things have suffered as much from their choices as others have. And I think that's the way forward."
"The National Prayer Breakfast tells everyone who isn't the right kind of Christian that they don't quite count as Americans. We reject that," says Annie Laurie Gaylor, co-president of the Freedom From Religion Foundation. "This country belongs to all of us, believers and nonbelievers alike, and no one needs to bow their head to belong here."
"Thomas Paine called it 'the cause of America': the conviction that free minds, working together through reason, could govern themselves better than any king or church ever had," says Fish Stark, Executive Director of the American Humanist Association. "Last night's room, packed with members of Congress and humanists from across the country, was proof that cause is still alive. Now we take it to statehouses, school boards, and every corner of this country, and build the nation Paine imagined: one where reason and compassion govern together, and empathy is not a matter of faith, but of conscience."
Steven Emmert, executive director, The Secular Coalition for America, says, "This reception is called the Congressional Reason Reception and I think that's fitting not because reason belongs to secular Americans alone, but because reason belongs in public service."
The Congressional Reason Reception coincides with the growing strength of the Congressional Freethought Caucus, which now counts 37 members, and reflects a secular movement that continues to gain ground on Capitol Hill.
The evening also recognized recipients of the Age of Reason Award and Common Sense Award for their contributions to advancing secular government and freedom of conscience.
"I don't need to tell you that 250 years after Thomas Paine helped launch the American Revolution, our democracy is in crisis," says Katherine Stewart, recipient of the Age of Reason Award. "This is no time for the summer soldier and the sunshine patriot. This is the time to fight like hell for our country and our founding ideals of equality, pluralism, reason, justice, and the rule of law."
"We need courts that are fair, unbiased, and that will uphold the Constitution, and enforce our rights and protect our democracy -- not ignore it to salute their political or Christian Nationalist agenda," says Alison Gill, recipient of the Common Sense Award. "And the Congressional Freethought Caucus plays an especially important role in showing the harms caused by this Christian nationalist agenda and pushing back against it. So I truly want to thank you all for this award, and I hope that together we will keep making progress to reform the courts and restore our democracy."
Organizers said the growing attendance at the annual reception and the expanding Congressional Freethought Caucus reflect increasing recognition that Americans of every faith and none deserve equal representation in public life.
* * *
Freedom From Religion Foundation:
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 about 41,000 members, FFRF is the largest association of freethinkers (atheists, agnostics and humanists) in North America. For more information, visit ffrf.org.
* * *
The Secular Coalition for America:
The Secular Coalition is a group of diverse organizations representing atheists, agnostics, humanists, and other nonreligious Americans. The Secular Coalition for America is a dedicated lobbying organization within the Coalition, whose mission is to advocate for the equal rights of nonreligious Americans and defend the separation of religion and government.
* * *
American Humanist Association:
The American Humanist Association (AHA) works to protect the rights of humanists, atheists, and other nontheistic Americans. The AHA advances the ethical and life-affirming worldview of humanism, which -- without beliefs in gods or other supernatural forces -- encourages individuals to live informed and meaningful lives that aspire to the greater good of humanity.
* * *
Original text here: https://ffrf.org/news/releases/ffrf-co-hosts-secular-gathering-on-capitol-hill/
[Category: Religion]
* * *
FFRF co-hosts secular gathering on Capitol Hill
Members of Congress, national secular leaders and advocates joined together in a Capitol Hill reception room Tuesday evening for the third annual Congressional Reason Reception.
The reception celebrated the Congressional Freethought Caucus, reason, constitutional democracy and the growing visibility of nonreligious Americans in public life. The Freedom From Religion Foundation, American Humanist Association and the Secular Coalition for ... Show Full Article MADISON, Wisconsin, July 23 -- The Freedom From Religion Foundation issued the following news release: * * * FFRF co-hosts secular gathering on Capitol Hill Members of Congress, national secular leaders and advocates joined together in a Capitol Hill reception room Tuesday evening for the third annual Congressional Reason Reception. The reception celebrated the Congressional Freethought Caucus, reason, constitutional democracy and the growing visibility of nonreligious Americans in public life. The Freedom From Religion Foundation, American Humanist Association and the Secular Coalition forAmerica hosted an evening filled with wit and humor, with leaders of the secular movement and keynote speaker Mary L. Trump.
The reception has served as a celebration of reason and joy in public life, a secular alternative to the dour and sanctimonious National Prayer Breakfast as debates over Christian nationalism, religious exemptions and the separation of church and state continue to shape national politics. Organizers said the event demonstrates that Americans who value secular government are increasingly organized and visible on Capitol Hill. Rep. Jared Huffman, D-Calif., co-chair of the Congressional Freethought Caucus, has quipped that it is "a boozy alternative to the National Prayer Breakfast."
"Our country was founded on freedom of religion and church-state separation. No wannabe king or theocratic sycophant hellbent on controlling people through religious extremism will change that," says Huffman. "Folks from all walks of faith -- or none at all -- came together to celebrate something far more American: a government run by reason, freedom of conscience and the Constitution. That's what the Reason Reception is all about. No matter how hard Christian nationalists fight to overturn democracy and force their extremism on the American people, we will be here defending church-state separation and our fundamental rights."
"Every year, some of the most reasonable people I know assemble to highlight the essential role that reason plays in protecting democracy, liberty, progress and justice for all," says Freethought Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md. "The Congressional Reason Reception celebrates and revives the spirit of Tom Paine and Ben Franklin and our Enlightenment Constitution, which cast off centuries of religious fanaticism and dogma, Holy Crusades, witch trials, Inquisitions and theocratic rule to usher in a new era of self-government, reason and democracy. Congratulations to our honorees, Katherine Stewart and Alison Gill, who are doing fine work to champion reason and common sense in our own time."
"All you need to do is read the Declaration of Independence to understand that our Founders did not want and did not intend for this to be a religious country," says Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Ore. "And now, when you look at what is happening with this administration and with Republican MAGA colleagues, they want this to be a white Christian nation. It is not -- and we will not let that happen. With your voices here and across the country, we will stop that from happening. We want the next generation to know that this is a country where you are free to believe in religion or free to not believe in religion."
"When I first came into Congress eight years ago, someone told me that religion is what politicians talk about when they don't want to talk about ethics," says Rep. Sean Casten, D-Ill. "And there is a deep truth there. I think the inverse of that is equally true, that if you talk about ethics, people think you're talking about their religion. And I think there's a power there. There's an ability there. What I think you challenge us to do, and what we have to challenge ourselves to do, is to speak about ethics and morality in a way that doesn't fall back on those religious texts."
"Trump has learned that to say 'God' or 'gun' gets you votes," says Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn. "And as I said in committee today, he is totally irreligious and doesn't have any idea of Matthew. Being in legislatures and congresses has taught me a lot about religion because so many people use it. ... Trump knows nothing about it. He is so obviously areligious. He really should be here with us, the other heathens. But he uses God to get votes, which is a corruption of God. And all about Christian nationalism is a corruption of Christian."
Mary Trump, the keynote speaker, remarks: "We've been on a very dark path for a very long time. So we need to do a better job of explaining to people why allowing religion and government to become intertwined is fatal to the American experiment on the one hand and detrimental to the pursuit of our freedoms on the other. We have the benefit, those of us in this room, of reason, of perspective. A lot of people who have made the choices they've made and voted the way they have voted don't have those luxuries. So we, from the benefit of where we stand, need to extend these people grace because that way I truly believe we can make common cause with people who in the grand scheme of things have suffered as much from their choices as others have. And I think that's the way forward."
"The National Prayer Breakfast tells everyone who isn't the right kind of Christian that they don't quite count as Americans. We reject that," says Annie Laurie Gaylor, co-president of the Freedom From Religion Foundation. "This country belongs to all of us, believers and nonbelievers alike, and no one needs to bow their head to belong here."
"Thomas Paine called it 'the cause of America': the conviction that free minds, working together through reason, could govern themselves better than any king or church ever had," says Fish Stark, Executive Director of the American Humanist Association. "Last night's room, packed with members of Congress and humanists from across the country, was proof that cause is still alive. Now we take it to statehouses, school boards, and every corner of this country, and build the nation Paine imagined: one where reason and compassion govern together, and empathy is not a matter of faith, but of conscience."
Steven Emmert, executive director, The Secular Coalition for America, says, "This reception is called the Congressional Reason Reception and I think that's fitting not because reason belongs to secular Americans alone, but because reason belongs in public service."
The Congressional Reason Reception coincides with the growing strength of the Congressional Freethought Caucus, which now counts 37 members, and reflects a secular movement that continues to gain ground on Capitol Hill.
The evening also recognized recipients of the Age of Reason Award and Common Sense Award for their contributions to advancing secular government and freedom of conscience.
"I don't need to tell you that 250 years after Thomas Paine helped launch the American Revolution, our democracy is in crisis," says Katherine Stewart, recipient of the Age of Reason Award. "This is no time for the summer soldier and the sunshine patriot. This is the time to fight like hell for our country and our founding ideals of equality, pluralism, reason, justice, and the rule of law."
"We need courts that are fair, unbiased, and that will uphold the Constitution, and enforce our rights and protect our democracy -- not ignore it to salute their political or Christian Nationalist agenda," says Alison Gill, recipient of the Common Sense Award. "And the Congressional Freethought Caucus plays an especially important role in showing the harms caused by this Christian nationalist agenda and pushing back against it. So I truly want to thank you all for this award, and I hope that together we will keep making progress to reform the courts and restore our democracy."
Organizers said the growing attendance at the annual reception and the expanding Congressional Freethought Caucus reflect increasing recognition that Americans of every faith and none deserve equal representation in public life.
* * *
Freedom From Religion Foundation:
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 about 41,000 members, FFRF is the largest association of freethinkers (atheists, agnostics and humanists) in North America. For more information, visit ffrf.org.
* * *
The Secular Coalition for America:
The Secular Coalition is a group of diverse organizations representing atheists, agnostics, humanists, and other nonreligious Americans. The Secular Coalition for America is a dedicated lobbying organization within the Coalition, whose mission is to advocate for the equal rights of nonreligious Americans and defend the separation of religion and government.
* * *
American Humanist Association:
The American Humanist Association (AHA) works to protect the rights of humanists, atheists, and other nontheistic Americans. The AHA advances the ethical and life-affirming worldview of humanism, which -- without beliefs in gods or other supernatural forces -- encourages individuals to live informed and meaningful lives that aspire to the greater good of humanity.
* * *
Original text here: https://ffrf.org/news/releases/ffrf-co-hosts-secular-gathering-on-capitol-hill/
[Category: Religion]
EU Fine Against Google Warrants Consideration of Retaliatory Measures, Says ITIF
WASHINGTON, July 23 [Category: Computer Technology]-- The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation posted the following news release:
* * *
EU Fine Against Google Warrants Consideration of Retaliatory Measures, Says ITIF
*
WASHINGTON-Following the European Commission's decision to fine Google $1 billion for alleged violations of the Digital Markets Act's (DMA) bans on self-preferencing using Google Search and anti-steering practices in Google's Play Store, the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF), the leading think tank for science and technology policy, released ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, July 23 [Category: Computer Technology]-- The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation posted the following news release: * * * EU Fine Against Google Warrants Consideration of Retaliatory Measures, Says ITIF * WASHINGTON-Following the European Commission's decision to fine Google $1 billion for alleged violations of the Digital Markets Act's (DMA) bans on self-preferencing using Google Search and anti-steering practices in Google's Play Store, the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF), the leading think tank for science and technology policy, releasedthe following statement from Joseph V. Coniglio, senior counsel and director of antitrust and innovation:
This is a sad day for transatlantic relations. Instead of working together to counter China's quest for global techno-economic dominance, the European Union has continued to weaponize the DMA to extract huge fines from America's leading innovators-despite admitting Google's ongoing good-faith efforts to comply.
There are no grounds for finding that Google is in breach of the DMA's prohibition on self-preferencing. In fact, the changes Google has been forced to make in this area have not only resulted in a worse user experience but also directed traffic away from businesses like hotels and restaurants and into the hands of Google's intermediary competitors.
The Commission's attack on Google's mobile ecosystem fares no better. Google has every right to charge a commission on linked-out transactions so it can recoup the substantial investments it makes in Android. The Commission has provided no clear basis for determining that Google's fee structure is somehow noncompliant.
Today's decision is yet more evidence of the DMA's discriminatory targeting of America's leading innovators, who have paid all of the nearly $2 billion in fines the Commission has levied under the regulation in just over a year.
In the face of the DMA's ever-escalating attacks on America's digital firms, the United States increasingly has no choice but to consider retaliatory measures using frameworks like Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, which provides recourse against actions by foreign governments that discriminate against and burden U.S. commerce.
Contact: Sydney Mack, smack@itif.org
***
Original text here: https://itif.org/publications/publications/2026/07/23/eu-fine-against-google-warrants-consideration-retaliatory-measures-says-itif/
* * *
EU Fine Against Google Warrants Consideration of Retaliatory Measures, Says ITIF
*
WASHINGTON-Following the European Commission's decision to fine Google $1 billion for alleged violations of the Digital Markets Act's (DMA) bans on self-preferencing using Google Search and anti-steering practices in Google's Play Store, the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF), the leading think tank for science and technology policy, released ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, July 23 [Category: Computer Technology]-- The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation posted the following news release: * * * EU Fine Against Google Warrants Consideration of Retaliatory Measures, Says ITIF * WASHINGTON-Following the European Commission's decision to fine Google $1 billion for alleged violations of the Digital Markets Act's (DMA) bans on self-preferencing using Google Search and anti-steering practices in Google's Play Store, the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF), the leading think tank for science and technology policy, releasedthe following statement from Joseph V. Coniglio, senior counsel and director of antitrust and innovation:
This is a sad day for transatlantic relations. Instead of working together to counter China's quest for global techno-economic dominance, the European Union has continued to weaponize the DMA to extract huge fines from America's leading innovators-despite admitting Google's ongoing good-faith efforts to comply.
There are no grounds for finding that Google is in breach of the DMA's prohibition on self-preferencing. In fact, the changes Google has been forced to make in this area have not only resulted in a worse user experience but also directed traffic away from businesses like hotels and restaurants and into the hands of Google's intermediary competitors.
The Commission's attack on Google's mobile ecosystem fares no better. Google has every right to charge a commission on linked-out transactions so it can recoup the substantial investments it makes in Android. The Commission has provided no clear basis for determining that Google's fee structure is somehow noncompliant.
Today's decision is yet more evidence of the DMA's discriminatory targeting of America's leading innovators, who have paid all of the nearly $2 billion in fines the Commission has levied under the regulation in just over a year.
In the face of the DMA's ever-escalating attacks on America's digital firms, the United States increasingly has no choice but to consider retaliatory measures using frameworks like Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, which provides recourse against actions by foreign governments that discriminate against and burden U.S. commerce.
Contact: Sydney Mack, smack@itif.org
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Original text here: https://itif.org/publications/publications/2026/07/23/eu-fine-against-google-warrants-consideration-retaliatory-measures-says-itif/
AHF at AIDS 2026 Conference: AIDS Isn't Over--and Syphilis Is Surging
LOS ANGELES, California, July 23 -- The AIDS Healthcare Foundation posted the following news:
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AHF at AIDS 2026 Conference: AIDS Isn't Over--and Syphilis Is Surging
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As a global leader in HIV and STI prevention and treatment, AIDS Healthcare Foundation ( AHF ) is once again bringing a bold and provocative message to the 26th International AIDS Conference ( AIDS 2026 ) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, being held in person and virtually July 26-31. The risk and urgency of skyrocketing syphilis rates will be front and center at AHF's conference booth to remind everyone of the importance of regular ... Show Full Article LOS ANGELES, California, July 23 -- The AIDS Healthcare Foundation posted the following news: * * * AHF at AIDS 2026 Conference: AIDS Isn't Over--and Syphilis Is Surging * As a global leader in HIV and STI prevention and treatment, AIDS Healthcare Foundation ( AHF ) is once again bringing a bold and provocative message to the 26th International AIDS Conference ( AIDS 2026 ) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, being held in person and virtually July 26-31. The risk and urgency of skyrocketing syphilis rates will be front and center at AHF's conference booth to remind everyone of the importance of regularcheck-ups for syphilis.
While HIV/AIDS remains at the forefront of AHF's mission, rising syphilis rates globally have become a public health crisis that AHF is addressing with the launch of its global " Syphilis Is Serious: It's Curable. Get Tested. " campaign. AHF's compelling campaign booth artwork spotlights an often asymptomatic STI that is preventable and curable, yet continues to spread at an alarming rate, including congenital syphilis, which can have devastating outcomes for mothers and babies, and the tertiary (latent) phase of syphilis that has no visible symptoms and can cause severe long-term damage to the brain, heart, and other organs.
AHF will also host three engaging fireside chats at its booth during the conference, focusing on urgent challenges in the global HIV, syphilis, and tuberculosis responses:
WHAT Fireside Chat - Beyond Silos: Integrating HIV and Syphilis Services in Latin America
Syphilis, including congenital and gestational syphilis, continues to rise across Latin America, while HIV and syphilis co-infection remains common among people seeking STI services. This session will explore practical strategies to better integrate HIV and STI services, strengthen prevention and testing, improve coordination across health systems and communities, and identify where faster action is urgently needed.
WHEN Tuesday, July 28 at 2:00 p.m. BRT
WHERE AIDS 2026 - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - AHF Booth #301
WHO Pamela Gaspar (Brazil), General Coordinator for the Surveillance of STIs, Ministry of Health, Brazil
Dr. Adele Schwartz Benzaken (Brazil), Senior Global Medical Director, AHF
Dr. Miguel Pedrola (Argentina), Country Program Manager, AHF Argentina and Scientific Director, AHF Latin America & the Caribbean
Moderator: Guillermina Alaniz (Argentina), Director of Global Advocacy & Policy, AHF
AND
WHAT Fireside Chat - Keeping People Connected to HIV Care: What Actually Works
Interruptions in HIV treatment are often driven by social, institutional, and mental health barriers that push people out of care. This session will examine practical, people-centered strategies to improve retention and re-engagement, highlighting real-world approaches to better support people living with HIV and reduce preventable loss to follow-up.
WHEN Wednesday, July 29 at 2:00 p.m. BRT
WHERE AIDS 2026 - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - AHF Booth #301
WHO Dr. Omar Sued, Regional Advisor for HIV Care and Treatment, PAHO
Dr. Logandran Naidoo (South Africa), National Medical Director, AHF South Africa
Kim Heang Ung (Cambodia), Regional Testing and Prevention Program Manager, AHF Asia
Moderator: Daniel Reijer (Netherlands), Bureau Chief, AHF Europe
AND
WHAT Fireside Chat - Closing the Gap: Expanding TB Preventive Therapy for PLHIV
TB is the leading cause of death among people living with HIV despite effective prevention and treatment tools. Tuberculosis preventive therapy (TPT) can greatly reduce illness and mortality, yet coverage across Latin America remains low. This session will focus on strategies to expand TPT access, address implementation gaps, and turn policy into broader action and impact.
WHEN Thursday, July 30 at 2:00 p.m. BRT
WHERE AIDS 2026 - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - AHF Booth #301
WHO Dr. Antonio Flores (Brazil/South Africa), SAMU Senior HIV/TB Advisor, MSF
Dr. Jan van den Hombergh (Netherlands), Director of Global Quality Management, AHF
Renato Chuster (Brazil), Senior Quality Data Manager, AHF
Moderator: Guillermina Alaniz (Argentina), Director of Global Advocacy & Policy, AHF
"HIV/AIDS is, and always will be, at the heart of AHF's mission-but we cannot ignore a syphilis epidemic that is growing in plain sight," said Dr. Adele Schwartz Benzaken, Senior Global Medical Director at AHF. "Syphilis is curable, yet it often has no symptoms and goes undetected, allowing infections to spread and cause serious health complications. By bringing our 'Syphilis Is Serious' campaign to AIDS 2026, we're urging governments, health systems, and communities to treat rising syphilis rates with the urgency they demand. Expand testing and education, integrate STI services into HIV care, and make sexual health screenings routine."
AHF will also present more than a dozen abstracts at IAS 2026, showcasing its global efforts to advance HIV prevention, treatment, and advocacy through innovative, community-driven approaches. Research spans re-engagement in care, advanced HIV disease, PrEP, cervical cancer screening, syphilis trends, health financing, and strategies to reduce stigma and other structural barriers affecting vulnerable populations. These studies reflect AHF's commitment to expanding equitable, evidence-based HIV services and improving health outcomes worldwide.
AIDS 2026 in Rio de Janeiro is open to all in-person and virtual conference registrants. Visit the official website for more information.
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Original text here: https://www.aidshealth.org/2026/07/ahf-at-aids-2026-conference-aids-isnt-over%c2%ac-and-syphilis-is-surging/
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AHF at AIDS 2026 Conference: AIDS Isn't Over--and Syphilis Is Surging
*
As a global leader in HIV and STI prevention and treatment, AIDS Healthcare Foundation ( AHF ) is once again bringing a bold and provocative message to the 26th International AIDS Conference ( AIDS 2026 ) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, being held in person and virtually July 26-31. The risk and urgency of skyrocketing syphilis rates will be front and center at AHF's conference booth to remind everyone of the importance of regular ... Show Full Article LOS ANGELES, California, July 23 -- The AIDS Healthcare Foundation posted the following news: * * * AHF at AIDS 2026 Conference: AIDS Isn't Over--and Syphilis Is Surging * As a global leader in HIV and STI prevention and treatment, AIDS Healthcare Foundation ( AHF ) is once again bringing a bold and provocative message to the 26th International AIDS Conference ( AIDS 2026 ) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, being held in person and virtually July 26-31. The risk and urgency of skyrocketing syphilis rates will be front and center at AHF's conference booth to remind everyone of the importance of regularcheck-ups for syphilis.
While HIV/AIDS remains at the forefront of AHF's mission, rising syphilis rates globally have become a public health crisis that AHF is addressing with the launch of its global " Syphilis Is Serious: It's Curable. Get Tested. " campaign. AHF's compelling campaign booth artwork spotlights an often asymptomatic STI that is preventable and curable, yet continues to spread at an alarming rate, including congenital syphilis, which can have devastating outcomes for mothers and babies, and the tertiary (latent) phase of syphilis that has no visible symptoms and can cause severe long-term damage to the brain, heart, and other organs.
AHF will also host three engaging fireside chats at its booth during the conference, focusing on urgent challenges in the global HIV, syphilis, and tuberculosis responses:
WHAT Fireside Chat - Beyond Silos: Integrating HIV and Syphilis Services in Latin America
Syphilis, including congenital and gestational syphilis, continues to rise across Latin America, while HIV and syphilis co-infection remains common among people seeking STI services. This session will explore practical strategies to better integrate HIV and STI services, strengthen prevention and testing, improve coordination across health systems and communities, and identify where faster action is urgently needed.
WHEN Tuesday, July 28 at 2:00 p.m. BRT
WHERE AIDS 2026 - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - AHF Booth #301
WHO Pamela Gaspar (Brazil), General Coordinator for the Surveillance of STIs, Ministry of Health, Brazil
Dr. Adele Schwartz Benzaken (Brazil), Senior Global Medical Director, AHF
Dr. Miguel Pedrola (Argentina), Country Program Manager, AHF Argentina and Scientific Director, AHF Latin America & the Caribbean
Moderator: Guillermina Alaniz (Argentina), Director of Global Advocacy & Policy, AHF
AND
WHAT Fireside Chat - Keeping People Connected to HIV Care: What Actually Works
Interruptions in HIV treatment are often driven by social, institutional, and mental health barriers that push people out of care. This session will examine practical, people-centered strategies to improve retention and re-engagement, highlighting real-world approaches to better support people living with HIV and reduce preventable loss to follow-up.
WHEN Wednesday, July 29 at 2:00 p.m. BRT
WHERE AIDS 2026 - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - AHF Booth #301
WHO Dr. Omar Sued, Regional Advisor for HIV Care and Treatment, PAHO
Dr. Logandran Naidoo (South Africa), National Medical Director, AHF South Africa
Kim Heang Ung (Cambodia), Regional Testing and Prevention Program Manager, AHF Asia
Moderator: Daniel Reijer (Netherlands), Bureau Chief, AHF Europe
AND
WHAT Fireside Chat - Closing the Gap: Expanding TB Preventive Therapy for PLHIV
TB is the leading cause of death among people living with HIV despite effective prevention and treatment tools. Tuberculosis preventive therapy (TPT) can greatly reduce illness and mortality, yet coverage across Latin America remains low. This session will focus on strategies to expand TPT access, address implementation gaps, and turn policy into broader action and impact.
WHEN Thursday, July 30 at 2:00 p.m. BRT
WHERE AIDS 2026 - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - AHF Booth #301
WHO Dr. Antonio Flores (Brazil/South Africa), SAMU Senior HIV/TB Advisor, MSF
Dr. Jan van den Hombergh (Netherlands), Director of Global Quality Management, AHF
Renato Chuster (Brazil), Senior Quality Data Manager, AHF
Moderator: Guillermina Alaniz (Argentina), Director of Global Advocacy & Policy, AHF
"HIV/AIDS is, and always will be, at the heart of AHF's mission-but we cannot ignore a syphilis epidemic that is growing in plain sight," said Dr. Adele Schwartz Benzaken, Senior Global Medical Director at AHF. "Syphilis is curable, yet it often has no symptoms and goes undetected, allowing infections to spread and cause serious health complications. By bringing our 'Syphilis Is Serious' campaign to AIDS 2026, we're urging governments, health systems, and communities to treat rising syphilis rates with the urgency they demand. Expand testing and education, integrate STI services into HIV care, and make sexual health screenings routine."
AHF will also present more than a dozen abstracts at IAS 2026, showcasing its global efforts to advance HIV prevention, treatment, and advocacy through innovative, community-driven approaches. Research spans re-engagement in care, advanced HIV disease, PrEP, cervical cancer screening, syphilis trends, health financing, and strategies to reduce stigma and other structural barriers affecting vulnerable populations. These studies reflect AHF's commitment to expanding equitable, evidence-based HIV services and improving health outcomes worldwide.
AIDS 2026 in Rio de Janeiro is open to all in-person and virtual conference registrants. Visit the official website for more information.
***
Original text here: https://www.aidshealth.org/2026/07/ahf-at-aids-2026-conference-aids-isnt-over%c2%ac-and-syphilis-is-surging/