Featured Stories
UPMC Jameson Brings Advanced Cardiac CT and More MRI Services to the Lawrence and Mercer County Region
PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania, July 9 -- The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center issued the following news release:
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UPMC Jameson Brings Advanced Cardiac CT and More MRI Services to the Lawrence and Mercer County Region
New technology expands access to sophisticated heart, breast and prostate imaging close to home
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NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- UPMC is expanding access to advanced diagnostic imaging for Lawrence and Mercer counties with the addition of a cardiac CT scanner and a new wide-bore MRI at UPMC Jameson in New Castle., bringing new care capabilities and enhanced convenience to residents
... Show Full Article
PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania, July 9 -- The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center issued the following news release:
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UPMC Jameson Brings Advanced Cardiac CT and More MRI Services to the Lawrence and Mercer County Region
New technology expands access to sophisticated heart, breast and prostate imaging close to home
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NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- UPMC is expanding access to advanced diagnostic imaging for Lawrence and Mercer counties with the addition of a cardiac CT scanner and a new wide-bore MRI at UPMC Jameson in New Castle., bringing new care capabilities and enhanced convenience to residentsthroughout the region. The nearly $7 million investment reflects UPMC's ongoing commitment to continuously evaluating and delivering on local community health care needs.
The new technology was celebrated during a recent ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by hospital leaders, physicians, staff and community representatives.
"At UPMC, we continually evaluate the needs of the communities we serve and make strategic investments that expand access to those services people need most," said Dave Patton, president of UPMC Jameson and UPMC Horizon. "These new imaging technologies will help people get answers sooner, begin treatment faster and stay connected to the physicians and care teams they know and trust."
Cardiac CT Capability Enhances Heart Care Close to Home
The new CT scanner enables UPMC Jameson to offer cardiac CT services for the first time, adding a powerful new diagnostic tool for specialists at the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute at UPMC Jameson.
CT (computed tomography) is a non-invasive imaging test that uses a series of X-ray images and computer technology to create detailed pictures of organs, blood vessels and other structures inside the body. Cardiac CT imaging provides detailed, noninvasive images of the heart and coronary arteries, allowing physicians to directly visualize coronary artery disease and evaluate potential blockages without invasive procedures. Advanced imaging capabilities make it possible to capture exceptionally clear images of the moving heart, helping physicians assess patients more quickly and accurately.
The technology can play an important role in evaluating patients experiencing symptoms such as chest pain or shortness of breath and supports faster diagnosis and treatment planning. By providing detailed images of the coronary arteries, cardiac CT helps physicians determine the most appropriate next steps in a patient's care, from medication management to additional testing or intervention when needed.
"Cardiac CT gives us the ability to assess the coronary anatomy and identify all stages of coronary artery disease using a highly advanced, noninvasive imaging test," said Uzair Ashraf, M.D., cardiology, UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute at UPMC Jameson. "Bringing this capability to UPMC Jameson means patients can receive sophisticated cardiac imaging locally while benefiting from the expertise of the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute located in New Castle. Faster access to diagnostic information helps us make faster, more informed treatment decisions for our patients."
Previously, people requiring this level of advanced cardiac imaging had to travel outside the region for testing.
New Wide-Bore MRI Expands Breast and Prostate Imaging Services
UPMC Jameson's new wide-bore MRI improves both patient experience and diagnostic capabilities. MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is a highly detailed, non-invasive imaging scan that uses a magnetic field and radio waves to create pictures of the inside of the body. The MRI's larger opening creates a more comfortable environment for patients, while advanced technology enables faster imaging and increased efficiency. Shorter scan times can help improve patient comfort and enhance access to appointments.
The new system also expands specialized imaging services available locally, including advanced breast MRI and prostate MRI.
For people undergoing evaluation and treatment planning for prostate cancer, specialized prostate MRI plays an important role in identifying disease and supporting surgical planning. Previously, people had to travel to UPMC Hamot in Erie or UPMC Passavant in Pittsburgh's North Hills to receive these advanced imaging services. The addition of breast and prostate MRI capabilities supports earlier detection, more precise diagnosis and more personalized treatment planning while allowing people to remain closer to family, support systems and their local care teams.
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Original text here: https://www.upmc.com/media/news/070826-upmc-jameson-cardiac-ct-and-mri
[Category: Health Care]
Transport Project Presents 2026 NGV Achievement Awards at Annual Industry Summit
NASHVILLE, TN, July 9 -- The Transport Project, a national coalition of fleets, vehicle and engine manufacturers and dealers, and fuel producers and providers dedicated to the decarbonization of North America's transportation, issued the following news release on July 8, 2026:
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The Transport Project Presents 2026 NGV Achievement Awards at Annual Industry Summit
Eight Individuals and Organizations Honored for Their Contributions to Advance Gaseous-Fueled Transportation
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Eight individuals and organizations were honored today by The Transport Project (TTP) at its annual industry summit
... Show Full Article
NASHVILLE, TN, July 9 -- The Transport Project, a national coalition of fleets, vehicle and engine manufacturers and dealers, and fuel producers and providers dedicated to the decarbonization of North America's transportation, issued the following news release on July 8, 2026:
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The Transport Project Presents 2026 NGV Achievement Awards at Annual Industry Summit
Eight Individuals and Organizations Honored for Their Contributions to Advance Gaseous-Fueled Transportation
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Eight individuals and organizations were honored today by The Transport Project (TTP) at its annual industry summitfor their outstanding contributions toward the advancement of renewable natural gas as a transportation fuel.
The Transport Project Achievement Awards are awarded to nominees from all stakeholder segments, including but not limited to: TTP industry equipment and service suppliers, policymakers, customers, and clean air/clean transportation advocates.
"We are proud to award these hardworking individuals and organizations for the work that they do and the communities they serve," said TTP President Dan Gage. "Because of their contributions, we are making communities healthier with fewer emissions through the increased use of domestic, affordable, carbon-negative renewable natural gas as a transportation fuel."
The 2026 TTP Achievement Award recipients are:
* Gazelle Transportation, LLC Natural Gas Fleet Program
* Giant Eagle/Talon Logistics Natural Gas Fleet Program
* Certarus Ltd. RNG Innovation & Impact
* Sagepoint Energy, LLC RNG Innovation & Impact
* Eddie Murray NGV Market Development Leadership
* Chip Wertz Exemplary NGV Industry Leadership
* Marianne Mintz Lifetime Achievement Award
* Jeffrey Clarke Lifetime Achievement Award
TTP26, The Transport Project's 2026 Industry Summit, continues through July 9th at The Westin Nashville in Nashville, Tennessee.
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ABOUT OUR AWARDEES:
Gazelle Transportation, LLC., Natural Gas Fleet Program
Gazelle Transportation based in Bakersfield, California, is leading the shift from diesel to compressed natural gas with decisive, forward-looking action. As an oil and gas service company, Gazelle believes wholeheartedly that responsible oil and gas production is vital today and is leading by example by expanding a near-zero-emissions CNG fleet. With a heightened awareness of its responsibility to both customers and the environment, Gazelle Transportation is reducing emissions, lowering fuel costs, and addressing some of the industry's most pressing environmental challenges while maintaining the performance and reliability required for demanding operations. Gazelle began its CNG transition with seven trucks in 2019. Within 90 days, drivers were fully comfortable with the technology. By 2025, Gazelle's CNG fleet grew to 23 trucks, supported by high-powered natural gas technology and expanded fueling infrastructure. The fleet is reducing lifecycle carbon emissions while achieving up to 50 percent fuel cost savings on select routes - turning sustainability into a clear operational and business advantage. Gazelle will continue replacing diesel-powered trucks with CNG across its fleet in 2026 and beyond.
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Giant Eagle/Talon Logistics, Natural Gas Fleet Program
Giant Eagle is a family-owned grocery store chain that opened in 1931 in Pittsburgh, PA. It has grown to 211 supermarkets across PA, MD, WV, OH, and IN. It operates over 200 tractors and over 650 refrigerated trailers under its Talon Logistics division. Giant Eagle's CNG journey began in late 2007 when one of the principal owners went on a business trip to India and learned of the successful impact natural gas motor fuel was having on that country's efforts to improve air quality. Upon return, the company started meeting with state and local government officials to discuss its plan and seek support. It then partnered with an outside company to assist in applying for available grants for infrastructure and trucks. In 2009 Giant Eagle designed and built its first compressor station, fast fill dispensers, and public CNG station In Pittsburgh. In 2010 it ordered its first ten trucks and equipped its facilities - installing methane detection alarms and emergency ventilation systems in its shops. Then Giant Eagle trained its staff in CNG vehicle safety best practices. In 2011, Giant Eagle built its second fueling operation in Cleveland and ordered ten additional trucks. Through the 2010s Giant Eagle continued to increase its CNG fleet size reaching 71 percent CNG powered fleet in 2019. Supply chain issues during COVID impacted its vehicle replacement plans. Today Giant Eagle is at 40 percent CNG power with plans to jump back over 70 percent as it introduces the Cummins X15N engine into the fleet. Giant Eagle has been acknowledged for its commitment to sustainability through various awards. Notably, it was recognized as one of the 10 Most Sustainable Grocers by Progressive Grocer and received the 2023 EPA ENERGY STAR Retail Partner of the Year Award. Late last month Kroger announced it would acquire the popular grocery and pharmacy retailer in a $1.65 billion deal.
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Certarus Ltd., RNG Innovation & Impact Award
Certarus expands natural gas motor fueling infrastructure by delivering CNG, RNG, and hydrogen without requiring fixed pipelines or stations, allowing fleets to deploy natural gas vehicles for any application and in any setting - including in underserved corridors. Their process removes significant infrastructure CAPEX constraints. Today Certarus delivers 230+ million DGE annually and operates the largest mobile CNG trailer fleet in North America with 19.9 million miles driven per year. Certarus was among the very first to deploy and scale a virtual pipeline model, building an energy-as-a-service model and shifting fuel from a product to a managed service creating lower barriers to entry and faster adoption for fleets versus a build-your-own infrastructure model. Certarus operates a safety-first, sustainability-driven business model that creates value for customers, communities, and the environment--while maintaining high standards of transparency, governance, and operational integrity.
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Sagepoint Energy, LLC, RNG Innovation & Impact Award
Sagepoint Energy and its subsidiary Sagepoint Logistics recently acquired 60 heavy-duty RNG fueled Freightliner trucks powered by the Cummins X15N engine. The Carmel, Indiana-based company says the move represents a "significant leap forward" in its mission to propel the circular economy by aggressively expanding its footprint in the for-hire dedicated carrier market. With three landfill RNG operations and a dairy RNG facility capable of producing over 1.5 billion cubic feet of pipeline quality gas, complementing this effort, the launch of Sagepoint Logistics is translating RNG availability into impactful fleet operations. By integrating natural gas-powered vehicles into demanding freight applications, Sagepoint will prove that RNG fueled trucking delivers the range, performance, and uptime required for modern logistics networks. And their adoption of advanced natural gas engines capable of very low emissions and optimized for renewable fuel use demonstrates that sustainability and operational efficiency are not mutually exclusive. Their commitment to reliable RNG sourcing provides fleets with confidence that sustainability targets can be met without compromising fueling consistency or cost predictability.
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Eddie Murray, NGV Market Development Leadership Award
Eddie Murray is a consistent and tireless advocate for the natural gas transportation industry. Over a decade with Freedom CNG - the company that in 2025 combined with X3CNG, Lancer, and Comtech to form Freedom AFI - Eddie has been a driving force behind the growth of compressed and renewable natural gas fueling in the Greater Houston area, one of the nation's most important and emissions-challenged freight corridors. Promoted to Director of Business Development in 2016, he brought more than thirty years of sales, marketing, and logistics experience to Freedom, including prior work at Southwestern Energy developing CNG markets for municipalities and transportation companies across Texas and Arkansas. At Freedom CNG he turned that experience into real adoption, expanding the company's customer base and establishing its stations as reliable anchors for public and private fleets. Eddie helped establish Freedom CNG as a trusted fueling partner for public transit in Houston, including METRO's CNG bus fleet. He likewise brought numerous commercial fleets across the Houston region onto natural gas, spanning food and beverage distribution, freight, and other sectors, converting diesel operations to cleaner CNG and RNG. Through sustained, relationship-driven outreach and a near-constant personable social media presence, he introduced new fuel users to existing stations and helped grow station throughput across the Houston network. His willingness to meet fleets where they were, and to keep showing up, turned cautious prospects into long-term natural gas users. Eddie has also given his time and energy to the broader movement, working on TTP initiatives and serving on the American Natural Gas Association's Transportation and Equipment subcommittee, the Greater Houston Natural Gas Vehicle Alliance membership committee and Houston Galveston Clean Cities Coalition, remaining a visible, tireless advocate for the industry.
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Chip Wertz, Exemplary NGV Industry Leadership Award
Chip Wertz recently retired after almost forty-two years with WM, the largest waste and environmental services company in the United States. WM serves approximately 21 million customers across North America using the industry's largest CNG truck fleet and an expansive network of hundreds of landfills and recycling plants. Serving first as a Construction Manager, Chip retired as Director of WM Fleet Services' Infrastructure Team. Throughout his WM tenure, Chip developed the company's alternative fuel fueling infrastructure as it transitioned from diesel to clean burning renewable natural gas in its fleet of 18,000+ collection vehicles. Our entire industry has benefitted from Chip's learned experience, knowledge, and expertise. He served on countless TTP committees and works groups over the years to develop clear, consistent, safety-focused best practices, codes & standards, and guidelines to lift the entire CNG transportation industry.
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Marianne Mintz, Lifetime Achievement Award
Marianne Mintz is a Principal Analyst at Argonne National Laboratory, who supports the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Clean Cities and Communities partnership in renewable natural gas and technoeconomic analysis of natural gas fueling infrastructure. Her career at Argonne spans 49 years, with more than 15 years supporting Clean Cities. She serves as the lead subject matter expert in RNG across DOE's national laboratory complex. In 2017 Ms. Mintz led the development of a national database of planned and operational RNG production facilities based on all feedstocks and is exclusive for transportation fuels. This database is annually updated and shows market trends by state and nationally in the growth of RNG and its feedstocks. It is used by industry, Clean Cities coalitions, policymakers, academics, and local planners. She also leads a monthly RNG working group for the coalitions, providing timely industry and policy updates, production trends, environmental impacts and other issues. Marianne has supported coalitions' local events and presented at national training workshops and webinars on RNG, providing greater awareness of RNG and its attributes. Ms. Mintz communicates with clarity on complex issues, such as the carbon intensity scores of the various feedstock based on Argonne's life cycle analysis model, GREET. She works directly with TTP to assess the percentage of RNG dispensed versus fossil natural gas in deployed CNG vehicles. Not only does she work with DOE and its stakeholders, but she has also supported the research and programs at the Energy Information Administration and U.S. EPA. She is the author of several RNG case studies, the RNG FAQ fact sheet, and is a co-author of an accepted 2026 Transportation Research Board paper, "Opportunities and Impacts of Renewable Natural Gas in Long-Haul and Refuse Trucking Fleets." Ms. Mintz is also an expert in technoeconomic analysis in natural gas vehicle refueling, having created the JOBS NG tool, which is part of a suite of tools that estimate the economic impacts resulting from the development, installation and utilization of natural gas stations.
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Jeffrey Clarke, Lifetime Achievement Award
Jeffrey Clarke has dedicated his entire career to the advancement of natural gas. Son of a gas utility executive, Jeff graduated from James Madison University in 1986 and went to work for Raytheon as a contractor at the Goddard Space Flight Center before attending the University of Baltimore Law School. During law school summers and sometimes during term, Jeff interned at the American Gas Association (AGA). One summer Jeff even worked on a gas pipe installation crew expanding the LDC network in the quickly growing Northern Virginia suburbs. After graduating law school, gaining admission to the Maryland bar, and clerking in the Prince George's County Circuit Court, Jeff joined AGA's Office of Government Relations Counsel doing regulatory work in 1992. Four years later, Jeff joined the relatively new Natural Gas Vehicle Coalition (NGVC) as Director of Regulatory Affairs. In 2001, Jeff moved to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) supporting alternative fuel vehicle programs and DOE's EERE office before returning to NGVC - then known as NGVAmerica - in 2006 as General Counsel and Director of Regulatory Affairs. Over the last twenty years, Jeff has advanced TTP's regulatory and government affairs priorities at the federal and state levels. There are few alternative fuel vehicle and fuel standards, policies, or programs that Jeff does not have significant knowledge of and has not contributed to their development and implementation. Among multiple CNG/RNG motor fuel industry issues, Jeff is an authority on emissions calculations and the GREET model, weight allowances, clean fuel standards, and the renewable fuel standard program. A treasure trove of knowledge and experience, Jeff retired earlier this year as TTP's Vice President of Government and Regulatory Affairs. He continues his service as TTP's General Counsel and outside consultant.
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The Transport Project is a national coalition of roughly 200 fleets, vehicle and engine manufacturers and dealers, servicers and suppliers, and fuel producers and providers dedicated to the decarbonization of North America's transportation sector. Through the increased use of gaseous motor fuels including renewable natural gas and hydrogen, the United States and Canada can help achieve ambitious climate goals and greatly improve air quality safely, reliably, and effectively without delay and without compromising existing commercial business operations.
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Original text here: https://transportproject.org/2026/07/08/the-transport-project-presents-2026-ngv-achievement-awards-at-annual-industry-summit/
[Category: Energy]
Policy Matters Ohio: Opportunity Zones 2.0 Can Do Better Than the Original
COLUMBUS, Ohio, July 9 (TNSrep) -- Policy Matters Ohio, a nonpartisan policy research institute, posted the following news release:
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Opportunity Zones 2.0 can do better than the original
Gov. DeWine's decisions will define the program's impact for the next decade
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July 1 marked the beginning of Gov. Mike DeWine's 90-day window for nominating Ohio's next round of Opportunity Zones (OZs): low-income communities where investors receive tax breaks for qualifying investments. The new designations will replace the 320 Opportunity Zones selected by Ohio in 2018 and will shape where tax-advantaged
... Show Full Article
COLUMBUS, Ohio, July 9 (TNSrep) -- Policy Matters Ohio, a nonpartisan policy research institute, posted the following news release:
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Opportunity Zones 2.0 can do better than the original
Gov. DeWine's decisions will define the program's impact for the next decade
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July 1 marked the beginning of Gov. Mike DeWine's 90-day window for nominating Ohio's next round of Opportunity Zones (OZs): low-income communities where investors receive tax breaks for qualifying investments. The new designations will replace the 320 Opportunity Zones selected by Ohio in 2018 and will shape where tax-advantagedinvestment flows for the next decade.
A new Policy Matters Ohio report finds that the original OZ program often failed to direct investment to the communities most in need and urges the governor to apply those lessons while he chooses the next set of qualifying census tracts.
"Opportunity Zones were created to bring investment to communities facing persistent poverty and disinvestment, but Ohio policymakers did not consistently target the areas with the greatest need," said Aditi Srivastava, Policy Matters Ohio researcher and author of the report. "When Ohio selected its first round of Opportunity Zones, more than half of the 100 poorest eligible census tracts were left out. Instead, state officials gave preference to areas where developers were already investing, making it harder for any other neighborhoods to compete."
The report also finds that many Opportunity Zone housing developments charged rents above those typical for the surrounding neighborhood and that most jobs created by the program nationally were offset by losses in nearby low-income communities.
"Gov. DeWine now has an opportunity to correct those mistakes," Srivastava said. "He should prioritize neighborhoods experiencing the most concentrated poverty, avoid tracts already attracting substantial private capital, and ensure community members have meaningful input into investment decisions. Opportunity Zones should benefit communities where investments can do the most good, not subsidize development that likely would have happened anyway."
The full report is available at https://policymattersohio.org/research/a-revamped-opportunity-zone-program-can-succeed-where-the-original-came-up-short/
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Original text here: https://policymattersohio.org/news/2026/07/08/opportunity-zones-2-0-can-do-better-than-the-original/
[Category: Economics]
National Center on Sexual Exploitation: Big Tech Denied - Supreme Court Clears Way for Texas App Store Accountability Law in Massive Victory for Parents and Survivors
WASHINGTON, July 9 -- The National Center on Sexual Exploitation issued the following news:
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Big Tech Denied: Supreme Court Clears Way for Texas App Store Accountability Law in Massive Victory for Parents and Survivors
The National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE), standing alongside a nationwide network of protective parents and child exploitation survivors, celebrated a definitive legal turning point in the fight for online safety. In a major blow to Silicon Valley, the U.S. Supreme Court flatly denied an emergency application by Big Tech trade associations to block enforcement of
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, July 9 -- The National Center on Sexual Exploitation issued the following news:
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Big Tech Denied: Supreme Court Clears Way for Texas App Store Accountability Law in Massive Victory for Parents and Survivors
The National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE), standing alongside a nationwide network of protective parents and child exploitation survivors, celebrated a definitive legal turning point in the fight for online safety. In a major blow to Silicon Valley, the U.S. Supreme Court flatly denied an emergency application by Big Tech trade associations to block enforcement ofthe Texas App Store Accountability Act (Computer & Communications Industry Association v. Ken Paxton, No. 25A1390).
Texas Senate Bill 2420, the App Store Accountability Act, requires massive digital marketplaces to implement robust age-verification, secure explicit parental consent before minors can download apps, and clearly display accurate content ratings. The Supreme Court's order leaves in place a critical decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, which intervened to let Texas enforce its common-sense app store safety measures while broader legal battles continue. This denial solidifies a monumental framework for state-led digital safety standards nationwide.
The Fifth Circuit's decision stands, forcefully rejecting the industry's demands for total immunity, focusing on the state's urgent interest in protecting children from predatory online ecosystems.
NCOSE, which submitted amicus curiae briefs in December 2025 and May 2026 detailing how predatory app marketplace designs leave children highly vulnerable to grooming and commercial sexual exploitation, hailed the decision as a massive structural shift for families.
"For far too long, dominant tech platforms have operated with total impunity, acting as unchecked gatekeepers to digital marketplaces that actively expose children to severe harm," said Haley McNamara, Executive Director and Chief Strategy Officer, National Center on Sexual Exploitation.
"By denying Big Tech's attempt to escape accountability, the Supreme Court has sent a definitive message: corporate profits will no longer be prioritized over the safety and dignity of minors.
"This legislation is a common-sense, vital framework that requires massive platforms to implement robust, systemic safeguards rather than shifting the entire burden of digital safety onto exhausted parents. This victory proves that states possess both the authority and the moral obligation to regulate predatory digital environments. NCOSE was proud to support this effort through our amicus brief, and we will continue to ensure these critical protections are fully realized and enforced across the country."
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About the National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE)
Founded in 1962, the National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE) is the leading national non-profit organization dedicated to exposing the links between all forms of sexual exploitation and human trafficking. NCOSE works through law, policy, and corporate advocacy to create a world where every person can live free from exploitation. Learn more at endsexualexploitation.org.
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Original text here: https://endsexualexploitation.org/articles/big-tech-denied-supreme-court-clears-way-for-texas-app-store-accountability-law/
[Category: Sociological]
League of Women Voters Elects Sania Irwin as National Board President
WASHINGTON, July 9 -- The League of Women Voters issued the following news release on July 7, 2026:
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League of Women Voters Elects Sania Irwin as National Board President
Following the League of Women Voters' 57th Biennial National Convention in Columbus, Ohio, the League announced its newly elected national leadership for the 2026-2028 biennium, with Sania Irwin at the helm as president of the national Board of Directors. Together, the new Board will help lead the League's nationwide movement to empower voters, defend and strengthen democracy, and mobilize communities ahead of the 2026
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, July 9 -- The League of Women Voters issued the following news release on July 7, 2026:
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League of Women Voters Elects Sania Irwin as National Board President
Following the League of Women Voters' 57th Biennial National Convention in Columbus, Ohio, the League announced its newly elected national leadership for the 2026-2028 biennium, with Sania Irwin at the helm as president of the national Board of Directors. Together, the new Board will help lead the League's nationwide movement to empower voters, defend and strengthen democracy, and mobilize communities ahead of the 2026midterm elections and for sustained civic participation.
More than 1,000 delegates from across the country gathered at the end of June in Ohio, and virtually, to elect national leadership, set priorities for the next biennium, and launch the League's next phase of organizing through lwv.org/uniteandrise.
"I am deeply honored to serve as president of the League of Women Voters during such a consequential moment for our democracy," said Sania Irwin, president of the League of Women Voters. "The League has always met history with courage, conviction, and action. Today, we are called to be an unshakable, visible force for a just and inclusive democracy. Together, we will continue building a League that equips people to organize, advocate, educate, and lead so that power remains where it belongs: with the people."
Outgoing President Dianna Wynn reflected on the League's progress over the past two years and expressed confidence in the organization's future.
"Serving as national president of this historic and powerful organization has been one of the greatest honors of my life," said Dianna Wynn, immediate past president of the League of Women Voters. "Over the past biennium, our grassroots members demonstrated what is possible when ordinary people come together in extraordinary ways to defend democracy. The League became bolder, bigger, and stronger, and I am confident that our newly elected Board of Directors will continue building on that momentum as the League enters its next chapter."
League Chief Executive Officer Celina Stewart welcomed the new Board and emphasized the importance of translating the energy of Convention into action.
"The work ahead is urgent, but so is the opportunity before us," said Celina Stewart, chief executive officer of the League of Women Voters. "This Convention was a powerful reminder that democracy is not self-executing. It works because people show up to engage in thoughtful debate, make collective decisions, and exercise the shared responsibility of self-government. I look forward to partnering with President Sania Irwin and our national Board as we continue Unite & Rise 8.5, mobilize voters across the country, and build the pro-democracy movement that will shape the 2026 midterm elections and strengthen our democracy for generations to come."
The newly elected officers of the League of Women Voters are President Sania Irwin (Illinois), Vice President Vedna Lacombe-Heywood (Massachusetts), Treasurer Julie Stackhouse (Colorado), and Secretary Toni Monette (Nebraska). Delegates also elected Tracy Adkison (Georgia), Margarett Barnes (Mississippi), Mary Coltrane (Washington), Kimberly Hamlin (Ohio), Kathy Jones (Alabama), Claudia Ortega-Hogue (Texas), Cecile Scoon (Florida), and Jocelyn Travis (Alabama) to serve on the national Board of Directors. Together, they will lead the legacy voting rights organization in mobilizing voters, strengthening grassroots power, and helping deliver record participation in the 2026 midterm elections.
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Original text here: https://www.lwv.org/newsroom/press-releases/league-women-voters-elects-sania-irwin-national-board-president
[Category: Political]
Human Rights Watch: Germany - Government Curbing Freedom of Information Act
NEW YORK, July 9 [Category: International] -- Human Rights Watch issued the following news:
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Germany: Government Curbing Freedom of Information Act
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(Berlin, July 8, 2026) - The German government should abandon its plans to gut Germany's Freedom of Information Act, Human Rights Watch said today. The proposed amendments will threaten core human rights essential to transparency and public participation in a democracy based on the rule of law.
On July 2, 2026, the coalition committee of the German government, comprised of the Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU)
... Show Full Article
NEW YORK, July 9 [Category: International] -- Human Rights Watch issued the following news:
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Germany: Government Curbing Freedom of Information Act
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(Berlin, July 8, 2026) - The German government should abandon its plans to gut Germany's Freedom of Information Act, Human Rights Watch said today. The proposed amendments will threaten core human rights essential to transparency and public participation in a democracy based on the rule of law.
On July 2, 2026, the coalition committee of the German government, comprised of the Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU)and the Social Democratic Party (SPD), decided to significantly amend Germany's Freedom of Information Act. The changes will severely restrict the ability of the public, including civil society and journalists, to obtain public records that relate to the actions of the government and authorities.
"The German government seems to perceive transparency and freedom of information as threats and an administrative burden instead of essential safeguards in a democracy," said Almaz Teffera, senior Europe researcher at Human Rights Watch. "Restricting access to public records denies everyone basic information, makes it harder to hold the government and authorities to account, and risks increasing public distrust in their actions."
The government seeks to adopt five key amendments to Germany's Freedom of Information Act:
* People will have to prove a "legitimate interest" to obtain official information, giving authorities broad discretion to reject information requests and deter people from seeking information of public concern. The government provided no further details on what would constitute a "legitimate interest."
* Non-EU citizens who do not live in Germany would not be able to obtain public records, regardless of whether they may be able to prove a legitimate interest.
* Only individuals would have access to public records, preventing civil society organizations like Human Rights Watch or media organizations from making requests.
* The government would remove the cap, currently at EUR500, on fees for information requests, which risks creating financially prohibitive barriers, deterring and excluding people from access.
* The government would allow routine redactions of names of public officials, which would obscure individual responsibility for government actions.
FragDenStaat, a German civil society platform for freedom of information, called the government's plans "the most serious attack on state transparency in the history of the Federal Republic [of Germany]." They suggest that removing the cap could result in fees of thousands of euros.
Reporters Without Borders and German journalist networks have criticized the government's plans as barriers to information for journalists and attempts to limit the media's oversight, since they would make it significantly more difficult for journalists to do their jobs of monitoring the actions of politicians and the authorities.
The government's plans also drew criticism from state-level independent watchdogs like Berlin's commissioner for freedom of information, Meike Kamp, who said that "Now more than ever, the state and its authorities should have an interest in ensuring that their actions can be reviewed and understood by the public" to create trust and strengthen democracy.
Currently, anyone can request access to government documents and thus monitor the actions of authorities and the government. Civil society and media investigations using information requests based on the act have exposed numerous political and corruption scandals in the past, including some that involve allegations linked to officials of the current government who are now pushing for the amendments.
In its coalition agreement adopted last year, the government set out a commitment to reform the Freedom of Information Act to provide "added value for citizens and the administration." However, the government's plans to limit freedom of information in Germany would breach not just its own commitment but also international and European human rights law, Human Rights Watch said.
Germany is bound by international and regional human rights standards that protect the right to seek and receive information as part of the right to freedom of expression, including the European Convention on Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
The European Court of Human Rights has recognized that access to information is especially important for journalists, civil society organizations, and other public watchdogs, whose ability to inform public debate depends on obtaining relevant public records. Restrictions on access must be lawful, necessary, and proportionate to a legitimate aim. Blanket exclusions, redactions of government officials' names, and arbitrary eligibility rules are inconsistent with a transparent government and risk chilling journalism and civic participation, key pillars of a functioning democracy.
"Political transparency and public scrutiny do not have an off switch when it gets uncomfortable for the government," Teffera said. "The German government should reverse course on this dangerous pursuit to gut Germany's Freedom of Information Act and preserve meaningful access to official records for individuals and organizations alike."
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Original text here: https://www.hrw.org/news/2026/07/08/germany-government-curbing-freedom-of-information-act
A Better Wisconsin Together: Amid Rising Cost Crisis, JD Vance Comes to Wisconsin to Court Ultra-Wealthy for Campaign Cash
MONONA, Wisconsin, July 9 -- A Better Wisconsin Together, a state-based research and communications hub for progressives, posted the following news release:
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Amid Rising Cost Crisis, JD Vance Comes to Wisconsin to Court Ultra-Wealthy for Campaign Cash
Event Admission $10,000 per Couple, Photo and Dinner for $35,000
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MADISON, Wis. -- Wisconsinites are spending $3,000 more on everyday goods than we were two years ago and one of the architects of the rising cost crisis, JD Vance, is in the Badger State today to stand with Wisconsinites ... but only if they have an extra $35,000 to spare.
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MONONA, Wisconsin, July 9 -- A Better Wisconsin Together, a state-based research and communications hub for progressives, posted the following news release:
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Amid Rising Cost Crisis, JD Vance Comes to Wisconsin to Court Ultra-Wealthy for Campaign Cash
Event Admission $10,000 per Couple, Photo and Dinner for $35,000
-
MADISON, Wis. -- Wisconsinites are spending $3,000 more on everyday goods than we were two years ago and one of the architects of the rising cost crisis, JD Vance, is in the Badger State today to stand with Wisconsinites ... but only if they have an extra $35,000 to spare.
Duringhis July 8 visit to Wisconsin, Vance is headlining a ritzy dinner to the tune of: $10,000 per couple to attend, $35,000 for dinner and a photo with Vance, and $100,000 to be on the host committee, according to the event's website.
A Better Wisconsin Together says Vance's lavish event shows just how out of touch he is with the average Wisconsinite.
"Thanks to Vance, and Donald Trump's loyal lackey Tom Tiffany, most Wisconsinites are worried about keeping gas in the car and food in the fridge as costs continue to rise. And their MAGA solution? Collect campaign cash from the wealthy elite while continuing to make life harder for the rest of us," said A Better Wisconsin Together Deputy Director Mike Browne.
Vance's visit comes 4 days after the first anniversary of the Big Ugly Bill championed by Vance and Tiffany. The bill cut resources and raised costs on everyday people to fund tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy.
In Wisconsin, the Big Ugly Bill and other MAGA policies have:
* Raised the cost of housing by over $700;
* Forced the average Wisconsin family to pay $378 more in gas;
* Caused a 58% increase in monthly healthcare costs, forcing the average enrollee to pay $178 in 2026 for the same care that only cost $113 in 2025;
* Increased Wisconsinites' energy costs by nearly $100;
* Left nearly 20,000 Wisconsinites unable to buy groceries or feed their family
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A Better Wisconsin Together is a state-based research and communications hub for progressives and is an affiliate of ProgressNow.
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Original text here: https://abetterwisconsin.org/amid-rising-cost-crisis-jd-vance-comes-to-wisconsin-to-court-ultra-wealthy-for-campaign-cash/
[Category: Economics]
