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National Academies Announce 2026 Winners of Eric and Wendy Schmidt Awards for Excellence in Science Communications
WASHINGTON, Oct. 27 -- The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine issued the following news release:
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National Academies Announce 2026 Winners of Eric and Wendy Schmidt Awards for Excellence in Science Communications; $640,000 Awarded
October 26, 2026
WASHINGTON -- The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine announced today this year's recipients of the Eric and Wendy Schmidt Awards for Excellence in Science Communications, given by the National Academies in partnership with Schmidt Sciences. These prestigious awards recognize science journalists, research
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Oct. 27 -- The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine issued the following news release:
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National Academies Announce 2026 Winners of Eric and Wendy Schmidt Awards for Excellence in Science Communications; $640,000 Awarded
October 26, 2026
WASHINGTON -- The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine announced today this year's recipients of the Eric and Wendy Schmidt Awards for Excellence in Science Communications, given by the National Academies in partnership with Schmidt Sciences. These prestigious awards recognize science journalists, researchscientists, and science communicators who have developed creative, original work to communicate issues and advances in science, engineering, and medicine to the general public.
A total of 24 awards, split among eight categories, were announced -- nine awards for science communication by research scientists, nine awards for science journalists, and six awards for science communicators. In each category, one $40,000 top prize and two $20,000 awards were given, totaling $640,000.
The winners will be honored Nov. 17-20, 2026, in Washington, D.C.
"This year's winners are remarkable for the breadth of perspectives, creativity, and approaches they bring to science communication," said selection committee chair Megan L. Ranney, a member of the National Academy of Medicine and dean of the Yale School of Public Health. "Whether illuminating urgent public health challenges or the wonders of the universe, the awardees demonstrate exceptional skills in making scientific discovery tangible, entertaining, and useful. As we mark the fifth year of these awards, we are proud to welcome them into a community of 120 extraordinary individuals who are inviting audiences everywhere to explore the science, engineering, and medicine that shape our world."
"Science is one of the greatest manifestations of human creativity and intellect -- our best tool for understanding ourselves and the world around us better, making informed decisions, and finding hope for a brighter future," said National Academy of Sciences President Neil H. Shubin. "Our outstanding award winners are connecting new audiences to science in innovative ways that spark their imaginations and expand their ideas of what is possible. I am thrilled to honor these superior communicators with our awards."
"As AI creates more and more of the content we see in the world, true communication between people -- communication designed to inspire and inform, to demystify the new and confounding, including AI itself -- is more essential than ever," said Wendy Schmidt, co-founder of Schmidt Sciences. "This year's science communication award winners exemplify the power of connecting person to person, of sharing knowledge and wonder, to illuminate the world around us and within us."
Chosen by a selection committee from more than 750 entries for works published or aired in 2025, the recipients are:
Science Journalist: Freelancer
Top Prize Winner:
Amy Martin for
Amy Martin creates immersive environmental journalism that invites audiences not just to learn about the natural world, but to listen to it. Through her podcast, writing, field recordings, and inventive multimedia storytelling, she uses natural soundscapes to evoke awe, wonder, and the thrill of discovery while revealing surprising forms of communication in nature. Her work demonstrates how sensory storytelling can foster a deeper connection between science, people, and place.
Winners:
Rupsa Chakraborty
Erica Gies
Science Journalist: Early Career
Top Prize Winner:
Aatish Bhatia, New York Times, for
* "Can You Stop an Outbreak of a Contagious Disease?" (New York Times)
* "30 Charts That Show How Covid Changed Everything In March 2020" (New York Times)
* "Your Zodiac Sign Is 2,000 Years Out of Date" (New York Times)
Aatish Bhatia pushes beyond traditional explanatory journalism by using data visualization, interactivity, and custom-built tools to invite audiences to experience scientific ideas for themselves. Drawing on his background as a physicist, educator, developer, and journalist, he turns topics such as the spread of infectious disease, the social upheavals driven by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the changing night sky into intuitive experiences that encourage audiences to explore, experiment, and discover.
Winners:
Eli Cahan, Stanford University/Rolling Stone
Gennaro Tomma
Science Journalist: Local/Regional
Top Prize Winner:
Aleida Rueda, UNAM/SciDev.Net/RedMPC/Pan Pal Susto Podcast, for
* "Toxic beauty: The health risks of using cosmetics" (SciDev.Net Latin America)
* "Childhoods under siege: They eat, breathe and live with pesticides" (SciDev.Net Latin America)
* "Path to blindness" (Pan Pal Susto)
Aleida Rueda brings rigor, originality, and humanity to health and environmental reporting across Latin America, illuminating risks that disproportionately affect children, women, and underserved communities. By intertwining scientific evidence with the experiences of people navigating toxic exposures, pesticides, and rare disease, she makes intricate public health issues deeply personal while revealing the larger systems and inequities behind them.
Winners:
Jennifer Ambolley, The Chronicle Newspaper
Eman Mounir
Research Scientist: Graduate Student
Top Prize Winner:
Lucy Tu, University of Oxford, for
* "This machine could keep a baby alive outside the womb. How will the world decide to use it?" (The Guardian, U.S.)
* "Men Might Be the Key to an American Baby Boom" (The Atlantic)
Lucy Tu brings humanity, compassion, and ethical depth to reporting on emerging medical technologies, placing the people most affected by scientific advances at the center of the story. Her deeply reported work on reproductive medicine combines technical rigor with lived experience, illuminating not only what science can make possible, but the complicated moral and societal questions that accompany it. The nuance and sensitivity of her storytelling distinguish her as an emerging communicator capable of making difficult topics deeply human.
Winners:
Martin Farina, Instituto de Estudios Andinos "Don Pablo Groeber"
Wealth Okete, University of Cape Town, South Africa
Research Scientist: Early Career
Top Prize Winner:
Daniel Dahis, Philips Healthcare, for
* "Is there a link between COVID-19 Vaccines and Stroke?" (Brazil's Ministry of Health)
* "It's possible to cut your cancer risk in ~44%" (@danieldahis, Instagram)
* "This baby will go down in history" (@danieldahis_, TikTok)
Daniel Dahis pairs scientific expertise with polished, highly accessible digital storytelling to help broad audiences navigate consequential health information. His videos combine strong visuals and evidence-based explanations to address topics ranging from vaccines and cancer prevention to emerging medicine. By meeting misinformation with clarity and credibility, Dahis demonstrates the potential of social media to deliver practical public-health information at remarkable scale.
Winners:
Yvette Cendes, University of Oregon
Daniel Swain, University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources
Research Scientist: Later Career
Top Prize Winner:
Shane Campbell-Staton, Princeton University, for
* "The Enemy of My Enemy" (Human Footprint, PBS)
* "The Honey Trap" (Human Footprint, PBS)
* "Vanishing Act" (Human Footprint, PBS)
Shane Campbell-Staton brings together scientific expertise, culture, humor, and a compelling on-screen presence to explore how human activity is transforming the natural world. Through Human Footprint, he pairs beautiful visual storytelling and rigorous research with a charismatic, welcoming approach that helps audiences see themselves within larger stories of evolution and environmental change. His work exemplifies the powerful role an established scientist can play in inviting broad audiences into complex questions about humanity's relationship with the planet.
Winners:
Casey Fiesler, University of Colorado, Boulder
Erika Hamden, University of Arizona
Science Communicator: Independent
Top Prize Winner:
Joe Hanson for
* "Inside the Vault Where They Keep the Dinosaur Apocalypse" (Be Smart, PBS Digital Studios)
* "Why Everyone Suddenly Has Autism (It's Not What You Think)" (Be Smart, PBS Digital Studios)
* "The Weird Science That Lets Insects Fly in the Rain" (Be Smart, PBS Digital Studios)
Joe Hanson combines scientific rigor, curiosity, and sophisticated digital storytelling to make complex subjects compelling to millions of viewers. From confronting autism misinformation to exploring how insects fly in the rain and the extinction of the dinosaurs, his work stands out for its depth and richness while remaining welcoming to broad audiences. Hanson demonstrates that accessible science communication does not have to simplify away the complexity that makes science fascinating.
Winners:
Molly Edwards
Mikhail Varshavski
Science Communicator: Organizational
Top Prize Winner:
Harini Bhat, Today I Learned Science, for
* "The Unholy Trinity that Derailed Women's Health" (@tilscience, YouTube)
* "First Female Crash Test Dummy" (@tilscience, Instagram)
* "Mirror Bacteria" (@tilscience, Instagram)
Harini Bhat brings creativity, accessibility, and a deeply personal perspective to science communication, using engaging digital storytelling to make topics ranging from women's health to emerging biotechnology feel relevant and approachable. By pairing rigorous science with her own experiences, she brings authenticity and humanity to the subjects she covers. Her inclusive voice and genuine engagement with audiences break down barriers around who gets to participate in science and inspire curiosity on an extraordinary scale.
Winners:
Emily Buder, Quanta Magazine, Simons Foundation
Anand Varma, WonderLab
The National Academies' Eric and Wendy Schmidt Awards for Excellence in Science Communications were created to increase quality science communication by recognizing outstanding science communication among research scientists, science journalists, and science communicators and creating opportunities for science journalists to make connections and pursue stories at the national, regional, and local levels.
Follow program updates by signing up for our newsletter at the link above and join the conversation on Instagram, LinkedIn, Bluesky, and X (formerly Twitter).
About the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine are private, nonprofit institutions that provide independent, objective analysis and advice to the nation to solve complex problems and inform public policy decisions related to science, engineering, and medicine. They operate under an 1863 congressional charter to the National Academy of Sciences, signed by President Lincoln.
About Schmidt Sciences
Schmidt Sciences is a nonprofit organization founded in 2024 by Eric and Wendy Schmidt that works to accelerate scientific knowledge and breakthroughs with the most promising, advanced tools to support a thriving planet. The organization prioritizes research in areas poised for impact including AI and advanced computing, astrophysics, biosciences, climate, and space -- as well as supporting researchers in a variety of disciplines through its science systems program.
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Original text here: https://www.nationalacademies.org/news/national-academies-announce-2026-winners-of-eric-and-wendy-schmidt-awards-for-excellence-in-science-communications-640-000-awarded
Brazil's Pernambuco State to Improve Fiscal Sustainability With IDB Support
WASHINGTON, Oct. 27 -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following news release:
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Brazil's Pernambuco State to Improve Fiscal Sustainability with IDB Support
October 26, 2026
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Board of Executive Directors of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) approved a $92.3 million investment loan for the Brazilian state of Pernambuco to improve revenue collection and expenditure management.
The financing is part of Profisco III, an IDB-supported program implemented in coordination with the Brazilian federal government to help states modernize fiscal administration,
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Oct. 27 -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following news release:
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Brazil's Pernambuco State to Improve Fiscal Sustainability with IDB Support
October 26, 2026
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Board of Executive Directors of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) approved a $92.3 million investment loan for the Brazilian state of Pernambuco to improve revenue collection and expenditure management.
The financing is part of Profisco III, an IDB-supported program implemented in coordination with the Brazilian federal government to help states modernize fiscal administration,support the implementation of the country's landmark tax reform, and enhance the long-term fiscal sustainability of subnational governments.
The program will help Pernambuco strengthen its fiscal position and capacity to plan, manage, and oversee public resources. It will support institutional modernization, digital transformation, data management, cybersecurity, and improvements in human resource management. The operation will also promote greater transparency, fiscal education, and citizen engagement using digital technologies and artificial intelligence.
Expected results include increasing state tax revenue as a share of GDP, reducing the cost of tax collection, shortening audit and procurement timelines, and improving tax compliance. The project is also expected to foster a more competitive business environment by making interactions with the tax administration simpler, faster, and more transparent, while supporting the design and implementation of more effective, data-driven public policies.
The IDB loan is for 24.5 years, with a grace period of six years and interest rate based on SOFR. Counterpart financing totals $10.3 million.
Following approval by the IDB's Board of Executive Directors, the programs will move through the required Brazilian legal and administrative processes before implementation begins.
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About the IDB
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), a member of the IDB Group, is devoted to improving lives across Latin America and the Caribbean. Founded in 1959, the Bank works with the region's public sector to design and enable impactful, innovative solutions for sustainable and inclusive development. Leveraging financing, technical expertise, and knowledge, it promotes growth and well-being in 26 countries. Visit: www.iadb.org/en.
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Original text here: https://www.iadb.org/en/news/brazils-pernambuco-state-improve-fiscal-sustainability-idb-support
Fannie Mae Plans to Report Third Quarter 2026 Financial Results on October 28, 2026
WASHINGTON, Oct. 26 -- Fannie Mae issued the following news release:
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Fannie Mae Plans to Report Third Quarter 2026 Financial Results on October 28, 2026
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WASHINGTON, DC - Fannie Mae (FNMA/OTCQB) plans to report its third quarter 2026 financial results on Wednesday morning, October 28, 2026, before the opening of U.S. financial markets.
Fannie Mae Acting Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer Peter Akwaboah and Chief Financial Officer Chryssa C. Halley will discuss the company's results during a webcast at 8:00 a.m., ET, on Wednesday, October 28, 2026.
Prior to the webcast,
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Oct. 26 -- Fannie Mae issued the following news release:
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Fannie Mae Plans to Report Third Quarter 2026 Financial Results on October 28, 2026
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WASHINGTON, DC - Fannie Mae (FNMA/OTCQB) plans to report its third quarter 2026 financial results on Wednesday morning, October 28, 2026, before the opening of U.S. financial markets.
Fannie Mae Acting Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer Peter Akwaboah and Chief Financial Officer Chryssa C. Halley will discuss the company's results during a webcast at 8:00 a.m., ET, on Wednesday, October 28, 2026.
Prior to the webcast,the company's third quarter 2026 financial results news release, quarterly report on Form 10-Q, earnings presentation, and other supplemental information will be posted to the company's Quarterly and Annual Results webpage at fanniemae.com/financialresults. Following the webcast, a transcript will be published to the financial results webpage and will remain available for approximately one year.
WEBCAST PARTICIPATION DETAILS - Fannie Mae Third Quarter 2026 Financial Results
Event day and time
Wednesday, October 28, 2026
8:00 a.m. (ET)
Webcast link: https://event.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1776575&tp_key=5bdac167cf
Click on the link above to access the webcast. If you have difficulty accessing the webcast at the link above, please click the "Listen by Phone" button on the webcast player and dial the number provided.
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Original text here: https://www.fanniemae.com/newsroom/fannie-mae-news/scheduled-release-third-quarter-2026-financial-results (TNSmrp)
FHLBank Chicago Announces Results of 2026 Director Election
CHICAGO, Illinois, Oct. 26 -- The Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago, a district bank in the Federal Home Loan Bank System, posted the following news:
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FHLBank Chicago Announces Results of 2026 Director Election
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FHLBank Chicago members re-elected Betsy A. Johnson in Illinois and Kevin L. Newell as public interest independent director. James H. Hegenbarth ran unopposed in Wisconsin.
The Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago (FHLBank Chicago) today announced the results of its 2026 director election. Members elected one director from Illinois and one public interest independent director, while
... Show Full Article
CHICAGO, Illinois, Oct. 26 -- The Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago, a district bank in the Federal Home Loan Bank System, posted the following news:
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FHLBank Chicago Announces Results of 2026 Director Election
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FHLBank Chicago members re-elected Betsy A. Johnson in Illinois and Kevin L. Newell as public interest independent director. James H. Hegenbarth ran unopposed in Wisconsin.
The Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago (FHLBank Chicago) today announced the results of its 2026 director election. Members elected one director from Illinois and one public interest independent director, whileone director from Wisconsin ran unopposed. Each director will serve a four-year term beginning Jan. 1, 2027.
Illinois members re-elected Betsy A. Johnson.
Johnson has served on the FHLBank Chicago Board of Directors since 2023 and is Chairman and CEO of Solutions Bank in Forreston, Illinois. Since joining the Solutions Bank in 1996, she has held leadership roles spanning lending, human resources, asset/liability management, risk management, and regulatory reporting. She became President and Chief Operating Officer in 2018, President and CEO in 2020, and Chairman and CEO in 2025. At FHLBank Chicago, Johnson serves on the Human Resources and Compensation Committee and as Vice Chair of the Risk Management Committee. She previously served on the Affordable Housing and Operations and Technology committees. Johnson is a former Chair of the Illinois Bankers Association and previously served on the FDIC Community Banking Advisory Committee. She is also a graduate of the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she later served as chair of its Banker Advisory Board.
FHLBank Chicago members re-elected public interest independent director Kevin L. Newell.
Newell has served on the FHLBank Chicago Board of Directors since 2023 and is founder and CEO of Royal Capital Group, a Milwaukee-based real estate development firm focused on economic development and housing in urban communities. Since founding the company in 2010, he has led its business development, strategy, and investment activities. Newell serves on the Greater Milwaukee Foundation Impact Investment Committee and the boards of Guest House of Milwaukee, MLK Economic Development Corporation, and Wisconsin Preservation Fund. Newell previously served on the FHLBank Chicago Community Investment Advisory Council from 2019 to 2022. He holds a bachelor's degree in business administration and an MBA from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, with an emphasis in finance and management, and is an alumnus of Marquette University's Associates in Commercial Real Estate program.
James H. Hegenbarth ran unopposed in Wisconsin.
Hegenbarth previously served on the FHLBank Chicago Board of Directors from 2018 through 2025. He is President and Director of Bank CMG in Madison, Wisconsin, and has worked in the banking industry since 1985. He previously served as President and CEO and a Board member of Park Bank in Madison from 1991 to 2024 and earlier worked at First Bank N.A., now U.S. Bank. Hegenbarth also serves on the board of Greenwoods Financial Group, Inc. Hegenbarth was named the Wisconsin Bankers Association's 2020 Banker of the Year and has served on the association's Board of Directors and Government Relations Committee, the American Bankers Association FHLB Committee, and the American Family Children's Hospital board. He is a graduate of the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and earned his bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
For voting results, visit the Director Elections webpage.
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Original text here: https://www.fhlbc.com/news/news-detail/2026/10/26/fhlbank-chicago-announces-results-of-2026-director-election
Amtrak Completes "Pause for Progress" Infrastructure Upgrades in Washington, D.C.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 26 -- Amtrak (National Railroad Passenger Corp.) issued the following news:
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Amtrak Completes "Pause for Progress" Infrastructure Upgrades in Washington, D.C.
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Nine-day construction effort improves critical rail infrastructure
WASHINGTON - Following an intensive nine-day construction period, Amtrak has completed its "Pause for Progress" infrastructure improvements on time in the First Street Tunnel just south of Washington Union Station. Train operations resumed today ahead of the busy holiday travel season.
"This concentrated construction period allowed our teams to
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Oct. 26 -- Amtrak (National Railroad Passenger Corp.) issued the following news:
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Amtrak Completes "Pause for Progress" Infrastructure Upgrades in Washington, D.C.
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Nine-day construction effort improves critical rail infrastructure
WASHINGTON - Following an intensive nine-day construction period, Amtrak has completed its "Pause for Progress" infrastructure improvements on time in the First Street Tunnel just south of Washington Union Station. Train operations resumed today ahead of the busy holiday travel season.
"This concentrated construction period allowed our teams tomake significant improvements to critical infrastructure while limiting the amount of time it was out of service," said Amtrak Executive Vice President, Strategy and Planning Jennifer Mitchell. "We're grateful to Virginia Railway Express (VRE), Virginia Passenger Rail Authority (VPRA), and North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) for working closely with us to coordinate service during the outage, and to our customers for their patience and flexibility as we completed this important work to improve reliability for years to come."
The project required temporary service changes for trains traveling south of Washington from Oct. 16-26. Amtrak coordinated closely with VRE, VPRA and NCDOT throughout the project. Amtrak also appreciates the cooperation and flexibility of CSX, Norfolk Southern, and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) in helping to accommodate operational changes during this period.
The planned outage allowed crews to replace aging infrastructure at A-Interlocking, a critical track and control point for Amtrak and VRE trains traveling between Washington and Virginia. The work included replacing switches and crossovers, rehabilitating the tunnel track base, and installing modern electric switch systems.
By the Numbers
During the project, crews:
* Replaced seven key track components (eight new electric switch machines, two double-slip switches, one crossing diamond)
* Rehabilitated 350 feet of track/tunnel base
* Installed 550 tons of ballast
* Replaced 1,000 feet of rail and 215 ties
* Installed 2,500 feet of signal/electrical cable
* Logged approximately13,300 work hours per day
Plan Your Holiday Travel with Amtrak Virginia
With service restored, customers can start planning for the busy holiday travel season aboard Amtrak Virginia, with service to 17 stations in the Commonwealth plus Washington, D.C.
In addition to six daily roundtrip trains that travel between Washington and Richmond, Roanoke, Norfolk, Newport News and points in between, VPRA is extending some of the Amtrak Connection Express Bus service launched in support of Pause for Progress to give travelers even more options this holiday season.
Reservations may be made for train and express bus service at Amtrak.com/Virginia, and travelers may take advantage of several discounts including:
* Virginia Anytime Fares: Save 15% on qualifying travel within Virginia and to and from Washington, D.C. Use discount code V552 in the Amtrak app.
* Share Fares: Small groups traveling together can save on qualifying trips.
* Student Discount: Travelers ages 17-24 can save 15% on qualifying travel. Use discount code V814 in the Amtrak app.
* Additional discounts are available for seniors, veterans and active-duty military.
Terms and conditions apply. To learn more or book travel, visit Amtrak.com/Virginia.
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Original text here: https://media.amtrak.com/2026/10/amtrak-completes-pause-for-progress-infrastructure-upgrades-in-washington-d-c/
EPA's First Ever PFAS TECH Strategy Spurs Innovation in Research and Technology to Address PFAS
WASHINGTON, Oct. 26 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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EPA's First Ever PFAS TECH Strategy Spurs Innovation in Research and Technology to Address PFAS
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DENVER, CO - Today, at an event in Commerce City, Colorado, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin launched the first ever agency-wide PFAS Technology, Evaluation, Coordination, and Harmonization (PFAS TECH) strategy. This new effort will help catapult technology innovation on PFAS while supporting practical tools, funding, and technical assistance to benefit communities
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Oct. 26 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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EPA's First Ever PFAS TECH Strategy Spurs Innovation in Research and Technology to Address PFAS
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DENVER, CO - Today, at an event in Commerce City, Colorado, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin launched the first ever agency-wide PFAS Technology, Evaluation, Coordination, and Harmonization (PFAS TECH) strategy. This new effort will help catapult technology innovation on PFAS while supporting practical tools, funding, and technical assistance to benefit communitiesaddressing local PFAS challenges.
"The Trump EPA is laser-focused on making America healthy again by developing real and tangible agency-wide strategies to protect Americans from exposure to PFAS," said EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin. "Technology innovation is essential to accelerating our efforts to address these contaminants, and EPA's new PFAS TECH strategy will advance scientific discovery, demonstrate the real-world feasibility of advanced technologies, and help reduce PFAS in the environment."
The PFAS TECH strategy prioritizes collaboration between EPA, federal partners, states, local leaders, and the private sector. EPA's goals through this new strategy are to:
* Power innovation in research and development by accelerating new PFAS treatment and destruction technologies through funding, forming new partnerships, and supporting early-stage innovation. In keeping with the Trump EPA's commitment to cooperative federalism, this effort includes working with federal partners, states, local businesses, universities, and water systems to test promising methods like foam fractionation, supercritical water oxidation, and other emerging treatment approaches.
* Demonstrate what's possible through pilot-scale initiatives by conducting projects at Superfund sites, military facilities, wastewater treatment plants, and drinking water systems that will test performance under real conditions, lower technical risk, and show communities what PFAS cleanup options are practical and scalable.
* Translate progress into practical actions by creating user-friendly guidance, launching the Break the Bond Navigator, sharing updated technology information, and helping water systems access funding and technical assistance.
"Partnerships are the key to unlocking innovation and next-generation technologies. To that end, EPA's Office of Water is actively pursuing public-private partnerships to promote research, development, and scalable water treatment technologies for PFAS removal," said EPA PFAS Lead and Assistant Administrator for the Office of Water Jess Kramer. "These partnerships will accelerate technology breakthroughs to reduce PFAS in water while also reducing the cost of treatment to save money."
In addition to developing partnerships, EPA intends to issue grant funding for research related to the destruction of PFAS. For example, funding will be available under the Science to Achieve Results (STAR) grant program and Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant program.
"EPA is prioritizing research and development on PFAS and ensuring our science is gold standard and directly applicable to needs in local communities as they work to address PFAS pollution," said Teresa Booeshaghi, Associate Administrator for the Office of Applied Science and Environmental Solutions. "One such study is conducting full scale pilot tests to optimize the performance of drinking water treatment methods being deployed all over the country."
To catalyze the development and use of new technologies for treatment of PFAS in communities, we must work to test the technology in real-world scenarios and make the new innovations scalable to the needs. EPA's PFAS TECH strategy will demonstrate what is possible through pilot-scale initiatives.
"Hazardous waste cleanup sites managed by EPA project managers are actively addressing PFAS contamination, and they can provide excellent opportunities for advancing critical technology to sample for and remediate PFAS," said Steven Cook, Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Office of Land and Emergency Management. "We have pilot projects ongoing across multiple regions, ranging from foam fractionation for PFAS removal from groundwater to evaluation of the efficacy of incremental sampling, which could drastically lower sampling costs."
Advancing EPA's PFAS TECH strategy is essential to achieving the shared goal of addressing PFAS by harnessing next-generation advanced science and technology with a focus on pragmatic actions and real-world impact. A key to success is cultivating partnerships across federal agencies, states, local officials, industry, associations, technical assistance providers, and other stakeholders to unleash research and development, conduct pilot projects, and provide practical actions that are grounded in real-world experience. To learn more, or to get involved, visit the PFAS TECH Strategy webpage.
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Original text here: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epas-first-ever-pfas-tech-strategy-spurs-innovation-research-and-technology-address
Community investments: How affordable financing supports housing and small business growth
CHICAGO, Illinois, Oct. 26 -- The Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago, a district bank in the Federal Home Loan Bank System, posted the following news:
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Community investments: How affordable financing supports housing and small business growth
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The following article by Katie Naftzger, Senior Vice President and Community Investment Officer, originally appeared in Crain's Chicago Business on October 26, 2026.
FHLBank Chicago's Katie Naftzger shares how the institution has expanded their Mortgage Partnership Finance(r) (MPF(r)) Habitat for Humanity(r) Program in response to rising costs
Housing
... Show Full Article
CHICAGO, Illinois, Oct. 26 -- The Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago, a district bank in the Federal Home Loan Bank System, posted the following news:
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Community investments: How affordable financing supports housing and small business growth
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The following article by Katie Naftzger, Senior Vice President and Community Investment Officer, originally appeared in Crain's Chicago Business on October 26, 2026.
FHLBank Chicago's Katie Naftzger shares how the institution has expanded their Mortgage Partnership Finance(r) (MPF(r)) Habitat for Humanity(r) Program in response to rising costs
Housingaffordability remains a major challenge across Chicagoland. What role can FHLBank Chicago play in increasing supply to meet demand?
Housing affordability is, at its core, a supply problem. Across Illinois and Wisconsin, we're contending with an aging housing stock, low levels of new construction and limited access to rehabilitation financing, which new Urban Institute research on our district confirms. The findings reinforce what members have told us about local housing challenges. Our role is to help member financial institutions put more capital to work in support of housing.
Through our Affordable Housing Program, we provide gap financing that moves developments forward, often projects that might not otherwise be built. This year we made $51 million available through AHP, and since 1989 the program has supported more than 85,000 housing units.
Most recently, AHP funding helped convert the former Earle School in Chicago's Englewood neighborhood into 50 affordable apartments. We also help expand access to homeownership through our Downpayment Plus(r) programs, which provide forgivable grants for down payment and closing costs through participating member institutions. Supply also depends on people.
Through our Community First(r) Developer Program, we're helping organizations bring emerging professionals into the affordable housing development industry, strengthening the pipeline of developers ready to build. No single organization can solve this alone, which is why we work through our members and their local partners.
FHLBank Chicago recently expanded the Mortgage Partnership Finance(r) (MPF(r)) Habitat for Humanity(r) Program. How does that initiative help address barriers to homeownership, and what impact could programs like this have for Chicago families and neighborhoods?
For many working families, the monthly mortgage payment is what keeps homeownership out of reach. The MPF Habitat for Humanity Program helps close that gap. Through the program, participating member financial institutions can deliver mortgages for Habitat homebuyers into our secondary market program, MPF, at rates approximately 2.5 percentage points below market, with FHLBank Chicago funding the discount. Member interest has been strong, so this summer we increased the program subsidy to $3 million and doubled the per-member limit to $2 million.
This unique program supports both affordable mortgage lending and expansion of the local housing supply, as each transaction facilitates delivery of a new Habitat housing unit into the market. What's more, FHLBank Chicago's tools can work together in these transactions to amplify impact. When eligibility requirements are met, participating members can combine an MPF-Habitat mortgage with a FHLBank Chicago Downpayment Plus(r) grant of up to $10,000 for down payment and closing costs, and use our Community Advance for discounted funding on their affordable housing lending.
For a Chicago family, that combination can make homeownership attainable. For communities, expanding access to sustainable homeownership can strengthen neighborhood stability and create opportunities for families to build long-term wealth.
Beyond housing, how is FHLBank Chicago helping its member institutions finance small businesses and broader community development projects that support the local economy?
Strong local economies depend on access to capital, and local financial institutions are often the ones delivering it. Our Community Advance provides discounted funding that members can use for affordable housing, small business and economic development lending. By lowering the cost of eligible funding, Community Advances can help members improve the economics of loans and investments to support local priorities.
In 2025, FHLBank Chicago provided $33 million in subsidies supporting Community Advances and other loans. Small businesses are a critical part of that story because they create jobs, provide services and contribute to stronger local economies. Our members know their markets better than anyone. Our role is to provide flexible, affordable tools that help them respond to local needs and keep capital working close to home.
What are the recent updates to the Community Advance program and how was this a response to changing market needs?
Higher borrowing costs have made many community investment projects harder to finance, and we have heard that directly from our members. They wanted greater capacity to use our Community Advance and deeper incentives to do so. We responded with two changes this year. In January, we doubled the per-member outstanding Community Advances limit to $500 million. In August, we doubled the annual interest-rate subsidy limit from $200,000 to $400,000 per member. We also strengthened the program's minimum discount on eligible activity to 100 basis points, or 1 percentage point, while retaining the maximum discount of 200 basis points, or 2 percentage points, for member lending aligned with key priorities.
Together, these changes give members greater capacity to use our Community Advances and enhance the value of the discounted funding available for eligible loans. That can be meaningful when the viability of a housing, small business or economic development project depends in part on its cost of funds. We continually evaluate our programs, and member feedback helps us keep them relevant as market conditions change.
About the author
Katie Naftzger is Senior Vice President and Community Investment Officer at FHLBank Chicago, where she provides strategic leadership for the Bank's community investment programs serving Illinois and Wisconsin. With more than 20 years of experience in affordable housing and community development, she works with member financial institutions to expand housing opportunities and strengthen local economies.
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Original text here: https://www.fhlbc.com/news/news-detail/2026/10/26/community-investments--how-affordable-financing-supports-housing-and-small-business-growth
