Featured Stories
Occupational Safety & Health Review Commission Orders Wisconsin Contractor to Pay $24,685 Penalty
WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 -- The Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission Administrative Law Judge William S. Coleman issued an order of default and dismissal against a Janesville, Wisconsin contractor on Aug. 28, 2026, affirming $24,685 in safety penalties after the business owner repeatedly failed to participate in administrative proceedings.
The ruling closes the case titled SECRETARY OF LABOR, Complainant, v. DAVID HERNANDEZ, d/b/a David Hernandez, Respondent (Docket No. 26-0233).
The matter began when the Madison area office of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration conducted
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WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 -- The Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission Administrative Law Judge William S. Coleman issued an order of default and dismissal against a Janesville, Wisconsin contractor on Aug. 28, 2026, affirming $24,685 in safety penalties after the business owner repeatedly failed to participate in administrative proceedings.
The ruling closes the case titled SECRETARY OF LABOR, Complainant, v. DAVID HERNANDEZ, d/b/a David Hernandez, Respondent (Docket No. 26-0233).
The matter began when the Madison area office of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration conductedan inspection on September 12, 2025, at a construction worksite located at 7116 County Road K in Waunakee, Wisconsin. Safety officials issued a three-item citation on September 24, 2025, alleging violations of construction safety standards and proposing $24,685 in total penalties.
Following communication from the local area director, Hernandez sent a typewritten letter to the commission executive secretary postmarked February 3, 2026. In the letter, Hernandez expressed confusion regarding the penalties, claiming the government owed him $24,685 rather than recognizing his financial obligation to pay the assessment. He noted an attempted visit to the local office on October 7, 2025, which was closed due to a federal government shutdown, and requested payment disbursement.
The commission treated the letter as a notice of contest and docketed the case on February 11, 2026. The Secretary of Labor filed a complaint on April 23, 2026, serving it to the Janesville address provided by Hernandez.
After Hernandez failed to answer the complaint, Coleman issued an order to show cause on May 20, 2026, warning that failure to respond would result in affirming all violations and proposed penalties without a hearing. Certified mail containing the order was returned as refused, while regular mail was delivered. Hernandez did not respond.
On July 6, 2026, Coleman scheduled a telephone conference for July 30, 2026, offering a Spanish language interpreter if needed. Hernandez failed to attend the call.
In entering the default judgment, Coleman determined that Hernandez displayed a pattern of disregard for administrative proceedings, showing he either abandoned his case or held the process in disdain. Consequently, the commission dismissed the notice of contest, affirmed the citation in full, and assessed the $24,685 penalty.
-- Vidhi Gianani, Targeted News Service
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Original text here: https://www.oshrc.gov/wp-content/uploads/26-0233-David-Hernandez-ALJ-Decision-redacted.pdf
IDB Group Brings Together Governments, Companies, and Investors to Boost Transport Projects in Latin America and the Caribbean
WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following news release:
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IDB Group Brings Together Governments, Companies, and Investors to Boost Transport Projects in Latin America and the Caribbean
September 29, 2026
The LAC Transport Forum 2026 mobilizes capital and increases the scale and quality of transportation infrastructure projects in the region.
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MIAMI - The Inter-American Development Bank Group (IDB Group) brought together government representatives from 17 Latin American and Caribbean countries and private-sector leaders at the LAC Transport Forum
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WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following news release:
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IDB Group Brings Together Governments, Companies, and Investors to Boost Transport Projects in Latin America and the Caribbean
September 29, 2026
The LAC Transport Forum 2026 mobilizes capital and increases the scale and quality of transportation infrastructure projects in the region.
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MIAMI - The Inter-American Development Bank Group (IDB Group) brought together government representatives from 17 Latin American and Caribbean countries and private-sector leaders at the LAC Transport Forum2026, where over 110 transport investment projects for the next 18 months were presented. The projects totaled over $65 billion, equivalent to the region's total annual investment in transport infrastructure.
The Forum, organized for the first time in partnership with the International Federation of Consulting Engineers - a global leader in infrastructure standards - aims to address the sector's main challenges by mobilizing capital and enhancing the projects' scale, quality, and impact.
Latin America and Caribbean needs to invest about 3.5% of its gross domestic product each year through 2030 to close its infrastructure gap. This amounts to more than $1.6 trillion, of which transportation accounts for more than $630 billion. Additionally, IDB estimates that inefficiencies in investment processes cause the region to lose one out of every two dollars allocated to infrastructure.
"We can improve the performance of infrastructure investments by up to 35% without increasing public spending. The goal is more and better infrastructure, and greater impact for people," said IDB Group President Ilan Goldfajn during the event's opening ceremony.
To accelerate investments, the Forum featured one of the region's largest-ever rounds of meetings between governments and companies. The 17 participating countries were Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, the Dominican Republic, and Suriname.
Transport Delivers, the IDB Group's new regional platform
To help countries invest more effectively in transportation infrastructure, the IDB Group launched the regional platform Transport Delivers, which aims to improve the quality, transparency, and competitiveness of investment processes. The new platform will enable the implementation and expansion of reforms under the IDB's Procure+ initiative in infrastructure projects throughout the region, with the goal of generating more efficient investments that have a greater impact on the population.
The projects presented at the Forum are designed to boost connectivity, competitiveness, and regional integration. In this context, Transport Delivers will support improved project planning, bidding, and contracting, promoting greater competition and better outcomes for transportation investments.
Competition creates value: each additional bidder reduces prices by 2% to 8% on average, while evaluating quality alongside price reduces the total cost of infrastructure assets over their useful life by 5% to 20%.
Transport Delivers has secured $2.5 million in total contributions from Spain and Japan and aims to raise an additional $10 million from donors over the next five years. The initiative seeks to improve the enabling conditions for approximately $20 billion in transportation investments.
The new initiative is part of the IDB Group's BID for the Americas initiative, which promotes greater private-sector participation in projects financed by the IDB Group.
The IDB Group's Miami office promotes events like the LAC Transport Forum and strengthens connections between governments, investors, and companies interested in developing infrastructure in Latin America and the Caribbean.
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About the IDB Group
The Inter-American Development Bank Group (IDB Group) is the leading source of financing and knowledge for improving lives in Latin America and the Caribbean. It comprises the IDB, which works with the region's public sector and enables the private sector; IDB Invest, which directly supports private companies and projects; and IDB Lab, which spurs entrepreneurial innovation.
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Original text here: https://www.iadb.org/en/news/idb-group-brings-together-governments-companies-and-investors-boost-transport-projects-latin-america
U.S. Helsinki Commission: Briefing - Protecting Ukraine's Energy Infrastructure - Winter, War, and Lessons for the U.S.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 29 -- The Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the U.S. Helsinki Commission, issued the following news release:
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BRIEFING--Protecting Ukraine's Energy Infrastructure: Winter, War, and Lessons for the United States
September 28, 2026
Stream live here (https://youtube.com/live/pcZEiH5nZx0?feature=share)
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Ukrainians are expecting another difficult winter of Russian attacks on their energy infrastructure. Last year, Russian forces damaged or destroyed all of Ukraine's power plants. This summer, Russia has expanded attacks to include roadside
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WASHINGTON, Sept. 29 -- The Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the U.S. Helsinki Commission, issued the following news release:
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BRIEFING--Protecting Ukraine's Energy Infrastructure: Winter, War, and Lessons for the United States
September 28, 2026
Stream live here (https://youtube.com/live/pcZEiH5nZx0?feature=share)
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Ukrainians are expecting another difficult winter of Russian attacks on their energy infrastructure. Last year, Russian forces damaged or destroyed all of Ukraine's power plants. This summer, Russia has expanded attacks to include roadsidegas stations. Central heating stations, natural gas production sites, power plants, electricity transmission lines, and transformers are all at risk. Ukraine enters this winter with significantly diminished air defense compared to last winter. Meanwhile, Russia has deployed a new generation of jet-powered drones that are harder to intercept than previous strike drones.
Ukrainians are responding by hardening their infrastructure and fielding defensive measures to protect energy assets. Their innovative approaches include lessons for the United States and allies who are now engaged in their own efforts to defend against attacks on critical infrastructure. Panelists will discuss Ukraine's vulnerabilities heading into the winter, examine new developments in how Ukraine is protecting its infrastructure, and discuss how the United States can assist and learn from Ukraine's efforts.
Panelists:
Meredith Berger, former Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Energy, Installations, and Environment)
Michael Kofman, senior fellow, Russia and Eurasia Program, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Alex Riabchyn, Chief International and Sustainability Officer, Naftogaz Ukraine
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Original text here: https://www.csce.gov/press-releases/briefing-protecting-ukraine-s-energy-infrastructure-winter-war-and-lessons-for-the-united-states
National Gallery of Art: Souvenirs of the Gilded Age - French Landscapes From the Corcoran Collection
WASHINGTON, Sept. 29 -- The National Gallery of Art issued the following news release:
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Souvenirs of the Gilded Age: French Landscapes from the Corcoran Collection
September 28, 2026
National Gallery of Art, Washington, March 13, 2027-January 17, 2028
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Souvenirs of the Gilded Age: French Landscapes from the Corcoran Collection presents 19th-century French landscape paintings from the collection of industrialist William A. Clark (1839-1925), one of Montana's famed "Copper Kings" and an ambitious art collector at the turn of the last century. Although Clark collected a wide range of artists
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WASHINGTON, Sept. 29 -- The National Gallery of Art issued the following news release:
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Souvenirs of the Gilded Age: French Landscapes from the Corcoran Collection
September 28, 2026
National Gallery of Art, Washington, March 13, 2027-January 17, 2028
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Souvenirs of the Gilded Age: French Landscapes from the Corcoran Collection presents 19th-century French landscape paintings from the collection of industrialist William A. Clark (1839-1925), one of Montana's famed "Copper Kings" and an ambitious art collector at the turn of the last century. Although Clark collected a wide range of artistsand media, French landscape paintings like those on view in this exhibition formed a significant part of Clark's collection. This intimately scaled presentation features some 20 paintings by the most celebrated French landscape artists of his day.
Before impressionism came to dominate the collecting tastes of many Americans in the late 19th century, enthusiasm for "modern" French art centered on an earlier generation of landscape painters who captured the natural beauty of the French countryside. For American viewers, their works often evoked memories of European travels and unspoiled vistas. Souvenirs of the Gilded Age features landscapes by artists including Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot and other painters associated with the forests of Fontainebleau, among them Jules Breton, Jean-Charles Cazin, Leon Augustin Lhermitte, Theodore Rousseau, Constant Troyon, and Narcisse Virgile Diaz de la Pena.
William A. Clark had a strong affinity for France, where he visited annually and was a member of French cultural organizations. He acquired not only major works by William-Adolphe Bouguereau and Jean-Leon Gerome--painters whose refined academic style appealed to Gilded Age tastes--but also important examples of tapestry, porcelain, and furniture in the style of Louis XV and Louis XVI. He also built a trove of thousands of rare volumes, manuscripts, and early printed books, some bound and illuminated with exquisite craftsmanship. Clark's appreciation for Barbizon school and academic painting reflected the aspirations of America's new industrial elite, and his contributions helped shape the foundations of art institutions and library culture in the United States.
Upon Clark's death in 1925, much of his collection--most notably his library and holdings of fine art--was bequeathed to the Library of Congress and to the Corcoran Gallery of Art, the first art museum in Washington, DC. The National Gallery subsequently acquired a selection of Clark's French paintings as part of the Corcoran acquisition in 2014, significantly expanding the museum's collection of 19th-century French art.
Exhibition Organization and Support
Souvenirs of the Gilded Age: French Landscapes from the Corcoran Collection is organized by the National Gallery of Art, Washington.
Exhibition Curator
This exhibition is curated by Mary Morton, curator and head of French paintings at the National Gallery of Art.
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About the National Gallery of Art
The National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, is the nation's art museum, home to a renowned collection of over 160,000 works of art, from antiquity to today. Each year, the museum welcomes millions of people in person and online to explore art, creativity, and our shared humanity. Located on the National Mall, admission to the West and East Buildings, Sculpture Garden, special exhibitions, and public programs is always free.
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Original text here: https://www.nga.gov/press/souvenirs-gilded-age-french-landscapes-corcoran-collection
Major Survey Exhibition Exploring Glenn Ligon's Textual References Opens at the National Gallery of Art in April 2027
WASHINGTON, Sept. 29 -- The National Gallery of Art issued the following news release:
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Major Survey Exhibition Exploring Glenn Ligon's Textual References Opens at the National Gallery of Art in April 2027
September 28, 2026
The artist's first survey exhibition in the United States in 15 years debuts new work and features a special section curated by the artist
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Washington, DC--Next April, the National Gallery of Art presents Glenn Ligon: Subtext, an exhibition tracing the process of the contemporary artist's text-based, citational practice over nearly 40 years. Glenn Ligon: Subtext,
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WASHINGTON, Sept. 29 -- The National Gallery of Art issued the following news release:
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Major Survey Exhibition Exploring Glenn Ligon's Textual References Opens at the National Gallery of Art in April 2027
September 28, 2026
The artist's first survey exhibition in the United States in 15 years debuts new work and features a special section curated by the artist
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Washington, DC--Next April, the National Gallery of Art presents Glenn Ligon: Subtext, an exhibition tracing the process of the contemporary artist's text-based, citational practice over nearly 40 years. Glenn Ligon: Subtext,Ligon's first major solo exhibition in Washington, DC, in more than three decades, showcases the artist's signature work of referencing literary texts and cultural legacies to convey historical knowledge into the present. The survey will feature over 40 works by the artist spanning paintings, prints, drawings, and neon sculptures as well as a presentation of nearly 20 works the artist curated, as a show-within-the-show, to honor the visual art of other artists with whom his own practice is in dialogue. In addition, there will be a reading room featuring a selection of Ligon's literary source materials. The exhibition is on view from April 3 to September 6, 2027, in the East Building.
For over 40 years, Ligon has invited others to consider the changing conditions of representation. Incorporating selected text, his citational work draws from various cultural, literary, and historical references, allows viewers to engage in the pursuit of cultural literacy across a repertoire of knowledge.
"We are thrilled to present this exhibition providing a closer look at Glenn Ligon's rigorous interdisciplinary practice, which reflects the power and process of language as an artistic medium," said Kaywin Feldwin, director of the National Gallery of Art. "Ligon's layered approach to investigating key developments in American cultural and literary production continues to be deeply influential in the field of contemporary art and society. Through his incisive use of literary and compositional references, Ligon proposes new ways of seeing art and its histories."
Exhibition highlights include Ligon's breakthrough painting, Untitled (I Am a Man) (1988), referencing an iconic civil rights sign from 1968; a large-scale neon sculpture, Give Us a Poem (2007), inspired by one of Muhammad Ali's most memorable quotes; Double America (2012), referencing Charles Dickens's 1859 novel A Tale of Two Cities; and three monumental works, Stranger (Full Text) #1 (2020-2021), Stranger (Full Text) #2 (2020-2021), and Stranger (Full Text) #3 (2025-2026), reflecting the first times Ligon rendered the entirety of James Baldwin's essay "Stranger in the Village," in individual works. In addition, the show highlights several works on paper from the artist's series Blue (for JB), his most recent homage to Baldwin. Featured among these, Blue (for JB) #11 (2025) was recently acquired by the National Gallery, the first Baldwin-related work by the artist to enter the collection.
Glenn Ligon: Subtext debuts several other new works, including two of his latest neons and a series of drawings by the artist that illustrate his ongoing exploration of language and form through complex processes of multilayered text-based rubbings. These works produce language fragments that morph into forms based on Baldwin's essay, a textual thread that runs through the exhibition and has informed Ligon's practice for decades.
"Using text as both material and subject, Glenn Ligon creates art that rewards sustained engagement," said Molly Donovan, curator of contemporary art and acting head of modern and contemporary art at the National Gallery of Art. "This body of work pulls us in again and again, to look and to read deeply, encouraging viewers to consider the nature of language and representation in contemporary society."
The section of the exhibition curated by Ligon--a practice he began in the early 2000s--includes works by artists such as Jean-Michel Basquiat, Beauford Delaney, Julius Eastman, Felix Gonzalez-Torres, David Hammons, Jennie C. Jones, Byron Kim, Adrian Piper, Lorna Simpson, Bob Thompson, Rosie Lee Tompkins, Bill Traylor, and Jack Whitten, among others. Reflecting many of Ligon's sources of inspiration, they offer new perspectives on the artistic dialogues foundational to his practice and collectively encourage deep looking and visual excavation of the recurring throughlines in his work.
The exhibition's reading room offers visitors the opportunity to engage with literary works formative to the works in the exhibition, including Gertrude Stein's short story "Melanctha" (1933), a poem by Reverend William Holmes Borders Sr., "I Am Somebody" (1940s), James Baldwin's essay "Stranger in the Village" (1953), and Toni Morrison's novel Jazz (1992).
Exhibition Tour
National Gallery of Art, Washington, April 3-September 6, 2027
Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, October 30, 2027-April 16, 2028
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, May 13-September 10, 2028
Exhibition Organization and Support
Glenn Ligon: Subtext is organized by the National Gallery of Art, Washington. Major support for the exhibition has been provided by the Sam Gilliam Foundation. The exhibition is also made possible through the generosity of the Robert and Mercedes Eichholz Foundation. Additional support for the exhibition has been provided by the Henry Luce Foundationa and the Elizabeth Firestone Graham Foundation.
Generous support provided by Art Bridges Foundation.
Exhibition Curator
Molly Donovan, curator of contemporary art and acting head of modern and contemporary art, in consultation with the artist.
Exhibition Publication
An illustrated book copublished by the National Gallery of Art and the University of Chicago Press is the first publication ever to highlight Ligon's consistent focus on African American literary production. Glenn Ligon: Subtext features essays from exhibition curator Molly Donovan (National Gallery of Art), Jordan Carter (Dia Art Foundation), and Robert F. Reid-Pharr (New York University), alongside an interview with Glenn Ligon by fellow artist Jennie C. Jones and a written contribution from artist Julie Mehretu.
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About the National Gallery of Art
The National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, is the nation's art museum, home to a renowned collection of over 160,000 works of art, from antiquity to today. Each year, the museum welcomes millions of people in person and online to explore art, creativity, and our shared humanity. Located on the National Mall, admission to the West and East Buildings, Sculpture Garden, special exhibitions, and public programs is always free.
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Original text here: https://www.nga.gov/press/major-survey-exhibition-exploring-glenn-ligons-textual-references-opens-national-gallery-art-april
IDB Approves Grant to Boost Sustainable Agricultural Productivity and Food Security in Northern Haiti
WASHINGTON, Sept. 29 -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following news release:
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IDB Approves Grant to Boost Sustainable Agricultural Productivity and Food Security in Northern Haiti
September 28, 2026
WASHINGTON -- The Board of Executive Directors of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) approved a $38.7 million grant from the IDB Grant Facility to improve food security in the North and North-East departments of Haiti.
The "Program for Sustainable Agricultural Productivity in the North and North-East" seeks to expand sustainable access to irrigation, support the adoption
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WASHINGTON, Sept. 29 -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following news release:
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IDB Approves Grant to Boost Sustainable Agricultural Productivity and Food Security in Northern Haiti
September 28, 2026
WASHINGTON -- The Board of Executive Directors of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) approved a $38.7 million grant from the IDB Grant Facility to improve food security in the North and North-East departments of Haiti.
The "Program for Sustainable Agricultural Productivity in the North and North-East" seeks to expand sustainable access to irrigation, support the adoptionof climate-resilient agricultural technologies, and strengthen agrifood producer organizations and small businesses.
The program is expected to benefit approximately 7,800 smallholder farmers through improved irrigation, technology adoption, and technical assistance. It will also support 155 micro, small, and medium-sized agrifood enterprises (MSMEs) and producer organizations through business development services and matching grants, while expanding technical and vocational training opportunities for rural youth.
The operation incorporates environmental and social management measures, climate-resilience considerations, and actions to promote the participation of women and young people. Through these investments, the program seeks to strengthen agricultural production, support rural livelihoods, foster more sustainable and adaptive rural development in northern Haiti. and enhance resilience to climate-related challenges in northern Haiti.
Project preparation included broad consultations involving more than 1,000 farmers, more than 400 value chain operators, 340 MSMEs, farmers'associations, community members, local authorities, and civil society organizations in the project area.
The program is expected to be complemented by $9.2 million in parallel cofinancing from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), bringing total financing to $47.9 million.
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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 our website: https://www.iadb.org/en.
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Original text here: https://www.iadb.org/en/news/idb-approves-grant-boost-sustainable-agricultural-productivity-and-food-security-northern-haiti
Fannie Mae Announces Winner of Twenty-Eighth Community Impact Pool of Non-Performing Loans
WASHINGTON, Sept. 29 -- Fannie Mae issued the following news release:
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Fannie Mae Announces Winner of Twenty-Eighth Community Impact Pool of Non-Performing Loans
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WASHINGTON, DC - Fannie Mae (FNMA/OTCQB) today announced the results of its twenty-eighth Community Impact Pool (CIP) of non-performing loans. The transaction, announced on August 19, 2026, included the sale of 24 loans totaling $6,200,360 in unpaid principal balance (UPB), offered in one pool, geographically located in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area. The transaction is expected to close on November 19, 2026. VRMTG ACQ, LLC was the
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Sept. 29 -- Fannie Mae issued the following news release:
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Fannie Mae Announces Winner of Twenty-Eighth Community Impact Pool of Non-Performing Loans
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WASHINGTON, DC - Fannie Mae (FNMA/OTCQB) today announced the results of its twenty-eighth Community Impact Pool (CIP) of non-performing loans. The transaction, announced on August 19, 2026, included the sale of 24 loans totaling $6,200,360 in unpaid principal balance (UPB), offered in one pool, geographically located in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area. The transaction is expected to close on November 19, 2026. VRMTG ACQ, LLC was thewinning bidder. BofA Securities, Inc. marketed the pool as advisor.
* The CIP included 24 loans with an aggregate UPB of $6,200,360; average loan size of $258,348; weighted average note rate of 4.26%; and weighted average broker's price opinion (BPO) loan-to-value ratio of 59%.
The cover bid, which is the second highest bid for the pool, was 94.0740% of UPB (55.22% of BPO).
All purchasers of Fannie Mae non-performing loan pools are required to honor any approved or in-process loss mitigation efforts at the time of sale, including loan modifications. In addition, purchasers must offer delinquent borrowers a waterfall of loss mitigation options, including loan modifications, which may include principal forgiveness, prior to initiating foreclosure on any loan not secured by property which is vacant or condemned at the time of closing. In the event a foreclosure cannot be prevented, the owner of the loan must market the property to owner-occupants and non-profits first, similar to Fannie Mae's FirstLook(r) program.
Interested bidders can register for ongoing announcements, training, and other information here. Fannie Mae will also post information about specific pools available for purchase on that page.
Media Contact
Kelly Antonacci
202-752-0524
TOPICS
* Single Family
* Capital Markets
* Whole Loan Sales
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Original text here: https://www.fanniemae.com/newsroom/fannie-mae-news/winner-twenty-eighth-community-impact-pool-non-performing-loans
