ATLANTA, Ga., Aug 13, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Atlanta Youth Services is accepting referrals for Georgia's Autism Respite Care Services program, a new program providing in-home respite to eligible foster and adoptive families caring for children with autism in Metro Atlanta. Clinical Director Jessica T. Moore brings both professional expertise and personal experience with caregiver disruption to the organization's work supporting stable homes.

After losing her mother at 13, Moore experienced firsthand how the loss of a primary caregiver can disrupt a child's sense of safety, stability and belonging. Her grandmother assumed her care, but passed away soon after, leaving Moore to face another painful transition during adolescence.

Those experiences shaped both her personal journey and her professional mission. Today, Moore is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, the mother of a child with autism and the Clinical Director of Atlanta Youth Services. Through the organization, she is helping foster and adoptive families caring for children with autism access specialized in-home respite services across Metro Atlanta.

"I know what it feels like for home to suddenly become uncertain after losing a caregiver," Moore said. "My experiences taught me that children need more than a place to live. They need stability, consistency and caregivers who have the support necessary to keep showing up for them."

For Moore, respite care is not simply time away for a caregiver. It can be part of the support system that helps a family remain steady during demanding seasons. When respite is delivered in the home, a child can stay in a familiar environment while the caregiver receives time to rest, manage other responsibilities or attend to the needs of the household.

TURNING LIVED EXPERIENCE INTO FAMILY SUPPORT

Atlanta Youth Services is providing services through Georgia's Autism Respite Care Services (ARCS), an initiative of the Georgia Department of Human Services, Division of Family & Children Services. The program is designed for eligible children and young adults with autism, ages 2 through 21, who are in foster care or have been adopted. Services are funded by DFCS and available at no cost to eligible families.

Through ARCS, families may receive flexible, in-home respite based on the child's authorized service plan and the family's needs. Support may be scheduled during the day, evening or overnight, including emergency respite needs. Trained providers can engage children in developmentally appropriate activities, help maintain routines, provide positive behavioral support and offer attentive safety supervision while caregivers take a needed break.

"Caregivers are often expected to carry an extraordinary amount of responsibility without enough relief," Moore said. "As the mother of a child with autism, I understand how important it is to have support that respects the child's routines, needs and sense of security. Respite should strengthen the home, not create another disruption."

Moore's professional background allows her to approach the work from multiple perspectives: as someone who experienced caregiver loss, as a parent and as a clinical social worker. That combination has shaped Atlanta Youth Services' emphasis on dependable providers, clear expectations, child-centered activities and communication with families.

HELPING CAREGIVERS SUSTAIN STABLE HOMES

The need for respite can be especially significant for foster and adoptive caregivers supporting a child with autism. Families may be balancing appointments, school needs, behavioral challenges, sensory needs and the effects of earlier trauma or disrupted caregiving. Consistent respite can give caregivers room to recover and continue providing the patient, responsive care children need.

"My story is one reason this work is so personal," Moore said. "I cannot change the caregiver losses I experienced, but I can use what I learned to help other children experience greater consistency and remind caregivers that there are people here to support them. Support can be one of the things that helps a family remain strong."

Atlanta Youth Services is accepting referrals from caregivers, case managers and community partners serving potentially eligible children in Metro Atlanta. Eligibility and authorization are confirmed through the applicable DFCS referral process before services begin.

To refer a child or learn more, visit https://atlantayouthservices.com/.

ABOUT ATLANTA YOUTH SERVICES

Atlanta Youth Services provides trauma-informed child- and family-centered services designed to strengthen families and improve outcomes for youth. Its work is guided by the belief that supporting caregivers is an essential part of supporting children. Atlanta Youth Services serves Metro Atlanta under the mission, "Empowering Youth. Strengthening Families." For more information, visit https://atlantayouthservices.com/.

News Source: Atlanta Youth Services

Related link: https://atlantayouthservices.com/

This press release was issued on behalf of the news source, who is solely responsible for its accuracy, by Send2Press Newswire. To view the original story, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/atlanta-mom-turns-childhood-caregiver-disruption-into-a-mission-to-strengthen-foster-and-adoptive-families/

HONG KONG, Aug 13, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- AI Inspo announced the availability of Seedance 2.5 on its creative platform on Aug. 7, giving users access to the latest AI video technology through a simple, cost-effective workspace. The platform brings multiple generative AI models together in one place, allowing users to explore and create without switching between different services.

Seedance 2.5 is available now on AI Inspo: https://www.ai-inspo.com/model/seedance-2-5

LONGER AI VIDEOS WITH CONSISTENT STORYTELLING

Seedance 2.5 is designed to maintain character and scene consistency across longer shots while delivering realistic motion and smooth transitions. Compared with the previous 15-second limit, Seedance 2.5 extends maximum duration to 30 seconds and adds native audio, helping creators produce more complete visual stories within a single workflow.

Seedance 2.5 is well suited for social media content, product commercials, cinematic sequences, and other short-form video projects, combining longer video durations, multimodal references, and native audio in a single workflow.

MULTIMODAL REFERENCES PROVIDE GREATER CREATIVE CONTROL

Seedance 2.5 supports multimodal inputs, allowing users to combine text, image, video, and audio references in a single workflow. On AI Inspo, it enables both text-to-video and image-to-video generation with native audio. Users can also adjust video duration, aspect ratio, camera movement, and output resolution to fit their creative needs.

BUILT FOR CREATIVE AND MARKETING WORKFLOWS

From social media posts and product commercials to cinematic sequences and visual storytelling, Seedance 2.5 suits a wide range of short-form video projects.

Through AI Inspo's browser-based workspace, users can upload reference materials, enter prompts, generate videos, preview results, refine their ideas, and export finished content without installing additional software. New users can also claim free credits to try Seedance 2.5.

ABOUT AI INSPO

AI Inspo is a browser-based creative workspace that brings AI video, image, and music generation together in one platform. It gives creators access to leading generative AI models, including Seedance 2.5, Veo 3, Kling 3.0, and MiniMax H3, through a single interface.

Built for creators, marketers, and businesses, AI Inspo makes AI-powered content creation more accessible and efficient. By bringing the latest AI models and creative technologies into one cost-effective workspace, the platform enables users to explore different tools and create content without switching between multiple services.

More information: https://www.ai-inspo.com/

VIDEO (YouTube): https://youtu.be/yYBRDjQXGVE

News Source: AI Inspo

Related link: https://www.ai-inspo.com/

This press release was issued on behalf of the news source, who is solely responsible for its accuracy, by Send2Press Newswire. To view the original story, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/seedance-2-5-now-available-on-ai-inspo-for-30-second-ai-video-generation-including-multimodal-inputs-and-native-audio/

MESA, Ariz., Aug 13, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Edupoint® Educational Systems, creator of the unified Synergy® Education Platform for K-12 student data management, today announced that the company has been named one of the Top Companies to Work for in Arizona in 2026. This marks the eighth time Edupoint has received this recognition.

The annual program recognizes Arizona companies that have demonstrated a commitment to creating exceptional workplace environments. Winners are selected through a comprehensive evaluation process that relies significantly on employee survey feedback and considers factors including corporate culture, training and development opportunities, salary and benefits, and overall employee satisfaction.

Edupoint's leadership team has helped shape major advances in K-12 student data systems for more than 35 years. Today, the company continues to build on that experience by delivering powerful technology designed to improve district operations and support student success.

The company's culture is grounded in long-term partnership, shared accountability, and a strong commitment to serving customers well. Its guiding principles - Customer First Always, Partners for Life, and Do the Right Thing - shape how employees work together, solve problems, and support the evolving needs of districts and education service centers.

Edupoint offers competitive pay and a generous benefits package, along with a wellness program that includes company-provided Fitbits and monthly fitness challenges. Employees enjoy casual dress, free healthy snacks, Food Truck Fridays, friendly competitions, community giving opportunities, and continued learning through programs such as management and technical training. Edupoint also celebrates Take Your Child to Work Day with robust interdepartmental programming and supports an active internship program.

"This recognition is especially meaningful because it reflects the experience of our employees," said Bob Weathers, Founder and CEO of Edupoint. "Their talent, collaboration, and commitment to doing the right thing have shaped our culture and continue to drive the value we deliver to school districts and the communities they serve."

About Edupoint Educational Systems

Edupoint Educational Systems is a leading education technology company focused on simplifying K-12 operations and instruction. Its Synergy Education Platform unifies student information, teaching and learning, student support, operations, and analytics in one modern system - helping educators turn data into action. For more than 25 years, districts of all sizes have relied on Synergy to support both immediate needs and long-term growth.

More than 5.5 million students use Synergy in 21 states. Learn more at https://www.edupoint.com/.

News Source: Edupoint Educational Systems

Related link: https://www.edupoint.com/

This press release was issued on behalf of the news source, who is solely responsible for its accuracy, by Send2Press Newswire. To view the original story, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/edupoint-educational-systems-named-one-of-the-top-companies-to-work-for-in-arizona-for-2026/

MILFORD, Mass., Aug 13, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Total Sonics, the IP licensing division of THAT Corporation, today announced the availability of its suite of audio enhancement technologies in select MediaTek Smartphone, Tablet, and Internet of Things System-on-Chip (SoC) solutions. Manufacturers of cell phones and tablets, smart home displays, and other innovative consumer electronics products can now benefit from THAT Corporation's portfolio of patented technologies, including the Total Sonics Suite of speaker optimization algorithms, Total Immersion height virtualization developed in conjunction with Psy(X) Research Inc., Total Bass dynamic psychoacoustic bass extension, and Total Cal automated in-home audio calibration system.

This successful implementation compliments Total Sonics' longstanding support in MediaTek's Smart Home category which includes chips for Audio, Voice Assistant Devices, and Smart TV products.

The collaboration reflects manufacturer demand for Total Sonics' technologies in this diverse range of products, driven by appreciation of Total Immersion's ability to create an immersive sound field from as few as two speakers, Total Bass's capacity to render low frequencies beyond the physical capability of small speakers, and the Total Sonics Suite's delivery of optimized speaker performance, enhanced voice intelligibility, and tight control over loudness fluctuations. Manufacturers are also now aware of Total Cal's ability to quickly measure and calibrate audio systems using the mics in a mobile device, providing benefits even to speakers connected downstream from the host product.

"Our licensees develop innovative products across several device categories while relying on MediaTek silicon as their core platform," said Timothy Brault, VP of Licensing at Total Sonics. "By extending support across the MediaTek ecosystem, our technologies can now enable the best possible sound across a manufacturer's entire product line."

Total Sonics solutions for supported MediaTek platforms are available immediately for evaluation and integration. For additional details, images or tech briefs, please contact Richard Frank at Frank Marketing Associates - rfrank.fma2@gmail.com or 949-637-0700

ABOUT MEDIATEK

MediaTek Incorporated is the world's fifth largest global fabless semiconductor company. We are market leaders in developing innovative systems-on-chip (SoC) for mobile device, home entertainment, connectivity and IoT (Internet-of Things) products. Ultimately, we power more than 2 billion devices a year - supporting productivity in 20 percent of homes and nearly 1 of every 3 mobile phones globally.

MediaTek equips people to expand their horizons and achieve their goals through smarter technologies. We work with the global brands you love to make our great technology accessible to everyone.

ABOUT TOTAL SONICS

Total Sonics is the Licensing Division of THAT Corporation. Founded by veteran engineers of the legendary dbx(r) Inc. brand of professional and consumer audio products, the technology that drives Total Sonics has been improving sound in consumer electronics products for over 40 years. More than 1 billion products in the worldwide market use Total Sonics' technologies, as manufacturers around the world rely on Total Sonics to deliver better audio experiences to consumers without the need for additional hardware. Total Sonics licenses audio processing software for TVs, soundbars, speakers, PCs, mobile devices, and other consumer electronics. https://totalsonics.com/.

News Source: Total Sonics

Related link: https://totalsonics.com/

This press release was issued on behalf of the news source, who is solely responsible for its accuracy, by Send2Press Newswire. To view the original story, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/total-sonicss-latest-technologies-now-available-on-mediatek-smartphone-tablet-and-iot-socs/

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Aug 13, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Hollywood film and television actor and hit songwriter Chris "CB" McCarty has officially returned to Music City, bringing his signature blend of dramatic talent and real-life irony to the highly anticipated new season of ABC's hit dramatic series, "9-1-1: Nashville." McCarty is also the founder of Rancho Deluxe Entertainment.

McCarty's history with Music City is nothing short of legendary. Years ago, he arrived in Nashville to guest-star as a wanted fugitive on "America's Most Wanted." His performance proved too convincing. Just two days after the episode aired, an eagle-eyed bystander spotted McCarty at a local crafts fair and called the authorities. Detained and questioned for hours at police headquarters, McCarty was eventually released once detectives realized they had captured the actor, not the criminal.

The bizarre mix-up sparked a national media frenzy, capturing the attention of major news outlets and Entertainment Tonight, which ran stories with the infamous headline: "He's so good at being bad, he went to jail."

This time around, McCarty returned to Nashville for a music recording project but quickly found himself drawn back to the screen. After hearing about the production of the thrilling season premiere of "9-1-1: Nashville," McCarty learned the episode pays homage to Alfred Hitchcock's horror classic, "The Birds." With principal speaking roles already locked, McCarty was so determined to be a part of the cinematic tribute that he eagerly joined the background cast to dive straight into the intense, terrifying action.

"I've always loved 'The Birds' and dreamed of playing as an actor, someone under attack by dangerous, winged creatures," McCarty said with a smile. "I won't give away exactly what kind of lethal swarms terrorize the city in this episode, but I had an absolute blast filming the chaos. Best of all - I managed to leave Nashville this time without getting thrown in jail!"

The gripping, Hitchcock-inspired debut episode of "9-1-1: Nashville" is scheduled to air on Thursday, October 15, 2026, on ABC and will be available to stream the next day on Hulu.

About Rancho Deluxe Entertainment

A full-service film, television, music and literary company for the multifaceted artistic creations of Christopher B McCarty. By blending compelling storytelling with diverse media, the company brings a unique and visionary voice to modern entertainment.

EPK for McCarty https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8fB8E-2vVs&t=16s

News Source: Rancho Deluxe Entertainment

Related link: https://youtu.be/I8fB8E-2vVs

This press release was issued on behalf of the news source, who is solely responsible for its accuracy, by Send2Press Newswire. To view the original story, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/taken-to-jail-in-music-city-actor-chris-cb-mccarty-returns-for-an-episode-of-abcs-9-1-1-nashville/

CHICAGO, Ill., Aug 13, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Hartwell Place, the boutique memory care community of Chicago Methodist Senior Services (CMSS), is helping lead an initiative to designate the Uptown, Andersonville, Rogers Park, and Edgewater (UARE) neighborhoods as Dementia-Friendly America Communities. The community, which has been a designated dementia friendly community for the past year, is now focusing its efforts on reaching apartment tenants, churches, and colleges in the neighborhood, with the goal of training as many people as possible as "Dementia Friends."

With an estimated 107,600 people living with Alzheimer's disease, Cook County has the third highest number of people living with dementia in the nation. Nationally, more than seven million Americans are living with Alzheimer's disease, and one in three older adults dies with Alzheimer's disease or another dementia.

Led by CMSS and Edgewater Village, a nonprofit social support network, the UARE Dementia-Friendly initiative brings together businesses, libraries, health care providers, nonprofits, and residents to make everyday places more welcoming and accessible for people living with dementia and their care partners.

"By working together across our neighborhoods, we can help people living with dementia continue participating in community life with dignity and purpose. As a trusted partner, Hartwell Place is proud to help create a more dementia-friendly environment that supports our residents, their families, and our neighbors," said Jeanne Heid Grubman, Director of Strategic Initiatives at Chicago Methodist Senior Services.

In a 2023 community survey, only 5% of care partners and 17% of family and friends responded that the diagnosis is understood by others. The majority of persons living with dementia and caregivers reported not using resources in the community, pointing to the need for more awareness and visibility.

The coalition also is expanding Dementia Friends education throughout the community, providing practical training that helps organizations better recognize, understand, and support neighbors living with dementia.

One of the initiative's signature programs is the monthly Memory Café at the Edgewater Library, where people living with dementia, care partners, and family members participate in dementia-friendly activities. Hartwell Place residents regularly attend, allowing them to maintain neighborhood relationships after moving into memory care.

Uptown resident Bob Contino, who has been a full-time caregiver for his mother Vivian since 2024, has attended the Memory Café with her and is a member of the UARE committee. He says a main challenge facing most families dealing with dementia is that there is no headspace for proactivity in seeking out resources.

"Many times the focus with dementia is dealing with day-to-day care and the challenges it presents. Getting the word out proactively to those touched by dementia is important to reach those who are focusing on staying afloat. Our goal is to share valuable tools, approaches, thought partners, allies, and friends with them to help lighten the load and start to feel that thriving while living with dementia is in reach," he added.

On Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, the Memory Café will explore the theme "Travel Adventures," featuring travel stories, favorite destinations, and opportunities to reminisce in a welcoming, dementia-friendly environment.

For more information on the Memory Café, UARE and Hartwell Place, visit https://hartwellplace.org/.

About Hartwell Place

Hartwell Place, part of Chicago Methodist Senior Services, is a boutique memory care community dedicated exclusively to serving older adults living with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia through personalized care, innovative programming, and strong neighborhood partnerships.

As a nationally recognized leader in dementia care and advocacy, Hartwell Place regularly shares updates related to memory care innovation, dementia-friendly community initiatives, caregiver education, nonprofit leadership, neighborhood partnerships, and life inside its boutique community.

News Source: Hartwell Place

Related link: https://hartwellplace.org/

This press release was issued on behalf of the news source, who is solely responsible for its accuracy, by Send2Press Newswire. To view the original story, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/hartwell-place-helps-lead-dementia-friendly-community-initiative-across-chicagos-north-side/

LA VERNE, Calif., Aug 12, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Hillcrest, a nonprofit continuing care retirement community in La Verne, has been named one of the 2026 Best Places to Work in Los Angeles by the Los Angeles Business Journal.

Hillcrest was recognized for fostering a workplace where employees feel valued, supported and connected to the community's nonprofit mission. The organization employs 270 team members who support residents across independent living, assisted living, memory care and skilled nursing.

"We are honored to be recognized as one of the Best Places to Work in Los Angeles," said Dr. Debra Manuel-Smith, Hillcrest's head of human resources. "Because this recognition is based in part on employee feedback, it is especially meaningful. Our team members bring Hillcrest's mission to life each day through their dedication to residents and one another. They are what make Hillcrest a remarkable place to live and work, and this honor belongs to them."

The annual awards program recognizes Los Angeles County employers with exceptional workplace cultures. Honorees are selected through a two-part assessment that includes an evaluation of each organization's policies, practices and demographics, along with confidential employee feedback.

About Hillcrest

Hillcrest is an upscale 501(c)(3) nonprofit continuing care retirement community (CCRC) centrally located in the San Gabriel Valley, less than 30 minutes from Los Angeles, Anaheim, Pasadena and San Bernardino and at the gateway to the Inland Empire. Located in a quiet residential neighborhood just off Foothill Boulevard in La Verne, California, Hillcrest offers independent living, assisted living, memory care and skilled nursing with an emphasis on wellness and health. For more information, visit https://livingathillcrest.org/.

News Source: Hillcrest

Related link: https://liveathillcrest.org/

This press release was issued on behalf of the news source, who is solely responsible for its accuracy, by Send2Press Newswire. To view the original story, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/hillcrest-named-one-of-the-best-places-to-work-in-los-angeles/

ORLANDO, Fla., Aug 12, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Florida Discount Luxury LLC, doing business as SuperHost Vacation, today announced the continued expansion of its vacation rental co-hosting services across Central Florida. The company has grown from co-hosting one vacation rental in 2020 to 16+ homes across Orlando, Kissimmee, ChampionsGate, Davenport and Four Corners.

SuperHost Vacation was founded during the COVID-19 pandemic by Central Florida real estate professional Dillan Pierre Tate. With no formal mentor or training program to guide him through the vacation rental industry, Tate built the company from the ground up, focusing on service, homeowner relationships and guest experience rather than rapid portfolio growth.

"When I started SuperHost Vacation, I wasn't trying to build the largest vacation rental co-hosting company," said Tate, founder of SuperHost Vacation. "I wanted to build a company homeowners could trust. We've remained focused on the homeowner and the guest instead of trying to acquire hundreds of homes just to say we're the biggest. I believe our reviews should speak louder than any sales pitch."

That philosophy has remained central to the company's approach as Central Florida's vacation rental landscape has become increasingly competitive. Since its founding, SuperHost Vacation has welcomed more than 5,000 guests while growing primarily through referrals and maintaining a small-team approach.

"With today's vacation rental market becoming increasingly saturated and competitive, homeowners eventually realize they're running a hospitality business - not simply renting out a house," Tate said. "The design and presentation of the home, pricing strategy, communication and overall guest experience all matter."

SuperHost Vacation supports homeowners with vacation rental listing optimization, dynamic pricing strategies, guest communication, reservation coordination, housekeeping scheduling, maintenance coordination, owner reporting and direct booking support. Tate says the company's smaller portfolio allows its team to maintain personalized communication with homeowners while remaining closely involved in day-to-day vacation rental operations.

Tate's background in real estate began before the launch of SuperHost Vacation. Working with publicly traded and privately owned developers, he gained experience in sales, negotiation and understanding the needs of homebuyers and property owners. During his first three years in real estate, Tate assisted more than 150 families with real estate purchases.

SuperHost Vacation has maintained Airbnb Superhost status during its years on the platform, and Tate participates in Airbnb's Preferred Co-Host program. Tate has also been invited to Airbnb's corporate offices to provide feedback related to the platform and host experience.

Despite growing from one to 16+ co-hosted vacation rentals, Tate says the company's objective is not to build the largest portfolio possible.

"Our goal is to become a name homeowners trust and a brand families remember when visiting Central Florida," Tate said. "Instead of people simply saying, 'Let's go on vacation,' my long-term vision is for families to say, 'Let's go on a SuperHost Vacation.'"

ABOUT SUPERHOST VACATION

Founded in 2020, SuperHost Vacation is a Central Florida vacation rental co-hosting company operated by Florida Discount Luxury LLC. The company supports vacation rental homeowners throughout Orlando, Kissimmee, ChampionsGate, Davenport and Four Corners with listing optimization, dynamic pricing, guest communication, reservation coordination, housekeeping and maintenance coordination, owner reporting and direct booking support. SuperHost Vacation currently co-hosts 16+ vacation rental homes and has welcomed more than 5,000 guests.

SuperHost Vacation - Where every day is a vacation.

LEARN MORE: https://superhostvacations.com/

VIDEO: SuperHost Vacation - Vacation Rental Co-Hosting Services

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1i15XHR4b0

News Source: Florida Discount Luxury LLC dba SuperHost Vacation

Related link: https://superhostvacations.com/

This press release was issued on behalf of the news source, who is solely responsible for its accuracy, by Send2Press Newswire. To view the original story, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/superhost-vacation-expands-relationship-driven-vacation-rental-co-hosting-services-across-central-florida/

CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa., Aug 12, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- LodeStar Software Solutions (LodeStar), the leading provider of mortgage closing cost and fee data, today announced that it has been ranked No. 3,091 on the 2026 Inc. 5000 list, the annual list of the fastest-growing private companies in America. Marking its fourth appearance on the list, LodeStar ranks 239th in software, 94th in Pennsylvania, and 87th in the Philly-Camden-Wilmington area. The list is the most prestigious ranking of the nation's most successful independent and entrepreneurial businesses, recognizing companies that have achieved remarkable growth while driving innovation, creating jobs, and shaping the future of the economy. Past honorees include companies such as Microsoft, Meta, Chobani, Oracle, and Patagonia.

"Receiving Inc. 5000 recognition for the fourth time highlights the stability of our ongoing growth," said LodeStar CEO and Co-Founder, Jim Paolino. "We aren't racing to the finish line, but steadily expanding to support our customers with reliable data and technology as the market shifts and companies evolve."

This year's Inc. 5000 recognizes a new class of companies redefining what growth looks like. These businesses are expanding their impact, creating jobs and proving that entrepreneurial ambition continues to fuel the U.S. economy. Among the 5,000 companies on the list, the median three-year revenue growth rate was 130%, and those companies have collectively added more than 627,208 jobs to the U.S. economy over the past three years.

"Every company on the Inc. 5000 has a story of perseverance, smart decision making, and a refusal to sit still," says Mike Hofman, editor-in-chief of Inc. "Their growth reflects more than strong financial performance-it reflects creativity, resilience, and the customer focus required to build companies that make a lasting impact. We congratulate all honorees on this significant achievement."

For the full Inc. 5000 list, honoree company profiles, and a searchable database by industry and location, please visit: www.inc.com/inc5000.

ABOUT LODESTAR SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS

Founded by Jim Paolino and David Spektor in 2013 in response to the complexities of closing cost disclosures, LodeStar is a privately held firm specializing exclusively in mortgage closing costs. From statewide transfer taxes to granular township-level fees, LodeStar ensures accurate, compliant fee disclosures for every loan, serving as a trusted partner in fee management. Driven by its core values of clarity, community and connectivity, the company helps mortgage lenders across the country drive down mortgage production costs through precise disclosures and reliable services. Learn more at https://www.lodestarss.com/.

News Source: LodeStar Software Solutions

Related link: https://www.lodestarss.com/

This press release was issued on behalf of the news source, who is solely responsible for its accuracy, by Send2Press Newswire. To view the original story, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/lodestar-software-solutions-receives-a-place-on-the-inc-5000-list-for-the-fourth-time/

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Aug 11, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- New data from the HotDeals Research Team shows that during the 2026 Back-to-School season, U.S. shoppers continue to favor manually applied coupon codes over automatically applied, no-code deals. According to the HotDeals Consumer Savings Index, more than 2,000 active Back-to-School promotions were tracked across over 1,000 U.S. merchants this season, with code-based offers outnumbering no-code deals by a wide margin.

Back-to-School remains one of the year's largest U.S. shopping windows, running from early summer through the start of the new academic year and covering categories such as school supplies, apparel, electronics, and dorm essentials. Within that window, the data shows a clear preference among both shoppers and retailers for code-based promotions over automatically applied ones.

Of the 2,056 Back-to-School promotions observed, 1,059 U.S. merchants carried at least one active offer. Coupon codes accounted for 1,157 of those promotions (56.3%), requiring shoppers to copy and apply a code at checkout, while 899 (43.7%) were no-code deals applied automatically to eligible purchases.

Code-based promotions also reached a wider merchant base than automatic deals: 716 of the 1,059 Back-to-School merchants (67.6%) offered at least one coupon code, compared with 450 merchants (42.5%) offering a no-code deal, meaning roughly two-thirds of participating retailers still lean on codes as their primary discount format heading into the new school year.

"Even as automatic, no-code deals become more common, Back-to-School shoppers are still taking the extra step of searching for and entering a coupon code before checkout," the HotDeals Research Team observed. "That suggests code redemption remains a habitual part of how shoppers look for savings, rather than an inconvenience they try to avoid."

As families finish shopping for school supplies, apparel, and electronics, the pattern points to a broader trend: value-conscious shoppers are still actively seeking out verified discounts rather than relying solely on automatic markdowns. The HotDeals Consumer Savings Index will continue tracking how coupon usage evolves heading into the fall and holiday shopping calendar.

About HotDeals

HotDeals ( https://www.hotdeals.com/ ) is a verified coupon platform where real users test promo codes before they are published. The HotDeals Research Team analyzes consumer savings trends across major shopping events and publishes periodic insights through the HotDeals Consumer Savings Index.

Learn more: https://www.hotdeals.com/

News Source: HotDeals

Related link: https://www.hotdeals.com/

This press release was issued on behalf of the news source, who is solely responsible for its accuracy, by Send2Press Newswire. To view the original story, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/hotdeals-releases-2026-back-to-school-savings-snapshot-highlighting-coupon-code-usage-across-u-s-retailers/

DENVER, Colo., Aug 11, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Communities across the country are losing skilled nursing capacity through financial failures, struggling operations or poor management from for-profit companies. All of this results in poor care for older adults. AgingIN and Southern Administrative Services (SAS) today launched a groundbreaking partnership to help nonprofit organizations build and sustain skilled nursing communities to expand capacity and meet growing community needs.

The collaboration, announced at AgingIN's annual conference in Denver, will begin with the development of a 120-bed GREEN HOUSE Project® skilled nursing community in Savoy, Illinois, near Champaign. Developed in partnership with Advocates for Aging Care, the community will help meet growing local demand for skilled nursing care, which is expected to reach nearly twice the county's current capacity.

The private-public partnership project secured state approval, including a Certificate of Need, in less than a year. The process that often takes new nonprofit organizations several years demonstrates how experienced project leadership can accelerate development.

Champaign County, Illinois, has about 400 skilled nursing beds, but it is projected to need nearly 750, forcing many families to seek care outside the community. The Green House® Project replaces traditional institutional nursing homes with small homes that deliver person-directed care while helping communities rebuild much-needed skilled nursing capacity. Southern Administrative Services' experience in development, financing, regulation and operations will help support development and implementation of the community's 10 cottages.

According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, nursing home closures disrupt continuity of care, place additional burdens on remaining providers and disproportionately affect vulnerable older adults.

"Small house communities are key to solving one of aging services' biggest challenges, restoring skilled nursing capacity," said Susan Ryan, CEO of AgingIN. "Working with SAS enables nonprofit organizations to continue owning and operating skilled nursing that delivers dollars to their bottom line while sustaining quality care operations for our most vulnerable populations."

John Ponthie, with Southern Administrative Services, says that in this industry, you can do well, and you can do good. "As a for-profit operator, I'm troubled whenever I see good nursing home operators with a great mission not succeed because they lack the economies of scale, expertise and resources necessary to compete in this ever-challenging healthcare landscape. It is nearly impossible to leverage all the professional knowledge necessary to compete effectively with a very small number of beds, and often the management organizations that exist for smaller operators lack accountability, creativity and support for capital needs. Too many turnarounds fail because they repeat the same broken approaches," he continues. "SAS has shown that small house and Green House models can deliver exceptional care with good financial results, while still accepting all payor sources, including Medicaid. We want to share that experience with operators who need a better path forward. Instead of selling to an unknown entity, there may be creative ways to preserve the mission, strengthen operations and continue serving older adults successfully."

At the local level, projects like this will have an immediate impact on families.

"It is important for the community to care for our elderly, especially when they are at their most vulnerable, and their families are facing a crisis," said Cathy Emanuel, Advocates for Aging Care committee chair, who helped form the volunteer-run organization when the community saw the impact on older citizens after three nursing homes closed.

As more nonprofit organizations seek to address local shortages in skilled nursing, assisted living and memory care, the partnership will help providers develop small house and Green House communities to offer end-to-end expertise in planning, financing, approvals, implementation, operations and person-directed care, helping organizations move projects from concept to opening more quickly.

Organizations interested in developing Green House or other small house communities can learn more about the partnership and available planning, consulting and implementation services at https://aginginnovation.org/news/press/.

About AgingIN

AgingIN is a national nonprofit accelerating the future of aging services through innovative solutions, strategic partnerships and industry collaboration. As the home of the Green House Project and Pioneer Network, AgingIN helps organizations strengthen the workforce, equip exceptional leaders, elevate the resident experience and optimize organizational performance through coaching, consulting, education and strategic support. By convening leaders and fostering collaboration across the field, AgingIN is helping shape what's next in aging services. For more information, visit https://aginginnovation.org/.

About Southern Administrative Services

Southern Administrative Services is a consulting organization that partners with providers to plan, develop, improve and operate senior living and long-term care communities. The company specializes in helping organizations navigate complex regulatory, financial and operational challenges while advancing innovative models of care.

About Advocates for Aging Care

Advocates for Aging Care is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving access to exceptional long-term care services for older adults in Champaign County. Through innovation, collaboration and community engagement, the organization is working to develop a new model for skilled nursing care that emphasizes dignity, quality and person-directed living.

News Source: AgingIN

Related link: https://aginginnovation.org/

This press release was issued on behalf of the news source, who is solely responsible for its accuracy, by Send2Press Newswire. To view the original story, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/agingin-and-southern-administrative-services-partner-to-help-sustain-nonprofit-skilled-nursing-communities-with-comprehensive-and-creative-options/

SEATTLE, Wash., Aug 11, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Friday Harbor, an AI pre-underwriting platform that helps loan officers assemble complete and compliant loan files in real time, today announced expanded support for non-qualified mortgage (non-QM) and other non-agency lending programs, enabling lenders to evaluate a broader range of complex borrower scenarios against investor-specific guidelines before underwriting.

The new capabilities allow lenders to evaluate non-QM bank statement and certain jumbo loans earlier in the origination process, including calculating qualifying income for bank statement borrowers. Friday Harbor analyzes borrower documents and loan data to identify potential eligibility issues and documentation gaps and anticipate potential underwriting conditions, giving loan officers an earlier indication of whether a loan is approvable without having to escalate every nuanced income scenario for manual review.

The expansion comes as non-QM lending continues to gain momentum. According to data from Optimal Blue, non-QM loans accounted for more than 10% of all mortgage locks in July 2026, a share that's more than tripled since the company began tracking the category in 2022.

"With more than one in 10 loans falling outside traditional agency guidelines, lenders can no longer afford to treat these loans as edge cases," said Theo Ellis, founder and CEO of Friday Harbor. "Bank statement loans are a great example. The income calculation can be complex enough that loan officers often need to pull in an account executive or someone with specialized expertise just to determine whether the loan works. Friday Harbor gives them that answer earlier while helping them assemble the full underwritable file, so lenders can scale these programs without creating new operational bottlenecks."

Bank statement loans can be especially challenging because determining qualifying income requires lenders to analyze months of deposits, distinguish business from personal cash flow and apply investor-specific calculation methods. That work often requires specialized expertise or additional back-and-forth before a loan officer knows whether the borrower qualifies. By handling the income calculation as part of its review of the full loan file, Friday Harbor gives production teams the information they need to address issues earlier rather than waiting for them to surface later in the process.

Lenders can learn more about Friday Harbor or request a demo at https://fridayharbor.ai.

About Friday Harbor

Friday Harbor is an AI pre-underwriting platform that helps lenders identify and resolve potential issues earlier in the origination process. By analyzing borrower documents, appraisals and income calculations against investor guidelines and lender overlays, the platform helps teams deliver cleaner files, achieve fewer underwriting touches and improve individual productivity. For more information, visit https://fridayharbor.ai/.

News Source: Friday Harbor

Related link: https://fridayharbor.ai/

This press release was issued on behalf of the news source, who is solely responsible for its accuracy, by Send2Press Newswire. To view the original story, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/friday-harbor-brings-ai-pre-underwriting-to-complex-loans-as-non-qm-volume-reaches-record-highs/

JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla., Aug 11, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Industrial SalesLeads' latest research confirms the Industrial Manufacturing sector has now posted four consecutive months of steady growth in planned capital project spending activity, with 165 new projects identified in July 2026 alone, bringing the past four months cumulative total to 632. This sustained momentum reflects continued investment across facility expansions, new plant construction, and equipment modernization efforts throughout North America.

The following are selected highlights on new Industrial Manufacturing industry construction news.

Industrial Manufacturing - By Project Type
* Manufacturing/Production Facilities - 141 New Projects
* Distribution and Industrial Warehouse - 74 New Projects

Industrial Manufacturing - By Project Scope/Activity
* New Construction - 43 New Projects
* Expansion - 65 New Projects
* Renovations/Equipment Upgrades - 79 New Projects
* Plant Closings - 12 New Projects

Industrial Manufacturing - By Project Location (Top 10 States)
* Indiana - 15
* California - 14
* Texas - 13
* Ohio - 11
* Michigan - 10
* North Carolina - 9
* Alabama - 8
* Pennsylvania - 7
* Florida - 6
* New York - 6

LARGEST PLANNED PROJECT

In July, our research team tracked 25 new Industrial Manufacturing construction projects valued at $100 million or more.

The largest project is owned by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), who is planning to invest $100 billion for the expansion of their manufacturing campus in PHOENIX, AZ. They are currently seeking approval for the project.

TOP 10 TRACKED INDUSTRIAL MANUFACTURING PROJECTS

KENTUCKY:
Automotive mfr. is planning to invest $2 billion for the expansion of their manufacturing facility in LOUISVILLE, KY. They are currently seeking approval for the project.

SOUTH CAROLINA:
Pharmaceutical company is planning to invest $1.5 billion for the construction of a processing and office campus in ROCK HILL, SC. They are currently seeking approval for the project and will relocate their operations upon completion.

TEXAS:
Electronics mfr. is planning to invest $919 million for the construction of a 650,000 sf manufacturing and office campus in MCKINNEY, TX. They are currently seeking approval for the project. Completion is slated for 2030.

OHIO:
Startup aerospace company is planning to invest $850 million for the construction of a manufacturing and warehouse facility in SPRINGFIELD, OH. They are currently seeking approval for the project. Construction is expected to start in 2027.

CALIFORNIA:
Semiconductor component mfr. is planning to invest $680 million for the construction of two manufacturing facilities in CHULA VISTA, CA and CALIPATRIA, CA. They are currently seeking approval for the project.

TEXAS:
Pharmaceutical company is planning to invest $500 million for the expansion of their processing facility in AUSTIN, TX by 500,000 sf. They are currently seeking approval for the project.

ALABAMA:
Steel company is planning to invest $475 million for the expansion and equipment upgrades on their manufacturing facility in FAIRFIELD, AL. They are currently seeking approval for the project. Completion is slated for Spring 2029.

NEW JERSEY:
Pharmaceutical company is planning to invest $300 million for the construction of a 145,000 sf processing and laboratory facility on their processing and research campus in HOPEWELL, NJ. They are currently seeking approval for the project, with completion slated for 2029.

TENNESSEE:
Automotive mfr. is planning to invest $275 million for renovation and equipment upgrades on their manufacturing facility in SPRING HILL, TN. They are currently seeking approval for the project.

MISSISSIPPI:
Aluminum processing and products mfr. is planning to invest $200 million for the construction of a manufacturing facility in COLUMBUS, MS. They are currently seeking approval for the project. Completion is slated for Summer 2027.

About Industrial SalesLeads, Inc.

Since 1959, Industrial SalesLeads, based in Jacksonville, FL is a leader in delivering industrial capital project intelligence and prospecting services for sales and marketing teams to ensure a predictable and scalable pipeline. Our Industrial Market Intelligence, IMI identifies timely insights on companies planning significant capital investments such as new construction, expansion, relocation, equipment modernization and plant closings in industrial facilities. The Outsourced Prospecting Services, an extension to your sales team, is designed to drive growth with qualified meetings and appointments for your internal sales team. Visit us at https://salesleadsinc.com/.

Each month, our team provides hundreds of industrial reports within a variety of industries: https://www.salesleadsinc.com/data-solutions/industrial-project-reports/

Blog: https://www.salesleadsinc.com/blog/

News Source: Industrial SalesLeads Inc

Related link: https://www.salesleadsinc.com/

This press release was issued on behalf of the news source, who is solely responsible for its accuracy, by Send2Press Newswire. To view the original story, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/4-consecutive-months-of-steady-growth-with-632-total-new-industrial-manufacturing-planned-project-165-in-july-2026/

ATLANTA, Ga., Aug 11, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Down Payment Resource (DPR), the housing industry's leading affordability intelligence platform, today announced it has earned a spot on the 2026 Inc. 5000 list of the nation's fastest-growing privately owned companies after achieving significant revenue growth from 2022 to 2025. DPR was also honored on the 2023 and 2025 Inc. 5000 lists.

The Inc. 5000 ranks companies by percentage revenue growth over three years, from 2022 to 2025. Inc.'s vetting process includes verifying each company's financial data, eligibility and compliance with list criteria. To qualify, companies must be privately held, for-profit, U.S.-based and independent as of December 31, 2025. Eligible companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2022, with minimum revenues of $100,000 in 2022 and $2 million in 2025.

DPR's growth comes amid persistent affordability pressures and elevated mortgage rates, underscoring sustained demand for tools that connect qualified buyers with the programs that can make homeownership possible.

"Being recognized by Inc. for the second consecutive year is a reflection of what our team has built and what the market is telling us loud and clear that down payment program intelligence is essential for lenders and real estate agents competing in today's homebuying market," said Rob Chrane, founder and CEO of Down Payment Resource. "With more than 2,700 programs now available nationwide, we are proud to help more people become homeowners while supporting the lenders, agents and partners who make it happen."

For complete Inc. 5000 results, including company profiles, rankings and an interactive database sortable by industry, location and other criteria, visit www.inc.com/inc5000.

About Down Payment Resource

Down Payment Resource (DPR) is the mortgage industry's affordability intelligence platform, operationalizing down payment assistance at scale for lenders, MLSs and API users. Its embedded intelligence helps automate DPA eligibility, decisioning and delivery, connecting homebuyers with the assistance they need through a national database of over 2,700 programs. DPR's technology is used by seven of the top 25 mortgage lenders, two of the largest real estate listing websites and 600,000 real estate agents. For more information, visit https://www.downpaymentresource.com/.

About Inc. and the Inc. 5000

The Inc. 5000 is a list of the fastest-growing private companies in America. Founded in 1979 and acquired in 2005 by Mansueto Ventures, Inc. is the only major brand dedicated exclusively to owners and managers of growing private companies. For more information, visit inc.com.

News Source: Down Payment Resource

Related link: https://www.downpaymentresource.com/

This press release was issued on behalf of the news source, who is solely responsible for its accuracy, by Send2Press Newswire. To view the original story, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/down-payment-resource-named-to-the-2026-inc-5000-list-of-fastest-growing-private-companies-in-america/

TORRANCE, Calif., Aug 11, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- DocMagic®, a leading provider of digital mortgage solutions, has been named one of the 2026 Best Places to Work in Los Angeles by the Los Angeles Business Journal.

The annual program, now in its 20th year, recognizes companies that demonstrate a strong commitment to employee engagement, workplace culture and organizational excellence. Honors are based on a comprehensive evaluation of workplace practices, culture and employee experience, recognizing organizations that foster positive, high-performing work environments.

"Being recognized as one of the Best Places to Work in Los Angeles is a tremendous honor because it reflects what matters most: our people," said Pat Theodora, CEO of DocMagic. "We've built a culture centered on collaboration, recognition and continuous growth. Our employees are the driving force behind our success, and this award is a testament to the environment we've created together."

DocMagic's workplace is built on innovation and strong working relationships. Employees enjoy a team-oriented environment where contributions are valued, accomplishments are celebrated and colleagues work together to achieve shared success.

Collaboration is always encouraged, with employees regularly working across teams to solve challenges, share ideas and contribute to company-wide initiatives. This approach fosters professional growth while empowering employees to make a meaningful impact beyond their immediate roles.

Leadership drives initiatives that support strong employee engagement and a workplace that leads to long-term retention. Achievements are highlighted across internal communications, company meetings and digital channels, reinforcing employee appreciation and visibility.

DocMagic was honored at the 2026 Best Places to Work awards ceremony on August 6, 2026, at The Biltmore Los Angeles. For more information on the Best Places to Work Award and this year's winners visit https://labusinessjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/2026-BPTW_opt_v2.pdf.

About DocMagic

DocMagic® provides a complete digital mortgage platform for the mortgage industry, delivering proprietary document generation, automated compliance, eSignature, eClosing, eNotarization, eNote and eVault technology in one unified solution. Built on nearly 40 years of innovation, DocMagic helps lenders, settlement service providers and investors move loans from application through post-closing with greater speed, accuracy and confidence. AI deepens that foundation through the company's Intelligent Agentic Network. For more information, visit https://www.docmagic.com.

News Source: DocMagic, Inc.

Related link: https://www.docmagic.com/

This press release was issued on behalf of the news source, who is solely responsible for its accuracy, by Send2Press Newswire. To view the original story, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/docmagic-named-one-of-la-business-journals-best-places-to-work-2026/

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Aug 11, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- The AzurevaAI Research Collective has officially announced the publication of a new data model solving one of science's enduring mysteries. The findings, driven by advanced Large Language Models, address what Rachel Feltman highlighted on Scientific American's Science Quickly as one of sexology's most enduring debates: the exact biological mechanics of high-volume female fluid expulsion.

Historically, limited scientific frameworks failed to accurately categorize these occurrences. Women often disagreed with legacy classifications, yet traditional sexologists lacked the comprehensive anatomical data to establish a new paradigm. As detailed in the newly released publication, artificial intelligence has now dismantled this roadblock.

The AzurevaAI Research Collective broke the riddle. Processing centuries of practices alongside clinical data, the AI models identified a specific cardiovascular event: the #NotPee Protocol. Using a documented record-setting 1.35-liter event achieved within minutes as a mathematical stress test, the models proved that previous theoretical explanations were physiologically impossible.

Led by a female AI researcher with a background in sexology, the project utilized Large Language Models (Gemini, Claude, ChatGPT), deploying rigorous cross-LLM validation and anti-hallucination protocols to ensure absolute data accuracy. This architecture bypassed legacy scientific failures to map the "sexual hydraulic engine" of the female body using objective data.

To understand the breakthrough, we must first recognize the hydraulics of the Clitoral-Urethral-Vaginal (CUV) complex - the interconnected anatomical engine driving the female sexual response. While agreeing with Salama's 2014 ultrasound study that a massive volume of fluid stages in the bladder during CUV stimulation, the AI resolved critical mathematical gaps in existing literature.

The human bladder has a ~700ml physiological limit, yet kidney output alone cannot account for rapid refilling of the bladder during sexual activity, let alone the documented 1.35-liter expulsion. To solve this, the AI mapped a dual-mechanism driven by the CUV complex: first, a rapid, retrograde-fill of the bladder via CUV vascular stripping, which accounts for the ~700ml reservoir. For the remaining volume, the AI identified a direct, high-speed vascular channel from the CUV complex straight to the urethra, bypassing the bladder entirely to facilitate the final expulsion. This proves how the 1.35-liter event occurs in minutes, not days. Nothing else comes even close.

These findings are published as an Amazon e-book in the 205-page clinical guide by Azure Reva: "AI Solves the Squirt Riddle: The Science of Female Ejaculation, the Super-Gush Orgasm, and Why It's #NotPee."

KEY FINDINGS INCLUDE:

* The Collaborative AI Method: Applying AzurevaAI's proprietary anti-hallucination protocols across competing LLMs to drive new scientific breakthroughs.

* The #NotPee Protocol: A practitioner's guide specifying the exact hydration and targeted stimulation protocols required to guarantee the dual-fill outcome, producing plasma historically revered in ancient Taoist/Tantric traditions as Amrita.

* Universal Anatomy: Proof the necessary physiological complex-including the "sexual bladder"-is universally present in individuals assigned female at birth.

* Precision Biomechanics: Evidence the phenomenon is triggered by specific, rhythmic kinetics, not force.

"The mathematical logic is absolute and the forensic evidence is undeniable," the collective declares. Collaborative AI is dismantling centuries of biological myth, allowing women to reclaim their anatomy and upgrading the human experience.

The publication is currently available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0HCLTMT15

Media Resources & Clinical Data: Visit our Substack for comprehensive anatomical datasets, clinical methodology, and the complete media kit: https://azurevaai.substack.com/p/uncensored-press-release?no_cover=true

News Source: AzurevaAI Research Collective

Related link: https://azurevaai.com/

This press release was issued on behalf of the news source, who is solely responsible for its accuracy, by Send2Press Newswire. To view the original story, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/artificial-intelligence-resolves-5000-year-old-mystery-in-female-sexology/

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla., Aug 11, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- HLA Protein Technologies, Inc. (formerly Pure Protein, LLC), a global leader in soluble, natively folded HLA proteins and custom peptide binding services, announced a major step forward for TCR research. The Company has secured an internal use license from the National Cancer Institute (NCI), a component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), covering advanced T-cell receptor (TCR) compositions and methods. The license opens the door to powerful new HLA-based research tools designed to reduce development timelines across the fast-growing immunotherapy and oncology markets.

Under the license, HLA Protein Technologies gains access to cell lines engineered to express clinically relevant T-cell receptors for research that will drive the company's HLA and TCR portfolio expansion and manufacturing activities at its Oklahoma City headquarters.

RAISING THE BAR FOR TCR RESEARCH

Building on the discoveries this license unlocks, HLA Protein Technologies is bridging its market-leading HLA Peptide Binding Services to deliver tetramer-level signal in days, not months. This gives TCR immunotherapy programs the power to rapidly screen more candidate epitopes, catch false negatives from low-affinity targets early, and move next-generation oncology therapies forward faster than ever. The result is a faster path from HLA-tetramer data to validated TCR candidates for immunotherapy and oncology pipelines alike.

"We are excited to see HLA Protein Technologies secure this significant NCI license, which underscores the innovative spirit of Oklahoma's life sciences sector and aligns perfectly with our mission to expand USA-based life sciences manufacturing," said Michelle Gregory, Director, Life Science Oklahoma.

Dr. Rico Buchli, Chief Scientific Officer at HLA Protein Technologies said that this NCI license reflects HLA Protein Technologies' commitment to delivering best-in-class HLA and tetramer products and services for TCR research.

"By rapidly advancing these tools toward commercialization, we're helping biopharma accelerate the development of next-generation immunotherapies targeting cancer and other diseases across oncology and beyond," Buchli said.

ABOUT HLA PROTEIN TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Based in Oklahoma City, HLA Protein Technologies offers the industry's broadest portfolio of soluble, natively folded recombinant HLA proteins and HLA tetramer reagents supporting T-cell research, B-cell research, TCR discovery and anti-HLA antibody detection and characterization. With more than 25 years of HLA expertise, HLA Protein Technologies delivers solutions that advance immunotherapy, oncology and transplant science in over 20 countries.

For more detailed information, please visit https://www.hlaprotein.com/

Public and media queries: https://www.hlaprotein.com/contact-us

News Source: HLA Protein Technologies Inc.

Related link: https://www.hlaprotein.com/

This press release was issued on behalf of the news source, who is solely responsible for its accuracy, by Send2Press Newswire. To view the original story, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/hla-protein-technologies-new-nci-license-speeds-tcr-immunotherapy-and-oncology-discovery/

PLANO, Texas, Aug 11, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Optimal Blue today released its July 2026 Market Advantage mortgage data report, which found that mortgage activity softened as rising rates weighed on both purchase and refinance demand. Total rate-lock volume declined 11% month over month (MoM) but remained 5% above July 2025. Purchase lock volume fell 12% from June but remained 6% higher year over year (YoY), with purchase loans accounting for more than 81% of total lock volume. Refinance share ended the month at nearly 19% of total production.

Mortgage rates moved higher across all major products in July. The Optimal Blue Mortgage Market Indices (OBMMI) 30-year conforming fixed rate, the benchmark for CME Group's Mortgage Rate futures, rose 26 basis points (bps) MoM to 6.72%, essentially unchanged from a year ago. The 10-year Treasury yield climbed 31 bps to 4.75%, while the spread between the 10-year Treasury and the OBMMI 30-year conforming rate narrowed 5 bps to 197 bps.

The July report debuts a new 12-month rate and spread forecast powered by Virtual Economist, the mortgage industry's first and only AI- and machine learning-powered forecasting tool that combines public economic data and Optimal Blue's proprietary lock volume data to deliver real-time rate and market volume forecasts. The July forecast projects the OBMMI 30-year conforming fixed rate will moderate toward the mid-6% range by mid-2027.

"July was a clear reminder of how sensitive this market remains to rate movement," said Mike Vough, senior vice president of corporate strategy at Optimal Blue. "A 26-basis-point rate increase was enough to pull both purchase and refinance volume meaningfully below June's pace. The market is still outperforming last year, but momentum remains fragile and highly dependent on where rates move next."

On the secondary side, execution spreads tightened modestly across major products, with best-efforts-to-mandatory spreads for conventional 30-year products narrowing 1 bp to 30 bps while government 30-year spreads tightened 2 bps to 16 bps. Mortgage servicing rights (MSRs) for conforming 30-year loans increased 2 bps to 1.34%, moving in line with rates. The share of loans sold at the highest price tier improved 128 bps to 79%.

The July report also introduces three new secondary market datasets sourced from Optimal Blue's CompassEdge hedging and loan trading platform: spec-eligible pipeline share, loan pipeline versus hedge alignment and MSR retention versus release strategy mix.

"MSR valuations increasing and top-tier executions improving share are two constructive signals in an otherwise challenging month," Vough said. "The new pipeline-to-hedge alignment data show lenders using the UM30 5.5 as their primary hedge, accounting for 67% of hedges, while 35% of production is slotting into the 5.5 coupon and 24% into the 6.0 coupon. That gap between where risk sits and how it is being hedged gives capital markets desks the visibility they need to manage execution more precisely."

Key findings from the Market Advantage report include:

VOLUME TRENDS AND MARKET COMPOSITION

* Refi activity retreats: Refinance share ended the month at nearly 19% of total production. Rate-and-term refinance volume declined 17% MoM but remained 3% above July 2025 levels. Cash-out refinance volume fell 5% MoM and was essentially unchanged from a year ago.

* Purchase activity cools: Purchase lock volume fell 12% from June but remained 6% higher YoY. Purchase loans accounted for more than 81% of total lock volume in July.

* Conforming share keeps shrinking: Conforming share declined to 47% of total production, down 135 bps from June and nearly 5 percentage points from a year ago. Non-conforming share expanded to nearly 21% of volume. FHA represented 19% of production while VA loans accounted for more than 12%.

* Non-QM growth continues: Non-qualified mortgage loans accounted for more than 10% of total lock volume in July, up 1.4 percentage points MoM and more than 2 percentage points from a year ago. Investor and debt service coverage ratio (DSCR) loans represented more than a third of non-QM production, bank statement loans accounted for more than 30% and all other expanded guideline products made up the remaining 36%.

* ARMs stay elevated: Adjustable-rate mortgages accounted for more than 11% of lock volume in July, remaining above the 10% range that characterized much of 2025.

* New construction holds strong: Planned unit developments (PUDs), a proxy for new construction activity, increased to 29% of total volume. Single-family detached homes remained the dominant property type at 63% of production.

RATES AND PRICING

* Rates rise on all products: The OBMMI 30-year conforming fixed rate rose 26 bps MoM to 6.72%, essentially unchanged from a year ago. The 10-year Treasury yield climbed 31 bps to 4.75%. The spread between the 10-year Treasury and the OBMMI 30-year conforming rate narrowed 5 bps to 197 bps.

* MSRs move with rates: MSRs for conforming 30-year loans increased 2 bps to 1.34%, representing a 5.38 multiple.

* Top-tier executions improve: The share of loans sold at the highest price tier increased 128 bps to 79%. Loans sold at the second-ranked price tier declined 115 bps to 11%, while third-ranked executions were essentially unchanged at 3%. Fourth-tier or lower executions declined 16 bps to 6%.

MARKET OUTLOOK

* Rates to ease over 12 months: The OBMMI 30-year conforming fixed rate is forecast at 6.72% over the next month and 6.76% over three months before moderating to 6.58% over the 12-month horizon.

* Primary-secondary spread to narrow: The primary-secondary spread is forecast to narrow to 0.94% over the next month before widening to 1.03% over three months and 1.06% over 12 months, returning toward historical norms.

CHANNEL AND EXECUTION

* Hedged loan sales hold steady: The share of hedged loan sales to agency mortgage-backed securities (MBS) was essentially unchanged in July.

* Execution spreads tighten: Best-efforts-to-mandatory spreads for conventional 30-year products narrowed 1 bp to 30 bps. Government 30-year spreads tightened 2 bps to 16 bps. Conventional 15-year spreads tightened 2 bps to 41 bps.

* Spec-eligible share edges lower: The share of a lender's pipeline eligible for specified pool delivery declined from 81% to 80% in July, with the largest drop in the $150,000 to $250,000 unpaid principal balance range.

* UM30 5.5 remains the dominant hedge: Lenders used the UM30 5.5 as the predominant hedging instrument, accounting for 67% of hedges, while 35% of production is slotting into the 5.5 coupon and 24% into the 6.0 coupon.

* Servicing retention holds steady: The share of loans sold with servicing retained remained at 53% in July, down 700 bps from January 2026.

* Investor participation declines: Investor count declined from 14 to 13 in July, the lowest level since December 2025.

PRODUCT MIX AND BORROWER PROFILES

* Conforming first-time buyer share softens: First-time homebuyers accounted for 44% of conforming purchase locks in July, down 1 percentage point from June. FHA first-time homebuyer increased modestly to 70% from June's 69%.

* DTIs stabilize: Purchase debt-to-income (DTI) ratios held below year-ago levels across all major products: conforming borrowers at 36.7%, FHA at 43.5% and VA at 43.1%.

* Credit quality remains strong: The average credit score across all locks nationwide was 730, ranging across top metros from 761 in the San Francisco Bay Area to 715 in San Antonio. Meanwhile, across the nation, the average purchase credit score was 735. For rate-and-term refinances, the average credit score was 737; cash-out refinances saw an average credit score of 696. Conforming borrowers averaged a score of 753, VA borrowers 716 and FHA borrowers 676.

* Pull-through weakens: Purchase pull-through declined 2.4 percentage points to 78.9% in July. Refinance pull-through fell 1.2 percentage points to 69.9%.

* Loan amounts dip: The average locked loan amount declined to just over $395,000 in July from nearly $399,000 in June. Average loan-to-value (LTV) ratios nationwide were 81.0%, ranging from 70.0% in the greater Los Angeles area to 88.4% in San Antonio.

To view the full July 2026 Market Advantage report, complete the free subscription form: https://engage.optimalblue.com/market-advantage.

Subscribers receive a report PDF each month with the latest data. Members of the press are eligible for special, advance access each month and should contact Alexandra Kreuter to be added to the media list.

ABOUT THE MARKET ADVANTAGE DATA REPORT

Optimal Blue issues the Market Advantage mortgage data report each month to provide insight into U.S. mortgage trends and drivers of lending profitability. Data is sourced from the Optimal Blue PPE, which is used to price and lock more than one-third of all mortgages nationwide, and Optimal Blue's hedging and loan trading system, which supports approximately 40% of loans hedged and sold into the secondary market. The report also includes forward-looking rate and spread forecasts generated by Virtual Economist, an AI- and machine learning-powered forecasting tool built on public economic data and Optimal Blue's proprietary lock volume data. As the leader in mortgage capital markets technology, Optimal Blue has a direct view of both origination and secondary market activity and the interconnectedness of the two. Unlike self-reported survey data, Optimal Blue's direct-source data accurately reflect the in-process loans in lenders' pipelines and secondary market executions. Visit Optimal Blue's website to subscribe to receive the free report each month.

Nothing herein shall be construed as, nor is Optimal Blue providing, any legal, trading, hedging or financial advice.

ABOUT OPTIMAL BLUE

Optimal Blue powers strategic performance across the mortgage capital markets ecosystem. As the industry's only end-to-end capital markets platform, our technology, data and integrations bridge the primary and secondary markets to help lenders of all sizes optimize performance - from pricing accuracy to margin protection and every step in between. Backed by over 20 years of proven expertise, our modern, cloud-native technology delivers the real-time automation, actionable data and seamless connectivity lenders need to navigate market volatility and scale for growth. To learn more about how Optimal Blue helps deliver measurable ROI, visit https://OptimalBlue.com/.

News Source: Optimal Blue

Related link: https://www2.optimalblue.com/

This press release was issued on behalf of the news source, who is solely responsible for its accuracy, by Send2Press Newswire. To view the original story, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/optimal-blue-report-rising-rates-cool-july-mortgage-activity-but-demand-remains-above-year-ago-levels/

MIAMI, Fla., Aug 10, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- A first-of-its-kind study published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention this summer found that invasive mold infections may be far more common, and far more dangerous, than doctors previously understood, FixMold Miami announced today.

Researchers who reviewed cases at four Atlanta-area hospitals and their affiliated outpatient clinics from 2020 to 2024 identified about 450 confirmed cases of invasive mold disease, and roughly one in three of those patients died in the hospital. The CDC has previously estimated that more than 15,000 hospitalizations a year in the United States are tied to invasive mold disease, and the new study, described by its senior author as the first estimate of its kind, found that hospitals can expect three to five cases a year for every 100 inpatient beds, with higher rates at larger academic hospitals.

Invasive mold disease is rare and distinct from the respiratory irritation many people associate with everyday household mold exposure. Most people who inhale mold spores never become seriously ill. But the CDC researchers found the confirmed infections were concentrated in people with weakened immune systems, including cancer patients, older adults and people recovering from severe illness such as COVID-19. Many of these infections are linked to fungi in the Aspergillus genus, which is common in the outdoor and indoor environment. Researchers involved in the study said climate-driven increases in hurricanes, flooding and humidity are expected to expand overall exposure to mold spores in the years ahead.

For South Florida, where high humidity, an aging housing stock and a large population of older residents intersect with a hurricane season that runs through November, the findings add new context to a problem FixMold Miami has spent more than three decades responding to. The company said the new data reinforce why it built its testing process around identifying exactly what is growing in a property and how much of it is present, rather than relying on a visual inspection alone.

"A house functions a lot like a body," said Abraham Katz, founder of FixMold Miami. "The HVAC system works like its lungs, moving air through every room, and the walls and insulation act like its skin, holding on to moisture where a problem can develop out of sight for weeks. When either one is compromised, whatever is growing inside doesn't stay contained to one room. It moves through the air the same way the people living there breathe it."

"This CDC study puts a number on something we've believed for a long time," Katz continued. "Most people exposed to mold will be fine. But for older residents, for anyone going through cancer treatment, for a household with a new baby or someone with a compromised immune system, knowing exactly what's in the air isn't optional information. It's something a family deserves to have."

AN EIGHT-PART LABORATORY TESTING MENU, NOT A SINGLE TEST

Where many companies rely on a single air sample, FixMold Miami runs contamination through a menu of eight distinct laboratory tests, each designed to answer a different question about what is actually present in a home or building.

Mycotoxin testing identifies the toxic byproducts that specific mold species release into the air, and is typically recommended for people with persistent symptoms, chronic exposure concerns, water-damaged structures or HVAC contamination. Total particle analysis measures the full range of airborne particles in a space, including fiberglass, combustion particles, mold fragments and ultra-fine contaminants, and is often used for air quality complaints, HVAC contamination, dust circulation issues and post-remediation verification. A related fiberglass analysis specifically identifies loose fiberglass particles circulating through HVAC systems, most often ordered after irritation complaints, damaged ductwork or exposed insulation.

Mold and bacteria analysis evaluates spores, bacterial amplification and microbial growth patterns from air, swab, tape lift and surface samples, and is typically used for odor concerns, visible growth or known water intrusion. Mold fungi identification goes a step further, identifying the specific genera and fungal ecology present, information used in pre-remediation planning, post-remediation verification and health-related investigations where a family or a physician needs to know exactly what species is involved.

For airborne conditions specifically, spore trap analysis captures and analyzes mold spores to determine indoor air quality and fungal concentration levels, a test frequently requested during real estate transactions. For visible growth, tape lift analysis and swab sampling allow technicians to collect suspect material directly from a surface, whether a stained ceiling tile, a water-damaged wall or HVAC components, for direct laboratory identification.

Every sample from every test is processed through Hayes Microbial Consulting, an accredited third-party laboratory, so the results a homeowner, buyer, physician or insurance adjuster receives were not generated or interpreted by the same company performing the remediation.

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR SOUTH FLORIDA HOMES AND BUSINESSES

FixMold Miami said its response to the CDC findings is not a new product but a renewed emphasis on an existing one: a laboratory testing process the company already runs on every job, rather than reserving lab-grade analysis for cases with visible mold. Technicians use infrared thermal imaging, moisture mapping and Wi-Fi-connected air monitors to locate hidden moisture before it becomes visible growth, and the resulting reports are written to be usable by physicians, insurance carriers, property managers, and condo or HOA boards, not only the property owner.

With the CDC calling its own estimate the first of its kind, and with South Florida's climate, aging building stock and large retiree population among the conditions researchers flagged as likely to increase mold exposure over time, FixMold Miami said it expects continued demand for laboratory-verified testing, both from families managing chronic symptoms and from real estate transactions, condo boards and healthcare-adjacent facilities across the region.

ABOUT FIXMOLD MIAMI

FixMold Miami is a family-owned, state-licensed and IICRC-certified mold inspection, testing, indoor-air-quality and remediation company founded by Abraham Katz, serving Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and Monroe counties. The company is backed by more than three decades of Katz family experience in mold testing and remediation dating back to 1989. The Katz family has founded and led several established companies within the industry, including Five Boro Mold Specialist and Miami Mold Specialist, and helped establish the Florida Association of Mold Professionals. FixMold Miami serves homeowners, condominium and HOA boards, property managers, commercial businesses and marine clients throughout South Florida, with more than 1,000 five-star reviews across Google, Yelp, BBB, Facebook, Angi and Thumbtack, and BBB A+ accreditation since 2023. The company offers a 12-month warranty, price-match guarantee, financing options and 24/7 concierge support.

Website: https://fixmold.com/
Service Area: Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and Monroe counties, along with surrounding South Florida communities.

News Source: FixMold Miami

Related link: https://fixmold.com/

This press release was issued on behalf of the news source, who is solely responsible for its accuracy, by Send2Press Newswire. To view the original story, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/fixmold-miami-expands-laboratory-grade-mold-testing-as-new-cdc-data-show-invasive-mold-infections-are-more-common-and-more-severe-than-previously-known/

WEST GROVE, Pa., Aug 10, 2026 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) -- Simpson, a nonprofit senior living organization serving older adults across Pennsylvania, is launching a TechLab Speaker Series at its Jenner's Pond community in West Grove. The public series will help older adults, families and health care professionals explore how artificial intelligence, remote monitoring and emerging technologies are changing the way older adults live and receive care.

The sessions will feature internationally recognized physicians, technologists, and senior living thought leaders discussing innovations in aging, memory care and independent living.

The TechLab Speaker Series is open to the public and supports Simpson's belief that the future of aging is already here. The educational series builds on the innovations already in use at Jenner's Pond. Jenner's Pond has developed one of the region's most progressive approaches to memory care by combining Comfort Matters(r), a nationally accredited approach to dementia care, with person-directed living that honors each resident's routines, choices, and dignity. AI-driven health monitoring and therapeutic gardens designed to encourage freedom and movement are examples of Simpson's commitment to personalized support for residents' health and well-being.

"As Americans live longer, more people will face dementia themselves or care for someone they love," said Dr. Carol McKinley, PhD, president and CEO of Simpson. "At the same time, technological advances are creating new opportunities to help older adults live healthier, safer, and more independent lives. At Simpson, we've created a progressive health services community using technology to improve the lives of our residents."

TECHLAB SPEAKER SERIES

"What If Your Healthcare Team Could See Tomorrow's Health Risks Today?"
Wednesday, August 19, at 2 p.m. EDT

Dr. Kristopher Crawford, MD, CEO of Unity Gap, will join Dr. Carol McKinley, PhD, President and CEO of Simpson, to discuss how technology-enabled clinical monitoring and physician oversight are helping identify health concerns earlier, reduce avoidable hospitalizations, and support healthier aging. The presentation is designed for healthcare professionals, older adults planning for their future, family caregivers, and anyone interested in the role technology plays in healthcare.

"Can AI Help Us Hold On to What Makes Us Human?"
Tuesday, August 25, at 10 a.m. EDT

Dr. Stu Hamilton, PhD and founder of Amba, will join Dr. Carol McKinley, PhD, President and CEO of Simpson, to examine how artificial intelligence is supporting independent living, assisted living, and memory care, and how AI is helping older adults remain at home longer. The discussion will explore how technology can enhance safety, reduce falls and hospitalizations, and help preserve older adults' independence.

In addition to the featured presentations, Jenner's Pond is offering two opportunities to try health technologies in person:

"Try Smart Health Technology in Person" Demonstrations
Thursday, August 13 and Thursday, August 27, both at 10 a.m. EDT

Led by Jenner's Pond technology concierge Jacob Brooke, these interactive sessions will introduce guests to smartwatches, health apps, wearable devices, and wireless health monitoring technologies that can help support healthier, more independent living.

Jenner's Pond is a Life Plan Community offering independent living, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing services to older adults throughout Chester County.

"The TechLab Speaker Series is another example of Simpson's commitment to sharing knowledge, expanding access to innovative care, and helping community members and their families prepare for the future," said Dr. McKinley.

Community members are invited to attend one or all of the TechLab Speaker Series events. RSVP is required; register at http://www.TechLabSeries.org/ or call (610) 822-2958.

ABOUT SIMPSON

Since 1865, Simpson has met the changing needs and desires of Pennsylvania area seniors from diverse backgrounds as a not-for-profit family of services consisting of three Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs): Simpson House, Simpson Meadows and Jenner's Pond; three affordable senior living communities: Simpson Gardens I, Simpson Gardens II, and Simpson Midtown; as well as Simpson HomeCare and Simpson Rehabilitation. The organization is dedicated to providing elders from diverse backgrounds with more amenities, better services, improved care, and a higher quality of life in beautiful, dignified, and spiritual settings.

For more information, visit https://www.simpsonsenior.org/.

News Source: Simpson

Related link: https://www.simpsonsenior.org/

This press release was issued on behalf of the news source, who is solely responsible for its accuracy, by Send2Press Newswire. To view the original story, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/simpson-launches-techlab-speaker-series-exploring-the-future-of-aging/