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Kansas Town Settles Lawsuit with Former Reporter Over Controversial Police Raid

Article 0 Comments A small Kansas town has agreed to pay $850,000 to a former reporter at its weekly newspaper to end her federal lawsuit over a police raid of the paper’s offices in 2023 that ignited a national furor over press freedom. Now-retired Marion County Record reporter Phyllis Zorn said in her lawsuit that the raid violated press freedoms and protections from unreasonable law enforcement searches guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution. She also said it almost immediately led to health problems, causing the return of potentially life-threatening seizures that had been controlled for years with medication. Zorn’s attorney, Randy Rathbun, and an attorney for the city Marion, Jennifer Hill, filed a joint statement Tuesday — the third anniversary of the raid on the newspaper’s offices — that Zorn’s lawsuit was being dismissed. It was among the lawsuits filed in federal court against local officials over the raids of the newspaper’s offices, the home of Publisher Eric Meyer and the home of a former City Council member. Rathbun did not immediately return a phone message Wednesday seeking comment. Another attorney for the city, Scott Ufford, declined to comment about the settlement but confirmed the amount. Marion Police Chief Gideon Cody...

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Trump ‘Energy Emergency’ Could Fast-Track Expansion of Louisiana LNG Export Terminal

Article 0 Comments Less than two years after opening, a liquefied natural gas terminal near New Orleans is seeking a multi-billion-dollar expansion under a new Trump administration “emergency” permitting process that shortens environmental review and may weaken protections for surrounding wetlands and waterways. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers granted Plaquemines LNG, on the Mississippi River between Myrtle Grove and Port Sulphur, fast-tracked permitting under a ” national energy emergency ” President Donald Trump declared last year. The agency cut the public comment period from the typical 30 days to just 10, ending July 2, and is expected to move quickly to approve the expansion, which would allow the terminal to more than double in size, growing from nearly 590 acres to about 1,220. That would make the facility the largest LNG export terminal in North America, according to its owner, Virginia-based Venture Global. Environmentalists warn that the terminal’s expedited review could reduce scrutiny of dredging, in-water construction, and the filling of marshlands in a region suffering from rapid land loss. By the Army Corps’ estimates, the $18 billion expansion could damage up to 470 acres of wetlands and water bottoms in central Plaquemines Parish, about 25 miles south of...

World Nomads Announces Expanded Travel Insurance Plans and Upgraded Benefits For Canadian Travellers 0

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World Nomads Announces Expanded Travel Insurance Plans and Upgraded Benefits For Canadian Travellers

Enhanced coverage, greater flexibility, and a new underwriting partnership with Zurich reflect evolving traveller needs New ways to travel, covered: New Epic and Annual Multi-Trip plans expand options for both big trips and frequent flyers. More control when plans change: More flexibility for today’s unpredictable travel, with optional Cancel For Any Reason coverage. Shaped by customer feedback: Stronger protection with added benefits like rental car coverage, pet emergency care, and trip exchanges in select plans. Confidence behind every trip: Now underwritten by Zurich, a long-standing global insurer known for strength, stability, and innovation. Vancouver, BC (July 1, 2026) – With flight disruptions, rising travel costs and global uncertainty reshaping how Canadians plan their trips, travellers are increasingly looking for more flexibility and deeper travel protections. Record travel volumes – nearly 100 million trips in just one quarter – are also increasing travellers’ exposure to those unexpected disruptions. In response, World Nomads Canada has introduced expanded travel insurance products, with upgraded benefits, new plan options, and greater flexibility for today’s increasingly complex travel landscape. “Travel today looks very different than it did even a few years ago,” said Christina Tunnah, Head of the Americas at World Nomads. “Canadian travellers are navigating more...

Canadians navigating more complex, high-pressure driving conditions than ever: Desjardins Insurance survey 0

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Canadians navigating more complex, high-pressure driving conditions than ever: Desjardins Insurance survey

Lévis, QC (July 29, 2026) – A new national survey from Desjardins Insurance, conducted among nearly 4,000 Canadians in 2026, reveals that road safety in Canada is being reshaped by a convergence of risks, as drivers navigate increasingly demanding conditions while under pressure. These insights point to opportunities to better understand risks and encourage safer driving behaviours. A more complex driving environment While distracted driving remains the most widely recognized issue, the findings show that the story is broader. Today’s road conditions are defined by a combination of external distractions, high stress levels and frequent exposure to risky behaviour, all of which are influencing how Canadians experience the road. Six in ten Canadians (60%) rank distracted driving among the top risks, a position it continues to hold nationally. However, distraction itself has evolved. External factors, such as traffic, pedestrians and activity outside the vehicle, are now the leading source (35%), followed by cell-phone related distractions (32%), in-vehicle technology (26%) and everyday habits like eating or drinking (22%). This highlights the importance of maintaining focus and being mindful of both in-vehicle and external distractions. Drivers under pressure At the same time, Canadians are getting behind the wheel under strain. Nearly half (49%) say they frequently feel stressed or tired, pointing to the growing role that mental load...

CFOs Balance AI Investments Between Productivity, Decision Quality 0

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CFOs Balance AI Investments Between Productivity, Decision Quality

CFOs must rebalance AI portfolios toward enterprise value to meet board expectations: Gartner survey shows 45% of CFOs say their AI investments lean toward productivity, while 20% say these investments lean toward decision quality Stamford, CT (June 30, 2026) – Finance organizations are often investing in artificial intelligence (AI) in ways that do not align with board expectations, creating a gap between AI activity and perceived business value, according to Gartner, Inc., a business and technology insights company. A Gartner survey of 204 finance leaders in March 2026 revealed that just 20% of finance AI projects lean towards decision quality, while 45% of AI investments in finance lean towards productivity (see Figure 1). “Many CFOs are prioritizing AI use cases focused on productivity and efficiency,” said Shankar Keshav, Principal Analyst in the Gartner Finance practice, “However, boards place greater emphasis on investments that drive growth, improve decision-making and deliver competitive advantage.” Figure 1. Share of AI Investment Outcomes in Finance Source: Gartner (July 2026) Finance AI portfolios are frequently concentrated on use cases that enhance individual productivity or streamline transactional processes. While these investments can deliver measurable efficiencies in the finance function, there is a ceiling to the benefits they...

Hippocratic AI Announces New Suite of Rapid Response Climate Agents as Extreme Weather and Record Breaking Heat Escalate Health Threats 0

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Hippocratic AI Announces New Suite of Rapid Response Climate Agents as Extreme Weather and Record Breaking Heat Escalate Health Threats

Already Proven: Hippocratic AI and EmblemHealth Demonstrate How Rapid-Response Climate Resilience Agents Are Helping Vulnerable Members. Expanded Solution Now Available for Payers and Providers Menlo Park, CA (July 31, 2026) – Following record-breaking temperatures that affected more than 200 million Americans over the Fourth of July weekend and on the heels of back-to-back heat waves that have set national records across much of Europe, Hippocratic AI is pleased to announce that its climate-responsive voice AI agents are now available for health systems and payers across the country to deploy immediately, as healthcare organizations prepare for ongoing heatwaves and extreme weather brought on by El Niño. The launch of rapid-response resilience agents builds on the recent successful outreach conducted by EmblemHealth and other clients who have deployed the agents to help vulnerable patients during extreme heat, cold, smoke and other factors. The outcomes are real: During one recent heat wave, EmblemHealth’s bilingual voice AI agent, Rachel, reached more than 16,000 members in 24 hours, identified that 10% needed further help, and earned a 9.02 out of 10 member satisfaction score. The agent, powered by Hippocratic AI, conducted clinical heat stroke assessments, safely routed vulnerable individuals to local cooling centers, and identified...

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Legal Battles Expected Over Corpus Christi’s Water Rate Referendum

Article 0 Comments Reservoirs have rebounded, but the fight over water isn’t over in Corpus Christi. The City Council has ordered a public referendum on a citizen-led petition that would sharply increase the price of water for industrial facilities during drought. The proposal is expected to face a litany of legal challenges before November’s election. It would add millions of dollars in fees to the region’s largest water users, including ExxonMobil, Occidental Chemical and Valero, the next time reservoir levels are below 30 percent full, like they were for 29 months until early August. Community and environmental groups gathered nearly 13,000 signatures of registered voters to get their proposal on the ballot. “This was a lot of signatures,” said Corpus Christi Mayor Pro-tem Kaylynn Paxson at the City Council meeting Tuesday evening. “This is something that doesn’t happen every day. I am very proud and amazed to say that this actually took place.” The 6-2 vote to call a special election on the referendum followed years of growing tensions between the public in Corpus Christi and the industrial giants that consume enormous amounts of water. As the region’s main reservoirs fell from 30 percent full in March of 2024 to...

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Washington University in St. Louis Sued for Retaliation

Article 0 Comments Washington University in St. Louis is being sued for allegedly violating federal law by firing an employee in retaliation for her opposition to race discrimination and filing a discrimination charge with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). According to the suit, Amega Thaier, who worked as a senior program manager at Washington University’s Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center, complained to both the university and the EEOC that she was separated from her colleagues because of her race during a mandatory training session provided by the University’s Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Thaier complained about the incident internally in January 2025 and later filed a charge with the EEOC in July 2025. After, Thaier’s supervisors retaliated against her by transferring her job responsibilities to other employees and eventually eliminating her position completely in November 2025, resulting in her termination, the suit said. The alleged conduct violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits retaliation for opposing race discrimination or filing a charge of discrimination. The EEOC filed suit (EEOC v. The Washington University, Case No. 4:26-cv-01289) in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri after first attempting to reach...

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Officials Urge Gulf Coast Beachgoers to Beware of Deadly Bacterial Infections

Article 0 Comments Health officials in Louisiana are urging beachgoers to take precautions during a summertime surge in infections from a flesh-eating bacteria found in coastal waters. Louisiana has confirmed nine cases of Vibrio vulnificus infections this year, the state’s health department said last week in a news release. All were hospitalized, and five died. During the same period over the previous decade, Louisiana reported an average of seven cases and one death. “Seek medical care immediately if a wound exposed to brackish or salt water becomes red, swollen, painful, warm or discolored,” officials said in the release. “Tell the health care provider about the water exposure.” The Gulf is an ideal environment Vibrio bacteria thrive in seawater and in the brackish mix of fresh and saltwater found in estuaries and lagoons. Most infections are reported from May to October, and most happen in states along the Gulf Coast. Doctors say the Gulf is an ideal environment with the right amounts of salt and heat to let this organism proliferate. The mostly deadly type is Vibrio vulnificus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As many as one in five of those infections are fatal, a much higher...

Manulife Expands Partnership with Microsoft to Accelerate Enterprise AI Governance and Innovation 0

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Manulife Expands Partnership with Microsoft to Accelerate Enterprise AI Governance and Innovation

Five-year agreement advances Manulife’s strategic priority to become an AI-powered organization Manulife will adopt Microsoft’s Frontier Suite and deploy Microsoft Agent 365 to drive AI solutions at enterprise scale Manulife will expand deployment of Microsoft 365 Copilot to more than 30,000 employees Toronto, ON (July 29, 2026) – Manulife and Microsoft are pleased to announce the renewal and expansion of their longstanding relationship, supporting Manulife’s strategic priority to become an AI-powered organization. As part of this partnership, Manulife has adopted Microsoft 365 E7 Frontier Suite capabilities to enable innovation at scale with secure cloud and AI solutions. This includes expanding adoption of Microsoft 365 Copilot to over 30,000 employees and deploying Microsoft Agent 365 – a next-generation suite that provides a control plane for governing, monitoring, and securing AI agents at enterprise scale. The five-year agreement supports Manulife’s continued transformation and responsible scaling of AI-enabled capabilities across its global operations. “Our partnership with Microsoft is a critical enabler of Manulife’s continued evolution into a truly AI-powered organization,” said Shamus Weiland, Chief Technology & Operations Officer, Manulife. “Adopting the Microsoft Frontier Suite represents the next phase of that transformation, giving us the trusted foundation to advance AI across our global operations...