Author: sHq_LoGiNz

• Lucid Gravity Grand Touring starts at $134,500¹ CDN and is available to order now
• Lucid Gravity delivers an interior with space for up to 7-adults and their gear
• Lucid Gravity offers up to nearly 3,400 litres of cargo space.
• The full Lucid Gravity product line features an integrated NACS charging port and access to the Tesla Supercharger network, with Gravity Grand Touring projected to have up to 720km² of range and 400 kW fast charging.

TORONTO, ON, Oct. 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Lucid Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: LCID), maker of the world’s most advanced electric vehicles, today announced that deliveries of the Lucid Gravity have begun in Canada.

“There has been great anticipation for the Lucid Gravity in Canada,” said Erwin Raphael, Vice President of Revenue at Lucid Group. “It offers space for up to seven adults and their luggage. It can handle even the most challenging conditions, making it ideal for extended road trips.”

The Lucid Gravity Grand Touring is equipped with dual electric motors delivering 828 horsepower and can accelerate from 0-100km in 3.6 seconds, while delivering over 720km³ of projected range on a single charge. As with its award-winning Air sedan, Lucid leveraged its innovative Space Concept philosophy to deliver an expansive interior that comfortably seats up to seven adults with space remaining for their luggage. It can also offer up to nearly 3,400 litres of cargo space.

Lucid Gravity offers wide access, with no adapter necessary to the Tesla Supercharger network. Groundbreaking technology will allow the 926V Lucid Gravity Grand Touring to charge seamlessly at up to 400kW on 1000V charging equipment and at sustained speeds of up to 225kW on 500V architecture fast chargers, including Tesla V3 Superchargers. At peak charging rates, the Lucid Gravity sustains a robust charging curve, adding more than 320 kms in less than 11 minutes. 

Customers in Canada can create their own Lucid Gravity Grand Touring on the “Design Yours” configurator on the Lucid website, links to which can be found here for English and here for French. Conceived from the ground up without compromise, Lucid Gravity is enabled by Lucid’s revolutionary technology to provide the interior space and practicality of a full-size SUV within the exterior footprint of a mid-size SUV. As a result, it provides a sophisticated space for up to seven adults, game-changing versatility, and an unparalleled driving experience.

Lucid’s global network includes 64 Studios and Service Centers, you can find the nearest location at https://lucidmotors.com/locations.

About Lucid Group

Lucid (NASDAQ: LCID) is a Silicon Valley-based technology company focused on creating the most advanced EVs in the world. The award-winning Lucid Air and new Lucid Gravity deliver best-in-class performance, sophisticated design, expansive interior space and unrivaled energy efficiency. Lucid assembles both vehicles in its state-of-the-art, vertically integrated factory in Arizona. Through its industry-leading technology and innovations, Lucid is advancing the state-of-the-art of EV technology for the benefit of all.

Media Contact

media@lucidmotors.com

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SOURCE Lucid Group

New Montefiore Einstein Research Published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine Emphasizes Importance of Multi-Faceted, Symptom-Focused Treatment Strategy for Critically Ill Patients

BRONX, N.Y., Oct. 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — In the U.S., more than 5 million people are admitted to Intensive Care Units (ICUs) each year for the treatment of acute or life-threatening medical problems. Mechanical ventilation, when a machine moves air into and out of the lungs of people experiencing acute respiratory distress, is a crucial form of life support provided to more than 300,000 patients annually in the ICU. New research published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine shows that in a cohort of more than 10,000 people, patients who received a high proportion of deep sedation while mechanically ventilated had a greater risk of adverse discharge – losing their ability to live independently – compared to patients who did not receive deep sedation.  

Good Intentions Lead to Unintended Harm

Deep sedation – when medications keep patients from being fully conscious and not easily aroused – is commonly used in ICUs across the country with the aim of preventing ventilated patients from experiencing emotional distress and/or pain during their critical recovery. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of deep sedation has become more common practice in ICUs nationwide. The problem is that when a patient is deeply sedated, it inhibits them from being able to move their bodies, causing unintended harm. Findings from investigators in the Department of Anesthesiology at Montefiore Einstein suggest that patients who received targeted, symptom-focused treatments with non-opioid medications, instead of deep sedation, had higher rates of independent living after being discharged from the hospital.

“In this study, we found sedative medications were more likely to be delivered to patients to aid with sleep and rest, however use of sedative medications can actually strip the exhausted patient of the healthy restorative sleep they need most during illness,” said author Matthias Eikermann M.D., Francis F. Foldes Professor and Chair, Department of Anesthesiology at Montefiore Einstein. “Our data shows this lack of quality sleep leads to greater rates of immobility in the ICU, which compounds into even more delirium and greater loss of the muscles and nerves needed during recovery.”

With evidence from this study, the Department of Anesthesiology spearheaded the creation of a system-wide Mobilization Committee including the departments of Anesthesiology, Medicine, and Rehabilitation Medicine (including physical therapy, and respiratory therapy teams) and nursing, with the goal of reducing the use of deep sedation and increasing early mobilization in the ICUs. This multidisciplinary group will conduct targeted rounds in the ICUs to identify barriers to early mobilization and develop strategies to implement patient-centered interventions. Efforts are supported by a digital patient board in Montefiore Einstein’s electronic record system to track these newly developed protocols and a new Surgical ICU Order Set to ensure clinicians have the tools needed to identify alternative pain treatments.

By deploying a new symptom-focused treatment strategy, Montefiore Einstein investigators believe that providers will be able to more comprehensively evaluate patients and recognize symptoms of emotional distress, treating them accordingly with antipsychotics or non-opioid analgesics. 

“Our hope is that the data published in this investigation will fuel national efforts to improve education about deep sedation and adherence to evidence-based guidelines,” said Dr. Eikermann. “The ultimate goal is to enhance overall patient care and help people return to the lives they want to live with their loved ones.”

About Montefiore Health System

Montefiore Health System is one of New York’s premier academic health systems. It is a recognized leader in providing exceptional quality and personalized, accountable care to approximately three million people in communities across the Bronx, Westchester, and the Hudson Valley. It comprises ten hospitals, including the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore, Burke Rehabilitation Hospital, and over two hundred outpatient ambulatory care sites. The advanced clinical and translational research at its medical school, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, directly informs patient care and improves outcomes. From the Montefiore-Einstein Centers of Excellence in cancer, cardiology and vascular care, pediatrics, and transplantation, to its preeminent school-based health program, Montefiore is a fully integrated healthcare delivery system providing coordinated, comprehensive care to patients and their families. For more information, please visit www.montefiore.org. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn, or view us on Facebook and YouTube

About Albert Einstein College of Medicine 

Albert Einstein College of Medicine is one of the nation’s premier centers for research, medical education and clinical investigation. During the 2024-25 academic year, Einstein is home to 712 M.D. students, 226 Ph.D. students, 112 students in the combined M.D./Ph.D. program, and approximately 250 postdoctoral research fellows. The College of Medicine has more than 2,000 full-time faculty members located on the main campus and at its clinical affiliates. In 2024, Einstein received more than $192 million in awards from the National Institutes of Health. This includes the funding of major research centers at Einstein in cancer, aging, intellectual development disorders, diabetes, clinical and translational research, liver disease, and AIDS. Other areas where the College of Medicine is concentrating its efforts include developmental brain research, neuroscience, cardiac disease, and initiatives to reduce and eliminate ethnic and racial health disparities. Its partnership with Montefiore, the University Hospital and academic medical center for Einstein, advances clinical and translational research to accelerate the pace at which new discoveries become the treatments and therapies that benefit patients. For more information, please visit einsteinmed.edu, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and view us on YouTube. 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/people-who-receive-less-sedation-when-ventilator-dependent-more-likely-to-return-to-independent-living-after-hospitalization-302580113.html

SOURCE Montefiore Health System

New Montefiore Einstein Research Published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine Emphasizes Importance of Multi-Faceted, Symptom-Focused Treatment Strategy for Critically Ill Patients

BRONX, N.Y., Oct. 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — In the U.S., more than 5 million people are admitted to Intensive Care Units (ICUs) each year for the treatment of acute or life-threatening medical problems. Mechanical ventilation, when a machine moves air into and out of the lungs of people experiencing acute respiratory distress, is a crucial form of life support provided to more than 300,000 patients annually in the ICU. New research published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine shows that in a cohort of more than 10,000 people, patients who received a high proportion of deep sedation while mechanically ventilated had a greater risk of adverse discharge – losing their ability to live independently – compared to patients who did not receive deep sedation.  

Good Intentions Lead to Unintended Harm

Deep sedation – when medications keep patients from being fully conscious and not easily aroused – is commonly used in ICUs across the country with the aim of preventing ventilated patients from experiencing emotional distress and/or pain during their critical recovery. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of deep sedation has become more common practice in ICUs nationwide. The problem is that when a patient is deeply sedated, it inhibits them from being able to move their bodies, causing unintended harm. Findings from investigators in the Department of Anesthesiology at Montefiore Einstein suggest that patients who received targeted, symptom-focused treatments with non-opioid medications, instead of deep sedation, had higher rates of independent living after being discharged from the hospital.

“In this study, we found sedative medications were more likely to be delivered to patients to aid with sleep and rest, however use of sedative medications can actually strip the exhausted patient of the healthy restorative sleep they need most during illness,” said author Matthias Eikermann M.D., Francis F. Foldes Professor and Chair, Department of Anesthesiology at Montefiore Einstein. “Our data shows this lack of quality sleep leads to greater rates of immobility in the ICU, which compounds into even more delirium and greater loss of the muscles and nerves needed during recovery.”

With evidence from this study, the Department of Anesthesiology spearheaded the creation of a system-wide Mobilization Committee including the departments of Anesthesiology, Medicine, and Rehabilitation Medicine (including physical therapy, and respiratory therapy teams) and nursing, with the goal of reducing the use of deep sedation and increasing early mobilization in the ICUs. This multidisciplinary group will conduct targeted rounds in the ICUs to identify barriers to early mobilization and develop strategies to implement patient-centered interventions. Efforts are supported by a digital patient board in Montefiore Einstein’s electronic record system to track these newly developed protocols and a new Surgical ICU Order Set to ensure clinicians have the tools needed to identify alternative pain treatments.

By deploying a new symptom-focused treatment strategy, Montefiore Einstein investigators believe that providers will be able to more comprehensively evaluate patients and recognize symptoms of emotional distress, treating them accordingly with antipsychotics or non-opioid analgesics. 

“Our hope is that the data published in this investigation will fuel national efforts to improve education about deep sedation and adherence to evidence-based guidelines,” said Dr. Eikermann. “The ultimate goal is to enhance overall patient care and help people return to the lives they want to live with their loved ones.”

About Montefiore Health System

Montefiore Health System is one of New York’s premier academic health systems. It is a recognized leader in providing exceptional quality and personalized, accountable care to approximately three million people in communities across the Bronx, Westchester, and the Hudson Valley. It comprises ten hospitals, including the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore, Burke Rehabilitation Hospital, and over two hundred outpatient ambulatory care sites. The advanced clinical and translational research at its medical school, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, directly informs patient care and improves outcomes. From the Montefiore-Einstein Centers of Excellence in cancer, cardiology and vascular care, pediatrics, and transplantation, to its preeminent school-based health program, Montefiore is a fully integrated healthcare delivery system providing coordinated, comprehensive care to patients and their families. For more information, please visit www.montefiore.org. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn, or view us on Facebook and YouTube

About Albert Einstein College of Medicine 

Albert Einstein College of Medicine is one of the nation’s premier centers for research, medical education and clinical investigation. During the 2024-25 academic year, Einstein is home to 712 M.D. students, 226 Ph.D. students, 112 students in the combined M.D./Ph.D. program, and approximately 250 postdoctoral research fellows. The College of Medicine has more than 2,000 full-time faculty members located on the main campus and at its clinical affiliates. In 2024, Einstein received more than $192 million in awards from the National Institutes of Health. This includes the funding of major research centers at Einstein in cancer, aging, intellectual development disorders, diabetes, clinical and translational research, liver disease, and AIDS. Other areas where the College of Medicine is concentrating its efforts include developmental brain research, neuroscience, cardiac disease, and initiatives to reduce and eliminate ethnic and racial health disparities. Its partnership with Montefiore, the University Hospital and academic medical center for Einstein, advances clinical and translational research to accelerate the pace at which new discoveries become the treatments and therapies that benefit patients. For more information, please visit einsteinmed.edu, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and view us on YouTube. 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/people-who-receive-less-sedation-when-ventilator-dependent-more-likely-to-return-to-independent-living-after-hospitalization-302580113.html

SOURCE Montefiore Health System

Progress Accompanies Organization’s Monumental Call to Action: Join Collective Initiative to Biobank Every Endangered Species by 2075

SAN DIEGO, Oct. 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance has for the first time unveiled milestone progress in its effort to facilitate the development of a network of globally distributed biobanks. Announced today at the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance is on a mission to protect the future of our planet’s biodiversity by helping grow biobanking capacity worldwide—starting with pilot sites in four biodiversity hotspots: Kenya, Vietnam, Hawai’i, and Peru. The non-profit organization has called on conservation champions, organizations, and global partners to join in its ambitious and urgent initiative that cannot be done alone: to biobank every endangered species by 2075.

“Advances in science and technology bring us hope and these innovations have brought us here today. We have a call to action – to biobank all endangered species worldwide by 2075,” Dr. Nadine Lamberski, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance’s chief conservation and wildlife health officer, said at a press conference. “And we can’t do this alone. Our delegation has one clear message: join us in this commitment. Together, we can drive a movement to save wildlife and the ecosystems we depend on, and raise awareness about the critical tool we can use to accomplish this: biodiversity biobanking.”

As a proud partner of the IUCN Species Survival Commission as a Center for Species Survival focused on biodiversity banking, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance is working collaboratively to advance biobanking initiatives and drive global progress in safeguarding biodiversity. To reach its goal, the non-profit organization is doing its part by ensuring other conservationists around the world are equitably equipped with the knowledge and tools needed to develop biobanking programs in-country. Each location has different needs, and varying degrees of existing infrastructure that can support biobanking. Calling on its decades of experience, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance is supporting each area accordingly with a tailored combination of the following:

• Network building and organization
• Knowledge exchange and training
• Physical resources and facilities

This announcement marks the 50th anniversary of San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance’s groundbreaking Frozen Zoo^®—a pioneering biobank that has safeguarded the viable genetic material of endangered species for half a century. Established in 1975, the Frozen Zoo holds the most extensive repository of living wildlife materials on Earth. From its inception, this collection was designed as a resource for the entire world, and it continues to serve the global community today. 

San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance recently held its inaugural Frozen Zoo Symposium which welcomed global partners in person and virtually, broadcasting to 15 countries. The event included a cell culture training workshop that hosted participants from six countries, providing more inclusive access to biobanking knowledge and training.

San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance (SDZWA) and partners have made significant headway in the establishment of four pilot sites for biobanking. Milestones in each region so far include:

• Kenya—SDZWA is working in close collaboration with the Wildlife Research and Training Institute (WRTI) and Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS) to establish a biobanking network in the region, further linking rangers, veterinarians and scientists who support some of the world’s most iconic wildlife. The construction of a biobank headquarters is in planning stages, but collection and repository capabilities are near.
• Vietnam—SDZWA is partnering with Institute for Ecology and Conservation of Nature at Vinh University to build upon existing infrastructure by supplying training and personnel support. Representatives from Vietnam joined experts in San Diego for a biobanking symposium and workshop hosted by SDZWA as a first step toward establishing capacity for living cell biobanking. Partners in Vietnam are working toward a wildlife-specific biobanking amendment to an existing government decree, and to establish a collaborative network that would facilitate biobanking throughout the country.
• Hawai’i—SDZWA is collaborating with Bishop Museum on enhancing capacity and training personnel for living cell biobanking at the Museum’s existing cryogenic facility at its Pacific Center for Molecular Biodiversity. SDZWA’s Conservation Genetics team recently received a grant from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums to expand technical knowledge and on-island capacity for biobanking Hawaiian birds, some of the rarest birds on the planet.
• Peru—Peru’s Ministry of the Environment, with support from San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, has initiated the process of creating a national biobanking network.

“The world has reached a pivotal moment. Nature is in crisis. The loss of biodiversity is occurring at a speed and scale that is outpacing our ability to get out in front and halt the decline of species. The health of wildlife, people, and the ecosystems we depend on are at risk,” Lamberski emphasized. “We must take bold steps to save the health of our planet.”

PHOTOS AND VIDEOS:

sdzwa.org/PR/Global-Biobanking-Network
 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/san-diego-zoo-wildlife-alliance-unveils-milestone-progress-in-its-collaborative-effort-to-establish-a-network-of-globally-distributed-biobanks-302581200.html

SOURCE San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance

BEIJING, Oct. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — In Hinggan League, north China, a green power-enabled hydrogen plus biomass to methanol production project completed its biomass gasifier technique testing recently.

Under witness of industry experts, the first materials feeding for its gasification furnace proved that biomass gasification technique, core of the project, is reliable under different operation conditions.

Upon success of the testing, formal operation of the first phase of the world’s largest green methanol production project in Hinggan League, northeastern Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, is around the corner.

As a notable move in green methanol production sector, the first phase of the project was invested by a local green energy company under a subsidiary of Goldwind Science & Technology, involving 2.296 billion yuan of investment in total.

Capable of producing 250,000 tonnes of green methanol annually, the first phase of the project is expected to be a reliable source of large-scale green methanol supply for global shipping industry and downstream sectors.

Currently, green and low-carbon fuels such as green methanol are a common pursuit for global shipping giants eager to speed up green transformation.

The project, which adopts environmental friendly devices, appears to be a solid pillar for the green methanol purchasing agreements signed between Goldwind Science & Technology and global shipping giants Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd respectively.

Thanks to the tested reliable biomass gasifier technique, Hinggan League Administrative Office won investment agreements for the second and third phases of the project from the aforementioned subsidiary of Goldwind Science & Technology recently.

Year to date, related expansion projects are scheduled to enter construction and after their formal operation, aggregate production capacity of the project is likely to reach 1.45 million tonnes annually.

Situated in a region with rich wind resource, the project leverages wind power to produce green hydrogen and local cornstalk and other biomass to produce green methanol, contributing to building the Hinggan League “green hydrogen-ammonia-methanol” demonstration base.

Original link: https://en.imsilkroad.com/p/347828.html

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/xinhua-silk-road-biomass-gasifier-technique-tested-to-be-reliable-for-green-methanol-project-in-hinggan-league-n-china-302581262.html

SOURCE Xinhua Silk Road

Additional air monitoring and testing conducted 

DIAMOND BAR, Calif., Oct. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The South Coast Air Quality Management District (South Coast AQMD) has issued Notices of Violations (NOVs) to two metal casting facilities in Paramount, California – Pro Cast Industries (15555 Minnesota Ave.) and Fenico LLC (7805 Madison St.) – for multiple air quality violations, including the failure to demonstrate compliance with hexavalent chromium emission limits.

In September, the City of Paramount’s air monitoring location at 15701 Minnesota Avenue recorded three consecutive samples of hexavalent chromium at slightly elevated levels, which prompted South Coast AQMD to initiate an investigation. Inspections were conducted at numerous nearby facilities, and inspectors found violations at both Pro Cast and Fenico.

At Pro Cast, violations included using chromium-containing material that exceeded rule and permit limits and failing to properly store scrap material, including scrap metal containing chromium alloy. Both facilities failed to:

• Obtain necessary permits to operate metal processing equipment; 
• Conduct required source tests to verify compliance with hexavalent chromium emission limits; and
• Properly clean areas within 20 feet of chromium alloy melting operations.

NOVs can result in civil penalties. Facilities may also take voluntary steps to reduce emissions and prevent future violations. If a settlement is not reached, South Coast AQMD may pursue civil actions in court. This is an active, ongoing investigation.

Additional Air Monitoring and On-Site Evaluations

South Coast AQMD conducted a mobile monitoring survey of air toxic metals. Mobile surveys capture a snapshot in time (less than 5 minutes) and are used to identify potential hot spots. Mobile monitoring was conducted around the facilities and nearby neighborhoods on September 30 and surveyed for metals (e.g., chromium, nickel, titanium, vanadium) and other air toxic metals (e.g., arsenic and lead). These metals are typically linked to metal processing operations. Mobile monitoring survey results did not identify elevated levels.

Technical on-site evaluations were also conducted at the facilities to identify any potential sources of hexavalent chromium within the facilities. South Coast AQMD’s investigation is ongoing. Updates will be posted on the South Coast AQMD website as new information becomes available.

Hexavalent chromium is a toxic air contaminant and a known human carcinogen. Long-term exposure over many years can increase the risk of lung cancer.

Background

South Coast AQMD began air monitoring in Paramount in 2013 in response to community concerns. Elevated levels of toxic metals, including nickel and hexavalent chromium, led to an extensive investigation and special monitoring efforts beginning in 2016. Through advanced monitoring, inspections and enforcement, South Coast AQMD identified major sources of hexavalent chromium and required significant operational changes at several facilities, which led to substantial reductions in hexavalent chromium levels.

In 2019, the City of Paramount assumed responsibility for routine air monitoring and has since continued to track hexavalent chromium levels, notifying South Coast AQMD whenever concentrations reach levels of concern. The city’s data dashboard can be found at: https://paramountenvironment.org/air/.

More information on South Coast AQMD’s monitoring activities can be found at: www.aqmd.gov/paramount.

South Coast AQMD is the regulatory agency responsible for improving air quality for large areas of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties, including the Coachella Valley. For news, air quality alerts, event updates and more, please visit us at www.aqmd.gov, download our award-winning app, or follow us on Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter) and Instagram.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/south-coast-aqmd-issues-violations-to-two-paramount-facilities-following-investigation-of-slightly-elevated-hexavalent-chromium-levels-302581217.html

SOURCE SOUTH COAST AQMD

Additional air monitoring and testing conducted 

DIAMOND BAR, Calif., Oct. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The South Coast Air Quality Management District (South Coast AQMD) has issued Notices of Violations (NOVs) to two metal casting facilities in Paramount, California – Pro Cast Industries (15555 Minnesota Ave.) and Fenico LLC (7805 Madison St.) – for multiple air quality violations, including the failure to demonstrate compliance with hexavalent chromium emission limits.

In September, the City of Paramount’s air monitoring location at 15701 Minnesota Avenue recorded three consecutive samples of hexavalent chromium at slightly elevated levels, which prompted South Coast AQMD to initiate an investigation. Inspections were conducted at numerous nearby facilities, and inspectors found violations at both Pro Cast and Fenico.

At Pro Cast, violations included using chromium-containing material that exceeded rule and permit limits and failing to properly store scrap material, including scrap metal containing chromium alloy. Both facilities failed to:

• Obtain necessary permits to operate metal processing equipment; 
• Conduct required source tests to verify compliance with hexavalent chromium emission limits; and
• Properly clean areas within 20 feet of chromium alloy melting operations.

NOVs can result in civil penalties. Facilities may also take voluntary steps to reduce emissions and prevent future violations. If a settlement is not reached, South Coast AQMD may pursue civil actions in court. This is an active, ongoing investigation.

Additional Air Monitoring and On-Site Evaluations

South Coast AQMD conducted a mobile monitoring survey of air toxic metals. Mobile surveys capture a snapshot in time (less than 5 minutes) and are used to identify potential hot spots. Mobile monitoring was conducted around the facilities and nearby neighborhoods on September 30 and surveyed for metals (e.g., chromium, nickel, titanium, vanadium) and other air toxic metals (e.g., arsenic and lead). These metals are typically linked to metal processing operations. Mobile monitoring survey results did not identify elevated levels.

Technical on-site evaluations were also conducted at the facilities to identify any potential sources of hexavalent chromium within the facilities. South Coast AQMD’s investigation is ongoing. Updates will be posted on the South Coast AQMD website as new information becomes available.

Hexavalent chromium is a toxic air contaminant and a known human carcinogen. Long-term exposure over many years can increase the risk of lung cancer.

Background

South Coast AQMD began air monitoring in Paramount in 2013 in response to community concerns. Elevated levels of toxic metals, including nickel and hexavalent chromium, led to an extensive investigation and special monitoring efforts beginning in 2016. Through advanced monitoring, inspections and enforcement, South Coast AQMD identified major sources of hexavalent chromium and required significant operational changes at several facilities, which led to substantial reductions in hexavalent chromium levels.

In 2019, the City of Paramount assumed responsibility for routine air monitoring and has since continued to track hexavalent chromium levels, notifying South Coast AQMD whenever concentrations reach levels of concern. The city’s data dashboard can be found at: https://paramountenvironment.org/air/.

More information on South Coast AQMD’s monitoring activities can be found at: www.aqmd.gov/paramount.

South Coast AQMD is the regulatory agency responsible for improving air quality for large areas of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties, including the Coachella Valley. For news, air quality alerts, event updates and more, please visit us at www.aqmd.gov, download our award-winning app, or follow us on Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter) and Instagram.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/south-coast-aqmd-issues-violations-to-two-paramount-facilities-following-investigation-of-slightly-elevated-hexavalent-chromium-levels-302581217.html

SOURCE SOUTH COAST AQMD

ABILENE, Texas, Oct. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — First Financial Bank is proud to announce its participation in the first-ever Texas Banks Community Day of Service, a statewide initiative launched by the Texas Bankers Association to unite financial institutions in giving back to their communities.

“We feel honored to a part of the Texas Bankers Association’s first Day of Service,” said David Bailey, President of First Financial Bankshares. “Community service is at the heart of who we are. By partnering with other banks across Texas, we have a unique opportunity to work alongside our fellow bankers and truly showcase the impact we can make together.”

On Monday, October 13^th, 2025, over 1,000 First Financial employees across the state will spend their holiday volunteering with local nonprofits, schools, and service organizations. From food banks to neighborhood cleanups, the goal is simple: to make Texas stronger—together.

Day of Service brings together community banks across Texas to perform service projects of all kinds, reinforcing the role local banks play in strengthening the communities they serve. First Financial Bank is thankful to be part of this statewide collaboration and especially grateful for the Texas Bankers Association for their leadership.

For updates on this year’s Day of Service, search the hashtag #TXBanksDayofService or follow First Financial Bank Texas on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn.

About First Financial Bank

First Financial Bank is a wholly owned subsidiary of First Financial Bankshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: FFIN). Headquartered in Abilene, Texas, First Financial Bankshares is a financial holding company that through its subsidiary, First Financial Bank, operates multiple banking regions with 79 locations in Texas, including Abilene, Acton, Albany, Aledo, Alvarado, Beaumont, Boyd, Bridgeport, Brock, Bryan, Burleson, College Station, Cisco, Cleburne, Clyde, Conroe, Cut and Shoot, Decatur, Eastland, El Campo, Fort Worth, Franklin, Fulshear, Glen Rose, Granbury, Grapevine, Hereford, Huntsville, Keller, Kingwood, Magnolia, Mauriceville, Merkel, Midlothian, Mineral Wells, Montgomery, Moran, New Waverly, Newton, Odessa, Orange, Palacios, Port Arthur, Ranger, Rising Star, Roby, San Angelo, Southlake, Stephenville, Sweetwater, Tomball, Trent, Trophy Club, Vidor, Waxahachie, Weatherford, Willis, and Willow Park. The Company also operates First Financial Trust & Asset Management Company, with nine locations, and First Technology Services, Inc., a technology operating company.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/first-financial-bank-to-participate-in-the-texas-bankers-associations-first-statewide-day-of-service-302581156.html

SOURCE First Financial Bankshares, Inc.

Ferguson Pyatt Architects Launches ‘Creative Placemaking’ In-Kind Design Grant to Fund Early-Stage New Construction for Mission-Driven Organizations

BOULDER, Colo., Oct. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Ferguson Pyatt Architects, a leader in innovative and community-focused design, today announced the launch of its “Creative Placemaking” Grant Program. This new initiative offers up to $18,000 in pro bono design services to assist mission-driven organizations in the critical, early stages of community development projects. Ferguson Pyatt Architects is bridging the gap between vision and reality. We recognize that the most crucial project decisions—related to vision, feasibility, and creative potential—often occur before funding for expert design services is secured. This grant ensures that organizations have access to professional architectural guidance from the start, maximizing a project’s long-term impact on the community through the lens of creative placemaking.

About the “Creative Placemaking” In-Kind Grant

The grant provides up to $18,000 in pro bono architectural and design services to a single selected organization that owns a property and is exploring options for new construction, revitalization, or adaptive reuse, including:

• Affordable Housing : New construction or renovation of residential units.
• Community-Serving Spaces : Facilities such as non-profit headquarters, community centers, childcare programs, or mission-aligned commercial spaces.
• Public Art : Any artwork displayed in public spaces for everyone to experience, reflecting community values, expressing ideas, or transforming environments.

Ferguson Pyatt will collaborate with the selected grantee to develop a series of early-stage design recommendations and a comprehensive feasibility study. This early intervention is essential for creative and cutting-edge thinking to take shape before primary development goals are finalized. Creative placemaking is a central component of this initiative. The firm views architecture as a form of cultural infrastructure, and our services will specifically explore how arts, culture, and design can be integrated into the physical space to strengthen communities with arts at the core.

We believe this approach is essential for:

• Elevating Local Assets: Bringing attention to resident voices, local history, or cultural infrastructure.
• Injecting New Energy: Injecting new resources and enthusiasm into a place or local economy.
• Connecting Communities: Bridging people and economic opportunity via physical spaces or workforce development.
• Honoring Traditions: Recognizing traditions shaped by the community’s lived experience.

“As architects, our work is fundamentally about building and shaping communities,” said Rob Pyatt, a Ferguson Pyatt Principal. “The Creative Placemaking grant shows our commitment to moving beyond traditional design. By putting artists and cultural practices at the heart of community development, we help create places that are more than just developments—they are culturally rich, economically vibrant, and truly reflect the people who call them home. We believe this approach is key to achieving lasting systems change.”

Applications for the “Creative Placemaking” Grant can be submitted throughout the year.

• Next Grant Review Deadline:
  Tuesday, February 3, 2026
• How to Apply: Organizations can find detailed guidelines and application instructions on the Ferguson Pyatt Architects website at www.fergusonpyatt.com/creativeplacemaking .

About Ferguson Pyatt Architects: Ferguson Pyatt Architects is an award-winning firm specializing in sustainable, context-driven design solutions for public, commercial, and residential projects. With a commitment to innovation and social impact, the firm integrates cutting-edge practices to create spaces that enrich the human experience and contribute to healthier communities.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ferguson-pyatt-architects-launch-18-000-creative-placemaking-grant-302581130.html

SOURCE Ferguson Pyatt Architects, Inc.