SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ —

Did you use your Visa or Mastercard debit card or Visa, Mastercard, or Discover non-rewards credit card to make a purchase from 2015 to 2022? 

Your rights may be affected by a class-action settlement.

Did you use your Visa, Mastercard, or Discover non-rewards credit card to make a purchase in Illinois from 2016 to 2022?

You could get money from a $17.5 million settlement.

There is a Settlement in a class action lawsuit that claims American Express Company and American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. (“Amex”) has rules or provisions in its merchant agreements that do not allow merchants who accept American Express cards for payment to “steer” or encourage customers to pay with a different card that may charge the merchant a lower fee. Merchants then raise their prices to cover the Amex fee and charge all customers the same price. Therefore, customers who do not use an Amex card to make purchases end up paying more money than they would have without these rules. Amex denies that it did anything wrong.

You may have seen a previous notice about the Court certifying debit-card and non-rewards credit-cards classes in this case (“Certified Classes”). That case went to trial and the jury returned a verdict. This notice is about the post-verdict Settlement with Amex.

Who is included in the Settlement?

Generally, you are included in the Settlement if you are in one or more of the following classes:

  • Debit-card classes: if you are a person who is a Visa or Mastercard debit card holder, and you, or an authorized user, used this debit card to purchase a good or service from one or more Qualifying Merchants in Alabama, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Kansas, Maine, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oregon, or Utah. Your account address and the purchase made had to be in the same state and in Alabama, the District of Columbia, Maine, North Carolina, Oregon, or Utah from January 29, 2015, to June 1, 2022, or Kansas, Illinois, or Mississippi from January 29, 2016, to June 1, 2022.
  • Non-rewards credit-card classes: if you are a person who is a card holder of a Visa, Mastercard, or Discover general purpose credit or charge card that does not offer credit card rewards or charge an annual fee, and you, or an authorized user, used this card to purchase a good or service from one or more Qualifying Merchants in the District of Columbia, Kansas, or Illinois. Your billing address and the purchase made had to be in the same state and in the District of Columbia from January 29, 2015, to June 1, 2022, or Kansas or Illinois from January 29, 2016, to June 1, 2022.

Visit the website below for more specific information, including the full list of Qualifying Merchants and who is excluded from the classes.

What does the Settlement provide?

Amex will pay $17.5 million into a Settlement Fund. This amount will be used to pay taxes; notice and administration costs; attorneys’ fees and expenses; service awards to the class representatives; other costs, fees, and expenses; and money to eligible Illinois non-rewards credit-card Class Members.

Who can get a payment from the Settlement?

You may file a claim to get a payment from the Settlement if you are in the Illinois non-rewards credit-card class, meaning if you are a person who is a card holder, you have a Visa, Mastercard, or Discover general purpose credit or charge card account that does not offer credit card rewards or charge an annual fee, and you, or an authorized user, used this card to purchase a good or service from one or more Qualifying Merchants in Illinois. Your billing address and the purchase made had to be in Illinois from January 29, 2016, to June 1, 2022. 

How can I get a payment?

If you are part of the Illinois non-rewards credit-card class, you must submit a claim form online or by mail by May 19, 2026. If your claim is valid, you will get an equal (or per capita) share of the Settlement Fund (after costs, fees, and expenses are deducted). Your payment amount will depend on the number of valid and timely claims. 

What are your options?

If you did not exclude yourself previously, you are bound by the Court’s decisions. You may object to the Settlement by April 29, 2026. Detailed information about how to object is available on the website, www.AmexAntitrust.com.

The Court will hold a Final Hearing on June 17, 2026, to consider if it will approve the Settlement and a request for attorneys’ fees up to 33% of the Settlement Fund and expenses up to $8 million and service awards for the class representative. You or your own lawyer may appear and speak at the hearing at your own expense, although you are not required to do so.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Visit: www.AmexAntitrust.com                Call 1-877-315-0587

Cision View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/berman-tabacco-announces-a-class-action-settlement-if-you-used-your-visa-or-mastercard-debit-card-or-visa-mastercard-or-discover-non-rewards-credit-card-to-make-a-purchase-from-2015-2022-302691822.html

SOURCE Berman Tabacco

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ —

Did you use your Visa or Mastercard debit card or Visa, Mastercard, or Discover non-rewards credit card to make a purchase from 2015 to 2022? 

Your rights may be affected by a class-action settlement.

Did you use your Visa, Mastercard, or Discover non-rewards credit card to make a purchase in Illinois from 2016 to 2022?

You could get money from a $17.5 million settlement.

There is a Settlement in a class action lawsuit that claims American Express Company and American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. (“Amex”) has rules or provisions in its merchant agreements that do not allow merchants who accept American Express cards for payment to “steer” or encourage customers to pay with a different card that may charge the merchant a lower fee. Merchants then raise their prices to cover the Amex fee and charge all customers the same price. Therefore, customers who do not use an Amex card to make purchases end up paying more money than they would have without these rules. Amex denies that it did anything wrong.

You may have seen a previous notice about the Court certifying debit-card and non-rewards credit-cards classes in this case (“Certified Classes”). That case went to trial and the jury returned a verdict. This notice is about the post-verdict Settlement with Amex.

Who is included in the Settlement?

Generally, you are included in the Settlement if you are in one or more of the following classes:

  • Debit-card classes: if you are a person who is a Visa or Mastercard debit card holder, and you, or an authorized user, used this debit card to purchase a good or service from one or more Qualifying Merchants in Alabama, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Kansas, Maine, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oregon, or Utah. Your account address and the purchase made had to be in the same state and in Alabama, the District of Columbia, Maine, North Carolina, Oregon, or Utah from January 29, 2015, to June 1, 2022, or Kansas, Illinois, or Mississippi from January 29, 2016, to June 1, 2022.
  • Non-rewards credit-card classes: if you are a person who is a card holder of a Visa, Mastercard, or Discover general purpose credit or charge card that does not offer credit card rewards or charge an annual fee, and you, or an authorized user, used this card to purchase a good or service from one or more Qualifying Merchants in the District of Columbia, Kansas, or Illinois. Your billing address and the purchase made had to be in the same state and in the District of Columbia from January 29, 2015, to June 1, 2022, or Kansas or Illinois from January 29, 2016, to June 1, 2022.

Visit the website below for more specific information, including the full list of Qualifying Merchants and who is excluded from the classes.

What does the Settlement provide?

Amex will pay $17.5 million into a Settlement Fund. This amount will be used to pay taxes; notice and administration costs; attorneys’ fees and expenses; service awards to the class representatives; other costs, fees, and expenses; and money to eligible Illinois non-rewards credit-card Class Members.

Who can get a payment from the Settlement?

You may file a claim to get a payment from the Settlement if you are in the Illinois non-rewards credit-card class, meaning if you are a person who is a card holder, you have a Visa, Mastercard, or Discover general purpose credit or charge card account that does not offer credit card rewards or charge an annual fee, and you, or an authorized user, used this card to purchase a good or service from one or more Qualifying Merchants in Illinois. Your billing address and the purchase made had to be in Illinois from January 29, 2016, to June 1, 2022. 

How can I get a payment?

If you are part of the Illinois non-rewards credit-card class, you must submit a claim form online or by mail by May 19, 2026. If your claim is valid, you will get an equal (or per capita) share of the Settlement Fund (after costs, fees, and expenses are deducted). Your payment amount will depend on the number of valid and timely claims. 

What are your options?

If you did not exclude yourself previously, you are bound by the Court’s decisions. You may object to the Settlement by April 29, 2026. Detailed information about how to object is available on the website, www.AmexAntitrust.com.

The Court will hold a Final Hearing on June 17, 2026, to consider if it will approve the Settlement and a request for attorneys’ fees up to 33% of the Settlement Fund and expenses up to $8 million and service awards for the class representative. You or your own lawyer may appear and speak at the hearing at your own expense, although you are not required to do so.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Visit: www.AmexAntitrust.com                Call 1-877-315-0587

Cision View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/berman-tabacco-announces-a-class-action-settlement-if-you-used-your-visa-or-mastercard-debit-card-or-visa-mastercard-or-discover-non-rewards-credit-card-to-make-a-purchase-from-2015-2022-302691822.html

SOURCE Berman Tabacco

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ —

Did you use your Visa or Mastercard debit card or Visa, Mastercard, or Discover non-rewards credit card to make a purchase from 2015 to 2022? 

Your rights may be affected by a class-action settlement.

Did you use your Visa, Mastercard, or Discover non-rewards credit card to make a purchase in Illinois from 2016 to 2022?

You could get money from a $17.5 million settlement.

There is a Settlement in a class action lawsuit that claims American Express Company and American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. (“Amex”) has rules or provisions in its merchant agreements that do not allow merchants who accept American Express cards for payment to “steer” or encourage customers to pay with a different card that may charge the merchant a lower fee. Merchants then raise their prices to cover the Amex fee and charge all customers the same price. Therefore, customers who do not use an Amex card to make purchases end up paying more money than they would have without these rules. Amex denies that it did anything wrong.

You may have seen a previous notice about the Court certifying debit-card and non-rewards credit-cards classes in this case (“Certified Classes”). That case went to trial and the jury returned a verdict. This notice is about the post-verdict Settlement with Amex.

Who is included in the Settlement?

Generally, you are included in the Settlement if you are in one or more of the following classes:

  • Debit-card classes: if you are a person who is a Visa or Mastercard debit card holder, and you, or an authorized user, used this debit card to purchase a good or service from one or more Qualifying Merchants in Alabama, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Kansas, Maine, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oregon, or Utah. Your account address and the purchase made had to be in the same state and in Alabama, the District of Columbia, Maine, North Carolina, Oregon, or Utah from January 29, 2015, to June 1, 2022, or Kansas, Illinois, or Mississippi from January 29, 2016, to June 1, 2022.
  • Non-rewards credit-card classes: if you are a person who is a card holder of a Visa, Mastercard, or Discover general purpose credit or charge card that does not offer credit card rewards or charge an annual fee, and you, or an authorized user, used this card to purchase a good or service from one or more Qualifying Merchants in the District of Columbia, Kansas, or Illinois. Your billing address and the purchase made had to be in the same state and in the District of Columbia from January 29, 2015, to June 1, 2022, or Kansas or Illinois from January 29, 2016, to June 1, 2022.

Visit the website below for more specific information, including the full list of Qualifying Merchants and who is excluded from the classes.

What does the Settlement provide?

Amex will pay $17.5 million into a Settlement Fund. This amount will be used to pay taxes; notice and administration costs; attorneys’ fees and expenses; service awards to the class representatives; other costs, fees, and expenses; and money to eligible Illinois non-rewards credit-card Class Members.

Who can get a payment from the Settlement?

You may file a claim to get a payment from the Settlement if you are in the Illinois non-rewards credit-card class, meaning if you are a person who is a card holder, you have a Visa, Mastercard, or Discover general purpose credit or charge card account that does not offer credit card rewards or charge an annual fee, and you, or an authorized user, used this card to purchase a good or service from one or more Qualifying Merchants in Illinois. Your billing address and the purchase made had to be in Illinois from January 29, 2016, to June 1, 2022. 

How can I get a payment?

If you are part of the Illinois non-rewards credit-card class, you must submit a claim form online or by mail by May 19, 2026. If your claim is valid, you will get an equal (or per capita) share of the Settlement Fund (after costs, fees, and expenses are deducted). Your payment amount will depend on the number of valid and timely claims. 

What are your options?

If you did not exclude yourself previously, you are bound by the Court’s decisions. You may object to the Settlement by April 29, 2026. Detailed information about how to object is available on the website, www.AmexAntitrust.com.

The Court will hold a Final Hearing on June 17, 2026, to consider if it will approve the Settlement and a request for attorneys’ fees up to 33% of the Settlement Fund and expenses up to $8 million and service awards for the class representative. You or your own lawyer may appear and speak at the hearing at your own expense, although you are not required to do so.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Visit: www.AmexAntitrust.com                Call 1-877-315-0587

Cision View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/berman-tabacco-announces-a-class-action-settlement-if-you-used-your-visa-or-mastercard-debit-card-or-visa-mastercard-or-discover-non-rewards-credit-card-to-make-a-purchase-from-2015-2022-302691822.html

SOURCE Berman Tabacco

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ —

Did you use your Visa or Mastercard debit card or Visa, Mastercard, or Discover non-rewards credit card to make a purchase from 2015 to 2022? 

Your rights may be affected by a class-action settlement.

Did you use your Visa, Mastercard, or Discover non-rewards credit card to make a purchase in Illinois from 2016 to 2022?

You could get money from a $17.5 million settlement.

There is a Settlement in a class action lawsuit that claims American Express Company and American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. (“Amex”) has rules or provisions in its merchant agreements that do not allow merchants who accept American Express cards for payment to “steer” or encourage customers to pay with a different card that may charge the merchant a lower fee. Merchants then raise their prices to cover the Amex fee and charge all customers the same price. Therefore, customers who do not use an Amex card to make purchases end up paying more money than they would have without these rules. Amex denies that it did anything wrong.

You may have seen a previous notice about the Court certifying debit-card and non-rewards credit-cards classes in this case (“Certified Classes”). That case went to trial and the jury returned a verdict. This notice is about the post-verdict Settlement with Amex.

Who is included in the Settlement?

Generally, you are included in the Settlement if you are in one or more of the following classes:

  • Debit-card classes: if you are a person who is a Visa or Mastercard debit card holder, and you, or an authorized user, used this debit card to purchase a good or service from one or more Qualifying Merchants in Alabama, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Kansas, Maine, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oregon, or Utah. Your account address and the purchase made had to be in the same state and in Alabama, the District of Columbia, Maine, North Carolina, Oregon, or Utah from January 29, 2015, to June 1, 2022, or Kansas, Illinois, or Mississippi from January 29, 2016, to June 1, 2022.
  • Non-rewards credit-card classes: if you are a person who is a card holder of a Visa, Mastercard, or Discover general purpose credit or charge card that does not offer credit card rewards or charge an annual fee, and you, or an authorized user, used this card to purchase a good or service from one or more Qualifying Merchants in the District of Columbia, Kansas, or Illinois. Your billing address and the purchase made had to be in the same state and in the District of Columbia from January 29, 2015, to June 1, 2022, or Kansas or Illinois from January 29, 2016, to June 1, 2022.

Visit the website below for more specific information, including the full list of Qualifying Merchants and who is excluded from the classes.

What does the Settlement provide?

Amex will pay $17.5 million into a Settlement Fund. This amount will be used to pay taxes; notice and administration costs; attorneys’ fees and expenses; service awards to the class representatives; other costs, fees, and expenses; and money to eligible Illinois non-rewards credit-card Class Members.

Who can get a payment from the Settlement?

You may file a claim to get a payment from the Settlement if you are in the Illinois non-rewards credit-card class, meaning if you are a person who is a card holder, you have a Visa, Mastercard, or Discover general purpose credit or charge card account that does not offer credit card rewards or charge an annual fee, and you, or an authorized user, used this card to purchase a good or service from one or more Qualifying Merchants in Illinois. Your billing address and the purchase made had to be in Illinois from January 29, 2016, to June 1, 2022. 

How can I get a payment?

If you are part of the Illinois non-rewards credit-card class, you must submit a claim form online or by mail by May 19, 2026. If your claim is valid, you will get an equal (or per capita) share of the Settlement Fund (after costs, fees, and expenses are deducted). Your payment amount will depend on the number of valid and timely claims. 

What are your options?

If you did not exclude yourself previously, you are bound by the Court’s decisions. You may object to the Settlement by April 29, 2026. Detailed information about how to object is available on the website, www.AmexAntitrust.com.

The Court will hold a Final Hearing on June 17, 2026, to consider if it will approve the Settlement and a request for attorneys’ fees up to 33% of the Settlement Fund and expenses up to $8 million and service awards for the class representative. You or your own lawyer may appear and speak at the hearing at your own expense, although you are not required to do so.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Visit: www.AmexAntitrust.com                Call 1-877-315-0587

Cision View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/berman-tabacco-announces-a-class-action-settlement-if-you-used-your-visa-or-mastercard-debit-card-or-visa-mastercard-or-discover-non-rewards-credit-card-to-make-a-purchase-from-2015-2022-302691822.html

SOURCE Berman Tabacco

International Olympic Committee news

For more than a century, the Olympic Winter Games have helped winter sport develop and deliver lasting benefits for their host regions. Climate change is now reshaping sport as we know it, requiring the Games to evolve responsibly.

Milano Cortina 2026 reflects this evolution through a more flexible, regionally distributed model that maximises existing venues, reduces environmental impact and strengthens community resilience. Innovation in snow-making technologies, clean energy and low-carbon mobility is helping ensure safe, fair and reliable competition while supporting host regions in adapting to a changing climate.

As the first Olympic Winter Games shaped from start to finish by the Olympic Agenda reforms, Milano Cortina 2026 has adapted to Northern Italy’s specific context – its infrastructure, winter sports heritage and community priorities.

Here’s what you need to know about the Milano Cortina 2026 sustainability, impact and legacy.

Sustainability

Games-designed

Games designed around existing, world-class venues

  • 85 per cent of competition venues are existing, one of the highest reuse rates in Olympic Winter Games history.
  • Iconic venues include Bormio’s Stelvio slope (Alpine skiing), Val di Fiemme (cross-country skiing and ski jumping), Anterselva (biathlon) and Cortina d’Ampezzo (Alpine skiing, curling and sliding sports), host of the 1956 Olympic Winter Games.

FONDAZIONE MILANO CORTINA 2026

Olympic Villages adapted to local needs

  • In Milan’s Porta Romana, a low-carbon Olympic Village is planned to become student and affordable housing after the Games.
  • In Cortina, a temporary village built from recyclable units will be repurposed after the Games.
  • In Bormio, Livigno, Anterselva and Predazzo, athletes will stay in existing hotels and facilities, limiting new construction and supporting local businesses.

 

Clean-Energy

Clean energy and low-carbon transport

  • Renewable electricity will power most competition venues.
  • Temporary generators, only to be used as a back-up, will be limited and run on HVO biofuel; almost all snowcats will also use HVO.
  • A low-carbon transport plan targets 20 per cent fewer cars compared to Torino 2006, prioritising trains and shuttles.

Olympic-Symbol

Olympic symbols showcasing sustainability

  • The Olympic torch is powered by Bio-LPG from renewable sources.
  • The medals are produced using recycled metal, cast with renewable energy.
  • Podiums will be adaptable and reused after the Games through community sport initiatives.
     

Responsible-snowmaking

Responsible snowmaking

  • Snowmaking is kept at the minimum needed to ensure safe competition.
  • Automated, high-efficiency systems and GPS monitoring reduce unnecessary production, cutting electricity use by around 30 per cent.
  • Only water, air and energy are used, with no chemical additives, and most of the energy comes from renewable sources.
     

Circular

Circular economy, water and biodiversity

  • The aim is to recycle 70 per cent of urban waste, recover food leftovers across venues, and reuse around 24,000 items from Paris 2024.
  • Strategic Environmental Assessments are being applied across multiple regions to protect fragile ecosystems.
  • Biodiversity protection measures such as noise and light reduction are applied in sensitive natural areas, and restoration measures are planned after the Games.
     

Impact and legacy

Milano Cortina 2026 is inspiring active lifestyles and strengthening community resilience by accelerating long-term socio-economic development across urban and mountain regions.

Movement

Movement and well-being for all

  • For the first time, sport has been referenced in the Italian Constitution, which should result in increased investment at both regional and national levels, following the establishment of a Sports Ministry.
  • More than 330 legacy projects are already underway across Italy.
  • GEN26, the Games’ flagship education and engagement programme, has involved more than 1.5 million students nationwide in Olympic and Paralympic-themed activities that promote inclusion, teamwork and healthy lifestyles.
  • Walking the Games has seen 11,000 students walk more than 1.3 million kilometres, with 75 per cent reporting increased activity.
  • The Go for 30 campaign promotes 30 minutes of daily activity for over 430,000 employees nationwide.
  • Italia dei Giochi is bringing community sports events to five million participants across the country.
  • The Cultural Olympiad has already engaged more than one million people through sport, art and culture.
     

Community

Strengthening regional development and community resilience

  • The Games align with long-term regional strategies on smart energy, sustainable mobility and urban regeneration.
  • In Milan, the Porta Romana Olympic Village and Santagiulia Arena are anchoring new, inclusive urban districts, while public transport accessibility is being improved in both Milan and Verona.
  • In mountain regions, upgrades to the electricity distribution systems favouring the use of renewable energy are strengthening local energy resilience.
  • Modernisation of the Livigno Health Centre, the Codivilla Hospital in Cortina and the San Martino Hospital in Belluno is aimed at ensuring high-level medical services for the broader Upper Valtellina region.
  • Existing venues across mountain regions are being upgraded for energy efficiency and waste reduction, ensuring long-term use beyond 2026.

Supporting

Supporting local athletes, enterprise and skills

  • New measures now support Olympic and Paralympic athletes in combining elite sport with university studies, including EUR 1,000-per-month maternity leave support for up to 10 months, CONI scholarships for athlete mothers, and protection to maintain rankings during maternity leave.
  • Through programmes such as “Impact 2026”, organisers are engaging local small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and social enterprises, and are strengthening local skills – helping create jobs and embedding much needed expertise in the host regions.
  • More than 400 companies have taken part in training sessions, networking events and calls for tender.
  • Around 650 young people will gain hands-on experience through Olympic Broadcasting Services training programmes.
     

100 Years of Winter Olympic Games

As we look back at the Olympic Winter Games editions, we can trace the story of how the Olympic Games have changed the world of winter sport and created transformative legacies for their host communities.

Learn more

100 Years of Olympic Winter Games

NEW YORK, Feb. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association (GNYADA), in partnership with New York Cares, delivered thousands of winter coats to children and families in need today at the New York Cares coat drop-off facility in Manhattan.

The delivery was part of GNYADAs Annual Winter Coat Drive and New York Cares’ 37th Annual Coat Drive. It brought together leadership from both organizations to underscore the role local automobile dealers play in supporting New Yorkers during the coldest months of the year. The coats, collected by over 120 area auto dealers, will be distributed by New York Cares to individuals and families across the five boroughs.

Today is about community, compassion, and action. Our dealers dont just serve customers, they show up for their communities. Every coat delivered today represents warmth, dignity, and real support for someone facing winter without enough resources,” said Mark Schienberg, President of the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association.

GNYADAs annual Coat Drive has become a long-standing tradition among its dealer members. Over the years, GNYADA dealers have donated more than 200,000 coats and raised more than $400,000 to purchase new winter coats for children. This winter’s campaign builds on that momentum, with dealerships once again stepping up to help.

“Winter can be especially harsh for families already facing economic challenges,” said Sapreet Saluja, Executive Director of New York Cares. “Thanks to GNYADAs generosity, caring becomes action—helping thousands of New Yorkers stay warm, safe, and reminded that their community is standing with them.”

The delivery took place at New York Carescoat distribution facility at 157 West 31st Street, where volunteers and staff will continue coordinating coat distribution throughout the winter season.

GNYADA and New York Cares encourage businesses and community members to support winter relief efforts by donating coats and making financial contributions.

Headquartered in Whitestone, N.Y, the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association represents 445 franchised automobile dealerships in the metro area of New York, generating $70.6 billion in economic activity, $3 billion in taxes, and supporting 68,800 New Yorkers. The $30m Center for Automotive Education & Training was built in 2015. The Association was established in 1910 and has continued to serve the industry’s needs ever since. GNYADA organizes the New York International Automobile Show, the largest auto show in North America, each spring, in Manhattans Jacob Javits Convention Center. 

Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/area-auto-dealers-and-new-york-cares-deliver-thousands-of-winter-coats-to-families-in-need-across-new-york-city-302692014.html

SOURCE The Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Cobblestone Auto Spa is announcing a special fundraising event to support the families of fallen Pilot Robert Bruce Skankey and State Trooper/Paramedic Hunter R. Bennett. This event will take place at the Scottsdale – Hayden & Frank Lloyd Wright location on Friday, February 20, from 7 AM to 3 PM, 15816 North Pima Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85260. Event Details: Location: Cobblestone Auto Spa 15816 North Pima Road Scottsdale, AZ 85260 At this location only, 100%

ELENA ROSE TO RECEIVE THE BMI IMPACT AWARD

The Event Will Also Celebrate the Top Latin Songwriters and Publishers on Thursday, March 19 in Miami

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — BMI® is thrilled to salute legendary production duo Luny Tunes with the BMI President’s Award for their immense contributions to Latin urban music at the 2026 BMI Latin Awards on Thursday, March 19. This prestigious award celebrates the duo’s enduring legacy as pioneers of reggaetón whose work helped transform the genre from an underground movement into a global phenomenon. In addition, singer-songwriter Elena Rose will be presented with the BMI Impact Award. From writing hits for music superstars like Bad Bunny, Selena Gomez, and Becky G to launching a successful solo career, this honor recognizes her groundbreaking artistry, creative vision, and impact on the future of music. The private event will take place at the Fontainebleau Coastal Convention Center in Miami Beach and will be hosted by BMI President & CEO Mike O’Neill, BMI Executive Vice President, Chief Revenue & Creative Officer, Mike Steinberg, and BMI Vice President, Creative, Latin, Jesus Gonzalez

“Luny Tunes are architects of reggaetón’s golden era and catalysts for its global rise,” said Gonzalez. “We’re honored to recognize their enduring legacy alongside rising star Elena Rose, whose songwriting talent and artistry continue to captivate audiences. We’re also excited to celebrate our exceptional familia of songwriters, producers and publishers behind the most-performed Latin songs of the past year during the ceremony.”

Throughout the evening, BMI will also recognize the songwriters and publishers of the past year’s most-performed Latin songs in the United States. The BMI Regional Mexican Song, Songwriter, and Publisher of the Year and the BMI Contemporary Latin Song, Songwriter and Publisher of the Year will be named during the ceremony. 

Luny Tunes is comprised of Francisco “Luny” Saldaña and Víctor “Tunes” Cabrera, a producer duo widely regarded as one of the most influential in Latin music history. Originally from the Dominican Republic, they later relocated to Massachusetts, where they began developing their signature musical style. With a career spanning 25 years, the pair moved to Puerto Rico in 2001, where they honed their production approach alongside DJ Nelson and became integral to the island’s emerging reggaetón scene. With more than 500 songs to their credit, Luny Tunes helped define the genre’s golden era through landmark albums like Mas Flow, Mas Flow 2 and Los Benjamins, as well as explosive hits like “Gasolina,” “Mayor Que Yo,” “Besos Mojados,” and “Salgo Pa’ la Calle,” to name a few. In 2005, their excellence was recognized with Latin GRAMMY nominations for Record of the Year for “Gasolina” and Best Urban Music Album for their own project, The Kings of the Beats. They have amassed a total of 18 BMI Latin Awards, with recognition for BMI’s 2020 Contemporary Song of the Year for “Callaíta,” while Saldaña was individually honored as BMI’s Latin Songwriter of the Year in 2007. Their visionary sound launched and elevated the careers of icons like Daddy Yankee, Don Omar, Wisin y Yandel, Tego Calderón and Ivy Queen, among others.

As the 2026 BMI President’s Award recipients, Luny Tunes join an elite ensemble of music creators who have received the accolade in the past including benny blanco, Luis Fonsi, Ellie Goulding, Horacio Palencia, Pitbull, T-Pain and Wisin y Yandel, among others.

Elena Rose is a Venezuelan American singer-songwriter who has emerged as one of Latin music’s most sought-after creative forces. Born in Miami, Rose has penned hits for some of the biggest names in the industry including Bad Bunny, Selena Gomez, Jennifer Lopez, Becky G and Rauw Alejandro, among others. Her popularity rose significantly after collaborating with Ed Sheeran, who invited her to create a Spanish verse for his hit song “Thinking Out Loud,” which immediately went viral online. Boasting 14 Latin GRAMMY nominations and five BMI Latin Awards throughout her career, Rose made a successful leap from songwriting powerhouse to recording artist with her first EP, En Las Nubes – Con Mis Panas, which earned her nods in major categories including Album of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Contemporary Pop Vocal Album. Rose represents a new generation of Latin music creators who are shaping the sound of contemporary Latin music.

In receiving the BMI Impact Award, Elena Rose joins Edgar Barrera, GloRilla, Ice Spice, Arlo Parks, RAYE, P2J, Tems and Tito Double P among others.

ABOUT BMI:
Celebrating over 80 years of service to songwriters, composers, music publishers and businesses, Broadcast Music, Inc.® (BMI®) is a global leader in music rights management, serving as an advocate for the value of music. BMI represents the public performance rights in over 22.4 million musical works created and owned by more than 1.4 million songwriters, composers, and music publishers. The Company negotiates music license agreements and distributes the fees it generates as royalties to its affiliated writers and publishers when their songs are performed in public. In 1939, BMI created a groundbreaking open-door policy becoming the only performing rights organization to welcome and represent the creators of blues, jazz, country, and American roots music. Today, the musical compositions in BMI’s repertoire, from chart toppers to perennial favorites, span all genres of music and are consistently among the most-performed hits of the year. For additional information and the latest BMI news, visit bmi.com, follow us on X and Instagram @BMI or stay connected through Broadcast Music, Inc.’s Facebook page. Sign up for BMI’s The Weekly™ and receive our e-newsletter every week to stay up to date on all things music.

Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/reggaeton-pioneers-luny-tunes-to-be-honored-with-the-bmi-presidents-award-at-the-2026-bmi-latin-awards-302691947.html

SOURCE Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI)

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.