COLUMBUS, Ga., Nov. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Looking for a holiday gift that warms hearts and makes a real difference? Aflac’s new children’s book, “Beyond Words,” does just that. This imaginative tale about empathy and kindness isn’t just a bedtime favorite — it’s a way to support children battling cancer and blood disorders. With 100% of net proceeds benefiting the Aflac Childhood Cancer Foundation, every copy you place under the tree helps fund lifesaving research and care.

Experience the full interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/aflac/9353751-en-aflac-childrens-book-beyond-words-supports-childhood-cancer-foundation

Wrap up more than a story: Aflac’s “Beyond Words” is the perfect gift that gives back

Written by bestselling author Sheri Fink and featuring a foreword by research astronaut Kellie Gerardi, “Beyond Words” follows Buddy the bear cub on a heartwarming adventure. Buddy wants to comfort his friend Bunny, who’s in the hospital, but struggles to find the right words. Through an imaginative journey into space, Buddy learns that sometimes the greatest gift isn’t what you say — it’s what you do.

A gift that truly gives back

Here’s the holiday magic: 100% of net proceeds from “Beyond Words” benefit the Aflac Childhood Cancer Foundation, funding research and treatment for children with cancer and blood disorders. So when you slip this book under the tree, you’re not just giving a story — you’re giving hope.

For more than 30 years, Aflac has supported families through its partnership with the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, contributing nearly $200 million to research and care. And, since 2018, Aflac has also provided comfort through its beloved My Special Aflac Duck®, a robotic companion gifted free of charge to more than 41,000 children ages 3 and up with pediatric cancer or sickle cell disease. This book is the latest chapter in that legacy of compassion and a reminder that kindness knows no bounds.

Perfect for stockings and storytime

Available in hardcover ($21.99) and softcover ($12.99), “Beyond Words” makes an affordable, meaningful gift for kids and families. Plus, every copy includes a QR code for free downloadable coloring sheets featuring Buddy and his cosmic crew — ideal for cozy afternoons. And if you’re traveling for the holidays, the audiobook narrated by Gerardi brings Buddy’s adventure to life on the go.

As you wrap gifts this season, consider one that goes beyond ribbons and bows — give a story that inspires empathy, fuels imagination and helps fund lifesaving care. Because sometimes, the best gifts truly go beyond words.

Visit Aflac.com/BeyondWords to learn more.

Contact Stephanie A. Wilken for b-roll at SWilken@aflac.com

Wrap up more than a story: Aflac’s “Beyond Words” is the perfect gift that gives back

 

Wrap up more than a story: Aflac’s “Beyond Words” is the perfect gift that gives back

 

Wrap up more than a story: Aflac’s “Beyond Words” is the perfect gift that gives back

 

Wrap up more than a story: Aflac’s “Beyond Words” is the perfect gift that gives back

 

Wrap up more than a story: Aflac’s “Beyond Words” is the perfect gift that gives back

 

AFLAC_Logo

 

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SOURCE Aflac

Originally published on GoDaddy

TEMPE, Ariz., November 25, 2025 /3BL/ — GoDaddy (NYSE: GDDY) today announced major progress on its Agent Name Service (ANS), the company’s trusted identity naming system for AI agents. Since first unveiling the initiative last month, GoDaddy has opened public access to the ANS API for developers to build and test integrations and launched the ANS Standards site publishing the latest open API specification and guidance for interoperable agent identity.

ANS brings internet-scale trust to the rapidly growing agentic ecosystem by pairing human-readable names with cryptographically verifiable identity and policy, enabling developers and platforms to discover, verify and govern agents across protocols.

“The agent economy on the open web needs a backbone of trust,” said GoDaddy Chief Technology Officer for Product & AI, Travis Muhlestein. “With ANS, we’re extending decades of experience operating domain names, DNS, and certificate infrastructure to make it easy for anyone to name an agent, verify it cryptographically, and have it work across ecosystems.”

What’s new today

  • ANS API is live for builders. Developers can generate keys, explore endpoints, and test ANS registration, discovery, and lifecycle operations. For instructions on getting API key, visit www.AgentNameRegistry.org.
  • ANS Standards site is now available. Our ANS software architecture document and related developer information is available at the public GitHub site getstarted.godaddy/ans.
  • Continued progress since launch. Building on community and partner input, ANS incorporates a protocol-agnostic adapter layer designed to work alongside emerging standards (e.g., A2A, MCP) while using familiar PKI/X.509 for verifiable identity and DNS-style discovery.

Why ANS?

  • Trusted identity: Enrollment issues agent certificates and status, enabling cryptographic checks before agents exchange data or act.
  • Interoperability without lock-in: An open adapter layer translates agent records into the formats used by popular agent frameworks.
  • Operational rigor: Registration, renewal, and revocation flows provide the lifecycle controls required for production deployments.

Get started

Developers can visit www.AgentNameRegistry.org to obtain a GoDaddy API key. They can also explore the latest ANS spec, implementation guidance and join in the work.

About GoDaddy

GoDaddy helps millions of entrepreneurs globally start, grow, and scale their businesses. People come to GoDaddy to name their idea, build a website and logo, sell their products and services and accept payments. GoDaddy Airo®, the company’s AI-powered experience, makes growing a small business faster and easier by helping them to get their idea online in minutes, drive traffic and boost sales. GoDaddy’s expert guides are available 24/7 to provide assistance. To learn more about the company, visit www.GoDaddy.com.    

Source: GoDaddy Inc.

Donate to The Marco’s Pizza Foundation Black Friday – Giving Tuesday and Receive a Free Small Cheese Pizza Coupon

TOLEDO, Ohio, Nov. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Marco’s Pizza, one of the nation’s fastest-growing pizza brands, encourages guests to give back in a meaningful way this holiday season to support their communities. During one of the busiest shopping weeks of the year, Black Friday (Nov. 28) through Giving Tuesday (Dec. 2), guests who make a contribution to The Marco’s Pizza Foundation at checkout will receive a free small cheese pizza coupon, redeemable at participating locations anytime in December.*

Local Junior Achievement programs help equip students with the skills and confidence to pursue big futures.

The Marco’s Pizza Foundation supports four key pillars: hunger prevention, schools & education, workforce development and entrepreneurship. Since October 2024, the Marco’s Pizza Foundation has supported Junior Achievement USA (JA) and its local chapters.

“Every day, we see how even small acts of generosity can spark meaningful change,” said Raven Fisher, Executive Director of The Marco’s Pizza Foundation. “Cyber Week gives our guests a simple way to make a big impact; supporting students, strengthening communities, and helping local Junior Achievement programs reach even more young people.”

JA USA helps equip students with essential financial literacy, workforce readiness, and entrepreneurship skills through hands-on learning experience. The nationwide collaboration helps unite the Marco’s Pizza brand, its franchisees, and the communities it serves around a shared mission. A portion of funds collected by the Marco’s Pizza Foundation during Cyber Week will be directed to local Junior Achievement chapters to support community programs.

“During the holiday season, families are looking for meaningful ways to give back, and what better way than investing in the next generation,” said Stephanie Moseley, President of the Marco’s Pizza Foundation and Multi-Unit Franchisee. “Local Junior Achievement programs help equip students with the skills and confidence to pursue big futures.”

The initiative is part of the Foundation’s mission to bring people together to nurture and nourish the communities they call home. Since launching in 2022, the Foundation has united Marco’s Pizza franchisees, team members, and guests around a shared commitment to making a meaningful local impact.

“Marco’s Pizza is built on a culture of community, and our Foundation continues to expand the reach of that mission,” Moseley added. “Whether a guest donates a few cents or a few dollars, every contribution fuels programs that help improve the lives of children, families, and future entrepreneurs.”

Guests can donate at checkout online, in-app, or in-store during the promotion period. Upon donating, they will receive a coupon for a free small cheese pizza, redeemable on orders placed at participating locations in December.*

For more information about this offer, Marco’s Pizza, and to find your nearest location, visit www.marcos.com or download the Marco’s app available on the App Store or Google Play.

To learn more about the Marco’s Pizza Foundation mission, please visit https://www.marcos.com/foundation/.

ABOUT MARCO’S PIZZA  
Headquartered in Toledo, Ohio, Marco’s Pizza is one of the fastest-growing pizza brands in the United States. Marco’s was founded in 1978 by Italian-born Pasquale (“Pat”) Giammarco and thrives to deliver a high-quality pizza experience, known for its dough made from scratch and its three fresh signature cheeses. The company has grown from its roots as a beloved Ohio brand to operate over 1,200 stores in 35 states with locations in Puerto Rico, the Bahamas, and Mexico. Notably, Marco’s was recognized as America’s Favorite Restaurant in the Limited-Service Pizza category by Nation’s Restaurant News using Technomic Ignite Consumer 2024 dataꝉꝉ. Other recent accolades include being recognized by QSR as one of the “16 Best Franchise Deals for 2025”, ranking No. 49 on Entrepreneur Magazine’s 2025 “Franchise 500” ranking, earning a coveted spot as the only top 5 pizza chain to rank on Newsweek’s 2025 “America’s Best Customer Service” in pizza chains list, earning a spot on QSR’s Top 50, and being featured on Nation’s Restaurant News’ prestigious “Top 500” ranking.    

*Purchase Required. Use code: GIVE2025. Coupon must be presented at the time of redemption and is limited to one small cheese pizza to the holder. Only valid 12/1/25 through 12/31/25 at participating stores. No cash value, no substitutions, non-transferable. Not valid through 3rd-party delivery apps. Additional toppings/delivery fee/tax extra (varies by store). Delivery orders must meet stated minimum. Other restrictions may apply – see store or marcos.com for details.

ꝉꝉAccording to Technomic’s 2024 America’s Favorite Restaurants data, Marco’s Pizza secured the top spot in the Limited-Service Pizza category with a 53.4% composite top-box rating, indicating the share of recent guests who gave the brand the highest possible rating for each of the guest experience attributes. Data for America’s Favorite Chains comes from Technomic Ignite Consumer, which collects information about how brands impact consumers and how consumers interact with those brands, via online surveys. See here for more information: www.technomic.com/ignite-consumer

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SOURCE Marco’s Pizza

Originally published on Guiding Stars Health & Nutrition News

by Allison Stowell

Welcome to holiday season 2025! The weeks ahead will bring wonderful family time and social gatherings. They will also bring the potential for chatting about hot topics like health, diet, and nutrition. These challenging subjects may not be easy to discuss at the holiday table. Let’s think of some ways to navigate conversation to a better place.

Redirect Conversation

“I love that there are so many opportunities for people to find something that works for them.”

With this simple statement, we remember that we all benefit from making our way to better health. It highlights the importance of finding a path that helps us meet and sustain wellness goals to reduce our risk of developing chronic disease. The path that works is personal. This is important to remember, both for us and for our loved ones.

“What’s your favorite thing that you cooked or ate recently?”

Food is wonderful, delicious, and enjoyable. Moving the focus here diffuses diet-focused conversation. You can highlight some wonderful cooks or restaurants you love. Or chat about the meaningful holiday dishes you look forward to sharing together.

“I’m so happy things are going well for you!”

While you may not completely understand or agree with a loved one’s lifestyle choices, you can still celebrate their happiness. Acknowledge their energy and enthusiasm rather than question how they got there. Creating new habits and putting our health first is not easy (though well worth it). Honoring another’s success at adopting a new lifestyle is kind and thoughtful.

“What does 6–7 mean anyway?”

Or “what do you think about Taylor Swift’s new album?” Put questions out to the holiday table, especially a multigenerational group, to spur conversation. While it may leave the adults confused about some trends, it will likely bring up lots of laughs and quiet any other conversation.

Additional Considerations

If a family member is on a journey toward better health, they’re likely protective of their path. And if previous attempts haven’t been successful, they may be so protective that they come across as defensive. It helps to have compassion and remember they may be coming from a place of fear—that the success they’re experiencing will wane or disappear altogether. Keeping this in mind may lead to a more peaceful conversation (or at least a more understanding one).

You may be concerned about a family member. Maybe they have lost too much weight, or seem weak or unwell. Or possibly you’re worried about supplements or other methods they’re using. If this is the case, it may be very difficult to address. Instead, consider asking questions about how their doctor feels about their health status. This keeps the focus on their medical team and the experts they trust. Continue to stay in touch with loved ones you’re worried about and let them know you are thinking about them.

If you leave a gathering with questions or concerns about a dietary approach or wellness concept, please use hospital and university websites for your research. And consider professional sites for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, American Medical Association, and National Institute of Health for expert, science-based information.

Image by Freepik

As volatility becomes structural – not episodic – global organizations are rethinking how strategy, execution, and leadership connect across their supply networks. To help leaders navigate this inflection point, international port and logistics company DP World and global management consulting firm Kearney are hosting a forward-looking webinar on how enterprises are redesigning their supply chains for the next three years.

This timely discussion brings together real-world data, executive insights, and commercial perspectives from across the Americas and global Fortune 500 operations. Attendees will gain an inside look at the systemic forces reshaping supply chains worldwide – from geopolitical friction and shifting trade flows to AI-driven operating models and evolving C-suite expectations.

Register now for the December 2 webinar

A Framework for the Next Generation of Global Supply Chains

During the session, experts from DP World and Kearney will break down four forces reshaping global supply chains:

  • Disruption: How leaders are navigating structural volatility – from cost pressure to geopolitical friction – and where boardrooms are focusing attention.
  • Structure: The shift from linear supply chains to diversified, multi-node networks powered by real-time data and AI.
  • Leadership: The expanding role of COOs and C-suites as operational risk becomes strategic risk – and the new capabilities required.
  • Predictive Insights: How tools like Kearney’s Supply Chain Navigator help leaders anticipate risk, accelerate decisions, and protect performance.

Meet the Speakers

  • Brittany Caskey, Chief Commercial Officer, DP World in the Americas: Based in Atlanta, Brittany leads commercial growth across freight forwarding, contract logistics, and end-to-end supply chain solutions. A former UPS leader and the voice behind “Lady in Logistics,” she brings a human-centered leadership style and deep expertise in integrated logistics transformation.
  • Glen Clark, CEO, DP World in the U.S. and Mexico: Glen oversees one of DP World’s fastest-growing logistics portfolios and brings a unique background spanning HR, operations, and commercial strategy. Known for his people-centric leadership approach, he focuses on building high-trust cultures and agile logistics networks across the region.
  • Suketu Gandhi, Partner, Kearney; Chair, Global Strategic Operations Practice: A globally recognized expert on supply chain transformation and digital acceleration, Suketu helps Fortune 500 leaders build operations that balance growth, resilience, cost, and sustainability. He brings unmatched clarity to complex topics, turning disruption into long-term competitive advantage.

Reserve Your Spot

Don’t miss this opportunity to hear first-hand how the world’s most influential companies are preparing for the next era of global supply chain strategy – and what it means for your organization’s competitiveness.

Register now to join DP World and Kearney for this high-impact conversation.

SWORDS, Ireland, November 25, 2025 /3BL/ – Trane Technologies plc (NYSE: TT), a global climate innovator, has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire a 49% minority stake in Kieback&Peter Group (K&P), a European leader in building automation software and solutions headquartered in Berlin, Germany. The investment marks a pivotal step in advancing Trane Technologies’ digital and controls strategy and expands opportunities to accelerate climate innovation in the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region.

Kieback&Peter, founded in 1927, specializes in intelligent building technology that supports the company’s vision to make buildings more comfortable, energy-efficient, and environmentally responsible. With proprietary hardware, software, and energy management solutions, and more than 1,700 employees across 50 locations worldwide, Kieback&Peter helps governments, businesses, healthcare providers, and industries reduce energy waste and achieve their sustainability goals.

Under the terms of the agreement, Trane Technologies will acquire a 49% interest in Kieback&Peter, with an option to assume full ownership after a three-year period. The strategic partnership includes a commercialization agreement enabling the two companies to offer highly complementary solutions to their respective customers across the region.

“This agreement underscores Trane Technologies’ ongoing commitment to climate leadership, digital innovation and delivering exceptional value to our customers,” said Jose La Loggia, Group President – EMEA, Trane Technologies. “By leveraging our scale and leading sustainable building solutions alongside Kieback&Peter’s advanced controls and building management systems, we will be uniquely positioned to accelerate climate innovation, reduce wasted energy and shape the future of intelligent buildings.” 

The investment and commercialization agreement are expected to close in the coming months, subject to regulatory approvals. Kieback&Peter will continue to operate independently, led by Managing Partner Christoph Ritzkat.

“For nearly a century, Kieback&Peter has stood for premium quality, exceptional customer dedication, and sustainable innovation that helps make our world a better place – values shared by Trane Technologies,” said Christoph Ritzkat, Managing Partner, Kieback&Peter. “I am confident our work with Trane Technologies will help us build upon our legacy and drive long-term growth through expanded capabilities, offerings and customer-focused solutions. We are excited to embark on this new chapter together.”

# # #

About Trane Technologies
Trane Technologies is a global climate innovator. Through our strategic brands Trane® and Thermo King®, and our portfolio of environmentally responsible products and services, we bring efficient and sustainable climate solutions to buildings, homes and transportation. For more on Trane Technologies, visit tranetechnologies.com.
 

About Kieback&Peter
Kieback&Peter GmbH & Co. KG combines intelligent building technology, data-driven services, and nearly a century of expertise to deliver sustainable solutions. With approximately 1,700 employees and 50 locations worldwide, Kieback&Peter is trusted on prestigious projects such as Berlin’s Cube, Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris, and the Mercedes-Benz engine plant in Beijing. Learn more at kieback-peter.com.
 

Investors:
Zachary Nagle, Trane Technologies
+1-704-990-3913 
InvestorRelations@tranetechnologies.com

Media:
Travis Bullard, Trane Technologies
+1-919-802-2593 
Media@tranetechnologies.com

Regina Del Prete, Kieback&Peter GmbH & Co. KG
030 60095-200
presse@kieback-peter.de

The weeks leading up to the holiday seasons bring a sharp uptick in activity across retail and warehouse operations. Order volumes rise, timelines compress, and teams move quickly to keep products flowing. That pace puts added strain on the people, spaces, and processes that keep workplaces safe.

Warehouses, stockrooms, and back-of-house areas feel this shift first. With so much happening at once, small oversights can add up fast.

To help EHS leaders stay ahead, we’ve framed five common peak-season challenges through a few Thanksgiving-inspired scenarios. The metaphors may be light, but the risks behind them are real, and each one offers a practical reminder of where to focus as holiday operations ramp up.

 

1. The Family Member Who Freestyles the Potluck

You’ve designed a thoughtful Thanksgiving menu and assigned dishes to each family. But there’s always one relative who ignores the plan, grabbing something entirely different on their way over because “it felt right.” The act isn’t malicious (that you know of…), but it does disrupt the balance you were aiming for.

How it shows up at work

Warehouses see the same tendency during peak season. When the floor is busy or new hires are still finding their footing, people often default to what feels familiar instead of following formal steps. Cross-functional teams might jump in to help and improvise their way through tasks they rarely perform. Those small deviations can stack up quickly in environments where product flow, equipment, and layout vary from zone to zone.

How to stay ahead

Clear responsibilities and accessible SOPs help anchor teams when pace and volume accelerate. Short, focused micro-trainings give workers quick reminders of the right approach, reducing the chance that well-intentioned improvising turns into avoidable exposure.

 

2. The Overflowing Table

A Thanksgiving table only has so much space. When every dish comes out at once, the setup gets crowded fast: bowls hovering near the edge, serving spoons competing for room, and very little space left to maneuver. Even a well-planned meal becomes harder to manage when everything lands in the same place at the same time.

How it shows up at work

Peak-season operations create similar pressure. Product arrives faster than it moves out, and teams stack materials wherever there’s an open spot. Aisles tighten, staging areas spill into walkways, and temporary placements become semi-permanent. It’s rarely one item that creates a hazard, but the steady accumulation that limits visibility, complicates equipment movement, and narrows emergency access.

How to stay ahead

Brief layout walk-throughs make it easier to spot crowding early, and clear expectations for staging, stacking, and egress help prevent minor overflow from becoming a systemic challenge. A few small adjustments — redistributing materials, resetting a tight zone, or adding a designated overflow area — can keep workspaces balanced even when volumes peak.

 

3. The Dishwashing Puddle

After a big holiday meal, the area around the sink always gets a little chaotic. Dishes pile up, water splashes over the edge, and the floor develops a small puddle that’s easy to overlook until someone steps straight into it. A simple cleanup task turns into an unexpected slip hazard when the pace picks up, and everyone is focused on getting through the stack.

How it shows up at work

Warehouses experience the same hidden buildup during busy times. Packaging scraps, loose shrink wrap, broken product, cords, and even condensation near loading areas accumulate faster than teams can clear them. With heavy traffic and tight timelines, it becomes harder to spot issues early, and routine floor checks often get pushed behind more urgent tasks.

How to stay ahead

More frequent inspections and quick spot-check assignments help surface hazards before they escalate. Clearing debris, cords, and waste at regular intervals, even brief ones, keeps high-traffic zones safer and allows operations to move smoothly during the busiest weeks.

 

4. The Careless Carving Uncle

Most families have that one enthusiastic relative who grabs the carving knife with confidence, rushes through the turkey, and insists they can get it done in half the time. They mean well, but the speed and showmanship often override the care the task really requires — and put their well-being at risk.

How it shows up at work

In a warehouse, the same instinct appears when deadlines tighten. Workers rush to hit targets, skip steps that feel optional, or take on more than is comfortable because it seems faster. These decisions often stem from confidence built on past experience (“I’ve done this a thousand times!”) even when conditions are very different during peak season.

How to stay ahead

Reinforcing critical steps and encouraging teams to speak up when something feels rushed or unsafe keeps productivity from overshadowing safety. Normalizing brief pauses for clarification or repositioning helps prevent shortcuts from becoming habits during the busiest weeks.

 

5. The Last-Minute Baker

Every holiday has a baker who stays up late finishing one last dish. As the night goes on, their focus slips a little — measurements get imprecise, small mistakes appear, and tasks that felt easy an hour earlier start taking twice as long. Nothing is wrong with their skill or intention; they’re simply working past the point of good judgment.

How it shows up at work

Fatigue builds gradually during the holiday surge. Extended shifts, high repetition, and sustained pace lead to slower reaction times and reduced hazard awareness. End-of-shift hours tend to show this most clearly, as small errors and near-misses begin to surface.

How to stay ahead

Adjusting shift planning, encouraging early reporting of fatigue, and watching for changes in pace or communication help supervisors catch concerns before they turn into incidents. Even small opportunities to reset such as short breaks, rotation, or task adjustments can keep teams alert during the final stretch of a demanding season.

 

Bringing It All Together

Staying ahead this season means giving teams the clarity, space, and support they need to work safely even as activity peaks. Small preventive steps taken now can reduce stress later and help operations move through the holidays with more confidence.

 

Have any questions?

Contact us to discuss your environment, health, safety, and sustainability needs today.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ –A new survey of senior congressional staff has revealed a remarkable and unexpected point of cross-party consensus: the Senate filibuster should be preserved.

The latest CNCT Capitol Pulse survey indicates that a supermajority of aides from both parties favor maintaining the long-standing legislative procedure. This consensus suggests a deeply ingrained, traditionalist view among senior staff regarding the Senate’s institutional role as a deliberative body.

The survey findings are clear. A full 82 percent of Republican aides responding to the poll stated that the filibuster should be kept. In a striking display of agreement, 77 percent of responding Democratic aides concurred with that position.

This strong consensus among senior staff—the experienced professionals who advise legislators on policy and procedure—highlights a significant potential disconnect between the public-facing political battles over Senate rules and the private sentiments of those who manage the legislative branch’s day-to-day operations.

This near-unanimity extended across gender lines, mirroring the party identification. Among Republican women aides, support for the filibuster was exceptionally high at 93 percent. Democratic women aides also showed overwhelming support, with 89 percent stating the procedure should be kept. This data indicates that support for the Senate’s institutional norms is a widely held conviction among staffers.

While support for the filibuster was dominant, the survey did identify small pockets of opposition. The group expressing the most support for eliminating the filibuster was Democratic men, at 20 percent. Among Republican aides, the highest percentage in favor of ending the procedure came from GOP communications directors, at 17 percent. However, these figures remain clear outliers, reinforcing the survey’s primary finding of broad institutional support.

The Senate filibuster is a procedural tool that allows a minority of senators to delay or block a vote on a measure or appointment. Under the Senate’s current rules, a “cloture” motion is required to end debate on a given topic. To invoke cloture and move to a final vote, the Senate must secure a supermajority of 60 votes. This 60-vote threshold is the central mechanism of the modern filibuster, effectively meaning most major legislation requires some measure of bipartisan support to pass.

The CNCT survey results arrive as the filibuster remains a contentious public issue. Some Republican senators have expressed frustration over the Democratic minority’s use of the 60-vote threshold, which was utilized 15 times to maintain the recent government shutdown.

Despite this frustration, other Republicans—and, as the survey shows, a majority of aides from both parties—warn against such a change. They caution that eliminating the 60-vote threshold would be a short-term tactical gain with severe long-term strategic consequences. A primary concern is that doing so would inevitably empower the opposing party to pass its own priority legislation with a simple majority when it regains control of the Senate.

This staff-level consensus underscores the traditional, institutionalist argument for the filibuster. Advocates frame it as a crucial feature, not a flaw, of the Senate’s design, one that serves as a vital check against hasty, impassioned lawmaking. Proponents argue the 60-vote rule prevents the Senate from acting too quickly, forcing deeper consideration and more thorough debate on major proposals before they become law. From this perspective, the filibuster is an essential tool for preserving the Constitution’s intended deliberative structure for the legislative branch.

About HillFaith: HillFaith is a project of the 52-Week Ministry Foundation, a tax-exempt non-profit that shares the Gospel of Jesus Christ with congressional aides, as well as individual mentoring, career advice, and advocacy on behalf of improved working conditions. Learn more about the organization on their website: https://www.hillfaith.org/

Contact Information
Mark Tapscott
405377@email4pr.com
301-275-6645

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SOURCE HillFaith

As sustainability continues to mature as a core business function, organizations are refining their strategies, investing in governance, and reassessing how they collect and use data. Novata’s 2025 State of Sustainability Report highlights the trends shaping this shift, revealing both progress and persistent gaps.

Below are four data points that define where teams stand today and what will matter most in the year ahead.

  1. Sustainability Takes Shape 

    80% of organizations now have a formal sustainability role or team. Sustainability is becoming a core business function, signaling real market maturity.

  2. The Data Gap Persists

    60% of organizations still rely on spreadsheets to track ESG data. Data quality and digitization remain the biggest challenges to progress.

  3. Regulation is Driving Progress

    38% are reporting for or already complying with CSRD. This is a notable figure given that only about one-quarter of respondents are headquartered in Europe with revenues over €50 million.

  4. The ROI Challenge

    47% of sustainability leaders say proving the business value of sustainability is their top challenge. The next frontier: linking sustainability data directly to performance.

Get the Full Picture: Explore the full 2025 State of Sustainability Report for deeper insights into how companies are formalizing teams, tackling data gaps, and preparing for regulation.

Read the full report here.

KELLER, Texas, Nov. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Polly Plumbing, a female founded, family operated Keller Plumbing company headquartered off of Keller Pkwy, has announced its official launch serving homeowners and local businesses across Tarrant Count and the south side of Denton County. The company was built to solve the frustrations many Texans have faced with home service providers and to deliver what the founders describe as a simpler, clearer, more respectful plumbing experience.

Located at 1762 Keller Pkwy Ste 100, Keller, TX 76248, Polly Plumbing already serves Keller, Southlake, Colleyville, Trophy Club, Westlake, Roanoke, NRH, Arlington, Fort Worth, Flower Mound, Lewisville, and Argyle. Services include plumbing, drain care, leak detection and repair, water heaters, gas line repair, and whole home water filtration.

A Company Built From Two Decades of Homeownership Experience

Co-founders Polly Brady, CEO, and Haven Brady, President, developed the business model after nearly 20 years of dealing with contractors as homeowners, landlords, and parents.

“We built Polly Plumbing for people who expect more. We know what it feels like to take a day off work, to trust a stranger in your home, and to hope the price doesn’t change once the job starts. After years of disappointing experiences, we decided to create the company we wished existed. It spawned with centering the service around the female decision maker of the home offering clear communication, respectful service, upfront pricing, and the kind of care we want for our own family. It’s now grown to be appreciated by all in the home,” shares Polly Brady, CEO.

Putting Homeowners Back in Control

Polly Plumbing’s model focuses on what the founders describe as the three values missing in most plumbing experiences:

  1. Clear diagnosis

  2. Upfront options and pricing

  3. No surprise adjustments or add-ons once approved

This approach is meant to remove the pressure, confusion, and guesswork many Texans report experiencing with home service companies.

“Every homeowner deserves clear answers. You should know the root cause, options to fix, and the price. No shifting numbers and no new line items later. Our job is to be the easiest plumbing company you will ever work with. We also take your home and your safety seriously. We vet close to one hundred plumbers to hire one so that the person in your home is skilled, kind, and trustworthy. We are full service and we do not leave you with extra to-do’s. When a repair calls for drywall, patching, texture, flooring, or other follow up work, our network of local partners can complete that for you so the whole job is taken care of,” shares Haven Brady, President.

Built for Tarrant County Homes

Tarrant County homeowners experience unique plumbing challenges due to hard water, aging infrastructure in certain neighborhoods, and soil movement that can affect slab foundations. According to public water data, North Texas water hardness commonly ranges between 140–180 mg/L, which can impact plumbing systems, fixtures, and water-using appliances.

Additionally, engineering sources note that North Texas clay soils expand and contract significantly with seasonal moisture changes, creating stress on plumbing lines under slab-built homes.

Polly Plumbing’s services are intentionally designed around these issues, pairing modern leak detection with education-first service.

A Neighborly Brand With Deep Local Roots

The company is already involved in Keller and Carroll ISD’s and surrounding school communities with participation in Celebrating Southlake and the Trophy Club Fall Festival. Polly Plumbing’s mascot, Polly the Parrot, has become a recognizable symbol in local neighborhoods and will appear at events for free family photo keepsakes.

“We also welcomed Texas native, Gary Staggs as our General Manager. He is an Army veteran with thirty years of plumbing experience and a strong background in leadership. He brings a player coach mindset to our team. His focus is to uphold our service model standards and guide our plumbers as they care for our community one household at a time,” shares Polly Brady, CEO.

The founders say their goal is to be a trusted household name because of consistency in their delivery: showing up on time, being easy to work with, fair pricing for premium service, and leaving homes cleaner than they were found.

The Polly Promise

Polly Plumbing introduced the Polly Promise to set clear expectations for customers:

  • They never miss your call
  • Respect your time and home
  • Provide options not pressure
  • No complicated jargon
  • Give upfront pricing
  • Do the work right the first time

This promise is grounded in building long-term relationships with customers, property managers, home service partners, and general contractors.

Looking Ahead

Polly Plumbing plans to expand community education efforts, including upcoming releases on topics such as leak detection, foundation-related plumbing issues, and water quality challenges across Tarrant County.

Residents are encouraged to save the company’s contact information in their phones to be prepared when the unplanned happens.

About Polly Plumbing

Polly Plumbing is a female owned and family operated plumbing company based in Keller, Texas. The company was created with the female decision maker in mind and is appreciated by all households who want clear answers, upfront pricing, and a licensed team they can trust inside their home. Polly Plumbing focuses on clarity, respect, and a calm customer experience that many homeowners feel is missing in the industry. The company provides plumbing, drain, leak detection, gas, and whole home water filtration services across Tarrant County. Polly Plumbing hires with care, trains with intention, and supports the community through school sponsorships and local events. Polly Plumbing, for people who expect more.

Service: 817-776-0007
Website: www.pollyplumbing.com

Careers at Polly Plumbing:  https://pollyplumbing.com/careers/

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SOURCE Polly Plumbing

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