Tag: PR Newswire

AHMEDABAD, India, Nov. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Adani Group announces its foray into the Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) sector with a pioneering 1126 MW / 3530 MWh project (The BESS project would have a power capacity of 1126 MW and energy capacity 3530 MWh. This means that BESS would be able to store 3530 MWh of energy – extending power capacity of 1126 MW by ~3 hrs). This project, entailing deployment of more than 700 BESS containers, will be the largest BESS installation in India and one of the world’s largest single-location BESS deployments. This historic project will be commissioned by March 2026.

This strategic initiative is a major step toward enhancing India’s energy security, enabling round-the-clock clean electricity and supporting the country’s transition to a low-carbon future. The BESS will play a critical role in easing peak load pressures, reducing transmission congestion, and mitigating solar curtailment, thereby improving grid reliability and efficiency.

The project is in the advance stages of deployment at Khavda, the worlds’ largest renewable energy plant. The project is being developed with cutting-edge lithium-ion battery technology and is being integrated with advanced energy management systems to ensure optimal performance and reliability. The deployment will support peak load management and energy shifting, thereby playing a critical role in decarbonizing the power sector. This pioneering project will serve as a cornerstone in the world’s clean energy evolution, enabling grid stability, renewable integration, and round-the-clock power availability, while positioning the Khavda renewable energy plant as the world’s largest RE and storage park.

A Strategic Leap Toward Energy Transition

Speaking on the occasion of the announcement, Gautam Adani, Chairman of Adani Group, said, “Energy storage is the cornerstone of a renewable-powered future. With this historic project, we are not only setting global benchmarks but also reinforcing our commitment to India’s energy independence and sustainability. This initiative will enable us to deliver reliable, clean, and affordable energy solutions at scale.”

With this strategic entry, the Adani Group joins the ranks of global energy leaders investing in large-scale storage infrastructure, marking a transformative moment in India’s clean energy journey.

Scaling Ambitions: 15 GWh by FY27 and 50 GWh in Five Years

Building on this flagship deployment, the Adani Group has laid out a clear and ambitious roadmap to scale its energy storage footprint. The Group plans to deploy an additional 15 GWh of BESS capacity by March 2027, with a long-term target of 50 GWh total over the next five years. This scale of ambition reflects the Group’s commitment to building a resilient and future-ready energy ecosystem that aligns with India’s net-zero goals and global climate commitments.

About The Adani Portfolio of Companies

Headquartered in Ahmedabad, the Adani Group is India’s largest and fastest-growing portfolio of diversified businesses. With interests across energy and utilities, transport and logistics (including seaports, airports, shipping, and rail), metals and materials, and consumer sectors, the Adani Group has established a leadership position in the market. The Group’s success is driven by its core philosophy of ‘Nation Building’ and ‘Growth with Goodness,’ focusing on sustainable development. Adani Group is committed to environmental stewardship and community improvement through its CSR programs, which are grounded in the principles of sustainability, diversity, and shared values.

Further information at www.adani.com

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SOURCE Adani Group

BELÉM, Brazil, Nov. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The Report on State Grid’s Contribution to Global Security Initiative was released during the “Beautiful Bays, Better Lives” Ocean Ecological Civilization Storytelling Session held at the China Pavilion of the 30th UN Climate Change Conference. This marks the first contribution report by a Chinese central SOE on the implementation of the Global Security Initiative. The Report presents State Grid’s practical cases and experience in ensuring energy security and promoting the green and low-carbon transition, offering the “Chinese model” and “Chinese solutions” for global reference. It underscores State Grid’s firm commitment to the implementation of the Global Security Initiative.

Among global security issues, energy security is not only the lifeblood of economic development but also the foundation of global climate governance. Addressing climate change and accelerating the clean and low-carbon energy transition have become global imperatives. Electricity is the carrier of the green and low-carbon energy transition, and power grids are the platform for ensuring energy security. As the world’s largest public utility enterprise, the State Grid fully implements the new energy security strategy of “Four Reforms and One Cooperation”. State Grid accelerates the creation of the New-Type Power System that is clean and low-carbon, secure and abundant, economical and efficient, synergistic between supply and demand, and flexible and intelligent, providing innovative Chinese practices for global sustainable energy development.

The Report is structured into five sections i.e. Preface, The GSI, The GSI and State Grid, Measures and Practices of State Grid in Implementing the GSI, and Outlook. It provides a systematic account of the State Grid’s practices and experience in energy security and green, low-carbon transition. The Report vividly illustrates how State Grid has advanced the GSI by strengthening the national energy security line, serving national economic security, supporting national ecological security, and fostering international energy security synergy. Through innovative measures and remarkable achievements, State Grid has contributed to global efforts in promoting the sustainable development of global energy, safeguarding global energy security, and fostering international energy cooperation. The Report vividly tells the “Chinese story” of how State Grid has addressed the triple challenges of energy security, sustainability, and economic efficiency, offering both experience and solutions for addressing climate change, safeguarding global energy security, and advancing the sustainable development of global energy.

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SOURCE State Grid Corporation of China

DOMA Controls 6.8% of Pacira Common Stock

MIAMI, Nov. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — DOMA Perpetual Capital Management LLC, a significant stockholder of Pacira BioSciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: PCRX) (“Pacira”), today sent a letter to the Board of Directors of Pacira (the “Board”) urging the Board to hire bankers and conduct a full sale process of the company. 

The letter can be downloaded here.

The full text of the letter follows:

November 10^th, 2025

To the Board of Directors of Pacira:

As you are aware, DOMA Perpetual has amended the 13D, stating our position regarding Pacira. Our ownership stake is now 6.8%.ⁱ We have also updated our intentions regarding our ownership. We continue to evaluate the possibility of substantially increasing our position in the future. Due to what we believe is management’s unrelenting underperformance, out-of-control spending, and lack of prudent financial control, we now believe Pacira’s Board should immediately hire bankers and conduct a formal sale process for the business.

We find Pacira’s continued lack of shareholder return unacceptable.ⁱⁱ The Board has allowed management to spend many millions of dollars in what we consider to be an ill-advised and wasteful manner, given Pacira’s financial performance.ⁱⁱⁱ Further, we believe it was a mistake for the Board to move the company’s headquarters across the country, burning cash on new and expensive offices.^iv As we see it, the executive stock-based compensation level is out of control relative to the company’s size; full-year 2025 guidance indicates this could amount to approximately 6% of Pacira’s market capitalization.^v The year-to-date stock-based compensation is larger than the firm’s entire operating income.^vi Our position is that this is a wholly irresponsible way to manage the company’s finances, and the Board must rectify what we consider to be a complete lack of prudent financial conduct.

Pacira’s management team has been paid tens of millions of dollars for a business plan which delivered dismal financial results and negative shareholder returns.^vii Under current management, Zilretta sales have declined 2% year over year through Q3: another example of how poorly the business is being run.^viii There are no justifications for why management and the Board should be allowed to continue to enrich themselves as they squander investors’ cash.

We believe a sale should be immediately pursued
. Assuming a large buyer would likely cut all of the company’s SG&A and R&D spending and, modeling with high single digit revenue growth (which, under a much larger owner, we consider to be conservative, given the help of a larger sales teams, NOPAIN, and pricing power), the sum of those cash flows is potentially more than $10 billion through patent expiration. With that knowledge, we estimate a deal at around $2.7 billion valuation would be very doable and could lead to a valuation of approximately $66/share or more, depending on the number of shares outstanding. A sale price of roughly $66 per share represents about three times the current level but is only around 15 times 2027 projected earnings if management completes the buyback without delay.^ix In our view, this is not a stretched valuation for an acquisition.

Why should investors tolerate minimal returns if Pacira’s assets, and Exparel in particular, are worth more than three times the current stock price?

Exparel is a great product, not only in terms of safety and effectiveness, but also in the nature of the drug. The opioid epidemic in the US is costing the country billions of dollars and many thousands of lives.^x Exparel is the leading non-opioid pain medication for use in surgical settings in the market.^xi Under a larger company, the country may benefit from a faster expansion of Exparel and the chance for the product to quickly become the standard of care. We believe Exparel not only helps medical providers deliver better, safer health care, it lowers the cost of that care. Moreover, it can serve a vital role in managing the country’s opioid epidemic.

In our experience, under current management shareholders only get excuses. Pacira’s underperformance is plainly visible in the company’s filings, and we believe its lavish spending is not a prudent way to operate. For example, Pacira’s revenues have increased 3% year over year, however, expenditures are rising at an exponential rate, R&D increased 36% year over year, and SG&A increased 25% SG&A year over year.^xii In an April 17^th press release, the company pledged a commitment to efficiency and margin expansion at the pre-tax income level, which has yet to materialize.^xiii Following that public statement, management took the company to losses at the pretax income level in Q2 and barely any profitability in Q3.^xiv Management is not only underperforming, as shown in company sales and decreasing revenue guidance, but the out of control spending has left the investors with marginal returns.^xv Given these facts, we don’t see how management can continue to be trusted to generate shareholder return.

In addition to hiring bankers and conducting a formal sale process for the business, we assert these next steps should be taken:

1. The Board and management must lay out a strategy to cut costs in order to enhance shareholder returns. Allowing spending to swell exponentially compared to revenue growth is fiscal recklessness. The company’s finances must be handled in a prudent manner moving forward. 
2. All M&A and new development programs that have not yet started must be put on hold. In prior private letters to the Board, we laid out how the Board destroyed shareholder value with the Flexion acquisition. Shareholders are still waiting to see any return on the investment from the Flexion purchase. Before any further expansion of the pipeline, we believe the company should explore a sale.
3. All free cash flow must be used for buybacks. Management needs to finish the $300 million share repurchase without delay, and a new $300 million buyback should be issued immediately after completing the current buyback program. For as long as the company trades at a large discount to its intrinsic value, buybacks should be the main focus of capital allocation.

Before the end of Q1 2026, bankers should conclude the process of pursuing a sale. In that time, if the price of the stock and the company’s results have already reached the potential purchase price, then – and only then – the sale might be postponed or reconsidered.

Why would board members not want to maximize shareholder return and hire bankers after this very visible multi-year underperformance? The only explanation we can think of is that they want to continue to receive their compensation from the firm and they are willing to ignore their legal and fiduciary duties to shareholders. Choosing to ignore shareholders’ concerns and continuing to defend the persistent multi-year underperformance and lack of shareholder returns is, we believe, tantamount to breaching these duties.

We have been communicating with the Board via private and public letters for over a year. It was a difficult process to get approval from this group for a simple, shareholder-friendly capital allocation framework, which shareholders are now benefiting from. It is obvious to us the $300 million share repurchase program and the smaller buyback before it materialized due to our consistent private and public demands.

In spite of the buyback announcement, the Board continues to dilute shareholders.^xvi The Board’s decision to essentially print money by issuing shares without shareholder approval for each increase was another blow to stakeholders. Further, the Board’s actions demonstrate a critical lack of understanding of basic financial concepts. We think it is common fiscal sense that a company should not issue a convertible bond at the lowest valuation in its history when the business maintains plenty of free cash flow. In our view, the Board has yet to take action to protect shareholders’ interests or to create any tangible shareholder value, despite it being a core duty and obligation of all board members.

Management and the Board cannot be allowed to continue to collect millions of dollars in compensation from shareholders while continuing to underperform.^xvii Pacira has spent nearly two years under the new CEO’s management and almost a year under NOPAIN coverage of Exparel. We have watched as the opportunity has been critically mismanaged. Pacira’s stock valuation is hovering near an all-time low, coupled with the absence of any financial or stock price returns.^xviii As large shareholders, we are tired of Pacira’s unrelenting underperformance and management’s continued excuses; shareholders have suffered enough.

Sincerely,

Pedro Escudero
CEO & CIO
DOMA Perpetual Capital Management LLC

About DOMA Perpetual Capital Management LLC:
DOMA Perpetual Capital Management LLC is an asset management firm based in Miami, Florida. DOMA Perpetual strives to achieve great investment results by identifying attractive, uncorrelated companies with sustainable competitive advantages, while limiting exposure to downside risks. It employs an opportunistic, fundamentals-based strategy that invests in companies across a variety of sectors and market caps throughout the globe.

Contact:
DOMA Perpetual Capital Management LLC
ir@domaperpetual.com

Disclaimer

This letter has been prepared by DOMA Perpetual Management LLC and its affiliates (“DOMA”). The views expressed herein reflect the opinions of DOMA and are based on publicly available information with respect to Pacira Biosciences Inc. (“Pacira Biosciences, Inc.” or the “Company”). DOMA recognizes that there may be confidential information in the possession of the Company that could lead it or others to disagree with DOMA’s conclusions. DOMA reserves the right to change or modify any of such views or opinions at any time and for any reason and expressly disclaims any obligation to correct, update, or revise the information contained herein or to otherwise provide any additional materials.

For the avoidance of doubt, this press release was not produced by any person that is affiliated with Pacira Biosciences Inc., nor was its content endorsed by Pacira Biosciences Inc. This press release is provided merely as information and is not intended to be, nor should it be construed as an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any security nor as a recommendation to purchase or sell any security. One or more funds managed by DOMA currently beneficially owns shares of the Company.

Some of the materials in this press release contain forward-looking statements. All statements contained herein that are not clearly historical in nature or that necessarily depend on future events are forward-looking, and the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “expect,” “potential,” “could,” “opportunity,” “estimate,” “plan,” “once again,” “achieve,” and similar expressions are generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. The projected results and statements contained herein that are not historical facts are based on DOMA’s current expectations, speak only as of the date of these materials and involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performances or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performances or achievements expressed or implied by such projected results and statements. Assumptions relating to the foregoing involve judgments with respect to, among other things, future economic competitive and market conditions and future business decisions, all of which are difficult or impossible to predict accurately and many of which are beyond the control of DOMA.

ⁱ Pacira BioSciences, Inc. Schedule 13D https://investor.pacira.com/static-files/c8ab0563-7208-40ce-912f-9be1a41c585b
ⁱⁱ Bloomberg Database, DOMA Perpetual Internal Calculations
ⁱⁱⁱ Pacira BioSciences, Inc. Company Filings
^iv Pacira BioSciences, Inc. (2025, May 8). Pacira BioSciences reports first quarter 2025 financial results. GlobeNewswire. https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/05/08/3077657/0/en/Pacira-BioSciences-Reports-First-Quarter-2025-Financial-Results.html
^v Pacira BioSciences, Inc. Company Filings, DOMA Perpetual Internal Calculations
^vi Pacira BioSciences, Inc. Company Filings, DOMA Perpetual Internal Calculations
^vii Pacira BioSciences, Inc. Proxy Materials, DOMA Perpetual Internal Calculations
^viii Pacira BioSciences, Inc. Company Filings
^ix Bloomberg Database, DOMA Perpetual Internal Calculations
^x The White House. (2025, March 26). The staggering cost of the illicit opioid epidemic in the United States. https://www.whitehouse.gov/articles/2025/03/the-staggering-cost-of-the-illicit-opioid-epidemic-in-the-united-states/
^xi Pacira BioSciences, Inc. (2025). EXPAREL® (bupivacaine liposome injectable suspension). https://www.pacira.com/therapies/exparel/
^xii Pacira BioSciences, Inc. Company Filings, DOMA Perpetual Internal Calculations
^xiii Pacira BioSciences, Inc. (2025, April 17). Pacira BioSciences reaffirms commitment to enhancing value for all shareholders [Press release]. https://investor.pacira.com/news-releases/news-release-details/pacira-biosciences-reaffirms-commitment-enhancing-value-all
^xiv Pacira BioSciences, Inc. Company Filings
^xv Pacira BioSciences, Inc. Company Filings
^xvi Pacira BioSciences, Inc. SEC Filing Form S-8. https://investor.pacira.com/node/18601/html
^xvii Pacira BioSciences, Inc. Proxy Filings, DOMA Perpetual Internal Calculations
^xviii Bloomberg Database, DOMA Perpetual Internal Calculation

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SOURCE DOMA Perpetual

Award honors three decades of excellence in medically tailored meal delivery

TWIN FALLS, Idaho, Nov. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Homestyle Direct, a national leader in medically tailored meal delivery, has been named Elderly Meal Delivery Solution of the Year 2025 by Elder Care Review, a print and digital publication with more than 113,000 subscribers nationwide.

This recognition, featured in the November issue, is awarded annually to organizations that demonstrate leadership in elder care, provide innovative and compassionate services, and earn the trust of families and caregivers. Winners are selected based on nominations and subscriber feedback, with criteria including quality of service, customer satisfaction, and proven impact on older adults and their families.

“Homestyle Direct stood out for its longstanding commitment to nutritious, reliable, and compassionate meal solutions for seniors,” said Kiara Nash, Managing Editor, Eldercare Review. “This award reflects both the trust Homestyle Direct has earned and the leadership role it continues to play in shaping the future of senior meal delivery.”

Founded in 1997, Homestyle Direct has spent nearly three decades delivering meals designed by registered dietitians to support seniors managing chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and kidney disease. The company now offers more than 35 seasonal meal options – including Diabetes Friendly, Heart Friendly, Renal Friendly, Gluten Friendly, Power Packed, Low Sodium, and Dairy Free choices – ensuring members with diverse needs can enjoy meals that meet medical and personal preferences.

Customer satisfaction was a key factor, where Homestyle Direct leads with a 97% overall satisfaction rate and a 92% taste satisfaction rating. The company also provides an easy ordering process and highly responsive support, ensuring seniors and their caregivers experience both convenience and confidence when choosing Homestyle Direct.

Delivered directly to homes nationwide through a partnership with FedEx, Homestyle Direct’s meals empower older adults to maintain independence while giving caregivers peace of mind. The company also partners with Medicaid and Medicare Advantage health plans, state agencies, hospitals, and community organizations, integrating its meal services into broader healthcare strategies that improve outcomes and reduce costs.

“Being recognized by Elder Care Review is a tremendous honor,” said Jeff Barteau, CEO of Homestyle Direct. “This award validates our mission to ensure older adults across the country have access to nutritious, great-tasting meals that support healthier living. It reflects the dedication of our team, the trust of our members, and the partnerships we’ve built in healthcare and community organizations.”

The November feature in Elder Care Review will include a two-page profile on Homestyle Direct’s history, innovation, and real-life impact. With demand for senior meal delivery services growing, the recognition positions Homestyle Direct at the forefront of addressing both health equity and food security nationwide.

“As healthcare evolves, nutrition remains a foundation of wellness,” added Barteau. “This recognition inspires us to keep finding new ways to serve seniors with dignity, quality, and compassion.”

About Elder Care Review

Elder Care Review is a respected industry publication dedicated to spotlighting organizations that make a meaningful difference in the lives of older adults and their caregivers. With more than 113,000 subscribers, the magazine is a leading resource for individuals, families, and professionals seeking eldercare services. Learn more at eldercarereview.com.

About Homestyle Direct

Since 1997, Homestyle Direct has been serving home-delivered meals to families across the U.S. Today, the company offers a wide variety of medically tailored meals to Medicaid and Medicare Advantage members, ensuring choice in every meal to support a healthy lifestyle and promote food security. Developed with a licensed dietitian, each meal balances taste, nutrition, choice, and convenience. To learn more, visit homestyledirect.com.

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SOURCE Homestyle Direct

HAMILTON, Mont., Nov. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Local Bounti Corporation (NYSE: LOCL) (“Local Bounti” or the “Company”), a breakthrough U.S. indoor agriculture company, today announced it will release its financial results for the fiscal third quarter ended September 30, 2025, before the market opens on Wednesday, November 12, 2025.

Conference Call

The Company will host a conference call with members of the Local Bounti executive management team to discuss financial results and other business updates. The conference call is scheduled to begin at 8:00 a.m. ET on Wednesday, November 12, 2025. To participate in the live call, listeners in North America may dial (877) 514-3623 and international listeners may dial +1 (201) 689-8768.

In addition, the call will be broadcast live via webcast, hosted on the “Investors” section of the Company’s website at localbounti.com and will be archived online. A telephonic playback will be available through November 19, 2025. North American listeners may dial (877) 660-6853 and international listeners may dial (201) 612-7415; the passcode is 13756210.

About Local Bounti

Local Bounti is redefining indoor farming with an innovative method – its patented Stack & Flow Technology^® – that significantly improves crop turns, increases output and improves unit economics. Local Bounti operates advanced indoor growing facilities across the United States, servicing approximately 13,000 retail doors. Local Bounti grows healthy food utilizing a hybrid approach that integrates the best attributes of controlled environment agriculture with natural elements. Local Bounti’s sustainable growing methods are better for the planet, using 90% less land and 90% less water than conventional farming methods. With a mission to ‘revolutionize agriculture, ensuring accessibility to fresh, sustainable, locally grown produce and nourishing communities everywhere for generations to come,’ Local Bounti’s food is fresher, more nutritious, and lasts longer than traditional agriculture. To find out more, visit localbounti.com or follow Local Bounti on LinkedIn for the latest news and developments. 

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SOURCE Local Bounti

New Compass Cares integration allows Compass real estate professionals to support local causes directly through the Compass platform with every transaction

NEW YORK, Nov. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Compass real estate professionals can now make donations to Compass Cares, the company’s charitable organization, directly through the Compass platform, just in time for the season of giving. With this new feature, every time a Compass real estate professional helps a client buy or sell a home, they can give back to and make a difference in their community.

Funds are distributed through local Compass Cares Community Funds, empowering real estate professionals to decide where support is needed most in their own neighborhoods, ensuring that the impact stays close to home.

“Real estate has always been local, and so our commitment to giving back needs to reflect that,” said Compass CEO & Founder Robert Reffkin. “Each year, Compass real estate professionals serve their communities with their time, resources, and expertise. With this new expansion of Compass Cares, we’re making it even easier for them to give back to the communities where they live and work.”

Through the company’s proprietary tech platform, real estate professionals can now easily contribute to Compass Cares each time they close a transaction. When submitting their commission form in Business Tracker, Compass real estate professionals can donate a portion of their earnings, specifying how much they want to give with each deal. All contributions are tax-deductible through Compass’s 501(c)(3).

Launched in 2018, Compass Cares was created to empower Compass real estate professionals and employees to make a difference in the places they call home. Together, they’ve contributed millions of dollars and thousands of hours of service through charitable giving, volunteer work, and local partnerships, touching countless lives and strengthening our communities across the country.

For more information about Compass Cares, visit www.compass.com/compasscares

Media Contact:
Devin Daly Huerta
devin.daly@compass.com

About Compass

Compass is a leading tech-enabled real estate services company that includes the largest residential real estate brokerage in the United States by sales volume. Founded in 2012 and based in New York City, Compass provides an end-to-end platform that empowers its residential real estate agents at its owned-brokerage to deliver exceptional service to seller and buyer clients. The platform includes an integrated suite of cloud-based software for customer relationship management, marketing, client service, brokerage services, and other critical functionality, all custom-built for the real estate industry. Compass agents utilize the platform to grow their business, save time, and manage their business more efficiently. The Compass network includes Christie’s International Real Estate, the world’s premier global luxury real estate brand with over 100 independently owned brokerage Affiliates in 50 countries and territories. For more information on how Compass empowers real estate agents, one of the largest groups of small business owners, please visit www.compass.com.

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SOURCE COMPASS

Featuring Kes the Band, Voice, Pumpa, Romain Virgo, Adam O, Morgan Heritage, and D’Yani, the Crucian Christmas Festival Village celebrates the rich diversity of Caribbean culture.

ST. CROIX, U.S. Virgin Islands, Nov. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism, in collaboration with the Division of Festivals, announces the updated schedule and Village lineup for the 2025-2026 Crucian Christmas Festival. Set to kick off December 27, the week-long celebration welcomes locals, diaspora, and visitors alike to experience the island’s unique and diverse culture, honoring tradition while enhancing the festival experience.

At daybreak on Wednesday, December 31, J’ouvert morning will fill the streets with revelry before culminating near the Buddhoe Park, where a colorful Food Fair will showcase the island’s authentic flavors and culinary heritage.

“The Crucian Christmas Festival continues to be one of our most cherished cultural celebrations,” said Jennifer Matarangas-King, Commissioner-Nominee of Tourism. “This year’s lineup brings together the best of local talent, regional stars, and international performers, giving visitors and locals alike an unforgettable celebration of our culture, music, and community.”

The Festival Village, honoring St. Croix-based calypso group Xpress Band, will feature a dynamic mix of international and regional performers, including Voice, Nadia Batson, Romain Virgo, Morgan Heritage, and D’Yani. Homegrown stars who are making waves across the industry will return to take the stage, including Nikki Brooks, Adam O, and Pumpa.

A special tribute honoring the life and legacy of Unkle Sasso, legendary Virgin Islands Bass Rhythm and Melody artist, will take place during the annual Soca Monarch competition on Monday, December 29, celebrating his enduring influence on Virgin Islands music.

Following the Adults Parade on Saturday, January 3, international soca superstar Kes the Band will close out the Festival Village with a high-energy performance featuring hits like Hello, Cocoa Tea, Wotless, and Savannah Grass.

Alvin Burke Jr., Assistant Director of Festivals, added: “We are thrilled to offer an updated schedule that honors our traditions while ensuring the safety of all festivalgoers through coordination with our partners at the Virgin Islands Police Department. From sunrise J’ouvert to the closing concert with Kes the Band, every event is designed to showcase the vibrant energy and talent of St. Croix.”

The Department of Tourism and Division of Festivals invites all to join the festivities, celebrate the islands’ rich cultural legacy, and experience firsthand why the Crucian Christmas Festival remains a cornerstone of Virgin Islands heritage.

For more information about the U.S. Virgin Islands and its offerings, please visit: https://www.visitusvi.com/

About the U.S. Virgin Islands
About 40 miles east of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands comprise a United States territory located in the northeastern Caribbean Sea. The three islands are St. Croix, St. John, and St. Thomas, where the capital of Charlotte Amalie is located. Perfect for leisure or business travel, the U.S. Virgin Islands features breathtaking, world-renowned beaches, an international marine industry, European architecture, and a burgeoning restaurant industry. No passports are required from U.S. citizens traveling from the U.S. mainland or Puerto Rico. Entry requirements for non-U.S. citizens are equivalent to entering the United States from any international country. Upon departure, a passport is required for non-U.S. citizens. For more information about the United States Virgin Islands, go to www.VisitUSVI.com, follow us on Instagram (@visitusvi) and Twitter (@usvitourism), and become a fan on Facebook (www.facebook.com/VisitUSVI).  

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SOURCE U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism

PORTSMOUTH, N.H., Nov. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Heinemann today announced that California Math Expressions has officially been approved by the California BOE for adoption in K-6 classrooms across the state.

Math Expressions is a student-powered, research proven approach to math instruction. Fully aligned with state standards and the California Mathematics Framework’s Big Ideas, California Math Expressions helps students make sense of math, deepen their understanding and confidently solve real-world problems through meaningful, connected learning.

Backed by a decade of research funded by the National Science Foundation on how to effectively teach students math from an early age, California Math Expressions was developed by Dr. Karen Fuson, Professor Emerita of Learning Sciences and the School of Education and Social Policy, as well as the Department of Psychology at Northwestern University. Dr. Fuson’s research is highly regarded in the field of elementary mathematics and explores how students build on and use conceptual supports for a balanced inquiry path to mastery.

“Math Expressions has always been deeply aligned with the California Mathematics Framework, using a student-centered approach to learning that helps students enhance their numerical reasoning skills and continually function as conceptual thinkers,” said Maggie DeMont, general manager of Heinemann. “Heinemann is delighted that the California BOE has approved California Math Expressions for K-6 classrooms, making this truly transformative approach to math instruction accessible to teachers and students across the state.”

For more information about California Math Expressions, please visit: https://www.heinemann.com/mathexpressions/california/

About Heinemann

Heinemann is a leading provider of professional resources and educational services for educators, kindergarten through college. Heinemann supports the professionalism of teachers as they help children become literate, compassionate, engaged citizens of the world. Heinemann authors are exemplary educators eager to support the practice of other teachers through professional books and explicit teaching materials, streaming videos, podcasts and blogs, as well as professional learning experiences, both live and online. Heinemann is dedicated to teachers and the modernization of the teaching profession. Visit Heinemann.com to learn more.

Media Contact:
Erika McCaffrey
Director, Communications
Heinemann Publishing
publicity@heinemann.com

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SOURCE Heinemann

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Nov. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Unlikely Collaborators will host a Spark Salon featuring grief experts Brennan Wood & Dr. Donna L. Schuurman on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. PT / 10:00 p.m. ET. In What Loss and Grief Teach Us About Life, Wood and Schuurman invite audiences into the often-invisible narratives of kids who are grieving, how they make sense of loss, what they internalize, and the stories they carry forward. Together, they’ll explore the power of witnessing grief, in ourselves and others, without trying to fix it, how presence itself can be healing, and what it means to be truly “grief-informed.” Drawing from personal experience and decades of leadership in the field, the speakers will share practical reflections and hard-earned wisdom on how grief, when named and honored, can expand our understanding of resilience, empathy, and the human experience.

The Spark Salon will be held in person at Unlikely Collaborators’ Santa Monica headquarters and livestreamed online. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. for a reception. The program begins promptly at 7:00 p.m., followed by a book signing and reception at 8:00 p.m. In-person attendees will receive a complimentary copy of A Kids Book About Grief by Brennan Wood or Never the Same: Coming to Terms with the Death of a Parent by Dr. Donna L. Schuurman.

This Spark Salon is both a community gathering and a thought-provoking conversation that illuminates how grief can transform how we see ourselves and the world, shaping identity, meaning, and connection in profound ways.

Admission is complimentary through Unlikely Collaborators’ support, but registration is required.

Register now to secure your spot

Event Details

What: Spark Salon – What Loss and Grief Teach Us About Life with Brennan Wood & Dr. Donna L. Schuurman
When: Tuesday, November 18, 2025 | Doors open 6:00 p.m., Program 7:00 p.m. PT
Where: Unlikely Collaborators Headquarters, Santa Monica, CA + livestream
Cost: Free (registration required)

About Brennan Wood & Dr. Donna L. Schuurman

Brennan Wood walked through the doors of Dougy Center: The National Grief Center for Children & Families in 1987, when her mother, Doris, had died just three days after her 12th birthday. Her journey came full circle when she became Dougy Center’s Executive Director in 2015, after serving in a variety of roles since 2004. Brennan is the author of A Kids Book About Grief and delivered the TEDxPortland Talk “Grief is to Feel, Not Fix.” She serves on the National Advisory Council for The Children’s Collaborative and is a member of the Board of Directors of the National Alliance for Children’s Grief. Her leadership has been recognized with the 2020 Light-a-Fire Award for Extraordinary Executive Director and a 2022 Women of Influence Award. As someone who experienced grief as a child, Brennan knows firsthand the importance of a supportive community. She has dedicated her career to ensuring that other children and families who are grieving have the same opportunities for connection and care that she did. She is committed to building a more grief-informed world, where loss is acknowledged as a natural, normal part of the human experience. Brennan honors her mother’s legacy of making every day a celebration.

Donna L. Schuurman, EdD, FT, is the Senior Director of Advocacy & Education at Dougy Center. Dr. Schuurman was the Executive Director of Dougy Center from 1991 to 2015. She is an internationally recognized authority on grief and bereaved children, teens, and families, and the author of Never the Same: Coming to Terms with the Death of a Parent (St. Martin’s Press, 2003), among other publications. Dr. Schuurman has written extensively on topics related to children who are grieving. Her articles and contributions have appeared in scholarly journals and textbooks, and she has been interviewed as an expert on the subject by Redbook, The New York Times, SmartMoney, USA Today, and many other consumer publications. She has worked directly with families and communities impacted by large-scale tragedies and natural disasters including the Oklahoma City bombing (1995), Japan’s Great Hanshin Earthquake (1995), the 9/11 attacks, the Tohoku Earthquake (2011), and the Sandy Hook school shootings (2012).

About Spark Salons

Spark Salons are a signature program of Unlikely Collaborators, the nonprofit founded by Elizabeth R. Koch. These gatherings bring together grantees, researchers, artists, and collaborators for conversations that challenge perspectives and deepen connections. Past speakers have included illusionist Harris III, psychologist Scott Barry Kaufman, PhD, nutrition therapist Kim Shapira, MS, RD, mythologist John Bucher, Harvard Business School professor and author Michael Norton, PhD, visionary violinist Vijay Gupta, chef and entrepreneur Ellen Bennett, artist Candy Chang, and digital workplace expert and author Alexandra Samuel, PhD.

Watch the Spark Salons Trailer

About Unlikely Collaborators

Unlikely Collaborators
is a nonprofit dedicated to helping people see themselves and the world more clearly. Founded by Elizabeth R. Koch, the organization is built on the Perception Box™ framework, which explores how our unconscious lens shaped by our experiences, beliefs, fears, and identities affects the way we interpret the world. By becoming aware of our Perception Box, we can take the first step toward real change.

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SOURCE Unlikely Collaborators

Xulon Press presents a fascinating timely teaching for Christians seeking the Truth and a deeper life in Christ, and anyone that has abandoned the Church.

BUFFALO, N.Y., Nov. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Author Chibuzo N. A. Uruakpa provides readers with a critical message for devout Christians, atheists, or those that walked away from the church in The Twelve Pillars of the Church ($59.49, paperback, 9798868520501; $9.99, e-book, 9798868520518).

Dr. Uruakpa’s book explores the indestructibility of the church through reposing on the Twelve Pillars. The author thoughtfully makes the case for the Church as being the only safe place when end time comes, challenging readers to use the tools provided to diligently search for and belong to a Bible-believing church before it’s too late. Dr. Uruakpa explains how the Church, founded upon the edict of indestructibility, has withstood untold onslaught of “the gates of hell” for over its 2,000 years of existence, and still going strong in this 21st century. He wants all believers and non-believers to fully understand that the Church is primed to continue to prosper till the end of time, when Jesus will return to receive it to Himself. Readers will appreciate how this thought-provoking topic is refreshingly presented through an easy-to-read style and language.

When asked what inspired the author to write this book, Dr. Uruakpa said, “The frightening reality of abandoned churches, including cathedrals, was the catalyst for an in-depth study of tortuous history of the Church. What exactly did Jesus mean when He declared the indestructibility of His Church, while there were so many local churches in ruin all over the place? Moreover, what is the destiny of believers with churches large and small closing their doors? Isn’t rampant apostacy capable of totally wiping out the Church? These were the burning questions that ignited my interest in the study that led to the publication of this book.”

Chibuzo N. A. Uruakpa teaches French in the World Languages Department of Ethical Culture Fieldston School in New York City. Prior to ECFS, he was an Assistant Professor of French at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California, and has also taught at Oakwood Friends School and Vassar College, both in Poughkeepsie, New York; Brooklyn College and Lehman College of The City University of New York; and the University of Delaware in Newark, Delaware. Dr. Uruakpa holds a doctorate degree in French and Francophone literature from the Graduate Center of The City University of New York and has master’s degrees in French Stylistics, Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries French literature, and Bilingual translation and interpretation. Dr. Uruakpa is the author of The Position of the Adopted Child of God and serves as a Sunday School Teacher, member of the Leadership Team, and chair of the Deacons’ Ministry at Bronx Baptist Church in New York. He lives in Briarcliff Manor, Westchester, New York, with his wife, Vivienne, and two daughters. Dr. Uruakpa is an avid reader and teacher of Christian scholars and hymnody. He loves classical music, choral singing and soccer.

Xulon Press, a division of Salem Media Group, is the world’s largest Christian self-publisher, with more than 20,000 titles published to date. The Twelve Pillars of the Church is available online through xulonpress.com/bookstore, amazon.com, and barnesandnoble.com.

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SOURCE Xulon Press