Tag: PR Newswire

‘This historic report marks the first time a third-party has verified that another source has been more accurate and more effective in predicting hurricanes and their impacts than NOAA’s National Hurricane Center’ — AccuWeather Founder and Executive Chairman Dr. Joel N. Myers.  

STATE COLLEGE, Pa., May 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — A new study conducted by Kantar, one of the world’s leading marketing data and analytics companies, has found that AccuWeather provided the most accurate and most effective hurricane forecasts during the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, outperforming the National Hurricane Center (NHC) and all other known sources.   

“We are very gratified by these results, which further support our mission of saving lives and protecting property,” said AccuWeather Founder and Executive Chairman Dr. Joel N. Myers. “This historic report marks the first time a third-party has verified that another source has been more accurate and more effective in predicting hurricanes and their impacts than NOAA’s National Hurricane Center.” 

Key Findings: 

In 2024, AccuWeather hurricane forecasts consistently outperformed those from the NHC and other sources, with storm track predictions averaging 6.2% greater accuracy overall and 8.9% for U.S. landfalling storms. Landfall location forecasts were 8.6% more accurate on average, while landfall intensity forecasts showed a substantial 37.8% improvement. These forecasts were issued an average of 19 hours earlier and extended 25 hours farther into the future—rising to 31 hours in advance on average for U.S. landfalls. Additionally, maximum wind intensity forecasts were on average 4.0% more accurate overall and 4.4% more accurate for storms hitting the U.S. 

This Superior Accuracy™ and detail of AccuWeather’s hurricane forecasts means people have extra time to prepare and take protective action with greater understanding of the severe weather threats. For example, people and businesses who receive warnings further in advance have an increased window to seek shelter, evacuate or secure property. Clearer communication of the nature, severity, timing and location of the threat explained in a way that is easy to understand and act on leads to improved outcomes, such as lives saved, injuries reduced and property damage minimized due to better-informed decision-making.  

For businesses, more advance notice and better communication translates to better safety for employees and customers, minimized reputational harm and liability, maximized efficiencies, reduced costs and possibly even increased profits.    

“As we enter into the 2025 hurricane season, this analysis by Kantar confirms what the emergency managers, businesses, government agencies and millions of individuals who use the AccuWeather Hurricane Service already know: AccuWeather is the gold standard for the most accurate and actionable hurricane forecasting to keep people better prepared and safer,” said AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jonathan Porter. 

Porter said the important foundational work of the National Hurricane Center should in no way be disregarded.  

“The agency provides a vital life-saving service. Our work complements this effort and state and local agencies and companies that need the most accurate forecast of hurricane tracks and impacts ranging from storm surge to rain flooding to tornadoes to wind and water damage, we are not discouraging the use of the National Hurricane Center and the National Weather Service forecasts, but if you want the best and access to expert consulting meteorologists that you can speak to at any time 24/7, AccuWeather is the answer.” 

AccuWeather CEO Steven R. Smith said, “AccuWeather’s unique blend of advanced AI and machine learning with six decades of human expertise is key to successfully delivering and communicating risk-based forecasts focused on real-world impact to help people and businesses make the best weather-impacted decisions often with more advance notice than any other source enabling people to be better prepared and stay safer.”  

Storm-Specific Highlights:  

• Hurricane Beryl – AccuWeather accurately predicted Texas landfall 30 hours before the NHC and was the first to forecast severe rainfall and flooding.
• Hurricane Francine – AccuWeather was the only known source to correctly and consistently forecast landfall as a Category 2 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson wind scale.
• Hurricane Helene – AccuWeather was the only known source to accurately predict that Helene “could cause a flooding disaster” and be “a once-in-a-generation storm” for parts of the southern Appalachians.
• Hurricane Milton — AccuWeather was the first known source to predict that Milton “could bring damaging winds and flooding to Florida, including areas recovering from Helene.” In addition, AccuWeather was the first known source to say, “rapid intensification is possible.”
• Unnamed September Storm – AccuWeather was first to warn of significant impact, issuing its first forecast track 26 hours before NHC and all other known sources. The storm was never named by the NHC.

“This is the latest in a long history of examples of AccuWeather’s Superior Accuracy™, and we are proud of AccuWeather’s track record forecasting severe weather as well as helping people to make the best decisions every day,” added Porter. “Our expert meteorologists are poised and ready for the upcoming hurricane season right around the corner.”  

Hurricane season officially begins June 1 and continues through Nov. 30. To learn more about AccuWeather’s commitment to accuracy, visit:  www.AccuWeather.com. 

About AccuWeather

AccuWeather, recognized and documented as the most accurate and most used source of weather forecasts and warnings in the world, has saved over 12,000 lives, prevented injury to over 100,000 people, and saved companies tens of billions of dollars through better planning and decision-making. 

Billions of people around the world rely on AccuWeather’s proven Superior Accuracy™ across our consumer digital platforms. AccuWeather.com is the #1 weather destination and one of the top 100 most-visited websites in the world, and our award-winning AccuWeather app delivers detailed real-time forecasts to millions of smartphones.

AccuWeather forecasts also appear on digital signage, in 700 newspapers, are heard on over 400 radio stations, and viewed on 100 television stations. The AccuWeather Network and AccuWeather NOW® reach an audience of over 125 million on cable and streaming platforms including DirecTV, Charter Communications – Spectrum, Verizon, Philo, Frndly TV, Comcast’s Xfinity X1 and Xfinity Stream, Roku, Xumo, Rockbot, LG, and Amazon Freevee.

AccuWeather For Business serves more than half of the Fortune 500 companies and thousands of other businesses and government agencies globally who pay for the most accurate weather forecasts from any source.

AccuWeather’s story is one of a fanatical dedication to Superior Accuracy™, detail, creativity, innovation, entrepreneurship, and the loyalty and commitment of many people who have joined AccuWeather’s center of excellence, including many others who have dedicated their entire careers to AccuWeather.

Dr. Joel N. Myers, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, established AccuWeather in 1962 and is considered the “father of modern commercial meteorology.” Myers, a leading creative thinker and visionary, has been named “the most accurate man in weather” by The New York Times and one of the top entrepreneurs in American history by Entrepreneur’s Encyclopedia of Entrepreneurs.

Visit accuweather.com for the most accurate hyperlocal forecasts, weather news, and information, and download the free AccuWeather app for Android or iOS.

Contact: Rhonda Seaton Rhonda.Seaton@accuweather.com 310-508-0799 or pr@accuweather.com

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SOURCE AccuWeather

As CA Cities Choke in Debt, New Analysis Shows Crushing Costs from AB 342’s Early Morning Bar Hours

SAN RAFAEL, Calif., May 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Between law enforcement, reckless driving, crime, and injuries, the financial burden from 4 A.M. last call times may exceed $2 billion over 5 years, according to an analysis just released by Alcohol Justice. The costs far exceed the benefits, calling into question the wisdom of state legislator efforts to extend last calls through Assembly Bill 342 (Haney, D- San Francisco). These costs are driven by spiraling costs from emergency services, law enforcement, motor vehicle crashes, injuries, and violent crime, along with broader economic disruption.

“Extending last call times only benefits a handful of bars, while spreading the cost of alcohol harm over everyone,” said Raul Verdugo, Director of Advocacy for Alcohol Justice. “Year after year, Californians have spoken out against extended last call times. It’s time the legislature listened.”

“California’s health officers are deeply concerned about the harms associated with extending the alcohol service hours,” said Kat DeBurgh, Executive Director, Health Officers Association of California. “AB 342 ignores decades of public health evidence showing that later last calls leads to more injuries, hospitalizations and deaths. These are preventable harms. At a time when alcohol-related mortality has increased 70% in just six years, we urge the Legislature to prioritize community health by rejecting AB 342.”

Although the bill was conceived to help San Francisco, it allows any city to establish weekend 4 a.m. zones of arbitrary size—and those zones would impact every other city in the area. Substantial research shows how alcohol harm spreads out around neighboring communities, including:

• A 2008 report from Ventura County Behavioral Health showing that intoxicated drivers travel 7 to 40 miles before being stopped.
• An analysis of New York state arrests showing that counties bordering another county with extended last call times still saw increased DUI arrests.
• A comparison of alcohol-related freeway deaths in the San Francisco Bay Area, showing that crashes are 50% to 120% more likely to occur coming out of the cities of Oakland and San Francisco than into them.

“It’s easy for lawmakers to pretend their cities are the only ones that exist,” said Miryom Yisrael, Chief Operating Officer of Alcohol Justice. “But most of us live in residential areas, where the party isn’t always happening, but the crashes sure are.”

The new cost analysis replicates the landmark 2019 cost study from Meena Subbaraman and William Kerr of the Alcohol Research Group. This study looked at the impacts per extra drink sold in Los Angeles if that city extended its last call times to 4 A.M. seven days a week. For the new analysis, the impact-per-drink was extended to the entire state, limited to just weekend early mornings, and adjusted for inflation. Assuming just 1 in every 20 bars and restaurants in the state adopt extended last call times, the costs would top $376 million per year, and $2.046 billion over five years. Costs for individual cities include:

• San Francisco: $27.2 million/year, $150 million over 5 years
• Los Angeles: $27.9 million/year, $154 million over 5 years
• San Diego: $22.1 million/year, $122 million over 5 years
• Sacramento: $10.9 million/year, $60.4 million over 5 years

This comes at a time when city after city is contemplating painful cuts to needed services, forced into austerity by budget holes.

“From the desert to the redwoods, our cities’ budgets are drowning in debt,” said Carson Benowitz-Fredericks, Research Director for Alcohol Justice. “Ad hoc efforts to create Bourbon St. on Main St. will suck money away from public transit, housing, EMS, recovery services—everything that makes a city livable.”

“We’ve always known that late last calls bring a lot risks and harm,” said Verdugo. “What we’re realizing is that they’re also financially devastating. We can’t afford it. We call on the California legislature to keep common-sense last calls in place and reject AB 342.”

CONTACT:        

Raul Verdugo
(310) 689-9401

Carson Benowitz-Fredericks
(917) 426-6443

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SOURCE Alcohol Justice

WASHINGTON, May 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Today, Family Research Council’s (FRC) Dr. Jennifer Bauwens and Walt Heyer published a new book through Fidelis Publishing titled: “Embracing God’s Design: Addressing the Spiritual and Psychological Crisis Behind Transgender Identity.” In Embracing God’s Design, Dr. Bauwens and Heyer have created a resource to help talk about the real issues that drive a person to adopt a transgender identity and what can be done to bring a person back to their true God-given identity.  

The book covers:  

• God’s design for humanity
• How the transgender movement began
• The harms caused by so-called “gender-affirming care”
• The healing process for someone who has claimed a transgender identity
• How to help someone return to their true identity

Dr. Bauwens, who serves as FRC’s Director of the Center for Family Studies, commented on the book: 

“Through Embracing God’s Design, we address the true conditions underlying the gender topic by discussing it primarily as a question of identity that stems from psychological, social, and spiritual issues. The root of these issues can never be properly addressed by ‘gender-affirming care.’  When we correctly understand the problem, we can promote policies and practices that will bring true healing and unfold a person’s real identity.”

Heyer, who serves as FRC’s Senior Fellow, added: 

“After identifying as a woman for eight years, I had to accept that the magical transformation doctors had promised had not occurred. Even after years of ingesting female hormones and undergoing sex change surgery, I was still a man. No doctor using hormones and surgery has ever successfully achieved a change in a patient’s biological sex. It is my hope that through Embracing God’s Design, I can help prevent others from making the same mistakes I did.”  

To schedule an interview with the authors, please email: media@frc.org

CONTACT: J.P. Duffy or Alice Chao, (866) FRC-NEWS or (866)-372-6397

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SOURCE Family Research Council

First Tech teams up with fellow credit unions to support medical research and care for children and families

HILLSBORO, Ore., May 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Today, 12 Oregon and Southwest Washington credit unions announced they are joining forces for a collaborative Credit Unions for Kids (CU4Kids) member campaign to fundraise for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals (CMN Hospitals).

These 12 credit unions will all collectively launch a pop-up on their online banking platforms from June 1 to June 30, 2025:  Central Willamette Credit Union, Columbia Credit Union, Fibre Federal Credit Union, First Tech Federal Credit Union, Forrit Credit Union, InRoads Credit Union, iQ Credit Union, OnPoint Community Credit Union, Oregon State Credit Union, Red Canoe Credit Union, Rivermark Community Credit Union, and Unitus Community Credit Union.

For nearly 40 years, credit unions have come together to fundraise for CMN Hospitals through the cooperative network known as CU4Kids. To this day, CU4Kids remains one of the top 5 fundraising bodies supporting CMN. This new initiative allows the more than one million members from the 12 credit unions to donate directly to CU4Kids. These donations will be instrumental in funding critical pediatric cancer research, critical, life-saving treatments, financial assistance for families in need, and improving care for patients supported by CMN Hospitals.

“It’s a powerful display of unity to partner with these fellow philanthropic credit unions to further our support for CU4Kids and CMN Hospitals,” said Monique Little, Chief People and Administrative Officer at First Tech. “With the collaboration of these credit unions and the support of members across our joint footprint, this fundraising campaign will provide a brighter and healthier future for children and their families at CMN Hospitals.” 

The donations raised among the 12 credit unions during this initiative, in combination with employee fundraising campaigns hosted by many of the same credit unions, along with corporate donations, will support life-saving care for patients across the following CMN Hospitals:

• Children’s Hospital Colorado (Aurora, Colorado)
• OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital (Portland, Oregon)
• PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at Riverbend (Eugene, Oregon)
• Seattle Children’s Hospital (Seattle, Washington)
• UC Davis Children’s Hospital (Sacramento, California)
• UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital (Oakland, California)

“We’re continually inspired by the credit union industry’s commitment to supporting children’s healthcare,” said Nick Coleman, Director of Credit Unions for Kids at CMN Hospitals. “CU4Kids and CMN Hospitals are proud to have the support of these 12 credit unions. We remain humbled and grateful for your generosity and commitment to supporting our patients and their families’ health and emotional well-being.”  

This collaborative campaign is a testament to these credit unions’ enduring commitment to the cause. It comes before the 25th anniversary of their CU4Kids Northwest Classic golf tournament in July, one of the largest credit union-sponsored events supporting CMN Hospitals. Together, these credit unions, with the help of employees, members, and business partners, have raised more than $15.2 million at the tournament since its inception in 2000.

ABOUT CREDIT UNIONS FOR KIDS AND CHILDREN’S MIRACLE NETWORK HOSPITALS^®   

Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals® raises funds and awareness for 170 member hospitals that treat 12 million kids a year across the U.S. and Canada. Donations stay local to fund critical treatments and healthcare services, pediatric medical equipment and charitable care. Since 1983, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals has raised more than $9 billion. One of CMN Hospitals most successful partnerships is Credit Unions for Kids. This is a nonprofit collaboration of credit unions, chapters, leagues/associations and business partners from across the country, engaged in fundraising activities. Adopted as the CU4Kids movement’s charity of choice, credit unions are the 5th largest sponsor of CMN Hospitals. Since 1996, CU4Kids has raised more than $200 million for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. Find out why children’s hospitals need community support, identify your member hospital and learn how you can Change Kids Health to Change the Future, at childrensmiraclenetworkhospitals.org/ and www.cu4kids.org.

ABOUT FIRST TECH FEDERAL CREDIT UNION

First Tech Federal Credit Union is a nearly $17 billion institution headquartered in San Jose, California. The nation’s premier credit union serves the world’s leading technology-oriented companies and their employees, including HP Inc., Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Microsoft, Agilent, Intel, Cisco, Amazon, Nike, Intuit, Google, and more. First Tech is recognized as the industry catalyst for delivering effortless banking experiences to more than 700,000 members through its 31 branch locations, more than 5,600 CO-OP Shared Branch locations, 30,000 CO-OP Network ATMs, and online platforms. First Tech offers a full range of financial services, including traditional banking, online banking, mortgages, financial planning, various consumer loans, and insurance services. Federally insured by NCUA. Equal Housing Lender. For more information, visit www.firsttechfed.com.

FIRST TECH, the First Tech logo, and ENVISION FUTURE FINANCE are trademarks or registered trademarks of First Technology Federal Credit Union. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. 

CONTACT 

Sophia Gilbert
The Hoffman Agency
(541) 521-2459
firsttech@hoffman.com

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SOURCE First Tech Federal Credit Union

NEW YORK, May 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Author, speaker, and transition coach Heather Dolland Tamam announces the release of her transformative new book, Create Your Own Table: A Guide to Discovering Your Purpose.

In a world that often asks people to shrink, conform, or wait for permission, Create Your Own Table serves as a powerful call to action. With a blend of personal insight, practical tools, and empowering reflection, this book invites readers to take ownership of their purpose, redefine success on their own terms, and step into a life that reflects who they truly are.

Written for professionals who feel undervalued, women navigating change, or anyone standing at a personal crossroads, Tamam offers a roadmap to clarity, courage, and authenticity. Readers are guided through real-life stories, mindset shifts, and questions designed to spark meaningful transformation. A companion workbook and quote card deck are also available to help deepen the experience.

“I didn’t write this book to help people get back to where they were—I wrote it to help them go where they were always meant to be,” said Tamam. “If you’ve ever felt like the life you’re living doesn’t match who you are, this book is your invitation to create something different—and better.”

Create Your Own Table is now available in paperback, hardcover, ebook, and audiobook formats wherever books are sold.

For media inquiries, interview requests, or speaking engagements, please contact Heather Dolland Tamam at heather@doltam.com.

Contact: Heather Dolland Tamam
Email: heather@doltam.com 
Website: www.doltam.com

 

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SOURCE Heather Dolland Tamam

WASHINGTON, May 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — June 1 marks the start of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is warning consumers along the Atlantic Seaboard and the Gulf of America about the increased risk of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning, fires and electric shock after hurricanes and severe storms hit.

“These storms bring along with them power, devastation and destruction of their own,” said CPSC Acting Chairman Peter Feldman. “However, the dangers associated with these storms do not end when the winds and rain subside. I urge all Americans to follow CPSC’s safety tips this hurricane season to do their best to be safe before, during and after the storms.”

Consumers need to be especially careful when storms knock out electrical power. CO poisoning from portable generators can kill whole families in minutes. CO is called the invisible killer because it is colorless and odorless, and its poisoning can happen in only a matter of minutes. Sadly, people can become unconscious even before recognizing symptoms of nausea, dizziness or weakness.

Unfortunately, CO poisoning claims the lives of hundreds of people each year. When we see these deaths occur from generators when the power is out, it makes the storm’s effects that much more devastating. To mitigate their risk of CO poisoning, consumers should follow these safety tips to protect their families, especially during the Atlantic hurricane season lasting from the beginning of June to the end of November.

Loss of Power—Using a Generator Safely

• NEVER use a portable generator inside a home, garage, basement, crawlspace, shed or other enclosed spaces, even with the doors open. Opening doors or windows will not provide enough ventilation to prevent the buildup of lethal levels of CO.
• Use portable generators outside only, at least 20 feet away from home and any other buildings. Don’t use a generator on a porch or in a carport; it’s too close to your home and puts your family at risk of CO poisoning. Direct the generator’s exhaust away from your home and other buildings where someone can enter. Close windows and seal off vent openings that are near the generator or in the path of its exhaust.
• Follow portable generator instructions about electrical shock hazards in inclement weather. These instructions may include use of an NFPA-rated non-combustible generator tent or may state to wait to use until rain passes.
• Regularly check and maintain your portable generator to ensure that it will work properly when needed. Read and follow all labels, instructions and warnings on the generator and in the owner’s manual.
• Look for portable generators that have a CO shut-off safety feature. This safety feature automatically shuts off the generator when high levels of CO are present around the generator. Models that are certified to the latest PGMA G300-2023 and UL 2201 safety standards are estimated to reduce deaths from CO poisoning by 86% and 100% respectively.
• UL 2201 certified models have reduced CO emissions in addition to the CO shut-off feature.

Check CO and Smoke Alarms

• Working smoke and CO alarms save lives! Install working CO and smoke alarms (battery-operated or with battery backup) on every level and outside sleeping areas at home. Interconnected alarms are best; when one sounds, they all sound. 
• Make sure smoke alarms are installed inside each bedroom. 
• Test CO and smoke alarms monthly to make sure they are working properly, and replace batteries, if needed. Never ignore an alarm when it sounds. Get outside immediately. Then call 911.

Dangers with Charcoal and Candles

• Never use charcoal indoors. Burning charcoal in an enclosed space can produce lethal levels of carbon monoxide. Do not cook on a charcoal grill in a garage, even with the garage door open.
• Use caution when burning candles. Use flashlights or battery-operated candles instead. If using candles, do not burn them on or near anything that can catch fire. Never leave burning candles unattended. Extinguish candles when leaving the room and before sleeping.

If Your Home Floods—Dangers with Wet Appliances

• Look for signs that your appliances have gotten wet. Do not touch wet appliances that are still plugged into an electrical source. 
• Before using your appliances, have a professional gas or electric company representative evaluate your home and replace all gas control valves, electrical wiring, circuit breakers, and fuses that have been under water.

Dangers with Gas Leaks: 

• If you smell or hear gas leaking, leave your home immediately and contact local gas authorities from outside the home. Do not operate any electronics, such as lights or phones, before leaving.

CPSC resources:

Carbon Monoxide Safety Center

PSA – One portable generator produces the same amount of Carbon Monoxide as hundreds of cars

PSA – Una planta eléctrica produce la misma cantidad de monóxido de carbono como cientos de autos

Link to broadcast quality video for media:
Hurricane B-Roll – https://spaces.hightail.com/space/XtFQ7YqK0x

Individual Commissioners may have statements related to this topic.  Please visit www.cpsc.gov/commissioners to search for statements related to this or other topics.

About the U.S. CPSC
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risk of injury associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product-related incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually. Since the CPSC was established more than 50 years ago, it has worked to ensure the safety of consumer products, which has contributed to a decline in injuries associated with these products.

Federal law prohibits any person from selling products subject to a Commission ordered recall or a voluntary recall undertaken in consultation with the CPSC.

For lifesaving information:
– Visit CPSC.gov.
– Sign up to receive our e-mail alerts.
– Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X, BlueSky, Threads, LinkedIn and Truth Social.
– Report a dangerous product or a product-related injury on www.SaferProducts.gov.
– Call CPSC’s Hotline at 800-638-2772 (TTY 800-638-8270).
– Contact a media specialist.

Release Number: 25-289

 

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SOURCE U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Vote Outcome Represents Clear Mandate from Shareholders

Newly Elected Directors Sigmund Cornelius and Michael Heim Will Work Constructively with Their Fellow Directors to Help Unlock the Company’s Full Value-Creation Potential

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., May 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Elliott Investment Management L.P. (“Elliott”), which manages funds that together make it a top five shareholder in Phillips 66 (NYSE: PSX) (the “Company” or “Phillips”), today announced that based on preliminary analysis from Elliott’s proxy solicitor, two of Elliott’s nominees – Sigmund Cornelius and Michael Heim – were elected to the Phillips 66 Board of Directors (the “Board”) at the Company’s 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “Annual Meeting”).

Elliott released the following statement:

“We thank our fellow shareholders, the proxy advisory firms and Phillips 66’s employees for their support throughout this campaign. Today’s vote sends a clear message: Shareholders demand meaningful change at Phillips 66. We are confident Sig and Mike will work collaboratively with the incumbent directors to improve operational execution and share-price performance, enhance corporate governance and help set a strategic course that can unlock Phillips 66’s full value-creation potential.

As one of Phillips 66’s largest investors, Elliott will continue to actively engage with the Company while holding management and the Board accountable for delivering on their commitment to improve shareholder value. We are hopeful that these words will translate into actions, and we will remain focused on helping Phillips 66 become a stronger, more valuable company for all shareholders.”

About Elliott

Elliott Investment Management L.P. (together with its affiliates, “Elliott”) managed approximately $72.7 billion of assets as of December 31, 2024. Founded in 1977, it is one of the oldest funds under continuous management. The Elliott funds’ investors include pension plans, sovereign wealth funds, endowments, foundations, funds-of-funds, high net worth individuals and families, and employees of the firm. 

Media Contact:
Casey Friedman
Elliott Investment Management L.P.
(212) 478-1780
cFriedman@elliottmgmt.com

Investor Contact:
Bruce Goldfarb / Pat McHugh
Okapi Partners LLC
(877) 629-6357
(212) 297-0720
info@okapipartners.com

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SOURCE Elliott Investment Management L.P.

DALLAS, May 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — In response to the Trump Administration’s recent efforts to reassess federal funding for higher education, Every Black Life Matters (EBLM) is proud to announce the development of a bold, solutions-based initiative to help K–12 institutions and colleges nationwide meet new federal compliance standards.

With approximately $15 billion in education funding now halted or under review due to concerns related to Title VI violations, antisemitism, and divisive DEI- or CRT-infused policies, schools across the country are facing unprecedented scrutiny. The U.S. Department of Education, under Secretary McMahon, has signaled a sharp policy shift: federal grants will increasingly be awarded only to institutions that fully comply with updated legal and constitutional requirements, free from discriminatory or ideologically biased frameworks.

In light of this, EBLM co-founders Dr. Kevin McGary, PhD and Neil Mammen—both nationally recognized authors and speakers on Critical Race Theory (CRT), Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI), and race-related educational policy—are unveiling a comprehensive program to help institutions assess and realign their internal practices.

“Our aim is to provide schools and universities with the tools and expertise they need to both preserve academic integrity and ensure full access to significant future federal funding,” said Dr. McGary. “The landscape is changing rapidly, and we want to make sure that educational leaders are not caught off guard.”

The EBLM initiative will provide:

• A Comprehensive Institutional Assessment: A detailed review of policies, curricula, trainings, and administrative practices to identify areas of non-compliance with federal standards.
• A Targeted Remediation Plan (If Necessary): Tailored strategies to revise or replace non-compliant content while maintaining rigorous academic standards.
• A Preemptive Certification of Compliance: A formal evaluation that certifies an institution’s alignment with federal funding requirements, providing assurance to stakeholders and increasing eligibility for upcoming grant cycles.

“We’ve led trainings for thousands of educators, parents, and community leaders,” said Neil Mammen. “We know how to bridge the gap between genuine inclusion and legal compliance, and we’re eager to help schools avoid penalties while continuing to serve students effectively.”

The urgency is real. According to sources within the Department of Education, upcoming grant opportunities could unlock historic levels of federal support, but only for those institutions that show measurable adherence to new guidelines. This means academic programs, hiring practices, and even student life policies that promote race-based outcomes, identity politics, or ideological litmus tests may now put schools at financial and legal risk.

Every Black Life Matters is extending an open invitation to administrators, school boards, and academic leaders to contact the organization for an initial consultation.

“This is not about politics,” added McGary. “It’s about protecting students, restoring educational excellence, and ensuring access to the resources our schools need. Our program provides a roadmap to do exactly that.”

For more information or to schedule an institutional consultation, visit www.everyblm.com/the-clarity-project or contact EBLM at info@eblm.com. 

Contact: Kevin McGary, 395539@email4pr.com, 5104329554
Website: www.everyblm.com

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SOURCE Every Black Life Matters

NEW YORK, May 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — At a recent New York Mets home game, U.S. Navy veteran and current New School graduate student, Stephanie Andrews stood before a packed stadium as the “Veteran of the Game” — honored not just for her service, but for the quiet determination that has shaped every chapter of her life.

A former Navy cryptologist, Andrews was serving aboard the USS Bainbridge in April 2009 during the dramatic rescue of Captain Richard Phillips. She supported intelligence gathering and briefed commanding officers daily as her team worked alongside translators in high-stakes communications with Somali pirates. “It was two weeks of non-stop excitement,” she recalls. “We were fighting pirates on the high seas, and it had a happy ending.”

Now a master’s student in History of Design and Curatorial Studies at Parsons School of Design, part of The New School, she is building a future in visual merchandising — drawn to the same clarity, structure, and beauty she once found aboard Navy vessels. “Even ships are beautiful in their own way,” she says. “I’ve always loved beautiful spaces. I like the physicality of the work and the creativity behind it.”

She credits The New School with creating an environment where she could thrive as a disabled veteran. “It’s been such a supportive and collaborative place. Very different from my past university experiences.”

Using her GI Bill benefits, she says she never imagined she’d end up at Parsons, a school she first knew from watching Project Runway as a kid. But since arriving, she’s leaned into every opportunity — from Welcome Week to collaborative and interdisciplinary studio courses — and found a network that’s helped her begin shaping her next chapter.

“I don’t feel like I did anything that amazing,” she says of her service. “I just did my job.” But to those around her — in the stands at Citi Field and in classrooms across campus — her story is nothing short of inspiring.

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SOURCE The New School, Center for Military Affiliated Students

• UK (UKEF) and Finish (FINNVERA) export credit agencies have expressed their interest to support the Guben Lithium Converter project with up to EUR 150 million in credit guarantees.
• In addition to the proposed senior debt tranche from the European Investment Bank (EIB), Export Credit Agency (ECA) support represents a vital component of the debt financing structure for large-scale infrastructure projects like the Guben Converter.
• Amidst market turmoil and Lithium price uncertainty Rock Tech’s Guben Converter – a strategic project under the EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act – remains the largest committed stand-alone Lithium refinery project in Europe.

TORONTO, May 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ – Rock Tech Lithium Inc. (TSX-V: RCK) (OTCQX: RCKTF) (FWB: RJIB) (WKN: A1XF0V) (the “Company” or “Rock Tech”) is pleased to announce it has received up to EUR 150m in government-backed support from export credit agencies via conditional, non-binding expressions of interest. Specifically, UK Export Finance (UKEF) and the Finnish export credit agency (Finnvera) have expressed their interest to support the Guben Converter. In addition, discussions with further export credit agencies from Europe, Australia and China are ongoing to support the procurement of key equipment items from these countries. ECA support will be additional to the proposed European Investment Banks’s (EIB) senior debt tranche of EUR 150 million (as announced by the Company in a previous press release).

“We welcome the strong backing from Export Credit Agencies in supporting the Guben Converter project. Their engagement reflects confidence in our vision, the business case and the strategic importance of this facility for Europe’s green energy transition,” says Chris Wright, Rock Tech’s CFO. 

In detail, the debt financing will benefit from the project’s European sourcing scheme, making the project eligible for credit guarantees from major European export credit agencies. Large packages for supplies and services are to be contracted with business & procurement partners based in United Kingdom and Finland, and other EU countries. Subject to the due diligence being completed concurrently in accordance with their policies and applicable OECD consensus guidelines by the lending consortium and the ECAs, UKEF and Finnvera have expressed their initial interest in supporting the project via guarantees towards the lenders.

About the Guben Converter

The Guben Lithium Converter is a pioneering facility in Guben, Brandenburg, Germany, by the German-Canadian company Rock Tech Lithium Inc. This plant is set to become Europe’s first commercial lithium hydroxide refinery, aiming to produce 24,000 tonnes of battery-grade lithium hydroxide annually—enough to supply over 500,000 electric vehicles per year.

Strategically located near major automotive and battery manufacturing hubs the Guben Converter is designed to strengthen Europe’s battery supply chain by processing spodumene concentrate secured via leading trading partner C&D Logistics (Qingdao) Co., Ltd. The Converter will utilize advanced crystallization technologies, supplied by GEA Group AG, to ensure high-purity lithium production with minimal environmental impact. The leading international engineering firm Worley Ltd. has been selected as construction partner (EPCM) for the plant.

Recognized as a strategic project under the EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act, the Guben Converter underscores Europe’s commitment to securing essential materials for the energy transition. The project is expected to create approximately 200 jobs and represents a significant step toward regionalizing and decarbonizing the lithium supply chain in Europe.

On behalf of the Management

Mirco Wojnarowicz
CEO, Rock Tech Lithium Inc.

ABOUT ROCK TECH

Rock Tech’s vision is to supply the electric vehicle and battery industry with sustainable, locally produced lithium, targeting a 100% recycling rate. To ensure resilient supply chains, the company plans to build lithium converters at the doorstep of its customers, beginning with the Company’s proposed Lithium Hydroxide Converter in Guben, Brandenburg, Germany. The second Converter is planned to be built in Ontario, Canada. Rock Tech Lithium plans to source raw material from its own Georgia Lake spodumene project in the Thunder Bay Mining District of Ontario, Canada, and procure from other ESG-compliant mines. Ultimately, Rock Tech’s goal is to create a closed-loop lithium production system. Rock Tech has gathered one of the strongest teams in the industry to close the most pressing gap in the clean mobility story. The Company has adopted strict environmental, social and governance standards and is developing a proprietary refining process to increase efficiency and sustainability further.

CAUTIONARY NOTE CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

Certain statements contained in this news release constitute “forward-looking information” under applicable securities laws and are referred to herein as “forward-looking statements”. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, which address events, results, outcomes or developments that the Company expects to occur are forward-looking statements. When used in this news release, words such as “expects”, “anticipates”, “plans”, “predicts”, “believes”, “estimates”, “intends”, “targets”, “projects”, “forecasts”, “may”, “will”, “should”, “would”, “could” or negative versions thereof and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. In particular, this news release contains forward-looking information pertaining to: the intended use of proceeds from the Offering and allocation thereof; listing of the Unit Shares on the TSX-V, including obtaining the final acceptance of the TSX-V; the results of the due diligence and decision of the ECA and EIB; discussions with strategic and financial investors to explore potential opportunities for investments directly at the project level, including the Company’s converter projects in Germany and Canada and the Georgia Lake Project; and Rock Tech’s opinions, beliefs and expectations regarding the Company’s business strategy, development and exploration opportunities and projects, and plans and objectives of management for the Company’s operations and properties. Forward-looking information is based on certain assumptions, estimates, expectations and opinions of the Company and, in certain cases, third party experts, that are believed by management of Rock Tech to be reasonable at the time they were made. Forward-looking information is derived utilizing numerous assumptions regarding, among other things: the satisfaction of the conditions to obtain final acceptance of the TSX-V approval for the listing of the Unit Shares on the TSX-V; the supply and demand for, deliveries of, and the level and volatility of prices of, feedstock and intermediate and final lithium products; that all required regulatory approvals and permits can be obtained on the necessary terms in a timely manner; expected growth, performance and business operations; future commodity prices and exchange rates; prospects, growth opportunities and financing available to the Company; general business and economic conditions; the costs and results of exploration, development and operating activities; Rock Tech’s ability to procure supplies and other equipment necessary for its business; and the accuracy and reliability of technical data, forecasts, estimates and studies. The foregoing list is not exhaustive of all assumptions which may have been used in developing the forward-looking information. While Rock Tech considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available, they may prove to be incorrect and should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results. Except as may be required by law, Rock Tech undertakes no obligation and expressly disclaims any responsibility, obligation or undertaking to update or to revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, to reflect any change in Rock Tech’s expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such information is based. The forward-looking information contained herein is presented for the purposes of assisting readers in understanding Rock Tech’s plans, objectives and goals and is not appropriate for any other purposes.

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.  

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SOURCE Rock Tech Lithium Inc.