News

Pittsburgh – September 19, 2026 -- An inventor from Clifford, Ontario, Canada, has developed a patent-pending grip-all stick called ULTIMATE GRIP, designed to improve control and safety for linesmen working from lift buckets on electric utility trucks.

Design targets stability and reduced physical strain during utility work

The device improves grip and manipulation of the grip-all stick, adding stability, balance, and control for workers performing cover-up, grounding, and transformer tasks. The inventor stated the goal was to give linesmen a significantly improved tool for safer, more efficient operations from utility lift buckets.

Prototype and technical drawings available for manufacturer review

A durable, easy-to-use design makes the invention suitable for electric power companies and linesmen. A prototype model and technical drawings are available upon request for manufacturers or marketers evaluating the product.

Abbott Park – September 19, 2026 -- Abbott's board of directors declared a quarterly common dividend of 63 cents per share, payable Nov. 16, 2026, to shareholders of record as of Oct. 15, 2026.

Abbott extends its dividend streak to 411 consecutive quarters since 1924

The payout marks the 411th consecutive quarterly dividend issued by the company, an unbroken record dating back more than a century.

Abbott has raised its payout for 54 straight years, retaining Dividend Aristocrat status

The company has increased its dividend annually for 54 consecutive years, qualifying it for continued membership in the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Index, which requires at least 25 years of consecutive annual increases.

London – September 19, 2026 -- Magentic, a London and New York-based provider of AI digital workers for industrial operations, has closed an $18 million Series A round led by Felicis, with participation from existing backers Sequoia Capital and The Westly Group. The raise comes one year after the company's July 2025 launch and will fund expansion of its AI agent workforce for procurement and supply chain teams at large manufacturers.

The Woodlands, Texas – September 19, 2026 -- Entergy Texas, Inc.'s board of directors has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.3359375 per share on its Series A Preferred Stock, payable Oct. 15, 2026.

Shareholders of record by October 2 qualify for the payout

Investors holding Entergy Texas Series A Preferred Stock (NYSE: ETI-PR) as of Oct. 2, 2026 will receive the distribution. The utility is a subsidiary of Entergy Corporation (NYSE: ETR).

Entergy Texas serves 538,000 customers across 27 counties

The company's customer base is tied into the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) power grid, a regional transmission organization that administers transmission systems for member utilities across 15 U.S. states and Manitoba, Canada.

Orlando, Fla. – September 19, 2026 -- BAE Systems OneArc has been awarded an Other Transaction Agreement contract by the U.S. Army to install its Embedded Collective Training (ECT) system on a platoon of combat vehicles at Fort Hood, Texas, marking the first commercially available embedded trainer fitted directly into a fielded U.S. Army combat vehicle.

Army tests embedded trainer under Force Development Innovation & Assessment program

The integration is part of the Army's Force Development Innovation & Assessment (FDIA) initiative, which will have crews train on the full range of precision gunnery progression tasks using the vehicle's own platform controls and procedures, rather than external simulators. The program covers weapon systems operation, crew-level qualification and validation of the embedded training capability on an operational combat platform.

Houston – September 19, 2026 -- Octagos has been named to TIME and Statista's World's Top HealthTech Companies of 2026 list, marking the only cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) monitoring company recognized in either the inaugural 2025 ranking or the 2026 edition.

TIME and Statista rank Octagos among 82 AI and Data Analytics firms out of 500 global honorees

The evaluation weighted financial performance at 50%, reputation at 30%, and online engagement at 20%. Octagos received a "Very High" performance rating within the AI and Data Analytics category, one of six categories spanning the 500-company list.

Scottsdale, Ariz. – September 19, 2026 -- CND Life Sciences, Inc. has opened a new Innovation Laboratory in Scottsdale, Arizona, expanding its research and product-development capacity for neurodegenerative disease diagnostics. The facility was inaugurated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by employees, community members, and key stakeholders, and operations are set to begin next week.

New facility separates R&D from clinical testing operations

The Innovation Laboratory operates independently from CND's existing CLIA-certified, CAP-accredited, and CLEP-permitted clinical laboratory, which processes the company's Syn-One Test. The new space is dedicated to assay development, biomarker research, technology evaluation, and translational research programs, allowing the company to pursue early-stage science without disrupting clinical throughput.

Hyderabad – September 19, 2026 -- The global small arms market is projected to grow from $10.75 billion in 2026 to $13.41 billion by 2031, a 4.53% CAGR, according to a new report from Mordor Intelligence.

Military modernization programs push demand for larger-caliber, modular rifle platforms

Procurement initiatives in Canada and India are driving adoption of newer rifle systems using 6.8 mm and 7.62 mm calibers, the report finds. The US Army's Next Generation Squad Weapon initiative exemplifies the shift toward advanced small arms designed for greater range, accuracy, and armor-penetration capability. Similar requirements among NATO members and Middle Eastern buyers are expected to sustain procurement activity for manufacturers and component suppliers.

Pittsburgh – September 19, 2026 -- A patent-pending concrete-screeding machine designed to cut sidewalk-finishing crews from three workers to one has been submitted for licensing through InventHelp's national sales office.

Inventor targets labor reduction on concrete finishing crews

The inventor, based in Westford, N.Y., developed the Non-Vibrating Self-Propelled Sidewalk Screed Machine to automate the screeding step in concrete surfacing, a process traditionally requiring multiple hand laborers to maintain consistent finish quality.

Paris – September 19, 2026 -- Virbac posted first-half 2026 revenue growth of 7.4% at constant exchange rates and currencies (CERS), lifting its adjusted EBIT margin to 18.8%, up 0.5 percentage points from H1 2025.

Companion animal segment leads growth at 10.0%, farm animal follows at 6.7%

The animal health group's Supercharge platforms, excluding Thyronorm, expanded around 12% at CERS, becoming a key driver of top-line performance. Growth split into a volume/mix effect of approximately 5.4% and a price increase of roughly 2%.

Net income climbs 5.9% to €87.1 million

The margin gain stemmed from a favorable gross margin mix, partially offset by higher operating expenses tied to H1/H2 phasing effects.