General News

Menlo Park, Calif. – September 28, 2026 -- Global consulting firm Protiviti has surpassed one million meals donated through its Birdies for Meals program following professional golfer Matt Fitzpatrick's victory at the FedEx Open de France at Le Golf National.

Fitzpatrick's win triggers 25,000-meal donation, pushing program past milestone

Fitzpatrick closed with rounds of 65-64-65-70 to finish at 20-under-par, securing a three-stroke victory and his fourth title of the season. The result triggered a 25,000-meal donation under Protiviti's Birdies for Meals campaign, lifting the program's cumulative total to 1,010,000 meals since its 2021 launch. Fitzpatrick alone has generated 162,000 meals this season.

Boston – September 28, 2026 -- Private investors have committed seven dollars for every one dollar the US government has put toward production funding for new-entrant defense companies, a gap that risks stalling next-generation technology before it reaches frontline forces, according to a joint analysis released by Bain & Company and the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA).

The report, titled "The State of Investment in Defense: Unlocking Growth," draws on 50 stakeholder interviews conducted between April and August 2026 with prime integrators, new market entrants, suppliers and investors.

Houston – September 28, 2026 -- The Inner Circle has named Patryk Kania, a Chief Executive Officer in the orthopaedic healthcare sector, as a Lifetime Member in recognition of his leadership and industry contributions.

Kania brings 21 years of healthcare executive experience to orthopaedic services leadership

Kania has spent more than two decades in healthcare leadership roles, spanning both established enterprises and startup ventures. As CEO, he directs strategy for orthopaedic services organizations, with a focus on operational performance, growth initiatives, and patient-care outcomes.

Executive holds a master's degree from Simon Fraser University's Beedie School of Business

Kania's academic credentials include a master's degree from the Beedie School of Business at Simon Fraser University, which he credits as foundational to his approach to business strategy and organizational development in healthcare.

New York – – September 28, 2026 -- Florida Tutoring Advantage has selected Littera Education to manage the statewide program's data layer for the 2026-2027 school year, expanding on Littera's role after the 2025-2026 launch.

Littera moves from one of 25 providers to statewide data manager

Littera was one of 25 tutoring service and support providers in the program's launch year. For the upcoming school year, Florida Tutoring Advantage has now chosen Littera specifically to build and operate the data infrastructure aggregating results across more than 15 different tutoring providers statewide.

Miami – September 28, 2026 -- Boats Group, operator of YachtWorld and Boat Trader, has appointed marine journalist Jack Haines to expand its original video, editorial and social media content across its marketplaces.

Haines brings 15 years of sea trial and editorial experience to Boats Group

Haines joins after serving as Reviews Director at YachtBuyer and previously as Deputy Editor at Motor Boat & Yachting. Over his career he has evaluated hundreds of vessels, building a reputation for detailed, real-world assessments of performance, design and on-water usability.

Washington – September 28, 2026 -- Fifty-two middle school finalists from all 50 states, Washington, D.C. and American Samoa will compete for a $100,000 prize at the third annual National Civics Bee Championship, set for Wednesday, October 14 at 8:00 p.m. ET.

Championship makes broadcast debut on C-SPAN

For the first time, the event will be televised and live-streamed on C-SPAN and C-SPAN.org, as well as YouTube, expanding the competition's reach to a nationwide audience. The show will be hosted by Emmy-nominated actor Jerry O'Connell and produced under executive producer Hilary Crow, with Steven Raff and Caitlin Thomas as co-executive producers.

Buffalo, N.Y. – September 28, 2026 -- Organizations planning custom apparel for corporate events, fundraisers, and promotional campaigns face recurring pitfalls in fabric selection, artwork preparation, and sizing that can delay production and weaken brand presentation, according to a HelloNation article featuring Kernell Miller of Custo Print in Buffalo, New York.

Fabric and use case mismatches undermine apparel durability and cost efficiency

The article states that staff uniforms intended for daily wear require stronger fabric and long-term durability, while shirts for a fundraiser or community event typically prioritize comfort, visibility, and affordability. Lightweight cotton suits outdoor summer gatherings, while blended fabrics better withstand repeated washing and long-term wear, per the report.

Chicago – September 28, 2026 -- iAutomation, a division of CAS Holdings, will send its team to PACK EXPO International 2026 at McCormick Place in Chicago from October 18–21, supporting sister company RND Automation's exhibit at Booth #N-5115 in the North Building.

RND Automation showcases live pouching and robotics demonstrations at Booth N-5115

RND Automation will run a live KANGA Poucher pouching demonstration alongside a configurable High-Risk Test Bench designed to validate difficult automation applications before full production deployment. The booth will also feature a large-scale FANUC M-710 industrial robot on display, with attendees eligible to enter a giveaway for a Bambu Lab 3D printer.

Charlotte – September 28, 2026 -- Huntington National Bank will install its name atop the One South office tower in uptown Charlotte and expand its regional headquarters to four full floors, doubling its footprint in the building as it deepens its commitment to North Carolina and South Carolina.

Huntington doubles its footprint at One South tower

Huntington will occupy the entire 39th and 40th floors of the 40-story building at 101 S. Tryon St., adding to two floors it already holds and bringing its total presence to four full floors. The bank opened its regional headquarters at One South in 2023 and now houses several hundred colleagues there and across the greater Charlotte area, spanning multiple business segments and operational functions.

New York – September 28, 2026 -- American investors identified NATO's Eastern Flank as one of the decade's major infrastructure investment opportunities, on condition that projects carry clearly allocated risk and rely on local partners capable of long-term construction and maintenance. The assessment emerged from a roundtable held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, hosted by Romanian infrastructure firm Concelex and Atlantic Council Romania, and addressed by Romania's President Nicușor Dan.

Ukraine's rapid infrastructure repairs reshape crisis-readiness standards

Participants examined how the war in Ukraine has redefined infrastructure requirements near NATO's eastern border. Restoring a railway bridge, transformer substation or hospital hinges on heavy equipment, compatible structural components and certified response teams already positioned on-site, since these capabilities cannot be mobilized within days once a crisis begins.