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University of South Carolina to Host National AI Conference Featuring Leaders from BBDO Worldwide, AT&T and FOX News Media

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Professional conference and Student AI Challenge will explore how communications organizations are preparing for an AI-powered future

COLUMBIA, S.C., Aug. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The University of South Carolina’s School of Journalism and Mass Communications will bring together some of the nation’s leading voices in media, advertising, public relations and corporate communications this fall for a two-day event examining how artificial intelligence is transforming communications.

The conference – AI in Media, Advertising & Public Relations – will be held Friday, Oct. 9, at the Russell House University Union on the University of South Carolina campus.

A companion Student AI Challenge will take place Saturday, Oct. 10, giving university students from across South Carolina the opportunity to collaborate in interdisciplinary teams, tackle a real-world communications challenge using artificial intelligence and compete for cash prizes totaling $15,000.

Featured speakers include:

Andrew Robertson, Chairman, BBDO WorldwideValerie Vargas, Senior Vice President, Creative Content & Advertising, AT&TPorter Berry, President & Editor-in-Chief, FOX News DigitalBenjamin Vaughan, Head of AI Research, Vurvey LabsRobby Thomas, Vice President and General Manager, WIS-TV / Gray MediaStephen Brown, President, Cookerly PRPeter LaMotte, President of Strategic Communications, Chernoff NewmanUniversity of South Carolina faculty experts in artificial intelligence, creativity and strategic communications

The conference will examine how organizations are integrating AI into newsrooms, creative agencies, corporate communications and marketing organizations while preparing their workforce for an AI-powered future.

Interactive workshops, executive conversations and industry discussions will provide attendees with practical insights into leadership, creativity, human-AI collaboration and organizational transformation.

“The communications professions are experiencing one of the most significant periods of change in their history,” said Tom Reichert, dean of the College of Information and Communications. “This conference brings together leaders who are navigating that change every day. Our goal is to create meaningful conversations that help professionals, educators and students better understand how AI is reshaping journalism, advertising and public relations while reinforcing the importance of creativity, ethics and human judgment.”

The conference is designed for professionals working in journalism, advertising, public relations, marketing, corporate communications, media and higher education, as well as university students preparing for careers in those fields.

The Student AI Challenge on Saturday will challenge teams to solve a real-world communications problem using artificial intelligence, research, strategy and creativity while receiving mentorship from industry professionals.

The top three teams will be awarded prizes. The first-place team will receive $7,500 to be shared among the individuals. No coding or technical skills are needed to participate.

The conference is presented in partnership with the South Carolina Research Authority (SCRA), Google, Vurvey Labs and other industry partners.

For more information and to register, visit: https://sc.edu/study/colleges_schools/cic/initiatives/ai/ai_conference/

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SOURCE University of South Carolina School of Journalism and Mass Communications

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Plasma Donated to Giraffe Born by C-Section Took Six Years of Donations to Collect

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SPRINGFIELD, Mo., Aug. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Two thirteen-year old giraffes at Dickerson Park Zoo in Springfield, Missouri, have no idea their weekly blood draws have helped save the life of a giraffe born via C-section at Tanganyika Wildlife Park in Goddard, Kansas.

Dickerson Park Zoo is a member of the Giraffe Plasma Bank System and one of a few zoos in the country that consistently banks plasma. Mili and Grady, two members of the herd at Dickerson Park Zoo, are trained for voluntary blood draws, which allow for research in different studies, medical tests and banked to be used by other facilities if needed.

On July 11, 2026, zookeeper Matt Corrie at DPZ got a text message from a colleague at the International Center for Care and Conservation of Giraffe at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.

A giraffe delivered by C-section at Tanganyika Wildlife Park needed plasma, and needed it as soon as possible.

“I was on the road within an hour of the original text,” said Corrie. “TWP is the first facility to need our plasma, and the dose used for their baby took six years of plasma draws to collect.”

In 2018, a fundraiser called Chilling at the Zoo raised over $10,000 for the DPZ animal hospital to purchase an ultra-low freezer to preserve biological material. Eight years and hundreds of blood draws later, Dickerson Park Zoo was ready to answer the call. The collaboration between Tanganyika Wildlife Park, the International Center for Care and Conservation of Giraffes, Dickerson Park Zoo, and some of the top giraffe veterinarians in the country is a testimony to the relevancy of zoos and the animal care professionals working to save species.

Dickerson Park Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA). Look for the AZA logo whenever you visit a zoo or aquarium as your assurance that you are supporting a facility dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for you and a better future for all living things. With its more than 200 accredited members, AZA is a leader in global wildlife conservation and your link to helping animals in their native habitats. For more information, visit www.aza.org.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/plasma-donated-to-giraffe-born-by-c-section-took-six-years-of-donations-to-collect-302845277.html

SOURCE Dickerson Park Zoo

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Why More Traders Are Exploring Chartless AI-Driven Trading with TruTrade

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TruTrade’s chartless AI-driven trading technology offers an alternative approach for traders seeking automation, flexibility, and a simplified trading experience.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Aug. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — TruTrade, a software company specializing in AI-driven trading technology, is highlighting the growing interest in chartless trading as more traders explore new ways to interact with today’s financial markets. As artificial intelligence continues to shape trading technology, chartless AI-driven software is emerging as an alternative for traders who prefer a simplified trading experience while maintaining control over their trading preferences and risk settings.

Unlike traditional trading platforms that rely on continuous chart analysis, chartless trading is designed to automate trade execution based on user-defined configurations and AI-driven technology. Rather than requiring traders to monitor charts throughout the trading session, chartless software allows users to establish their preferred settings while remaining in control of when trading begins, pauses, or stops.

The TruTrade Ecosystem includes RipperONE AI, TruTrade’s chartless AI-driven trading solution, as well as TruTrade’s Interactive AI Chart-Based Suite for traders who prefer a more hands-on experience. Together, these solutions provide traders with the flexibility to choose between a chartless trading environment and an interactive chart-based experience, depending on their individual trading style and preferences.

QuickFund AI is an integrated part of the TruTrade Ecosystem, helping traders obtain funded proprietary trading accounts through compatible third-party proprietary trading firms. By streamlining the funding process, QuickFund AI provides eligible traders with an additional pathway to access funded trading capital while complementing TruTrade’s software solutions. QuickFund AI operates independently of any proprietary trading firm, and funding decisions remain solely with the selected proprietary trading firm.

As AI-driven trading technology continues to evolve, TruTrade remains focused on developing software that supports a variety of trading styles and account types. Through the TruTrade Ecosystem, the company continues to provide traders with flexible technology solutions designed to accommodate both chartless and interactive trading experiences.

For more information about TruTrade and the TruTrade Ecosystem, visit TruTrade.io.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/why-more-traders-are-exploring-chartless-ai-driven-trading-with-trutrade-302845289.html

SOURCE TruTrade

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Franklin Templeton Canada Announces Fee Waivers Will Continue for Low Volatility High Dividend Index ETFs

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TORONTO, Aug. 6, 2026 /CNW/ — Franklin Templeton Canada today announced that the 15-basis-point management fee waivers for the Franklin International Low Volatility High Dividend Index ETF (FLVI) and Franklin U.S. Low Volatility High Dividend Index ETF (FLVU) will continue through December 31, 2026, as detailed in the table below.

Fund Name

   Ticker    

Mgmt.
     Fee After  
   Waiver
  %


Fee  
   Waiver    

Franklin International Low Volatility High Dividend Index ETF  

 FLVI  

0.25

-0.15

Franklin U.S. Low Volatility High Dividend Index ETF

FLVU 

0.12

-0.15

“The success of this suite reflects how well its methodology and focus on sustainable dividend income and lower volatility have resonated with advisors and investors,” said Ahmed Farooq, SVP, head of retail ETF distribution, Franklin Templeton Canada. “In today’s market environment, investors continue to seek strategies that can help generate income while managing overall portfolio risk.”

Franklin Templeton’s Low Volatility High Dividend ETF suite combines the complementary factors of high dividends, backed by strong corporate earnings and profitability, with low volatility to help reduce overall risk in a portfolio. The suite includes Franklin Canadian Low Volatility High Dividend Index ETF (FLVC), Franklin U.S. Low Volatility High Dividend Index ETF (FLVU) and Franklin International Low Volatility High Dividend Index ETF (FLVI). For more information on Franklin Templeton’s ETF lineup, please visit franklintempleton.ca/ETF.

About Franklin Templeton
Franklin Templeton is a trusted investment partner, delivering tailored solutions that align with clients’ strategic goals. With deep portfolio management expertise across public and private markets, we combine investment excellence with cutting-edge technology. Since our founding in 1947, we have empowered clients through strategic partnership, forward-looking insights, and continuous innovation – providing the tools and resources to navigate change and capture opportunity.

In Canada, Franklin Templeton operates as Franklin Templeton Canada, a business name used by Franklin Templeton Investments Corp. To learn more, visit franklintempleton.ca and follow us on LinkedIn.

With US$1.79 trillion in assets under management as of June 30, 2026, Franklin Templeton operates globally in more than 35 countries.

Franklin Resources, Inc. [NYSE: BEN]

Commissions, management fees, brokerage fees and expenses may be associated with investments in ETFs. Please read the prospectus and ETF facts before investing. ETFs trade like stocks, fluctuate in market value and may trade at prices above or below the ETF’s net asset value. Brokerage commissions and ETF expenses will reduce returns. Performance of an ETF may vary significantly from the performance of an index, as a result of transaction costs, expenses, and other factors. Indicated rates of return are historical annual compounded total returns for the period indicated, including changes in unit value and reinvestment distributions, and do not take into account any charges or income taxes payable by any security holder that would have reduced returns. Investors should carefully consider an ETF’s investment objectives and strategies, risks, fees and expenses before investing. The simplified prospectus and ETF facts contain this and other information. Please read the simplified prospectus and ETF facts document carefully before investing. ETFs are not guaranteed. Their values change frequently. Past performance may not be repeated.

Copyright © 2026. Franklin Templeton. All rights reserved.

SOURCE Franklin Templeton Investments Corp.

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